Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers, all rights go to its creators
Part 1: Chapter 8: Baby's Breath and Marigolds
Two weeks after dinner at Natalia's home in "Chapter 6: Faux Pleasantries"
Elise met Mme. Bonnefoy in the lobby of her apartment complex. The woman smiled bright when she saw Elise descend the stairs to meet her. "Lili. Bonjour!" The woman said before grabbing her face to place a kiss on each of her cheeks in greeting. Elise let out a small giggle.
"I am glad to see you are happy Madame Bonnefoy. I was worried after I'd heard what happened."
"Oh Lili, you are too adorable. I am fine, it was nothing a little makeup couldn't fix. It was gone the next day." She said waving her off with the flick of her wrist. "I would be more worried about Arthur, Feliciano gave him quite the mark."
"Oh yes I saw. It was quite the surprise to see." Elise said with a nod as she led the woman up the steps to her apartment. She paused for a moment, "Feliciano was quite worried about apologizing to Mister Kirkland. Did he apologize to you?"
"Oui, Arthur, as stubborn as he is, gave me a bouquet of marigolds. He thinks flowers are the solution to everything." She muttered, "He knows I would have appreciated a bottle of wine."
Marigolds? What an interesting choice...
"Well that's good." She said as she unlocked the door. "My home is not as nice as yours. I hope that is ok."
"It is fine Lili, I won't judge someone as sweet as you."
"You could take a seat on the couch, I will be right back."
"Ok Lili, you do not mind if I take off my heels, non?" Mme. Bonnefoy called after her.
"No, Madame!" She called back as she hurriedly walked to her room. She went to her windowsill where two flower crowns sat, both mixed with baby's breath and multicolored lilies. She picked up one and returned to the living room area.
Elise held it behind her back as she walked over towards her kitchen to bring out the bottle of wine she'd bought for today. She picked up two glasses and approached the couch.
Setting them down she poured an ample amount for herself and Madame Bonnefoy.
"Merci." She said upon taking her glass, effectively staining the rim with her cherry red lipstick.
Elise held up the crown and Madame Bonnefoy gasped as she took in the sight of the flower crown.
"Lili, oh you are too sweet; did you make this?" She asked, taking the crown from her. Placing delicate hands onto the vines, Madame Bonnefoy's eyes sparkled in wonder.
"I did!" Elise smiled, and nodded. "I thought it would look pretty on you." Elise fidgeted with her hands, gaze downcast, "Do you like it?" Her cheeks warmed pastel pink with blush.
Elise felt Mme. Bonnefoy place a gentle hand on her knee.
"Oui! I adore it! Look at how much prettier I look with it on." Elise shifted her gaze to see the woman had the crown perched on her head. "I look like a virgin maiden, or a young bride don't I?"
The crown did make her look more radiant and youthful, although she wasn't much older than she was. Elise felt her heartbeat rapidly in her chest, "Yes, I-I think you look really pretty." She said, self-assured.
Mme. Bonnefoy let out a chuckle and pulled out her pocket mirror to inspect herself. "You are right. Merci beaucoup, mon chéri."
Elise brought her glass up to her lips and took a sip of her wine, stealing glances at the other woman, and hoping that she didn't notice. Her makeup made her skin smooth, silky and warm against the dim lights of her apartment.
"Do you have a camera?"
Elise shook her head, "No, Madame."
"Oh what a pity. I thought it would be fun if you took some pictures of me." Mme. Bonnefoy said with a pout before taking another gulp from her glass
Elise felt her lip waver; she didn't want to make Mme. Bonnefoy upset. She clenched the cup tighter in her hands. "I-I could-"
"Oh! Arthur probably has one." Mme. Bonnefoy said, setting her now empty wine glass onto the table. She stood up and made her way towards the door.
"B-but Madame Bonnefoy, your shoes!"
"Oh silly me." She said lightly tapping her forehead with the palm of her hand.
Elise gathered up the black pumps in her right hand, before standing up from the couch and walking over to where Mme. Bonnefoy was standing near the doorway.
The other woman accepted the shoes from her before sliding into them with ease.
"Ok now we can go."
