Chapter 2: Damages Had Been Done

Author's Notes: To those who haven't read the book, Jessica Rabbit in "Who Censored Roger Rabbit" is characteristically the opposite of her movie version. She may be as beautiful, but she was self-centered, manipulative, greedy, promiscuous with no redeeming feature. Jared is her male persona.

Onwards!

She had no doubt that people think she was crazy.

Sure, disappearing from everyone and buying a tumbledown cottage to fix, might sound a little bit mad.

But as far as Rhoda was concerned, she was in high spirits.

The sun was shining. Birds were chirping. Rhoda hummed a happy little tune as she swept the front yard.

It had been three days since she moved in (or was it camped out?). Already, she felt like she was making progress. She had just finished clearing out all the junk inside the cottage and the garbage truck took the last of the garbage bags awhile ago.

The tune in her throat became bouncier as her mind weaved in the words of her mood. She swept her arms open with a burst of a song.

"IIIIIII was living in the High East Coast

But it made me blue!"

One day I was crying a lot

And so I move to

Faded Lines Street down

In ToonTown!

A brand new house soon up-to-ace!"

The rusted gutter in the roof creaked as it dropped even lower.

"Jared doesn't know about this place,

But that's not the reason why I'm heeeeeeerree!" she sang, raising her arms to the height of the song.

Toon mockingbirds landed on the trees around her.

"She's the crazy ex-girlfriend!" they chorused.

Rhoda startled but continued dancing to the beat.

"What? No, I'm not."

"She's the crazy ex-girlfriend!" they chirped again, hopping to the tune.

She frowned, still dancing. "Is this coming from Hollywood Tattler again?"

"She's the crazy ex-girlfriend!"

Rhoda stopped dancing, her hands on her hips. "Can you guys stop singing for one second?"

"She's so broken insiii-iiiide!"

Her hand slapped over her eyes. "What did he say this time?" she sighed.

"C-R-A-Z-Y!"

"That's the last time I'm handing out bird seeds!" she yelled.

"Crazy ex-girlfriend!" they trilled one last time before flying. A rolled tabloid landed on her feet.

Rhoda stared at it, biting her lip. Unrolling it with trepidation, she read with one eye closed, already leaning away.

It was only a small column, his smirking face gracing over it.

Heartbroken Hollywood Hearththrob Heals

Asked about his life after being jilted by A-list toon star, Rhoda Rabbit, top model and actor Jared Lupin proclaims, "I missed her as the day she left. But my darling had always been insecure no matter how much she has been the center of my life."

Her eyes popped in disbelief. She picked her jaw from the newly raked ground and read on.

Jared Lupin went on how Rhoda would be very possessive of him.

"She would always makes mountains out of mole hills. I tried my best to show her how much I have loved her. She has always been close friends with Ash from Disney even though I knew that rabbits would be rabbits."

Rhoda sputtered, choking in her own spit. She hacked and heaved, blearily continuing to read the rest.

Rhoda Rabbit, who plays as the sweet bunny nanny in the Baby Mina shorts, may not be as what she seems on screen. No one knows of her whereabouts ever since the last filming of Baby Mina's cartoon shorts.

When asked if he had any message for her, this is Jared's response.

"Rhoda, I just want you to know that I don't understand why you broke apart. I've done my best to be a dedicated lover. I hope you've calmed down wherever you are so that we can talk."

A rumble erupted in her throat. The tabloid crinkled as her hands crushed and clenched. She couldn't believe Jared would be so low enough to...

But most of all, she felt confused.

Was that how it really happened?

Jared's voice echoed inside her head. "You're always overreacting, Rhoda."

Her whiskers drooped. Maybe if she had been strong enough to hold on and talk it over with him, they would have cleared the air. Maybe it had all been a miscommunication.

But something in her gut disagreed.

She sighed, tossing it into the pile of the next campfire fuel.

In the distance, she could hear Jacques barking at the birds. She breathed deeply, turning around.

"My morning isn't ruined yet," she told herself through huffs. "My morning isn't ruined yet. My morning isn't-"

The words suddenly died when she saw Jesse standing there with a steaming mug.

