The structure of this chapter went through a whole metamorphosis cuz 80% of it I just wrote off the dome. The story simply wasn't going in the direction of my original outline of it.
DoggyPocky: Though Schnoz is still alive, it's just barely. And while somewhat unrealistic, I wanted a happier ending for Juan.
McSgwizzle: Big's totally getting a little reckless, and Juan has hella plot armor. It took me a while to get Blonda's words in a nice flow, so thank you!
Two men in midnight-blue stood guard outside the open cell as Juandissimo gathered his bedding and toiletries to return to reception, having to wait hours after his hearing before he was finally cleared through the prison for release. He couldn't wait to rid of his red jumpsuit for his regular clothes, to sleep in the comfort his own bed without one eye open. Sure, he now owed five figures in restitutions and fines, and he had a laundry list of strict rules to abide by for the next two-hundred years. At least he was a free man again…or as "free" as one would be on felony probation.
Folding his white bedsheet in a neat square, he felt many mixed emotions. After those goons tried to push drugs on him, he'd only seen Alejo in passing. Normally, this would have been welcomed, but Juandissimo had come to realize just how far his empathy can stretch. Whenever he wasn't dreading his future, his mind replayed Alejo's words on repeat when he couldn't do anything but sit and think. If his sperm donor was the drunk, abusive bastard Juandissimo remembered, there would have never been any admission of fault for his actions, nor would there have been an ounce of guilt in his eyes or rue in his voice.
The more he thought, the more he considered Alejo to not be as terrible as he'd once concluded. Juandissimo had taken someone's life, but by the judge ruling in defense of others, he'd essentially been shown forgiveness…did Alejo deserve the same?
With his belongings in hand, Juandissimo freely exited the cell as one guard radioed for central control to close the bars. They floated behind the former inmate towards the A-block exit, but when the inmate soon slowed to a stop, the guard firmly asked "What's the hold up?"
Apprehensively, Juandissimo turned around to face the guards. "…may I see someone first?"
After the guards exchanged questioning looks, one of them looked back and quizzed "…you wanna see someone here?"
"Probably that one inmate we've seen talk to him." the other guard then casually assumed. "The one that don't speak English."
"Hmm." Well, they technically couldn't say 'no.' And they technically didn't have to take him to the release precinct for a few more minutes. "…*sigh* alright, fine. Don't make it a picnic."
Entering the corridor that led to the cells in B-block, Juandissimo followed the guards as they passed the inmates put behind bars for final lockdown after supper. Some prisoners stared nosily towards the three men, a few taking the liberty to shout profanities. Others paid them no mind, caught up in their own woes or distracting themselves by any means necessary.
Juandissimo watched the guards station themselves in front of a specific cell, banging on the cell to get the inmate's attention. Still holding his belongings, Juandissimo carefully approached, seeing Alejo's bewilderment when he'd gotten off the ground from his push-ups to hover gradually towards the bars.
Biological father and son stood face to face in awkward silence, separated by metal bars.
"…Tuve mi audiencia esta mañana." […I had my hearing this morning.] Juandissimo started, a bit reserved. "…Estoy siendo puesto en libertad condicional" […I'm being released on probation.]
As if he'd predicted as such, Alejo gave a somber nod. "...siempre supe que no pertenecías aquí" […I always knew you did not belong in here.]
Juandissimo then exhaled a breath that he didn't realize he was holding, thinking heavily on what he come to say next. "…he pensado en lo que dijiste y… No sé si alguna vez podré perdonarte por matar mamá." […I have thought about what you said and…I do not know if I can ever forgive you for killing mamá.]
Alejo dropped his chin being well aware of this already, looking away from Juandissimo's troubled stare.
"…pero, me gustaría probar." […but, I would like to try.]
Those six words caused Alejo to shoot his dark-blues towards blue-violets, his expression dumbfounded. From the way Juandissimo tensely scrunched his lip, he could tell how hard this was for Juandissimo to admit. Nonetheless, Juandissimo seemed truly genuine, and even if it came from one person out of the many he'd wronged, forgiveness was all he'd ever wanted.
"¿Cuándo es la próxima visita?" [When is the next visitation?]
Blinking out of his thoughts, Alejo cleared his throat "um…en unas pocas semanas, creo?" [In a few weeks, I think?]
Juandissimo nodded, contemplating before he met Alejo's eyes once more. "…si mi libertad condicional me lo permite… me gustaría ir a verte." […if my probation allows…I would like to come see you.]
Alejo had to bite him bottom lip to keep it from trembling. "…me gustaria eso." […I would like that.]
Hearing a guard cough behind him, Juandissimo took this as a sign to cut things short, slowly ediging away from the cell. "…tengo que ir." […I have to go.]
"Lo sé…" Alejo mustered a faint smile, masking the heavy heart of seeing his son go. "…adios, Juandissimo."
Juandissimo paused, looking down in ponder before eyeing his biological father. "…es Nubarrón."
