Chapter 21: The Risks of Plastic Surgery
Another two to three hours passed of boring television and Nikishi bringing in a tray of hot soup and toast. Other than that from the time Bill awoke the day was uneventful. Well, until Beatrix showed up. She was let in by Nikishi whom was more than happy to see her and tell her of the good news.
During the past few days since the incident Beatrix had stopped by to perform numerous check ups on Bill and her stitching. She was proud of her handiwork and the mere fact that she had done a good enough job to ensure that Bill would live to kill another day.
Sandals padded softly against the oak flooring as she traveled down the hallway down to Bill's bedroom. She stopped in the doorway clad in a pair of loose fitting jeans, black t-shirt, and a zip-up black hoodie to match. Locks of layered blonde hair were set down to her shoulders, loose strands framing her face nicely. All in all she looked pretty if it weren't for the heavy bags under her eyes. Seeing Bill in such a condition over the past few days didn't help her sleep cycle. She had been...worried. Perhaps tonight she'd catch up on her sleep.
Bill had been dozing off and on throughout the day. Some mediocre spaghetti western was on the TV; he'd seen this one three times and had ended up falling asleep again.
At some point he'd forced himself to get up and attempt to take a shower. But he found after a few minutes he became far too woozy to continue and had been forced to return to bed. It, at the very least, made him feel a little better. That was until he'd caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror. After that, he'd been more than happy to return to bed. He was still overly cold...which he guessed was partially due to the fact he'd lost so much blood. Cocooning under the covers, he'd fallen asleep. After some time, he was awakened by Beatrix's voice.
Her expression was melancholy. "Hello Bill," she greeted in a quiet tone and took a step inside the bedroom. Bill remained huddled beneath the blankets. The house wasn't that cold since the heat had been put on due to the lack of warmth outside. "How are you feeling?"
He rolled over groggily, spotting Beatrix standing in the doorway, "Hello Kiddo," he smiled weakly, genuinely glad to see her. She looked beautiful but tired. "Oh...I'm feeling alright...I've certainly felt better." Bill wasn't going to milk this one like most men would...ok, well maybe he would a little bit. "A little on the woozy side," he admitted after a moment, pulling the covers tighter around his neck. He knew he must have looked pretty damn funny, cocooned into a ball, in the middle of a huge bed that could easily fit ten of him across. But, at the moment, he didn't care one bit. He eyed her for a moment with a warm gaze, fully aware of the care she had been providing. "Thank you."
Beatrix wove a dismissive hand at him. "You would have done the same for me." She paused, brows furrowing. "Wait, I take that back." A small smirk tugged at her lips but her eyes glowed with appreciation for the recognition of her work. A moment was taken to examine his condition. He still looked like something the cat dragged in but he was improving. Sauntering steps where than taken over to the bedside and pulled up a chair. She sat down, long legs crossing over the other and hands rested on her thighs. Bea knew that it was a personality flaw of all men that when they are sick or in this case had the shit beaten out of them, it was in their nature to want unconditional love and care. Beatrix had given enough care to that stitching to last a few months. But, motherly instincts kicked in and if Bill needed something she'd be obliged to it. All within reason. "Have you eaten anything today?"
Bill watched her with mixed intensity and gratitude. Of course he'd do the same for her...well maybe not precisely in the same manner. He let his head fall back down, "Yes...a few hours ago, I think." He couldn't really remember when it was actually...everything was still a little fuzzy. "Food doesn't sound all that great at the moment," he said stubbornly. "If you're heading by the bar though...I could go for some straight Scotch, or perhaps a White Russian." He knew that was in vain, but he thought he'd try anyways. The moment he was able to...he was heading straight for that bar. He gestured to the tea tray. "More tea I suppose..."
He gave Beatrix a sideways glance, "You haven't been sleeping."
An amused smirk tugged at her mouth. Those bags under her eyes spoke much. She had been worried...and well...Bill found that somewhat touching. "I'm fine Kiddo." An arm snaked out from under the covers and patted her on the knee, "Much thanks to you...and my stubborn will of course." He grinned, "I'm not going to go that easily...I assure you."
Beatrix canted her head down and stared at his hand. A coy smile played at her features. "I have no doubt. It would take something...extradionairy to bring you down." She idly rose to her feet, grabbed the empty tea glass, and walked off to retrieve his order.
Nikishi had already had a previous pot of water boiling so it didn't take long for Beatrix to make the tea. She added a teaspoon of sugar to give some type of zing. She was back in Bill's room within five minutes and set the steaming cup of tea on the end table. "It's no White Russian but at least it won't upset your stomach." She sat back down.
Bill frowned at the tea, but picked up the cup anyways. "Yeah well," he glanced at Beatrix over the rim, "At least I'd be numb while I got sick..."
"Anything else, master?" She flashed a tentative mixture of mischief and sarcasm.
After a moment of drinking he set down the cup, considering Beatrix's sarcastic question. Of course, there was quite a bit he could say to that he weighed the consequences.
"A little company would be nice," he said devoid of any further meaning. He gave her a look that was meant to be pitiful, he didn't pull that off very well and he knew it...but it was worth a try.
Beatrix laughed. She laughed not at him, well, maybe just a little because that face was so far from pitiful. A hand came up and brushed away a loose strand of hair from her face as the laughing settled. She pursed her lips. "Aw poor baby," she cooed in a lovingly mocking manner. "Don't worry I'll stay a little longer. It's not as though I have anything better to do."
Bill dropped the facade, aware how pathetically unpathetic he was. Some men were born with faces that could easily extract sympathy; Bill was not one of these men. This suited him perfectly fine, since he was in a field that rarely required sympathy. "I'm so glad that keeping me company ranks so high on your list of things to do," he smirked, settling his back against the headboard, tea in hand.
He sat there in contented silence for a few moments, eyes on the TV. "I suppose I underestimated Rita a bit," he confessed...far after the fact. "She was stupid but she wasn't lacking in gumption. I didn't think she'd actually do something this time...after years of threatening, I thought perhaps she was simply crying wolf again." He looked down into his tea cup, "I thought wrong," he took a long drink. Bill would never make confessions like this to anybody else. Beatrix would be the only one to hear such unthinkable things uttered by Bill...not even Budd was graced with such honesty.
Bill's gaze turned back to Beatrix, a typical mixed look of warm and cold. Even beneath the cuts and bruises, there was no mistaking that intense expression that somehow treaded between the sadistic and that of a man looking upon something he truly treasured. He held this look for perhaps a bit too long for normal conversation and then turned back to the tea cup in his hand.
Beatrix felt flattered. Not full out blushing but more internally. Bill was never one to confess when he was wrong even in his own presence. Maybe he had forgotten she was in the room but the look he gave her following the confession surely told her that he was well aware she was sitting there.
