"Because Dick, I hate being blindsided during a conversation. Especially when that blindside includes a small human falling out of me!" Melody exclaimed as she stomped into the foyer of the house and flung her heels across to the stairs.
"It was a simple question, Mel. You didn't need to disappear for half an hour," Dick said closing the oak door behind him, following her down the foyer into the living room area. His black suit jacket was in his arms and his bowtie was undone and hung loosely around his neck. He unbuttoned his vest and put both the vest and jacket across the top of a cream white couch.
"You didn't have to answer the question for me either," she said in response as she took off her diamond jewelry and roughly placed it on a round crystal end table next to the couch.
"Well, what was I supposed to say? Huh? 'No my wife never wants kids so my father's company will be left to the shareholders because there's no heir to take my place'? Hell no. I'm not saying that."
Melody snorted. "No 'heir'? Are you fucking kidding me? Your sister has two kids of her own and your brother just got engaged. Bullshit there's no heir!"
"That's not what I'm talking about, Melody. It looks bad if I pass on the company to my nephew."
She groaned and began to walk up the stairs.
"Haven't you even thought about having kids?"
She stopped but stayed silent. She turned to look at him. "I told you when we got married. Kids are not a part of the plan. Not then and not now."
"Melody please—". His cell phone rang interrupting him. He looked at it then back at her.
"Whatever, Dick," she scoffed and then made her way back up the spiral stairs. She heard him sigh and answer his phone. She didn't really care who it was. She just assumed it was another woman like it has been for the last few months. "Don't even bother coming up here, if you're gonna talk to your skank."
She entered her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. The room glowed with white and gold. L.E.D. lights were embedded into the ceiling. A few lamps were scattered around the room. Gold rugs and curtains lined the floors and walls. A round king sized bed was in the center of the room, lined with gold and pearl silk sheets. The bed was atop a platform so it wasn't touching the gold marble floor.
Melody dimmed the lights slightly and entered the master bathroom. The bathroom was white with dark oak finishes. The tub was chrome white with a silver faucet. Light blue and white orchids sat on the side of the tub in crystal vases. Candle operas sat on the outlines of the bathtub. A pair of twin dark oak vanities with white marble countertops mirrored each other from across the room. Gold finished mirrors hung above them. An arched bay window overlooked the West Hollywood valley.
Melody unzipped her dress and threw it on a dark brown divan next to the bathtub. She nonchalantly clipped her curls up out of her face. She washed her face free from the makeup she wore that night. Once her face was clear, she reapplied a smoky eye look with black topliner, waterline, and mascara. She put on a dark red lipstick that exaggerated her smile. Melody opened a small wooden box that sat on the counter. Inside was a number of jewels and pearls. She roughly slipped the diamond ring off of her left hand and threw it in the box. Then she pulled out a small silver chain necklace with her bullet hanging from it. She clipped it around her neck and paired it with white gold stud earrings.
Melody got up from the counter and made her way to her walk-in closet. Various colors of designer clothes and shoes lined the walls. She stripped down to nothing and grabbed a black push-up bra and thong. She combed through rows of designer dresses until she found a tight, short, red scoop neck that ended at her upper thigh. It had wide tank top straps and the scoop was enough to show from the mid-breast up, with the push-up bra, it made her cleavage appear even more so. Not wanting to wear heels again that night, she pulled out a pair of red All-Stars with black laces.
Melody hid her outfit under a thick white robe and took out her phone to replay the sound of running water. She set the phone by the tub and went back into the bedroom. She sat on the couch at the foot of the bed.
Dick entered the room to find her laying on the couch reading a magazine. Her blonde curls were clipped up in a messy bun. He didn't notice her makeup even when he got closer to her. He kneeled down behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them gently. He nuzzled up to her neck and caught a glance at her issue of US WEEKLY. Melody ignored him until he started to kiss her neck and jawline. She jerked away from him and he stopped.
He sighed, "I have to go into the office for a little bit. Will you be okay here without me, baby?"
Melody absentmindedly flipped the page. "I am every other night."
She dropped the magazine on the couch and walked toward the bathroom once again.
"I'm not sure what time I'll be back, so I'll sleep in one of the quest's rooms when I get home."
"Thought you would anyway."
"Okay then," Dick said as he paused at the door. "Love you."
"Fuck you," Melody called in a fake sweet-song voice.
"Watch it, Mel," he said in a threatening tone.
She heard him slam the door and she flinched slightly. When she was sure he was gone completely, she grabbed her phone to turn off the sound. She checked the time as she removed her robe. '12:50'. She shoved her shoes onto her feet and unclipped her hair letting it fall freely. She straightened her skirt as she went down the stairs.
