Solidarity?
Chapter Three
December 26th, 2004
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Beatrice looked up from her novel as she heard the strangled cry of the over-used stairs in her 'new' apartment building. She listened carefully, trying to determine the pattern of the tread and whom it belonged to.
'Richard…' Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she raised her hand towards the light across the room. In a short instant, the switch turned and a blanket of darkness fell across the room as the electricity was cut from the light.
Beatrice held her breath and listened as keys were being pulled and tossed around, finally sliding into a keyhole. Suddenly, there was a loud thump and a strangled cry, as if someone had toppled over themselves…
Or a small gift a young woman had placed in a doorway.
After a few more minutes, some hushed swearing, and a 'click', Beatrice could tell that her handsome neighbor had retired for the evening. She took a glance at the wall separating their rooms, and then turned the light back on in her room. But her novel continued to lay, temporarily forgotten, by her side.
It had been quite the day for the dark woman. She had moved into a new apartment, met her neighbor, had him help her move her possessions, be attracted to him at first sight… but that wasn't the important part. And, on top of all that, she had fought a band of idiotic robbers, alerted the police, and made an alliance with a pompous, over-bearing, bastard of a powerless superhero.
Yes, all in all, the day had been quite trying on the young woman's poor nerves.
Beatrice stood up and tiptoed silently to a chest that was currently serving as her dresser/closet, and pulled out a dark blue cloak. She shook the dust off of its smooth fabric and ran her fingers carefully over the broach that clasped it together. As much as she hated her home planet, she was beginning to miss it. It was the place she grew up, the place where her friends were…
But her friends weren't 'chosen ones', and therefore didn't have to haul their happy asses halfway across the galaxy to 'find their inner-demon'. This, Beatrice was beginning to discover, was just a sly way to say 'You're weird, different, and a bastard child… get off our planet'.
Nonetheless, upon the day of her arrival Beatrice had been stalked and attacked, and if it hadn't been for her powers and some kind stranger, she would no longer be the pure and holy being she is today.
It had been dark and rainy… weather that made her feel at home, and unconsciously let down her guard. As she strolled the streets for a cheap hotel to stay at, she was unaware of two, crudely dressed males that tailed her. She turned into an alley to sit and rest her feet for a moment. That's when the hand clamped over her mouth, and another slid over her chest.
Hands grasped her jeans and yanked them down painfully. She cried and tried to chant her mantra, to throw these bags of scum back into the sewer they came from. But, the hand on her mouth was too tight, and her powers were too weak from recent travel without her verbal spell. Dirty hands ripped at her tender leotard beneath her clothes, slashing the precious, expensive fabric from Azarath into pieces.
Her strong limbs flailed and tried to attack the cretins who violated her, but they were instantly bound by the faceless evil around her. As the hand around her mouth moved to cover her nose as well, Beatrice felt her mind become foggy and her powers subconsciously lash out at the beings around her. However, just before she sank into unconsciousness, she saw a brightly adorned male jump into the alley, throw around some kung-fu, and wield a long, metal pole.
When Beatrice awoke the next morning, she was in a quaint mom-and-pop hotel in the West End. The desk attendant said a young man dropped her off and paid for her night's stay. She was shocked to discover that someone could care for another person they had never met before. They cared enough to keep them safe.
On the day of her attack, Beatrice had seen both ends of the spectrum to the human race. She had seen utter evil in the facelessness of her attackers, and complete kindness in the facelessness of a stranger. She had a choice suddenly set out before her: stay on this planet and do good… or leave and care nothing for the human race.
The more she pondered her choice, the more she realized something: that stranger had altered Beatrice's decision. There truly was no decision to make. She was going to stay and do good… just as someone had done for her.
Beatrice sighed and put the bundle of blue fabric back into her chest. The more she thought about it, the more she was becoming less and less like the people of her world. Earth had changed her, there was no mistaking that, but it had not changed her in a way that her own planet would find acceptable. Yes, Beatrice was becoming…
…kind.
'Oh well…' she thought, tossing off her pants and crawling onto the mattress on the floor, which served as her bed. 'I guess things could be a lot worse than me being nice… I can't think of anything right now, but I'm sure there is something.' Reaching across the room with her mind, she turned the light off and was encased in a cool darkness.
Beatrice lay there, trying to fall asleep, but something kept her from doing so. There was a strange feeling in the back of her mind. It was calling out to her, telling her that something was amiss… and sleep should not be had. She tossed and turned for several more minutes, before finally calming the feeling down enough to rest her eyes…
HSSSSSSSSSSSS
Beatrice shot up in bed, suddenly feeling the presence of something else… something that wanted her dead.
She flicked on the light, and saw a buzzing, dark shadow loom over her head, reeking with an aura of anger and evilness. She jumped to her feet instantly and raised her hands for an attack, but the beast was ready. It lashed out at her, and smacked her squarely in the head, sending her flying back to the mattress.
