I huffed as I limped down the hall wincing every time I landed on my sore foot. It took me almost an hour to slip out of that stupid air cast he put over my foot not to mention the fifty pound of bandages he administered while I was sleeping. And, on top of all of that, he tucked me in so tight I could hardly even breath! My stomach snarled viciously. Does he really think I'm going to live off of porridge for the next month or ten? Not after I saw him butcher that breakfast I'm not!
I swear...Gray is such an idiot! My foot is sprained not freaking broken. And he thinks I'm going to stay in bed for heck knows how long he wants me to? I'd rather eat that breakfast of his than do that! I'm already bored out of my freaking mind from just a few hours. My pace slowed a tad. Then why didn't I fight back while he was here taking care of me? A faint blush touched my cheeks. Darn those hypnotizing eyes of his...they were so gorgeous I didn't really think about what he was doing to me. I shuttered. I need to desensitized to pretty eyes soon or else I'm going to be a sucker for pretty much everyone in wonderland.
"Ah, Miss Jackie, please refrain from walking around -!" One faceless fluttered as she stuck close to my side. I sighed and continued on ignoring her worried cries. I'm too worked up to sit by idly when there's work to get down. Besides, all my foot needs is a wrap and it'll heal on its own time. I knocked on Nightmare's office door not bothering to ask to come in as I swung it open.
"What's next?" I asked gazing at the incubus's pout as he slouched over his desk.
"You need to rest -!" He immediately demanded
"Bite me. What's next?" I asked a little more gruffly. His eyes narrowed as he childishly pounded his hands on the table.
"If Gray were here you wouldn't argue with his 'hypnotizing eyes' now would you?!" He childishly shot back. My eyes flashed.
"Excuse me?" I trailed off with a dangerous note. His face paled as he tactually changed the subject.
"No! I won't say!" He cried. My cheek twitched up into a smile as I leaned against the door.
"Really? How about I do get the porridge gray made that's still in my room? That stuff will knock a rhino right out." I guffawed. I went back and actually smelled the thing before nearly passing out from it's terrible smell; chemicals and throw up. Yum. I gagged just thinking about it.
"NOOOOO! I'll be a good boy -!" Nightmare cried working faster on his paperwork. I chuckled at his response to my threat.
"Well? Anything else you need?" My eyes flashed, daring him to lie; I'll get a funnel and choke that crap down his throat. He hesitated, clearly reluctant to answer.
"Um, actually... t-the engine for the third elevator is m-making some odd sounds and -," the worker trailed off hesitantly freezing as I glanced back at her.
"Can you show me where it is?" I asked. She timidly nodded her head guiding me back into the halls. I followed behind her with my tool bag hanging on my hips eager to fix something. Sitting around doing nothing is one step closer to me eagle diving off the top floor just to see what happens.
"D-Down this way, Miss Jackie." She shakily said skipping down a few flights of stairs. Huh? I looked around the large cavity of space spying dozens of stairs leading down to into the darkness. Wow it's really dark.
What are all these stairs for?" I shakily breathed out spying a puff of cold air follow my voice. Ah, it's cold too.
"Well, you see, we have multiple stairs leading down into the basement for, um, support you see to the floors above." She tried to explain. I raised an eyebrow. It sounds like she made that up.
"Wouldn't this all weaken it?"
"Ah! Um, no, ah...," she fluttered her hands trying to come up with a proper explanation. I chuckled at her humble demeanor. She's cute. Not in a weird way at all.
"That's alright. I'll trust the designer on this." I answered patting her shoulder. Her flustered frown curled up into an adorable smile.
"T-thank you." She responded sounding relieved that she didn't have to explain any further. When we finally reached the bottom I could hardly see my face. The only light sources available were the blinking lights of the machines furiously whirling and clicking as they worked hard to ensure that the building ran firm. I glanced around the machines; not back. That is a...heating system there. An air conditioner. A water pump. A water heater. My eyes ran along the tunnels which ran down in about six different directions.
"This place is pretty big." I noted looking around with a wondrous eye. I almost can't believe that all of this moved with the building here.
"O-Over there is the electric motor for the gates a-and there is the main electricity power source and t-t-there is -," her voice was cut off by one of the pipes tucked into the upper right edge of the wall releasing hot gas to rid itself of a little pressure. She squealed loudly and dropped to the ground covering her ears.
