Disclaimer: I don't own Hey! Arnold. No, my darlings, I haven't forgotten you.
HA
The kitchen was silent as the three of them assembled so no one was touching anyone else. Jolene had set herself at the table, using the coffee mug to warm her hot palms and frigid fingertips; Thaddeus was perched on the sink, sending peevish looks from his sister to the intruder who groped her. Said pervert was leaning against the doorframe, doing his best to look mortified but smirking nonetheless. Just as the younger Gammelthorpe opened his mouth to start another tirade, Jolene began to speak.
"Well, it's not like you've never done the same thing." She laughed as her little brother bent his head low in the sink, forcing retching noises from his mouth.
"What? You have." She fired back, enjoying the moment for what it was. By then Ted had pushed himself off the frame and moved to Jolene, kissing her once slowly before reaching for his hat and coat. They had been hanging lonely and precarious on an empty kitchen chair, waiting patiently for his hand to perform that familiar motion – the casual slip of the coat, the fingers to run through his hair before settling the fedora on the locks.
"I'll see you tonight." He whispered against her lips, and she hummed in satisfaction before watching him walk to the door.
"Good to meet you Thaddeus."
"Likewise." Came the response still embedded within the sink. The sound of something thrown was on his heels as Theodore Bentwood fled the apartment in hopes that his Mr. Davenport was still asleep. Not likely, as Mr. Davenport only ran the entire south and east sections of the City, and was second only to the Royals themselves. It was very unlikely that he would sneak in unnoticed.
Jolene watched him disappear as she chucked the salt shaker at her brother's back. A direct hit much to his dismay.
"Good Lord woman! What was that for?" he whined, doing his best to assuage the pain throbbing between his shoulder blades. He turned to face her, watching with a suspicious eye as she stood, tightening the belt of her robe around her skinny waist as if it were her resolve.
"You were being an ass. I like him, a lot, so we were intimate. You've fucked for a whole lot less." He opened his mouth to shoot back a response, but his sister was far too used to that.
"Case in point, Lila."
He shut his mouth.
He opened his mouth again. One of her eyebrows rose in authoritative challenge. He closed his mouth again. Three slow, quiet minutes of staring and Thaddeus's posture slumped as he released a ragged sigh.
"He's a Goombah." He finally voiced. Thaddeus Gammelthorpe was no fool; he had seen this sandy-haired man's hat, his coat, his shoes. He knew the man his sister was infatuated with was in some dirty business. But then, weren't they all?
"And you're a drag queen." Was her quick response, and he smiled even as his defenses failed to rise.
"That's only when I'm working."
Jolene smiled, completely throwing her little brother through a loop. Her eyes darted to the floor for the briefest of moments – that was all she needed – before meeting the dark orbs of her little brother and occasional ward. She was no fool either.
"I often see him at the club, but he's not like the others. They come and pay to watch my fall; he goes to watch my rise. It's enough for me."
Honestly, Thaddeus had never seen his sister this – soft – before. He knew she was a good woman with a feminine side, but this was the first time in his life she allowed him to see most of it. And what could he do, but smile back like the good brother he was?
"I get it."
And then she looked up, brown eyes bright with appreciation, but didn't move to embrace him. There was no need. The words were suddenly out of his mouth before he could realize it.
"I think I'm in love."
Finally he was the one to surprise her.
"With who? Oh God not Lila I hope." Yet even as she inquired he was shaking his head. It wasn't Lila, could not and would never be.
"No, no, it's not Lila. I met someone last night. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen." His answer was dreamlike, as if he were caught in the death grip of some marvelous trance. And by the look in his eyes, Jolene could tell it was a pleasant one. She slowly rose to her feet, moving to stand by her brother as she took his hands.
"Then I wish you all the happiness those of our station cannot afford."
With a grin he lifted her calloused hands to his lips to kiss them affectionately.
"And we'll all live happily ever after." he replied blissfully.
Both knew it was unlikely.
~O~
It was eerily silent among the fallen buildings, once testaments to the Empire. But the monuments had long crumbled away, and the magnificent structures now served as beautiful tombs. She flew along haphazardly, beady black eyes darting from one lonely building to another. The sky around and overhead was a crystal blue, matching the lucid waters of her home lake. The lucid waters of the lake she left behind.
This was the place he called home? How horrible that the leaders of his people should allow them to live in such deplorable conditions. Were the people fed? Clothed? Safe?
