Chapter 5: Sniveling is Unattractive
Lids fluttered open to reveal the unfamiliar surroundings. Actually, if Beatrix Kiddo wasn't as drugged up and disoriented as she was she would have noticed her surroundings were more than familiar. She was in one of Bill's many spare rooms. Decorated with an accent only Bill could have. Her head was pounding in rhythm with her heart but the horrific pain she could vaguely remember was well subdued to a mere annoyance. Down the hall she could make out hushed voices, or relatively hushed conversation. She didn't make the effort to strain too hard in an attempt to eaves drop. A hand came up to rub gingerly at her agonizing temple as she let out a small groan of discomfort. She tried to roll to her side, a shot of pain put her right back onto her stomach with a muffled whimper into the plush pillow. The hushed voices led to a single pair of footsteps.
Out of all the people to appear at Beatrix's bedside it was Vernita. She came in carrying a tray of tea and a small bit of food. "Hey Bea." She set the tray down on the bedside table. "You're lookin' better." She sat down gently on the edge of the bed. There was no missing the concern on Vernita's face. Funny that those who killed people for a living would react in such a way to one of their own nearly dying. She reached over and pushed some bangs out of Beatrix's face. "I bet you can't wait to lie in a different position. I guess you've been like this for days. It hurts just to look at you." The hushed voices down the hall rose. It was unmistakably Bill and Elle. Vernita smiled, "Elle's in deep shit. After you went into shock she freaked out and called Bill. Dumb bitch. Of course, Bill flipped. I guess Elle had led him to believe you weren't that hurt. Anyways, Bill flew back. You were in the hospital for a few days. I guess they had to do some minor surgery. I dunno, I just got back today. But man--" she shook her head, smiling down at Beatrix, "...i'm glad I missed a few days of those two arguing."
It was a surprise but a welcome surprise to see Vernita. Lids closed over her glossy eyes again as it gave some relief to her pounding head as Vernita recounted the events of the past few days. The only clear thing she could manage to think in her disoriented train of thoughts was 'shit, I fucked up real bad.' Hearing that fimiliar voice, Beatrix was swept with a mix of frazzled emotions. She masked this as best she could. There were some more footsteps in the hallway. Bill entered, looking pale and overly tired. Following close behind him was a shaken looking Elle, her arms crossed across her chest. Bill leaned on the doorframe, frowning, "Looks like you've rejoined the world of the living Kiddo."
Beatrix attempted to wave a hand to dismiss Bill's words but finding the effort too hard she gave up and let her hand flop back down to the bed side. "You know me, Bill, I can't stay away that long," she replied, words remained a tad out of focus which went well with her vision. "I'm like a cat with nine lives. And I'm down to my--sixith? Yeah, six." Bill gave a tight smile and pushed off the door frame. Vernita got up, letting Bill get a closer look at Beatrix. At a closer view, one could see a large red gash on the right side of Bill's face. "We nearly lost you there." He didn't sound at all amused, "I'm blaming both of you for this." Elle made a little sniffing sound from her spot near the door. "I didn't train you to have this sort of thing happen. Its dangerous not only to your life, but to all of our lives. Things can be easily traced back." he trailed off and straightened up, "Elle...." Bill's tone of voice was laced with deadly undertones.
Elle slowly approached Beatrix. She looked really pissed. "I"m sorry Beatrix." she said like a child who had been forced to apologize..."We-- should have worked together better. Perhaps this wouldn't have happened." She barely got this out, spitting the words out like poison. With that she quickly turned and left the room. Vernita was hiding a smile behind one of her elegant hands. "I'll be back later Kiddo," Bill reached down, his hand briefly touching Beatrix's hot cheek. "Vernita will be nearby if you need her." He glanced at Vernita and left. Vernita sat back down the bed. "I heard you shot the bitch right in the head. Damn, wish I could have seen that." She smiled and stood, "Get some rest aright? I'll check in on ya later."
That wasn't anything near what Beatrix was expecting. Maybe if she was more aware she would have expected some of it but not all of it. All she had really wanted when Bill entered the room was to be comforted and told something soothing, comforting. But, she didn't get any of that and it made her sick to her stomach. Dilated blue eyes glanced to watch Vernita exit the room. Alone she turned her face into the pillow and let out a loud scream of some muffled curse word. Hands clenched, fists white to the pillow, face concealed, she fell into an uneasy slumber.