"Jesse!" she said in surprise. Jeepers, I hope he didn't see that. "What're you doing here?"

He handed her the mug. "Checking up on you."

She glanced at the clear, warm jasmine tea inside. "You remember?" she asked, astonished.

It was more of an acquired taste. During their filming together, Rhoda had been forbidden to drink coffee (not that she needed it). A normal amount of caffeine tended to make her break the sound barrier. However, she felt left out with the morning mingling without a drink. So someone recommended jasmine tea instead.

He smiled. "I remember the last time someone gave you espresso."

She gave a sheepish laugh, aware that she just had three mugs of brew. In the bumpy times with Jared; Rhoda had been more and more drained. So she coped by drinking obscene amounts brewed coffee.

"You slept well?" she asked, ridding out such dark thoughts.

She practically got his schedule down. Jesse would be home from the club after midnight. The first night, Rhoda had woken up when he drove home from work.

Jesse nodded. "How's the house-fixing?"

Rhoda beamed, grateful to sweep ex-related headaches under a rug. "Great! I cleared out all the debris in the backyard and here and inside the h-" She stopped herself. Jared had once snapped at her that she never shut up.

"I mean, it's going well," she ended apologetically.

If he found her behavior odd, he didn't let it show. "I want to help too."

"What?"

He gestured at the cottage. "I'm not doubting your skill, but I don't think you can fix that by yourself."

She felt her heartstrings stretched in opposite directions. Jesse had always been a good friend. But she didn't need him knowing how low she had become.

"Thanks, Jesse. But I don't want to impose. Besides, you might get your hands rough or get injured or-"

Empty heads often have mouths full of blabber, Jared's voice sneered inside her head.

"-or whatever bad might happen!" she ended before firmly closing her mouth.

Jesse knelt down on one knee to match her eye level, looking stately as ever. Her mind immediately blanked.

"Rhoda-"

She stomped down the urge to brush back his bangs. It had fallen in a stylish wave over his eye.

"-I don't mind getting dirty if it's with you."

There was a drop of silence as they both digested what he said.

Rhoda suddenly burst out laughing. She slapped a hand over her face, the other clutching her stomach. Cachinnations seized her and her feet stomped for control. She careened to the side at the absurdity of it all, her rabbit ears twisting into knots as she lost all sense to oxygen deprivation.

"That… might not be my intended effect," Jesse commented, lips pulled in amusement.

She slapped a friendly hand on his shoulder, covered by a yellow work glove. "You've always been funny, Jesse! You shoulda been a comedienne like me!"

He laughed quietly. "I'll consider that career change," he replied dryly.

She shook her head. As if Jesse would ever…

In all truthfulness, she couldn't imagine Jesse hammering nails in his tux. Now that she had thought about it, he would probably be too preoccupied and wouldn't be around at all.

Rhoda cleared her throat. "Alright, you can come by and help if ya want."

"I'll make time," he responded. "For now, I need to prepare for modelling."

She internally gave herself a pat for her prediction. He meant well. But he's gonna be super busy.

Her hand waved goodbye at his departing figure before she sighed. She put her hand over her chest, feeling the light headed sensation after a good laugh.

When was the last time she had really laughed again?

Who knew it would be because of Jesse? She smiled to herself. He could be silent and stoic. But he genuinely cares.

She paused. Then she frowned suspiciously at the warmth inside her. She ended up glaring cross-eyed. "That better be within friend limits," she warned herself.

Rhoda shook her head like a dog shaking water off. Her rabbit ears flapped everywhere. She composed herself, running a hand over her hair.

"You're just confused," she told herself empathetically. That had been 15 years ago and she just got out of a failed relationship.

All I have to do is keep him at arm's length. No problemo! Rhoda thought confidently.

The rest of the day was spent peeling generations of wallpapers off the cottage interior.

Her ears perked at the sound of Jacques barking. There was a creak of the front gate. Curses. Then a knock on the door.

Curious, Rhoda answered it.