The smart ass personality she was lingering on dissipated. It wasn't time to be making wise crack jokes. Instead she offered a weary smile. Her hand nonchalantly reached across the gap and settled with affectionate comfort atop his own. Long white fingers aligned with his own darker set. "No one is perfect, Bill. We all make mistakes and underestimate situations. Its human nature and we're...human. We may be humans with one hell of a talent but...even super heroes with their super human powers have their moments of weakness." She knew using a comic book metaphor would improve the point she was trying to make. If there was a point or that she was only attempting to make him feel a little better about what happened.
As Beatrix knew, he was quite keen on comic books and Bill smiled at the metaphor as he looked down at their hands with blatant fondness. "How about super villains," he quipped. "Your right...of course," he admitted after listening to her, "I...just...despise weakness. It certainly adds character, but I can't say I'm very fond of failure." This of course, was already pretty damn obvious. Bill had always been such...as long as he could remember. There was no point in going back over this ground...Beatrix knew him well enough to know how he felt about failure, weakness and vulnerability. His very persona was built on much of that. He raised an eyebrow, which hurt somewhat, and looked back up at her, "We are all too human at times." Bill had made mistakes...many of them, he was well aware of that fact. He may be a bastard, but he was a self realized bastard. Of course he would eventually make the biggest mistake of his life, the one that would top all of the others. But, all in good time.
Normally this sort of...weak and confessional conversation would have bugged the hell out of Bill...he would have found an easy way to turn the tables in his favor. But with Beatrix...like many things...it was different. He gave her hand a little squeeze, bringing it up to his lips for a soft kiss in something of a possessive manner.
A passive smile curled across her lips. This kiss was well received but she wasn't a hundred percent on the possessive underlay. Like herself Bill was hard to read but sometimes the words in bold print were hard to pass by. She quietly took her hand back and set it to her thigh.
Blue hues came downcast. "Now we know you aren't invincible. You bleed just like everyone else. But, your blood may have a darker tint." She supplied a timid smirk. For some reason she had been overcome with a feeling of anxiety which could easily be due to the fact she was physically and emotionally drained. Beatrix needed something to lighten herself. "Maybe when you are back in tip top shape I'll have to start training you to make sure this doesn't happen again," a quiet mocking scold in her voice.
Bill laughed, setting his empty tea cup on the nightstand. "Well...we'll see about that Kiddo," he said in a mixture of sarcasm and truly felt confidence. Bill may have been physically bruised but his ego had obviously not been affected likewise. Then again, he knew as soon as he possibly could he was going to be up and training. He settled himself back down under the covers. "Now...I think you need to go and get some rest." Bill was back to a business tone of voice. "Nikishi will be here if I need anything and you look like you like haven't slept in three days...best you go and make up for it." He offered her a small smile, "The company was well appreciated..."
The following weeks were spent of on and off visits to Bill's. Each of the DiVAS spent their time helping and being supportive in Bill's recovery. This was their boss and they had to show respect. Or the real reason being if anything really happened to him than all the employees would be in deep shit. To put it in cryptic terms.
Out of the five Beatrix visited the most, next to Budd. Most of the time was spent with 'how are you', 'what have you been doing', and casual but playful bickering. Other than that Beatrix found her life rather boring in that small time period. Working for Bill was her 'life' and when it was put on hold it was dull. Not that she was going to outwardly complain. Bill had been 'injured' and he needed time to recover before he could get back in the game. Just like all of them.
Patience is a virtue. Fuck virtue. She had little to none of it. Most of the time.
Anyway, the end of the month had been coming to an end and Bea was keeping herself busy that week with household errands, clothes shopping which was a rare occurrence, and tidying the apartment. Training sessions were put into the vacant time slots.
It had been a full seventy two hours since she last visited Bill and for one reason or another adding to those hours was unacceptable. Bill wasn't turning into a controlling bastard, he could be a bastard but he didn't control Beatrix. She didn't feel that she was obligated to visit him as much as she was. She thought of it as friendly charity, or something along those lines.
She put on a slimming pair of blue jeans that had not seen the sight of blood and death, in planner terms they still appeared brand new. And a black loose t-shirt, sleeves rolled up into a tank top fashion and embroider on the front right hand corner in cursive were the words 'kill is love' painted in a light pink. She found the t-shirt on a sale rack and thought it was...cute. A pair of pink sandals toped off the outfit.
When she pulled into the circular drive way blue eyes spotted another vehicle in the drive way. Brows furrowed as she stepped out of the car and slammed the door. Bea took her visits to Bill at unusual times and it was odd to see anyone else there. Many of the DiVAS made an effort not to visit Bill at the same times. Especially Bea and Elle. Curiosity still peaked she began to the front door.
Bill hadn't spent so much damn time doing absolutely nothing as he had been the past few weeks. He was finding he had something of a hate/love relationship with a life of little activity. Of course, part of him was utterly thrilled to be so doted upon. Every day somebody always stopped by to check on his progress. Beatrix had been there the most, which only thrilled Bill even more. He knew he wasn't exactly pleasant company the entire time...but then again that was nothing new and his loyal employees let his often bristly attitude roll off of their shoulders. All in all it was turning into a tolerable recovery.
After a few weeks he was back up and moving around. He wasn't about to go jump any fences...but it was enough to do what he needed to do to get things moving for the DiVA's again. In the past few days, he'd begun some light training..Tai Chi mostly...stuff he did normally anyways. There was still a good amount of pain, but it was gradually subsiding and he was beginning to be able to look himself in the mirror again. When the pain became too bad, he'd drug himself up on whatever seemed appropriate and move on. But, the whole episode had certainly caused Bill to think twice about his vulnerability. And perhaps more mental scars had been formed than physical.
Thus far the day had been going well, that was until Elle showed up.
When Beatrix entered Bill's place, it was obvious that an argument was going on. A clash of titans so to speak. If anybody was second to Beatrix when it came to stirring up one hell of an argument with Bill, it was Elle Driver.
"Will you just calm down Elle." Bill's voice, smooth but irritated could be heard.
"NO! I will NOT just calm down Elle!" Elle yelled back. "I hope you fucking realize what an asshole you are!"
"I certainly do."
"Fuck you Bill!"
"Hrm...no...not right now..."
"Shut up! Augh...Jesus!"
Beatrix stopped in the middle of the hallway the second she heard the raised voices. She muttered a curse under her breath and took timid steps further down the oaken flooring. Elle was here. Goody. Actually, Beatrix was in no mood to get into a brawl with the other blonde. She was having a good day. Didn't wanna ruin it because of a bad seed.