Headlights shined through the front windows. Melody tried to contain her smile. She kept her phone in the side band of her bra, so it wouldn't be seen by whoever. She rushed out the door, down the steps and toward the paved driveway. The familiar white Lexus was parked in front of her. Wade was leaning against the hood on the front passenger's side. He wasn't wearing his red spandex anymore. Instead, he wore a dark gray hoody with faded denim jeans and hiking boots. A smug grin was planted on his scarred face. His dark eyes followed her every step as she made her way closer to him.
"Damn, Mel. You should spend more time out with me then with those stiffs," Wade commented as she stood before him.
Melody hid a slight chuckle. "Maybe you should ask me more often."
"Is that an invitation?" He towered over her.
She looked up at him, not feeling threatened in the slightest. "Maybe. Maybe I'll put a sword through your chest again."
"Promise?" Wade mocked like an excited child.
Melody laughed sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at him, but a smile remained on her face.
Wade chuckled at himself. "Come on. I'll show you a real night out." He reached for the passenger door and opened it for her. He watched her get into the car and closed the door behind her. Wade rested his head on the window for a few seconds while he composed himself. Then he walked around the front to the driver's side and entered the car.
Melody crossed her legs, curving herself in a seductive way. Wade pulled out of the driveway and into the streets of the neighborhood. His hand found its way from the steering wheel down to her knee. He rubbed her soft skin and scaled his hand up her olive skinned thigh. Though her legs remained crossed, she didn't remove his hand from her thigh and actually moved closer to him.
Wade drove toward downtown Hollywood. He went south past the red light district and into the ghetto. Melody wasn't nervous about it, though. She sat back in her seat bobbing her head to the '90s rap that was playing on the car radio. A few shady guys would gaze at the car and into the window at her. Their eyes would fill with lust and they would make faces at her as they got closer to the windows. Wade squeezed her thigh slightly but continued to drive down the street until he pulled into an abandoned lot next to an old red brick building. They both emerged from the now parked car. As soon as they closed the doors, Melody placed a cloaking device on the hood. The white Lexus suddenly turned into a beat up, light brown Pinto.
She smiled proudly and laughed at the look on Wade's face. She walked around the car and grabbed his arm to wrap around her waist. "I might've stolen a few things from S.H.I.E.L.D." Wade smiled at her. He gripped her waist and started to walk toward the sidewalk. She wrapped her arm around his waist like he was with her as they walked.
They walked attached at the hip. Laughing as they went because Wade kept cracking stupid jokes to try to amuse her. Which worked. Melody had always been a sucker for what she called 'Dad jokes' and puns. But Wade really only wanted to see her smile.
As they walked, random men would call at Wade about Melody. They all seemed familiar with each other. Most of the time it was, "Oh, Wade's got another one tonight" or "How much did the snow bunny cost?" which was one that Melody hadn't heard in a while. Wade pretty much ignored them but flipped them off when they passed.
They walked a few blocks more until they reached an abandon school building. Melody couldn't really see the sign hanging by the door but she thought it said 'Sister Margaret's home for wayward girls' or something. She knew it to be a seedy bar for mostly merc's, deadbeats, and basically the scum of the earth. Melody was familar with the sister joint of the same name back east. Wade let her go in first, he even held the door open for her. Though she was 100% positive that he wanted to look at her ass when she was going up the stairs, which he did, she didn't think or say anything about it.
A few stairs led up to a dark bar. Dim red and yellow lights lit some areas of the room. Most of the light was over the pool table. A few guys that looked like bikers crowded playing a game. Tables were scattered everywhere and wood chips and glass covered the floor. A few guys sat in the back booths with either their buddies or hookers. Only one guy sat at the actual bar and he had passed out in a puddle of whiskey and beer. A chalkboard hung above the alcohol cabinets behind the bar. Various names and dollar amounts were written in chalk. Most of the names were celebrates, like Miley Cyrus and Madonna. Melody recognized Wade's name on the board too, though it looked like someone tried to erase it. She saw that above the names it said 'THE DEAD POOL'. She laughed to herself.
Wade led her to the bar, where they stood together, his arm back around her. The man behind the bar came up to them. "Hey Wade," he greeted. "Who's your new friend?" His voice was nasal. He sported a mustache and beard that were as blonde as his long, shaggy hair. His bright blue eyes were hidden behind big lensed glasses that looked like they were from the '80s. He wore a warped leather jacket over a band t-shirt with jeans that were sagging off his thin hips and faded tennis shoes. He looked like he would've been the awkward kid in high school that always got beat up or stuffed into his locker.
"My friend here," Wade said pulling her closer to her. "Is Melody – withholding the last name. Mel, this is my good friend and possible past lover, Weasel. Formerly Jack."