"Hey there, rabbit," Edna Valiant greeted with a sober scowl. Her trench coat had slobber all over it. Jacques barked before running off. "Nice dog."

"Edna!" she ducked behind the door a little. "What're you doing here?"

Edna stared at her. Rhoda felt like she was being x-rayed.

"Do you know you're a suspect for murder?"

Her jaw dropped. She picked it up from the faded floor. "What?!"

"Apparently, Jared said you shot one of his admirers out of jealousy," Edna said, driving straight to the point. Her eyes never left Rhoda. "And that's why you're now in hiding."

Rhoda sputtered. "Wha-? How? I-? What?!"

Edna rolled her eyes. "Settle down. Ain't you gonna invite me into your ..." she looked around, "house?"

Distracted, Rhoda led her to the backyard. Edna sat on a log that served as a bench near an extinguished campfire.

"Do you want tea or anything?" Rhoda asked.

But Edna shared her bag of jelly beans instead. "Keeps me sober," she explained. "Now start from the beginning."

"How did you find me?" Rhoda blurted out, taking out a red jellybean.

"A detective got her ways," Edna said mysteriously. "But that's not the question, is it? Where have you been yesterday 5 to 10 PM?"

"In here, fixing the house." Rhoda jerked her thumb to Jesse's house. "Jesse could vouch for me although he would leave for work around six."

Edna suspiciously looked at the house. "Jesse Krupnick, huh?"

"Yup," Rhoda replied, not noticing the laconic twitch in Edna's mouth. "Who knew he'd be in the quiet part of ToonTown?"

"So what've you been doing at night?"

"When the sun sets, I take this off," she continued, gesturing at her baggy, red coveralls.

Edna held up her hands when Rhoda unzipped the front. Only to reveal the one-piece swimsuit she was wearing underneath.

"Then I go to the tub, wash off and go to my tent to get dressed," Rhoda explained. She zipped back her coveralls.

Edna grunted. "Anyone else saw you?"

Rhoda amiably rolled her eyes. "Edna, I know Jesse. He's the perfect gentleman." She gestured at herself. "Besides, it's not like he'd be-"

"No, you goof.I mean did anyone else saw you yesterday around 5-10?"

"The other neighbors, I guess." Rhoda shrugged. "I'm just out here in the open, fixing house."

She tried to check the time by looking at the sun. She flinched at the glare. "I go to sleep around nine."

Edna wrote on her notepad. "'Kay."

Rhoda's brows furrowed in concern. "Edna, if I'm a suspect, does that mean Toon Patrol's trying to find me?"

"It's actually a human case. So it's the police who're trying to find you."

Her ears drooped. "Are the police going to take me?"

"Depends." Edna tapped Rhoda's nose with her notepad. Her rabbit ears straightened up reactively.

Rhoda blinked. "Who are you doing this investigation for?"

Edna paused. Rhoda saw the way her eyes flickered in her composed visage.

Her ears drooped again. "Please tell me you didn't get involved because of me."

"I ain't getting soft, rabbit," Edna gruffly said. "The chief just wants me to find you for them." She popped a jellybean in her mouth. "They ain't keen in going to this crazy place."

But Rhoda only looked more concerned, leaning over to grip Edna's arm.

"Jared smears anyone that I'm with," she pleaded. "People already think Ash and I-" she reddened, "You know. Because Jared kept blaming I'm active as a real rabbit."

She covered her face with her hands. Jared kept mentioning that misconception even though she had explained that actual rabbits don't "go at it like rabbits".

Edna snorted. "I'd like to see him try."

"Is he okay? Ow!" Rhoda flinched when the notepad slapped her across the face.

"Really, Rhoda?" Edna asked.

"C'mon, Edna!" Rhoda held her cheek even though it didn't really hurt. "Jared might be… exaggerating but I don't want him in danger!"

"Do you know the DeGreasy Sisters?"

"The bigshots who hire toons and photograph them into comics?"

"Shady business down the side. One of them got killed. Jared has been dating the victim."

"Oh." She looked down on the ground. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Do you think Jared could've done that?"

