Last chap was kinda short, but this one can make up for it. Hehe.
I own nothing, only Zoey and Andy etc.
SATURDAY, Oct. 8, 2011
The next two weeks rush by in an emotionless blur. Papers are signed. Attorneys are consulted. The funeral is organized and held the next week. Other than me and Stephan, most of the rest of the circus and the crew attend the service. My parents are to be laid to rest in the Gotham City Cemetery. The burial is on Saturday, October 8th.
Of course, it has to rain.
I spend most of the time fidgeting with my clothing: a figure-hugging long-sleeved black V-neck that stretches just past my hips, black skinny-jeans, and black ballet flats. I do talk to the people attending, but other than that, I do not say anything. A couple hours later, Stephan, two other men, and I are the only ones left under the overhang.
"Everything will work out," he tries to comfort me. He checks his Rolex watch. "I have to go now. Will you be okay here?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine."
"Okay. Bye, kiddo." He hugs me one last time before rushing out into the pouring rain.
About two minutes after Stephan leaves, I hear muffled footsteps approaching from behind. Barely turning my head, I observe the man out of the corner of my eye. I can sense he doesn't mean any harm, but I don't let my ever-present guard drop. I make a mental note to put him in the hospital for the next month if he makes a move that I don't like.
He looks like your typical tall, dark, and handsome guy, with his black hair and intelligent blue eyes. By the length of his stride I can tell that he stands just over six feet tall. His strong figure matches the silhouette of the mystery man in the tent. But I know I've seen his figure before; his height, the width of his shoulders, and the way he walks…
"Hello, Andromeda. I'm Bruce Wayne," he introduces himself as he holds out his hand.
Bruce Wayne, huh? His voice is soft and deep. "I'm an old friend of Stephan's. We met in middle school, actually."
"Cool. Thanks for coming. I guess." I shake his hand almost lifelessly. "And for everything. I heard you paid for most of this."
After a few silent moments, Bruce asks, "How are you holding up? After everything that's happened."
I want to tell him that this is nothing in comparison to the devastation of losing my entire planet, but its impact is still heart-shattering. Instead, I smile sadly and answer, "I guess I'll be all right. At least, that's what everyone says. What they keep telling me."
The smile fades quickly. "I don't know if I really need someone to feed me and give me a weekly allowance and all that stuff that parents are supposed to do; I can mostly take care of myself. I just need someone to tell me right from wrong. Someone to be there, to show me support.
"Right now, this period of a person's life is when stability is most needed. I need to stay in one place. I need friends that I won't see for just a single week at a time. I need a home that I'm not moving out of after a week or two." It's true. I could take care of myself, but I want to live my life as an Earth girl, not an alien. This was my decision, to stay hidden. Of course, unless absolutely necessary.
I look at Bruce. His face reveals to me his sympathy, but I can see through his blue eyes that he is remembering something from long ago. I wonder, but I do not invade his thoughts.
"Well," Bruce says after a few moments of silence, "I'm sure you will find a good family."
"Thanks," I reply. "What I am most worried about is forgetting them. I don't want their memory to disappear entirely."
"They'll be with you, in your heart."
A song comes to mind. "'And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend….'" I recite from my memory.
"I saw that play, I think. Wicked, right?"
"Yes."
"You have a good memory."
"Photographic, actually."
"Ah. Do you sing much?"
"Usually, yes." Not only am I a singer, but my real parents and my foster parents also came from musically gifted backgrounds. Music runs in my blood.
"Well, sing on, Andromeda."
I look up at Bruce with sad and startled eyes. Almost right after our eyes meet, though, I bow my head and let my long, straight brown hair fall over my face. Years ago, my mom gave me the exact same advice. Sing on, Andromeda.
Sing on.
"I should probably go now."
"Do you want my butler, Alfred, to drive you home?" A butler?
I'm not really sure where home IS anymore, I think to myself. "No. Thank you. I-I'll catch a taxi. I have a bunch of change."