With that, the former inmate was re-escorted by the guards down to the nearest exit as the life-prisoner brought his forehead to the metal bars that he grabbed with both hands, overwhelmed with the gratitude that he could no longer hide when his lips quivered and his eyes shut burning with swelling tears.
. . . . . .
Blonda and the Magnifico family hovered near the police cruiser, awaiting in anticipation for the moment of Juandissimo's release. Parked just before the barbed wires gating them between their freedom and prison grounds. Juanita conversed with Mr. Magnifico about her friend who was worried her abusive ex would break his no-contact order even though Mr. Magnifico assured he'd be arrested on site if that happened. Hovering next to her husband near the police cruiser, Mrs. Magnifico studied her son's girlfriend standing off by herself, Blonda rubbing one arm as if to console herself.
When Mrs. Magnifico had first learned of Juandissimo's relationship with Blonda, admittedly like any other concerned mother, she had her doubts. Especially when taking their rocky history into account. She knew that if a woman was ever lucky enough to break Juandissimo's guard, he loved wholeheartedly, and he loved hard. So, when Mr. Magnifico had told her of Juandissimo's arrest for killing someone that almost hurt Blonda, her first thought was that he did so out of love…but at what cost?
At first, she was unsure if her son should have recklessly risked his life for a woman whose motives were originally unclear to her. But after listening to the testimony that Blonda was so willing to give, hearing the heartfelt words that revealed Blonda's hardships and how grateful she was to have Juandissimo in her life, she realized how wrong it was to pre-judge.
Blonda counted the random cracks along the concrete grounds of the parking lot as a means of distraction from her racing mind. Now that Juandissimo was getting out, would he be angry with her? If she had never brought Juandissimo to Fairywood Talent, he wouldn't have attacked Ricky, and he wouldn't have caught a case because of her...
A tender hand to her should took her out of her self-blame, fuchsia eyes meeting the icy blue that smiled earnestly. "I want you to know that you were extremely brave for speaking today." Mrs. Magnifico expressed. "And we all appreciate you for doing so."
"…thank you." Blonda smirked weakly.
Mrs. Magnifico drew Blonda closer with a maternal arm, stroking her arm as Blonda lowered her head to Mrs. Magnifico's shoulder. "I have faith…that one day, you will fully heal. You truly deserve that."
Blonda didn't respond, finding some comfort in the embrace that felt similar to how her own mother used to hold her.
Just seconds went by before Juanita gestured towards the building behind the barbed gate, and everyone spotted the raven-haired fairy flying down the snaky path that led to them. Rid of the red jumpsuit for his purple tank and white vest with black pants. He floated down until he stopped just before the gate, having been instructed to wait for the gate to be opened by the operator. The locks unhatched with a click and a droning beep, sliding across until there was enough room for hover through to the other side.
Juanita was the first to rush over for a much-needed squeeze, and he happily squeezed her back as the gate slid to a close behind him, both rocking slightly from side to side. Once Juanita eventually let her brother go, Blonda backed away from Mrs. Magnifico so she could go embrace her son. Her many planted kisses warmed his face in a squinting grin before she pressed her forehead to his, him holding her motherly palms to his cheeks. She'd already lost one son, and she was lucky to have her other son back.
Mr. Magnifico lifted from his cruiser when his wife released Juandissimo with arms folded, a little hesitant in his approach. Juandissimo seemed apprehensive as well, recalling the night his own father had to arrest him. Both worried there'd be lingering disappointment whether it was one forced to do their job or the other getting themselves in trouble in the first place. Yet both proved the other wrong when Mr. Magnifico then flew over with open arms, and Juandissimo welcomed the hug, appreciating the fatherly pats on his back that followed.
Blonda stood still as Juandissimo then backed away from his father, staring at her. All it took was for him to look at her for the dam to break, closing her eyes as she started to cry. His instincts led him to go to her, allowing her arms to snake around his neck as his strong arms nestled her into him. She wept into his chest, expressing her deepest remorse as he shushed her consolingly. He watched her pull away enough to wipe her flowing tears before he held her damp cheeks in gentle palms, their eyes locked as he gathered the soft breath to express what he'd felt for quite some time yet did not have the nerve to say aloud until now…
"…te amo, Blonda."
She couldn't tear away from the amorousness staring back at her as she breathed "…I love you, too."
Without a second thought, his lips crashed to hers. Strong enough for to emit the weakest yet most satisfied sigh. Rocking her head back in the slightest pressure of his lean which his hands reached to hold the back of her curls.
Observing the sweet couple like a cheesy romance flick, Juanita chuckled to herself with her hand on a cocked hip, and Mrs. Magnifico felt her husband's arm lace onto her waist with a loving smirk.
Their kiss lingered until Juandissimo willed himself to pull away, only separating enough for their noses to tenderly collide. Bringing the brightest smile that she's had in the longest time.