"H-Hey are you alright?" Did she step on something? I leered over the cement floor unable to see anything with my adjusting eyes. Huh...weird. When she didn't respond I crouched down next to her lightly putting my hand on her shoulder.
"Hey are you-," she spun around with a terrified expression as she screamed again drawing her gun. My eyes widened with fright as I caught the weapon holding it off to the side. Why did she pull her gun -?!
"Hey, stop! It's me, Jackie!" I shouted holding off the barrel. Her resistance froze as she looked up with tears streaming down her face. I peered hard at the woman unable to see where the tears were originating from.
"I-I-I'm so sorry, Miss Jackie. This place terrifies me so and - and -!" She broke off unable to continue in her wailing tears. I jumped as she rushed past me. "The motor for the elevator is just ahead Miss Jackie. Please forgive me -!"
"Hey, wait-!" I cried losing her in the darkness. Man...she literally looked like she was going to crap herself. Why is she so scared? It's just machines down here. Maybe something happened before? I tried to shrug off her reaction continuing down the path undeterred. It's all good; I just need to remember where I came from that's all. I ignored my throbbing foot and trotted down the trail laid out before me.
I glanced up coming to a larger room filled with five motors. Three to the far right and two to the far left. I glanced over to the side spying a staircase. Huh? I guess she just took a different one just for the heck of it. My ear was immediately drawn to the motor nestled against the corner packed with the three. After every couple of seconds the machine jerked unnaturally unleashing a high pitched crank.
I closely listen to the odd sound. Huh...sounds like something's stuck in the gears. I sighed. Can't anything give me a challenge any more? I sauntered over to the large machine hopping up on it. I sucked in a quick breath as the movement sent a searing pain ramming through my leg. I dropped to the machine top immediately grimacing from the pain. Ah...maybe after this I really will go rest. My foot is really starting to hurt now. I grimaced. Ugh, Nightmare probably heard that...great.
Ah. I froze as a new thought occurred to me. When Gray get's back from doing whatever he's doing...is he going to force me to rest? Already his gentle yet firm reprimanding eyes flashed through my head. Ugh...I'm pathetic. He's going to think I'm pathetically weak if I give in an rest. He'll probably compare me to Alice and how she's so weak. I'm not weak! This just happens to be a really bad two days! I don't know why I was so clumsy for some reason. Maybe the world just woke up today and decided to screw with me just for fun.
I knelt down and gazed into the twisting coils of wire. The motor continued to turn the wheel but each time it tried to recoil around the bar the thick wire slipped, producing the loud clunking noise. Hm...Well, first of all I need to turn this machine off. I went over to the large board and pried open it's circuits, plucking out a few of the power cords. The machine whirred to a clunking stop. I smiled. Good. Now for the wire itself. I eagerly popped up on top of the machine snatching hold of the wire.
"Jackie!" The voice I wanted to hear last cried rather bitingly. I gasped and ducked own behind the generator. Oh dear...he's found me. "Jackie, I know you're there!"
"Ah, hey Gray. When did you get back?"
"You need to stay off your foot!" He cried with flashing topaz eyes. I hinged back and evaded his beautiful orbs of life. I'm going to get sucked right in if I see those things.
"I'm fine." I lied hopping back onto the machine making sure that I landed on my left rather than my right. Despite being careful a small whimper so faint I hardly caught it slipped out of my throat. I didn't dare look to see his reaction as I grabbed hold of the long cord running straight up through the ceiling.
"Lair! How swollen is your foot now?" He asked literally appearing right next to me. I jumped back, startled as his arm caught my waist. He dipped down and yanked up my pant leg as his eyes popped wide open. "Jackie, you are very hurt -!"
"I'm just fine!" I defended trying to pull my foot from his iron grasp.
"It's black and blue!" He shouted horrified at his find. I cringed already seeing in his eyes what he thought.
I'm weak.
I'm clumsy.
I'm nothing but a little girl.
Just like Alice.
"That happens with any bruise." I retorted leaning against the wire. I glared at the inside of the machine. It's just a manner of maneuvering this out of the way. I sucked in a quick breath as Gray flipped me off my feet and into his arms. "G-Gray?!"