She stopped her tracks to stand in the open door way. The light illuminated from the adjacent room to silhouette her figure angelically. Her expression remained mellow and collected, undaunted by the relenting argument. She craned her neck to the side to see past Elle, who's back was turned to her, and Bill was facing her. She offered a short lived smile. She than cleared her throat to gain attention "Looks like I dropped in at the wrong time. So, I'm just gonna drop back out." She pointed a hand to the front door behind her. "Nice to see you're up and about, Bill."
Elle spun around at the sound of Beatrix's voice, blue eye blazing, "Oh shit," She flung her hands up, "Well...isn't this just dandy!" Elle put her hands on her hips and struck a little pose.
Bill, who was leaning across the bar, hands splayed on the marble counter gave Beatrix an amused smirk. "Whoa, hold up there Kiddo," he held up a palm. "No need to run away, Elle and I were just wrapping up our civil disagreement."
Elle spun back to face Bill, "Civil disagreement? Are you joking?" Bill raised an eyebrow. Elle had better be damn grateful she'd caught him in a good mood and still recovering. She rarely spoke up so, but when she did often overstepped her bounds.
Elle huffed, "I find it so coincidental that you just showed up," she turned a long finger in Beatrix's direction,
"Elle and I were just discussing you Kiddo," Bill clarified.
"Oh yeah," Elle said with sass, "We were discussing you all right." hands back on hips, "Discussing the completely unfair amount of favoritism going on around here." She pursed her red lips, "Who always gets the best assignments? You" She pointed again, "Who always gets tons of fucking down time?' Point, "You? Who always gets new swords?" Point, "You?"
"Who always overreacts far too much," Bill quipped, pointing a dramatic finger at Elle, "You?"
"Shut up Bill! I'm being serious here." Elle retorted, "Ya know, I've been in this organization longer than you Bea. But you got to train with Pai Mei before me? You! I'm starting to get real sick of it." She turned on Bill, "You always told me you ran an equal ship...no favoritism."
"I did," Bill replied, "And I do."
"Bullshit!" Elle hissed back, hand slapping on the bar.
Bill had no reaction but a frown.
Beatrix stood there silently as fingers were pointed in every which direction. Blue hues a tad on the large side and pink lips were in a tight line. Mild amusement sparkled within. She had no idea why Elle choose to bring this up now of all times but she could handle it. She was going to remain calm and serious. Hopefully.
Bea held up her hands in defense. "Bill doesn't play favorites, Elle. It isn't in his character and you know it." Lie. "All fingers should be pointed at me because I have to admit I have grown fond of playing 'teacher's pet'." She flashed a knowing grin. Why she was standing up in Bill's favor was beyond her. She decided to stop taking his side even if she was on it. Arms crossed over her chest elegantly. "You're just jealous. And you've got every right to be." Blunt and utter fact.
There were a few long moments of silence after Beatrix's statements.
Bill stared at her, a well hidden look of shock on his face, hidden but not completely. Elle's draw dropped somewhat. Instead of flinging back a defense, Beatrix had simply pleaded guilty. It caught Elle completely off guard...her entire arsenal momentarily defused. Elle's strong jaw worked as she began to plan a new attack.
Bill ran his fingers along the edge of the bar and looking a little befuddled he went into the kitchen without a word.
Elle's hands came back onto her shapely hips. "You have a lot of nerve ya know." This coming from Elle Driver. "Telling me what I am and what I'm not." Of course, calling Elle jealous was like calling the sky blue...it wasn't all that difficult to figure out. Still, the willowy blonde refused to face reality. "I am simply pointing out the unfair practices in this organization," she said in a soft deadly tone. "And if you want to have all of the fingers pointed at you Bea," her eye widened, "Then I'm more than willing to keep pointing." She smirked, her mouth a vicious line, "I always hated teacher's pets."
Eyes had watched as Bill departed silently. A moment of puzzlement but it faded as she brought her attention to Elle. Hands picked up and faced open palms to the ceiling. "And I've always hated jealous bitchs. So we are even on that account."
Her expression remained as calm as it was before. Surprisingly so, even to herself, Beatrix allowed this facade to remain. She knew Elle hated her that had been proven many times before. She didn't need that point reinstated. She had finally come to terms with the cold fact. Hands dropped to her own finely shaped hips. Calm began to mix with a serious weaving. Her next set of words could change a lot. It may not have been her place but she couldn't pass it up. Beatrix Kiddo held no fear.
"If you find this organization so fucking unfair..." A heart beat. "Why don't you leave?"
Elle's blue eye widened to new proportions. "Why don't I leave?" She croaked and sauntered up to Beatrix, hips swishing angrily. "You've got to be fucking kidding me?"
In the kitchen there was the sound of inane whistling and then the loud whirr of a blender being turned on a full speed.
Elle glared at Beatrix in silence as the noise dominated the room. Every bone in her body wanted to hit this bitch across her pretty face and she probably would have...had they not been standing in Bill's living room.
The blender turned off. Elle seized her opportunity. "I am never leaving this organization Bea," she hissed in that same low voice, "So sorry to disappoint ya...Kiddo," she tilted her head to the side, "But...I aint goin' anywhere." Just like Elle to completely contradict herself within five minutes. Of course, she'd never leave just in pure spite of Beatrix. She could only imagine the to other blonde's glee at her resignation. "And besides, I owe it to Bill to stay." What she exactly owed to Bill was up for question but despite Elle's penchant for disobedience, there was no doubt she was intensely loyal to Bill. She pushed a red nail into Beatrix's black shirt, "Even if every fucking member of this organization left, including you...I would still..." she prodded the finger..."be here..."
Beatrix was happy with Elle's response for once. If for any reason the DiVAS choose to break up at least Elle would stay. Someone whom would remain entirely and devotional loyal to Bill in a time that would be horrific. Bea wavered on where her true loyalties stood. In the present time period she couldn't feel more devoted to Bill but she knew from undiscovered experience that devotion could easily fall given the right circumstances.
Blue eyes steadily peered down at the pointed finger. Slender brows narrowed. "I'd never expect you to leave," she reconfirmed slowly. "Actually.." Eyes came back to her blonde counter part. "I'm glad you wouldn't. Because.." Lips ceased and eyes glinted as if she wanted to say something meaningful but fell back inside. "Cause if you left I wouldn't have anyone to bitch around with." She flashed a mocking smirk.
Elle watched Beatrix closely...Elle was perhaps not as perceptive as Beatrix or Bill...but she caught the glint in her blonde counterpart's eye. "Hrm...yes.." she conceded with Beatrix's response, "I would miss that as well." She seemed fairly sincere with that conclusion.
