If Misery Loves Company

Chapter 10

Syndrome

By Kristen Gupton-Williams

So began life with Shera living in the house. Even if we weren't involved beyond business partners, or friends… or maybe just partners, fuck… I dunno… It was just so damn good to have someone else around me for once that seemed to honestly get me. I could be having the shit worst day ever and still she'd meet me at the door with a smile and a cup of tea. On the days when I was out working on the plane and not flying, I could rely on Shera to keep me supplied with either iced tea or cold beer.

Hell, one day I was out working on the plane and I got real warm and not thinking about it, I pulled off my shirt and kept working. About thirty minutes later, I turned and found Shera standing behind me. The glass in her hand was full of iced tea, and most of the ice within was melted, and the outside of the glass was wet with condensation. Those were clues that she'd been standing there with that glass watching me for quite a while.

That was an ego boost to see how badly she turned red when I faced her and broke her out of her staring.

"See somethin' interestin'?" I said, going over to her and taking the glass for a drink.

She'd shaken her head furiously, the color getting darker on her cheeks. "No… I just was bringing you that drink."

"Usually, you set it down and run back into the house," I kept joking, knowing I had her.

Shera just didn't know what to say to that and looked down at the ground. Then I felt sort of bad and I went over, and patted her on the shoulder. "Just screwin' with ya, Miss Shera."

One of her eyes peeked up at me and I could see that grin come back to her lips. "I know, Captain."

I figured right then that maybe she thought I was something to look at. When I felt a flush come to my own face at that thought, I had to laugh and I quickly turned back to face the plane and get to work.

Yeah, I liked the way things were.

Part of you wants a whole lot more, though, Cid.

I surely did.

Shera was just too good to me. I still blew up now and again from the frustration of the failed launch, but the fact that she gave as much as she did for me, and never with a bit of complaint… Goddamn. She was just fucking amazing.

I did come to appreciate how much Shera started sticking to the house, though. I knew that it was the general way in which she was treated by the people in the town. I'd hoped that they would lay off after a little time had passed, but they didn't.

One week came along that I noticed she hadn't left the house at all and knowing that I needed to hit the bank and get a little running around done, I offered to just take her with me. I figured that maybe if the people in town saw me with her now and again that they would ease off.

Hell, I didn't know, I just was getting frustrated with the idea of her being a prisoner in the house.

We loaded up into the truck and headed out to the bank. Once there, I got the deposit done and handed Shera her wage for the week. I'd picked up a few extra routes that week and I just gave her the extra profit from those flights, since she's really been doing a good job with the flight schedule and all the other things she did for me.

I wished I could give her more.

Anyway, we left the bank and headed on toward the electronics store, since I needed a few components for some projects I had going. As we walked, I heard an unmistakable and drunken voice shout after us. "Hey!"

We spun and caught sight of Gregory and Stephenson in front of the bar. I really wasn't in the mood for any of their shit and I grabbed Shera's arm, pulled her close, and started walking away, hoping to escape the situation. "Let's keep goin'."

The color just drained from her face and she looked at me, afraid, but kept up with me, nodding in agreement.

That didn't end it, though, and Stephenson tried again. "I said hey!"

God, I really didn't want to get into shit in front of Shera, I really didn't. I just went faster. Holding onto Shera like I was, I could feel her shaking in fear and I just wanted to spare her whatever was coming. I'd do whatever I had to in order to protect her.

"You stop right there, you fuckin' inbred, backwoods retard!"

I know everyone's heard the expression about that straw breaking the camel's back and I'm going to admit right here that this was one of those moments. I'd been taunted most of my life, if not to my face, at least behind my back, about being a redneck. I'll admit, I did have some of those tendencies, but I was not inbred and I was not stupid. I decided in that moment that I was going to teach this town a lesson, a good fucking lesson about how they were going to be toward Shera and I from that moment onward.

My blood instantly ran hot and I felt that old fight or flight instinct kick in.

Shera, apparently, felt the change in me as I stopped walking. "Captain?"

I didn't want her to see what I was about to unleash on these ass wipes, and as calmly as I was able to in that moment, I made a simple request. "Shera… head back to the truck."

She shook her head. "I'm not going to leave you here! Captain! There's two of them! Please…"

I let go of her, knowing that she was going to defy me no matter what, but deep down, I didn't want her to see the part of me that was rapidly coming to the surface. "That's an order, Goddamnit."

With that, she moved away from me, at least out of danger's reach. I could hear the two of them walking up behind me.

"You look at me when I'm talkin' to you!" that lowlife electrician yelled out behind me. "Me and Gregory were wondering why you've made that bitch your live in whore?"

The fact that they made such an accusation when I would never defile Miss Shera like that almost struck me as funny and I turned. "The fuck you say to me, boy?"

Stephenson put on that Goddamned snide look of his. "You heard me… Is she a good enough fuck to make you forget what she did to you and your dreams?"

