Chapter 17: Road Kill
"I couldn't agree more," Beatrix replied flatly. She felt and looked just as fucked up as her blonde companion did. She was sporting a nice assortment of battle wounds. A few prominent ones, such as; the bruises on her neck, the steri-stripped gash on the side of her head, her wrapped arm that looked as though it had gone through a paper shredder, and a few black and blue marks finished it off. It was never easy facing Bill, especially after an assignment. Bill looked so classic it was frightening and it didn't help ease either of the two women to approach him willingly.
Both stood a few inches from the car and waited patiently for their 'master' to finish on the cell phone. As soon as he hung up, Beatrix spoke up. Her voice was calm and her facade held little added emotion. "Hello Bill..."
Bill looked at both women with a look of haughty discern as he inhaled a large drag. He looked like a complete bastard at the moment...even more than usual. It could just be the whole picture, but there was also something about his posture and the way he looked at them. "So," he exhaled a giant puff of smoke, eyes narrowing, "I see you two ladies acquired some wounds." He raised his eyebrows, "Must have been a bitch of a fight then?"
Elle remained motionless and mute. She didn't like the way he said that. Bill was a cunning son of a bitch but he was also one hell of a lair. Who knew what he meant. "Do tell?" Bill prompted, wary eyes darting between the two blondes.
It may have been the way Bill looked or the plan fact that he rarely smoked a joint that was making her spine tingle. Blue eyes were cast to the ground before side glancing to Elle. Bitch, she was going to leave Beatrix to do all the talking.
She downcast her gaze once more and began to tell the story. Kiddo decided to give minor details to what happened. That she had tried to perform a cunning act to get their target at a weak point but that had back fired. She didn't point fingers at whom had initially had started the brawl between the two woman, just that they had. During this part of the story Beatrix kept close check on her voice. She didn't want to crack. Obviously the tall blonde was still digesting the blatant truth of Elle's true feelings. But, she was getting there. She than continued on to the assignment. That their two loggers were better than first anticipated. But, for as good as they were, the two assassins were ten times better. Beatrix finished with a trail off. She wanted to glance up to see Bill's expression but she took control and watched the ground.
Elle's eye slide Beatrix's way. Any normal person would probably have respected Beatrix for what she had just done. But this was Elle...her hatred for Beatrix ran deeper than a cover story.
Bill raised an eyebrow. "So...let me get this straight...you two attempted to...distract these assholes...and...you ended up in a fight?"
Elle finally spoke up, "They were complete pervert's Bill...well..at least we thought...so we played it up..."
Despite looking pissed, Bill managed an amused smirk, "You played it up?"
"Yeah..." Elle looked at the ground. She wasn't about to even attempt detail on that one...especially for Bill's amusement. "Then we fought." she mumbled.
"Then you fought." Bill said dangerously, stepping off of the bumper of the car, dust kicking up from his boots. Elle took a reflexive step backwards.
"Call me...I don't know...somewhat perceptive...," Bill continued in that dangerous tone, "...but did I not send you two out to kill your target? A thing which I pay you ridiculously well for?"
"Yes...of course Bill," Elle spoke into the ground, "We got sidetracked."
"You got sidetracked?" Elle did not like it when he repeated what she had just said as a question.
"We killed the guy ok...it worked out alright..."
Bill took another long drag, his disposition not appearing to improve with this bit of information. His gaze flicked to Beatrix. "Miss Driver I expect this from..." Elle's expression changed noticeably. "But..." Bill continued, "...not from you Kiddo." Once again, Bill doused Beatrix with disappointment.
Fuck, Beatrix hated it when he did that. She kept blue eyes on the ground and gave the rocky drive way a bitter glare other than her initial target. A tongue came out to dampen her dry lips. The worst was that she knew Elle would get blissful pleasure for seeing Beatrix shot down for what really wasn't her fault. Bea had told the story as if it were no one's fault. What happened just happened. She didn't point blame at anyone but, everyone being whom they were played that, and shot it back at her.
She wasn't going to take it this time. Her hand whipped forward and snatched the remains of the joint from Bill's hand before he could take another drag. That had really been getting to her. Blues slowly leveled to his hard brown ones. "That's better," she muttered to herself.