Nebula occupied the extravagant steps in front of the marblewood front door with a dull stare eyeing the magentas and indigos along the starry sky from the sun descending behind the tall roof shaped like a large garbage bin lid. Dragging a puff of her cigarette while sitting before the infamous Fairywinkle mansion where a luxurious black SUV from one of Big's goons was parked next to the silver Maserati A6GCS in the curvy driveway landscaped with empty garbage bins. She'd sworn to herself to quit such a disgusting habit, but her sanity had been tested one too many times.
The top of a white fedora came into view, eyeing the brawny fairy traveling up the driveway from his Trash Removal headquarters. Nebula relieved her nerves with another drag just as the CEO came closer.
"The guys set up yet?" Big Daddy inquired, thinking Guido and his other men should be finished with preparations by now.
"Yep." Nebula dully blew out excess smoke.
"Good." Big Daddy flew past her towards his front door before he stalled, sensing her bitter attitude just from the sullen groan she gave. He turned around to her wings facing him, not taking kindly to this disrespect. "…what's ya deal now?"
Nebula glared over her shoulder, flicking ashes off the end of her cigarette before turning around completely, still seated on the steps. "I don't like Cosmo any more than you do, but to put him in the chamber?! All over some stupid family vendetta to prove some kind of superior lineage or something?!"
Experiencing this enough to know just where this was going, Big Daddy smacked his face with an annoyed palm. "Cannoli, not this again…"
"You've already done a number on his brother for absolutely no reason at all!" she continued, unfazed by his annoyance. "You do the same to Cosmo and then what?!"
"Then there won't be no more Cosmas for Wanda ta fall for." Big Daddy stated bluntly.
Nebula scoffed at his ignorance. "…sheesh, it's like you get a hard-on from this shit-"
"Aye, you ain't have much ofvah issue when we was settin' dis up; if all you was gonna do is complain, I woulda told ya ass ta stay home!" Big Daddy barked, losing his own patience. "This is gonna end, once 'en for all, and I don't wanna hear no more lip from you!"
Fighting a losing battle, Nebula creased her lip reluctantly and returned her grimace towards the sunset, inhaling more nicotine as Big Daddy used his keys to enter his home.
Traveling through the living room, he reached the glass panel door of his in-home office twisting the knob to enter inside. After shutting the door to the dim-lit room that'd been cleaned of his executive desk and other office chairs, he glanced over at Piero and Carmine hovering on either side of the door, leaned against the slate-blue wall, while Guido and the goon named Matteo (Big Daddy had hired him for the fairy-napping) stood near the slumped green fairy with limp arms bound tightly by rope to the lone wooden chair, still out cold from the tranquilizer used to fairy-nap him.
Guido eyed his uncle's menacing float towards the chair centered within the room, seeing his dominating stance above the motionless fairy that made Guido's fists ball in his inner confliction. Witnessing the extent of a Fairywinkle's vengeful violence, Guido had started to notice how burned out of it he was, more so when it came to this millennium-long blood rivalry. Was this Cosma really that much of a threat?
He had to fight his jaw from clenching; just like with that other Cosma, nothing about this felt right in his spirit…
The head honcho then snapped his finger as a signal to get the show on the road. "Wake him up."
Advanced forward, Matteo took out his wand. Thinking the drugs should have worn off by now, Matteo simply took the butt of his wand and smacked the green fairy on the side of his head, waking in a yelping jolt with frantic eyes confused of where he was and how he'd gotten there. Foggy pain evaporating from his mind, he could make out the fixed glares and snarls around the enclosed space, directed right at him. He shuttered the moment he realized where he'd seen these guys before, flight or fight in full effect. Choosing flight proved futile the moment he realized his arms were stuck no matter how hard he squirmed.
This can only mean one thing…
"Rise 'n shine, dormiglione." he recognized the Italian accent in front of him, ceasing his struggle as he met Big Daddy's side sneer. "Ya probably wonderin' why ya 'ere."
Panicked shamrock-greens gawked, his mouth wide shut. Keeping quiet as a means to mask the fear for his young life.
"I warned ya before that yous will never mess wit a Fairywinkle again, but apparently, you ain't know what's good for ya."
Cosmo remained silent as Big Daddy continued. "Lucky for yous, I'm inna good mood. I'm willing ta give ya a chance ta jus walka 'way from Wanda's life. Otherwise," a low grin curled "we'll jus hafta get drastic."
Seeing no other options, Cosmo abandoned flight and chose fight instead, searching within the depths of himself for the voice to squeak "W-why do you hate me so much? I-I've done nothing to you-?"
"Strike one was makin' my daughter feel so worthless that she thinks some lowlife, cheatin' Cagna is husband material!" Big Daddy's vengeance glared inches from Cosmo's face. "Strike two was coercin' her into marriage without my blessin'!"
"You're one to talk!" Cosmo conjured more base in his voice. "Wanda never felt worthy to you…j-just for being herself! She was never good enough!"
Big Daddy hovered backwards, a mocking smirk crossing his features. "Look at chu, findin' tha balls ta speak ta me like that."
Cosmo returned his own glare, replacing fear with vexation. Because of these fiends, his poor brother was fighting for his life! "And look at you thinking Cosmas are these horrible fairies when it's always you Fairywinkles hurting anyone you guys just don't like!"
