Just to clear things up Jay DID die in that scene. However, he disappeared back into Jackie's mind when she woke up. If she never woke up then he would have continued to bleed and die etc with someone finding him. If you would like a better explanation PM me or write a review asking me and I will explain more in depth in the next chapter. Toodles ma little Chickadees and enjoy~!
‡
I suck in a deep breath and turn to my side on the bed, thoroughly enjoying the comforting warmth trapped in the sheets. This is nice. No noise, no interruptions, no-
"MEIN GOOOOOOOTTT!" Atticus screams from the other side of the room.
"A-Atticus?!" I jolt in the bed, immediately sitting up as I stare wide eyed into the room and lock onto Atticus sitting up from the couch, gripping his hair. W-What the heck?! Atticus searches his body and pats himself down, eyes wide before falling off the couch in a flurry of thin blankets draping over him.
"Nein-! This wasn't a dream?! This really happened to me?!" He shouted, clearly thrown for a loop as he heavily breathed. I heavily breathe out, my heart still racing as I stare at the startled man. O-Oh ... right, he was, uh, enhanced in a way? Growth hormones in the burger? I'm really going to murder Gowland for that. You can't mess with people's bodies like that! Atticus sits up, blinking before running his fingers through his short hair.
"Uh ... um ... this is just ... Oh yes, I should cook! Cooking keeps my mind off things!" Jumping onto his feet, he runs off for the small kitchen I hardly use and immediately snatches up a pan. Cook?
I stare at him before tossing the covers aside, noticing that that I'm only wearing a pair of black silk short shorts and a long sleeved matching top. Meh, whatever. It's not like he's really going to be thinking anything. He's just a kid. I softly sigh and slide out of bed, about to leave before spying my wrench by the bedside. Huh. I must have dropped it last night. I turn around and promptly bend over to pick it up, trying to curl my sleepy fingers around the cool touching metal.
ATTICUS'S POV
"Uh, um, Jacks, what would you ... like ... ," I turn, about to ask what she would like for breakfast before spying her round rear end in the air, the shorts riding up to expose a decent amount of cheek. M-Mein Gott is she not wearing underwear?! I immediately turn away, heat flooding my face. Me-mein gott-! What was she doing?! No-can't think l-like that-! S-She's a really good friend letting me stay in her apartment. I-I can't think like that ... I just can't.
JACKIE'S POV
I lithely snap to my feet with the wrench in hand, setting it on the table before spying Atticus in the kitchen.
"What are you makin' Atticus?" I yawn, stretching before glancing down. Whoops, forgot I took my bra off last night. I trot over to the bathroom, barely casting Atticus a glance as I pass by him. I forgot I left it in there.
ATTICUS'S POV
My blush deepens as I twitch, watching her chest bounce slightly with every step she took towards the bathroom. The moment the door shuts I slump forward, already exhausted. Jackie ... why do you do this to me? No, no I can't think like that! A-Although I wish for her to cover up I don't think she'll do it. Then she'll know t-that I catch glimpses.
My flush deepens as I take out a large pot, staring into the empty sculpted metal. Hm ... should I make potato eggs and meat with toast, or a simple soup? What would Jackie like? The door squeaks open, signaling that she's in the room again. I hesitate to ask before promptly keeping my eyes on the pan. Must not look must not look must not look-
JACKIE'S POV
"Hey Atticus?" I ask, looking over to him as I stretch. Much better. His head snaps around in an instant and stares at me intently. He dumbly stares before shaking his head, forcing himself to concentrate.
"Yeah?" He hesitantly asks. Cute~ he must still be waking up.
"What are you making? You never answered." I say, not even bothering to look at him as I arrange my outfit for the day. It's my day off so I want to dress comfortably. Shorts and a long sleeved black shirt? Hm~ maybe.
"O-oh, well, I wanted to see if you'd like to have a traditional German breakfast with me," Atticus blushes, for some reason adverting his eyes from me.
"Hn? Oh, sure I'd love to." I sweetly grin before heading over to him. I should at least help out a little bit. I may not be the best cook but I can follow instructions. Atticus holds the pan up and bites his lower lip, sheepishly looking at me.
"S-sure ... I'll start cooking right away."
"What can I help with?" I ask, looking over the ingredients he's already gotten. Did he go out by himself to get these? When? Maybe last night after I fell asleep? Well that explains why he took the couch. I'm embarrassed that I accidentally fell asleep on the bed but hey, I was tired. It was a long day. "When did you go out and get these?"
"Huh? You mean you didn't?" Atticus asks, puzzled. I openly stare at him before smiling.
"Never mind. I forgot I went and got these myself." I wonder if the other Atticus went out and got these? She takes another look at the pile, suddenly cautious. Did he poison them?
"You can help make homemade jam. Do you like strawberries?" Atticus asks, sliding a carton of strawberries from the pile of groceries.
"Yes, I do." I smile, delicately dragging the strawberries towards myself. Atticus stares as I pull out a strawberry place the point on my lower lip, lightly rubbing the strawberry back and forth to feel the texture of it. My father taught me this trick to tell if a strawberry is good or not.
"Hm~ these are ripe. They're going to make some good jam." I grin, excited. I glance over to Atticus, noticing his slightly red cheeks before handing me a pot.
"Boil the strawberries with sugar, and be careful not to let it burn"
"Water and sugar?" I ask, holding it in the sink as he watches me. I sheepishly smile and admit, "I've never made jam before."
"Never? I learned from the recipes in the newspapers I read in the coffee shops at Austria, here, I'll tell you the directions step by step," Atticus assures me, "chop the strawberries up and boil them in sugar and a little bit of lemon juice."
"Oh, alright." I smile. I would never have thought to add lemon juice to it. I gently pick up a small knife and slice through the strawberries with ease, letting Atticus start his portion of the meal before I finish and turn to him, "and now?"
"Place it in a skillet over medium heat, stir one half a cup of sugar and two teaspoons of lemon juice into the one quart sliced strawberries and stir frequently until it thickens and bubbles," he explains efficiently. I almost immediately zone out in the middle of his instructions. Alright I heard skillet in that so it's this thing right? As I reach for the skillet my elbow bumps into the cutting board, dropping one of the strawberry pieces. "Whoops."