It had to be late that night when Beatrix awoke again. Her mind remained cloudy but the sun rays were cautiously beginning to shine through. She wasn't sure if anyone was nearby and she didn't give a damn. Her back was beginning to pain her and she knew the pain killers were wearing down to their last half an hour. The pain could also be due to the fact she hadn't moved in numerous days. Moving could help but moving would induce further agony. Black Mamba was tough, she could handle a little bullet hole. Pushing her head off of the pillow, blonde hair sticking to sweaty features, she reached out hand to grab to the head board. Clenching firmly she pulled up, applying all her effort to perform the simple task of rolling to her side. She coughed out a sob of pain but gulped it down as quickly as it rose. As much pain as she endured Beatrix was successfully lying on her side.
After sometime Vernita came into the room to check on Beatrix. She had been watching soaps in the living room and had heard some commotion. She found Beatrix on her side. The woman looked...well...kinda pissed. "Hey Bea brought ya some tea thought you might want some." She set the cup down, eyeing Beatrix. "Don't mind Bill Bea, he just got really freaked out. You should have seen him when he found out, I-"
"See me what?"
Vernita nearly jumped. If there was one person who could sneak up on Vernita, it was Bill. He looked like he had been working out, decked out in his rational martial arts attire, hair clinging to his face. "Ah....oh...hey Bill." Vernita smiled, "I was just talking to Bea here......ah....oh look...my soaps back on. Thanks for letting me use your TV Bill." She gave Beatrix a hasty little wave and fled the room.
Bill frowned, crossing his arms. "I see you've managed the highly difficult yet extremely deadly side position." Humor crept into his voice and face. Beatrix wanted to reply with some snide, smart ass reply to his bemusing comment but she couldn't come up with one. That was never a good sign. She even wanted to let out another moan of evident discomfort but she put on a strong facade in front of Bill. Or at least tried. "It hurts," was all she was able to come out with, words soft and shaky to begin with. Kiddo bit down hard on her almost quivering lower lip as the pain made an unwelcome demonstration of how much of an ass it could be. Lids closed over blue eyes before reopening to focus on the wall in front of her. "Bill--I'm sorry," she whispered. Beatrix was more than aware enough to know she caused a lot of shit with this stupid slip up. Perhaps she even said this to avoid any of his cruel zingers or being verbally shot down, in the non- literal term.
For a few moments, Bill remained where he was, arms crossed. He appeared completely unmoved by Beatrix's show of defeat and emotion. Then he crossed the room and pulled a chair next to Beatrix's bed. He sat down, leaning his elbow next to Beatrix's pillow. After a few awkward moments, he replied in a low voice, "I know your sorry, you don't have to tell me. I already knew. Never admit weakness in front of others Kiddo. Of course," a small smile, "....I'm the exception to that rule." He swiped strands of hair out of his face. "I remember the first time I got really injured....I was about your age, perhaps younger." Bill stared at the far wall, a far away look on his face as if remembering another lifetime. "I got stabbed....right through my chest...clear though." he gestured to his left collarbone. "God...it hurt like hell.....bled everywhere....I looked just like you. I was so pissed off. I hated myself for letting something like that happen." He looked at Beatrix, "I was also a lucky bastard....sword missed my lung by about three centimeters. But I didn't care...I would rather have died than lived with that. Of course, I was I got over that real quick. Yet.....," he raised a finger, "....I never let that happen again. Oh, sure...I've been hurt since...but never like that. Never like the first time." He pulled the edge of his gi collar aside to reveal a small scar on the edge of his collarbone. "All I had to do was look at this......and somehow I avoided that situation." He laid a hand gently on Beatrix's shoulder, "Just like you will. You're tough Kiddo. I know you don't feel it now. But I have faith you'll not only learn but you'll live allot longer." He smirked, "See, I do have at least a little compassion floating around in these old bones...thought I'd lost it there for a moment good thing I fished it out at the right moment."
Beatrix let out a shaky laugh at his statement but it was short lived. Tongue flicked out to dampen her severely dry lips before speaking in a low tone of voice, still hinted shakiness, "It won't happen again, believe me, Bill. Not like this. I--I slipped up either way one looks at it. I should have expected someone else to be there ready to defend that bitch. Perhaps I turned too cocky, became egotistic, I believed I could end it there in one clean sweep. But, I couldn't, not without a consequence." She gulped down the lump that had formed in her throat and removed her gaze from his. "You don't need to provide me with so much compassion. I don't deserve it, and don't you fucking contradict me on that one because you know the second you walked in here all you wanted to do was shoot me down," her tone had become more serious, not as shaky or as slurred. Kiddo wasn't sure if that was the drugs talking or her own mind or the pain or a mixture of all three. Either way her mind was still floating.
