The Boat That Rocked (Rocketshipping Fanfic)
Part Thirteen
After booking into an inn, the duo had started to search for a place of their own, walking the streets, an estate agent's brochure in hand.
James pulled his hat further down, hiding his face in the shadows, his attention divided between Jaime and the people around them.
This feels too normal. It wasn't so long ago I was living in the darkness of the city where gunfights were normal, where death was a daily occurrence. It feels too bright, too cheerful.
It feels like any happiness will be shattered as soon as I see it in my reach.
"What about this place?" Jaime stopped, turning to him. She was pointing at a page in the brochure and he moved closer to look.
"Another apartment block?" he murmured under his breath. Then again, they couldn't afford a house with the funds they had been able to bring with them.
"One of the second floor apartments is for sale. And it's quite cheap." She looked up at him. "I say we go for this one."
He frowned. "But don't we need to have a look at it first?"
She shook her head. "No, no, let's just get it! Live on the wild side."
James leant back and rocked on the heels of his feet. "The wild side?" he couldn't help but smile. "It feels a bit mundane to our kind of wild, don't you think?"
She grabbed his hand and started leading him back to the estate agent's office. Her step was hurried and he struggled to keep pace. "Wait, Jaime, wait." But she didn't stop. "Jaime, hey – I'm injured here, you know?"
Suddenly she halted, releasing his hand. She looked down the ground, her hair falling over her face. "I'm sorry, it's just…I feel like we're on borrowed time."
James didn't say anything. He stood beside her, his fingers taking hold of her chin. She looked up at him and he saw the sense of loss in her eyes that he felt. She needs something real. She's scared. I doubt she's ever left that city – that way of her life was the meaning of her entire existence and now it's gone.
James bent down, gently kissing her, her lips parting at his touch. He pulled back. "It's okay," he said quietly. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. We'll get the apartment and we'll create our new life – yeah?"
She nodded, her smile returning.
He straightened. "Right then," he pointed at the horizon. "Let's go!"
-#-
They signed the necessary papers, got the new keys, paid the deposit and had settled things with the inn. The next day, they moved in.
Jaime was rushing up the stairs, carrying plastic bags full of food and other items they had brought from the store, leaving James standing in front of the building.
Oh no.
He didn't release how tightly he was holding onto the box in his hands until he felt the sides give slightly.
He relaxed his grip and let out a long breath. He looked back up at the building. It was the same building Jessie had brought him back to over six months ago. Jessie and Meowth lived on the third floor of this very building, and James and Jaime would be living just underneath them.
"James!" Jaime called from the second floor, waving at him, bags swinging in her hands. "Hurry up!"
Panic surged through him and he bounded up the stairs, rushing up to her, ignoring the protests of his wounded side. He opened his mouth to order for her silence but then he stopped. She doesn't know anything. She doesn't know Jessie or Meowth. She doesn't know that the last proof of his past is living upstairs.
I can't tell her. How could I even begin to explain? It would only hurt her.
Jaime was looking up at him, her expression expectant and confused. He smiled at her and shook his head. "Let's go in, shall we?"
Jaime unlocked the door and they stepped inside. The apartment was already furnished and James went to place the box on the sofa. He turned to Jaime who had walked into the kitchen, dropping the bags in the doorway, a smile on her face as she glanced around.
He leant on the doorframe, arms crossed. "Happy?"
"Happy." She answered.
He closed his eyes and rested his head against the doorframe.
"Does it hurt?" he felt her hand at his side and he flinched, his eyes opening again.
"Ah, I'm sorry," she removed her hand. "We need to get you to hospital, let them check it over again. That doctor was good but…"
"No, it's alright. The painkillers from the store will do the job." I can't go to the hospital – they'll definitely recognize me there.
"You have no right to argue," Jaime lifted the hat from his head and placed it on her own. "We're going first thing tomorrow."
"But-"
She brought a finger to his lips. "No arguments." And then she moved past him, retrieving the plastic bags and placing them on the kitchen counter.
This is starting to feel messy.
-#-
Jaime was literally pushing him out the door the next morning, her struggle making him laugh. He finally gave up and walked out of the apartment, turning his hat in his hands.
She locked the door and they started moving towards the stairs when the neighbouring door opened.
"Ah, this is a good chance to introduce ourselves." Jaime picked up pace.
Wait, no, who lives next door? James went cold. That girl and her aunt.
He shoved the hat onto his head and kept close behind Jaime. "We don't have to do it now, do we?"
"What do you mean? No reason not to. The hospital isn't going anywhere."
Damn it, damn it.
A Vulpix stepped out of the door, its brown eyes peering up at them. A girl moved beside it, keys in hand. Closing her apartment door, she called out, "See you later, Auntie!"
A woman's voice called back, "Be safe, Lisa!"
The key turning in the lock, the girl finally sensed their presence and turned to them, looking startled.
Jaime immediately put out her hand. Oi, oi, where's this friendliness coming from? You don't trust complete strangers and you definitely don't willinlyg have contact with them. But Jaime grinned at the girl and still offered her hand. "Hey there, we're your new neighbou-"
The girl suddenly dived forwards, taking hold of Jaime's hand with both of hers, making her jump, her grin faltering into surprise. "My aunt said that we were getting new neighbours! It's nice to meet you! I was going to come over later on today to introduce myself as well. My name's Lisa."
Jaime blinked, obviously thrown by the girl's enthusiasm. "Ah, um, well…" she glanced at James. Don't look at me, don't draw attention to me. "My name's Jaime, this is James."
A flicker of recognition lit up in Lisa's eyes and she looked up at James. He touched the rim of his hat and tipped it forwards. "Nice to meet you."
Lisa was staring at him, a frown forming on her brow.
Jaime pulled her hand away, apparently now remembering she was uncomfortable with contact with those she didn't trust or know.
The movement made the girl look downwards, her frown clearing into an apologetic smile. "Sorry – I just don't know how to hold back," she reached down to pick the Vulpix up, holding it close against her chest. "What you guys up to today?"
Don't tell her, please, don't.
"We're going to the hospital," Jaime said, her words sending an electric shock down his spine. "James is injured and I thought it would be best for someone else to look at him."
"Injured?" Lisa was looking at him again.
How the hell are you going to explain that?
"A bullet wound."
The three were silent, Lisa blinking slowly, her expression blank. Then her face broke into a grin, laughter rising from her throat. "What, sounds dangerous."
She thinks it's a joke.
Jaime was laughing along with her. "Well, we'd better be going."
"Sure thing," Lisa moved aside to let them pass. "It was nice meeting you."
"You too." Jaime replied. James nodded at the girl, not wishing to speak again in case she recognised his voice.
As they descended the stairs, James grabbed Jaime's arm, bringing her close so he could whisper in her ear. "What was that?"
She brushed his hand away. "Don't worry about it. Normal people never take things like that seriously. Another excuse will form in her head and the truth will be seen as a joke."
Normal people? So you don't consider yourself a normal person?
James sighed. "If you say so."
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, James glanced up. Lisa was standing at the top of the stairs, the Vulpix in her arms, staring straight at him.
His eyes widened and he turned away quickly, walking faster.
"James? What's wrong?" Jaime was beside him. "Your face is pale – do you feel ill?"
But James couldn't answer. His body had gone cold and his heart was thudding hard and fast in his chest.
She knows. She recognized me. She knows who I am.
He ground his teeth.
She knows.