"Nightmare was right; you don't know your own limitations!" Gray growled. An angry flare lit up in my chest as I struggled to comprehend with my amount of surging fury as he carried me towards the stairs.
"I do too!" I shouted, insulted by his words. He has no idea the life I've lived. He has no idea what I've been through. He doesn't even really know who I am so what makes him think he does know all of a sudden?!
"Liar!" He barked hurrying up the stairs. Without warning his eyes flashed, muttering a strong curse as he leapt back onto the ground. Huh? I looked up to the stairs watching as they slowly faded into darkness. I blinked, as if the action would fix my eyes.
"S-Stairs...where did the stairs go?" I asked aloud as Gray clutched me tightly.
"F***...it must be night."
"Night?" I asked, almost too shocked to utter a word after his curse. Gray can curse? Not very motherly I think.
"Yes. When nighttime comes the stairs leading to the upper floors disappear."
"Why?"
"Well, one to keep Nightmare from escaping his work and two to deter criminals from coming in and burning documents."
"Really?" I asked. Who would want to burn paper? I jumped as he sat down leaning against a moderately straight wall that didn't have protruding metal and sat me down in his lap, pushing my head to his shoulder.
"Yes. Now, please rest. I'll fix you up in the morning so don't worry." He cooed patting my head comfortably. I blinked unbelievingly as I registered the embarrassment he was putting me through. I pushed against his chest and scowled at him.
"I'm not a baby so stop treating me like one." I snapped daring him to make a remark. He stiffened, startled by my interpretation of his kindness.
"Baby? Jackie, I have never once thought of you as a babe! It's just that you and Alice are foreigners and I've heard from Nightmare that you're considerably weaker than us." He implored as if that explanation would get him off the hook.
"Weak?" I growled picking out the key word. I was right; he thinks I'm weak and therefore am a baby and therefore I am pathetic. Great. Just peachy.
"Don't be insulted -," He began. Well, you know anyone who starts out like that is going to be insulting.
"Well I am very insulted, Gray. I. Am. Not. Weak." I hissed out the last words ensuring that he heard them very loud and clear. His brow scrunched together almost as though misunderstanding my words.
"You are not? But you twisted your foot so easily!" He cried, shocked at my claim. Oh this is just downright insulting...
"I'm having a crap day." I bluntly retorted getting up from his lap and began limping towards the machine. Geh...my foot is really starting to throb now. Is the medicine wearing off? My head snapped back around as Gray caught my hand.
"What are you doing?"
"Fixing the elevator."
"What?!" He cried, exasperated.
"Well, I'm stuck down here anyway so I might as well fix what's broken." I reasoned. That logic makes sense doesn't it? If I leave it and rest and morning comes I'm just going to have to come back down later and work on it since everyone is still out on holiday. I wonder what holiday it is for practically everyone to be gone? I flew back as he yanked on my arm falling back into his folded legs as he constricted me with his arms.
"If that's true...then rest and concentrate on fixing your foot." He argued forcibly holding me down with his anaconda grasp. I struggled in his grasp clenching my teeth as my foot knocked against the ground. Ow...!
"Stop being such a little kid!" I growled wriggling my shoulders. He held fast refusing to budge even an inch with his monstrous strength. Ugh...he's just like the other Role Holders; really strong and freaking immature.
"Kid? You're the one being childish!" He countered with a faint blush.
"Me? Who's forcibly holding me down against my will?" I shot right back without hesitation as he pulled me in closer. I glared up at him past his neck inches from his gorgeous cross face.
"Who's the one foolishly trying to injure herself further by continually walking on her foot?!" He shot back with beautifully blazing yellow diamond eyes. The insult was caught in my throat as his eyes lit up like the blazing sun. Ugh...I can't say anything. I clenched my teeth and stubbornly looked away. My struggling died down a bit as I began to realize he wasn't planning on relenting. Unless...
"Let's make a deal," I offered looking back to his flushed face. Why is he getting red?
"A deal?" He asked suspiciously still clearly upset from the argument before.
"Yeah. I'll do what you say if you let me fix the motor; it's a simple fix. I only need to-,"
"Denied." Gray immediately turned down pulling me closer still to deter any sudden bouts of struggling.
