Do or Die
Chapter 8: Something Wicked this Way Comes
"A sudden change results in apathy- I couldn't let me fall apart, 'cause with time comes understanding, with understanding comes a change of heart…"-Anchor and Hope (Monty Are I)
A full two months had passed since meeting Arty McDaff and then his wife Linda; Linda was a beautiful kind woman who acted extraordinarily motherly towards Raven and eventually to Robin. She claimed it was because she never had any children but could see those dearly wanted children in their eyes. It was rather strange to have someone care for them when Robin and Raven were used to estranged feelings from those around them, although they always played the charming couple there wasn't much time to really socialize when you're busy putting up a normal front while killing significant people in the world's society and remaining anonymous enough.
And then it was somehow a miracle that they could do all of that and remain sane, just like it was a mystery how Linda and her husband got along so well. Some kind of twisted irony brought the woman with a full kind heart into the grasps of a deviant overambitious man. Linda stayed oblivious to her husband's malicious ways and his ever growing lust for the forbidden woman next door who just so- unfortunately- happen to be Raven in this case.
Not even the sheer amount of time Linda spent with Raven could open her eyes to the way her husband openly leered at Raven's figure at all times of his visits; and there were many long visits where the man would simply sit in their living room or hover over the women as Linda constantly chattered about the randomest things. The sweet woman clung to Raven like gum on the sole of her shoe, claiming it was so good to finally meet someone she could actually talk to and not have to rely on interpretations or the hope that they knew some broken English or could understand her equally broken French.
Raven could sympathize with the woman to a certain point but when all day was spent in the constant motherly presence of the woman while she chatted on and on about mindless things Linda wore on the naturally meek and more often than not anti-social girl. It was taxing, like a full time job, to take care of the needy woman but at the same time Raven couldn't even come near to disliking the woman as much as she knew she should… life was funny that way, and anyway it wasn't Linda's fault her husband was a perverted pig or that she was so hopelessly clingy.
It was strange though, speaking in English when after so long it had been constant French outside of their home. Even Robin had become accustomed to the constant rushed slang the French used that he was ever so slightly put off by the proper, slow, and broken way the McDaff's spoke. Life was defiantly taking a turn for the unexpected and Raven couldn't tell if it was in a good way or an utterly horrible disastrous way. Only time would tell if the constant questions from Linda would wear on her to the point where she might do something rash or just plain kill her husband for being the sick bastard he was.
"So darling, like I was saying, I found this adorable little baby store just outside of town and that got me wondering. When are you and Jean going to start a family? You've certainly been together long enough to have considered this and my sweet, you're more than financially secure to provide for the little dears! I want grandchildren soon so you and Jean get working on that my lovely Cécile. You won't get any younger." Linda ranted to Raven one day at the local café blissfully unaware that Raven had spit out the tea in her mouth and proceeded to choke. Gee what a thing to zone back in on after gaily watching the clouds float by unaware of anything else in the world. Raven couldn't help but stare wide eyed and terrorized at the prospect the crazy old woman had thrown at her! Her? Kids? With Robin?!
The thought brought a giggle of hysteria bubbling up her throat and out her mouth, to which Linda probably took as a happy gushing one by the way the woman beamed. "Children, Linda? I couldn't- we couldn't- possibly have kids! We're much too young." 'and totally not even in love plus how would you explain to the babysitter where you're going that you might never come back: "…and the emergency numbers are on the fridge. Oh yes dear, one more thing if we're not back by morning we're dead and the target was not annihilated so be a love and take the children to The Academy where they'll learn to be future assassins. Don't forget to tell them their mommy and daddy were the best and that they loved them very much, it'll encourage them to be bloodthirsty little beings! Ta, ta, have fun now!' Raven protested promptly having regained full function of her mouth, mind, and lungs, suppressing the rest of her shocked opposition and dark humor
She bit her tongue against the wild accusations that threatened to sputter from her mouth knowing they would hurt Linda deeply when all the poor woman was trying to do was be helpful… even if it was in her insane batty old way. But really she couldn't let the poor woman be disillusioned when she and Robin didn't pop one out for her. Why just the thought of children left Raven cringing and resisting the urge to run for the hills. She's be the insane mother who shows up to the park with her kids wrapped in Bubble Wrap and a helmet, "Okay darlings go have fun!" letting the little tykes waddle away from her and to the jungle gym... Because she just knew that, that bubble wrap is as enduring as cockroaches and even if her kid were to fall from the monkey bars they would just bounce around and eventually stop like a turtle on their backs.