The naivety of her life, which she had embraced and was sheltered by, burned away with the high rising sun. How anyone could have survived this place was beyond her – the surroundings themselves beyond her dark imagination. It nearly broke her, realizing that her parents were right in keeping her far removed from this world. What if she was discovered? What would the creatures of this bleak universe do?
A shot echoed around her, a fast wind zipping through the feathers of her elegant wings and she knew there was trouble. Shouting erupted from below and as her graceful neck bowed low to see what the commotion was – she was startled to find that it was her. Armed men aimed their weapons at her, pointing and shouting and in a moment of unashamed fear she shot high into the air before spinning wildly and diving back down again. Swooping through their numbers, she dipped and bobbed and weaved among the streets until finally losing them.
Exhausted, she landed clumsily against the brick wall of a dark alley, breathing heavily and attempting to hide as much of her brilliant white feathers as possible.
It was here the Jolene Gammelthorpe found the Swan.
And it was here the Jolene Gammelthorpe had to cover her mouth to subdue the scream desperate to emerge.
The pair remained motionless for an incalculable amount of time, staring each other down, sizing each other up. It was at long last that Jolene slowly reached forward with a tentative hand, wanting nothing more than to stroke the soft feathers of the glorious bird of Myth and Legend. The bird hissed, pecking defensively as she backed up, puffing out to look as big as she could. Her black eyes almost seemed to narrow as Jolene's hand came closer, before it dropped. Her astounded side gone, the elder Gammelthorpe slapped both hands on her hips and all but growled.
"Now listen you – I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to go to work. But if you're nice, and don't try to bite me again, I'll take you with me and keep you safe. In case you weren't aware, Swan's aren't exactly welcome in this City."
While she thought she was just talking to a simple animal, it was in fact Jolene who was unaware. The magical creature she lectured could in fact understand what was being said to her, and though her face would have shone red with indignation, Rhonda was uncomfortably aware of what people thought of Swans here. This place was evil to her, and as if she were Dante in this Inferno her Virgil would be here to lead her. And if she were lucky, she may in fact come across her Beatrice.
Slowly the bird rose, ruffling her feathers to attain an air of dignity. Jolene was surprised again when the creature stared her down, before turning and waddling off only to stop a moment later and look back. Almost as if to ask if she were coming. After all, she had lowered herself to walking rather than flying – the least this woman could do was fallow.
"I'm coming –your Grace." She muttered under her breath, making her way calmly after the bird. But four steps later she stopped again, and this time when the bird turned to look the woman was opening a door.
"Through here."
Dignity gone but attempting to salvage it anyway, Rhonda waddled back to the door she had previously collapsed against, head lifted regally as she moved through the small entranceway. Jolene could only try to smother her laugh as she followed.
Neither were aware of the eyes that had watched them step per step – at first wanting a quick fuck before realizing they had stumbled upon something better.
Much better indeed.
~O~
The white clouds swirled in the clear blue sky, like waves upon the ocean, or the ripples in a shell. It was peaceful on the lake, the Swans floating gracefully on top of the water idly. The female juveniles were off towards the middle, dipping first one wing, than the other into the water in a form of synchronized dancing; a ballet the flock were choreographing for a celebration. After all, it wasn't every day that the future Queen of the Swans married.
Brooke and Buckley bobbed with the movement of the water speaking excitedly over the betrothal of their daughter. They had found a good Cob from a noble lineage, which had traced back to before the time the cursed humanity began. Brooke knew the family, the Chosen one being the seventh son of a seventh son – named after some composer or other, Wolfgang something – and now all that was left was the planning. It was no secret she delighted in the planning of her only Cygnet's wedding.
She and her husband had already decided that the fall solstice would be an excellent time for a Swan Wedding. A full solar eclipse was expected then, which would undoubtedly bring good luck to both their Union and their bed – offspring would be almost guaranteed by the following spring; a thought that thoroughly excited Brooke. Buckley, though holding descendants in high regard, wasn't nearly as concerned as his wife. It was Rhonda's happiness that was most important.
And Wolfgang would without a doubt be the Swan to make her happiest.
Lord and Lady, whenever you are ready, we await you. A young Swan, her voice soft with youth, drifted towards her King and Queen, head bent low in submission. The monarchs met black eyes, before joining their subjects in the center of the lake. Wings dipping gently into the water, back and forth back and forth the pair waltz to the sound of the forest. The flock around them first provided the music, humming a tune that would sound faerish to mortal ears, before joining their Lord and Lady.
