A/N: Prep for the last chapter of transitioning. Also bear with me. I'm sick and addicted to The Walking Dead as of now.
Chapter 12: Thinly Veiled Death Threats
Kim's hands rested on her stomach as she woke up early. It was a pleasant winter day. She got up and dressed in a black sweater and jeans. Sam was probably already gone.
Ding dong.
Who the hell was at the door at this hour?
She stumbled downstairs and glanced at the mess she would get to clean up. Surprisingly, she wasn't upset about having to clean it up. It had been fun with her sister, watching soap operas and eating. They reminisced about high school and their parents, talked about their jobs, and laughed their heads off at jokes they had made.
It had been fantastic. But it was over and now she had to sober up.
She opened the door. "We don't – "
"Kimberly Cordial," her boss said. She'd never learned his name. "I'm firing you."
"Okay," she said, her stomach boiling. "Thanks." She attempted to close the door but he caught it with his foot. "What?"
"I need to come inside, Ms. Cordial," he said roughly. She scowled and opened the door. "Thank you."
"Whatever," she muttered, walking to the living room. "Why did you need to come in?"
He chuckled. "Lazy bitch, I didn't need to. You're just stupid."
"Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit. Now that you fired me I don't need your fucking insults," Kim shot back. She was done. He simply smiled at her and turned to her.
"I like a girl who's feisty," he said. She simply glared at him.
"You're a dick," she said. "I'm glad you fucking fired me."
"Honey, let's not cuss," he said. "I'll have to keep you in line." She raised her eyebrows, unsure whether to take it as a challenge or a threat. "See, all of these military girls… they're too tentative or too manly. You aren't a military girl, though."
"I'm fired. Great. Now leave my house, asshole," she fired back. He pounded the palms of his hands into the wall next to her head. "What are you doing?"
"I own you now, bitch," he muttered. She gritted her teeth and slammed her fist into his chest. It didn't seem to do anything, though, and he didn't move.
"Get off of me!"
"Come on. Don't be so discouraged. You'll have a nice army boy after you get – "
Hands wrapped around his neck and threw him to the ground. Kim stared at him, biting her lip so hard it bled.
She sank down to the floor, the fear finally registering and making her knees less than functional.
Acacius picked up the man and aimed his free fist at his jaw. It made contact with a crack. He set him down and let him wobble on his feet. "Get out of here, Mr. Helsen, and I won't kill you."
"Who the hell are you, blondie?" he spat, blood falling down his chin. "A pretty boy? What, you sleeping with him, bitch?" Acacius punched him again, but it was sloppy and his nails scratched right by his eye. "Shit!"
"She is not a bitch and I am not a pretty boy. We are not sleeping together and I will tell your boss about this," he said, taking out a recording device from his pocket. "Get out before I kill you."
Mr. Helsen, as Kim had learned, scoffed. "You couldn't kill me."
Acacius raised his eyebrows and cracked his knuckles. "Do you want to try me? I'm plenty pissed off right now. I'm looking for a punching bag."
Kim sprang up and pulled his arm away from his face. "Don't. I don't want trouble. You should have let him go before." He tried to shake her off but he didn't. "Leave," she directed the man. Wiping his mouth, he did.
Her first question she wanted to ask was where the hell were you a few nights ago. But that wasn't the most begging question she had. "What was that?" was all she could sputter out.
"I'm going to kill him," Acacius said. His anger had gone down – he wasn't flipping out – but it was still there, and it was scarier when it wasn't apparent. Now he wasn't threatening. He was promising. "I am going to kill him and it will be better."
"You don't mean that," Kim said. "And even if you do, don't do it. Please. It will ruin me. After he – "
"He is not able to get away with it," he said. "It's not okay."
"Calm down," she said. "Please."
He closed his eyes and exhaled. "Okay."
"How'd you get into my house, you creep?" she asked, hitting him. He managed a small smile.
"Back door. It really was open this time. Your sister didn't lock it when she went out." Kim figured that it was a legitimate excuse. "I'm sorry. I must have scared you."
"I… he was more," she said. "Can I sit down?"
"Sure," he said, taking her by the elbow and walking her to the couch. "Before you say it, I'm sorry. I was caught up with my dad. I tried to see you last night but you got off too late for my break. I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "That's not important. Why did you – I never thought of you as the type of person to beat someone up… like that."
"I'm my father's son," he said ashamedly. "But yes, I get angry. And that was unacceptable. I'm reporting it to my – to the General tomorrow morning. But are you okay?"
She nodded. "Um, yeah. I'm fine. I don't understand… why?"