Bill stared at the remains of his joint as it slowly died in the dust. He glared back up at Beatrix, more than just a little annoyed. He kept a lock on her gaze for a few long seconds, more than just simple 'you ruined my joint' conveyed in that look.
Beatrix's facade came cold. "Elle slapped me first. I was just playing the game and she took it too seriously." She could point blame just as easily. It wasn't becoming and a tad immature but who gave a fuck. "She wanted to kill me in cold blood and I couldn't allow that. Lucky for us both I was able to knock some sense into that dense head and get back on track. So, you're disappointment is well acknowledged, Bill...but not completely directed in the appropriate manner. You always were and always will be oblivious to my actions and how far I take them."
Elle stood stiffly, unsure of what to say anymore. Her hatred for Beatrix just brimming beneath her edgy surface. So the bitch had lowered herself to finger pointing...so be it.
"Well then," Bill replied after a moment, boot coming down to grind the remainder of his weed into the ground, his hands landing in his pockets, "...perhaps I am...and perhaps I always will be...oblivious to your actions..." He said this as if he meant the complete opposite. "I can say without a doubt, that I fail to understand them..." There was nothing but coldness in his voice. This was not the Bill who, just days ago ate popcorn on the couch with her this was the Bill who would trick his best friend into shooting himself in the head and then walk out without a glance backwards.
Elle continued to remain silent and fuming. She hated this banter between Bill and Beatrix. It was a level she could not relate to...a repor she did not have.
Bill made a motion with his head, "I'm done with this..." he said simply, and dismissively.
Beatrix stared. Unlike most women she knew it was foolish to hold dreams that a man you had feelings for could keep one personality and throw out the other. In this instance she wanted to keep the sweet and dispose of the bitter. Wishful thinking and not thinking that Beatrix took to dwindle upon. Bill would always be a bastard no matter how much he exposed his sweet side to her he would remain a bastard.
"Splendid," Beatrix sneered as she took a steady step back. A glance was taken to see that in her hesitation to leave Elle took none and was already wheeling down the road. There went her ride. "Fuck," she muttered as a hand came up to brush aside flying stray strands of blonde hair from her face.
Elle did that just to spite her, whether it was unintentional or not. Beatrix turned back to Bill, her facade holding great displeasure and wavered a level above freezing. "You could offer me a ride home...or I could just walk those agonizing miles in my present condition. Which, could only worsen upon such excretion." She smiled bitterly but with a sly weaving. "Wouldn't want that now would we?"
Indeed, Bill would always remain a bastard. It could be said he had always been a bastard, ever since the day he was born. He'd been born into a bastard world and he'd grown up in one. When one thought on it, it was almost a waste...to think what Bill could have been without the bastard in him. He would have been one damn likeable, successful and charming person. But no human being was so one sided. With the light came the dark...just in some cases the dark tended to throw longer shadows on the light than others. And Bill certainly threw some long shadows wherever he went.
He examined Beatrix for a moment, brow furrowed. "No, we wouldn't," he replied flatly, his inclination either way unreadable. Digging his keys out of his pocket, he turned towards the red Camaro. "Get in." Demand.
Beatrix had some serious balls...for a woman. Not only was she getting into an extremely fast car with Bill, but she was getting into an extremely fast car with Bill who was not only in a bad mood but was a good three joints to the wind. Whoever said Beatrix didn't live dangerously in all realms of her life. Bill started the car up with a roar, notable testosterone fueled satisfaction as he released the clutch and spun the wheels before flying out of the driveway. It could be said this was all for Beatrix's benefit, but for Bill it was all about and release. A far more egotistic incentive.
His face was a mask of detached neutrality as he floored the car to an ungodly speed down the slightly windy road toward Beatrix's place. There was a definite and eerie similarity to this expression and the one he wore when making a kill.
For one reason or another Beatrix felt comfortable driving with Bill at that moment. She wasn't concerned about the fact that he was more or less under the influence of not only intoxication from numerous joints but anger as well. It was a flip twenty two on which held a higher threat. She leaned back in the passenger seat and made herself comfortable. Before the car started up she had pulled locks of blonde hair into a pony tail to prevent the hassle of the wind. Now sitting back, head tilted to watch the scenery as it whizzed by she remained silent. Bea was smart enough to know to shut up for the ten minutes it took to get to her apartment. If she wanted to remain a live and safe she had to keep all comments, smart ass or not, to herself.