Bill decided to make his reentrance at this point, a tall almost girly looking fruit shake in his hand. "Are you two ladies done or shall I leave you be for awhile longer?"
Elle pursed her lips, looking at Bill. "I'm done..." she stated, sounding a little like a ratting schoolgirl. "Bea and I were just discussing what it would be like to leave this organization." This was said obviously to irk Bill.
"Nobody is leaving," Bill stated matter of factly, a dark gloom coming over him like a sudden thunderstorm.
"Of course not Bill," Elle replied in a prissy tone, obviously pleased at Bill's reaction. "It was just a hypothetical discussion."
"I certainly hope so," Bill replied with an intense glare as he set his glass down.
Elle sneered, turning back to Beatrix. "See? Just one big happy family now aren't we?"
Beatrix held an overly enthusiastic smile. "Course we are." She always loved the idea that they were one big 'happy' family. She knew it was never a true statement but it was always fun to mock. She slowly turned her attention to Bill whom looked a little more disgruntled than when she first arrived. Had she said something wrong? Most likely. Obviously any talk of splitting up, even hypothetically was devastating to him. She'd keep that information tucked away for later reference.
It seemed appropriate to change the subject. "How are those stitches, Bill?" She piped up in a civil manner. For the past few weeks she had been tending to those stitches as if they were her child. Maternal instincts were hard to let go of once one grabbed on. By the end of the week she had plans on removing what hadn't fallen out already. But until than Bill's skin was added in the manners of healing with help from Beatrix's dandy handiwork.
Bill's frown softened a bit, knowing the care Beatrix had put into those stitches. He owed her a straight answer. "Very well indeed, much thanks to you Kiddo." He lifted the corner of his loose fitting shirt, revealing the long stitched up gash on his side. It looked a little nasty, but far less nasty than it had a few weeks ago.
Elle's eye widened...it was hard to read if it was out of elation or revolution...with her it was probably a mixture of both. Bill smirked, obviously happy with Elle's reaction. He didn't normally show skin off at random. "No doubt it will leave one hell of a scar," he shrugged, dropping the shirt corner, "...add it to my collection. Besides," he sat down on a bar stool, "it will be a good reminder." He left the nature of the "reminder" at that. Beatrix would know what he meant and that was enough.
Elle sneered, not to be outdone, "Hrm, that's nothin'...you should see the scar I have on my inner upper thigh..."
Bill raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps I shouldn't."
Elle grinned, a little wickedly, "Of course not..."
Beatrix held raised eyebrows at the given information. Scars could be fun to show off but some should be left hidden. She agreed with Bill on that one. As Bea took a moment to think she came to realize she didn't have too many 'cool' scars. A few small ones and the gunshot wound but that was tiny compared to the others. Was she feeling a wave of unsettled jealousy over this. Of course not. She knew in time she'd acquire battle wounds that would out do them all.
"Seeing everything is...well. I'm going to head out." It wasn't that she didn't want to remain in the pleasant company of Elle and Bill she did have things to do. What those things were she hadn't figured out yet. Her gaze fell on Bill. "I'll stop by tomorrow."
By the following week Bill was more than back to himself. He had already set up assignments for almost all of DiVAS to make up for the profits that they had lost during the temporary absence. It was surprising how many people wanted someone killed and would hire to have it done. As long as it brought in the money and kept life interesting no one complained.
Beatrix had been sent on a lone assignment to hit off a Spanish hardware store owner that had a rivalry with an opposing store. Stupid fit of rivalry and an easy kill. The store owner was an easy kill but the body guard proved to be difficult. A large man, bald, middle aged, he looked like one of the security guards on the Jerry Springer show. Either way he put up a fair fight leaving Beatrix to come home with a slash on her upperarm (best not to go into how she managed that) and bruises on her forearms. Nothing a band aid couldn't take care of. Since the fight took place in the hardware store Beatrix made use of her resources. She grabbed a screw driver and plunged it into 'Jerry Springers' temple.
It was nearing eight at night when Beatrix arrived home. Her first stop was the apartment where she showered, dressed, and tended to her wounds. The clock was striking eleven when the tall blonde pulled into the circular driveway of Bill's. She was psychically exhausted and wanted to collapse somewhere but she knew for a fact that Bill enjoyed seeing her after an assignment was completed. She stepped out of the car wearing a pair of camel colored corduroy jeans, a gold belt taut around her slimming waist, black tank top, and a black hoodie as the night brought a chill in the air.
For some bizarre reason Nikishi was out on the porch. The short but deadly looking Japanese woman was tending to the variety of plants, both potted and hanging around the large tiled area.
She looked up suddenly at Beatrix's arrival, a look of horror on her face. "Oh no, you shouldn't do-" A long single white digit extended and pressed on the doorbell.
But it was too late; Beatrix had already rang the doorbell. Nikishi cringed and scuttled behind a row of plants...which hid her fairly well...she was no coward, but she didn't want to see what was about to happen. She knew Bill had sent her out here for a reason...
It was a suspicious amount of time, a good two minutes, before the sound of a turning dead bolt on the inside of the door was heard. It was apparent that whoever was opening the door was not Bill, they seemed to have difficulty figuring out the sequence of locks. Finally, the door was opened.
Indeed, it was not Bill who answered the door but a tall blonde woman who looked to be perhaps in her early thirties. She was attractive in that 'I had to work very hard to look like this" kind of way. Fiery green eyes under thin arching brows stared across at Beatrix. The killer of it all was the woman was practically naked...her only source of clothing being a shirt that was most blatantly one of Bill's. She had managed to button up two buttons neither of them in the right button hole...which barely concealed her breasts and fell just below her hips. Her long legs crossed over one another elegantly as she leaned on the doorframe. She raised an arched eyebrow at Beatrix, her full lips pursing. She looked like she was going to say something, but instead she turned her head to speak into the entryway behind her...which was still concealed by the halfway open door. "Bill...honey...apparently you have a female caller..." she didn't sound mad, in fact she sounded almost complacent. She turned back to Beatrix, a finger on her lips, "Hrm...that was really bad timing dear..."
"Just a second!" Bill's voice called from some distance away. The sound of bare feet on the wooden floor and then Bill opened the door open the rest of the way. His hair was unruly and he was clad in those familiar black oriental pajama's...the top was unbuttoned but thankfully he'd had the decency to put his pants on.
The blonde gave him a sly smile, a hand reaching out to play with the edge of his shirt, more on her mind than simply answering the door. But Bill didn't take much notice, he'd frozen the instant he'd spotted Beatrix in the doorway. "Ah...," he said lamely, "...hello Kiddo."