"I got it-,"
"No, I got it." I says, dipping down as he did. I almost fall forward as his pelvis bumps into my butt, taking a step forward to steady myself. Whoops~ I giggle at the mistake just imagining his reaction.
"GAAH!" He yells, backing away and hitting the wall. "I'm sorry-!"
"Hm? For what?" I ask, staring at him with a puzzled smile. Well I wasn't disappointed. Besides, all he did was bump the back of his knife against me. No big deal.
"N-nothing ... ," Atticus blushes before looking away. Ha. He's so sheepish in the morning.
"Alright." I smile, letting it slide. He's been acting strange ever since he got the growth stuff. I finish up the strawberries, waiting for further instruction.
"Just add the sugar and lemon juice, boil it over medium heat and wait," Atticus says, struggling to have a good grip on a potato, immediately pulling at his collar to cool himself off. I do as I am told, watching as the soupy stuff begins to thicken a bit.
"Alright." I smile, proud of my accomplishment.
"Make sure it grows thick and boils over a little." Atticus says as he pushes over a glass jar. "You can put it in here when it's done."
"Ok." She smiles, eagerly watching for when it does just that. This is cool. I'm making jam with my very own hands. Atticus slowly peels the potato before glancing back at me, probably puzzled about why I'm so excited about watching jam thicken.
"Have you ... really never made jam before?" He asks, clearly stumped as to how it was possible.
"No. My mother never cooked much." I say with a tinge if sadness. No, no I need to concentrate on the jam right now.
"Is that so...? I'm sorry to hear that." Atticus pauses before setting the peeler down, looking around the kitchen for something.
"It's fine," I simply say, watching as it starts to boil over. He stops himself before glancing over and smiling.
"It's done. You can turn the stove off now." He instructions. I eagerly turn off the stove and look at him, making sure it's the right time to pour it in the jar.
"That looks good, go ahead," Atticus says, already finishing the potatoes and beef.
I eagerly pour the jam into the jar, flinching as some of the hot jam touches my skin but finished pouring anyway. Ow I burned myself. Hm ... I wonder how it tastes? I lean down with Atticus watching, dragging my tongue over the spot of jam before clicking my tongue to the roof of her mouth.
"It's pretty tasty but don't we have to refrigerate it?" I ask, turning to a stunned Atticus. "Atticus?"
"Ah...uh...um..." He stares before blinking, trying to recollect himself.
"Well? Do we put it in the fridge or not?" I ask, staring at his face as he starts looking at me cross eyed. Is he alright?
"Yeah ... ," he shakes his head, handing me the lid without looking at me. I take it, glancing over him before screwing it on and placing the jar in the fridge. He turns away, picking up an egg and staring at it. Is he alright? Hm ... he saw me lick the jam off. Oh ... ha. That wasn't too seductive for him was it? No, he wouldn't be thinking that. He's still younger than I am.
"Atticus!" I say, suddenly behind him and he lets out a short cry, almost dropping the egg and quickly cracked it open onto the frying pan. He spins around with a eat red face, staring incredulous at me as I lean forward.
"Are you feeling alright? You're redder than usual." I say, touching his shoulder with the same hand I licked the jam off of. Atticus crazily blushes, looking every which way instead at me.
"Well ... I ... ah ... um ... butter." He says, nervous.
"Butter?"
"I forgot butter, so I can't make scrambled eggs." He blushes sheepishly, looking away.
"That's alright I have a small can of Pam." I say, trotting over to the corner. I reach up on her toes and leave forward slightly, working the can closer with my fingers before prying it off the shelf.
ATTICUS'S POV
My eyes remain glued to her sturdy and curvy body, unable to look away from it. It's just so ... different from other people that I've seen. This is real and lively, not dead and molding. She makes a slight hop, making her shorts flare up a bit. Ah ... yeah, I really don't think she's wearing underwear.
I shouldn't look, it's not right. I look away, taking a small salt shaker and adding a small amount to the egg before turning up the heat on the stove before glancing back at Jackie. "Jackie, you need any help?"
JACKIE'S POV
"Uh, no I'm good." I say as he watches me struggle. Well this is embarrassing. I can't reach it at all. He sighs and walks over, reaching above me. I think it's funny how he got a little taller after eating the burger. Not by much by at least now he's a few inches taller than me. I wonder if he'll continue to grow? His foot slips slightly as he falls forward, pressing right up against my back and pressing me against the counter.
"Whoops, sorry - ... Atticus please tell me that's the blunt end of the knife." I say as he quickly rips himself off and turns around.
"Yes, yes it was! Sorry about that, it was dangerous of me," he says apologetically, setting the knife down on the counter.
...
Why does it smell like smoke?
"Gah!" I cry, diving over him to turn off the stove. I snatch the wooden spoon and stir it up, trying to save some of the burning eggs.
"J-Jackie...!" Atticus blushes as the side of my body pressed up against him.
"Gah! The bottom burned." I huff before flipping the surviving eggs into a smaller pan, beginning to scrape the burnt eggs away. Atticus moves around me, reaching up for the Pam and successfully takes it down. "... I got the Pam."
"Alright." I huff, barreling a spatula against the charred eggs into the trash can. Dang it. Well, at least some survived. I glance over the remaining food, looking forward to what else we're going to make. I can't wait to eat it~
‡
"Wow ... Um ... Atticus, you know we could just have toast." I say as I look over the mass abundance of food. Wow ... we made way too much for just the two of us. At least we'll have lots of leftovers.
"Okay, tomorrow I'll make toast. Hm, what goes well with toast? Ah, ham, bacon, eggs," he says with a smile, listing off some of the things we could eat with it.
"No, no, just toast! It looks hard to make food like this every day." I say, glancing over it. I don't want him thinking that I'm going to be expecting food like this every day. That's way too much to ask of him!
"Oh, it's no trouble, but if you want just toast, then alright. Maybe I can make some jam for it? And homemade butter! Strawberry, grape, apple butter," he excitedly chatters. I heavily sigh out a smile. Well, he's enthusiastic now that there's plenty of food available. That's good at least.