Bea did pick her head up and look at Bill in a questionable manner as he whizzed right on by the main road that intersected with the street her apartment complex was on. "Bill...that was...we just drove by..." She blinked in apparent confusion.
Bill's expression remained unchanged, his eyes locked on the road ahead. "I know."
He shifted gears seamlessly and continued on. In many ways Beatrix had nothing to worry about when it came to Bill's driving. He had driven stoned more than enough in his life and he rarely had driven slowly during any of those times. Driving well, like doing many other things well, was just something he knew he could do, no humble excuses attached or needed. After a few more minutes, Bill spoke again. "I want to drive for awhile," he spoke slowly and evenly. Could have been the pot, could have just been Bill...who knew. "And, I want you with me while I drive."
As the minutes went on, Bill appeared to relax a little...at least in posture, although his expression remained the same as before. He rested his arm on his rolled down window, Rolex gleaming blinding light off of the low desert sun...hair flying in his face. Bill might have been what some people called a "businessman" but he was also one hell of a free spirit and there were moments were that spirit took hold of him and he was apt to simply follow it. That did not change the fact that he was still a bastard and as far se he appeared at the moment, there was no denying that.
Well, Beatrix 'had' been feeling comfortable. She was still comfortable with his driving she was having her second thoughts on the thought that he wanted her in the car with him for a longer time period. Even with the change of posture she knew for a fact he was far from being any less pissed off. Perhaps it was the way he was manifesting his current anger.
Either way she was going for the ride and the full excretion of where it was going. She sat back again, arms folding over her chest in a casual manner. She remained silent for the duration of the ride until their direction changed to the sun.
A hand came up to her forehead as she tried to shade the sun glare. "Happen to have an extra pair of sunglasses in here?" She asked in a casual and light tone.
Without even taking his eyes off of the road, Bill reached over and opened the glove compartment. It was full of the usual stuff; registration, a flashlight, a couple pairs of sunglasses, a small 22 cal handgun, and some gloves.
"Hand me a pair," he said, "No...not those...the other ones...yeah..those..."
Whatever Beatrix found was doubtfully far from her sort of style, but it would certainly do the job. The setting sun looked a little unreal as it hovered over the horizon...heat giving it and the ground near it a warp like haze effect. It made Bill wish he had another joint. He frowned deeper, one hand clutching harder on the steering wheel.
Some people didn't care much for the desert. But Bill loved it. It was beautiful in its complete absence of life. Sure, small cactuses and shrubs sprouted up now and then and a good amount of lizards, snakes and scorpions burrowed through the sand. But it was not life in the way most people considered appealing. It was haunting, and seemingly endless. When he was a boy, Bill used to dream about getting lost in the desert...but instead of dying there like most people would conclude...he'd thrive there. Sometimes, in his dream...it was a daydream at times too...he'd turn into a giant lizard and eat everything in his path...cactuses...people..cars that passed through. Sometimes he was the scorpion...sometimes even the snake. The dream was long gone, but Bill still remembered it. A hint of a smile tugged at his lips, but thankful for his longish hair he quickly let it vanish.
Why men choose to keep countless pairs of sunglasses in the glove compartment was beyond her but this time she was thankful for it. After handing Bill a pair she took a pair for herself. They certainty weren't her style but as always she managed to pull off looking terribly cute.
Comfortable once more Beatrix allowed her mind to wander. Silence became over powering as the desert passed by. It was endless. Bea felt her thoughts could be endless. They didn't stop at any certain place but kept on going. She could easily daydream but at the moment there was too much reality to deal with.
A blatant and cold fact of Elle's true feelings. Perhaps she was having so much trouble with this because she had thought of Elle as her friend. Bea was coming to terms with the idea that no one was ever your friend. Especially in her current job field. To think of anyone as a friend was putting trust in that person and trust was dangerous. It was a smart and safer idea to be alone. The less friends you have the less trust and with less trust there was a slimmer chance of getting hurt. But, as much as she'd try to cease her trust towards her companions Beatrix would never be able to stop it in time. Now her current thoughts were wandering too far and her temple was beginning to pulse. The silence was too much and by the distant they had drive into the desert she knew that Bill wasn't going to turn around any time soon. She shifted her position, blue eyes peering through her darkened shades. It was time to speak and she was going to bring up a subject that Bill would have any easy time answering and opposed no immediate threat to her.