Beatrix stood there mouth agape, blue eyes wide in shock. She had a tendency for bad timing but this topped it off. Her lips curved into an icy smirk of amusement and bafflement. She shook her head slowly still taking in what she was seeing. How could he? Well, he could. Wait, was Beatrix Kiddo feeling jealous? Never. Actually, maybe a tinge. It wasn't even jealousy it was more the situation. There was a half naked woman standing in the doorway and Bill was standing beside her. This woman wasn't even that pretty. Beatrix was far prettier and she didn't even have to work for her good looks. What bothered her more was that she knew Bill was fucking around with this woman not because he cared nor had any feelings for her but the simple fact that she was a slut. A good, quick fuck. Blue hues darted to Bill flashing daggers and her angelic facial features read; 'you've got to be kidding me'. "Hello Bill," she shot with no friendly tendencies. She made a motion to the half naked woman. "Who's your friend?"
Bill took in Beatri'x look. They had established a good vocabulary of non verbal communication. He knew she could have said quite a bit more in that moment...well, she still might...this was Beatrix after all. For some lame reason, Bill made a quick attempt to button up his shirt. The blonde woman gave him a funny look and crossed her arms across her ample chest. "This is Barbara...," he gestured to the woman at his side, "Barbara...this is Mary..aka Black Mamba...an employee of mine." Typical Bill...mixed lies and truths. Of course, he generally always had a good reason for that mixture.
Barbara stuck out her hand, a small half smile on her face, "Very nice to meet you Mary." Apparently she was adept enough to figure out that Beatrix was less than happy to see her. "Didn't Bill tell you about me?" She stuck out a little pouty lip, looking at Bill, "You didn't tell Mary about me?"
"No...no I didn't," Bill said with a heavy voice, brow furrowed.
"Bastard!" She slapped him playfully, which Bill had no response to. Barbara turned back to Beatrix, "Well Mary...since Bill neglected to tell you about me. Bill and I go way back..." she waved a hand listlessly...'way back' was probably a good three years. "He told me what he did," she crinkled her button nose, "...kinda icky...killing people and all." She shrugged, "But I thought, oh what the hell!" She smiled at Beatrix with an annoying peppy smile. "I once was with this guy from the Hell's Angels..you know them? The biker guys? So yeah...anyways...I thought an assassin would be a step up ya know! Kinda cool!" Another annoying peppy smile and shoulder shrug. It was obvious this woman liked the sound of her own voice.
Bill just stood there, looking across the threshold of the door at Beatrix.
"Anyways," Barbara's voice dropped into a silky tone as she draped herself across Bill's shoulder, "...I've found that killers are far better in bed..." She gave Beatrix a little wink.
Beatrix's mouth went into a wide smirk of amusement and disgust. She let out a small laugh. This Barbara put the 'dumb' in dumb blonde. It was a disgrace but Beatrix was able to see past those blonde roots to see that Barbara wasn't completely dense. She knew what she was doing, to a point. Bill always had his little secrets and she hated little secrets. Secrets that didn't seem to mean much in the beginning but once they were found out they had deadly consequences. Not that she didn't have her own secrets but certain bits could dig further under the skin than others.
She tilted her head to the side, blonde layered locks falling against the side of her face. Pink lips tightened together in a half smirk and slender brows rose. "They are?" She questioned in an overly curious tone. Blue eyes darted to Bill. "I'll have to try it some time."
Barbara laughed, missing the point and finding Beatrix's comment highly funny. "Oh, you really should dear...it's worth the risk!" She laughed again, a little giggly this time. What exactly 'the risk' was here was up for question.
Bill pursed his lips, reduced to an 'it' for the moment. He sneered at Beatrix. Ok, so she was angry...understandable...but he wasn't about to call himself completely guilty here. Fine, he'd play this little game. "Well Barbara, you do realize that Mary here is a killer as well..." he began conversationally.
"Oh! That's right!" Barbara looked at Beatrix with newfound interest. "That's...so exotic! Sometimes...ya know, when I'm thinking...I think to myself that 'hey you know Barbara you could be a killer'" She grinned at Beatrix. "But...then I'm like...'oh no Barbara you hate blood, it makes you faint...remember your fifteenth birthday'" She dropped her bizarre first person speech, "I broke my nose...," she pointed at her button nose, "Thank God for nose jobs!"
For the first time in this conversation Bill looked truly annoyed. Some women were good at just one thing and talking was not Barbara's specialty. It sounded misogynistic, but it was often true. "Oh, but your so pretty Mary!" Barbara continued to pour on the bullshit flattery to Beatrix, "You should really be...I dunno...a lifeguard or something! Don't you think she's pretty Bill?"
"Oh yes..." Bill replied before he could really think.
Barbara raised an eyebrow at him, her mood swinging, "Well...she isn't THAT pretty...Jesus Bill. Maybe you'd prefer she come inside and I leave..."
Bill opened his mouth, and then shut it. Damnit.
Beatrix couldn't help but raise a brow at Bill as well. So he wanted to play. She had been fiddling but she was raring to play. It could have a plus one being it would help mask her evident anger. Blue eyes settled on Barbara and looked her over in speculation. Taking in her 'paided for' figure. She put on a thoughtful smile that was clearly fake to the inexperienced eye. "This," she pointed a single white finger to her own nose. "Is real." She decided to elaborate. "This," a motion to her back side. "Is real."
"And these.." hands came up to cup her own breasts showing no shame in doing so. She tilted her head down to stare at her own cleavage, brows furrowed in disappointment. "Aren't real." Her gaze slowly leveled to Barbara. "Well, not precisely. Gettin' hit in the chest so many times has decreased my bust size. Least that's what I've come to calculate."
She made a motion at Barabara's own chest. "Could you spare your plastic surgeon's number? I've been thinking about getting one. If their fake you can't feel it when some asshole slashes it with a knife." Beatrix hated talking about 'girl' things but her only reason for doing so was to annoy the hell out of Bill. He hated 'girl talk'.
Bill watched with an expression of mixed horror and fascination as Beatrix made a very blatant assessment of her 'real' anatomy. He hadn't known that part about the shirking cleavage...hrm, weird...
Barbara's jaw dropped in disbelief at what this woman had just said to her. "Oh...my god...oh no...you didn't just say that to me...oh my god..." Her hand flapped at her side in frustration like a dead fish.
Bill raised an eyebrow. So...Beatrix had found the self destruct button and had gleefully pushed it. She'd honed in on it quicker than he had thought. Personally, he didn't really give a shit if they were real or not. But, Beatrix was trying to annoy him, he could tell...it was working, but the effect seemed to be worse on Barbara. "You're really rude!" Barbara said, a hand on her hip. "I don't care if you kill people or not...you're a real rude bitch."
