"Are you ready, Jackie?" Elliot asks as I hop out the door of the Train Station. My eyes warily drift up catching sight of him alongside his little army. I can't believe Blood just suddenly decided he wanted to see me and send a freaking army in. I nervously stare at the half dozen of workers who are alongside Elliot as he holds out a hand for me.
"Yeah I'm ready." I say, fixing my blouse. I hesitate before taking his hand letting him escort me down the stairs. I take a quick glance back noticing Gray's distrusting glare. Well it's not like I could have said no. I'm sure Elliot would take me there whether I wanted to or not.
"So~ how was work, Elliot?" I ask, deciding to make small talk with him. He stiffly keeps his eyes forward, his ears nervously flinching as his eyes dart over me and then back up.
"Fine." He states before pointedly looking away. Ok there is definitely something wrong with him. The Dusk shifts to Night in an instant, letting the stars pop up and light up the sky. I remember when Elliot took me stare gazing once. It was a lot of fun even with the twins there causing a ruckus, which half the time he was yelling at them to 'shut the hell up'. I glance over to Elliot staring at his tightly clenched jaw.
I've had enough of this bull crap. I want my friend back and I want him now.
"Elliot." I growl, suddenly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. He looks back, startled and even more tense than ever.
"Can we talk in private?" We need to talk whatever is going on out. He pointedly looks over my head thinking through his options before nodding his head back. The other servants carefully move on, casting curious eyes back as one giggles with a knowing smile.
"Alright Elliot what's going on with you?" I demand, gripping his sleeve to make sure he can't run away from me. His ears immediately flatten as his eyes remain glued to my stomach.
"Is it true?" He whispers gently placing his hands on my shoulder before crouching down.
"Is what true?" I ask watching as he intently stares at my belly. What is he doing?
"Is-Is it true that 'I' knocked you up in Heart Country?!" He shouts, extremely flustered. My mouth pops open as I lean away from him, complete and utter shock rocketing through my exploded brain. Knocked up? Knocked up?!
"WHAT?!" I cry, shocked at the sudden exclamation. What makes him think he and I-that I and he - Oh EW! The mental images immediately pour into my poor scarred brain as I try to beat the thoughts out. That's disgusting! I would never do that with Elliot!
"Blood told me that 'I' impregnated you back in Heart Country and you didn't have the heart to tell me since I wouldn't remember and that you were freaking out because you are carrying my child and I had no idea about it and-and-and-!" He continues, clearly on the brink of his sanity as he tugs on his own ears, "I was so confused and didn't know what to do so I'm sorry for acting so coldly to you! Are you alright? I swear to take proper care of him or her!" He continues, clasping my hand in his as he earnestly looks into my wide eyes. "I swear I won't abandon you to raise the baby on your own. I swear on my clock that I will do whatever it takes to-,"
"Wait a minute now hold on there!" I growl, slapping a hand over his jabbering mouth. I should have expected Blood to do something like this. I thought he would be a little more mature but he's just a lying brat here in Diamond Country! And poor Elliot for thinking all this time I was with his freaking child! Oh EW the images are back! I rub my eyes trying to permanently erase the images from my mind. "Look, Elliot I'm not pregnant." His face turns blank before he tilts his head, eyes growing wide.
"Abortion?" My anger hits its tipping point as my hands shoot forward snatching hold of his soft ears.
"NO YOU NITWIT!" I growl, yanking on his ears. He lets out a sharp, startled cry as I force his head down, tightly gripping his sensitive ears.
"First of all do I LOOK pregnant to you?!" I angrily demand forcing him to look at my flat stomach. I'm not even chubby so how could he have possibly believed that bull crap?!
"W-W-Well no but it's still in the early stages ... right?" He asks, severely confused before I heavily sigh. I yank his ear up to my lips on the verge of ripping them out of his head.
"I'M NOT PREGNANT YOU IDIOT!" I scream in his ear, only letting go so he can clutch his new disability. Tears dab the corners of his eyes as he protectively holds his ear and backs away from me.
"B-B-But Blood said ... ," he continues, his eyes down casted towards the ground.
"He lied, Elliot."
"My boss does not lie." His second in command of the mafia pops up as I hear a click. My face pales as I stare into the barrel of his gun, his eyes now tiny slits. Oh~ that's right. He thinks Blood is the most perfect boss in the entire world. I rack through my mind trying to find something to salvage the situation.
"I'm sorry, Elliot. But I'm not pregnant alright?" I say as I hop on my feet, watching as his gun stays firmly locked to the center of my head.
"Then why didn't you just say so?" He asks with a smile. He nervously sighs as he wipes his sweaty brow. "You really had me scared there, thinking you were pregnant with my baby!" He laughs before putting his gun away. Well, it's not exact but that's more like the Elliot I know.
"Yeah. It's fine, it's fine." I say happy that he calmed down so quickly. I forgot about his little mood swings every now and then. But I don't remember them being this severe! I jump as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, grinning as he walks be down the street.
"Well, I'm glad! I thought I got a woman pregnant that I don't even know!"
"You do know me. At least, the one in Heart Country did." I continue, smiling out of pure fear. I can't believe he almost shot me because I said that Blood lied. I better watch what I say until this Elliot gets to know me a little better.
"Did I?" He asks, curious as his ear twitches.
"Yeah. You were my best friend, Elliot." I softly say watching as he tilts his head.
"Really?"
"Yeah. You even shared a carrot cake with me."
"Wow, then we really must have been close friends!" He cries with a laugh, slapping a hand over my back. I stiffly let out a chuckle letting him drag me off towards the Hatter's Mansion. Wow that was close ...
I was just nearly shot by my closest friend!