Clutching her head, and realizing there was little left for her to do, she ducked and dodged around the creature, drawing it into the middle of the room. Wrapping her mind around her chest, she hurled it at the monster, which only disintegrated as it struck. After a moment of a high-pitched shrieking and uncoordinated flailing, it reconvened and looked (if it had a face) angrier than before.
"Well, shit," Beatrice muttered under her breath.
"BEATRICE!" A voice called from the hall. "BEATRICE!" There was some pounding and kicking, and then the door broke loose from its hinges and fell to the ground. There, standing in the yellowish, old light from the hallway was a savior of sorts.
Richard.
He wasted no time and jumped forward to attack the creature and defend Beatrice. But, the creature had other plans. With the same, hissing-kettle noise it made before, the sandy shadow jumped down Beatrice's drain, and was never heard from again.
Richard growled angrily at the kitchen sink and shook his head. Then he turned back to Beatrice, who stood there with wide eyes and watched him, surprised at his conduct. He blushed a little, then approached the woman and looked into her eyes.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did it hit you?" He shot questions off at rapid fire, and began to examine her tender body for bruises, cuts, or welts of any kind.
"I'm fine," She stated curtly, batting him away quickly. "Nothing happened."
Richard stared at her incredulously, as if he couldn't believe the words that had just erupted from her mouth. "You were just attacked by a monster, and all you can say is 'nothing happened'?" There was a pause and a sigh, as he shook his head. "You're crazier than I thought."
"Look, I'm fine… really…" Beatrice sighed and rolled her eyes, hoping that he didn't see through her nonchalant façade. In all honestly, her heart was fluttering painfully inside her chest at his attention. She was surprised, and kind of flattered, that he came to her rescue like that. Even if he didn't get to be the night in shining armor, at least he got to play it. But, she couldn't let him know about that; it was just an infatuation… that's all.
"That cut on your temple will tell me otherwise." He grabbed her hand gently and pulled her out of her apartment and into his own. "At least let me clean that up."
Beatrice reached up with her free hand and touched a deep gash the thing had made when it attacked her. It wasn't pouring blood, but it wasn't something that could go unattended either. She bit her bottom lip to keep from whimpering, she hated earthly treatments for cuts. They seemed to cause your more pain than good.
"Here…" Richard set her down in a chair at his table. "Rest here for a second." He went to the cupboard and pulled out a small First Aid kit. Beatrice watched him carefully as he locked eyes with her for a moment then went back to searching.
After a minute of silence, Beatrice decided that she had to say it. After all, it was rude if she didn't, and he had gone out of his way to try and help her.
"Thank you… for helping me."
Richard looked up, a surprised look playing on his face. He smiled gently at her and pulled out what he had been looking for. "I'm just trying to help a friend in need." There was a short pause as he walked over to where Beatrice sat, waiting for him to 'heal' her. "Do you know what that thing was doing there?" He asked, sitting down next to her.
"No…" Beatrice said looking up at her neighbor. She was telling the honest truth, she didn't know why it was there, only that it wanted her dead. That was all she could decipher from the creature's arrival, and she had no intention of telling Richard that, lest it lead to questions of why it might want her dead. After all, what self-respecting crime lord wouldn't want a superheroine terminated?
"Hm…" he concentrated for a moment, then shook his head and shrugged. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" Beatrice asked, watching with horror as he put rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. "It's not your- ow! Hey, that stings!" She shoved his hand away and glared at him sourly.
"Well if it felt good, then it wouldn't be working. Now hold still, or it's going to hurt more," He pressed the cotton ball back on her temple, and watched her carefully as she bit her lower lips to keep from hissing obscenities at him.
'What stupid, dolt of a male thought up the idea "if it doesn't hurt it's not working"!?' Beatrice thought as Richard continued to hold the fabric torture to the side of her head. Finally he released her from her prison, and dabbed at her gash with gauze.
"Is that better?" He asked, looking into her eyes for a moment.
Beatrice was suddenly lost in a forest of green light. All she saw were Richard's amazing eyes and nothing else. Taking a deep breath she quickly pulled away, and averted her eyes from the holy light. What was happening to her!? Why was this person, whom she only met today, being so nice to her and driving her mad with some strange emotion? Why?
"If you call liquid needles better," She retorted quickly, hoping to hide her flushed cheeks. 'I hate men. I hate men. I hate men…' Beatrice chanted inside her mind.
Richard sighed and rolled his eyes as he stood up. "I'm only trying to help."
The dark woman cringed as she watched him stalk away from her, an aura of rejection filling her senses. Sighing deeply, she stood up and approached him. "Look, Richard… thank you, for helping me. I don't mean to be rude… but, I'm just not used to people trying to help me. I normally do things on my own."
