"Chert vozʹmi devushku! Vozʹmite sobaku na progulku. On, kak bolʹshoĭ, kak korova!" (Damn it girl! Take the dog out for a walk. He's as big as a cow!) My mother yelled from the kitchen, trying to get me off the couch. Besides going to work, I refused to move. The guilt of my silence was eating me alive and I couldn't bear to face the outside world completely. No, I'm not being over dramatic. A little girl was hurt. I know who did it and I won't tell a god damn soul. Fuck my life.
I snuggled deeper into the woven blanket, hoping the couch would just swallow me whole and suffocate me. I peaked a little, observing the massive beast before me. Stupid lucky dog. Doesn't have to worry about falling in love, or if you're going to jail. You just sit, shit, and sleep. I hate you, you lucky bastard. In response to my evil glares, he rolled over and with a groan, and trotted over to me. He gently laid his head in my covered lap and looked up at me with his big, brown eyes. "Net, net, net. Ne delaĭte etogo dlya menya. YA chuvstvuyu sebya vinovatym dostatochno." (No, no, no. Don't do this to me. I feel guilty enough.)
"Wacha feel guilty about little one?" Pop emerged out of the hallway, and came to sit beside me. I lifted my upper torso so he could sit down, and then placed my own head in his lap while he petted my hair.
"Nothin' Pop. Just life has been wearing me down ya know?"
"Ah, I see." I wasn't going to open up to Pop. Not about this at least. He'd be so…disappointed; nothing is worse than a disappointed parent. I can handle yelling and anger because they'll get over it in a day or two. But disappointment? That's a whole different ball game.
"Oi! Walk the damn dog will ya? Med ? Budete li vy zabratʹ kartoshku dlya menya, pozhaluĭsta ? (Honey? Will you pick up some potatoes for me please?) Mama wasn't going to let this go. I sat up stretching my stiff limbs with a groan. The dog and I stared at each other for a moment.
"Vy schastlivyĭ zverya . Horosho , davaĭte pokonchim s etim ." (You lucky beast. Alright, let's get this over with.) Pop went into the kitchen while I grabbed the faded dog collar off the nail next to the front door. "I'll be back in an hour." I shouted on my way out the door. We both trotted down the porch steps, his tail wagging happily behind him. "Maybe we both need a walk."
It was sunny out, which was a welcomed change. Little puffs of white, surrounded by a blue sky implied that spring was coming soon. The streets were crowded with hotdog vendors, street performers, and of course the usual pedestrians. Gotham is never quiet, especially due to its huge population. It was lively back home, but never this many people. Dog walked happily by my side enjoying the warm air. Ha, dog. We never got around to naming you. Not that you actually care. I looked down at my side; I was met with the familiar sight of honey brown fur covering a huge 140 pound dog with floppy ears and as old as could be. I couldn't help but smile. Jack loved you so much you lazy git.
Suddenly, a talk man shoved into my shoulder. "Woah watch out. You don't own the friggin' side walk." He had a base ball cap the covered most of his face. Instead of answering me, he just barely looked back and smirked at me. His white teeth contrasted against his ebony skin. Was he making fun of me? I was going to retaliate but before I could he turned around and walked in the opposite direction. Ugh, fuckin' people these days I swear. I turned and continued on my walk.
Suddenly, dog started barking hysterically. "BARK! BARK BARK!" He was pulling on the weathered leash and it was almost impossible to pull him back. "Zatknisʹ ty! Sobaka! Uspokoĭsya!" (Shut up will you! Dog! Calm down!) but he wouldn't stop. Suddenly I fell on the side walk with half of the leash hanging limp in my hand while dog ran wildly across the busy street. "Shit!" I quickly got up and ran after him. What the hell is wrong with him! Horns were honking as car halted and screeched trying not to hit me or my crazy dog. Finally, he made it to the other side still unharmed and bolted down the side walk and quickly made a right down another small street.