Mme. Bonnefoy led the way across the hall to Mr. Kirkland's apartment and knocked on his door.
"Mon petit lion, guess who decided to pay you a visit? I hope you are not busy with your little girl-Oh!" The door opened a crack, seemingly on its own. Mme. Bonnefoy grabbed onto the knob and slowly pushed it open.
"You silly man! How dare you leave your door open!" She said, having stepped through the threshold into darkness. "Arthur, I'm coming in, don't be spooked. I know your old man's heart can't take it." She said, before light flooded the apartment. Elise stood outside, she didn't really want to go looking through her neighbor's things when it was possible he wasn't home.
Mme. Bonnefoy appeared back in the doorway.
"Come on Lili."
"I-I don't think we should."
"Lili if we both look for the camera, we can find it faster and then leave. I'll tell Arthur I borrowed the camera. He'll give me the "disappointed papa look" and I'll tell him that he shouldn't leave his door unlocked if he didn't want someone to steal from him."
Elise fidgeted a little with her hands.
"If you really don't want to, I'll look myself; it is no problem."
"I-I'll go."
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They both take separate rooms in opposite directions. Marianne made her way to Arthur's bedroom, on the right. Most of the furniture was wooden, seemingly real polished wood. She looked through his chest of drawers on the off chance that the camera was in there. Upon not seeing it she busied herself at his dresser and was struck by the vast array of containers of lipstick the man had.
Are these his? Keepsakes from former lovers perhaps?
"You know you shouldn't trespass." Marianne heard, not too far from where she was standing, as she felt a presence.
"I thought you'd make an exception for me." Marianne turned to meet the green eyes of her ill-tempered friend. "But really Arthur I know you have a terrible memory but at least lock your doors."
"I was doing laundry. I was literally gone ten minutes."
"Well you know not to do that anymore." She looked down at the knife in his hand. "I didn't think you had enough moxie to take a burglar head on." She smirked.
Arthur rolled his eyes.
"So all of these lipsticks... surprisingly your former lovers had good taste." Marianne let out a chuckle, "At least you are not collecting their underwear, non?"
"I have class unlike you." Arthur spat, acidly.
"I don't know, the amount says otherwise." Marianne said, picking up a container of royal blue lipstick that she thought was interesting. "And I only keep the ones that were good," her lips moue.
Arthur gave her a look of disgust which she expected due to the man's pretentious attitude.
"Appalling habits aside, what are you here for Marianne?"
"Quoi? Do you not like being graced with my presence?" Marianne fluttered her eyelashes at him.
"I would've preferred to see an actual burglar." Arthur said, crossing his arms, signature scowl on his face.
"You wound me, mon cher. But I am here to ask for your camera. Did you notice the pretty flower crown on my head?"Marianne said, stepping closer to him, tilting her head down for him to see.
"No, I genuinely try to avoid looking at you for too long lest I get the urge to gag."
Marianne huffed straightening back up, "Anyway, Lili wanted to take some pictures of me so, here we are."
"I don't want you using my camera, you're fucking careless." He glowered down at her.
Marianne waved him away, "Stop your worrying. Lili is going to use it, not me." She walked past him to the otherside of the room.
"Madame Bonnefoy I fou-." Lili came into the room holding a camera, stopping upon seeing Arthur and herself. "Mister Kirkland, I'm sorry we were trespassing in your home. I just wanted to take some pictures of Madame Bonnefoy in the pretty flower crown I made her. Please do not be upset." Lili said in her soft, sweet voice, her head bowed.
It made Marianne's heart melt at how respectful the younger woman was. "Lili do not give this man a bigger ego than he already has." She tilted Lili's chin up, to look into her large emerald eyes before she squished the other woman's cheeks with her hand and turned to look at Arthur. "How can you say no to this innocent face?"
Marianne saw the slight twitch in Arthur's frown. She knew he couldn't say no to puppy dog eyes. Marianne raised her eyebrows, as she noticed Arthur wrinkle his nose before he let out a grunt.
"Fine. But bring it right back as soon as you're done."
"Tres bon!" Marianne said letting Lili go, lightly gripping her wrist and leading her out of the door.