"Are you sure? The rain-"
"I'll be fine," I snap. My cheeks burn as I duck my head again. "I'm sorry." I search the area. Something doesn't feel right. I've felt like this a few times before. It's like the feeling you get when someone's watching you, only more ominous. It could be just the rain. Am I going paranoid?
"I have to go. Thank you." I turn and leave. As soon as I'm thought to be out of earshot, I hear the man I presume to be Alfred speak to Bruce.
"Andromeda was adopted. Her parents were all the family she had."
"That's why I've decided to take her in. As a foster daughter.
"I was lucky enough to have you. She should have the same. I know she may need a mother figure more than anyone else, but a father can be just as important." He continues until I actually do get out of earshot.
I smile. My vision becomes edged with a forest green. Bruce Wayne is really going to adopt me? I don't even know what to say or think.
My walk through downtown Gotham City does nothing to stop the paranoia. I observe the few cars and fewer pedestrians, I quickly turn corners, I walk in one entrance of a store and out the other, but I still feel somewhat shaken.
I watch for people on the street again. I see no one who looks suspicious. Swirls of orange and yellow with tiny hints of red crawl into the corners of my range of sight. Ugh. I slow down and breathe for a minute to let myself calm.
Still nothing.
I quickly turn around and shiver as I accidentally bump into a tall, obviously muscular man with white hair and an eye-patch. Probably an ex-soldier. The shade of topaz in my vision intensifies.
"Oh, I'm... ah, I'm sorry," I stutter, keeping my head lowered as to not make any eye-contact. As I slip by him, I can feel his gaze on my back. I shiver again. Something is not right.
Back at the hotel room I'm staying at, I strip my damp clothing and spend half an hour letting the hot water of a shower stream down my skin. The steam and the tropical smell of my shampoo and conditioner mostly refresh my mind.
That night, I can't stop thinking about anything. Why did I feel so paranoid earlier? Does someone know that I'm an alien? And what about that man I literally ran into earlier? Does he know? If so, then how?
Is Bruce Wayne really going to adopt me?
I eventually fall into a restless, dreamless sleep.
TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 2011
Over the next week, even more papers are signed. Officials in the system are talked to. My parents' trailer is cleaned of my clothing and personal items. It's arranged for Bruce to pick me up next Tuesday, on the 18th.
It's nine o'clock, and I'm just finishing up my packing. I fold my remaining garments and lay them in my suitcase. All of my regular clothes and my costumes are packed. When I check off everything mentally, that's when I remember my secret stash of… necessities.
I lie down flat on the cushy carpet and reach under my bed. My fingers grip the handle of a titanium and lead-lined briefcase. I drag it out, unlock it with the key hanging on a chain around my neck, and remove the false top.
Underneath are shining guns, knives, and katanas originating from both Earth and my home planet. In addition, there's five million dollars in US, European, and Chinese currency, each; multiple passports, driver's licenses, birth certificates, and ID cards; and more colored contacts and some hair dye.
I run through all possible scenarios of the jeopardization of my true identity. I push my long sleeves up my arm and summon small amounts of light to both hands. The light streams down my arms to decorate my skin in ancient Astridarin symbols that came in the package with my powers.
Any abilities that an Astridarin might have will also come with a set of symbols engraved on our skin where the power originates from. For mind-reading or telekinesis, the symbols might be at your temples. For sonic scream, the symbols would run down the sides of your neck. For fire controlling, water controlling, etc., the markings would be at your hands and arms. The only abilities that don't have markings are flight and clairvoyance.
The streaks of light whirl and spiral up to my elbows. After I stop using my abilities, the patterns will eventually fade to just markings, then back to my normal skin tone. When I'm in my true form, the markings don't fade. Tiny cursive letters stretch across the back of both of my wrists: "Lux vexillifer et Vita dator" which is Astridarin for "Light bearer and Life giver."
Light bearer.
Life giver.
With my past? Yeah, right.
I about jump out of my skin when I hear someone knocking on my door. After unrolling my long sleeves, I wait five seconds before rushing to the door and opening it to reveal Stephan.