He shrugged, looking her over. Once he'd decided that she was fine, he relaxed into the chair next to her. "I told you that I cared about you."
She snickered. "When was that? Does your secret recording device say that?" He looked down and took it out of his pocket. "That's kind of weird. Do you record everything I say and replay it as you go to sleep?"
"You could say that I do it as I go to sleep," he said, raising his eyebrow suggestively.
"Innuendo. I dig that." He smirked. His eyes didn't leave her, though. "What's your deal now?"
"I want to make sure that you're okay. Is that a crime?"
"It is when you keep looking at me," she answered darkly. "And if you were so busy, how'd you just now get away?"
He sighed. "Alright, I'd better tell you how my days went so you can believe me."
XX
"Mrs. Beautiful," Ramir mused to his advisor on the way to a public address. "That's what the town means. But it was featured in the artwork, so might it have a double meaning?"
His advisor sighed. "Maybe the girl is the same girl on the statue and it was a commemorative piece to the beauty of the town."
Ramir perked up, grateful for someone to spitball ideas with. "I thought that too. But then I saw the events and researched the girl who it was modeled on and neither of them have anything to do with Belladonna. I think it's a cry for help – what happened to it?"
They had driven by the piece of art but it wasn't there anymore. On top of it was another piece of words. "What is this?"
It seemed to repeat the same words over and over, but he couldn't be sure. "We should stop…"
"We don't have time for this, Mr. Patel," his advisor said impatiently. "We need to get to the meeting."
Ramir nodded sadly, but not before he could snap a picture with his phone. He'd return after work.
XX
Etsu and Marcus were playing together on the carpet in front of the teacher. They liked to build up block towers and see who could make it the highest.
"How's mommy?" Etsu asked politely. Marcus shrugged.
"She's okay. She's not around much. Your mommy?"
"She's getting fatter," Etsu giggled. Marcus smiled and placed a red block on top of an orange one. "New daddy says I get to be a big sister."
Marcus thought that over. "They were yelling last night. It was scary." Etsu looked up, her black bangs scattered across her little forehead. "Yelling and screaming. Saying mommy wasn't around enough. But I'm okay! I don't need to be argued over."
Etsu handed him a block and pointed to where she wanted it. He obeyed her and placed it carefully.
"Sometimes mommy and new daddy scream. But it's not angry screaming," she said. "It's usually at night and Sally sighs and says they need to get a room. But I don't get it because they already have a room."
Marcus giggled. "Sofia tells me that means they're 'having sex'. And if we come in they'll be mad so just play for a while." He picked up some more blocks and handed them to Etsu. "Do you want a brother or a sister?"
Etsu smiled. "I want a brother because you're so nice." Marcus smiled and they continued building. "Another sister means another person sleeping with us and it's cramped already."
"Your sister and my sister are friends," Marcus commented. "Sometimes she comes over. Is she nice to you?"
"She's nice enough, but we aren't friends because she's so old." Marcus frowned at that.
"Sofia and me are friends. But we've grown up together." The two nodded as the building crashed down. "Aw man!"
"We have to start over," she said, pouting. "Alright. Let's start with the green on the bottom and work our way up to orange."
XX
Sam and Gabe were on their lunch break. And for them, that meant holding hands while eating their lunch.
"How was your sister last night?" he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich. She shrugged.
"Good enough. Asked about you enough. It was really cute. But she likes that kid a ton and he didn't show up." She twirled some pasta onto her fork. Gabe retied his ponytail. "You think you'll ever cut it?"
"My gorgeous hair? Never," he said, laughing. "I like it this long. It gives me character." She nodded, unable to conceal her smile. "Come on! Give me a break!"
"How's your book doing?" she questioned, changing the subject. He smiled. "Don't tell me – did you get it picked up?"
"I submitted it. I don't know if anyone will pick it up, but I can hope, right?" he asked. She smiled at him. "Ah, princess. You're beautiful."
"That was unexpected," she commented.
"It's true." And they kissed each other quickly before returning to light banter.
XX
"I hate you for not letting me get drunk," Kim said. "It would make this a hell of a lot better and easier to take in."
Acacius laughed a little too loudly. "I want you to remember me pouring my heart out. And thinking about it will make it better. Doesn't time heal all wounds?"
She giggled. "It's not a wound, it's a mental scar. I don't like thinking about my boss." He looked at her.
"What did he say to you before?" he asked. She frowned at him. "I'm asking because I want to compare and contrast to my father. I always had a hunch that he was a military man." She smiled and flipped onto her back. They'd spent the entire day talking on the couch. Acacius mentioned how he should be getting back the entire time but he didn't.