Rhoda looked up, shocked. "No!" she gasped. "Why would he want anyone get killed?"

Edna raised a brow. "Suppose he wants to get rid of someone, what'll he do?"

Rhoda shut her eyes tight and shook her head.

"C'mon, Rhoda. You know him better than most."

Rhoda sighed. "He wouldn't want to get his hands dirty. He'd want someone else to do it for him." She gestured around. "Because for Jared, you're either someone not worthy of his time or someone he can... "

Her eyes widened. But her mouth refused to say it.

...use.

It was like the whole cottage collapsing on top of her.

Jared had became a recurring star in Maroon Cartoon Studios because of her being one of the studios' biggest stars. She used to personally ask RK Maroon to give him roles every month.

His outright flirtations that had led on so many women. She remembered feeling anxious at his behavior every time women caught his eye. It hurt when he would always come home late, knowing who he had been with.

She remembered feeling relieved when he would give them a cold shoulder after a couple of weeks. But she also felt bad for feeling relieved at the women he would cut off, making her feel worse. Jared would tell them he already have her, making her feel elated because it meant he chose her in the end. Then he would repeat the cycle all over again.

His admirers resented Rhoda. Encouraged by his coquettish behavior, they were brazen in swaying Jared to leave her for them.

Jared never wanted to be with anyone. Not even her. He used those women to satiate his ego and leave when he was done.

But most of all…

A part of her pleaded her to stop.

… Jared hadn't just used her as personal funding and connections. He also made her an excuse and an obstacle to his fanclub.

Now that he was a free man again, he was climbing for business women and toon tycoons. Another A-list toon star was no longer good enough.

She shook away the thoughts, looking sheepishly at Edna. "But maybe I might be wrong?"

Edna slapped her notepad on top of Rhoda's head.

"Ow! Edna-"

Edna held her thumb and index finger a breath apart. "Rabbit, you were this close to getting it."

"Well, Jared always said that I could be-"

"I don't care what he thinks! What do you think?"

Rhoda paused. "I…"

All those years, it had always been her fault. Her fault for her own shortcomings.

But Jared always said… wait a minute.

Her fault for his own shortcomings.

What do I think?

Every time she would protest, Jared would indignantly proclaim that she got it all wrong. That what she was feeling, not what he did, was the problem. He would sigh and roll his eyes every time she tried to explain her view, that she started wondering if he was right.

Her ears and whiskers laxed as her eyes bugged. Her eyelid twitched.

"That can't be… I..."

She stood up. Her view reeled to the side.

"Excuse me, I think I'm feeling a little perked," she said, her voice strained.

She walked straight for her tub of bathwater. There was a giant splash when Rhoda dove her head under the pool.

Edna simply watched when gurgling screams emitted with the bubbling water.

She flinched when Rhoda's shrieks reached maximum volume, blasting all the water out of the tub.

Water dripped down the brim of her hat. Edna sat there, a soaked parody of normalcy.

"Are you good?" she asked.

Tight-lipped, Rhoda just gave a thumbs up. She went straight for her tent and grabbed a pillow. Rhoda mushed her face against it and screamed some more.

Feathers exploded everywhere when the pillow reached past its screech tolerance. Edna sat there, looking like a feathered parody of normalcy.

Rhoda gasped, surfacing for air. Edna patted her on the back, looking like she only had three seconds to disguise herself as a chicken.

"Easy there, bunny."

Rhoda clutched her face, trying to determine if she was in a dream. "He can't be using me!" She turned to her wildly. "We've been together for fifteen years! He can't be! I-"

Her hands fell limply to her sides. " I..."

Edna had her lips pressed together, stopping herself from saying something.

"I really am hare-brained, am I?" Rhoda said with a hollow laugh.

She glanced at Edna who grimaced like a beakless hen. Edna looked like she had always known it all along. Maybe Edna had told her before. Maybe she had hinted it with her sarcastic wisecracks. Maybe Rhoda just didn't realize.

"Rhoda, you might be a bit of a cuckoo-"

"You mean a cuckoo cluck?" she chided. But her eyes were still gazing at something far away.