"Too young?! Too young my dear, why in my day we were expected to marry as soon as we were finished with high school and start a family as soon as that happened! Darling you've been with Jean for far longer than any girl could possibly be and you're still in love after all this time, just imagine the joy you'll bring to Jean when you bear him a proud son to carry on his name- your legacy! And look at you both you're both so handsome and sturdy and elegant; your children will be gorgeous little geniuses!" Linda prattled on about how much children were a blessing and such ridiculous nonsense in Raven's mind- and there was some strange nonsense in Raven's mind. Raven could only sit there and try to listen to the woman as she finished her tea her mind now drifting away from the moment and the though of kids to what she would do later in the evening when Robin came home and they could finally have some quite time; something so much safer than the prospect of kids.
"Surely you love children, don't you?" Linda pierced Raven with a hard stare almost waiting for her to disagree with the statement and oppose her. Raven only barely caught the question and put on her best dreamy expression, not that it would be hard after being able to float off to someplace better.
"No, no, it's not that, I love children! They're absolutely adorable." Raven almost cringed at herself and her act not to mention the utter blasphemy that had just passed through her lips but managed to stay composed and keep the twinkle in her eye as she continued. "It's just well… to tell you the truth I'm so uncertain. You know I'm a working woman who not only does all the times that's expected of a domestic housewife but also enjoys the fast life with Jean. I'm just afraid I'll be unsuited for a child and the time and energy required to love and nurture them properly." And as sure as the sun would rise Linda took the bait and dived into a long tirade of 'how dare you even doubt yourself, parenting is in your essence!' leaving Raven blissfully to her thoughts.
It was late afternoon by the time Linda and Raven made their way back their homes under the pretense that Raven had to meet Jean for a date later that night, to which Linda promptly gushed over the sweet sentiment and allowed Raven to escape into her little flat. She leaned heavily against the door closing her eyes wearily and let herself sink to the floor gracelessly just so utterly glad to be home somewhere safe as opposed to with that mad woman who just wouldn't let the conversation over children go… until she heard a chuckle from in front of herself.
"Well you look down right tuckered out." Robin commented as he placed a hand tenderly against her cheek, gently moving a strand of rebellious hair that fell into her closed eyes. Raven managed a small sigh, one that could have been caused by Robin's warm gesture- or as she told herself, just from being exhausted.
"Ugh, you wouldn't believe it! Linda's more than a handful, you know she went on for about three hours today about how we should have children because I was soon going to be going against my "biological clock" and nature. Not to mention how it was somehow going against The Lord's wishes…." Raven's voice reached a new emotional peek just exasperated at the mention of the God. "Boy, she sure knows how to win her arguments by extending them to painful lengths! I almost died from sheer shock at some of the things she said and it's been so long since I blushed like that, I'm still lightheaded!" Raven muttered feeling herself relax after letting go of some of the steam built up in her. It was such a strange comfort to hear Robin's calm and deep laughter. Some where during all the time that they'd spent together, she'd become used to the low rich sound of it and begun to associated it with home and all the things that brought her those brief moments of peace.
"Well, pray tell, Mrs. Déconcerter how ever did you get out of this one?" He teased lightly while picking up Raven's disheveled form from the cold hard ground and moving her to the large wide couch. He sat across the large white couch, pulling Raven in between his legs, and wrapping his arms around her waist. One of her arm strewn carelessly across his muscular shoulders allowing her to rest her head next to it on his chest, her body twisted sideways curled into his. His head resting against hers as she leaned comfortably against him, head under his neck distributing his reverberating voice through her body. One hand lazily traced mindless patters across his lean chest following the still motions of his hand rubbing circles on her hip. They let themselves simply unwind in each other's reassuring presence.
"I told her we had a date…" Raven smiled up at him slyly, eyes lit with mischief as she felt more than heard his rumbling laughter full of mirth where she rested her hand on his chest feeling his heart beat strong and steady.
"Devious little viper. Well you'll have to use your imagination tomorrow when she asks how it went. Down to… every… last… detail." He murmured jokingly wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, even through her slap to his shaking chest.
"Are you insinuating something Mr. Déconcerter? I don't think your wife would like that." Raven snipped playfully resuming her circles now more teasingly than mindlessly, placing gentle open mouth kisses along his neck and jaw, feeling the tiniest of stubble brush against her soft lips.
"Hmm, I think my wife would like that very much… she is, as I've heard, slightly on the kinky side." He countered seductively down against her ear sending rampaging shivered racing up and down her spine. Her skin crawled with goosebumps, her breathing suddenly grew ragged, and her heart forgot how to beat properly.