"That I'm a lazy, stupid, worthless bitch," she replied, smiling. "I have half a mind to think it's true the way you talk to me."
"Shit, do you think that?" he asked. She nodded as if it was apparent. "I don't mean that at all."
"You don't?"
He shook his head. Lying back, he looked at her. "Not at all."
"Hm. So do I compare to your family?" she asked, unable to conceal her grin.
"Definitely to how my father talked to my mother," he said. "Difference is she was just as terrible back." She nodded. "You want to hear a really weird secret?"
"I love secrets," she said.
"Alright, I have two completely separate identities. My father named me Acacius Katsaros and my mother named me Asa Keenan."
She started laughing. "That's pretty fucked up. Did you have two different personalities too? Like, was it spying?"
"No, but they both had some crazy rules. Like my dad didn't allow me to use my last name. Said it was shameful. He was raised strictly Greek Orthodox and they don't have last names for some reason. Well, that and a ton of other weird shit."
"Like using you as a slave labor force and making you work out for ridiculous hours?" she asked. He affirmed that.
"Exactly like that. And my mom was totally into witchcraft. She had all of these books talking about black magic and it was totally creepy. We couldn't say her name in the house and I had to draw weird black marks on me once a week."
Kim kept laughing. "You win the award for the weirdest family. Hands down." He joined her in laughing.
They settled into a silence. It wasn't awkward because they were staring at each other and Kim finally realized what everyone talked about in the way that he stared at her…
"God, stop it," she said. "I'm okay."
"That wasn't what I was staring at," he said. "You aren't… you're not lazy or worthless or stupid or ugly or anything. You're the opposite. You're capable and hardworking and smart and beautiful."
She didn't know what to say and she blushed. "Your father's wrong about you," she countered. "You're better than him."
"I know. The question is if I'm good enough for you."
Kim remembered what Sam had said about him. About making the first move. But that wasn't something she knew how to do…
"What are you thinking about?" he questioned. Her pulse quickened when she reached over and took his chin in her hands.
"Impulses," she explained, kissing him. If Acacius had any protests to it, he didn't mention them. Instead, he allowed his hands to touch her back. She realized that he hadn't really touched her.
It was definitely a good thing.
XX
"We're going to do it the old fashioned way," Phoebe explained patiently to Frances. "Since you are incompetent to find her love and I just got a giant drop in my power which means something happened with him. And there is a him. He has just been hidden by his witch of a mother!"
"Don't call names, Phoebe," Frances said.
"No, a witch actually cloaked him. When I try to find him I get blonde hair and a freaking hologram," she said. "Watch." She shut her eyes and the blue figure appeared, waved, and disappeared.
"She's dead," Frances said.
"I got that, too." She got up and paced. "We need to find her."
"Why do we need to find her?" Frances asked. "There are other ways of balancing the power. If we cause something else sad – "
"What else is sad but a boyfriend being taken away? And don't tell me that they're not together now because they are. After that much, they are." She closed her eyes. "You are not allowed to be winning. When good comes, it benefits you. And you're a bad witch. That makes you a bad person."
Frances frowned. She didn't think so. At that moment, she felt fantastic. Now that Kim was happy and safe, she felt fantastic.
But Phoebe would make sure it didn't stay that way for long.
"We track her and locate him. And then we ruin his life."
Frances nodded, not knowing what else to do.
XX
Isabel managed to make it home from work at a good time. The kids were there already and Ben was on the couch, but she was able to make dinner. She had called up Carlos and he accepted the invitation.
"Hey, kids," she said, "do you want to give me a hand with the dinner?" The two nodded enthusiastically and hopped up to join her. Benjamin also joined her but for a different reason.
Wrapping his arms around her hips, he whispered into her ear. "Are you sure it's okay you're home?"
"Positive," she answered. "I invited Carlos, too. I hope that's okay." Benjamin nodded against her. "Is macaroni okay?"
"Definitely," he said.
The four cooked and joked and talked. Isabel learned that Marcus was very cordial to his friend Etsu and that Sofia had painted a wall on the side of city hall for class. Benjamin had gotten a promotion at work.
Their savings were growing.
As the macaroni was finishing, the doorbell rang. Sofia jumped up to get it and greeted Carlos.
"Hey, sweet pea," he greeted. "Sorry I was late. Had a meeting with a new friend."
"Oh?" Isabel asked. "Who was it?"