"When did you get the new car?"
Bill leaned back into his leather driver's chair, "Got it yesterday," he said casually, some of the chill out of his voice. Beatrix had gone into easy territory on that one. "Pretty good deal too." Bill always seemed to get 'good deals' on cars, usually because he was able to swindle most salesmen into giving him what he wanted. He rambled on for a minutes about the specs. He knew Beatrix didn't really care that much about that sort of stuff, but it was something to fill the silence. "Fucker tried to sell me it as a V8...," he sneered. "...as if couldn't I tell just by looking at the hood. I told him if he didn't sell it to me for a V6 price and upgrade it to a V8 for free, then I was just going to walk and buy the same thing from Ramero...," Bill gave Beatrix a look over his glasses, "...this guy hates Ramero...of course, I knew that. So...I got the V8 and the supercharger kit to boot." He looked pleased with himself, a look very few women could understand or relate to. Knowing he had exhausted that subject, Bill fell silent again.
The sun was nearly completely sunk behind the horizon now. The sky above it was bruising to a deep blue purple...small specks of twilight began poking their way through.
At one point, Bill removed his sunglasses replacing them in the glove compartment. Soon the desert gave way to a medium sized town. Bill slowed to a respectable speed once within the town's limits. Small children were playing along the street; a couple of them were holding sparking fireworks in their hands. It appeared to be some small sort of town fiesta going on. Smells of cooking food and shouting voices filled the air. It was a welcome solace from the earlier silence.
A small boy ran up to the side of Bill's car as they were stopped, waiting for a group of fiesta goers to pass. "I clean your car for you senor, real cheap!" the boy spoke in quick Spanish...he appeared to be about eight or so. Large brown eyes stared at them through the open window. His dirty hands clutched at a towel and a large bucket hung from one of his skinny brown arms.
Bill regarded him for a moment. "Alright," he replied in equally fast Spanish, "But I want you to be very careful, no scratches and very ? Muy aprisa!"
The boy smiled and quickly got to work.
Bill turned to Beatrix, obviously feeling the need to explain a good deed, "Poor kid...most likely doing this shit to support his lazy drunk ass dad and whore mother...you see it all the time around here...putting these kids to work..selling shitty souvenirs. It's fucking pathetic." The boy was fast, but his car cleaning skills were a little sloppy..he nearly managed to knock over his bucket three times. When he had finished, large veins of water were still running down their windshield.
Beatrix stayed quiet in the passenger seat. She wasn't about to comment on Bill's show of generosity to the youngen she just gave a nod to his explanation. Though it was nice to know that even as pissed off as he remained he still had courtesy towards children. Most bastards showed little to no respect to kids.
Bea knew a little Spanish but she wasn't as fluent with it as she was with her Japanese. Spanish didn't seem as important to her as Japanese being the far harder language she preferred it. Thus being, she only caught bits and pieces of the short exchange of words Bill had with the car wash boy.
He returned to Bill's window, a little out of breath. "How's that senor? No scratches at all...and nice and shiny."
Bill smiled, "Perfect...beautiful job mis muchacho." He dug out his wallet and pulled out a few US bills; since he rarely kept Pecos around...they were worth basically jack shit. He handed them to the boy, who's eyes widened a bit at seeing them put into his hand.
"Muchos gracias senor!" He grinned.
"Now," Bill leveled a finger at the boy, "...you keep that just for yourself. Go buy something nice, en correcto estado?" The boy nodded rapidly.
Bill ruffled the boy's hair, with a grin, "Adios mis muchacho." He started the car back up and they continued down the road. A few streets down, he turned on the windshield wipers to clean off the vast amount of excess water on the windows.
"I need to put some gas in this thing," he turned towards a brightly lit gas station.
She kept quiet the extent of the car ride until they arrived at the gas station. It was small, dirty, and not that classy but the gas was cheap. A group of Spanish gentlemen were gathered in the corner chatting away aimlessly.
Bea casually slipped off her sunglasses, unsure why she had kept them on for so long when the sun was almost set. As her arm extended to put them away she took notice to the crimson effectively coming through the once white gauze that was wrapped along her arm. "Fuck," she muttered, snapping off her seatbelt, she reached a hand to the door.