Marianne struck various poses while Lili took pictures of her. Some more provocative than others as she draped herself across the couch and gave the camera and by extension, Lili, looks of desire.
She noticed the young woman's flushed face, and managed to suppress the smirk threatening to appear on her lips. "Take this last picture with moi." She said beckoning the woman over.
"O-oh ok." Lili said with a nod. She joined Marianne on the couch and held the camera up to turn it around. "Ok, I think we're both in frame, say cheese."
"Cheese." Marianne said, pulling the other woman close as Lili clicked the camera. Lili let out a yelp in surprise and she felt how flush the other woman was against her. "Lili, you don't have to be so nervous." Marianne said, lightly running her hands down the other woman's arms to grab the camera and place it on the table.
Lili turned her head back to face her, "Madame Bonnefoy I-I."
"Did you really think I didn't notice the gazes you were giving me?"
Lili casted her gaze downward. "I'm sorry. I know you and Feliciano-."
"Oh Lili, you do not have to worry about that. Feliciano and I realized that we were both not compatible sexually. I was surprised because it seemed as though we connected on a romantic level, but the sex was not enjoyable for me. But we both agreed to remain friends." Marianne said with a nod.
"Oh! Well I'm glad you both are still going to be friends." She said, turning back around, her voice sounding cheerful.
Marianne leaned forward, lips against the shell of Lili's ear, "Have you ever been intimate with a woman before, Lili?" Her hands having snaked down to the other woman's waist, feeling her smooth warm skin against her cold finger tips.
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The Present
Elise was typing away at the computer behind the front desk/ counter of the Turn A Page bookstore. She was currently converting the dewey decimal system into an electronic version. This was her second visit to the store.
She had kind of let her work get behind her after she started seeing Mme. Bonnefoy, and the landlord was threatening to kick her out if she wasn't going to stay in the apartment. She had been staying with Mme. Bonnefoy over the past 3 months, and the woman didn't hesitate to give her things. Elise protested profusely at first but eventually her resolve broke when she tasted Mme. Bonnefoy's home cooked meals. Sometimes Mme. Bonefoy would take her along on her fashion shoots in Srafbridge too.
This month she was staying at her own apartment.
Last week she had attempted to contact Natalia to check up on her but she had never called her back. She had then gone across the hall to Mr. Kirkland's apartment. She knocked on his door but she didn't get an answer. Elise was surprised to find out that Mr. Kirkland was not working at the Kicking Ticker on the night shift either.
The next day Elise had gone to Mr. Popescu's Funeral Home to see if Natalia was working. Mr. Popescu told her that Natalia had called him last week and said she wanted the week off. She would be back tomorrow. She had explained to him that she had been in the hospital and needed a few days to recuperate.
"How are you doing?" Elise looked over to see the store owner, Mr. Laurinaitis next to her behind the counter.
"Oh! It's going well. I haven't had any problems inputting the information so far." Elise said, continuing to type.
"Sounds good. Would you like some water?"
"Oh no, I'm fine sir. But I would like to ask you a question." Elise said, stopping momentarily.
"Sure, anything. I'm happy to answer any question." The man gave her a smile.
"Are you close with Natalia?"
"Oh yes, we grew up living next to each other and we're neighbors now." The man nodded.
"I had been trying to get into contact with her last week and she wasn't picking up my calls. I noticed that she hadn't left me any messages either."
"Last I heard from her, she was going to visit her sister Kat last weekend. She had asked me to look over her house while she was gone. I could ask her brother Ivan if you'd like."
"Oh yes that would be wonderful. Danke."
And just then the bell above the door chimed. In walked the tall menacing figure that was Ivan. Elise had seen him a few times when she was working at Mr. Beilschimidt's auto shop, he was quiet and never spoke to her. Natalia had assured her that he was nice and would manage a nod in acknowledgement to him. He would return the gesture.
"Ivan! Hello!" Mr. Laurinaitis said to him, causing the man to look in his direction. He gave Mr. Laurinaitis a smile before making his way over to the counter.
"Tolys, how are you?"