‡
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Jackie." Blood hums as he takes a sip of tea. I coolly slump against the chair taking a small sip of red tea. I don't like it but Blood seems like he's in a really bad mood. He's been acting a lot nicer to me than the other times he's seen me and the look in his eyes is making me uncomfortable. As if he's waiting for the perfect time to pounce.
"So tell me, Jackie, what have you been busying yourself with lately?" He politely asks as his free hand kneads the head of his cane. I nervously gulp, watching as his glove strains from the force he's putting through his fingers. He's in a really bad mood.
"Not much, really. I've just been mainly fixing up the shops in the Train Station." I casually say before nibbling on a biscotti. Blood's eyes never leave the surface of his tea as he lightly swishes it around in an attempt to make it cooler.
"I see. Any progress?" He asks before taking another sip.
"Uh, yes. All the shops have been cleaned up and we're waiting for replacement windows and furniture after we finish painting the shops." Some of the seats have been completely blown off the tiled ground, such as in a little restaurant in the Train Station, leaving a giant spot of soot where I'm guessing a few explosives went off in the past.
"Excellent. A well furnished establishment is certain to bring in more income." He contently hums as he takes another sip. If I remember right Gray mentioned that both Blood and Jericho want control of the Trains Station.
"Hm ... ," I merely hum along not really sure what to add to the conversation. I think anything I attempt to add will only darken his already pissed mood. "Did something happen, Blood?"
"Hm?" He hums, finally looking up from his tea as he stares into my eyes with a bored yet curious expression.
"You look like you're in a bad mood." I note, carefully watching for his reaction. He pauses in mid sip before his cheek twitches into a smile.
"Hm~ you're worried about me? How sweet." He purrs as he reaches over, numbly rubbing his fingers over the back of my hand. His eyes softened before he pulls back, taking another sip of tea. I glance into his cup noticing that he's also drinking red tea. Why isn't he drinking black tea?
"Did you get bored of black tea?" I ask, motioning to his cup. He perks up for a moment, glancing at his cup.
"No. It seems your lover went ahead and had some fun with my favorite tea shops." He forces a kind smile as his grip tightens over his cane, looking like he wanted to transform it right here and now before mowing down every living thing in sight.
"What do you mean?" I ask, clicking my tongue to the roof of my mouth to re-taste the off flavor. I think I just got a small chuck of the actual tea leaf. Blech.
"He went all over town and burned them all to the ground." He shrugs, swishing the tea around before coolly looking in my direction. "So I thought it would be fun to repay him with tenfold the ferocity." My throat begins to close as I wordless gap, touching my neck with my fingers. Am I having an allergic reaction to the tea? No, I've tasted this before so that can't be it.
"P-Poison?" I rasp questioningly, tightly clutching my neck. I-I can't breathe-!
"Too easy. Simply poisoning you wouldn't get my message across." He miffs before setting his finished tea down. He leans on his elbow, gently sweeping his fingers up my neck and tilt my chin up. "So I decided to get a little creative. It's a shame that I must use this card so soon but I'm afraid that I need to show Bermuda I mean business concerning the Train Station and other territories."
Blood slowly leans in while cupping my jaws pressing his hot lips against my icy mouth. A whimper grows in the back of my throat before it is silenced by his tongue very softly sliding across mine with the terrible taste of sulfur and metal lingering over my taste buds. I lightly convulse as I struggle to breath in, my eyes rolling into the back of my head while I clutch the table cloth. Everything feels weird. My body, my skin, everything. What's going on. Blood pulls back and leans in towards my ear as he chuckles.
"As much fun as it would have been stealing you from Jericho I think this is a much more appropriate response to him burning down my favorite tea stores." He softly croons as he kisses the corner of my jaw. I shake uncontrollably before my jaw slides out of his hands, falling back and onto the ground as I gasp for air. Why can't I breathe-?!
"You know what to do. Get her ready for tonight. I have a meeting with Jericho at the Boney Fish."
"Yes Master Dupre." One of the servant bows before three others pull a water filled plastic back from the bushes. He's going to drown me-?! I struggle to flop away but my legs remain firmly pressed together as my fingers shrink back. W-W-What's happening to me? A large hand clamps over my waist before he tosses me into the large plastic back, tying the end so darkness completely swallows me up.
The cool touch of the water offers relief from the achingly dry air. My fingerless palms tightly remain clasped over my mouth as I thrash around in the dark cold space, feeling it move as someone picks me up. Let me out I'm going to drown in here! The plastic bag slowly grows larger as pain rips down my inner legs. This hurts! What the heck is going on?! A suffocating blanket falls around me as I gasp, trying to push off the fabric.
Wait, I can breathe?
I freeze, taking another hesitant breath. I can breathe? But I'm underwater right now. I wriggle around the encasing clothes and shake my hips, my face tapping against the warm plastic. What in the world is going on here? I blink, staring around the dark space as I run my sides along the plastic. When did they move me into a larger bag? And why can't I touch my face? My palms helplessly tap against my sides unable to even reach my face.
"The Boney Fish right?" A voice speaks up as my watery world sloshes back and forth to movement. I helplessly head butt the sides, thrashing around with all my might. I don't understand how I can move so freely now. Did I shrink?
"Yeah. Heh ... Jericho's going to get one hell of a surprise." Wait, Jericho? Are they going to ambush him? I struggle more fervently smacking into an immovable shoulder as I struggle to move around.
"Ow. She needs to just stop moving." He grows as I hear a click. A gun?!
"No, we need her alive for the boss's revenge." The other says as a door squeaks open. What in the world is going on here? Let me out! I open my mouth to scream but nothing comes out. I don't like it in here let me out! I have to go tell Jericho to stay away from the Boney Fish or whatever it's called. I struggle to swim around as a knife plunges into the plastic bag. They're going to stab me-! The rush of water cascades over me and drags me into blinding light. I struggle to move around as I hit pebbles, staring outside the glass encased box filled with water.