"Yeah, alright chef." I smile before sitting down, deciding what to devour first. It all looks so good!
"I'm a little nervous about you trying out German food. I hope it's to your liking," Atticus blushes, taking a piece of homemade bread and spreading the strawberry jam I gmade, biting into it. I eagerly bite into the potatoes, eyes widening.
"W-wow this is really good!" I shout, eagerly taking another bite. So good! Atticus looks up, still nibbling on the bread. I happily swallow the chunks of meat, flying high with contentment. It's so good ... I've hardly ever had home cooked meals before and this is fantastic! I eagerly grab another slice of meat devouring it on the spot.
"He-hey, careful," Atticus says, pushing some orange juice over to me, "you might choke if you eat too fast."
"Thanks Atticus." I smile before chugging the orange juice. I hope Atticus likes girls that eat heartily and not daintily. Or, in other words, a healthy appetite. Atticus bites into his bread, blushing. I lean back, seeing all the other foods are out of my reach, as I rub my stomach in an attempt to help settle the food. Ow ... ate too much ... but it was so good!
"Did the little maus eat a little more than she could chew?" Atticus cooes as he leans forward with his hands folded over his lips, staring at me. My eyes pop open as my heart jerks. H-he changed? Why?! My head snaps up, spying Atticus dangerously grinning in my direction.
"Oh, maus, maus ... don't look shock, you'll see more of me from now on," Atticus snickers, tossing the bread onto the table, "tch, too sweet."
"More of you? Why? No why the heck did you come out?" I'm not bleeding and there was no gunshot so why did he shift back? He reaches out, snatching a piece of beef and stuffs it into his mouth before lazily chewing.
"No more medicine." He says with a mouth full of food before swallowing the giant lump of foood.
"Medicine?" I've never seen him take medicine before. Has he secretly been taking them?
"Hard of hearing, frau? Medicine for this PTSD issue, and Atticus only thinks it's vitamin supplements, but he's running out, and that means I can come out whenever I feel like it," Atticus darkly grins before taking another hearty bite. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach. Oh man ... oh, no no, that's not good.
"Why do you have so much control on it and your other self doesn't?" I ask, deciding conversation would be best until I digest enough to run for my freaking life.
"He's weak, a pansy, he cares more about others than himself," he explains, stabbing a fork into some potatoes, "I can't help it if I'm stronger. After all, I was only created to deal with the pain."
I remain silent a I study him. I figured as much. I don't think I've ever heard of someone developing a completely different personality though. Maybe he's just extremely bipolar? Oh this is just too confusing! I gently rub my painfully full stomach, trying to digest faster. Oh come on ... either digest or let me poop it all out.
"The little maus ate too much and that's a bad decision, seeing that you can't run around too fast without getting cramps," Atticus snickers, dropping his fork on the plate. He picks up his napkin and neatly wipes the food from the corners of his mouth with a grin. My eyes narrow as stands up. I'm not stronger anymore. If he really wants to he can seriously hurt me. I slide to my feet too, staring evenly at the suddenly intimidating boy. Oh man I'm in a pickle.
"Is that fear I see in your eyes?" Atticus purrs, a slowly broadening sinister smile growing across his face.
"Caution." I quickly correct, nervously swallowing. He grins as I take a nervous step back, getting ready to at least make it out the door. There's a better chance losing him in the park itself than my room. If worse comes to worse though I could book it to the Hatter's Mansion and get Elliot to help me. After I take his gun from him, anyway.
"If you run, I will find you and hurt you more than I intend to give you," Atticus warns, already catching on to my easy to read positioning to the door. My eyes narrow as my feet remain rooted in place. Gosh dang it he's right and I wouldn't doubt it if he can outrun me now too. I flinch as he reaches across the table, brushing a hand over my cheek.
"Ja, now that's a good maus." He purrs with a sadistically crooked grin. I flinch as he grabs my chin, tilting her head up, "now ... what kind of frau are you, not wearing any underwear around a growing man like me?"
"Huh? I'm wearing underwear." I say, puzzled as I glance at my shorts. Whoops. Was he able to look up there? Well, what I'm wearing is closer to a thong really but I'm still wearing underwear.
"It's inappropriate, mein Gott!" He snaps, roughly tossing my chin aside as he pulls back with a disgusted sneer.
"Then don't look." I counter before reminding him, "it's still my apartment that you're staying at." If it bothers him so much then just don't look. Atticus thinks for a minute before smirking.
"Yeah, you're right. This is your domain, not mine." He haughtily chuckles, coming around the table.
"Yeah. So back off." I growl, tapping his chest back. At least for now I can bark at him all I want but I know it's him who has the real bite I have to look out for.
"So you wouldn't mind me leaving, right?" He asks, sliding his eyes over to the door before trying to step around me. My heart leaps into my mouth before quickly stepping in front of him and instinctively wrapping an arm around his to pull him back.
"You can't-!" I start, before letting go and retreating a few steps. B-But if he leaves he could piss off a Role Holder. And then he and the other Atticus would be dead. I ... I can't let that happen. He harshly glares at me and sneers, looking like he's trying to decide whether to kill me now or later.
"Why not?" He asks, raising an eyebrow. Crap I'm stuck. My lips form a hard line as I try to think of an answer. Well he's not wrong. "Shouldn't you be happy, Maus?"
"Just put the other Atticus in." I snap, trying to jump topics. I can't tell him it's because I care for the other Atticus. But why now? It's the simplest explanation and it's the truth.
"If I felt like it, I can stay in control forever. I don't have to listen to you, maus." He grins. Oh great now he's getting all high and mighty just because I can't do much to him.
"But why not? You're safe here." I say, dancing in front of him as he attempts to leave again. His eyes narrow as his eyes become dead and lifeless.
"I don't like safe. You can't protect someone forever." He grumbles, pushing me aside and heading for the door. I stumble back and smack against the wall, freezing. H-Holy crap ... did he really just shove me that hard? My head snaps up, spying Atticus's surprise as well. He pauses, studying my shock before looking at his hand with a vicious grin.
"Hmhmhm ... heheheh. I didn't even try. Perhaps I'm regaining my old strength when my Nazi brethren trained me? Oh, this is too amüsant!" He snickers, heading to the door and taking the knob.