In circles they moved slowly, then gracefully took to the skies, droplets of water following them.
~O~
It was already well past twelve when Ted found himself standing in the old train station. Long ago it had been the central hub and heart of the City, the main artery of travel in and out for the citizens. But times had changed and the place was primarily deserted, save for the industrial trains used to cart supplies, paraphernalia and illegal good from one set of dirty hands to another.
Sweat began to collect on his neck and forehead as he waited for one such train pass. The chains rattled violently, kicking up rocks and debris and turning them into ferocious projectiles. With a practiced motion he moved his head three fourths on an inch to the left, avoiding a black eye or a decapitation. In doing so, his eyes caught the glimmer of the pond. Created by industrial run off and heavy rainfall, he could recall many people disappearing in the winter only to be found floating and bloated in that polluted water come spring.
Thuck-thunk. Thuck-thunk. Thuck-thunk.
As the train disappeared around the bend, Ted crossed the iron rails with little caution. His destination was what had been coined once upon a time the Conductor's Lounge: a medium sized building used for hung over and tired conductors to rest up in, just past the ticket booth. Said booth stood lonely as ever, the glass a brown hue from the dirt and the sun's rays. It was any wonder the protective shield hadn't yet broken, through that small hole at the bottom by the counter hid from the world of whole slew of cash. Just waiting for someone to come along and break it out from its prison.
Opening the door to the lounge, Ted was surprised to find that rather than his boss the Elder Davenport, it was the son Gino sitting behind the desk. A few of his other cohorts stood about, some looking angry, others nervous, but none looked too pleased. Making his way up to the younger man, Ted nodded his head in respect, choosing his words carefully before deciding to speak.
"Gino, where's the Boss?" something flashed in the darker eyes of the one sitting, and Ted was certain he hit a nerve. Calmly Gino set down the papers he was shuffling in order the fold his hands on the desk, meeting the subordinate's gaze dead on.
"Pops retired." It was simple. It was concise. It was unsettling.
"He retired? Why didn't he let any of us know?" someone to the left asked, and Ted had to close his eyes in regret as Gino leaned back in his newly inherited high back chair.
"He just made the decision this morning. You're more than welcome to go to the house and ask him all the questions yourself."
Some of the men took his advice and left.
Ted didn't.
What the men found when they reached the manor was a quiet place. And when they entered the kitchen, they found Mr. Davenport fresh from his trip to the acupuncturist – this profession worked with knives and left his instruments in. And when they exited the front door in shock, they were met by a firing squad handpicked and loyal to Gino.
None of them came back.
Back in the Conductor's Lounge, Gino was laying down the new law of the land to his subordinates when the door was thrown in by a large man in dark blue pinstripe. He was huffing and heavy, trying to catch his breath as the Goombahs watched him in mild curiosity. By his girth alone they knew who he was, but only Gino moved to receive him.
"What can I do for you, your Highness?" he asked with a smooth tone as he motion for Ted to pour a drink for the flustered Royal. The amber liquid sloshed inside the crystal as he dropped in a single cube of ice before handing it over to his boss, who in true Silk Button fashion presented it with a smile.
"Gino? Where's your dad?" he asked when he recognized the younger hands of the junior Davenport. The younger man shrugged with a well-placed smirk.
"My old man suddenly got it in him to retire, so now I'm working our sectors. Now, what can I do for you Harold?"
The fat man plopped down onto one of the couches, drinking nearly the entire glass of alcohol in one shot before beginning his tale.
"I was on my way to Caesar's, hoping to get in a quick fuck before meeting up with some SSCA squad leaders. Just as I approached the side entrance, I see this dark haired dame, and she's talking to a Swan. I mean a Swan. If those damn legends are true, then I want that Swan. And I want you to get it for me." Harold demanded, holding out his glass in signal for a refill. Ted poured him another as Gino sat at the desk, thinking it all over with precise consideration.
"Are you sure it was a Swan? There was no way it could have been a duck or something, right?" The glare that the Royal shot him was in no way pleasant, and would take no answer but yes sir.
"It was Swan. And if you and your men can't get it for me, then maybe I'll have to find someone else who can – maybe to run the east and south sections while I'm at it."
Holding up his hands in defense, Gino tried to pacify his own boss with a good-natured laugh.