"Oh come on! I don't want to come back down later and -,"
"We'll get someone else to do it."
"But it's an easy fix ,"
"No."
"Gray?"
"What?"
"Please?" I looked up to him with pleading eyes unable to resort to anything else. I...I want to get this done. My blood is itching to fix that poor machine. Ever since I laid eyes on it the motor was my project to finish. I can't just leave it to someone else to fix.
"W-What?" He stumbled as his blush deepened a tad. Huh? Is he blushing? I leaned forward a little bit demanding for all of his attention.
"Please? I'll be quick and if I don't fix it I'm going to go nuts in the process just thinking about it." His eyes remained glued to my pouting as he gulped, rethinking it.
"I...," he trailed off doubtfully.
"Please?"
"Fine. But I'll fix it. Just tell me what to do." He relented standing back up. I grinned at my success. Yay~ my little project is going to get done now.
"Stand there." I directed as he hopped onto the machine and latched into the cord. "Now all you need to do is maneuver the wire back into place; every time the machine tries to go down the wire slips repeating the process."
"Ah, like this?" He asked yanking the cord aside. I peeked into the hole being sure not to get in the way of his sight.
"Yes. I little more to the left. Ah, or you're right I mean." I directed watching as the white popped back into place. I grinned at the success. Perfect. I waddled over to the circuits plugging in the correct wires. The motor whirred and clicked without a hitch perfectly moving in synch as the elevator came to life. I smiled gently at the machine. There you are sweetheart. Good as new-
"Eh?" I asked as Gray pinched my cheeks playfully stretching them. I gripped his wrists and pushed him off rubbing my face. "W-W-What was that for?!" I demanded glaring at him. He sheepishly smiled and pulled me into a hug. Huh?
"Thank you." He murmured quietly as he carried me back over to the wall.
"Thank you? For what?" I asked, puzzled as he sat down again.
"Hm? What was that?" He asked with the same satisfied smile plastered to his face. why is he so happy? Because he helped me or something. A faint blush touched my cheeks. Weird guy... I remained stiffer than a board as he laid me against his torso like before.
"Ah, n-nothing." I answered suddenly embarrassed. Ugh, if it wasn't so cold I would be on the other side of the room by now. My foot still continued to throb painfully as I laid against him.
tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick-
I faintly heard the ticking of his clock as I laid against his chest. Huh...I never really got to listen to one like this before. The constant ticking of his inner mechanism slowly lulled me out of my consciousness. Ah...the sound of the machine is...nice...
GRAY'S POV
So stubborn. Why did she fight me so hard to rest? It was obvious that she was in quite a bit of pain from her foot. She contended with me quite roughly just to fix that hunk of metal too...blood riddled my cheeks as I buried my face in her hair. So cute...that begging, pleading expression was adorable. I never thought anyone but Alice was able to make a face so cute. Not only that but her 'thank you' as well...I smiled and kissed the top of her head. After the ordeal at the baker shop this little respite has made me very, very happy. More than worth it, really.
My blush only grew as her breath tickled my neck sending riveting shivers down my spine. I shakily exhaled as it felt like I was being bathed in her sweet breath as it directed right at my tattoo. So warm... And even when she was struggling before her hair kept sweeping by it making it feel like she was all over me.
I felt the blood rush to my face again as I clutched her tighter lying my head into the crook of her neck. Embarrassing... I, an ex-assassin, am reverted to a pile of jelly just by such a simple thing? Ridiculous... I jumped slightly as she shifted pressing her forehead right over my tattoo. Her head immediately enveloped my entire body sucking me right into her warmth. I sighed and pulled her closer, sharing my new found warmth with her. My hand traveled over her chest, pressing against her flesh to feel her beating heart.
buthump buthump buthump-
I sighed reveling in the sweet gentle pulses beneath my hand. So soft...I've never gotten so close to a foreigner as to feel their heart such as this. Does Alice have such a thing? No...Alice cannot compare. Jackie's sweet smile was all the more delicious even after that little spat. I sighed and nuzzled deeper into her hair. So soft...
‡
Alright you know what to do if you want more~ will Nightmare come and creep on them later?