"I'm gonna go see if they have some bandages in there." She made a motion to the convince store a few feet away. Most gas stations had them, some better than others. She stepped out of the vehicle. Blue eyes darted to Bill. "I'd hate to get blood all over your pretty new car," she said in a coy tone, a mocking smile to match.
Bill liked kids. He wasn't really sure why. It's not like he had the best disposition to be around them...but he did have a soft spot for children nonetheless. Of course, if it came down to the situation where he had to kill one...and unfortunately he had, then so be it. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy them. Maybe it was because he missed his own childhood, or that he hadn't really had much of one to begin with...maybe it was because he, like most men at some point, felt the need to continue on their line through children.
He turned to Beatrix as she got out of the car, his eyes flicking to the bloody bandage on her arm. He frowned, this wasn't exactly the best place for a wound to reopen. But he sure as hell didn't want her bleeding allover the leather interior if at all possible. "Ok," he leaned out the window as she walked past, "...it's doubtful though..."
This place looked like the sort of dive you didn't even use the restroom in, let alone see if they had a clean bandage. He was going to tell her to be careful, but that was just redundant when offering it to somebody like Beatrix. As he waited, elbow propped up on the door, Bill watched the group of men talking through the side mirror. They appeared completely harmless, but Bill had a habit of watching everyone and everything...pure instinct at this point. He only hoped Beatrix would hurry up.
Beatrix took her dandy time finding something could suffice as a bandage. The store was rather vacant, smelled funny, and had numerous insects flying around. Skimming the shelves she decided to go with a roll of paper towels, medical tape, and a box of Junior Mints. She hadn't eaten since early that day and the best way to fill that gape in one's stomach was a box of candy.
She paid the cashier, receiving a curious look but nothing was said. It was an easy in; she couldn't say it was an easy out. Crossing the way back to the car where Bill appeared to be waiting in patiently Bea didn't think it was that necessary to look both ways while crossing. Well, she had, it was habit, but she didn't check as thoroughly.
Why would you need to worry about crossing in a gas station? Well that was until some maniac came screeching into the station. Bea was no super hero and she could jump pretty high but she sure as hell couldn't jump over a fast approaching Cadilac.
She ceased her steps, blue eyes wide. The driver of the truck blast the horn but didn't make any movement to stop the approaching vehicle. More or less the driver did stop but that wasn't before making contact with the tall blonde.
Beatrix hit the ground hard on her back and the rest of her body disappeared beneath the vehicle. Bill had seen the approaching truck, but he had not expected the driver to simply run Beatrix over. It was always a shocking sight to witness somebody get hit...no matter how much you had seen. Aware of what he had done the driver of the truck came to a dead stop, frozen at the wheel.
Bill was out of his car in an instant. Running over to the stopped vehicle, he splayed himself out on the ground, checking on Beatrix. She'd been hit by the front of the car but luckily had only fallen underneath it...untouched by the tires. It was hard to tell if she was conscious or not, but she was most definitely alive.
Satisfied by this fact for the moment, Bill picked himself back up and opened the door of the truck. He grabbed the stunned driver by the collar of his shirt and hauled him out into the open. The man was Hispanic probably in his 40's...he was wearing a straw cowboy hat and looked like a migrant worker. He threw his hands up as he began to jabber away nervously, a terrified look on his face.
Bill came at him with cold fury. It wasn't an out of control anger, it was calm destruction. "You fucking asshole," Bill cursed fluently in Spanish, kneeing the man in the stomach. He pulled the man's head back up by his newly exposed head of hair and revealed his throat, which Bill swiftly gave a vicious strike to. The man fell to his knees gagging. Looking disgusted, Bill kicked him in the back of the head for good measure. The man fell forward onto the pavement unmoving.
At this point a small crowd had developed outside of the gas station to witness the altercation. There were more than enough exchanged looks of hostility.
Bill kneeled down below the truck, looking at Beatrix. "I'm going to pull the truck forward...if you can hear me...don't move Kiddo..." Jumping into the truck, he slowly pulled it forward until it revealed the fallen form of Beatrix. Bill jumped back out and rushed to her side.