"Heh ... adds a whole new meaning to sleeping with the fishes doesn't it?" One faceless chuckles before glancing over his shoulder. "S*** let's get out of here." He huffs, running off and blasts through the back doors. What's going on? Where am I? I glance around spying pure white countertops and countless faceless running around with chef hats and neat uniforms. Cooks? My gosh where the hell am I?
My eye catches sight of a red and black koi fish in the reflection. I jerk back, watching as it mirrors my movements. A slimy, scaly presence scraps over my side as a large black and white koi fish mindlessly swims past me. That fish is huge!
Wait a minute.
I nervously wriggle my legs watching as the tail moves back and forth in the reflection. No ... I open my mouth, watching as the beautiful koi copies the movement.
I've been turned into a fish?!
"It's nice to see you, Jericho. I hear you are particularly fond of this restaurant." Blood's watered down voice hums. I sloppily turn around spying Blood's clear face through the few sea weeds in the tank. My tail swishes back and forth as I approach the other side of the tank spying a very fancy restaurant on the other side.
"It's my favorite, actually. Some of the best coffee and wine around." Jericho hums as he swishes around some red wine, taking a small sip. Jericho! Oh my gosh! You need to get out! I furiously thrash around trying to swim over to him. Oh how the heck do you even skim like this?! I struggle to move my hips and front fins, scraping against the ground as I try to swim closer to him.
"I've never been fond of fish before but I'm thinking to give it a try today, during our negotiation." Blood smiles as he slyly glances into the tank, finding me in an instant before winking.
"Have you gentlemen made your choice? We have a great variety of carp and bass." A waiter says as he flips out a notepad.
"I wonder which I should take." Blood muses, tapping the glass right in front of me. His smile grows more devious as he trails his finger across, almost as if to cut my throat with his digit. Horror washes through me as my carp mouth falls open.
He's going to eat me?!
"Now hold on, Dupre. Here, it is customary to pick each other's fish." Jericho corrects, glancing into the tank as his eyes pass right over me. Jericho, look at me! Can't you see that I have eyes? Can't you see my choker around my neck?! I look around the tank noticing black straps with number dangling from each fish's neck. He won't look twice at me because I look just like all the other fish.
"This one here will be yours, Blood." Jericho continues, pointing out a particularly fat and juicy one.
"I'm flattered. And you, Jericho, will have this one here." Dupre immediately says as he points to me. I try to quickly back up but the waiter looks up, catching side of my silver locket.
"Excellent. You're meals will be out shortly." The waiter says as he taps his pen to the pad and heads towards the kitchen doors. I tremble with fear as I back up, madly wriggling my tail back and forth.
Jericho is going to eat me!
I flip around spying the same waiter come into the kitchen and show a skinnier faceless his notepad. He takes it before trotting over to the tank, rolling his sleeves up before expertly searching the tank for the particular fish. He glances at me before the other one, slipping the lid off before smoothly reaching in. I dart to the nearest corner, dipping beneath the other fish. Don't eat me! No! I refuse to be eaten! His hand pauses before scooping up the other fish, setting the lid back on. A-A-Am I safe? I stare at the chef as he slams the fish onto a cutting board, raising a large heavy butcher's knife up.
CLACK
My jaw drops as I watch the decapitated fish utter it's last breath before falling limp. The chef heartlessly brushes the head into a nearby trashcan, handing the fish off to another faceless with a hat before locking eyes with me.
I'm next.
I sink to the bottom and barely evade his hand at every turn, kicking up sand wherever I can and stay low. Please, please mistake me for just another fish! I rear back before darting full blast into the glass right at Jericho's head. He glances over, spying my gapping mouth before softly smiling.
"My, you picked quite the frisky one for me Dupre." Jericho laughs as he taps the glass, a somewhat hazy look to his eye. Is he drunk? Blood must be trying to get him drunk so he can kill him. No, no Jericho look at my eyes! Please, I'm right here so just look at my freaking eyes! I try to scream as a heavy hand slaps over my back, his fingers curling around my torso before pulling me out of the water. I take a deep breath before the dry air attacks my scales, helplessly watching as he turns towards the kitchen.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!
I desperately jump in his hands, thrashing with all my might. I won't get eaten! I won't! I refuse to be eaten by Jericho! No no no no no-!
"Whoa-!" The chef gasps, trying to get a hold of my body as he tightly squeezes me. Stop that hurts so so much!
"You got that?" A chef asks as he pauses in his work of scaling my other fish buddy.
"Naw I got it." He says, slamming me against the cutting board still dripping with the other one's blood. The faceless looks around the table. "Now where's my knife? Ah, there it is." He says before pinning me down and reaching over to pick it up.
Like hell you are!
I powerfully thrust my tail up, slapping him across the face. He lets go, startled as he held his cheek.
"Ha! She slapped you like it was a bad~ date!" The other chef laughs as I wordless flop around the counter. Away, I need to get away from here!
"D*** fish!" The chef growls as he reaches for me. I curl up before slapping my tail down, flipping through the air. Hot metal sizzles against my side as I painfully flop around. This is burning me help-!
"Ha! Now it looks like she wants to be cooked. She landed right in the pan with oil herself!" I silently open my mouth to scream as the oil slips between my gills causing an agonized burning to sear through my left side. It's not funny, it's not! I'm burning over here! I suck in the pain before making one last powerful flop, flipping out of the pan and land right on the handle. The chef's mouth drops as he raises his arms, letting out a pained scream as the boiling oil splashes onto my face.
A-Away ... I need to get a-way ... I powerlessly twitch against the cold tile ground, gapping as I try to roll under the stove. Please, no more ... it hurts, it hurts so much and I can't breathe or-
"Wilfred, what in the world is going on here?" Jericho's soothing voice asks as the doors swing open. I struggle with all my might to inch over to him but the pain searing through my left side is too much. C-Can't ... breathe ...