"Oh you know, stressed as always. I'm just bringing in enough to make payments. I'm not sure how we're going to do this month." He sighed.
"Tolys I believe you will pull through, you always do. I could always lend you a little bit if you need it."
"Ivan I couldn't ask that of you."
"Ok Tolys, I won't but you do not have to do this alone you know." He said sternly.
"I know; trust me Ivan. I will ask you if I need something. Oh! How is your sister doing? Elise here was asking about her. I too am curious."
Ivan's expression was full of dread. Elise could see the tiredness in his eyes as he said, "My sister...she is not well."
Elise gasped, "Oh no! What happened?" Tolys beside her, nodded.
Ivan shifted his gaze to her. "It is not what you think. She is fine physically, after a brief mishap when we were visiting Kat. Something about strangling her boyfriend in her sleep. But...up here," Ivan tapped his head, "She is not fine. I have kept my distance from her."
"Ivan."Mr. Laurinaitis said in a reprimanding tone.
Ivan grimaced, "You did not see her, Tolys." He leaned forward slightly, voice lowered in a whisper, "I think she might be doing those murders."
Mr. Laurinaitis crossed his arms and his expression looked more irritated, a stark contrast to the shock ever present on Elise's face. Was Ivan suggesting that Natalia could be the one murdering those women?
"Ivan, you need to stop jumping to conclusions every time something happens."
"Tolys, she almost strangled her boyfriend to death. What about that is normal?"
"I admit that that isn't normal but that doesn't mean that your sister is a serial killer. "
"You're only saying that because you do not know all of the details." He said, huddling into his scarf almost like a small child, an equivalent of a pout. "I do not need you to believe me." He turned and made his way towards the door but not before bumping into Mathiew.
"O-oh Ivan, I didn't see you come in." Mathiew said.
Elise noticed the slight pink blush on Mathiew's cheeks. "I-I'm sorry Mattie, I cannot stay. I will talk to you later." Ivan rushed past him.
"Oh alright! It was nice that you stopped by." Mathiew said, as the other man left the store. Mr. Laurinaitis sighed and shook his head.
Elise frowned, she would visit Natalia after work. She wanted to comfort her distraught friend.
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"Elise, you should sit down." Natalia said to her upon letting her into her home. Elise nodded and took a seat at the kitchen table.
Natalia stood before her, letting out a breath.
"I am not safe to be around."
"Don't say that Natalia. I heard a little about what happened, but that in no way means you are a serial killer. Dreams are just that, dreams, and sometimes we act out our dreams."
Natalia shook her head, "I also went to get my cards read. My future card spells disaster. I can't stay and let that happen."
"Y-you're moving? You said it yourself that this is your home. Your family and friends are here. Your job is here. How can you leave that behind?"
"I have no choice, Elise. This place is the root of my problems. I have to leave before I finally snap and murder someone for real."
Elise frowned, she didn't want her to leave so soon. Elise had hoped that they could work through this together. But the woman's expression seemed dead set on her decisions. She didn't think she could persuade her to stay. Maybe someone else...
"How is Mister Kirkland dealing with you leaving? Or is he coming with you?
"I don't think I'm going to tell him. I've been avoiding him ever since I got out of the hospital. The dreams haven't stopped. I-I dreamed about more people...about Ivan...about Mathiew...a-about Kat."
"But don't you think he deserves to know?"
"I was hoping that you'd tell him after I'd left so he won't try to stop me."
"Ok, I won't say anything. But can I at least come to see you off?"
"Yes, I told Ivan and Vladimir as well. Ivan said he wasn't coming." Natalia grabbed a pen and notepad and scribbled a number onto it before sliding it over to her. "Oh that reminds me, could you tell Tolys for me too after I leave? I don't want him to make a scene. He might start crying or something, I don't know. Don't worry about everyone else, they'll figure it out eventually." She shrugged.
"I will tell him." She said with a nod. "I'm sorry that you have to leave so soon. I hope you will keep in touch. Maybe you could meet me in Switzerland one day."
"I would like that." Natalia nodded and Elise gave her a small smile.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Criticism welcome.
Translations:
Mon petit lion - My little lion
Merci beaucoup-thank you so much