"Really now… that's quite… generous of her." Raven croaked between suddenly chapped lips and a dry mouth finding herself captive to his dark fathomless eyes.
"Yes, it is. She's quite the wonder…" Robin muttered against the skin of her neck and exposed shoulders were he lazily planted kisses stopping every so often to nibble at the sensitive skin. Time slowed and stopped until it was simply the two of them like some cheesy romance novel. But this was not love, no not love, it was some kind of mutual form of affection, it was simply raging hormones that caused lust… insatiable and fierce making them act the way they did. The game they played had taken an unexpected turn entering dangerous territory where the lines of right and wrong blurred more than ever into all shades of grey some so dark they were almost black.
Hands that roamed freely seeking out naked flesh fueled the violent desire that coursed through their veins both burning and freezing their blood from the spots just under their skin. Breathing grew jagged and uneven in the throws of passion. Lips parted and swollen with need unable to get enough air and the feel of this burning attraction. Those same parted lips that sought each other with desperation, like a drowning man does to keep afloat, their lips fought to keep them from fully drowning mindlessly in this sea of wonton desire through quintessential sensation. There was no more time to think about how they really shouldn't do this because of how wrong it was to even consider it, much less let themselves act on impulses; or how things had suddenly flared from an act to something more… passionate and deep.
Unknowing of just how far this one simple action had been allowed out of hand they continued in their lust induced tryst unknowing or perhaps simply uncaring. At that point they didn't understand much other than the heady feeling that surrounded them at this forbidden sinful act. Only when the timer from the kitchen rang out loud and shrilly did they part and notice with stunned shock the compromising position they found themselves in.
Robin had pinned Raven down into the couch and found himself straddling her slim figure the roles completely reversed. A figure fully disheveled in both physical and mental form so beautiful in his eyes it hurt to look at. He could bet he didn't look much better- composure wise- if worse with her hands intertwined in his hair. Only he knew he looked less than attractive compared to how he found her at this moment her guard down all wanton under him, threatening to crack his newly regained sanity. They both suddenly knew just how wrong this was… the full magnitude of the situation baring down on them like a suffocating weight against their lungs.
Slowly pulling away from her he moved to the incessant beeping in the kitchen with as much dignity as he could muster in his tousled state, leaving Raven behind thoroughly dazed. It took Raven a good few minutes to regain full motion of her body and stop her irregular breathing as well as heart rate threatening to burst from her chest. She then gingerly rearranged her clothing and hair making sure to look as tidy and orderly as she had before… this little incident. It was only years of training that kept her from showing any of her raging emotions on her face and allowed her to walk gracefully and unabashed into the kitchen facing the man who had initiated the full battle, without flinching or even batting an eyelash.
That night conversation between them was just as awkward and the silence just as tense as it had been two months ago with the first appearance of Arty McDaff. In two months the new neighbors had managed to bring them just as many gauche moments as they'd been around; the easy atmosphere around Robin and Raven abruptly bitterer that when they'd first met. They stayed on the far end of their respected side of the bed as far away from each other as they could get, unbearably aware of the others every presence in the suddenly all too narrow king sized bed.
And when morning came, they both got up just as mutely and just as unrested as they'd gone to bed the night before, going through their everyday motions mechanically. Raven even stood at her door and kissed Robin on the cheek as he left for work fixing his tie and coat for him before she closed the door, fully oblivious of her actions. Then fixing her hair into a sleek bun and changing into her attire for the day- a sleek black knee length dress with a large white collar exposing her shoulders- she grabbed her equally large- and in her honest opinion foolish- white hat with a big black bow in the front, she was out, bag in hand, placing her sunglasses neatly on her face.
Then as expected the moment she stepped out and locked the door behind her, Linda peeked out of her apartment still in her nightgown with curlers in her hair and all, just as Raven walked by fully intent on starting her day. "Céci, darling!" she cried enthusiastically ushering Raven in the door. "Come in for a second, dear, there's something I have to tell you." Reluctantly Raven followed her into the small homey apartment, with a large friendly smile firmly in place, accepting the huge and kiss she received on the cheek which she airily returned.
"Hello Linda," Raven greeted properly knowing exactly what would be said in return. "How are you today?"
"Lindsey, dear, none of that proper Mrs. McDaff or Linda pish posh around me." Linda cried spinning Raven around with the one hand she still kept captive in hers, forcing Raven to model the ridiculous outfit for her. "You look absolutely, doll today! I bet Jean didn't want to let you go this morning, now did he?"