The second Beatrix had hit the cold pavement she blacked for a few seconds, mostly due to the sudden impact on her skull and the fact that her body was already worn down from past execration. The momentary loss of consciousness appeared a gift to her body that was anxiously waiting to get some rest.
She awoke just in time to hear the last bit of Bill's directions. She had no intention on moving to begin with.
"Jesus Christ Kiddo...," he felt her pulse at her throat, "...you're the deadliest woman in the world and some jackass runs your ass over at a gas station." He gave her a smile, "Life sure as hell is ironic..." Pulling out an anagrammed handkerchief from his jacket pocket, he began to wipe the blood that was oozing from her nose in a loving manner. "Eh, you're alright...a few scrapes and bruises...nothing that Elle didn't already give you..."
Now fully aware and awake, Bea laid there, blue eyes blazing and nostrils flared in cold anger. Obviously it wasn't towards him, for a change, actually she was quite thankful Bill was there to begin with; wiping away the blood from her nose. If you wanted someone to forgive you, one just had to get their life put in danger and all past hostility and anger was put aside. Not that that was her intention but she wasn't complaining.
She offered a weary smile to her man but that didn't do much for the blatant fury in her eyes. She finally spoke up, lips had taken on a glossy coating of blood, "Aye, my life is full of irony, funny you're always around to see it." A violent but short lived cough shook her body before she managed another sentence. "Help me up."
She took her hand in his and with some applied effort the tall blonde rose to her two feet. A rush of dizziness passed before she let go of Bill's hand. A glance was given to the Hispanic on the ground. "That the guy?" Before Bill gave much of a nod to her question she gave a harsh kick to the man's temple with the toe of her boot. "Fucker."
Bill glared down at the man, whom Beatrix had just further punished. The man groaned a little, but didn't move an inch. A small line of blood was coming from where his face lay and was beginning to crawl across the pavement. "Come on Kiddo," Bill looked up, dismissing the man like yesterday's garbage. He wrapped a helping arm around her waist, "Let's get the fuck out of here."
They walked slowly to the car. The eyes of the many onlookers burning into them, but nobody crossed their direction or said anything too audible.
Once inside the car, Bill insisted he check the back Beatrix's head. That was the biggest concern. But she appeared to have just severely bruised it, instead of cracking it open or something equally as worse. He removed his jacket and put it behind her head. Starting the car up, he handed her the bloody handkerchief that he had used earlier. "Hold onto that...it looks like your going to need it again." He made a small gesture to his own nose as if to indicate she check her own.
All of Bill's former cold hostility was long gone, replaced by swift and effective concern. On the way back he drove faster than he had on the way there, but instead of driving out of pure anger, there was a true purpose to it this time. In some ways the drive back was far more pleasant. The sun had long since set and with its heat; former hostilities seemed to have left as well. At one point, Bill even turned on the radio at a low volume as to not irritate Beatrix who's head was no doubt pounding like hell. Classic rock of the 70's filled the car's interior. Every few minutes Bill would glance over at Beatrix to make sure she was ok...of course he knew she was fine, but he was still tempted to check.
Beatrix could say the company was more pleasant driving back but the ride itself wasn't. Her head felt as if it were going to explode and she kept on getting drips of blood from her nose. She was a bloody mess; counting the fresh open wound she had originally gone across the way to retrieve items to prevent further bleeding. If anything she blamed the wound for reopening and of course, some of that blame had to be triggered in Bill's direction for going to the gas station in the first place. But, this blame as kept to herself.
She kept the handkerchief up against her nose the whole ride just incase she didn't catch a drip. God forbid she got blood on the leather seats. Blue eyes glanced over as Bill quickly looked back the road. An amused hint of a grin tugged at her lips. "I'm fine, Bill," she reassured quietly. "I could use a heavy dose of pain killers but other than that I'm peachy."
"Well, you look like shit," Bill replied with a well meaning smirk. "Cute but like shit." He nodded at her drug request. Bill had more than enough drugs, legal and illegal at his premises...no doubt she would be able to get what she needed once they got there.
It was well into the night when the car pulled up into the familiar circular driveway at Bill's. He got out of the car and came around to her side, "Don't get out," he said with a warning look.