"Pleasure to meet you Melody Withholding the last name." They shook hands. "Nice to see that Wade's making some new friends."
"Aw. You're not jealous, are you?" Wade joked.
"Haha. Good one, Asshole. But since I am a man of business, I'm obligated to ask this question. What can I get you?"
"Well I'd like a Blowjob," Wade said.
"Oh God, me too," Weasel said dreamily. He snapped out of it. "Why do you always make me do this?"
"Because one day I'll laugh hard enough at it to feel it in my boys. And two beers."
"And I'll have The Leg Spreader," Melody chimed in with a smile.
"See Wade, Melody understands me."
Weasel began to make their orders and Wade turned to look at her. "You are a mystery, beautiful."
"I can't be predictable all the time."
She smirked at him and he chuckled. Weasel came back with their drinks. "Your Leg Spreader, M'lady," he said presenting it to her. "And your Blowjob, Dickbag."
Wade took the drink with a fake pained face. "You're fliting with me right now? Right in front of my gorgeous companion?"
Melody chuckled. A waitress walked past them and Melody gently stopped her with a tap on the arm. "Hey, Kelly right?" The girl nodded. "Take this to the biggest guy at the pool table tell him it's from the guy in the corner booth." Melody gave her the drink she ordered and winked at her. The waitress smiled and took it toward the back. Wade had done the same thing with the same guys but in the opposite order.
"I'm starting to see this becoming a great relationship," Wade said as he picked her up and sat her atop the bar counter. They clinked the necks of their beer bottles together and drank as they waited for chaos to ensue.
And chaos happened rather quickly. The biggest guy at the pool table, Butch, had broken his pool que over the other guy's head. And the other guy, Dave or something like that, had used the glass cup to punch Butch in the face. They started to fight on the ground. But Butch picked Dave up and slammed him down on the pool table, splitting it in half. Dave laid unmoving but Butch kept kicking and stomping him. Weasel emerged from behind the bar with a small mirror in his hand. He calmly pushed Butch and the others away from Dave. He kneeled down and held the mirror up to the unconscious man's face. After a few minutes, he held up a fog covered mirror.
"He's alive. Not today boys and girls," Weasel said heading back behind the bar. Everyone groaned. "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure it's a tragedy to most of you," he said sarcastically. "You two were made for each other."
"You're too kind," Wade said taking another drink of his beer. "So Melody with no last name, what other secrets are you hiding from the world?"
"Just from the world?" She said raising her thin eyebrow.
Wade wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed hold of her hips. He stood between her legs, face to face with her. A smirk planted on his face. "Is there anyone else you're keeping secrets from?" Wade's hands found their way under her skirt. The feeling of his calloused hands on her smooth skin caused goosebumps to appear all over her body in one big shiver. She chortled through a smile.
"Who wants to know, Wilson?"
"Awe, come on, sweetheart. Just trying to get to know you. No harm in secret sharing. Right?"
"Sharing? So what is this now? Confession circle?"
He shrugged, a smile still on his face.
"Okay, I'll humor you," Melody said as she picked herself up from the countertop and onto the floor. His hands slid further up her dress, grabbing her ass. She pushed his hands away and flashed him a look. She made her way to the back of the bar, toward the furthest booth. Her dress riding up around her upper thighs. Wade followed her but watched her bottom half intently as some of her lower cheeks peeked out from the bottom of her skirt.
Melody sat in one of the booths and crossed her legs. Wade sat opposite from her and leaned back against the cushion seat. "What're you doing?" He asked.
"Humoring you," she said kicking her foot gently back and forth.
He chuckled, "Let's start simple, birth place? I'll even answer too. Have it be fair."
She arched her thin eyebrow. "Greece. Small town southeast of Athens."
Wade smiled, "Canada."
"Canadian. I would've never have guessed," Melody said sarcastically. Even hearing her tone of voice, he winked at her.
"Next: Education?"
She sighed, "Girls finishing school in Athens. Dropped out sophomore year."
"Co-ed high school drop out."
"How far did you get?"
"Eh, who can remember? Why'd you drop out?"
Melody perched her lips and stayed silent. She bit her lower lip and said, "Got into some trouble. The people there aren't very keen on mutants."
"Well for me," Wade said almost completely unphased from what she said. "Better opportunities in the world. The Middle East. Southeast Asia. Jacksonville."
She rolled her eyes.
"What kind of trouble?" He said with more concern in his voice than before.
She was quiet again. "Some people. They wanted to use me. But I wasn't about to let them. I was about…. I want to say fifteen or sixteen when I left. Either they think I'm dead or they just haven't tried to find me. All I know is that I'm not going back."