Raven blushed theatrically and even threw in an embarrassed smile for Linda's sake, "No, I suppose he didn't." Linda squealed juvenilely.
"Young love! Isn't she just glowing with beauty this morning, Arty?" She called to her husband Raven had noticed smirking at her from the moment she walked in the door. That was just fine with Raven because no matter what nothing would deter her from her rock solid resolve to not to be put off by anything today. She was going to through today with a smile on her face because that's just how bad her day was that if she didn't grin and bear it, she wouldn't go on.
"Simply gorgeous." Arty smiled at his wife ogling Raven behind his wife's back taking in every inch of bare flesh and every curve the dress played off. Raven stood there still as a statue for his viewing and defiantly met his starved stare with a raised little haughty head, nose in the air and all. In a horrible way this new arrogant attitude that Raven had, seemed to turn Arty on even more by the way his smile turned into a twisted sneer. It sent dark shivers down Raven's back while goose pimples prickling her arms and neck, making the little hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention.
"Hmm, well then darling," Linda smiled patting her arms tenderly. "As I said before I have some terrible news to tell you. I won't be able to accompany you anywhere this week. I'm afraid that I have to return to America to tend to my sick sister." Linda looked absolutely crestfallen at having to leave Raven but there was a slight glow to her eyes when she mentioned her sister in America. Raven tried her best to look empathetic towards the woman, giving her a small little smile. Linda seemed to take that smile as Raven trying to be strong without her and without so much as any warning she pulled Raven into a large bear hug. "Don't worry my dear, Céci! I'll be back before you know it! Thankfully she's just caught a bit of a cold, but since no one else is around to take care of her I have to go and be with her for a little while. Arty will be here so if you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask him. I've given him strict directions to help you with everything and anything you need."
Raven had to work hard not to flinch as she heard the woman's "soothing" words and seeing Arty's lecherous grin spread behind her back. Even now with the protection of Linda here Raven could always feel like Arty was undressing her with his eyes, she dreaded to even think of what he would act like when his wife left. But with a determined smile Raven straightened her composure, making sure to reassure Linda that she would be just fine without her for the while she was gone and convince her that she would miss her terribly.
It was half an hour later that Raven finally found herself out of the apartment and walking down the jagged streets of Perpignan towards her destination. Following the complicated twists and alleyways of the narrow streets she found herself in an isolated portion of town where buildings were even more crammed together some roofs overlapping on their neighbors, but still Raven walked on, uncaring for her surroundings. She was traveling to a part of town that didn't need to know faces, and those faces that were seen were quickly forgotten for fear of their lives. Stopping in front of a tall wooden door several inches thick with large iron reinforcements and a brass knocker, all seeming to be carved out of the large yellowish cement wall, Raven knocked. Waiting just a few moments a petite woman came to the door a large smile on her face and when she saw Raven she let her in without a word her smile only growing larger.
It was a silent solemn walk as more dark hallways followed the quite clicking of shoes on the marble floor. The woman lead Raven to a bright outside courtyard where a single man sat seemingly enjoying the sun. Leaving Raven with a small bow the woman turned back into the dark house and disappeared into the shadows. Raven gently approached the man and sat down on his left, he gave her no acknowledgement. Pulling off her hat, allowing her hair to tumble back onto her back like a cascade of dark amethyst strands of silk, Raven removed her sunglasses turning to face the man full on.
"I need your help." She demanded not caring if he still lay pretending to be unaware of her presence. The sun blinding his face into black nothingness against the pale blue almost white sky.
"With what?" He finally asked after several moments, his lips barely moving to reveal pearly white teeth but nothing else. His shadow shrouded face never turned to her, but behind his dark black sunglasses she could feel his gaze burning her from the corner of his eye. Danger always lurked around Raven, and it was probably the only reason he ever agreed to help her, for the thrill of the chase and the edge of adrenaline.
"I need you to find him; our confrontation is long overdue." A cruel smile split black apart, bleeding into shades of oblivion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Teaser: "What are you doing?" Raven felt true fear paralyze her for the first time in years, all consuming and foreign like being doused in freezing water after sunbathing in the Sahara. It flooded through her veins, violent torrents that froze her blood and stopping her heart dead in her chest sending a giant mass of lead into her stomach. She was unable to stop the faint shivers that ran through her whole body threatening to stammer her voice and break apart her fragile words.
"I'm only doing what you want me to darling." Came the voice from the man who now hovered above her pinning her small slight body against his larger form.
Oh God…