I grit my teeth and follow him out, keeping a few feet behind him. I ... can't lose him. Leaving him is out of the question and I don't want him to get hurt. UGH this sucks! I make no attempt to cover up the fact that I am following him, only keeping a few feet distance so if he spins around on me I will have time to Spartan kick his nuts again. And I'm thinking this time I'm going to crack them open like a pair of eggs. Atticus glances back, scowling at my obvious tailing.
"Quit following me, maus." Atticus hisses, still walking. I frowned and continue after him, taking a few steps back when he turned towards her before openly rolling his eyes and continuing. He huffs, heading straight into the crowded area of the stalls.
"If you think you can lose me on my own turf you're stupider than I thought." I huff, trying to aggravate him. If I piss him off enough he'll chase me. Then, maybe the other Atticus will come out after some time? Yeah, or I pop like a balloon while I'm running with all this food still in me. I could always throw it up but that's a waist of delicious food.
Atticus snickers, shaking his head and weaving his way through the crowd as he heads for the exit. I smoothly follow after him, stiffly side stepping the people. Ugh ... my stomach still hurts. If he makes a run for it I might not be able to catch up. Evil Atticus loose in Wonderland? I shiver at the thought, watching him pass through the exit and immediately take off like a rocket. I clench my teeth before throwing my wrench, watching as it catches both his ankles and dash after him. If I get him on his stomach it will be easier to handle him.
"FICKEN!" He shouts before falling flat on his stomach. I hastily sit on his back, relying on my weight to hold him as I grapple with his powerfully struggling arms. I don't think I've ever wished to weight more than I do in my entire life than right now. He worms and wriggles beneath me, easily lifting himself back up as I struggle to keep him down.
"Just LISTEN to me, Atticus! Wonderland is dangerous by yourself!" I grunt, pinning his shoulders down.
"If I can survive No Man's Land then I can survive this!" He hisses, pushing me off with ease before shoving me against the ground.
"Ah-!" I squeak, clenching my teeth as I glare at him, "Wonderland is nothing like that!" I shout, unsure of what I'm really trying to convince him of. What is No Man's Land?
"Oh? Worse than No man's land? Where you get mowed down instantly? How scary," Atticus sneers, tightly gripping her shoulders, "and to think, this little maus is trying to protect me? How sickening."
ATTICUS'S POV
She tightly grips my wrists in a pathetic attempt to free herself but it feels more like gentle caresses across my skin. Was little maus always this weak? Feh. Pathetic.
"O-Ow, that hurts-!" She cries, obviously struggling with all her might. Now I'm just embarrassed that this woman was able to detain me before with such little hands. Back then I would not be surprised that she could pin me bit now it's the other way around. So small and weak ... it makes me want to hurt her for being so small and pathetic now. And to think I actually held the tiniest bit of respect the older frau because she was stronger.
JACKIE'S POV
"It hurts? Good. I want it to hurt. Such a weak little maus." He playfully teases, leaning down so his face is just above mine. I grit my teeth and struggle against his grasp, unable to even budge an inch. Why is he so strong?! UGH it's annoying!
"Hm... I wonder why maus cares so much for a damned soul like me? It's a waste of time, even I wouldn't take the moment to save myself." Atticus mutters, squeezing tighter. "So tell me, why?"
"Ow! Ow ow ow get off!" I shout, struggling harder against his grasp. This hurts like a motha humpa! He's squeezing my wrists so hard they're going to break-! Atticus tilts his head, tapping his forehead to mine before loosening his painful grasp, but still holds a tight grip, "tell me, frau."
"Y-you're a foreigner. And so am I." I turn my head, trying not to look at him.
"You should look me in the eyes, or I'll think that there is another reason," Atticus mutters against my ear. I try to shrink back but he holds me tighter. There's no way out. Right now, he can do whatever he wants to me and I can't do anything to fight back. My chest squeezes with fear as I look him in his murderous eyes, trying to cover up the panic rising deep within me.
"S-stop." I stutter, my voice trilling a bit from my chest squeezing tighter.
"Why should I, Maus? Are you worried about something? Am I intimidating you?" Atticus smoothly purrs, one hand running across my shoulder and touching my cheek. "Hm?"
" ... I said let go." I breathe, feeling a strange tingle crawl across my skin as he repeats the stroking motion. I don't like being pinned down. Or touched. Or made to feel weak. And this guy is doing all of that without even trying. It's making me mad how weak I am against him.
"And I said tell me." He counters, his eyes softening a tad from the hard, cutting edge murderous gleam his eyes alone normally hold.
"Y-you're going to get hurt. That's why." I unwillingly admit, looking him in the eyes as my breathing slows. I didn't want to tell him the truth because he's just going to say 'little maus cares for me? Disgusting' or something along those lines. Atticus leans in, staring into my eyes before saying with a straight face, "I was shot at, exposed to danger every minute of my life, saw my comrades die the most gruesome of deaths ... I think me getting hurt is the least of my worries, or anyone's worries, but then little maus wouldn't like that, would she? But why? Other than being just another Foreigner," he clarifies, trying to find the root of why I want to help him so much. Why do I want to help him so much? This side is selfish, cruel and murderous. But his other, true side ...
"Y-You're sweet. And kind. I ... I'm only doing what I wished someone did for me when I first got here. I was terrified, Atticus. I still am of this place and I wanted to do everything in my power to stop you from suffering the same fate." I shakily say, staring into his eyes to show I'm lying in the least.
ATTICUS'S POV
"Such a sweet answer." I miff, uncomfortable by her honesty. I run my fingers through her hair, sighing as I tightly took a fistful and watched her face cringe in the pinching pain before loosening my grasp. Mein Gott, she has me in a corner. This might be the first time I don't want to hurt someone who was so honest. Everyone else I watched be burned or stabbed repeatedly with a smile but now I don't have that desire for her.
Ficken, she cheated! She has the soft, innocent gaze that reminds me of the frightened children hiding in the shelters, the look in their eyes when I alone turned on my company and slaughtered them for trying to kill the children. They were Germans too, but it was their parents who betrayed us Nazi's so we were to kill them all. Instead, I strung up my comrade's guts and told the Nazi's that we were attacked by the Americans and spared the children.