"Geh, that fish is a wild one!" His partner shouts as the chef dunks his head under a faucet with cold running water. I longingly watch the water struggling to gulp some of its precious liquid form down. Please help me ... I can't m-move ... Jericho casts his sights over me before chuckling with a soft smile. My heart throbs as he moves over to me, gently running a finger down my side. That feels ... good. Jericho, please, please please help ...
"How about this then? I'll go ahead and make my own dinner." Jericho grins as he expertly rolls back his sleeves. My eyes slightly widen as I limply tap my tail to the ground. Jericho, can't you see my eyes? I don't understand why you can't see them. Are you too tipsy to notice? Or my choker. The other fish had numbers but I have a locket. Jericho, please look closer!
"No no, you can't, Don!" He cries, mortified with the thought. Jericho's finger and thumb pinch my lower lip making a jolt of electricity shoot down my spine. C-Can't ... move-!
"It's fine, I insist! It's been a while since I cooked up my own fish." He smoothly hums before laying me across the cutting board. My eyes roll up towards the ceiling as my little heart flutters with fright. Jericho smoothly raises the thick butcher's knife, smiling at his future meal. I can't breathe or move. Jericho, Jericho please stop-!
"JERICHO STOP!" A gravedigger bursts through the back doors, grasping his arm which is pouring with blood. Jericho looks up, startled as the heavily breathing man catches his breath.
"What are you doing here? Has something happened to Jackie?" Jericho asks, troubled as he whips the knife down. The blade sticks into the cutting board, barely grazing my tailfin. C-Can't ... breathe. The man stumbles forward, almost shoving Jericho out of the way as he grasps my body and dunks me into a nearby sink filled with water.
"T-This IS Jackie! Before we had time to tell you Blood's men ambushed us." He breathlessly explains, rasping as he moves me back and forth in the small space. My eyes flutter as I begin to breathe, letting him move me back and forth to get the water into my system. Oh thank goodness he made it in time! Jericho's mouth pops open as he rushes over to the glass sink, worriedly looking his gaze over me. His bright, blue eyes lock with mine as I hold completely still, enjoying the fish's version of CPR.
Oh thank goodness this man was here to stop him. I'm sure this is the last place Jericho would have thought I am in, particularly as a fish. M-Makes sense ... that he wouldn't think twice looking at a fish especially if he's a little buzzed. My heart frighteningly jumps all over the place as strength returns to my body. Jericho's head shoots up as anger I've never seen him express before explode behind his eyes. He raises his gun, cocking it at the tank exactly where a frowning Blood was sitting.
BANG BANG BANG BANG
Various screams drift in and out of my consciousness as I try to wriggle around. Oh gosh I don't think I've ever thought this but please at least hit Dupre with a bullet! He tried to have me freaking eaten! As things quiet down Jericho quickly returns to the glass sink, barking orders at a few other guards that are there.
"That's enough, thank you. Go get checked out by a doctor." He breathlessly orders, very gently sliding his hand under my belly as me motions me back and forth in the water. I melt into his gently cradling hand as he very softly rubs my sides, making me relax in his gentle grasp. Is he massaging me? His fingers squeeze my belly before he pulls his hand up and examines the white dust-like particles on his fingers. "White Dust, a sign of the liquid form of Fish Change. You two go to the Black Market and get some Reverser. Chop it up into pieces small enough so it dissolves in water fast. You, get me a bucket filled with fresh water from the storage lake in the back of the restaurant immediately."
"Yessir!" They quickly inhale, frightened before scurrying off to do their various jobs. He casts his icy blue eyes over me, worriedly moving me back and forth.
"Jackie, everything is going to be just fine. Let me take care of this."
"My shop-!" A chef wails, obviously displeased with the damages done.
BANG
"EEEEEKKKK-!" The man shrieks. My eye lazily rolls down and around, spying the main chef backed up into the wall with a bullet hole just beside his ear where a little blood is.
"Did it ever occur to you that it was strange seeing a fish with eyes?!" Jericho spits with a deadly hiss. A frightened shiver runs down my spine as I see the passionate anger flare up behind his blue eyes. Scary! So scary! His hand remains ever so gentle, deeply contradicting with the deadly gaze pointed at the main chef.
"B-B-B-B-But that fish was chosen a-a-a-and with orders flooding in things are missed and - oh please spare me, Don!" He cries, clearly frightened to death because of his mistake. Jericho kept his gun aimed at the poor man keeping his finger just barely touching the trigger. Is he actually going to shoot him? Jericho lets out a deep sigh before pulling his gun away.
"The only reason you are still alive is because we have known each other for years. And I do take into account my alcohol intake for the night. Be thankful." Jericho growls before turning his attention to me, very gently moving me back and forth as his fingers softly squeeze and rub my sides. This actually feels very, very nice. It's like a fish massage. Unless he's trying to keep me from going belly up?
"H-Here you are, Master Bermuda." A guard stutters, slapping down a large tin tub filled with fresh lake water. The sloshing liquid looks amazingly appetizing as Jericho's fingers wrap beneath my softer belly, quickly hoisting me up and sets me in the tub in one go.
"Help me carry this to the Art Museum. And you, go prepare a fish tank with lake water in my office. I expect it to be done by the time I get there."
"Y-Yes Don!" He squeaks before whipping around and running out of sight. My tail weakly moves back and forth as I sink to the bottom reveling the cool touch of the metal. This feels good. So much better than that hot liquid. Fingers lightly prod my side and push me forward as Jericho worriedly looks into the water.
"Keep swimming, Jackie. An ill moving fish is a dead fish." He warns, looking a little paler. But the bottom feels so good. Especially on my side. My tail twitches, unwillingly propelling me forward as I circle the small tub of water. My burns slide against the cool metal as I make continuous circles in the water while Jericho and the guard pick up the handles, quickly moving out of the kitchen. Water droplets spring around the top of the water. I swim up, feeling a few of the droplets hit me. I wonder when it started to rain?