"At least Fairywinkles knowa thing or two about stayin' loyal!"
"The only time you guys were 'loyal' to Wanda was when she wanted nothing to do with me! But now she loves me again and you turn your back on her! That makes you a big ol' hypocrite!"
Everyone else except for Guido joined Big Daddy in taunting laughs, deepening Cosmo's slit brow. The laughs died down before Big Daddy sneered "Ha! And where'd a idiota like yous learn dat word!?"
To this, Cosmo allowed his nerves to give an impish smirk. Fighting petty with pettier by hitting below the belt. "…from your daughter who screams my name every time we make love."
All reminisce of laughter dissolved into sweltering fury, turning Big Daddy's face a dangerous shade of red. Gripping angered fists, Big Daddy charged forward to thrust a stomping heel straight into Cosmo's nads.
Cosmo doubled over in excruciating agony, gasping for the breath that'd been vacuumed out of his chest. While everyone around him appeared unbothered by from Cosmo's coughs through clenched teeth, Guido battled to hide his flinches. So much so that he had to take himself out of the room, ignoring the intimidation in his father's voice when Piero called out and demanded he stay.
With no sympathy in his scowl at the grunting fairy, Big Daddy loomed forward, clawing a wad of Cosmo's hair in his fist in forced eye contact.
"Imma make dis clear." he growled at Cosmo's writing eyes. "You will never marry my daughter."
The love god sorted the shot glasses along the countertop of the apartment's kitchen before fluttering over to retrieve the bottle of Grey Goose from the fridge. Twisting the cap, he poured as equal amounts as possible into the glasses, and he called his boyfriend over to help distribute them to their guests.
Binky came over and grabbed three of the six shots, carrying them and trailing behind Cupid into the living space. Spike, Thornton, and Susie sat in tri-formation around the coffee table, each with five cards in their hands with the rest of the deck in the center. With two 7 of spades, one 4 of clubs, and two 3 of diamonds, Spike asked the player across from him if she had any 3s. Susie briefly looked down at her deck before smirking back up, telling Spike to "Go Fish."
Spike cursed under his breath, pulling a card from the center deck that aided his game tactic in zero way, and with his first deck of four cards set to the side, Thornton strategized through his three remaining cards for to see what rank he can get another four-of-a-kind. They then each noticed Binky and thanked him as he timidly gave them their shots, and once finished, Binky returned to his seat on the couch next to Rose.
Rose accepted the shot Cupid offered before he hovered over to the pink fairy sitting beside her, fretfully checking her phone's messages. When he offered Wanda a shot, she looked up and respectfully declined, and deciding to use this to his benefit, Cupid coolly shrugged and poured the declined shot into the shot glass that he'd reserved for himself.
Since the Spring semester was coming to an end and classes had been canceled for the 'Study Day' preceding the week of finals, Cupid had invited Wanda and her friends over to the apartment as support for whatever Blonda's mood would be depending on the outcome of Juandissimo's case, good or bad. They were all on board, finding time outside of their part-time jobs and/or studying to meet that evening, purposefully avoiding any news coverage of the case (i.e. avoiding watching TV.)
Giving up on texting the same number only to receive no response, Wanda pressed 'call' and listened to the five dial tones buzzing against her ears. Then, she finally heard her fiancé's voice…
Hey, this is Cosmo…um…leave a message, maybe?
When Cupid had sent the mass text invite a few hours prior, Wanda had tried to reach out to see if he'd want to join. She didn't want to take away from his hospital visitation with Schnozmo, but she knew firsthand how much the worry for his brother had been stressing him out; maybe being around friends could take his mind off of things for a while.
Seeing that he wasn't responding to her numerous texts, she figured he might too preoccupied with Schnozmo's wellbeing, but he'd usually text her back eventually. It was hours later, and her messages went unread.
While the others managed to distract themselves with conversations, card games, or alcohol consumption, she simply couldn't. After calling Cosmo just to be greeted by his voicemail, the brewing dread really started to set it.
"Guess who's finally joining MagiQ?!" Cupid happily announced, flying with his shot glass over to the hunched pointy-ear fairy on the couch's far end.
"I only agreed to go to one meeting…just to try it out." Binky coyly corrected. His self-journey with his sexuality had been a long and treacherous one; the hate crimes didn't stop, but there'd come a point where Binky grew sick and tired of hating himself. Not to mention Cupid's supportive yet annoying persistence, reiterating the fact that he was graduating and would hate for Binky to be isolated in his last remaining year of Fairy Academy.
"That's really cool, Binks." Thornton praised, sincerely happy for Binky's progress. Binky softly thanked him with Cupid lacing an arm around him, and Rose glanced over at the subdued frown in her friend's face when she put the phone to her again.
"Still not able to reach Coz?" she asked Wanda.
"No…" Wanda sighed, lowering her phone after once again getting a voicemail greeting. "He's not answering…"
Susie too noted her childhood bestie's dark mood, posing an innocent theory "Maybe his phone died?"