Walking into the house quickly, Bill returned a few minutes later with a handful of bottles and a roll of gauze. Opening Beatrix's door he began handing stuff to her, "I'm sure you have enough of this..." he handed her the gauze and some large wraps, "...but take it anyways. Percocet," he handed her the bottle, "...everyone's favorite happy time pill Vicodin, Ultram, and I know your not a fan but humor me." He handed her a small bag of distinctive crushed up greens. "Now," he shut her door, "Let's get you home."
Beatrix stared down at the assortment of drugs littering her lap. Blue eyes widened slightly and she cooed, "Oh, I'm gonna sleep good tonight." She plucked out the bottle of percoset from the pile, flipped the top, and poured out two into her hand. She gulped them down with no need of water. A talent few had and not a preferable talent for Bea found that she nearly chocked herself twice by taking pills without a liquid. She capped the bottle and set it with the rest. Blue eyes glanced to him. Bill stared at Beatrix as she preformed her pill swallow...how she did that was beyond him. Those weren't exactly tiny little pills either.
"Stuff always takes awhile to kick in for me. By the time we get to my place I should be feeling spacey." She grinned slyly. "Bet you can't wait for that."
He started the car, chuckling, "Hrm, definitely...," he put on a dramatic disgusting tone of voice, "..that way I can take advantage of your frail condition to satisfy my own vile and repressive needs. I can't wait..." He smirked, taking the road to Beatrix's place.
It never ceased to amaze Bill that times with Beatrix were anything but boring. She always had this way of attracting trouble, then again he had a way of doing that as well...always had. So, he supposed it was inevitable that the two of them would always draw trouble one way or another. But Bill wouldn't have it any other way.
Beatrix had been right, by the time he reached her apartment she had a familiar glazed over look in her eyes. He opened her door with a smile. "Come on Kiddo..." He helped her out, "I can't properly exploit you out here...let's get you inside before you hurt yourself further."
Bea had gathered all the pills up into Bill's jacket that she had earlier been using as a pillow. She didn't carry a purse that often and making Bill's jacket a makeshift purse sufficed the need. Purse in hand she used her other to clasp to his arm in a needy manner. The throbbing in her head began to dissipate but it was only taken up by the feeling of floating on clouds. She was going numb but it still well aware of her surroundings and Bill's smart ass remarks. Which she was taking a tad more lightly. She gave him a look before shoving her keys against his chest in a manner that read 'fuck you'.
Bill raised his eyebrows, a small smirk on his face. He took her keys and opening the door, ushered Beatrix in it was her place after all.
Bill didn't know where the fuck anything was in her apartment...which he found ridiculously cramped. After Beatrix turned on the lights...this took a moment, he went and poured her some water. She needed to lie down, but knowing her state of mind, he decided to keep quiet. Not exactly sure what Beatrix wanted to do, Bill just watched for moments where he could help until she told him otherwise...or just told him to leave.
Beatrix stood in the kitchen as she downed the remaining pills with a glass of water. She left the rest on the counter for later use. Her form hovered by the sink a few moments to regain herself. Her head was swimming and her staggering steps proved that.
Sometimes she hated taking pain killers. They always obscured your motor skills and they made her feel vulnerable and helpless. Two things she despised. Perhaps thus was the reason she hardly ever took them. She sucked it up. She would have this time if it weren't for Bill's concern. Bea slowly turned to him. She watched as he appeared to be skimming over the contents in her apartment. Slender brows were raised. "You could remain standing there," she began slowly. "Or you could go into the bedroom and pick out something for me to sleep in." She tilted her head in a threatening motion. "And not a choice of your own personal pleasure."
Bill looked amused because, well...he was highly amused. Not only by Beatrix's request by the fiery glazed look she had at the moment. She looked like she was ready to kill something, but was too far out of it to manage it. But he also understood her dislike for loss of control. Of course she wouldn't be particularly happy with the situation. He was exactly the same way. "Alright...," he said slowly, "Sooo...lace not see through...joking..joking...," he held his hand up. "I'll find something appropriate." He said seriously and turned and went down the only hallway in the apartment.
Bill realized he had actually never been in Beatrix's bedroom. If he had been his far younger self he probably would have found this somewhat tantalizing. But a bedroom was just a bedroom to him nowadays. Easily finding where Beatrix kept her sleeping attire, he sorted through the garments for a few moments. He knew she was most likely watching his time, so he quickly decided on something and returned to the living room.