"Calm down Mr. Berman, if it's this bird you want, I'll get it for you. I'm just trying to get my facts straight. I mean, no one has seen a Swan in what? Fifty years?" he laughed again, and this time Harold joined him. The Royal accepted one last drink before thanking Gino for his assistance in the matter, and leaving to go meet up with the Squad Captains. Something about information on an illegal union between a criminal in Sector Five and a stage worker.
As soon as he was gone, Gino turned his sights on Ted as all the other Goombahs faded from his view.
"Do you still have that woman who works at Caesar's?" his smile was sinister, and for a brief moment Ted understood what the Elder Davenport must have felt just before death.
"Are you asking me to use her in order to get that damn Royal his bird?"
The room became uncomfortably hot as Ted met Gino's stare. The younger man laughed an empty, cold sound.
"Let me rephrase that. Mr. Bentwood, do you still want those exit visas?"
~O~
It wasn't very difficult to smuggle the bird into her assigned office. In fact, she didn't have to smuggle at all – the pair walked through the halls without attempting to hide anything. A few of the Hands looked at them oddly but other than that said not a word; they had seen performers do far stranger things than walk the halls with a Swan.
They had made it into the secluded room within minutes of entering the theatre, and Jolene quickly locked the door. Spinning on her heel, she leaned back and ran a shaky hand through her dark hair.
"Good job Jolene – you successfully smuggled an illegal bird into your office. What now?" mumbling to herself, Jolene tilted her head sideways, and the office fell quiet as the graceful white fowl mimicked her movements. The Gammelthorpe momentarily stopped her breathing as the two once again stared each other down.
As the seconds ticked by, Jolene realized that this wild animal was in fact copying her mannerisms. She let out a shriek and spun on her heel, unlocking the door and all but ripping it off the hinges in her escape. In that same moment the bird jolted backwards.
Feathers and squawks filled the otherwise empty room as the creature knocked knickknacks and supplies from their resting places. She squawked angrily, pecking at anything she could before suddenly stopping atop the desk. Surrounded by discarded feathers and makeup brushes, she looked at the framed photo in surprise. Why hadn't she seen it before? The resemblances were uncanny – like parents like children, like brother like sister.
The man whom she had become smitten with and was in fact trying to find, had a sister. A sister who had taken it upon herself to smuggle a Swan into a theatre. A Swan who was an illegal bird and in love with the brother.
Small world.
Cautiously, Jolene opened the door and poked her head in, amazed to see the bird standing on her desk and staring down a picture. Slowly she approached, and when the bird turned its head to meet her gaze, Jolene found in those little black eyes something almost human. A longing she had seen in the eyes of every City dweller was present in the orbs of a wild Swan. She couldn't help herself.
"I'd like to put you in a few acts, if you promise not to bite any of us. As children we are all told about Swans, but never have we actually seen any. You could be just what the people of this City need."
Much to her quickly mounting surprise, Jolene watched as the bird bowed her long, graceful neck and fell off the desk, moving towards the door. In spite of herself Jolene laughed, following the bird towards the stage before running quite unexpectedly into her brother.
"Thaddeus! Just the man I was looking for. I want you to do a mostly impromptu act with the bird. Now, you two come up with some ideas while I go outside and rile us up a crowd. Just please, make sure it's family friendly." With that she was dashing down the hall towards the door, leaving her brother confused in her wake.
"But it's a bird!" he shouted after her, and was amazed to hear a reply.
"She's smarter than she looks!"
Fifteen minutes later Thaddeus was standing on the stage in front of a crowd of mostly children, a Swan at his side and bright Fresnel lights in his eyes. It was quiet as the children sat in chairs and on laps, wide-eyed at the sight of the magical bird of their fairytales standing before them.
Suddenly she spread her great wings, and the audience awed at the movement. Tears fell from the eyes of the mothers and fathers who were blessed enough to witness it as their kids laughed and reached for the bird. Feeling empowered by the reaction, Rhonda squawked and pecked Thaddeus on the back of the thigh. He jumped, startled, and the crowd roared with laughter.
An ominous glint sparkled in her eyes as she reared back, and went to peck him again. Forewarned, Thaddeus avoided with a side step, but Rhonda pursued him, chasing with a playful invigoration. Sid, safely hidden in Wing Left, stepped out to hand him a soft bristle broom, and Thaddeus snatched it gratefully on the second pass.