"Why not?"
"There's nothing there for me there. You know?"
He nodded. "Big question here. What got you got you into this mercenary life that we both live and hold so near and dear to our hearts?"
"Well after I left home, I went a few places. Southwest Asia, South America, Jacksonville."
"Jacksonville?"
"I was a bartender at the T.G.I. Fridays. A really great T.G.I. Fridays."
Wade smiled to himself. "Maybe we saw each other."
She chuckled, "I think I'd remember seeing you."
"Well, I didn't look like… this when I was in Jacksonville. I didn't always use to look like this."
Melody folded her hands under her chin and smiled at him. Like she was a child waiting to be told a story. She blinked her big eyes at him.
"Let me guess, you want the story?"
"I thought I made that obvious."
He sighed and shook his head. "Okay. I'll humor you too. Years ago, before this happened," he gestured to his face. "I lived a pretty normal life. Killing one guy, threating another. I even had a fiancée. But… I got sick. Cancer. It was terminal. I ran out of choices, so I went into this program to cure it. And it did. But at a cost. My deviously handsome good looks."
Melody laughed through her nose a little. "You had a fiancée?"
"Yeah. It didn't work out. I didn't want to drag her through all this."
Melody bit her lip and they sat in silence for a few seconds. Wade broke the silence with a sudden change in personality. "Well, I gotta take a leak," he said, jumping up from his seat. "Promise to miss me when I'm gone?" He took her hand in his and lowered himself down to one knee.
She smiled and bit her lip again, suppressing a laugh. "Wade, I promise to miss you when you take a piss."
He got up from the ground and planted a kiss on her cheek as he rushed to the restroom. She watched him round the corner, her eyes traveled down his body and she smirked to herself. Melody sat back in the booth and finished her drink. Her cellphone had been vibrating for a few minutes, so she decided to check it.
She had a missed call and two text messages. They were both from Dick. His text basically said that he wouldn't have time to come home, so he would be staying at the office. She shook her head and didn't bother to reply. Melody put her phone back and waited for Wade to return.
She sat by herself in deep thought. The silver band on her finger felt hot and she rubbed it around. 'You know what you have to do.' She thought. 'He needs it more than you do.' Melody sighed and leaned her head back battling with herself.
In the moments of her inner battles, Wade had come out of the bathroom. He handed Weasel a gold card, that was obviously stolen, but no one there really cared. He paid his tab, then walked back to Melody. Wade came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She flinched slightly but then sighed and smiled at him.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he said resting his chin on her shoulder.
"It's fine." She smiled at him. She took his hand in hers and got up from her seat.
"Come on. I want to show you something."
She led him to the front door of the bar. They left together and walked down to the street.
"Gosling, Reynolds, or Kwaton?"
Melody walked next to Wade on a pathway entering an empty park a couple of blocks away from the bar. She had broken into an ice cream stand and stole two ice cream sandwiches for both of them. Wade gave her his hoody, thinking it was getting colder out. Which left him in a simple black t-shirt. The hoody was way too big for her small body. She was shorter than him, so the hoody extended past her hips to her mid-thigh. The sleeves covered her arms and left the tips of her fingers exposed.
To Wade, she looked like she was much younger than she really was. All he wanted to do was watch her face, her reactions, and her smile.
She laughed through a bite of her ice cream. "To marry or to fuck?" Melody asked with her mouth full.
Wade shrugged. "Either."
"Okay. Then, Reynolds. Defiantly. What about you?"
"Bob Ross."
"Ah, dammit. That's good too."
They laughed together and continued to walk the parameter of the park. They could see the stars shine through the treetops. They walked in a comfortable silence and Wade wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "How did you know about this place?"
"I used to live around here before I moved uptown. I'm not one to sleep much so I walked around the neighborhood."
"You don't do that anymore?"
"Not until tonight."
Wade smile. "Well, I'm glad I could give you back to you."
Melody leaned against him. She glanced at the clock tower in the middle of the park. '4:57'. "Shit. I need to get back."
Wade's heart fell into his stomach. He didn't want her to leave. But he knew this wasn't going to last long. He forced himself to smile. "Come on. I'll take you home, gorgeous."
They walked back to the car hand in hand. Their hands swinging playfully as they walked. They reached the car and Melody deactivated the cloaking device, turning the car from a Pinto back into a Lexus.
Wade once again opened her door for her and let her get into the car. He himself returned to the driver's side. As soon as he closed his door, Melody moved closer to him and rested her head against his chest and shoulder. He let her stay where she was and started the car. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he planted a kiss on her forehead, watching her eyes shut gently. He drove back toward uptown, leading her back to her other life.