Edna clamped up, lost for words. She patted Rhoda on the back, trying not to feel awkward.

"If you need a hooch, tell Doris to put it on my tab." She shifted uncomfortably, feeling a need for a drink herself. She popped another jelly bean instead. "You can come with me to the bar if you want."

"Thanks, Edna. But I'll be fine."

"Rhoda… I..."

"I really am glad you started helping toons again," Rhoda said. "If I ever get into trouble, my money's on ya."

Edna smirked. It looked forced. "Only because you're harebrained enough to drag me back every time," she replied, messing the top of Rhoda's head.

She grinned, even though her lips wavered. "Thanks, Mama Hen."

Edna messed Rhoda's hair harder. A few feathers flew.

"We still haven't caught who vandalized your trailer."

"That's okay." Deep inside, Rhoda winced. Her eyes caught the sledgehammer leaning against the cottage. "I still got some walls to bust out."

Edna turned to go. She paused before facing her again with a sigh.

"Rhoda. In all my times of me being a detective, I've known women who poisoned their men to get away from them."

Rhoda cringed. She couldn't imagine herself doing that to Jared.

"But you know what's worse? Women who left but are still poisoned by the very men they're escaping."

Rhoda didn't know what to say. She waved goodbye to Edna as she left, relieved that she no longer could see the pity and concern in Edna's feather-covered face.

Edna walked out of Rhoda's property, not bothering to brush off the plumes covering her. Just another day in ToonTown.

She scowled at the unassuming house next to it. Her hand touched the fence as she began to decide what to do next.

"Aren't you going to cross the road?" a deep voice drawled.

She turned around to see Jesse coming back from… wherever he had been.

"Here to snoop again?" he asked.

She internally cursed when the sleeve of her trench coat caught on the fence. She was stuck and looking like a cheep chicken costume.

Cheap chicken costume, she corrected herself.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Says the detective who lurks outside my dressing room window whenever Ms. Acme came to visit."

"You're still hanging that over my head?" Years ago, RK Maroon wanted dirt for Acme. Turned out he wanted to secure Acme's will. Unfortunately, RK died in a skirmish. Her twin sister, CB, took over Maroon Cartoon Studios after.

Edna tried to tug out the snag, careful not to tear her sleeve. She cursed when Jesse walked nearer.

"Maybe I should roll an egg down the road and see who finally came first," he dryly stated.

Edna made a face at him.

"What're you really doing here?" he asked.

"Visiting my pal," Edna said, watching Jesse's face.

His eyes narrowed and she saw him glance at the rundown cottage. "You? Her friend?"

"I should be asking the same thing." She slowly work out the thread caught in the blasted nail. "Funny that Rhoda chose to live beside someone who looks a lot like her ex."

"Her what?"

CRASH!

They both startled.

CRASH!

The giant, black dog began to bark. Jesse could see him ran inside the cottage.

CRASH!

Forgetting Edna, he hurried towards it. Jacques ran out, barking frantically. When he saw Jesse, he whined. His ears were laid back and his tail wagged low and anxious. He anxiously scraped the ground with his front paws. It almost looked like he was begging Jesse to do something.

CRASH!

XOXOXOXOXO

Rhoda bashed the walls into smithereens. Everything exploded in a cloud of dust. But Rhoda continued, unperturbed. A kerchief protected her nose and mouth. Goggles were strapped over her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered through gritted teeth, the words barbed and hurting her throat.

That had been the recurring words of her life for the past 15 years.

Every time she would communicate her discomfort in his actions, he would always turn it on her. She was too needy. She was overreacting. She was being annoying. She should grow up.

And she would cower, ashamed and guilty of what she had been thinking and feeling.

Sorry, she would mumble.

It was all her fault, she had thought. She just needed to do better in their relationship and avoid pushing him away with her actions.

So for the past 15 years, she had tried. And tried. Swallowing bitterness and exhaustion along the way. Every time he strayed. It was her fault. She was too clingy. She didn't work hard enough in their relationship. One way or another, it always come back to her and her shortcomings.