Out in my peripheral sight, I could see Shera standing amongst the others that were gathering around. There was a deep-rooted fear of her seeing what was most likely going to happen. "I think you best walk away right now, Stephenson…"

C'mon… don't make me do this shit in front of her… I don't want her to see this. Please, God, I don't want her to have to see this… What if… what if it makes her afraid of me?

"Or what? I've never seen you fight anyone," Gregory chimed in, in a bit of irony. I guess he really never had realized that it was me who'd beaten the fuck out of him and left him hog-tied in his living room. What a mistake on his part. "You've gotten away with a lot because you're some fucking big time celebrity, but that doesn't mean shit to us!"

There was no way this was going to end peacefully, and I knew it. These two were shit-faced drunk and hostile as hell. They were determined to gang up on me. I just looked back at them, resigning to what was going to happen. "Oh really? You don't think I can hold my own against two drunk fucks like y'all?"

Stephenson tried to intimidate me, stepping right up and getting in my face. He was a big mother fucker, I'll give him that, but that didn't much matter. "What do you think you're gonna do about it, little man?"

Oh Hell no…

Okay, I may be a little sensitive about the hick stuff, but I'm downright short-fused when it comes to my height. My fist was already clenched at my side and had been for a bit, but as he loomed over me, I realized he'd put himself, like the moron he is, right in my line of fire. I swung up, clipping him beneath the chin, forcing him to fall backwards as his world spun.

As my view was cleared by Stephenson going down, I saw Gregory launch himself right for me. In a flash, I grabbed the fucker's right arm and twisted it around behind his back, getting a satisfying pop as it snapped out of joint. He screamed out and fell right to the pavement.

I wondered if he realized then that I was the same one that had taken him out before or not? I didn't get to dwell on that long, though, as Stephenson was already back up and coming for me again. I didn't have time to defend as he swung, decking me. I heard Shera's unmistakable squeak when that happened, but she didn't need to worry, I was just dandy.

For a big guy, he sure couldn't hit for shit and I just stood there, drawing back and clocking him a good one, making him collapse like a house of cards.

I kept my eyes on the two of them for a good long while, wanting to make sure that they were at least smart enough (or hurt enough) to not come after me again. I drew my hand across my mouth, seeing that it was bloodied after doing so. I guess his one landed punch had counted for something, but not much.

With my anger now at a head, I turned to the silent spectators, all gawking at me with their damn sheep eyes. I was gonna lay down the law once and for all. "All right you fucks, you listen up, and y'all listen good…"

They just looked like cattle cornered by a herding dog. What a bunch of mindless retards they really were.

I saw Shera still close by, her cheeks marked with tears. I wondered if I'd just scared her away by throwing down with these two guys in front of her. I didn't want her to think that I was violent like that, because I really wasn't, I'd just reached a breaking point. "Shera… c'mere…"

She nodded slightly, and much to my relief, came right to my side, indicating to me that she wasn't afraid of me.

Thank God for that…

With her next to me, it was time to tell them all how it was going to be. "If one more person in this fuckin' town, so much as looks at this woman the wrong way, I'll fuckin' kill ya! I've had it! Out of everyone here, I lost the most! You don't see me threatenin' her… and I won't, I utterly will NOT tolerate ANY of y'all doin' it, either! From now on, shit in this town is gonna change. Most y'all that are here moved here for the project. I've lived here my whole life. This is MY fuckin' town! From now on? I'm in charge. If anyone's gotta problem with that, we can go at it right here and now, because I've had enough. Any of you fuckers disagree?"

Dead silence. All I could hear were Shera's jagged breaths beside me.

Apparently, my point was getting across.

"Go back to your miserable fuckin' lives and the next time you see this woman here, you tip your fuckin' hat and wish her a lovely mother fuckin' day," I said in closing, still pissed as all hell.

I took a few breaths, making sure that there was no dissention amongst the spectators. After, I looked at Shera, seeing that she was still shaking and visibly upset. "I think I've made myself clear. We're goin' home."

She nodded and we went back to the truck and then home. I didn't try to talk to her during the trip, since she was still on the verge of tears and I didn't want to break that dam.

Once at home, she got me tea and brownies, and despite the cut I'd sustained on the inside of my cheek, I ate and drank. Shera sat across from me, a certain gleam in her eye once more.

Shit… there it is, the White Knight Syndrome again… fuck.

I spoke quietly, trying to get her mind out of that mode, but knowing that it was futile. "I only did it because it had to be done, that's all."

She humored me and pretended that it worked, then asking what I wanted for dinner.

After a fight like that, I needed something filling and I opted for lasagna.

I was informed shortly thereafter, that both of those fucktards, Gregory and Stephenson hauled ass out of Rocket that very night, never to be seen or heard from again.

Sometimes, things work right.