Bill hid a smirk under his hand. Oh fuck.
"Do you think your so much a better woman than I just because you can't afford to look this good."
Bill's hand went up to his forehead. He hated this sort of bitch banter. "Barbara..." he began quietly, "...I don't think that's what...Mary meant." If anybody could...afford such niceties surely Beatrix could...if she wanted.
"Oh no, that's exactly what she meant!" Barbara tilted her head to the side in a very Elle-ish gesture. "Didn't you Mary? Ya know," she flapped her arms, "I was having a real nice evening...but now...well, it's just all gone to hell." She turned on Bill again, "If I were you Bill, I'd really start questioning the type of people you employ."
Bill frowned, "I'll keep that in mind...thank you for the expert advice."
Barbara huffed a little, "Asshole!" She spun on her heel and sauntered down the hallway to disappear into Bill's bedroom.
"Wonderful," Bill threw his own arms up. Why did Beatrix always seem to have this effect on situations?
She had born talent for it.
"Indeed." She craned her neck to see past Bill to Barbara whom was hustling down the hall in a frantic rage. Lips formed in a weary line. "I really did want that phone number," she muttered half to herself and half to Bill. Honestly, she didn't say those things to mock or be rude. It had been spoken as civil girl-to-girl conversation. Something Beatrix was deprived of but did not miss. Perhaps if Barbara had been a more intellectual person she would have figured out Beatrix's genuine intentions. But, sadly she was not... This usually signified an already defensive person, who despite looking good did not feel so underneath their own skin. Sad, but often true.
She slowly and almost sadistically turned back to the man before her. She was far from done pushing buttons. "Don't mind my temporary intrusion. I just stopped by to tell you all is...well." Last word spat with venom. "Feel free to go back to fucking. I won't keep you any longer."
Bill folded his arms, glaring at Beatrix. He knew she hadn't completely intended to create the current disturbance...but that didn't mean he wasn't angry. She had this natural knack to do such things...often against her own will. It just seemed to happen at the most inopportune times. He shook his head, "You can tell me what you really meant Kiddo, I think my fucking is through for the night..." As if on cue, Barbara came pushing by him, this time clad in a pair of tight white pants and a baby blue crop top.
"Call me," she hissed. She didn't even glance at Beatrix as she swished past her, across the patio and out onto the driveway.
After a moment, Nikishi poked her head in the doorway. "Can I leave now Bill?"
Bill frowned, "Yes, of course Nikishi." Nikishi nodded gratefully and disappeared behind the patio.
Bill turned his hard gaze back on Beatrix. He had had no intention of making Beatrix jealous. Bill played mind games, but those sorts of games were usually below him. He honestly didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing...or..what he had been doing he reminded himself with a deeper frown. So, Beatrix and he had messed around a little...and so they had made a "verbal" challenge...that really didn't constitute as a means for retaining complete fidelity in his book. And he need not remind Beatrix about Jeff.
He straightened his silk shirt, as if to appear more "businesslike," which was rather ridiculous given the former situation. "I'm assuming you came to tell me about how the assignment went."
Beatrix was just as angry at Bill as he was at her. And that anger had yet to settle even with the change of subject. She wasn't about to let this incident be swept under the rug. But, she'd answer his question for the hell of getting it out of the way. "You assume correctly," Beatrix reinstated with a cool undertone. Blue eyes remained on him. "Both shop keeper and 'Jerry Springer' are good and dead." She ignored his risen eyebrow of question. She wasn't about to allow him the pleasure of getting gory details and left it at that.
She was most interested in getting back on the subject at hand. Which she had every intention of doing. Even if it meant unneeded bickering and hostile tendencies. Pink shaded lips formed into a tight line and arms came to cross over her chest. "If you do call Barbara back," she inclined slowly. "Could you get that phone number for me?"
Of course, he knew she simply couldn't walk away from the subject at hand, he should have expected no less. Letting go was not exactly one of Beatrix's character traits. Bill narrowed his eyes and closing the gap between himself and Beatrix he leaned in menacingly, "No..." This was said for a number of reasons...one, he didn't have any intention of calling Barbara anytime soon, two...and the best of all...to irk the hell of out Beatrix. If she wasn't going to comply with his request to fill him in on the mission then he sure as hell was not going to indulge her with a promise to get some fucking phone number from a woman he saw once every six months or so.
"I'm not your personal rolodex Kiddo," he said, "If you want the number so badly, you can call her yourself," he tilted his head sarcastically; "I'd be more than willing to give you that information." Of course, he didn't really give a shit either way...this was all just to a rise out of her. Beatrix had the opportunity to turn this conversation straight, but she'd chosen not to...then so be it.
She kept her face lingering close to his. Flames between the two let off an appropriate amount of body heat from one to the other. Beatrix shrugged her shoulders in a decisive manner. "I'd love the phone number. I can only imagine how well that would go down." She mused to herself quietly.
Though they both were well aware that Beatrix would never call. It wasn't something she'd do. Calling up random strangers to get a phone number for plastic surgery. Actually, she had been lying about wanting a boob job to begin with. She was perfectly happy with the size but she did believe that over the past few years she had reduced. Either way she never had intentions of fixing up her body with the help of medical 'wonders'.
Bill smirked...goddamn she was insufferable. "Very well." He turned and went inside the house. A few moments later he returned with a small piece of paper in his hand. Snatching Beatrix's wrist he stuffed the wad of paper in her palm. "Of course you're never going to call, but if you wish so much to be appeased, there you have it." He doubted the only light of day that piece of paper was going to see was the bottom of washing machine filter. Beatrix Kiddo even considering plastic surgery was ridiculous as him wanting to get hair plugs.
"Now, are you happy?" He said with exasperation. Ridiculous question really...
Ridiculous or not she answered. "Ecstatic." She jerked her wrist away and proceeded to stuff the wad of paper into her pant's pocket. She probably would never look at that piece of paper and if she did it would not be for the manner in which it was intended.
Silence dominated the area but not for long as Beatrix tilted her chin down. She had trouble letting things go. It couldn't necessarily be called holding a grudge but it was close. "Did you have fun tonight?" An innocent question directed to the devil.
Bill gave Beatrix an incredulous look, "Of course I did," the devil replied. He wasn't about to even attempt a lie at a question that had such an obvious answer. "I am a man am I not?" And likewise, he wasn't about to make excuses for the entire male species. "Sex, cars, money and violence...what else is there?" He quipped, giving her a well meaning smirk.