"If it died, it wouldn't ring…" Wanda groaned, leaning back against the couch's headrest. Why was he not answering?! Her heart nearly jumped when her phone buzzed in her hand from an inbound call soon after, the caller ID flashing across its screen.
"Is that Coz?" Spike inquired, and Wanda shook her head.
"It's Blonda…" she placed the call on speaker, assuming her sister was calling to give either the good or bad news. "Hey."
"Hey, can you let me in?"
Just as thrown as the other listeners by this random request, Wanda side-eyed her phone. "…let you in, where?"
"…the apartment? I um…" Blonda paused. "…forgot my keys."
"…I literally told her the door would be unlocked." Cupid stated factually, making everyone more puzzled as Wanda spoke through her phone' speaker.
"Blonda, what's wrong?"
"Just…c-come open the door, please?"
Wanda stalled; Blonda just sounded…off. She turned to Binky and Cupid, getting no help from their clueless shrugs, then proceeded to drag herself off the couch. "…alright…"
Hanging up on her way to the front door, Wanda drew back the door to rosette orbs identical to hers in the doorway's view, appearing cheerier than she sounded on the phone. Her sister then moved out the way to reveal a pair of smiling dark-orchids, standing next to blue-violets and muscles grinning with a short wave.
Even for a second, Wanda's worries melted into joy.
"Oh my gosh, Juandissimo!" Wanda flung gratified arms that nearly choked him. He chuckled it off and gladly squeezed her back.
Once the initial shock soon wore off, Spike and Thornton didn't wait for Wanda to let go before they both rushed over and tackled Juandissimo mid-air in a playful embrace. Rose and Susie followed suit with excited squeals as Cupid and Binky doing the same, and Blonda and Juanita couldn't help but laugh when it reached the point where she could only see the top of Juandissimo's black hair amongst the dog pile bouncing with glee. The reactions were definitely more than anticipated, but Blonda and Juanita could tell they appreciated the nice surprise.
Juandissimo was then freed and given the space to breathe, floating into the apartment with Juanita following behind as Blonda closed the door soon after.
"D-does this mean the charge was dismissed?!" Binky curiously asked.
"No, but he was let go on probation." Juanita answered for her brother.
"Sooooo does that mean I can't pour you a celebratory shot?" Cupid inquired slyly, motioning to the bottle of Grey Goose still sitting on the kitchen counter.
"Unfortunately." Juandissimo kept in mind that his probation started right after he'd been sentenced. He then gestured to his sister and girlfriend floating beside him. "You can pour for them, though."
"Oh, no thanks." Blonda dismissed with a light wave. "Not really feeling alcohol right now."
"Girl, if I was you, I'd chug that whole damn bottle!" Susie half-joked.
Thornton flew over to hang friendly arms over Juandissimo and Blonda's shoulders. "Guess that means we'll just have to drink enough for the two of you."
"We're gonna need another bottle for that." Rose jested, letting her boyfriend hug her from behind.
"Or three." Spike added cunningly. "Give or take."
Wanda felt another pulsing buzz in her pocket, promptly pulling out her phone. She gasped from once split glance at the caller ID, and the other fairies observed her frantic fiddle of her phone for the answer button, exasperating a sigh of relief. "Oh, Cosmo…"
"U-uh, this ain't him."
The voice was right; it wasn't Cosmo. But it only took a second for Wanda to recognize who she was actually speaking to, gawking at her phone pressed to her ear. "…Guido?!"
"Look, I-I ain't got much time ta explain." she heard Guido's hushed speak as if keeping a huge secret. "Jus' get down to Uncle Big's."
Blonda left her boyfriend to go to her sister's side, sensing something terribly wrong when she noted the crack in Wanda's voice. "Guido, what's going on!?"
"Jus' get down 'ere!" she her Uncle Piero's demanding baritone muffle through the other line, following an anxious gulp from Guido before he stammered "G-gotta go."
"Guido-!"
A single click killed the call.
The air once light in jubilation now weighed heavy in dismay. "…the heck was that?" Spike voiced what everyone else was thought.
Wanda stared dreadfully, lowering her phone. "Cosmo's in trouble…"
"What kind of trouble?" Blonda gently probed.
While Blonda had been hospitalized, Wanda had tried to shelter Blonda from her drama with their father as much as possible. Part of her still wanted to considering what Blonda already had to deal with that day, but right now, the ice in her veins couldn't hide anymore "…Daddy got to him."
Blonda's brow squinted, having sworn their father had no clue Wanda and Cosmo had even gotten back together. Wanda's best friend, however, knew well that was no longer the case, Susie's peeve rolling her eyes "Wow, that man does not give up, does he?"
The image of Schnozmo's wrangled body came to mind, and Thornton creased his lips. "Damn those bastards…"
"Can we help?" Rose volunteered, only for Wanda to broodily shake her head when she took out her wand.
