Glass and Roses

DISCLAIMER: I do not own JTHM or any of its characters. I do not own Jhonen Vasquez. I do not own anything.

CHAPTER VI

Johnny tiptoed over to Devi's bedside and stood rigidly, eyes unblinkingly on her thrashing figure. "Devi..." He whispered, extending his hand slowly, but she squeaked and turned away, scaring Johnny to draw back. He was quiet for a moment, and then he tried again. Holding his breath, Johnny held out his hand again and placed it on Devi's bare shoulder. She shivered, but stopped twisting around. Afraid to break the silence, Johnny stayed like that, his thin fingers wrapped tenderly around her arm, his legs locked with fear.

"I'm so sorry, Devi." He finally choked, "For everything I'd ever done to you." Tentatively, he bowed down, his face inches from hers, his voice caught waveringly in his throat. "Please forgive me." He looked away from her face and took a step back. She seemed as if her nightmare had passed for the night, but Johnny was still afraid to leave her side. He stood as still as a statue, watching her dolefully until bright gold fingers of light caressed the room.

In a sort of rushed panic at the realization of the morning, he bolted from the room and flung himself onto the couch. He groped at a nearby book on the coffee table and flipped through it, trying to look as if he'd been there all night. About thirty minutes later, Devi emerged, a dark silk robe draped gracefully over her shoulders. Johnny worked to keep his eyes on the book, which appeared to be about famous painters of former times.

"Good...morning..." she said slowly, as if taking in his nervousness, "Did you sleep?"

Johnny looked up, but quickly looked back down, wondering how silk clung so perfectly to every curve. "N-no..." After an uncomfortably quiet second, he forced himself to continue, "I was...awake." There was a snicker.

"Yeah, I'd have guessed that if you didn't sleep." She said jokingly, making Johnny fidget restlessly.

"Hey, where'd Bryke go? I figured he'd be staying up all hours with you." Devi didn't notice until after she'd said it that she'd used his nickname. She didn't bother to correct it. She was no longer afraid to let him know.

Johnny's eyes skated over Devi's figure, his lips twitching into an involuntary half-smile. "I...he should be in his room." Devi blinked slowly at him and then walked down the hallway into her son's room.

A second later she crept back into the living room. "He's asleep for once. I'm gonna let him take as much as possible. I swear. He never sleeps well. Even as a baby...god, he'd keep me up all hours...Anyway, I'm going back upstairs to paint for a while, okay? It's kind of my wake up call."

Johnny nodded, staring blankly ahead. "Johnny, what's wrong?" Johnny said nothing for a long time and then murmured, "I'm so sorry." Devi looked at him questioningly. Johnny didn't respond. He folded his hands painfully in his lap and rung them shakily, stifling something in the back of his throat.

Devi sat beside him on the couch, slowly catching on. "Johnny..." Johnny shuddered violently and shook his head. Dark tresses of hair fell over his face and shaded his eyes. Devi's fingers brushed them away, showing his eyes brimming with tears. When Johnny didn't pull away, Devi smiled. He obviously didn't mind being touched again. "Nny...I know you didn't mean anything-I'm not still mad at you." Johnny groaned and shut his eyes, still not speaking.

"Don't cry, Johnny. It happened six years ago. I'm so thankful for Bryke it hurts."

Johnny smiled to himself, opening his eyes. "Do you love him?"

Devi stared, slightly shocked. "Of course I do!" She insisted. Johnny nodded, taking in the information. Devi stared at him, expecting the point to this question. Johnny looked at her, but quickly looked away as if afraid to look her in the face.

"Is there any chance you might be able to stand his father?"

Devi was quiet. For a long time Johnny watched as the wheels turned slowly in her head, shivering with anticipation. Devi sighed, bringing him back to earth. "I think there is, Johnny." She finally admitted, getting to her feet and starting back towards her bedroom. She stopped abruptly in front of him and hesitated before leaning down and kissing him on the cheek. A second later she was up the stairs.

I think there is, Johnny.

A chill of joy snaked up his spine. So much stress was taken off his shoulders, he no longer felt the need for that security switchblade. He smiled, lost in his own thoughts for almost twenty minutes before the voice broke through his bliss.

"So are you going to stay for good?" Johnny turned his head to see Bryker staring at him with saucer-eyes. He bit his lip.

"I...er...don't...know." He answered slowly, "I thought you were asleep." He added accusingly, not showing how thankful he was to find something to change the subject on.

Bryker grinned. "I was pretending. I saw her kiss you." Johnny tried to suppress his own smile. "Do you love her?" he asked. There was no pressure in his voice, only curiosity.

Johnny swallowed. "I...I'm going to talk to your mother." He responded, feeling his face tingle with embarrassment.

He bounded hurriedly up the stairs and rushed down the hallway. In fear of Bryker following him for an answer to his question, Johnny barreled into Devi's bedroom, forgetting to knock on the door. He would immediately regret this decision.

"MIGHTY FUCK, NNY! DON'T YOU KNOCK?" Johnny automatically turned around and faced the door. He wanted to protest-say he's seen her naked before, but this didn't seem to be the time. Instead, he stared at the wall, his cheeks a soft rose with shock.

"I'm sorry!" He rambled quickly, "I didn't think you'd...I should have knocked! I wasn't thinking! I'm sorry!"

Devi's voice evened to a calm tone. "No, no...it's okay, you can turn around now, I found my robe." Johnny prudently faced her. She looked a bit shaken, but the initial shock had worn off.

"I'm sorry," He repeated, his voice wavering slightly with the fear that he lost his chance.

"It's okay, Nny. It's alright." She was smiling, he figured she'd forgiven him. "After all," she continued, "It's not like you haven't seen me naked before." Johnny held a laugh in his throat. "I guess you just..." Her voice trailed off almost abruptly. For a long time, she was silently watching him. He waited patiently for her to finish.

"Just what?" He finally questioned, curiosity beating out his courtesy. She jumped, startled by the break in the relaxed silence.

"Oh...just...erm...surprised me..." Johnny nodded, shuffling his boot awkwardly on the carpet.

After an uncomfortably long pause, Johnny managed enough courage to sit beside her on the bed. Devi smiled warmly. "So, why'd you come in here in the first place?"

Johnny nibbled on the inside of his lip again. "To get away from the third degree back there." He muttered, pointing to the door.

Devi laughed. "Yeah, he asks a lot of questions. What did he ask you?" Johnny tasted a metallic flavour in his mouth.

"Erm...'Why is the grass green?' 'Why is the sky blue'...ya know. That kinda shit." He lied slowly. Devi laughed again.

"Try again, he doesn't ask the normal five-year-old questions." Johnny made a face.

"Why can't he?" He asked weakly, avoiding the still open question of what he asked. Devi grinned at him.

"He's not a normal kid. He's different from everybody else...just like his father." Johnny felt his face tickle with blush again. "Johnny, about your question before..." Johnny glanced at her. She was staring at him intently He gulped.

"Which question?" He asked ignorantly, thinking he already knew the answer. Devi let a smile flicker on her lips.

"Whether or not I could stand Bryker's father." She said 'Bryker's father' as if it was someone completely different. Johnny ignored this and nodded. "I think...I think I would like to give him another shot."