Bill smiled, this smile almost lived up to being "sweet" "I know it won't happen again......You've learned your lesson....your not Elle, I don't need to keep driving that into you. You need to stop beating yourself up, I think enough of that has been done already." The words sounded a little odd coming from Bill. "This business had a way of weeding out those who aren't very good at it. That won't happen to you Kiddo." His voice was confident. He sighed, "What you need to do is stop sniveling...it's really quite unattractive in a woman." He shrugged, "Maybe I'm just feeling compassionate today. Is there something wrong with that? If you want me to I can go back to glaring and frowning...I have a long life of expertise in that area." For show, he gave the darkest glowering frown he could possibly execute. "Look at that......pretty mean looking bastard aren't I? I can do this as long as you want." He dropped the facade, "Here..," he picked up the tea from the bedside table, "...drink this....your dehydrated." He watched her drink the tea. "Life is full of lessons Kiddo....you either learn from them or you don't....and if you don't, you generally end up losing." He made a gun gesture with his left hand, pointing it at Beatrix's face. "Bang."
She blinked hard at the gun shot motion as if it startled but it was only a reflex reaction. Drinking the tea had become a new tedious task. She had to bend her head up in order to allow herself a few sips. Any motion of her body seemed to contact to her back bone that pulsed with pain not making things easier. She was able to take in a few sips of the warm liquid before she dribbled a few drops to stain the covers. Beatrix felt so fucking helpless at that moment she thrust the tea cup back to Bill to set on the side table in exaggerated frustration. Realizing how submissive and weak she was brought in a new wave of emotions. She took in a shaky breath to calm herself down. Bill was right, she had to stop sniveling and suck it up. Sniveling, crying, and showing any point of weakness did nothing for a title of deadliest woman in the world. She rose up an unsteady hand to wipe over her face that was sticky and hot to the touch but slowly beginning to cool down. As her hand lowered her features had softened but not in the manner of earlier. Blue eyes locked with his, gaining back that intense and always emotional glint. Beatrix wanted to thank him for that dose of reality but that was too giving, even for them. "What happened?" Her gaze halting on the slash along his face.
Bill knew he was being harsh. But it was for Beatrix's own good. He simply could not have those working for him be average. They had to be tougher and smarter than the rest. It took time, but it was amazing what a human being could withstand. Beatrix may not have completely understood now but she would in time. Bill took the cup with a frown. He watched as Beatrix made the realization. That was good a first step always led to others. "Oh, this?" He pointed to his face, Bill was a little surprised by her question. He waved it away, "Nothing really......there was a with one of the Yakuza groups. Believe me," he smiled, "..they are in allot worse shape than I. I didn't have a chance to take proper care of it after flying out so suddenly." He shrugged, "No big deal. Now, you're going to drink this." he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding the tea to her lips "...if it's the last thing you do." There was another step to this lesson at times it was necessary to take the help of others, even if you looked stupid doing it. "Believe me Kiddo dehydration is much worse than a gunshot wound."
Beatrix wasn't to keen on the idea of drinking but she wasn't keen on the idea of getting dehydrated either. A silent debate went on in her mind as she stared at the hovering cup of tea. She finally gave in, leaning her head forward and taking a few small sips of the liquid. Her stomach was performing a head stand and she didn't want it to end up doing back flips. Small sip after small sip proceeded, as well as ten second intermissions until the whole cup was drained. A contented facade formed as Bea leaned her head back to the pillow. Blue eyes staring up at Bill, she offered a weary smile which spoke for many words.
Bill laughed, "It's the small things that seem truly difficult." He set down the empty cup, looking pleased. "Now, I can't afford to let you sit around here and heal for months and months." He leveled a finger at her, "So don't do anything stupid, Ok? If I find you not eating or drinking or trying to get up, I'm going to be really pissed off." He was serious, but he said it with a good amount of humor. "You're becoming one of my best assassins, Kiddo. I mean that. I don't want to see something happen to you that would put you out. Then, what good would you be to me?" He smiled. Bill carefully uncoiled his arm from around Beatrix, making sure her head was lying correctly on the pillow. "I've got allot to do but I'll come back and check on you when I can. And Vernita will be here as well." With a small smile he bent and kissed Beatrix on the forehead. "You did alright Kiddo."
He stood and left the room.