WriterFreak001:

BEFORE YOU READ THIS CHAPTER, I added a pretty significant scene to the previous chapter. I originally meant to include it, but somehow it didn't make it into the final draft. BUT IT IS THERE NOW! However, I strongly advise you to re-read the last chapter because it's important to the storyline. This chapter will reference that added scene so it's best you read it BEFORE reading this one. ;)

Trigger warning: domestic violence mentioned

The Scorpion

Written by WriterFreak001

Chapter 9:

Broken Heart

~ SCORPION ~

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Megan asked her brother as she led him towards Paige's suite. "If you're caught inside Paige's chambers, you'll be arrested."

"It's worth the risk," Walter replied swiftly as though it was the most logical solution on the planet. "I need to see her, and… and something tells me she wants to see me too. Besides," the inventor smirked, "The whole reason I went back to my quarters to change into that penguin suite was so I wouldn't get caught."

"But Drew and Mrs. Dineen know who you are, Wally," Megan frowned as she stopped in front of the door leading to their destination. "And if they come back from church while you're still here, I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Baker will have you arrested. He already has a reason not to like you, and you'll just be fueling that fire. I'll ask again, Walter. Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Yes," Walter nodded promptly. "I told you. It's worth the risk."

Megan gave her brother a small smile. "All right then," she unlocked the door. "Godspeed to you."

"Thank you, Megan," Walter grinned appreciatively and slipped inside the door with Megan following in tow.

Megan touched Walter's arm to stop him from going further. "We're currently in the sitting room. Pass that door," she pointed to a single door centered along the wall in front of them, "is a large foyer. Paige's room is in the back, down a small hallway across from the foyer's entrance. I will stay in the sitting room and be on the lookout. If I hear anyone approaching the suite, I'll knock three times on Paige's door. To the left of Paige's bed, there is a closet. Inside the closet, all the way to the back, is a hidden door leading to the breakfast parlor. You'll have to climb through one of the windows in order to escape. You'll have to be on your own from there."

"I think I can manage," Walter muttered as he started for the door leading to the foyer.

"One more thing," Megan said suddenly, causing the inventor to stop in his tracks, but he didn't turn around to face his sister. "Paige is… she's in a delicate situation. It's not my place to tell you, but… prepare for anything. I can't guarantee she'll want you to see her right now."

"I'll take my chances," Walter mumbled, unsure what his sister was trying to say. "Thanks again, Megan, for doing this for me."

"Don't thank me yet, Wally."

Without a response, Walter pushed his way into the foyer and slowly walked towards Paige's bedchamber. His confidence was suddenly wavering, but he had to see her again. He needed to see her again. And when his hand touched the handle and gently tugged it downward, he pushed the door forward slightly, knowing there was no going back now. Swallowing his nerves, he squeezed into Paige's bedroom and closed the door softly.

The curtains had been drawn around her bed, concealing her from him, but he still continued towards her. "M-Megan," came her quiet, hoarse voice, "i-is that you?" Walter centered himself in front of the side of her bed, itching to force open the curtains and hold her tightly in his arms as he had previously done the night before. "M-Megan?"

Walter gently cleared his throat, not wanting to startle her. "It's me."

Paige suddenly grew silent and inhaled a deep breath before shakily mumbling, "You're not supposed to be here."

"I know," Walter answered immediately. "I know I'm not supposed to be here, but I needed to see you again…."

Paige, though Walter couldn't see her, blinked back her tears and clutched her chest. "I… I c-can't see you anymore…. Please… just… just go."

"Why not?" Walter, out of impulse, pushed the curtains open and knelt down face her, suddenly becoming aware of her swollen cheek. He reached out to touch it, but she flinched so he drew his hand back quickly. He changed the subject instantly, and his voice grew very dark. "Who did that to you?"

Paige inhaled deeply as tears threatened to spill, but her quivering lips and her throbbing heart wouldn't let her speak.

"Paige," Walter's voice softened as he leaned closer to her, "Who hurt you?"

Still, she didn't answer. She was too afraid to say anything.

"Was it your mother?"

She shook her head slowly.

"Drew?"

The color drained from Paige's cheeks as she swallowed thickly. Walter clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, suddenly wanting to hurt the bastard for hurting Paige. "Where is he? He needs to be taught a lesson!"

Walter jumped to his feet, preparing himself to storm through the entire ship to find Drew, but Paige immediately grabbed his arm, prompting him to fall back onto his knees and give her his undivided attention.

"Please don't," Paige pleaded as she squeezed his arm. "Please don't do anything."

"Paige… He hurt you."

She bit her lip and closed her eyes for a second before releasing another shaky breath. "It's not the first time he's struck me… He sometimes has a hard time managing his anger and tends to, occasionally, take it out on me. I'm… I'm already used to it."