He closed the tension filled distance between the two of them, "Look Kiddo," he said in a far more sincere tone of voice, a hand coming up under her chin. Touching her right now was a risk, she was obviously angry, for all he knew she just might lash out at him, but he was willing to take that risk. "I understand why your angry, believe me...but I had no intention to do so," he smiled, "Well..maybe I did a few minutes ago...but not originally. Despise me if you want, but I don't think I was in the wrong." He fell silent, not wanting to go any further if she was unwilling to listen.
"I beg to differ," she replied coolly. Beatrix wasn't quite as comfortable with his hand under her chin. Usually it was a welcome gesture but not this evening. She tilted her chin up and slid from beneath his hand in a smooth maneuver.
Eyes burned into him. "If I recall correctly there was a similar situation but the roles were switched around." She held no pity in bringing up Jeff. The situation was different but it held the same wave of emotion; jealousy.
Bill raised his eyebrows, "I never said you shouldn't be jealous. I was simply attempting to explain myself." He raised a finger, "Rephrase; I had no intention of making you jealous, but I'm not going to tell you what to feel."
"Well, I can't say I'm gonna over react and kill the bitch but..." Lips formed into a tight line and her tone lowered. "What really gets under my skin is that you have the nerve to go fucking around with some cheap class whore when you had so much fucking trouble when I went off and fucked with Jeff." She tilted her chin down and gave a small shake of disgust. "You have so much trouble with the mere thought of other men touching me why shouldn't I feel the same when women touch you?" A slender brow raised in question.
He knew she had brought up a valid point with Jeff. He gave her a dark look, "You know what happened to Jeff had absolutely nothing to do with jealousy." Of course, that didn't mean he didn't enjoy watching the fucker bleed out of jealous spite. "Whatever Jeff was doing with you was your business...what was my business was that he was a traitor to my organization." Partial truth.
Bill shrugged, "I'm not sleeping with you, so in my mind I'm not...cheating on you, again...no crime on my part. You have to separate acts of infidelity from feelings of jealousy. Sure, I was angry about Jeff...but I would have stepped away and let whatever happen that was going to happen between you two...I already had, then of course...he fucked that up. My point being, jealousy aside...I was willing to let you do whatever you wanted." His voice dropped to a bare emotional tone, "You don't think that wasn't hard for me?" He fixed her with an equally agonized look.
"Bullshit." Her face leaned back into his. "You'd never let me go." Words stated bluntly and dripping with cold truth. She held no sympathy towards his confession of emotions and feelings. She knew that what he said had partial truth but she knew Bill well enough to pick out facts from lies on rare occasions. Most of the time Bill read like a banned misprinted book.
"Seeing me with Jeff tore you apart because I'm 'your gal'. If I ever took another man seriously you sure as hell wouldn't take lightly to it. I've seen it too many times." She threw her hands up for dramatic effect. "Hell, if you ever let me even look at some guy without your blood starting to simmer. That...that would be a miracle of trust, Bill."
Bill frowned, a well practiced poker face. She'd called him on it...and that really pissed him off. Nobody ever called him on anything...if they even got to the point of figuring it out, they didn't say anything. But not Beatrix...oh no...she was an anomaly.
"Alright, Kiddo..." he said slowly, voice cool again. He took a step back from her responsively. "Since you appear to know what cards I'm holding...here's the whole fucking hand." He pointed a finger, "I'm a jealous bastard yes...a jealous murdering bastard..most definitely. I loathed the thought of you fucking around with Jeff...because one...he wasn't even close to be being worthy of you...two he wasn't me. I did not intend to kill him out of jealousy, as you know...but I certainly enjoyed watching him die out of jealousy. Yes, you have every right to be jealous...just as much as I do. Yes, Barbara is a whore..yes I would much prefer to sleep with somebody who means something to me, but I wasn't in a picky mood. And, no, I suppose I would never let you go. I can't...it's too late for that. Your stuck with me if you like it or not...the only way you are going to get rid of me is telling me right now that you have no desire to do anything with me...ever again. This is it...the point of no return, you tell me now...and I'll turn my back and go back to being only your boss, no questions asked. I am not going to control you. Absolute truth," he fixed her with an intense stare, "But if you don't make that decision than you'd better damn well get used to me...the jealous murdering bastard that I am. And be damn sure of that decision Kiddo, because you will find me harder to get rid of than any man you have ever fucking met."
Decisions, decisions, he always left her with the final decision. It irked her but deep down she was glad. Bitterly glad that he spilled the blood. Told her everything. Set the cards out, gave her a path, a decision, and right here and now she had to make it. No more beating around the fucking bush. If they wanted to get serious about anything it had to be now or anything remotely spark worthy would go out.
Beatrix returned his intense stare, mixed with whirling thoughts of pros and cons. Some decisions came to you on the spot and you knew that was the right one. Some took longer and required a heavier thought process. This decision ran in the middle. Perhaps if she took the longer, heavier thought process future events would have been null and void but Beatirx Kiddo acted on instinct. Gut feelings and the simple idea that things worked out for a reason. She was also quit spontaneous; she enjoyed creating a scene whether it be in heated battle or heated conversations.
Choice made. Lids blinked over stunning blue eyes finalizing her decision. She took a steady step forward to fill the gap once more. Hands snaked up to affectionately, no hostile tendencies involved, to cup his face, leaned her head to his, and placed soft lips to his. Short lived but burning with passion. Beatrix casually pulled away, her forehead resting to the side of his. "Fuck, you're a surly bastard. I don't know how I manage to get past that to realize you aren't a complete asshole."
Bill smiled under her kiss, a genuine smile...but one that he had had to fight for. "Surly bastard..." he repeated with relish, "I like it..." He rested against her forehead, "I don't know how you get past it either," he admitted. "But, I am damn glad you do." Generally, Bill tended to bring out the bad side in most people...it was just the effect he had. He knew he was often intolerable at times...well most of the time, but somehow...Beatrix was able to see past all of that. It was a good thing too, because he wasn't about to change anytime soon. Of course, Beatrix wasn't exactly Miss Congeniality herself all of the time either.
Bill blinked, the reality of the whole thing setting in. Beatrix had made her choice. There would be repercussions because of this choice...he already knew that..then again, he had no idea how immense they would actually be.
He pulled away from her a bit, looking at her face with true fondness. Without warning, he pulled her in a little roughly by the sides of her face and kissed her like...well how one would certainly not kiss their employee that's for damn sure. He wasn't exactly sure why he'd done it...no scratch that, he'd known exactly why he'd done it, but he'd always been careful to let Beatrix initiate things...yet he felt compelled to break the trend at this time.
After a moment, he pulled away...a silly, almost boyish expression on his face...and that was rare for Bill. "Ah...ha..." he breathed.
That was different, unexpected to say the least but not unenjoyed. She slowly let her hands come up and settle against his own which were still nestled against her face. Lips parted a few inches as if holding onto the kiss that passed and she was now parted from. Coming back together blue eyes dropped downcast.
