TIPPING THE HOURGLASS
By Mooncatx the Bliss Crimson
Widowmaker woke to the warmth of a male body tangled with her own. True to her training, she lay limp and languid, eyes slitting open the most minute amount, to take assessment of her situation. She felt… flushed. Heat seemed to pervade every inch of her body. Not quite a fever, more of a… why was her heart beating so rapidly? Despite herself she squirmed in distress, only to have the sleepy embrace of the man she lay with gather her closer, half snored, half whispered endearments dropping into her loose tumble of hair. Eyes now wide open, Widowmaker cringed and eased herself away from Gerard LaCroix.
Non…!
Like a waking nightmare, the horror she felt was like a wash of sickness. Oh… She feltit. She FELT! Was this some dream? A nightmare? She dragged a hand over her nude flesh. She shuddered at the sensual input. Oh! She was… sensitive… Biting her lower lip, she felt the sharpness of her teeth. Sliding away from Gerard's sleeping grasp, Widowmaker left the bed and stood, reorienting herself. Scent… the musk of sex and cologne mixed with perfume. Sound… the rush of early morning bustle of Paris, familiar as the beat of her own heart. Sight, the dim of pre-dawn in what appeared to be a small apartment bedroom. The bathroom was down the hall, just as she remembered.
On silent feet she padded to the sanctuary of the small apartment bathroom and locked the door behind her. Slender fingers flicked on the light switch, and she stared at the small mirror above the sink. Tousled black hair, pale skin like a porcelain doll, eyes a light amber brown, like whiskey in a glass, held to the light…
Dieu…
What had been their home AI when they'd just gotten married?
"Selene, tell me today's date… Quel jour sommes-nous ?"
She asked quietly, voice hardly more than a whisper. Closing her eyes as the crisp, light feminine voice answered.
"Aujourd'hui, nous sommes le vendredi, vingt-trois décembre, deux mille soixante-sept"
"December 23... 2067" Widowmaker repeated in disbelief, she gripped the sink in front of her to stay steady.
A little more than eight years in the past. Not long before she had been taken by Talon. Gerard was still… alive. And… so was she.
Looking at her reflection, Widowmaker saw the confusion and dismay bleed away as she accepted that no matter how incredible her situation was, it simply was. Why or how she could not guess, but she was not a victim to simply let events roll over her. She would be cautious. She would learn what she could, and act accordingly.
Standing up straight, she gave herself a lingering examination. No blue skin. No tattoos. Nothing to keep her from blending into the normal throngs of humanity if she so desired. It wasn't so bad. As long as this change hadn't crippled her more valuable skills and talents, then it might actually be... beneficial.
A hesitant smile quirked her lips. Oh…! Surprise wiped it away for a moment, as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her hand raised to her lips. Slowly, her lips curved once more.
Yes. Perhaps there was something here and now worth smiling about. A game changer. A new start. At the very least, it would be worth the ride. Touching her lips with her fingertips, Widowmaker kissed them gently, then pressed the fingertips to her mirror self.
"Hello, Amelie. It's been awhile."
...to be continued