Those children were glad to have someone protect them when no one else wanted to.
"You're ridiculous, frau ... " I mutter, clenching her hair in my fist again to see her grimace in pain before the children's blubbering thankful cries reverberating in my ears loosen my fingers. Ficken what a cheating American doing this to me ...
JACKIE'S POV
I remain silent, chest squeezing. So embarrassing ... honestly why did I just say that? Now he thinks I'm crazy. Oh to HELL with what he thinks! My soft, honest gaze hardens as the defensive layers of my pride are thrown up, locking away the fear and heartache.
"But then again, I did the same thing, helping others when no one was there to help us," he says, a different emotion glazing over the layers of his eyes as his fingers lightly combed through my hair. I stare at his face struggling to place a name to the emotion slowly twisting his features, my chest apprehensively tightening. Huh ... he's helped people? Well at least that makes him somewhat human.
"What I do next, you better not mistaken it for something else!" He hisses, making my heart skip a beat. Oh no what is he going to do? My eyes widen as he leans down a tad, hesitating as he closely studies my eyes. I jolt as his lips press against mine, firm but soft. K-k-k-kiss?! I freeze stiff as his fingers tighten their grip once again, firmly holding my head in place as he tilts his head. He pulls back for a small breath before angling his head to deepen the kiss.
"Hn, hmph!" I whimper beneath his lips, jolting as he tightens his fingers in my hair. Ow that hurts!
"Wir sind gleich zu Selbstlosigkeit an andere zu kämpfen," he boldly purrs, drawing back before leaving another kiss at the corner of my mouth, "wenn nicht für Umstände, könnte ich euch geliebt habe." I flinch, alienated by the struggle of love and hate in his words. What on earth is he saying? He forces my head to the side, sliding his tongue into my ear before withdrawing and licking it. I try to move away but his death grip on my hair tightens, pulling out a few weaker strands as a warning not to move, "wenn Sie die anderen mich mögen, akzeptieren mich ... dann ... Ich kann dich lieben."
I gasp, breathing harder as his lips press against the corner of her jaw. W-What the hell is he saying? I don't understand at all! I jolt as he leans in again, sweetly connecting our mouths before parting his lips. Something warm and smooth slides along my lower lip before he pulls back with a hazy eyed poker face.
"Schön," he chuckles before glancing down. His eyes widen as he jumps off, "ich bin ein Idiot! Wie konnte das so schnell passieren?!" He trembles before blinking, gasping, "Uwah! How did we get out here?!"
My hand immediately covers my lips as I stare at him in shock. He-he-he-! He just kissed me?! I thought he always wanted to kill me and then he goes and does something like that to me?! Atticus glances to the left and then the right before finally looking at my flushing face.
"Jackie? What happened?" He innocently asks, staring at my wide eyes. My lips tremble as I struggle to get out even a squeak. K-Kiss ... kiss ... a freaking psychotic kid kissed me. I curl into a ball and thump my forehead against my knees. Hell I don't even know what I should be feeling right now!
"J-Jackie?" Atticus crawls over, unsure of what to do as his bright eyes remain glued to my face, "Jackie, is something the matter? Does your stomach hurt that much?" Scary ... I take a deep breath before looking up with a sheepish smile.
"Yeah, it does." I regretfully say. I shudder from his voice being so close to me, sliding my fingers over my moist ear. He stuck his tongue in my ear. Ew~! It's still wet too! I rub my ear against my shoulder, trying to get all the saliva out. So gross! How is that even remotely sexy?!
"Uh ... um, then we should get that taken care of," Atticus says as he gets up and holds his hand out for me, "let's go home." I cringe at the sight of his hand but otherwise take it and let him help me up.
"Y-Yeah." I stutter, following after him. I openly stare at the hand that held my hair so tightly, unable to stop the inevitable shivers crawling through the crevices in my spine. R-Relax. He's normal now. My gaze slides over his firm, slightly chapped slips before shivering.
He reaches for the door to my apartment, letting me enter before him. I silently pass him and immediately lay down on the bed, hugging my aching stomach. It feels like I have a freaking food baby in here. Atticus hesitates by the door before walking over to the bed and taking his seat near my head. My heart skips a beat as he reaches over, gently sliding his hand back and forth over my belly. Why is he ... ?
"Remember when I ate too much and you rubbed my stomach? You helped me a lot." He sheepishly says, noticing my rigid position despite his attempts of comfort.
"Right ... ," I mutter, staring at the ceiling. I almost forgot about that. Maybe I was being too forward doing that but I had innocent intentions. And so does this Atticus. I slightly flinch as his hand slides under my shirt, never going near the boundaries of my upper ribs and softly rubs my stomach. I heavily sigh and close my eyes, enjoying the feel his warm skin against mine. He's so kind ... I slightly grunt as his hand pushes down a little harder.
"Hn...not so hard...," I mutter, sounding like I am on the verge of sleep. Did I doze off for a few minutes? The hand pauses before roughly shoving down into my stomach, nearly making the food all instantly come up. I gag and curl up, immediately protecting my vulnerable belly before rolling to my side and away from him.
"T-That hurt!" I cough, tightly holding my stomach.
"So frail, maus," Atticus chuckles, watching me rub my belly in an attempt to soothe the pain, "I believe I like you best when you're in schmerz."
"S-Sadist." I growl, curling into a protected ball. Dang it ... I still can't move very well. Atticus hums, taking it as a compliment.
"Why thank you." He chuckles. I tremble as I hug my bloated belly, hiding it from his hands. I am never eating so much again in my life. This is terrible! He has complete control here!
"Awe~ does the little maus need her belly rubbed?" He teasingly coos, gripping my arm as he rolls me onto my back. I remain curled up in a ball, still gripping my stomach as I glare at him. Jerk.
"If the maus wants it gentle, then perhaps I can be generous?" Atticus muses, pushing my hands off and harshly rubs my stomach. With each hard push the undigested food lurches towards the base of my throat, threatening to be expelled if the painful pressure isn't let up soon.