Richard turned and smiled gently at her, knowing exactly how she felt. "I only want to help you, Beatrice."
"Well… thanks. It is appreciated."
There was a moment of strange silence as Beatrice backed away from him, and slowly started for the door. The air around the two of them had grown eerie and she wasn't sure what should be done about it. "Well… I'm going to go back to my own apartment now. Good night."
"Wait!" Richard said, jumping toward the door and blocking her only exit. He reached out and took her upper arm gently, to keep her where she stopped. "I'd feel a lot better if you stayed here for a while… at least tonight."
Beatrice's eyes went wide and her face flushed instantly at the suggestion. As much as she thought her neighbor was cute, there was no way she was going to spend a whole night with him… alone.
"No way!" was all she sputtered before bending down and trying to duck her way around him. He grabbed her firmly around her waist, and held her in the exact spot she stood, not giving her any leeway.
"Look, I don't think you being alone in your apartment is safe," Richard said firmly, looking down at the face that was near his waist. "What if that thing comes back?" He raised an eyebrow in suggestion.
"Then I'll cry for your help, duh! It's not like our walls are sound proof." She wiggled for a few more minutes, trying to loosen his grip. But it was to little avail; this handsome neighbor of hers was strong. "Will you please let me go now?"
"Not until you say you'll stay with me."
"I'm going to beat you in a moment, unless you let me go," Beatrice said, eyes narrowing at him. His grip only tightened, and his face grew very serious.
"I'm not going to take advantage of you, Beatrice. I'm not like that, but I really don't think it's safe for you to be alone in your room right now. Something bad could happen again… and well, at least there's strength in numbers." Richard looked at her earnestly, eyes trying to search her own.
"Fine," Beatrice said after a moment of thought, "but can I at least get some pants on? I'm trying not to make it a habit to strut around men in my underwear." She looked up at him flatly.
Richard face flushed instantly, and he quickly released her waist. Somehow, in the midst of all the excitement and battle, he had failed to realize that Beatrice was walking around without any pants on, exposing a little more skin than Richard was used to. "Um… sure…"
"Thank you!" She replied curtly as she stood up and opened the door. As that slab of wood opened a tall, green-eyed redhead wearing a mini-skirt, a low-cut tank top, and pair of stilettos greeted the dark woman. She blinked at the new stranger, and the stranger blinked back.
Beatrice slowly raised an eyebrow in confusion as her careful eyes surveyed the being in front of her. 'Who wears that get-up in the dead of winter? … Unless she works the streets?' She took another long look at the stranger and came to a final conclusion. 'She works the streets.'
"Dick?" the redhead suddenly called out, twisting her head around the dark woman in front of her, "who is this woman?" She looked at Beatrice again, "and why isn't she wearing any pants?"
A light suddenly went off in Beatrice's head, and her eyes narrowed to very small slits. 'So, that's why that bastard was so damn eager to keep me here! He wanted a two-for-one deal!'
Her pale face suddenly turned fuming red and she whipped around to glare into the shocked eyes of her neighbor. The world around the edge of her eyes turned dark, children ran home to their mothers, and small animals suddenly dropped dead in their tracks… Beatrice was mad.
"You are a sick, twisted… ARG!" Beatrice reached back and punched him full in the face. "BASTARD! IF YOU EVER TRY TO TALK TO ME AGAIN, I WILL BEAT YOU TO A BLOODY PULP!!" She yelled, through the shaking floorboards, lights, and furniture.
And with that last statement, she pushed the redhead to the side and stormed back into her own apartment, calling him several obscene names as she did so.
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HA HA! I TOLD you'd I'd get it out ASAP! Aren't you all so proud of me! (Beams) Okay, well... just thought I'd make a few comments before I run away to write chapter four.
1 – I SO totally didn't know you could call in any other characters for the Teen Titans game! That's SO awesome!! I'm actually gaming challenged. I have trouble playing Tetris... so you know, I don't really think outside that box a whole lot. (It took me like a day to figure out how to play the Inu Yasha game on Adult Swim)
2 – HAPPY FESTIVUS! Even though the season has come and gone, I still wish you the best of… whatever. I hope, that I can get another chapter out before the New Year. But don't expect too much, because I am five papers behind in one of my classes… and I need a 3.5 to stay in NHS… I'm at a 3.3 right now… oops. Oh well, if all else fails I'll just burn down my school…. Muwahahahahahahaaaaaaa okay, enough of that.
3 – PLUGGING MY SITE! Come visit my website. If you go to my profile page, and click the link that says 'homepage' you can go to my homepage. Nifty, huh? (HEY THERE'S ART THERE!)
Okay… well, that's about it. Remember: I don't own Teen Titans, so don't sue me because I have nothing of value… I think.
PS: PLEASE REVIEW!