"Here we go Kiddo..." he held out a tank top and a pair of loose fitting pants, "Loose..practical...not something a stripper would wear..."
Beatrix took the garments from him with a bemused expression. "I appreciate it," she stated flatly. Clothes in hand she stood there. She did look quite amusing and she would have found herself amusing if she wasn't in such a pissy state of mind.
The drugs were working at least. Working very well. Dammit. In a rather nonchalant and awkward manner she collapsed on to the carpeted floor at Bill's feet. Well, not collapse but sat. Legs bent up to her chest and she hugged the clothing tight to herself.
Sometimes drugs brought out certain personalities in a person. Bea was picking up on a few. Blue glossed over hues stared up at Bill. They were shining but not in a happy manner. Lips parted as if she were about to say something important but stopped and went completely the different direction, "You can go home...if you want."
Bill crouched down, hands on her shoulders. He looked her directly in the eyes...her look was distant but there was a definite fight to gain control of herself. She looked so vulnerable like that...and he could tell she knew that. He knew how much she hated it that was evident in her face. Like him, control was very important to her. Self control knowing that you could trust yourself fully and not reveal something that you didn't want the world to see. It took years to build that tight and impenetrable wall it was frightening to have it weakened, even for an instant.
"Look at me Kiddo..." he demanded, trying to get her to look right at him...,"What do you want me to do?" He asked bluntly. "Don't be afraid...just tell me...I'm not going to laugh at you, or get angry with you. I'm not going to leave you like this. So either you tell me what you want me to do, or I'm going to put you physically in that bed before I leave." Bill, despite all his negative qualities could be very understanding when he wanted to be...in a blunt way that is.
It took Bea awhile to look at him and even when she did turn blue hues to his brown she wasn't completely there. Lips parted once more as if to speak but she closed her mouth to a tight line and began to think. She had already built that great wall to block out emotions and the quality to appear strong even in the hardest of situations. Though, unlike Bill she was still building. Putting the finishing touches and sanding the edges. Those cracks that had not been soothed with mud were the areas that let things slip through. In time she'd cover them up but until than she was likely to slip.
Coming to a decision she blinked hard to refocus herself. "I don't want anything from you...Well..maybe..." She tilted her head downcast. "Nevermind."
Bill tilted his head to the side, mouth tightening in slight annoyance. Her indecisiveness was a little tiring, but he also knew she was doped up and injured...it was understandable.
"Ok...," he said after a moment, "Well if you don't want anything from me, you're getting into bed..." Knowing there was little Beatrix could do in her current physical state, he carefully pulled her up by her shoulders and picking her up in a shoulder fireman's carry, he started down the hallway. He was aware she probably wasn't too happy about this, but she was being stubborn as hell and the drugs weren't helping. Her collapse on the living room floor only confirmed this.
"Don't even start with me Kiddo," he warned in an almost parental tone, as they rounded the corner to her room...Beatrix's head barely missing the doorframe. "You left me with no choice."
She wasn't about to fight him in her current position so she stayed put. Even anyone were to drop by it would look pretty damn funny but Beatrix was finding it pretty damn annoying.
She scowled. "Course 'daddy'," mocking his parental demands. "I wouldn't dare start with you." Even in her doped up and weakened state she was still able to pull of being a smart assed bitch. This character flaw was more apparent in these situations. Dizziness taking over, she tilted her forehead on his shoulder and decided to shut up.
Bill smirked. "Good girl," he replied in an equally smart ass manner. Reaching the end of her bed, he carefully let Beatrix slip away onto the soft covers.
Beatrix was still clutching to her pajamas with one hand and he assumed she would deal with that when she was ready. He did some arranging of her pillows and the surrounding covers. "Keep your head well elevated Kiddo." He let her get comfortable, watching her with a furrowed brow. Realizing he was probably mothering her too much, Bill knelt next to her, "I should go...rest as long as you need to." He briefly brought a hand up to her cheek, "Don't overdo it on those drugs." he gave her a small smile, knowing that was far from her tendency.
Beatrix wove a dismissive hand at him. "I'll be back to work by Thursday." Today being Monday. That wasn't long but it was long enough. She let eyes tilt over to him. Still glossed but held a great deal of gratitude. "Goodnight Bill." She offered a contented smile and watched as he left.