"This is very heavy, Don." The servant complains, looking around for an easier way to do the task. I stare up into the sky keeping my gaze on Jericho's flustered and deeply troubled expression as the water sloshes back and forth, occasionally splashing onto his nice dress pants and sleeves. Jericho is so nice to do all this.
But he still nearly ate me.
"Quiet." Jericho roughly growls.
"Easy for you to say, the man that's already dead. I still have a life to live. Ah, there's something." The guard says, tugging the tub with him along with Jericho.
"You there, children, let us use your skateboards." The guard says as I hear muttering complaints. Jericho heavily sighs and reaches into his pocket.
"Here, take this as compensation." He tiredly offers with a thick stack of cash, too exhausted to argue with the kids. How many hundreds is that?!
"Wow wee mister thanks!" A childish voice shouts before tiny feet patter against the sidewalk. I slide across the tub as they heavily set me down. I endlessly stare at Jericho, watching as he heavily exhales and wipes his brow off. He's such a hard worker, too. Never complaining or whining, always getting the job done with hiccups. Well, I guess someone with three roles would have to be very organized.
"Good idea." Jericho exhales as they move behind the tub and start pushing.
"Faster and more efficient." The guard hums, glancing over to Jericho with a smile. "You're flustered, Don."
"Yeah? How so?" He grunts, gripping the edge to slow me down as the tub tilts. We're going down a hill? Oh please don't let go ...
"You would have thought of this in the first place if you weren't so, what is it, distracted?" The guard grins as he nudges Jericho's side. His eyes soften as he smiles back at the guard.
"Perhaps." He relents as his finger tips turn white. I graze my side over his white digits. He must be gripping pretty hard so I don't slip out of his hands. I swim around to the deeper side of the tub watching as water spills over the edge. How sharp of an incline are we at right now?
BANG BANG
"Don-!" The guard cries as Jericho's white fingers vanish. The waters suddenly shift moving towards the back of the tub. Did they drop me?! My mouth wordlessly gaps as I feel my body press against the back from the momentum of falling. Oh crap!
"Do NOT let her go!" Jericho's gruffly shouts as more shots ring out. We're being attacked?! I look back to the guard spying him barely clinging to the side as he sneers, leaping over the tub of water and plants his feet in front of us. He leans over the tub, struggling to use his feet as breaks while blood drips into the water. He's hurt! And where's Jericho? Is he alright?!
The guard growls under his breath before he suddenly falls back. The tub flips over splattering me against the ground with the flood of water rushing at me. I flip over the ground spying the tub perfectly upright with water still sloppily sloshing around. Thank goodness it's upright but I'm not in it! The guard shakily gets to his feet, obviously thrown for a major loop as he looks around. Did I run him over?!
"Miss Jackie?" He calls, looking through the pouring rain. He stumbles over to the tub, gasping as he sees that I'm not there.
"M-Miss Jackie, flop if you're near!" He shouts, panicked as he looks all around and grasping his hair. "Master Bermuda will never forgive me if I kill his lady fish friend!" I'm right here! I flinch as I edge back, flipping my tail against the ground as I rasp in water from a stream at the edge of the road. Oh thank goodness water! I curl back before heavily slamming my tail into the road and flip into the little stream. I slowly inch along, painfully scrapping against the road as I take some much needed breaths. My heart stops as I hear cascading waterfall, flipping around to spy a storm drain steadily approaching.
Oh my gosh not the storm drain!
I helplessly flop against the forceful water leading me to the storm drain. Noooooo I don't want to die like this-! My fins weakly flutter against the water as I roll around trying to stop myself. No no no no no~!
I jump as sudden hands tightly snatch me up, yanking me out of the little flat stream and into greedy hands.
"A fish ... another fish ... thank you," he sobs, rubbing his thumb against my scales. "Now my kids can eat!"
"Hey, you drop that fish-!" The guard shouts as he whips out his gun. The man flinches back before tucking me under his arm and dashing into an alley. "No, stop that's not a fish!"
"You just want to eat it yourself! I need it more!" The man shouts as he takes a sharp turn. Wait a minute. This is the same guy that took my fish from before!
...
No wait he's going to eat. ME!
I fervently struggle in his arms flopping and jumping and helplessly biting his arm as he makes a mad dash for it into the alley ways. S-Stop I can't breathe!
BANG BANG BANG
"Gah-!" The man shouts as I fly out of his arms. I furiously flap my little fins, trying to miraculously fly my way to safety. My face smacks into the ground before I roll to a stop, stunned as I flop in a puddle. C-Can't breathe! Please help!
"M-Miss Jackie, don't worry I will take care of you." The guard promises as he quickly picks me up. He sneers over at the groaning man trying to crawl away.
"Alley scum. Don't you ever think of stealing from the Bermudas!" He spits, whipping his gun around.
"No please no-!" He begs.
BANG
The man shudders to the ground, dead before the guard pockets his weapons and takes off with me in hand. My vision falters as I gap for water, struggling to move. Why did you shoot him?! He has kids he needs to feed! B-But even though he was going to eat me I understand why he did it before. B-But I'm dying and he's dead and his kids are starving and - oh this is too much thinking I just can't freaking breathe!
"Jake-!" Jericho shouts, looking around by the tub of water.
"I-I'm here, Don." He cries back before immediately dropping me into the water. The guard roughly snatches my torso furiously moving me back and forth in the water. Too fast too fast! His hands roughly come to a stop as Jericho's hand catches the guard's wrist, giving him a glare so fierce I thought the guard was going to keel over in fright.
