Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character created by Jhonen Vasquez. But I now own Jhonen himself! Bwahahaha!
The Maiden of Light: Here's a little something for my crazier of readers. throws the giant sack containing Jhonen to Kenny's Lil Lover
Kenny's Lil Lover: Yeeeeaaaah! hugs Jhonen Head Explody friend!
Jhonen Vasquez: Get me outta heeeeerrrrrreeeeeee!
The Maiden of Light: On with the story!
Squee was fast asleep in the bed that was once Johnny's. Tucked tightly within the silky covers, he dreamed on. Even though he was away in dreamland, Rose continued singing her lullaby. Out on the iron rail of the balcony, she sat perched, holding onto the left pole propping up the overhang. Tears formed a water veil over her eyes. She had Squee to distract her from them until he fell asleep. But it was here that she had to face the facts. She missed Johnny being here with her. It felt almost like loosing a piece of yourself.
"It's a shame to damage such a lovely song with sobs and tears." A mysterious voice slithered by.
Rose almost let go of iron pole and tumbled over the edge. Who was that? She looked around, only to find that thin air had spoken to her. The balcony of the apartment beside hers was empty and so were the ones below.
"In case you're wondering, I'm on the roof." The voice spoke again.
She turned around and peered over the railing. Her eyes fell upon the corner of the rooftop, where a dark silhouette laid there on its side like a relaxed black cat. As a car drove by on the streets below, lights illuminated the face of her visitor. His most obvious feature was creative spiky crimson hair. His eyes were deep and sunken like he hadn't slept in years. His face was rather pale too. He wore a slim trench coat that didn't seem to hide the fact that this person was very scrawny but quite tall. Boxy shaped goggles hung loosely around his neck as they were not used. We wore a heavy necklace with a pendant shaped like a bat. He had long black gloves and tall black boots like Johnny.
"Who are you?" Rose backed away from the edge.
He gave a one-sided smile, revealing a rather sharp canine tooth. His motions were smooth and fluid as he stood up, as if he was absolutely positive that he wouldn't fall off the roof.
He gave a low bow with a twirl of his hand, "Ned, at your service milady."
"I don't believe you live here," Rose questioned, "What are you doing on this roof?"
The English accent he spoke with was charming. He spoke, his voice more like the purr of a cat than the hiss on a snake, "I couldn't help myself. I heard this lovely voice, you see, and followed it to this rooftop. I do believe that siren's song belonged to you, am I right?"
Rose replied, keeping her guard up, "Yes, I was singing."
"Could you please continue?" Ned asked with a desiring smile, "It was wonderful."
"I…uh…I need to go, uh, inside and check on something," Rose hesitated, slowly backing towards the door, but trying to look normal.
Ned suddenly leapt nimbly from the edge of the roof to the edge of her balcony, the shock making her fall back against the glass door.
He persisted, "Please, I want to hear you sing again!"
He was beginning to act like a child. A dark mysterious child that happened to be tall, skinny, creepy, and could jump really well. Rose inched her way to the door handle.
Rose begged, "Could you please leave. I would like to go to sleep."
Ned's shoulders dropped in disappointment, "Alright. I understand. I suppose it was rather rude of me to intrude upon you like this. All I wanted was a lullaby. I heard you singing it earlier and I wanted to hear it again."
She looked down, then up to Ned's saddened face. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to fill his request, "I suppose I could sing one song."
His face lit up. He smile revealed two terrifyingly sharp fang-like teeth, "Oh, thank you so much, milady."
He hopped onto the side rail and sprang out, latched onto the edge of the rooftop, and easily swung onto his feet so he was standing on the roof. He waited patiently for her.
Rose stood up and closed her eyes. Words flowed to her mouth:
Dear falling star
Grant my only wish
To find the one I love
Take me to the sky
Fly across the heavens
And everything above
I will walk on
Until that day comes again
Where I find him waiting
For me to return
The rest was humming. Rose opened her eyes. Her one-stranger audience looked relaxed their on the corner of the rooftop. He stood back on his feet.
"That was beautiful, Miss." He bowed in compliments, "I hope you sing more. I just might hear it somewhere in this plot of scum called a city."
Rose nodded her head, "Thank you, Ned."
"Well now, I must be off. I believe a snack at the 24/7 is calling me. So, farewell, milady." Without waiting for a goodbye in return, Ned simply leapt off the roof.
Rose watched in utter surprise as he grabbed hold of a street lamp overhanging the road and swung around it like a gymnast on the high bars. He released his grip and soared into the air, landing firmly on the cargo hold of a passing mail truck. Ned turned and waved to Rose one last time before his ride turned the corner and disappeared down the street. He didn't even stagger. Rose softly and silently opened and closed the door behind her. She tiptoed past Squee's room and into her own. As she crawled into bed, a single thought sat in her mind.
What in the world was he?
The Maiden of Light: I know, I know. It was a short chapter. But I have an excuse! A CHEERLEADER STOLE MY SPLEEN! Actually, this chapter was just the introduction to a new character in the story. Don't worry, you will find out more about Ned. Now if you excuse me, I have some limbs to amputate. Bwahahahaha!
Cheerleaders: squeal and run away