"You wouldn't know him. An Acacius Katsaros. Nice kid. And it smells like macaroni and cheese…"
XX
Jessica had a terrible headache. Geoff and his sister were at her trailer, shouting something at her. But she wasn't concentrating. Her meds were messing with her.
The withdrawal symptoms had all but gone away. Now it was the crazy side effects from her pills.
She needed to go to the doctor, she realized. "Look," she said, "I'm too tired for this. Could you come back tomorrow?"
"No," Marissa said viciously. "We need answers. Why were you in the hospital? Was it against my divorce?"
"What the fuck? Of course not. I don't care about your marital affairs. All I was doing was getting new meds," she argued, trying to close the door. Geoff caught it.
"Then what are the bandages for?"
"You're a shithead," she said, ripping them off. "I tried to kill myself, okay? I'm in a better place now, blah, blah, blah… So no, I wasn't trying to impede your divorce. Are you better now?"
Geoff sighed. "You realize what happens if you reveal that, right?"
She nodded. "Yeah, his business is ruined and I disappear," she said. Marissa smiled triumphantly. Jessica's stomach curled at that smile. It was such a jerk thing to do. But she wasn't good enough to protest it.
Money fueled the city. If you had it you were home free. If you didn't, well, you'd better find someone with money or become unassuming enough that no one would bother you.
"Good talking to you, Jessica," Geoff said, motioning his sister to go to the car. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here. You probably need this for hospital bills or a new place or something – "
"I don't want your blood money," she said. "I don't want your 'shut up' money either. So get out of here before I call the cops."
Geoff nodded. "Are you sure? This could be a bad decision."
"To hell with it. I don't want your money. Goodnight." She closed the door.
She'd thrown all of her alcohol out. Starting over was hard but it was easier than going back to what she'd been doing.
Starting over was good.
Jessica was going to be good.
XX
Sam had a hunch over why her sister was smiling. But she wouldn't tell because that would be impolite.
"Well, Kim's certainly in a better mood tonight," Chastity commented, her nose in a book as always. "Is there a reason for that?"
"None," Kim commented. Chastity had her suspicions. Sam grinned at her when Gabe walked back in.
"Why's everyone in such a good mood? Can I be in on this grand joke?" he asked, resuming his normal spot next to Sam.
Chastity shrugged. "You wouldn't know him. You're too busy with Sam to notice."
Gabe frowned. "So it's a guy, then?"
"Definitely," Sam said. "I was about to fix them up but it seems as if they did it for me."
"No, I was already planning it. See, we just need to find him first."
"Then why isn't he here?" Gabe asked Chastity. "Come on. Fine. Kim, what happened to you today?"
"I was fired. My boss came to my house and assaulted me over it," she admitted. Sam smirked at her.
"And?" she pressed.
"And," she said, getting up to get her stuff and leave since she was starting her job search tomorrow, "Acacius and I made out."
Gabe laughed and squeezed Sam's shoulder. "I'm happy for her," he whispered. Sam nodded and smiled at him. "But I'd like to get to know him…"
"I'll bring him along soon," Kim called, walking out the door.
XX
"Where have you been?" Acacius' father demanded.
"Out," he replied simply, refusing to acknowledge him. He also tried to face away from him. Smiling was a secret.
And Acacius could not have secrets.
"For the entire day?" his father inquired. "You realize the punishment for that, correct?"
"Yes," he answered plainly, taking off his jacket. "What should I do to repay my absence?"
His father left his computer and walked up to his son. "You sure have grown up, son."
Acacius scoffed. "Duh. I'm twenty-two, dad. I'm not the senior that you brought to this town." He shifted his weight and looked away. Looking into his fathers' eyes meant a threat. Threats meant losing.
And he didn't like to lose.
"Which means you've got a girl," he said. "That's all of your excuses. That's why you keep trying to leave."
"Sure."
"Alright, then. Who's the big man, now?" his father asked, a dark look forming onto his face. "You've got a girl and a job and an apartment. Look who's winning now?" Acacius frowned, unsure of what to make of his conversation. "Here's my bet: you keep her for a few months. Then she gets tired of you, just like your mother. Dumps you off with me."
Shut up, he thought. But he didn't say anything.
"Did you tell her about why we moved here yet? About your two personalities? About how much of a terrible person you are?" he continued.
"Yes," he said. "She knows."
His father laughed. "Well, aren't you a brave soul? I doubt you told her why we moved."
"You told me not to tell," he said quietly.
"Yeah, but if she's your girl, you will eventually. And how will she react to that? Will she react like your mother?"
"Stop it," Acacius said, turning around. His father caught his shoulder and turned him around to face him. "What do you want?"