"Gently, Jake." He hisses as Jericho's hand slides over Jake's, gently touching my belly as he moves me back and forth. Jake pulls his hand away, watching with a puzzled and abashed expression.
"M-My apologies, Done. I was afraid I was too late and was in a panic." He fervently apologies watching the proper way to get a fish breathing again.
"Just remember that you must always be gentle with a lady, Jake." Jericho smiles, pleased as my gills smoothly open and close. Thank goodness he's here. If he wasn't then the guard, Jake, would have drowned me, a fish, in water!
"Are you well, Don?" The guard asks, concerned as he touches Jericho's shoulder. My eyes close as I concentrate on the soothing motion of back and forth. Metal ... metal salt? Why am I tasting that? My gaze shoots up spying red coloring Jericho's arm. He was shot?!
"I'm fine. Let's hurry and take her back." Jericho replies lightly letting me slide out of his comforting hand. I continue to swim in circles watching as they set the tub on the skateboards and continue to the Art Museum.
All of them are so dedicated. Jake could have easily left and told Jericho that I slipped down the storm drain or that guy with the family caught me. My heart throbs for the faceless man as I slowly swim around, keeping the water flowing through my gills. I understand why he tried to steal me. I can understand why he was shot and killed. But it still hurts. I glide around the tub watching as Jericho and Jake lift the tub up with a painful groan. They stiffly move up in jerking movements as other guard's faces pop into view. We are at the Art Museum already?
"M-Master Bermuda, are you alright? You're bleeding!" One shouts as Jericho's usually calm facade slowly sinks into annoyance.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! Is the tank ready?" Jericho growls as his annoyance starts to peek. I wonder how buzzed he still is. I can see that he's not as coordinated and his eyes are a bit hazy but he seems to mainly be in the right frame of mind. I wonder how strong the alcohol was?
"W-With a filter and everything needed to suffice life, Don." Another replies.
"Good." He growls with a slight grunt. A pained look darts across his face as he clenches his teeth. I'll bet all this heavy lifting is bothering his back.
"Here, Master Bermuda allow me to assist." A guard says as he takes hold of the back end to help.
"You drop this tub you both will spend the night in the lake thinking about what you've done." Jericho growls, trotting down the hall a little faster. I cringe down into the bottom of the tub as they slightly tilt it, barely fitting it through the door before setting it down beside Jericho's desk.
"Thank you, all of you. Now get me some fish feed, a doctor, and some coffee." He orders as Jake's hands delicately wrap around my belly. I hold absolutely still for him worried that I'll slip out of his smaller hands if I move too much. I've done enough falling for one day. And my entire left side if throbbing because of that stupid oil. Thank goodness none of it got on my face. I take a deep, fresh breath of water as I slip into the large tank big enough to hold a full sized person placed behind Jericho's desk. I slowly swim around drinking in the water and savoring every last breath. This feels so much better. Hm? I sink down a little catching a glimpse of a little chest with bubbles floating out. Oh now that's just adorable.
"Hold still, Don." Someone says as Jericho grunts. I turn around spying Jericho stiffly sitting on the couch with a man dressed as a doctor holding thread between his teeth as he sews Jericho's arm.
"The damage?"
"Nothing a time period or two won't fix. You were sloppy, getting a little drunk with Blood in the same room." The doctor brazenly admonishes, continuing to fix
"I had the advantage." Jericho states, exhaling before shakily taking a big gulp of coffee.
"And he the ultimate weapon against you." The doctor counters, glancing over me to with a wary expression. His lips tighten as he takes a double take, watching as I swim back and forth. "She's been burned."
"Burned?" Jericho asks, his eyes immediately shooting up towards me. He studies me as I swim back and forth. They've only just noticed? Jericho gets to his feet, leaving the scolding doctor as he earnestly searches my side for imperfections. "How can you tell?"
"In your buzzed state it's no surprise you can't tell." The doctor bravely miffs, coming alongside him as he points out my left side. "The scales are discolored. It almost looks like they tries to fry her alive." Jericho's face sinks to a deadly glare as he grinds his teeth, clearly pissed beyond all reasoning.
"I want him dead." Jericho icily states. What?! Jericho, no he was only doing his job even though that place is a fish's hell! I turn around and butt my head against the glass, trying to hit him. You can't do that!
"He was only doing his job."
"And I'm sure he won't even touch a fish for at least forty time changes after what happened." Jake chuckles, taking Jericho's empty cup from his hands before curling his fingers around the new mug. Jericho immediately takes a gulp, letting out of pained breath.
"It's still hot." Jake warns with a sympathetic sigh. Jericho carefully studies me, never looking back at the other faceless. I nervously swim around suddenly self-conscious. Don't stare at me I feel so awkward swimming around like this.
"I know I'm being impossible right now. Just leave me be and let me spout what I want." Jericho sighs, swishing the coffee around before taking another sip. "Leave."
"We will be back with the medicine shortly. They are chopping it up now as we speak." Jake says as they leave the room. The second the door shuts Jericho falls to his knees, angrily smacking his fist against the carpet floor.
"D*** IT!" He shouts, sharply inhaling before shakily exhaling. I rub against the glass trying to reach out to him. He looks absolutely pissed. Don't be mad, Jericho. I'm fine! This little burn is nothing. I flinch as I spy a white piece of paper float up into the water. Huh? Oh no Jay's picture! I desperately nip at it trying to get it back somehow. The water is going to ruin it, the only picture I have left of my twin brother!
"I'm sorry that you have to see me like this, Jackie. It's pathetic, seeing a grown man lose his temper like this." Jericho regretfully groans as he runs a hand through his hair. J-Jericho my picture! Please get my picture out of the water! I swim up to the top and powerfully lash my tail around. He jumps as the water splashes onto his back, staring into the water. I continually follow the tearing little picture around trying to direct his attention to it. Please Jericho pick it up for me. It's precious to me. His eyes study my uneven swimming, locking eyes on the piece of paper.
