I recently re-discovered my love for one of my old favorite bands, Poets of the Fall so I wrote a quick drabble based on their song Late Goodbye. I wanted to play around with one of the villains in the JN universe that wasn't Strych (who tends to be my favorite to write about), so here's a vague attempt at using a different antagonist for a change. I didn't really know where to go with this (experiencing some bad writer's block these days, so this ends on a rather abrupt/not great note. Maybe I'll pick it back up another time)

L: LATE GOODBYE

The devil grins from ear to ear, when he sees the hand he's dealt us
Points at your flaming hair, and then we're playing hide and seek

Even in the darkness, he feels her eyes on him. He continues to look straight ahead, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The radio is on at the lowest possible volume, functioning as scratchy white noise. He catches the word fugitive and immediately turns the damn thing off. He's already on edge, and he can't afford any missteps at this point. The road stretches out ahead of them for miles. If they were using the hover-car, they'd be getting places much faster, but that's far too risky.

The cold autumn air has found its way inside, even though all their windows are shut and the heater is on. Cindy is visibly shivering in the passenger seat. In a gruff voice, he manages, "There's an old leather jacket in the back."

Wordlessly, she twists her body to retrieve it off a stack of chemistry books and various power tools. She draws it around her, letting it sit on her shoulders instead of actually putting her arms through.

"Thanks, Neutron."

He shrugs. "No need to thank me."

"Look, I know you're stressed—" She begins. He cuts her off abruptly. "Stop right there. I'm not in the mood for a pep talk."

"What's gotten into you?" She snaps back.

"Cindy, let me be frank." He pauses. "I didn't want you tagging along."

"Tagging along? I'm not a kid." She points out. "You needed help. How could I leave you to the mercy of the authorities when you didn't even commit the crime?"

"In case it's not evident, I'm perfectly capable of driving. And you're not doing anything just sitting there, anyhow."

She sighs, looking out the window at spades and spades of long, twisted trees.

"Does it ever occur to you that sometimes...I just...want to be with you? Even if I'm not," she puts up air quotes, "a genius like you."

Not this again.

"Have I not made myself clear about how I feel? Or are you just in severe denial?"

"What the hell?" She glowers in the moonlight. In his peripheral vision, he catches sight of her clenched fists.

Calm down, Neutron, you need to sell it better.

"Is that really a conversation you want to have right now?"

He nods his head. "I'd really rather not."

"Yeah, I thought so." Disgust dripped from her expression. "Considering you just screwed me not two days ago."

Oh shit. He has to backtrack. Apologize.

"Sorry." His face contorted from hardness to a kind of sheepishness.

"Wow, might the Great Neutron repeat that again?"

God, she's insufferable. Hot, he can admit, but utterly insufferable. The obnoxiousness keeps him from appreciating just how alluring she really is.

"I appreciate you trying to be there for me, I really do. I'm just tired and anxious." That should keep her happy for now.

"Pull over."

He didn't like where this was going.

"What?" He feigned innocence.

"Pull over. You heard me the first time, don't play dumb."

He listened to her. At the next exit, he got off the highway and put the car in park in the abandoned parking lot of a half-torn down strip mall.

"What have you done with him?"

"Cindy, what are you talking about?"

"The real Neutron can be an idiot, but he's never cruel. You must be the evil clone back to frame him for revenge."

"Maybe you just don't know me as well as you think you do." He offered. She'd caught on too quickly!

"Where is he and what have you done with him?" A note of panic crept into her voice.

"Now, now. I'm starting to think the lack of sleep is getting to you."

"I should have realized it right away. How could I have mistaken you for him?"

The clone laughed maliciously. "We do have the same charming good looks."

"Shut up." She barked. Is he okay?"

"I guess we'll find out by the end of the night, won't we? Personally, I'm hoping we'll get to say a late goodbye. How does it feel to be screwed...twice?"