"This family matter's gotten far too personal…" she lifted dark eyes to her friends. Big Daddy must not give a damn about the beast threatening to unleash the moment he dared lay a finger on her Cosmo. "I don't want you guys getting more involved…"
"Then I'm coming with you."
Wanda shot a troubled glare to her sister. "…Blonda-"
"I'm coming with you." Blonda repeated stubbornly. Holding a sense of obligation to their sisterhood. "I don't want you to face this alone…"
Sharing the same sentiment when it came to anyone important to him, Juandissimo mulled over whether he was making the right decision before stating "So am I."
"What about your curfew?" Juanita reminded cautiously.
"The curfew that does not start for another two hours?" Juandissimo clarified. "Using magic would be faster since I am not allowed to drive anyway."
"But you guys just got here!" Cupid whined.
"And why Juan?!" Thornton added.
"He's practically family at this point." Blonda commented, then faced her sister. "And he could get Cosmo out of whatever restraints that have."
As risky as this was, Blonda, in a small way, had a point. Remembering how much time she didn't have to contemplate deeply, Wanda let out a heavy sigh. "Fine."
With worried looks from the remaining fairies in the room, Wanda raised her sparkling wand, assuming she had enough magic for all three of them. In a single flash, the trio disappeared into thin air.
Putting out her shrunken cigarette, Nebula twisted the bud on the concrete surface of the steps right as she heard something poof in before her. Glancing up to the view of identical twins she easily recognized and a male fairy who, if she were honest, wasn't hard on the eyes.
Nonetheless unperturbed by the newcomers' sudden arrival, Nebula spoke first. "The hell are you doing here…"
"The hell are you doing here!?" Wanda fired back, in no mood for whatever sass Nebula wanted to spew. How Nebula got re-involved with the Fairywinkles after all these years wasn't as important to her as why she was here sitting outside of the Fairywinkle mansion, seemingly just to be in her way.
"Waiting for the aftermath…" Nebula nonchalantly waved her wand to send the used cigarette into oblivion, too lazy to just get up and throw it away in the many trash bins feet away from her.
Wanda's scowl inched forward, having no patience for attitude. "What aftermath!?"
Still unbothered, Nebula kept her sullen stare. "Don't be surprised if you go in there only to find Cosmo's body."
Even if she expected as such from someone who'd willingly betrayed her own boyfriend, Wanda's blood boiled at Nebula's blatant disregard. "And yet, you do nothing?!"
"You know how they are." Nebula grumbled, sinking eyes in defeat. "They don't listen to anyone but themselves..."
"Wanda, we don't have time for this." Blonda tugged her sister by the arm, reminding her of what they were here to do. Wanda's scowl fixed on the business consultant hunching over to fold arms across her lap, staring with a sulky chin past them down the driveway.
"You can waste your energy if you'd like." she simply murmured. "I won't stop you…"
And with no falter in her glare, Wanda spat "Yeah, I know you won't."
Nebula didn't react as Wanda's leg bumped her shoulder when she sped up the steps. Blonda not far behind. Nor did she react to Juandissimo's brooding stare towards her before he too traveled up the steps, proceeding Wanda shoving herself through the unlocked door.
Piero harped at his son out in the living room, in the middle of giving Guido a good talking to about going against protocol when they both heard commotion from the front door. Stunned stares falling upon the raging fairy. "What tha-"
"Save it, dickwad!" Wanda's anger had no care left for civility, Blonda and Juandissimo taken aback by the vulgarity they'd never seen from her. At this point, she was royally pissed-off. "Where is he!"
"I know yous ain't talkin' ta me like dat!" Piero shot back, redirecting irritation from his son to his niece. "Yous not even 'sposed ta be 'ere!"
With his father distracted, Guido ignored his fear and waved to Blonda and Juandissimo, gesturing for them to follow him. The couple exchanged brief looks before taking Guido's lead, flying past the heat of Wanda and Piero's argument towards the small office behind the couch at the far end of the living room.
"WHY are you DOING this!?" Wanda challenged.
"Cuz Cosmas are NOTHIN' but trouble!" Piero argued. "Dats why we gotta take 'em out!"
"By what grounds!?" Wanda countered, sick and tired of this tired song and dance. "Only YOU chumps think that way!"
Guido swung open the door to the office, drawing Matteo and Carmine's attention. Blonda gawked as she bore witness to her father's merciless kicks to the defenseless fairy that'd been knocked to the ground. Arms still restrained behind the chair laying on its side, each brute kick brought Cosmo's whimpering cries in stolen breaths.
Cosmo curled in a ball of agony, and Blonda had seen enough.
"DADDY, STOP!"
Cosmo tried to brace himself for yet another blow to his groin, wading through his ears ringing in pain when he realized the kicks had stopped. Straining his eyes open, he saw Big Daddy's cold glare no longer aimed at him.
"Blonda; what chus DOIN' 'ere!" Big Daddy barked.
"C'mon, cannoli, you know you can't stop this!" Carmine interjected, receiving a glower from his niece. "Why yous getting' involved, enneway?"