"Ow! Ow ow!" I shout, struggling to wrestle his hands off but he easily sweeps my weak arms aside and continues, "that's hurts get off!" I spit, curving my spine as I struggle to get him off. OW! If he keeps this up I might actually throw up! His hands vanish as he falls back, clutching his own stomach. An insane fit of laughter erupts from his throat as he madly cackles, thoroughly entertained with my pain. I grit my teeth and sit up, glaring at him. Freaking jerk. His eyes coolly fall over me as a wide, crazed smile spread across his lips.
"Ich mag kleine Maus. Ich mag kleine Maus in Schmerzen," Atticus smirks, getting onto his knees and immediately pins me to the bed, "I wie kleine Maus wütend, ich mag kleine Maus Angst. Ich frage mich ... Was wenig Maus sieht wie zu weinen?" My eyes narrow as I struggle to move. Dang it ... dang it! Why does he have to be so strong?!
"I'm curious to see all kinds of emotion on your face, maus," Atticus purrs, his grip tightening.
"Get off!" I growl, shoving his shoulders back before he quickly and efficiently gets his control back.
"Why should I listen to a helpless little maus?" He asks as gently raindrops thrum against the window. My eyes glance past his face, spying the tiny droplets quickly multiply into streams down the window. Oh great now it's raining. Nothing like a little storming to set up a murder scene.
"I wonder what face you'll make if I do this?" He purrs, leaning down with an evil grin. My eyes narrow as I cup my lips, feeling his mouth tap against my fingers. His eyes flash, clearly angry with my small show of defiance.
"I don't kiss kids." I haughtily growl. He surprised me the first time and I'm not going to fall for the same trick again.
"You think of me as a child, maus?" Atticus asks, studying me before faintly smiling, "so are you."
"I'm older." I bluntly huff, giving up on struggling for the time being. I'm only wearing myself out. I need to wait for him to relax and then let my energy out in sharp, violent bursts if I have a real chance of getting away.
"And? Being older matters? Not to me it doesn't." He grins, rubbing his thumb in circles against my wrist almost as an attempt to soften my callous look on the matter.
"Respect your elders," I snap, grasping at straws to keep him distracted. Rain taps harder on the window, hardly catching my attention. I hope it doesn't start storming soon. If it does ... oh then I'm just screwed.
"I kill them, Maus." Atticus chuckles, fondly look into my eyes. Well, at least he doesn't want to kill me at the moment but it's him getting into my pants that I need to be aware of. Maybe-
BOOOOM-!
ATTICUS'S POV
"How fun! It sounds like bombs going off, doesn't it maus?" I look through the window over her bed, watching it flash with light from a nearby lightning strike with a vicious grin. So many memories this brings! Ah~ this is perfect. Having an attractive frau beneath me with the storm banging up a ruckus outside and the noise, oh the glorious noise of the bombs going off and the screams and limbs flying everywhere-! Ah~ so much bliss.
BOOOOOOM
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Jackie shrieks without warning, wildly throwing her hands up and thrashing. "Let me go! Let me go right now!" She screams, struggling to break my grasp. I bulk, startled by her renewal of energy before scowling. Thinking my distraction will give you a chance to flee, maus? Clever, but you are no match for my Nazi might. I hold her down, ignoring her kicking and screaming. The traumatic look in her eyes says it all, startling me before I drink in the favorable look. How beautiful. Does she realize now the true danger she's in?
"Stop it! It wasn't my fault!" She screams at the top of her lungs. "He pushed me out of the way THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO!" She shrieks, the agony shredding her sanity apart piece by piece behind those illustrious eyes of hers. Her chest heaves as her breathing falters ever few moments, threatening to send her over the edge of reality. My eyes narrow as I hold her wrists over her head with one hand, gently cupping her thrashing cheek as her mortified eyes glue to the outside world through the window.
"Little maus, why do you scream so beautifully?" I ask with a smile, gently stroking her flushed cheek. I don't like the fact she's screaming and I don't know why. I would rather know why she screams than just listen to it - even though either way is pleasant.
"Please, please stop mom! I swear I didn't mean to - he, he tripped, mom please-!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM
She let out another soul wrenching scream as she weakly struggles with my grasp, wriggling her torso around. I roughly sit on her hips, tightly gripping her jaws and force her to look at me.
"And? What about your mother, little maus?" I sweetly coo, trying to be patient with her. I want to know why she screams like this, and how I could recreate such powerfully, emotionally motivated screams in the future. I've never seen her scream so loud before and I like it.
"Please, please no!" She repeatedly shouts, tears glistening in her eyes as she looks everywhere but at my face. My excitement drops to a disappointed pout before I tightly grip her jaws and force her to look at me.
"Look me in the eyes, maus and tell me why you scream like this." I demand a little more coldly. Pay attention to me. I'm your captor here. It's impolite to go off screaming in your own little fantasy and not let me be the reason behind it. Her eyes continue to blindly scan the room, almost as though searching for someone important to her.
"Feh. You are a stubborn, annoying frau." I growl, sliding off the bed. She immediately got to her feet, making a dive for the closet. I yank her back and curl my arm around her neck and waist, pressing her back flush against me as I stumble over to the door with her struggling. Ficken her legs are strong. My cheek twitches into a smile as I force her forward, watching the tears spill over the rim of her eyelids. But I will always be stronger.
"If you don't tell me I'll push you out." I playfully threaten, leaning back as she kicks the door in an attempt to get free. I sneer and kick the back of her knee before slamming her against the door, watching her face warp into complete, wide eyed horror. Still this woman does not look at me, even when I have her subdued in my grasp.
Her face twists with absolute horror as she leans back into my chest, weakly clutching my stomach as she tries to retreat from the door. She furiously shakes her head against my chest, making me hum. I like this frau struggling against me. It's very ... pleasant, particularly to imagine, having her weak form trying with all her might to flee while I will always be in control. It's cute to imagine the bursts of hope she gets, right before I crush them along with her spirit. I sneer at her resistance to speak, slowly turning the doorknob
"Oh? Maybe I should leave you outside. Unless you want to talk." I kindly offer, feeling her buck against me. I slide my other hand to her face, covering her eyes and force her head against my shoulder. She's so cute when she struggles this much.