The tables turned, Rhonda took to the air in order to avoid being hit. As she glided over the audience, the lights followed her, giving an ethereal glow to the gracefully white bird. The laughter stilled in the throats of the people below as they took in a sight that would without a doubt stay with them for the rest of their lives.
From the back of the House, Jolene watched the sight with tears in her eyes. All her life she dreamed of Swans. All her life.
A hand took hers, and with startled eyes she met Ted's smiling face with tears of his own. She squeezed his hand, moving her gaze back to the sight of the magnificent Swan striking awe in the hearts of those present.
When she had finally landed, Rhonda was bombarded by children wanting to touch and pet the graceful Swan. Aside from Jolene it was the first act of kindness and excitement she received from the people of the City, and she willingly basked in the feeling it gave her as little hands stroked her smooth, clean feathers. She cooed gently, pleased with the treatment she was receiving. Noticing the time and how close it was to the evening performances, Jolene cleared her throat and moved towards the group of children still marveling over the bird.
"Sorry kids, but it's almost time for the other shows to begin. Can you promise that you'll keep this Swan a secret between us? That you won't tell another soul?" the children cheered their excitement, immediately taken by the thought of a secret that bonded them; the adults understood the reason for secrecy. They agreed, shaking hands with Jolene with conviction as they wiped the tears from their eyes.
One by one the parents led their children away from the Swan and out the door. Releasing a shaky breath, Jolene turned to her brother, sending him a soft smile as the bird between them squawked. Her cawing suddenly changed from pleased to almost painful as she took off, circling the stage three or four times before darting down the hallway. Through one of the smaller windows, the sky outside was turning a bloody red orange as dusk began to fall.
Collapsing within the tormentors of an empty stage, Rhonda tried her best to keep herself hidden as she changed once again from Swan into Woman. The white feathers melted away as her bones crunched and bent, the pain numbed now by her age. As her skeleton finished morphing and her soft flesh replaced smooth feathers, Rhonda stood on shaky feet, listening to the sounds of the workers trying to find the Swan. The silver of her pendant glimmered with light against the hallow of her throat as she ventured out, hoping to find a costume or clothing before the search party found her stark naked.
Stumbling into the wing, she was stopped by a figure that suddenly emerged from one of the stairwells. Her heart was suddenly up in her throat when she recognized those dark eyes – and it seemed that they knew her too when they began to burn as they moved up and down her exposed body. A shiver of excitement went down her spine as she was suddenly swept up in his arms, her back propped against the wall.
"I'm Thaddeus." Were the first words he spoke to her, heavy with lust as his lips ached to connect with hers.
"I'm Rhonda."
And that was that.
He crushed his chapped lips against hers, swallowing her moan as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands held her up as her own quickly slipped between then in a desperate attempt to find the opening in his pants. With success she sighed into his mouth as his hot organ slid none too gently into her. She tore her mouth away from his to let out an excited squeal, her hips attempting to meet his in a frantic, chaotic pace of thrusts and withdrawals.
With her mouth gone, Thaddeus's lips moved down the smooth column of her creamy neck with nips and kisses. He moved almost violently in her, pounding away into her warm, tight body. Never before had he felt such connection with anyone, man or woman, and he intended to show that to this woman. Rhonda, meanwhile, was quickly losing her mind amid her descent into oblivion. When he punctuated one of her more vocal moans with a harsh thrust, her head whipped up against the wall, and her hazing eyes focused on what someone had written on the ceiling in a sloppy, rushed hand.
Before me nothing but eternal things
Were made, and I shall last eternally.
Abandon every hope, all ye who enter here.
Suddenly her eyes lost sight, and it was in that moment the lovers shared that they saw the world for what it was. Saw everyone they ever were, and everyone they could ever been. All that ever was, had ever been, will ever be; past, present and future met in a blind flash as everything was made clear. The purpose they served, and where they would succeed and fail. And with it they understood it all.
It faded with the heavy breathing of the post-orgasm shivers, the momentum of the thing they had done and shared slipping away like sand between fingers. As the strength left his legs, Thaddeus tried to gently lower her but only managed to bring them both to the ground with a thud and laughter. A smile on his face, he looked into her eyes dark as his own and embraced the feeling it gave him.
"I'm in love with you."
She could only smile in happiness, kissing him roughly and pulling his head to rest against her breast. Love was a very powerful emotion that doomed many souls.
But they didn't care.
HA