"What's this, hm?" He asks, noticing my open locket before standing up.
"Oh, a picture." He says, pulling back his sleeve before reach in. I back off watching as he gently scoops up the picture and hold it up.
"Two of you?" He asks, studying the two pictures.
"Ah~ the water's done quite a bit of damage to it." He sighs glancing back to my worried face. His cheek twitches into a smile before setting it on his desk.
"Don't worry, Jackie," he says as he softly pats his finger to the glass wall, "I'll restore it perfectly for you." He promises before staring at my torso. He reaches in again, unfastening my choker and wipes it dry on his shirt. That leather isn't really supposed to get wet at all. Now ... now it could actually be ruined. Jericho studies it, probably coming to the same conclusion before setting it on his desk.
"I'll fix everything, Jackie I promise." He smiles. He tilts his head, very lightly running his knuckle against the glass. "I'll bet you were terrified, sweetheart." He smiles before frowning as someone knocks.
"The medicine is ready." A voice calls out making Jericho relax slightly. He's really wound up. I stare at his bandaged arm as he stands up, walking over to the door.
"Good. Bring it in." Jericho says as he opens the door and lets the guards in. The guards hand him a towel and set a large bowl of what looks like sugar on his desk. What is that?
"And the change of clothes?" He asks, rubbing his fingers between the powdery substance.
"Someone is out getting it now. There aren't any women who live here that we could just use their clothes." Jericho sighs, setting the towel on the desk before picking up the large bowl.
"Any longer and these effects will be harder to erase. Bring me one of my shirts, then."
"Of course, Don." They both slightly bow before taking their leave. I stare at the bowl as he picks it up, about to dump it in before thinking twice.
"I swear I won't be looking at you in any sort of inappropriate way." He swears before dumping the whole bowl in, sloshing it around with his hand. I swim around in a flurry gagging at the clogging chemicals sticking to my gills. U-Ugh I can't breathe again! A warm, soft hand slides under my chin, lifting it above the water as I cough and shakily inhale. A-Air. I can breathe air. I slump to the side, trying to get my balance before pinning my legs against either side of the tank. I feel so dizzy ...
"The water is a pure white so I can't see anything." Jericho's voice reassures as his palm touches my cheek. I sigh as he pulls me over, pressing a warm part of lips to my jaw. "How are you feeling?"
"Sick," I rasp out, couching out the rest of the water in my lungs. I look down spying my fingers form between the webs and watch as the webbing recedes back to its proper place. W-Wow. That was freaky. I look away feeling as my body becomes my own once more. I'm just going to pretend I never saw that. My eyes close as I rest my chin on the side of the glass, numbly watching Jericho stand up between his desk and the shelves. with a towel in hand.
"Stand up. I won't see anything." He gently comforts, sliding his hand along my side before wrapping it around my waist. I brace myself against the edges of the tank, shakily standing up to my weak legs. Ow ... I can hardly even stand up! A soft towel drapes over my back as Jericho leans over and fastens his arms around my torso. My heart jerks as he presses his chest against my back ensuring he has a good grip. He's just so ... big. It feels like he's everywhere.
"Excuse me." He says before lifting me clear out of the water. I numbly hang from his arm as he slips me out, dangling me over another towel laid across the floor between his desk and the wall. I reach down with my feet and carefully steady myself trying not to rely on him too much. His back is still hurting him I'm sure.
"You got it?" He mutters, making heat spread through my body like a wild fire.
"Y-Yeah." I meekly croak, feeling his arms slowly slide off. The moment his hands are gone my legs give out harshly dropping me to the ground. Ow ... I think I hit my chin there.
"Are you alright?" He asks, smoothly hopping to the ground and touches my arm. I cringe at the soreness, glancing over my left side. Where are the burn marks? I thought there would be some here. I can definitely feel the throbbing pain so where is it?
"Y-Yeah, fine."
"How's your left side?" He frets, sliding his hand down the length of my arm. I keep a tight grip on the towel, flushing as his fingers intertwine with mine.
"Sore."
"That's good." He breathes, glancing over my exposed left leg. "Since you have grown into your normal size the burn that you got as a fish will have spread over your left side. It isn't nearly as severe as I was afraid it would be." He says glancing over to the office door.
"Stay low." He says before getting up.
"We have one of your shirts Don." A guard announces with a faint rapping.
"Stay there and I'll come get it." He answers smoothly taking the shirt from them before shutting the door. I heavily sigh rubbing my eyes. That was really scary ... I was nearly eaten!
"Wear this until the others come back with a change of clothes for you." He offers, handing me just a silk black shirt. I lightly flush with embarrassment and look off to the side.
"T-Thank you, Jericho." I mutter as he turns around, leaning against the desk with his back to me. Well, he gives more or less privacy and that's respectable. I hesitantly slip off the towel and quickly get dressed, buttoning up the shirt. My fingers tremble as I finish the last one, the events of the day suddenly crashing down like an emotional tsunami bent on complete and utter destruction.
Blood turned me into a fish.
He picked me out specifically so Jericho would unknowingly eat me.
I nearly got decapitated.
I was burned in oil and nearly fried alive.
I couldn't breathe for half the time I was a fish.
I was so weak, so small, so helpless against everything that anything could have easily ended me. A miss placed step, the butcher's knife, leaving me out of the water for too long, not moving me back and forth so I could breathe. Being a fish was hard!
A slight hiccup crawls out of my throat as the emotions terribly crash over me.
"E-Eaten ... ," I mutter as my chest tightens, uncontrollable sobs scratching their way to the surface.
"Hm?" Jericho hums, taking a cautious glance back to make sure I was dressed before looking at the tears dabbing my eyes.