"No, no stop!" She desperately pleads, making me hesitate from the sheer trill coating her voice. Her eyes moisten beneath my fingers with stubborn tears as she intently listens to my breathing, seeking for any sense of mercy. She looks and sounds like she's on death row but still has a ray of hope. Her dainty fingers dig into my shirt before I pry them off, gently nudging the door open with my foot. Not yet. I'm not going to let her go until she will cling to me with every sense of desperation this little body of hers has. Only when she'll undoubtedly cling to me without ever thinking of fleeing will I relent.
She will learn here and now to rely solely on me for her safety and sanity.
Sheets of rain pour onto the cobble stone path as I edge her into the street, keeping her beneath the overhanging roof but touch her foot to a nearby puddle. Her breathing quickens with crippling fear as she leans fully back into me, trying to hide her eyes in my neck. I grin, still keeping her in a choke hold and move the hand over her eyes to her hair. I take a thick chunk of hair in my fist, forcing her teary eyes to look into the striking thunder and lightning.
"Come on, frau, here we are, outside, where you're completely vulnerable." I coo, shivering from her body pressing against me, clearly relying solely on me to help her. Not yet. I want to push her and see the last bit of hope and freedom she has be dashed away and stay with me, desperately pressing against me as I hold her from shattering apart.
"No, no stop it!" She screams, trying to break free from me.
"Not yet." I murmur, pressing my lips to the corner of her jaw before staring into the storm myself. She's so cute, having such a terrible fear like this ... who could have imagined that the woman who easily took me out before is frightened senseless by a little thunder and lightning?
"Please stop!" She shrieks, trying repeatedly to retreat back inside so she can hide. Stop it, frau. I'm the only one that can save you here. If you run and hide beneath a sink, trusting that pathetic hunk of wood to protect you I will tie you down out here and watch you scream to your heart's content before screaming my name desperately.
"It's too late frau, what you fear is now here." I hum, pushing her away from the house. Tying her up out here actually sounds like an excellent idea. And when I free her, out here in the middle of the storm, she will cling to me and me alone.
"No, no no-! NOOOOO!" She screams at the top of her lungs before dashing right into the storm. My eyes widen, shocked. She ran into her fears instead of into me?!
"Hey, stupid Frau!" I shout before dashing after her, roughly snatching her by the hair and rip her head back. She gasps and drops to her knees, sobbing hysterically as she hugs herself. I sneer in disgust, tightening my grip as she barely acknowledges her hair on the verge of being ripped out of her skull. How dare she! How dare she try to comfort herself when I'm clearly so much stronger!
"I will teach you not to act so high and mighty, stupid frau." I spit, dragging her thrashing body by the hair to a nearby thin metal pole. The lightning is a ways off so it won't strike here; yet. I will tie her up here and wait for her to beg and plead before I let her go. Yeah, that sounds good. I'll leave and hide close by so she thinks I leave. Ha! Perfect!
She digs her nails into my hand before I whip her around, smacking her back against the metal pole before gripping her belt and force her to sit. She loudly wails before clenching her teeth, never looking me in the eye as she searches the thundering skies for her angel of death. I roughly sit in her lap and unbuckle her pants, forcing her arms behind the pole before I tightly buckle her hands together.
"No, no stop!" She shrieks, petrified as she heavily breathes. I tighten the belt around her wrists and grunt before leaning back with a gently smile. No, I don't want her moving at all. I reach down and slip off my own, snatching her hair before forcing her head against the pole. "PLEASE! STOP!"
"No. This little frau needs to learn her matters," I grin, soaking in the pleas with joy. Despite the cold rain her desperate screams send warm tingles down my spine, making my eyes roll back in pure pleasure. So sweet ... I will come back once she screams my name and begs to me come back.
"Stop! I'm so scared, so scared!"
"I know." I sweetly smile as I lean forward, kissing her blind eye, "but this is how you will learn to love me, my little liebe." I cutely coo before standing up with an excited grin. She'll call my name. I know she will. I just need to be patient.
BBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM
"EEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK!" She screeches at the top of her lungs, desperately kicking the ground and wriggling against the restraints. Jackie lifts herself up with her feet, curving her spine up, down and side to side but her neck and arms remain firmly tied by the restraints. I smile, pleased with my work.
"Stop, stop it please! Let me back inside-!" She loudly wails, her chest madly heaving with traumatizing horror Ha. You'll never get out of those without my help, frau. My grin widens, imagining how she will scream my name before skipping away to a nearby corner and hide behind it.
"PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME!" She continually shrieks, making my blood crawl with anticipation. Say it ... scream my name as loud as you can, frau, and then I will help you. I tightly grip my biceps, waiting for her to say it. Say it ... say it, woman!
BBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM
Her crying wails grow more and more desperate as disappointment begins to settle deep in my heart. Why won't she call out for me? I'm here, keeping her under my watch. I'm the last one she saw so she knows I'm in the area. Does she hate me so much she refuses to call out to me? No, no that's not it. That frau will call for me like the Hündin she is any minute now. I just need to be patient.
"JACKIE?!" A deep, male voice shouts, startling me. Someone else is out here in this storm? Ficken! I didn't think anyone would be here. I whip around spying the annoying orange haired man kneeling beside her with his gun pointed to the restraints. It two quick shots the restraints come undone and she slumps to the ground, covering her eyes as she wildly screams and cries out in fear.
"A-AHH! Ah! AH! AAAHHHHH!" She wheezes out sharp shouts of spine tingling fear, hugging herself as she struggled to piece her mind back together.
"What in Wonderland happened to you, Jackie?" He asks, gently cupping her cheek. D*** you ... how dare you! She would have said my name at any minute! My eyes narrow as I trot over to the man, glaring at my foiled plot. Curse him to the deepest pits of hell for this-!
"E-Elliot~!" She loudly sobs, her chest frantically heaving as he wraps his arms around her.
"Hey, hey shh. It's alright now." He softly comforts as he hugs her close. My chest squeezes as I grit my teeth, watching as the man wrongfully comforts her. D*** you, kanin! She was supposed to scream my name, and rely on me to help her-!