"Come in!" I greet as I gesture to the hotel room. "Want something to drink?"
"No, thank you," he replies as he shakes his head. "Is everything ready?"
"Almost. I just need a suitcase for you."
The tall brunette laughs. "Sorry, kiddo. Gotta stay with the circus. They need me."
"Yeah. I'll miss you, though," I tell him honestly. "Keep in touch- on Facebook, on Gmail, whatever. Text me regularly."
"I will," he promises. "I'll visit you. Bruce is a nice man. He's not as self-centered as he seems. He'll take care of you."
I raise my eyebrow. "Did he have to pay you to say that?"
Stephan makes a face.
"Okay."
I hear someone knocking again.
"Hold on." I retrace my steps to the door. I have to stand on my tip-toes to see through the peephole.
"Speak of the devil," Stephan smirks as I pull open the door. Bruce and Alfred walk through the threshold.
"Hi, Andromeda," Bruce greets me.
"Hello," I reply. "My bags are in here." I walk to the other side of my bed and drag my two heavy suitcases, briefcase, laptop carrier, and my tote bag out.
"Are you ready to go?" he asks.
I never felt nervous before, but this is when I begin to feel butterflies in my stomach. I look up at my close friend for reassurance, and he nods.
"As I'll ever be," I sigh. I turn back to my old friend. "Until we meet again." I pull him into a long hug.
"Good-bye."
"I'll see you 'round, kiddo." With that, Stephan gets up, exits the room, and leaves to go back to the circus.
"Let's go," Bruce says.
The sky is grey outside, but the air is a bit warm, like it's just hanging there. A couple seconds later, raindrops start plinking onto the asphalt. Halfway to the car, I almost faint. Bruce is walking right next to me, and he sees me start to trip and stumble.
"Bruce…" I stop and hold my head, and the world begins to spin by me. I finally lose my sense of balance and keel over. Thankfully, Bruce catches me around my waist before I hit the ground.
"Are you okay?" Bruce asks, clearly concerned.
I blink in the bright sunlight. "What just happened?"
"You fainted," Alfred answers. "Your body probably isn't getting enough water or food."
"I… maybe," I agree quietly. "I- I also haven't been sleeping properly." I'm not exactly ready to break it to him that I'm an alien and I hadn't Hibernated for almost the last two weeks, which is a dangerous feat.
Hibernation is a deep sleep state that I must enter once every week for five hours or more to regenerate my energy. I can project my mind into an astral plane so I can watch over my body while I Hibernate, as that time period is when I am most vulnerable. I can astral project while in Hibernation to watch over my body, but I can't talk to anyone or touch anything- even if I'm not in Hibernation.
"I can assure you that when we get to your new home that you will be able to get plenty of sleep," Alfred promises.
"Sure. Okay."
We pile into the limo, and head off. Bruce sits adjacent from me, while Alfred drives. I sit staring, emotionless, at the floor, letting my hair shield my face.
""For the next five minutes, I sit with my elbow on the door and my chin in my hand. I stare blankly at the passing buildings and trees as rain drips down the glass, then sigh and turn back to face the car's interior.
The ride from the hotel to Bruce's house is long except for bad traffic. But hey, it's Gotham. There isn't much you can do about that. I pull my iTouch out from my tote bag and hook up my earbuds. I just hope that my battery won't wear out before we arrive at our destination.
Four Rihanna songs and a OneRepublic album later, I feel the black Ford Focus turn a corner and slow down. I pull out my earbuds. We're here.
I open the door and look up at Bruce's house and my new home. It turns out to be a four-story mansion, completed by a fountain in front.
I try my hardest not to gape. I look at Bruce with wide eyes.
"Welcome to your new home," he says.
I didn't want to make the story too complicated with Social workers and stuff, so I just cut those parts out and just had Andy stay at a hotel. Also, I don't know how the timing for everything would work, so I just invented my own timeline.
Don't worry; I will add some good Bruce and Andy scenes!
P.S. Points to whoever can guess correctly who the one-eyed man was!