"E-Eaten! Y-yo-you almost ate me!" I accuse, swallowing my fears as my chest grows tighter and tighter. Jericho's harsh eyes soften as he gets up, lightly pressing his hand against my back.
"I did. And I would have never known it, either." He replies, obviously shaken himself as he sits me down on the couch in front of the fire place. I tightly clench my teeth, wiping the waterworks away with the borrowed shirt. His heavy arm rests over my shoulders as he pulls me into a sideways hug, patting my arm comfortingly.
"A-And Blood! He knew! He changed me into a fish and stuffed me in a black bag and threw me in with the fishes a-a-a-an-and-!" I stutter clearly tipping over the edge of sanity. Wonderland is crazy no matter where I go. This is the worst it's gotten, being changed into a fish and nearly eaten by my landlord!
"A-And that chef! That place is a fish's hellish nightmare! I nearly got decapitated and burned and stepped on or-or-or Jericho, you nearly loped my head off!" I wail, sniffling as he reaches out and wipes my tears away.
"I know."
"W-Why didn't you see my eyes?! Or my choker?!" I cry, unable to hold back my questions any longer. He heavily sighs and pulls me onto his lap, pushing my head to my shoulder.
"I did notice your eyes, actually." He says. "I ... for some reason, thought nothing of it. Whether it was the drinks or me remembering my younger years for some reason." His eyes narrow, puzzled with himself as he pats my head. "There there, Jackie you're safe here."
"You almost ate me!"
"I did."
"My head almost got chopped off!"
"I know. Jackie-,"
"I almost died!" I repeat as my mind runs at a hundred miles per hour. Oh my gosh I'm really, really freaking out over here! I mean, that was scary and I mean super scary! I genuinely thought I was going to die there at any time. But ...
When Jericho was about to kill me I almost didn't mind it.
What is wrong with me? He would have chopped me up to bits and happily slurped down my blood in the form of soup if that guard hadn't shown up. So why was I more willing to let Jericho chop me up than some stupid chef?
"Jackie, listen-,"
"That was so scary~!" I rant with a choking sob at the end, holding my precious little head to make sure it's still attached to my neck. Jericho's fingers run through my hair as he pulls back, pressing his lips against my blubbering mouth. My mind immediately goes blank as the taste of red wine slips between my lips, lightly licking the tip of my tongue before receding back with a small pop. My eyes grow wide as my heart performs back flips for his all seeing piercing, half lidded blue gaze to see.
"I was terrified, Jackie," he admits, sick of hearing my one sided panic as he taps his forehead to mine, "I thought my clock had stopped when I found out you were that fish, and that I was about to be the one to end your delicate life. I was and still am furious at that s***ty Dupre for dragging you into this conflict when you have nothing to do with it. I'm only glad that ... you are here in my arms, safe and sound from further harm at the time being," Jericho hesitantly continues, pulling me into a tight hug. I hide my flushing face from his line of sight in the crook of his neck, staring at his adam's apple bobbing ever few minutes with nervous gulps. My body almost immediately starts to relax in his powerful embrace, melting into his soft warmth. I feel so ... safe. When was the last time I felt safe while hugging someone, especially in this kind of position?!
"Thank you, Jericho." I whisper, hesitantly returning the hug around his shoulders. His hands tightly press against my back as he sets his forehead to my shoulder, deeply inhaling.
"I'm so glad you're safe." He breathes, again pressing his lips to my skin but this time against my neck. I melt into the affection softly exhaling as his hands comfortingly rub my back. Heh ... I like Jericho. I could tell he was obviously freaking out before. He's done so much for me but I have hardly done anything for him.
"Yeah ... but I don't think I can ever eat fish again." I lightly comment, trying to repay him even a little bit through some bad humor. He dryly chuckles, keeping me in his embrace.
"I wouldn't expect you to," he hums as again his soft lips touch my shoulder, "No wonder he wanted to hold the meeting here. He was planning to watch me eat you all the while knowing that fact, and probably at the end say something cheesy about it. I'll bet he was hoping through my depression he'd be able to get his hands on the Train Station." He says rather emotionlessly as his hand lightly rubs my back in a soothing motion.
"I was nearly eaten and that's what you think about?" I respond, more so curiously than horrified. I should be terrified at that fact but ... if anyone were to end up eating me I'd prefer it to be Jericho.
"Well it explains why he was all smiles tonight." He says with a softened smile. His fingers gently comb through my hair as he tugs at the threads, kissing my cheek. "You need your rest. I hope you'll be alright if you take a break from the Train Station for a few time changes, yes?"
"B-Break? But I have work there." I immediately say as an automatic answer. Why take a break?
"As do I and every other mafia oriented family will be doing for a while until things are settled." He points out as he softly pinches a subtle line down the back of my head. I shiver with delight and hold back an embarrassing hum, silencing it in his shoulder. W-What was that?
"Y-Yeah?"
"So you will be taking a break from the Train Station for a little while."
"B-But my work ... ," I continue. But I work there and I can't take breaks whenever I want.
"You can work here. I've always thought the Art Museum needed a woman's touch." He pleasantly hums as he repeats the same stimulating touch down to the base of my skull. A heated sensation radiates through my body as I pull myself closer into his embrace, encouraging the strange touch. That feels strangely nice.
"F-Fine." I finally cave, trembling with a faint flush. W-What's gotten into me? I'm pushing myself right up against a mafia head! Jericho smiles and combs his fingers through my hair, igniting the fiery sensation as he touches his lip to my earlobe.
"Excellent. I look forward to your hard work, Miss Jackie."
‡
Uh oh ... who else thinks Jericho's using a bit of his sexiness to influence Jackie? And I do wonder how things will proceed from here on out~ How will Nightmare react to her leaving the Train Station and do you think Blood will die down a bit after this explosive show to Jericho that Blood means business? 20 REVIEWS for the next since this is the longest chapter I've ever written.