"Trying to be the dominate one now are we?" She noted quietly. It didn't bother her in the least. Actually she was thankful Bill decided to take an upper hand on the situation. As there were few things Beatrix let anyone control and when she did they were very picky circumstances. A smile tugged at the sides of her face. A true smile one that was not stained with lies and false accusations.
"Dominate is my middle name," he joked, "No wait...that's bastard, well...either way..." he trailed off returning her smile, thumbs caressing her face. He considered her question...there was quite a bit packed into that rather short question.
"So," she began in a luke warm temperature. "Is it safe to say that neither of us will go fucking around unless it is with one another?" Brow rose.
Bill was still reeling a bit. He'd kissed a hell of a lot of women...even one's he'd admit to caring somewhat for...but every time he kissed Beatrix it was always like the first time. And nothing felt like the first time to Bill nowadays...
He gave her a small nod, "I suppose that is safe to say...no," he shook his head, "...I don't suppose...I know." He seemed pretty damn sure on that point. Bill knew he'd never find another woman like Beatrix, even if he wanted to. This was it, the pinnacle. When given such an opportunity, how could he stray? He brought his full attention back on her, looking amused, "You have exclusive rights Kiddo." He took a reluctant step back and began turning in a slow circle as if on show, "I'm not young, I'm not pretty, I've never been nice..ah, but you already know that, I don't have great biceps..well not anymore at least, I don't have a cute little ass like Jeff did, I tend to snore, I steal covers and...well...that's just the sticker features." He gave he a sly smile over his shoulder, "But, it's all your's."
She laughed, full heartedly this time around because she truly was happy with her decision. Beatrix took two sauntering steps over to him, wrapped her arms around his back, and leaned her chin on his shoulder from behind. "You snore 'and' steal the covers? That is going to be a problem because I happen to be a very light sleeper," she inquired in an all out playful tone.
Bill was relieved she found all of that funny. He sure as hell didn't feel insecure about himself (generally the exact opposite) but he did want to be up front with her. Yes, he was often known as a liar but he had no intention of misleading her or giving her some false idea of whom he was. Of course, she already knew that. He smiled over his shoulder, hands grasping her wrapped arms. "Well then, you aren't gunna be getting much sleep around me Kiddo," he chuckled, a little suggestively.
Beatrix was never one to care about looks perhaps because she was born with such good ones but either way the fact that Bill was older, not the most attractive man in the world wasn't a dilemma. Bea had a trait that few even thought to dig up. She looked beyond the outside and focused on the inside. The inside was what counted. And Bill had one hell of an inside. "If we are peeling off stickers, so to speak," her eyes on him with fondness that was no longer concealed. "Than you'll be enthralled to know that I hog the bathroom, drink from the milk carton, and I tend to use the floor as a laundry basket."
"Oh my lord," he cringed at her confession. "The hogging the bathroom I can handle...but the other two," he groaned dramatically, "I guess I'm just going to have to deal with it aren't I?" Beatrix, like himself was not the type of person to change her habits. "You really drink out of milk carton? Don't you know that spreads d-" he caught himself, giving her a fond smile, "Hrm, one thing at a time I suppose."
Bill looked up, realizing that they were still standing in the doorway. He pivoted so that now he was facing Beatrix, hands still on her arms, "I think it's a little late to be cohering in doorways...," his voice dropped, forehead resting against hers, "But...it's still early to be doing such inside..."
"Well," she began, blue eyes locked into his. "That does not leave us with many options." The makings of a frown were coming over her features. Further steps from here usually lead to going inside and fucking till sunrise but this wasn't a usual relationship. That step was out of the question. Going home was another alternative but Beatrix didn't want to depart. Her gaze broke from him and stared downcast as silence took over. For unknown reasons she felt the sudden need for unconditional love and support. That was easily supplied by being close to him. And she didn't want to loose that feeling. Like numerous times before moments of true bliss were few and far between so when they acquired it was best to hold on, because anything could break it with a pin drop.
"Would you mind if I spent the night?" She finally asked in a hushed tone.
"Of course I don't mind," Bill gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. He realized that perhaps the way he had worded things a moment ago, seemed to give her little choice in the matter. That hadn't been the intention. "Whatever you want Kiddo. I'm game." She wasn't about to jump in bed with him, he could tell...which was perfectly fine...he was getting far too old to be sleeping with two different women in one night. It was an amusing thought though...in that sort of "won't ever happen again Bill, so don't even bother dwelling on it" kind of way.
He put a shoulder around her shoulders. As they went inside, he began rambling off ideas in a teasing tone, "I have more then enough cheesy kung fu movies to watch, or you can listen to me tell you more boring stories about myself, or..you can tell me more about your mother...joking, joking. Hrm, there's still a bunch of that sterile popcorn left, but no wine for you..."
During the course of the night Beatrix came to the conclusion that she was overly exhausted. So, watching a movie was out as well as snacking on stall popcorn which was a little less than appetizing. In the end the two killers were happily content with 'foreplay' in the bedroom. Keep in mind, their idea of foreplay involved jokes and civil bickering. No psychical contact involved. That neither would have minded but Beatrix knew that once started she wouldn't be able to stop and that could ruin too much potential in numerous areas.
She eventually slipped into one of Bill's t-shirts that he refused to never wear again and nestled beneath the covers of his bed. She would have wandered back to the spare room but she was too comfortable and admitted this with no conflict to the idea. She was on her side, facing him, hands folded together under her cheek on top of the pillow, and lids weighting heavily over blue hues.
"I'd love to continue this intellectual conversation but I'm afraid I'd fall asleep in mid-sentence," Bea began after Bill finished a relative point to a subject that required too much thinking for her weary mind. A small smile tugged at her face. "I can't say I forgive you for earlier tonight but...this is 'almost' making up for it."
Bill had to admit it had been a very good night. It was rather ironic actually. He ended up enjoying himself far more with Beatrix than he had with Barbara...even though he didn't even lay a hand on her the entire time. Not that he sure as hell didn't want to...but there was something to be said about actually spending time talking with a person vs...well spending time on top of a person. And Bill loved to talk/bicker just about more than anything else...and Beatrix was a willing participant until she got too tired of course.
Not only that, he also found a willing recipient for all of his unwanted t-shirts. Of course, he'd slowly doll them out one at a time.
Bill smiled at her, his own elbow propping him up, "Hrm...well...almost forgiven it's too shabby...I'll take what I can."
There were a few more minutes of groggy banter, but Beatrix was pretty much checked out at that point. Rolling over, Bill switched off the bedside lamp and instantly fell asleep.