"Because I care about Wanda, and Wanda cares about him!" Blonda pointed, keeping her glare to her uncle. "That's why!"
Noting grunts of struggle out the corner of his ear, Matteo turned to the unknown fairy using magic to free the rope from around the green fairy's wrists. "Hey!" Matteo sprung into action, Juandissimo whirling around to the goon's charge towards him. "Stop right there!"
Matteo was only able to fly two feet, blocked by stern lavender eyes.
"Guido, get da fuck out tha way!" Matteo barked, but Guido kept his guard despite the internal quaking in his boots.
Big Daddy lunged over, forcefully yanking his nephew by the arm "Guido, you lost ya mind?!"
Quietly appreciative of Guido throwing himself as a barrier, Juandissimo turned to Cosmo with one hand clawing at the ground while the other clutched his groin, clenched in ball and shivering in torment. Using borrowed time to toss the loose rope to the side and maneuver him off the ground. It was no secret that Cosmo was never his favorite person. But even for the little pendejo, this was a bit ruthless.
"You need to leave!" Piero pointed a stern finger, Wanda not backing down. "This don't concern you-"
Wanda smacked his finger away. "You guys are so full of shit, it's not even funny!"
"Well, in case yous forgot, you did tha exact same thing last year!" Piero threw Wanda's lowest point in her face, causing her knuckles to turn pale from clenched fists. "So who's fulla shit now!?"
"Get back 'ere!"
The unexpected shout drew the two squabblers over Juandissimo hauling Cosmo by a slung arm, dashing from Carmine's chase. Carmine's exclamation tore Big Daddy's glare away from Guido to realize his prey had been stolen, now fuming with rage as he stormed out of the office despite Blonda's protest.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Big Daddy's bellow rang out through the high-rise walls, nearly vibrating against the tall glass windows. Juandissimo halted mid-flight, locking a serious gaze to the scowl of a madman.
"You put 'em down." Big Daddy snarled in a dangerously low voice, hovering threateningly towards the raven-haired fairy gradually edging away. "Or else!"
"Or else what!?" Wanda intersected her father, even throwing a threat like him out of character for only a second when surprise instantly melted to scorn.
"Wanda, move!" Big Daddy warned, Guido and Matteo coming out from the office to the tense scene.
Yet Wanda remained stern in her stance. "NO!"
Surging agony throbbing throughout his entire body teetered the line between consciousness and unconsciousness, seconds away from slipping over the edge if it were not for Cosmo's mind latching on tight to the voice of his love.
Fuchsia slit with the rage peaking to treacherous levels, inching closer towards his daughter. "I'm not gonna tell you again! MOVE!"
Disdain glowered back at her father, and with every single fiber of her being, she gritted her teeth to growl "Fuck you."
Dead silence.
Utter shock slightly slacked Juandissimo's jaw, and Cosmo's head perked out of battling deep sleep, now more than awake from what he almost thought was a dream. Blonda's broad stare froze next to Piero's own stare wide enough to crease the folds in his eyelids, and with Matteo halted in place, Guido shuttered just at the thought of what his uncle would do next…
Nobody talks to Big Daddy like that.
That being the very straw that broke the camel's back, red veins cracked in the whites of Big Daddy's infuriated glare. His chest tightened in fuming breaths, and a flash of red crossed his eyes, giving into irrational impulse…
Big Daddy jerked his arm back, and his backhand swung sharply like a booming gunshot.
"GOUDA!" Piero called out as Wanda's head jerked sideways. Snapping her head back towards her father, scorn faded into betrayal as a trembling hand lifted to her now pulsing left cheek, feeling a line of blood trickle from her lip.
The phantom pain of the slap was so strong that even Blonda raised a palm to her cheek. It wasn't like she was so ignorantly sheltered to her family's violent ways, but it just never crossed her mind how ruthless her father himself could be. He's yelled at them and has said some horrible, horrible things. But never did he ever lay a hand on his own daughters…until now.
And as if he'd subconsciously come to that same realization, a switch flipped. His glower disappeared, replaced with the deepest remorse by the tears brimming in eldest's eyes…
What the hell did he do?
"I can't believe you!" he spun around to the displeasure that glossed in his youngest's glare towards him, a subtle quiver in her whimper. "How can you be so heartless…"
"Blonda, you…yous don't understand!" his entire demeanor changed in a pleading way. "Yous don't get it-"
"Mamma would never let this happen!"
Big Daddy bit his lip, harshly reminded of how true this was. When it came to anyone one who'd run out of chances for paying back what they'd owe, or any threat to the business and/or its reputation, even down to how they raised their children; Little Mamma was always about corrective action, not abuse. She would always have to real him in whenever he'd let his anger fly off the handles, yet ever since she was taken from him in that car crash, he'd ventured off that straight path.
And now he'd crossed the line.
So caught in his own confliction, the head honcho didn't even notice the spec of green furiously thrash himself away from the raven-haired fairy. All senses numbed, fueled in passionate rage. Furious rage unlike any he could ever imagine. Boiling any ounce of fear left out of his veins as if fear had never crossed his mind.