"But you shouldn't have to be," Walter mumbled, lacing his fingers with hers. "No one should be allowed to treat you so horribly." He kissed the back of her hand and added, "Tell me to slug him, and I will… as many times as you want me to."

"Even if you did punch him, the cycle won't stop, and he'll have you arrested for assaulting him. I… I can't have that." Paige shook her head, wanting so much to ignore her mother's demands and her fiancé's threats and kiss Walter senselessly.

"Run away with me," Walter muttered softly, his piercing eyes telling her he was dead serious with his offer. "You said it yourself; you hate the life you're living, and I can't stand the way they treat you." He paused and kissed her knuckles slowly. "When we get off of this ship, I want you to come with me. Please," his eyes pleaded, "Please consider it?"

"Walter," Paige gazed deeply into his eyes as a tear fell down her cheek. "As much as I want to, as much as I really, really want to run away with you, I can't. I… I have duties I must fulfill. My mother… She's counting on me marrying Drew so that our… her… fortune could be restored. If I run away, my mother will have nothing. I wouldn't be able to live with that sort of betrayal."

"Is that what you want, though?"

Paige guiltily looked away from Walter. "It… It doesn't matter what I want."

"It matters to me," Walter whispered, squeezing her hand. He shifted slightly until he was hovering over her and caressed her unbruised cheek. "Everything you want, Paige, matters to me."

She mindlessly leaned her face into his palm and closed her eyes as more tears fell. When they fluttered open, she bit her lip and almost melted from the intensity of Walter's gaze. And before she knew it, the memory of last night sparked something within her, and she was gripping his face and yanking him downward for a hungry kiss.

God, she hated her life. He was right. She wanted nothing more than to run away with Walter and forget her life as a first class lady, even if it meant sending her wretched mother to the streets.

Paige clutched his thick curls between her fingers and moaned deeply into his mouth as he fluttered his tongue against hers, both of them wanting nothing but each other in the moment. He was absolutely driving her crazy with the way he was refusing to move his mouth from her lips, but as his palms hovered over the front of her chemise and rested on top of her concealed breasts, she didn't seem to care anymore.

Before she completely lost her mind, she pushed Walter up slightly and started kicking down the sheets, but then Walter understood what she was trying to do so he lifted himself almost completely off of her and peeled the sheets away from her body himself. Not even seconds passed before he was pinning her to the mattress and kissing her again.

Paige whimpered his name as his mouth moved off of her lips and feathered light kisses down her jaw towards her ear before trailing down to the base of her neck. He slid her chemise sleeve down her shoulder and lightly sucked on her skin as he slowly rolled his hips against hers. Her eyes rolled from the euphoria she was feeling, and she widened her legs and wrapped them around him, wanting to feel more of the sensations he was sending straight through her core.

He gently squeezed her breasts, strumming his thumbs over her pert nipples through the soft fabric of her chemise, and Paige just about lost her mind, wanting him to strip her clothes off like a wild man and kiss her everywhere. She wanted to feel his tongue touch every surface of her body. Every surface.

But suddenly, her mother's words resurfaced, reminding her why she had promised not to engage with Walter ever again. She tried to drown them out, focusing solely on the moment of Walter kissing her and holding her and… loving her, but the more she tried to forget them, the louder they grew inside her mind.

Without warning, she pushed Walter away and immediately covered herself up with her sheets. He stared at her with confusion, and she hated herself for allowing her mother's reign to win over her heart. "I-I'm s-sorry," she bit her lip and inhaled deeply. "I can't… I can't do this with you…."

"Paige…"

"I said I can't do this with you!" Paige wrapped her arms around herself and blinked back her tears as she gazed into his hurt expression. "I…," she swallowed thickly, "I'm promised to another man, Walter. We can't… we can't be doing this. I can't… I can't be doing this."

"But you said…"

"Forget what I said," Paige unnecessarily snapped. "I know my place in the world and c-can't be fraternizing with you."

"I thought…."

"You thought wrong!"

Walter blinked, trying to understand her sudden transition. "You were the one who kissed me first, Paige."

"A moment of weakness," Paige muttered under her breath, her words sending daggers through Walter's heart. "Y-you need to go."

"P—"

"NOW!"

Walter immediately climbed off of the bed, almost stumbling backwards as he backed away from her. He swiftly made his way to the door, but stopped. He turned towards her, but she didn't dare look at him. "I wish you and your fiancé the best." His words made Paige want to vomit and cry harder than ever, and he hated himself for forcing out those words, but what else could he say?

Before she could say something in return, Walter slowly opened her bedroom door and uttered goodbye.

Perhaps for good.

And as he stormed out of the suite, not giving his sister any explanation, he didn't hear the heavy, brokenhearted sobs echoing from the room he had just left.

~ SCORPION ~

WriterFreak001:

I promise the next chapter will have less angst! :)

PS. If you didn't read the beginning author's note, please do so! There is important information up there!