"I think I remember telling you to not make relationships here," he said. "You disobeyed me."
"You don't own me."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that."
XX
"How are our finances?" Timothy Riley asked. He and his wife were sitting at the kitchen table, going through their receipts and income. Vivian ran a hand through her hair. "Do we go over by at least fifty percent?"
"Well, since we consolidated our apartments and sold my furniture… we're close," she said.
"There?"
"Close," she repeated. Timothy exhaled slowly. "We have to think of all of the things we need to buy for the baby. There are cribs and diapers and food. We need to think logically."
He organized some papers. "But we have the money for the house. What if it gets bought? What do we do then?"
"But we need supplies for the baby," she repeated.
"We don't have room here," he said. "Etsu and Sally already complain about each other." Sally heard her name and meandered over to them. "Hey, baby."
"What's up, Sally?" Vivian asked. She sighed.
"Dad, I'm hungry. Can Etsu and I have something to eat?" she asked. Vivian jumped up and opened up the refrigerator. She hopped up on the stool next to Vivian.
Vivian smiled at the girl. She was so jealous of that hair. She doubted she'd ever let her touch it…
"How about… some peanut butter and jelly?" she asked. Sally sighed.
"Vivian, I'm allergic to peanuts," she said.
"Don't call your mother that," Timothy said automatically. Sally rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. What do you want to eat?"
Sally smiled. "I'd like some toast with cinnamon on it. Etsu said she wants some of those mini cracker things. And, mom, I wondered if you would like to help me go shopping this weekend."
Timothy looked over at them and nodded. Etsu toddled up next to Sally and smiled. "Me, too!"
Sally picked up the girl and set her on the stool next to her. "Yeah. We can have a girls' day. Is that alright, daddy?" she asked.
Vivian turned to Timothy and beamed. Timothy, however, frowned. His daughter was not that way. She was generally disinterested in all things to do with his new wife.
"That'd be perfectly fine, Sally. It was nice of you to offer that. You can shop for new baby clothes, too." Sally looked up at Vivian and raised her eyebrows.
"Do you guys know the baby's gender?" she asked. Timothy smiled and nodded. "Tell me! Come on, daddy!"
"You girls are going to be the older sisters to a little brother," Vivian revealed. Etsu jumped off of the chair and started running around.
Sally chuckled. "She's been hoping for a little brother." Etsu returned and Vivian gave her a bowl of crackers.
"Etsu's going to be a sister! Etsu's going to be a sister!" she screamed. Timothy laughed and told her to be quiet. Vivian handed Sally a piece of toast she'd prepared. She bit into it and held her thumb up.
Vivian returned to Timothy and sat on his lap. Sally skipped over to them and put her finger on a piece of paper.
"Vivian, I remember you mentioning you put Etsu's things into storage. Might you be able to use some of that even if it's suited for a girl? I mean, if you're having issues with money." Vivian and Timothy looked at each other, beaming. "And if that means we get to buy the house, dad, we still have some of my stuff in the garage, too. I was a very… boyish toddler."
Etsu waited patiently by her sister. "My Chen?" she asked.
"Chen. I like that name," Vivian commented. "Could that be it?"
Timothy considered it. "We'll look through other options but… I like it." The family smiled. A perfect family, Timothy mused. My wife and me with our three beautiful children.
A family doesn't have to be blood. It just has to have love.
XX
"Do you think we're family, Justin?" Tara asked. They were at his fathers' house again. It had become their unofficial hangout.
"Whatever you want, babe," he said. She frowned and turned to him.
"No, it's not whatever we want. Are you really… do I really like you?" she asked. Justin turned to face her, his face frowning too. "I think… we should break up."
"What?" he asked. "I didn't…"
"We aren't romantically inclined," she said. "I'm sorry. I want to still be friends."
He didn't say anything and she left.
XX
TL;DR: Kim gets assaulted and kissed. Not by the same person. Ramir thinks about the graffiti which was painted over. Etsu and Marcus talk about adult topics. Sam and Gabe have lunch. (Kim gets kissed but that was mentioned.) Phoebe and Frances plot to find Kim's boyfriend. Isabel and family invite Carlos over for dinner. Marissa and Geoff talk to Jessica. Sam, Gabe, Chaste, and Kim hang out. Acacius' father gets angry with him. Timothy, Vivian, and family grow closer. Tara and Justin break up.
If this is getting slump-y, I promise it will get better. Next chapter things should start to spiral if I plan it right.
THANK YOU MY LOYAL LOVELY FANS ;)
XX