Rhoda could still remember the night that they had broken up.

"Was I the one who chose to cry, Rhoda?" he asked while he sat with his back on her, fixing his hair in the vanity table mirror.

Tears spilled down her face, wondering if he even cared.

"That was your choice," he continued. "Instead of, you know, thinking like a reasonable rabbit."

She might've bewildered Mina when she came crying in her doorstep. She remembered mumbling apologies for being such a burden and wailing that she had ruined everything with Jared.

CRASH!

She whirled the sledgehammer expertly above her head like a regular comedy mallet.

CRASH!

Rhoda was far away from Jared as possible. But he was still using her one way or another to publicize himself. She wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow, Jared would be hinting to the world that she killed his girlfriend.

CRASH!

She brought it down with an almighty smash. Her chest heaved. Tears drenched her face. She gritted her teeth against the painful crushing in her heart.

Jacques barked from the distance. She blinked. The walls sectioning the cottage had all been decimated.

"Rhoda?"

She gasped. Jesse. Tears seeped outside her goggles. Her eyes felt raw. Her throat felt like a burnt out firecracker. Snot dripped down her nose.

"Rhoda?"

In the last minute, she tore off her goggles and threw away her kerchief. She scooped dust and slapped it on her face. She felt pathetic but she knew Jesse. He would get worried and she didn't want to burden him with her own emotional baggage.

She had enough from Jared feeling like she was a pest.

The shaft of light from the doorway darkened. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah!" She coughed and spat out dirt. "I- uh, I forgot to put on goggles and mask." Her ears tried to wipe her face. "Ooh, that stings."

Her lip trembled. She looked away.

"I've been meaning to bust these walls anyway. You know, because it looks so dark in here? Saves on electricity too," she blabbered, hating herself for it.

Her fingers felt numb. She flexed and straightened them. She didn't hear his steps nearing her, gentle and measured.

She coughed. "But it looks like I dirtied the place all over again. Jeepers, my ears are ringing. What if I didn't hear you all those time you've been hollering? I'm-" Her throat caught. "I'm sorry."

Jesse regarded her. He looked out of place in the dismal cottage, the sunlight behind him making him look like a greek god that descended down on earth.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, kneeling down to her gaze level.

She smiled, even though her heart felt like it was crumbling into dust. "I'm fine."

He put a hand on her shoulder, unmindful of the grime and dust on her coveralls.

"If you won't tell," he quietly asked, "I won't ask."

Her stomach plummeted. Was she really that see-through and pathetic? But he was offering her a way out and for that, she was grateful.

Her hand hovered over his, careful not to smear it with dirt but wanting to reassure his gesture.

"Thank you, Jesse."

She wanted to rest. She wanted to step into Jesse's arms and just cry on his shoulder.

But that would be being a burden. And she only got herself to blame.

Jared might've used me. But I'm the one who stayed.

Fortunately, Jacques came inside and practically knocked her down with his over-enthusiastic greeting. Rhoda found herself giggling and protesting as Jacques licked her face. Guilt touched her when he anxiously whined, his ears and tail lowered.

"Sorry, ol' boy," she replied, touching her forehead to Jacques' brows.

Jesse left to prepare for Ink-and-Paint club. Rhoda swept the rubble inside the cottage, wiping away the rest of her sniffles. When she went outside, his car was gone. There was a Chinese takeout on the log that she used as her bench near the campfire.

A note beside it read: Fed Jacques. Don't worry, takeout's vegetarian. Take care. -Jesse

Her heart twinged. She should really keep him at arm's length.

Jacques belched, romping to her side. Rhoda hugged him tight, burying her face into his fur.

Insider her tent, the radio garbled and blared, unheard.

"So it looks like there's a storm coming right here in ToonTown. It's gonna be a tempest, folks. I pity the fool who's gonna be camping."

Author's Notes: The song that Rhoda sang is based on the opening theme of "Crazy Ex Girlfriend".

To the anon: Thank you for the reviews and yes, Hades and Persephone AU won.

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