Elliot quickly gets to his feet, still holding my frau close before dashing through the path towards her apartment. Ficken! Curse that rabbit! I growl under my breath and chase after the man, wanting nothing more than to run my blade through his throat. He ruined everything. I had her right where I wanted her, and then he had to come and set her loose. The b****** never pauses as he slides through the door and closes it, immediately grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her shivering form.
I stumble inside and shut the door, glaring at him as he comforts her. No, wrong! You weren't supposed to interrupt, you stupid kanin! He dashes around the room, shutting all the blinds and flicking on the light before kneeling before her and covering her ears with his hands. She terribly trembles with fear as she hugs her knees, letting the tears run freely down her face with softened sharp cries of fear and despair. How disgusting, another man touching her-! Elliot glances up, his ear twitching as he spies me. His eyes tighten as he stands up before softening, clearly having an internal war within himself as to how to act towards me. This kanin will die for ruining that moment!
"Get away from the frau." I spit, imagining perfectly his face before I tear off the skin and make his corpse unrecognizable.
"Excuse me?" Elliot crossly says as his eyes narrow. His hands over Jackie's ears slowly retreat as he sets a blanket over her, watching as she hugs it and hide her face. He softly studies her trembling and hysterically sobbing form as Elliot's eyes dangerously glide over to me. Ha. He's a smart kanin to realize I'm the reason for all this.
"What the ficken are you looking at?" I sneer towards the kanin.
" ... Why was Jackie tied to a pole during the storm?" The kanin numbly questions, sliding a finger through Jackie's red bangs before watching it fall against the other soft wet threads. I throw my head back before lurching it forward, resting my hands on my knees as I stare at him with all the frustration and sanity of a mad man.
"Because of me." I proudly grin, tilting my head as I assess his reaction. Go ahead. Try to kill me. I will run my blade through you skull and merrily splatter your guts all over the park. His eyes narrow as he turns to me, studying my prideful grin.
"What did you do to Jackie, punk?" He coldly asks with ears level. Ha ... ha, hee hee! I like him. He can see my cold, murderous gaze thirsting for blood. Ha! Ha ha ha! I like him! And I can't wait to kill him.
"I threatened her, pushed her outside and tied her to the pole, listening to her screaming terror as I waited for the lightning to get closer." I let out a coughing laugh, sliding a hand through my wet hair as I slide my blade out of his view. Go ahead and charge me, Kanin. His eyes angrily flash as he dashes forward, slamming his forearm into my chest. S-So fast! I painfully huff as the kanin smacks me against the wall, clicking a gun to my forehead before I can open my eyes again. He freezes, eyes caught up in indecision as he pushes harder against my chest. Ficken, I can hardly breathe-!
"I have a short fuse. Do not test it." He warns with a feral snarl. My eyes widen as I feel myself fade before becoming new and innocent.
"Ow ... ah ... what-?" I mutter, looking around the room before spying Elliot's maddened gaze. My chest tightens in fear as my lips tremble, frightened by his murderous glare. W-Wait-!
"I said. Do. Not. Test me. If you hurt Jackie like that again I will more than happily splatter your guts all over the wall!" He sneers, sending frightened tremors down my spine. H-Hurt her? No, you've got it wrong-!
"Stop ... ! No ... ! I don't even know what you're talking about!" I shout, mortified he would accuse me of such a thing. I would never hurt her! No, never ever! Elliot's glaring eyes only become more livid as he leans in, getting right in my face. The smell of carrot frosting never brought to mind death more at this moment than any other. S-Stop I'm scared-!
"Then take a look at the couch and tell me what you see." He dangerously growls, roughly dropping me to the ground as he steps aside. I flinch, feeling my head pound as I slowly crawl over to the couch. Why the couch? What's going on? Everything freezes as I spy Jackie's terrified form under the blanket, shivering. Her soft crying send daggers into my chest as I hesitantly reach out to her, watching her soaking wet form expel more and more tears of fear and small wheezes of terror here and there. My eyes grow wide as my mouth opens, gasping as I immediately lurch forward.
"No ... ! No, Jackie what's wrong?" I ask, watching as her grip immediately tightens around the edges of the blanket, biting her lip in a feeble attempt to stop crying. I gently place a hand on her head, ruffling her hair softly, the other hand stroking her cold cheek, "It's okay, Jackie ... it's okay."
"You think you have the right to say that, after what you did?!" Elliot roars, digging his fingers painfully into my hair before ripping me back. I let out a sharp cry as he spins around, smashing my skull against the wall. A scream fills the room before I hush it up, clutching my broken skull in my arms as I curl into a ball on the ground. T-That hurt! What did I do? I-I didn't do anything to her, no, I would never do anything to hurt her, of all people-! Elliot growls before his ear perks up. He stares at the door, clearly torn before leering over me.
"You've gotten the picture. Hurt her again and it will be you who is the mess - all over the f***ing wall." Elliot deathly threatens before promptly leaving, casting a glance back before exiting and shutting the door. I shake my head, continuing even when it causes me great pain. My hands clutch either side of my head as I stumble to my feet, smacking against the couch as I struggle to keep my footing. Jackie, Jackie what's wrong? Please, please oh it hurts but Jackie, Jackie is so scared! Because ... because of me?
"I'd never hurt her! Never ... ! Never!" I hug Jackie's trembling body, crying into her shoulder from both pain and confusion. My head aches, feeling as though it is on the verge of falling apart from the aching and hot throbbing torturing my head. B-But Jackie is crying. Elliot said it was my fault, but I don't understand-! "Jackie ... ! What's going on? Why...? I don't understand anymore!" Her fingers refuse to let go of her legs as she holds herself, unable to quiet her sobbing.
BBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM
"EEEEKKKK!" She nearly shrieked, hugging herself tighter. My heart pounds with numbing fear, tightening my arms around her. I'm right here, Jackie, so please don't be frightened.
"I'll always try to protect you ... ." I promise in a small mutter, moving and hugging her tightly. She trembles in my arms as her never ending tears gently soak and absorb into my sleeves.
‡
Awe~ Atticus is so cute when he isn't trying to murder her. 15 REVIEWS for the next chapter because this one is over 10,000 words which is basically two chapters in one which is all ready to go :3