"Oh for the love of God! I don't have time for this! Dog! Get back here! Uggggh." I forced my feet to run faster, a burning sensation quickly consuming my chest. I turned the corner and stopped, leaning over on my knees to gasp for air. "You *breathe* fucking *breathe* piece of *breathe* shit. I'm gunna *breathe* kill you. *breathe* and put you in a stew! *breathe*" I slowly stood up and I saw dog sitting on the side walk in front of a man who was kneeling in front of him, petting his head a few feet away from me. What is it with everyone wearing baseball caps today? I slowly made my way over there and then the scars came into view and I froze. Oh fuck. Jack stood from his kneeling position and faced me. At first glance no one would have thought that this was the Joker. He was wearing jeans, and a large black jacket with the collar pulled up, surrounding the bottom half of his face while the baseball cap covered the top half. We stood there for a moment, inspecting one another.
With an air of slight arrogance he made his way over to me while dog fallowed happily beside him. "You should-uh haha-buy a new leash." His hands were in each jacket pocket, his stance cocky. The smirk on his face was playful and the look in his eye was seducing. He knew exactly what he was doing and I was just standing there completely at a loss for what I should do.
"Uh…yeah." There really wasn't much else to say and that irritated him. Nothing about him changed accept the look in his eye was more determined. What exactly are you up to Jack Napier? I looked at my dog sitting happily beside him and it looked right. Dog always loved Jack. And this fact irritated me. I snapped my fingers and pointed to the concrete next to me. "Oĭ. Idite syuda ." (Oi. Get over here.) With slight reluctance dog made his way over to me and sat in the spot I pointed too. I patted his head and looked up at Jack. "Well…bye." I turned around and walked away but after a few paces I realized dog wasn't next to me. "Sobaka . Nu vot teperʹ." (Dog. Come here now.) he whimpered bowing his head and you could see the conflict in his movements. Ugh! I can't do this right now…please dog just work with me for once. Please. I glanced at Jack and again his defiant smirk was in place.
He walked over to me and dog excitingly fallowed. Jack stopped barely a few inches from me and took my hand and started walking like he didn't have a care in the world. Is he…is he holding my hand? Seriously? But I couldn't help the feeling of serenity I felt for a split second. To anyone we were a young couple holding hands and taking a stroll with our dog through Gotham. I didn't fight it. I just let my feet go where ever it took me. "So, how ya been beautiful?" and I blushed. This was…this was weird…different…strange…nice.
I cleared my throat, "I've um…been alright; spending a lot of time with my parents. Helping them with the house…the shop is doing well."
"I haven't stopped by your house. I haven't been fallowing you." That surprised me. I was almost sure that Jack-or the Joker-would have stopped by my house at least once. I thought a couple of times that he had passed the shop but immediately shrugged it off. Sadness quickly fallowed my surprise. But I hopped… "You wish I did." I looked up at him startled by his accuracy. Everything on his face screamed happiness and "I fucking knew it!".
I ripped my hand away in embarrassment and stubbornness. "No. I am in fact happy that you stayed away. That's what I told you to do." I sped up my walking, frustrated with myself. Of course, he caught up to me and grabbed my hand once more.
He chuckled at my childish behavior and pushed my hair behind my ear. "You're cute ya know that toots?" I tried to glare at him; I really did. But this playful behavior was getting to me and I felt like we were in high school again. I miss this. We smiled at each other; mine a goofy little grin, while his was all teeth and hooded eyes. And I kissed him. I stood on my toes and lifted my chin; our lips molding together perfectly. This is how I want to kiss. I want it to be just about us, just in a sweet moment. I pulled away and gave his hand a slight squeeze.
"So…umm…"
He just laughed and slung his arm around me. "Let's go home Kat." This confused me. We don't have a home. I have my abandoned apartment and my parent's house. He has…well I don't exactly know. He read my expression and gave a nervous laugh. "I uh…I think it's time I say hey to your folks. Think your Ma will kill me?"
I froze. What. The. Fuck?