Anyone can hurt him, punch him, kick him, do their very worst. Hell, they can kill him if they wanted.
His best friend, his chosen lover, his saving grace, his soulmate, his life?! Off fucking limits!
No one had any right to hit her. Not even him. Not even if she'd ever ask him!
And they were all gonna learn today!
What came next happened so quickly that no one knew how to react; in a blind frenzy, Cosmo clawed at his assaulter, wild swings with no other aim but for Big Daddy's eyes. Big Daddy held arms in defense, though the puny fairy's nails still managed to get a few good scratches in. Piero, Carmine, and Matteo rushed into action in their charge forward; however, this did not stop Cosmo's rampage. In fact, is made it ten times worse.
Windmill arms now had no aim, their new purpose only to hurt anyone in their path. Violently slapping and punching any surface they could reach. Swinging with such force that once hammering knuckle to the base of the neck sent Carmine tumbling in a thud to the tiled floor, another pounding punch to right between the eyes blackened Piero's vision in blinding pain.
One of the first things to come to Juandissimo's mind was to take Wanda by the shoulders and pull her from being so close to the chaos. While part of him was frankly appalled at what he'd just witnessed happen to Wanda, another part of him was even more astonished by Cosmo's vicious anger from it. Yes, he'd seen Cosmo angry, but this level wild, almost crazed fury had reached new heights that Juandissimo himself never knew possible.
He did know what trouble that level of anger can cause, and he truly did not want that for Cosmo.
Wanda's call for him went unheard as Juandissimo threw himself into the crossfire, seizing Cosmo by the arms and wrestling him away from the Fairywinkles. Howling with irate fury, Cosmo's arms flailed about, resisting whoever had the nerve to try and restrain him from teaching those fuckers a lesson. Even Blonda pleaded for him to let the raging fairy go, fearful for his own safety. Yet Juandissimo did not loosen his grip, and Cosmo expelled a throaty, shrieking screech.
Cosmo flashed his head down and grabbed Juandissimo's finger between his teeth, and without rational thought, he bit down. Hard.
Juandissimo yelped aloud as Cosmo broke free, making a mad dash towards the nearest escape from this hell.
Shamrock-green burst through the marblewood front door, oblivious to the sapphire curls and plum-purple eyes that spun around to the bang of hard-swung doors. His unstable wings flew in a distraught pattern down the snake of the driveway, sparkling white stars against black skies watching sympathetically from above. While unable to make out his surroundings through his blurred tears, he managed to stop next to the black SUV parked behind the Fairywinkle Maserati, stamping a sweaty palm against the passenger door as he clamped his eyes shut through sobs growing more erratic by the second.
"Oye, Cosmo!" Blue-violets called out to the green fairy sobbing frantically against the SUV, clutching his pulsing finger. He had to remind himself that Cosmo was not of sound mind, otherwise, he wouldn't have found the empathy in the deep, deep crevice of his heart to hurry over to Cosmo's aid.
Pinning Cosmo's shoulders against the car in a non-restrictive manner, the Hispanic fairy knew he didn't have much time to try and bring Cosmo back down from his spiral into an uncontained hyperventilation. "Focus on your breathing, Cosmo."
"I-I ca I…" Cosmo squeaks struggled to form words through shaky breaths, any existing through swirling in blinding waves of anxiety. "…ca…I…c-c-can't-"
"You can." Juandissimo coaxed. "Just breat-"
"Just GO AWAY!"
Juandissimo stumbled back slightly from the force of Cosmo's defensive shove, staring into the eyes of a fractured, shattered soul. Cosmo's madness could not see who stood before him. Tumbling further out of control. "…I am only trying to hel-"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!" Cosmo's crazed emotions cracked his voice, his throat restricting into even shorter intakes of breath.
"Cosmo?!" Fuchsia rushed through marblewood to her fiancé, her flaxen twin not far behind. Flying past her ex, she kneeled when Cosmo's wings soon gave out, clutching both of his cheeks wet with his troubled rivers. "Babe, look at me!"
"WANDA VENUS! BLONDA JUPITER!" the brawny head honcho in charge roared from his front porch, blind to Nebula's perplexity. "Don't chus runaway from me!"
"Daddy, we are not little girls anymore!" Blonda challenged her father's authority, frankly sick of his 'Big Bad Wolf' act. How dare he demand any tither of respect after all the terror he's caused.
Though all he could see was an aura of pink, the green fairy's panic was able to detect his one and only calming grace. "…W-Wan…d-d-da…"
"I'm right here, okay?" she pressed her forehead against his, watering eyes softening the voice speaking through a bloodied lip. "I'm not going anywhere…"
A fuzzy haze crinkled in his mind, his lungs lacking the air to inflate them. Black gradually tunneled his view, the arguing voices around him muffling into incoherent mush. He could still make out one voice though, the voice of his pink angel that cried out "COSMO!"
His vision sunk into the darkness that consumed his heart…