"Gray," I murmur cracking my eyes open. He pushes forward in the kiss savoring the last morsel he'll be getting for now. I laugh and return the favor before tapping my forehead to his and retreat. We need to get out of here. Besides I'm starving since I flushed breakfast down the toilet and probably missed lunch. He pulls back, teasingly keeping his lips just barely brushing over mine.
"Hm?" He hums touching the tip of his nose to mine.
"We need to leave soon. I'm sure Nightmare is taking advantage of the fact that you're not there." I giggle, shivering as his hands lightly rub my sides through the shirt.
"I'll bet you're right," he slightly growls just thinking about his boss slacking off. "Later ... ," he pleadingly whispers with a chuckle, pressing his lips to my lower jaw, "I'm enjoying myself."
"I'm not saying no. I'm just saying not right now." I purr pecking him on the cheek. Honestly, what in the world has gotten into me? I only met Gray like what, thirty time changes ago and now here I am in a dark room with him, sitting on his lap? Well I must admit it's nice but it's so alien to me. I've watched movies and read books concerning romance only a few times and I just go and jump into it. My own carelessness is frightening me but ... when I'm with Gray it just feels so right.
"Fine." He hums as his hands rest over my hips. I slightly jump as he pulls me closer, kissing my jaw again. "So we can continue later?"
"Yeah. Just let me pick the locks." I get up and feel my way over to the door, using the little light provided by the moon and street lamps pouring in through the window.
"You can pick locks?" Gray asks, startled. I glance over my shoulder and grin.
"It's one of my favorite hobbies." I explain as I pull out the velvet case and slip out the tools. I kneel down immediately beginning to work on the handle lock. My eyes narrow as I push down the main lock trying to work on the side locks. This is pretty complicated considering it's only used for the storage closet. I jump as Gray's hands ghost over my sides, slipping into the slope of my waist. I glance back at him but don't bother giving him a warning before turning my attention back to the lock. A shiver shoots down my spine as he slowly kneads the area, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"I still need to repay you for that backrub." He hums before his hands slide around, pushing against my back as he runs them straight up. My spine curves with his hands as I struggle to concentrate on the lock. My heart pounds as his lips touch the back of my neck, softly planting kisses over my shoulder and up to my jaw. Oh come on! I can't concentrate under these conditions!
CLICK
"Got it." I shakily say before moving up a bit to the fist dead bolt. Gray hums as his lower lip brushes across my earlobe.
"I'm getting more and more surprised by your abilities, Miss Jackie. You have very skilled hands." He darkly chuckles lightly squeezing my shoulders.
"Thank you." I embarrassingly mumble as I feel around for the lock. Huh? Where is it? My eyes narrow as I reach up, running my hand over the smooth metal popping out of the door.
"Uh oh." I say as Gray wraps his arms around my waist, kissing my jaw.
"Hm?" He asks with a hum, unwilling to separate his mouth from my skin.
"It's a one way lock dead bolt. Man I hate those things!" I groan slapping a hand over my face. This is the kind that can only be unlocked and locked from the one side. Now that I think about it, the lock is perfect for a storage room. No one is supposed to be in here anyway and these are cheaper than the two way ones. I huff, leaning back into Gray's embrace. This is annoying. He thoughtfully hums in the back of his throat, pressing his lips against my ear.
"I've got an idea." He says before pulling back. Gray moves towards the window looking up at his with a hopeful gleam in his eye. "We can get out through the window." I stare at the lock at the base of the glass.
"There's an easy lock on it and it's from the inside." What luck! I grin and trot over to the window quickly running into a problem. It's over twice my height just to get up there. "Give me a lift Gray. I'm going to pick it and get through it."
"Alright. Here." He says, crouching before the door and holds his hands out for me. I lightly step on his hand balancing myself against the wall as he lifts me up. I bulk as my head hits the roof, knocking one of the tiles off its frame.
"Ow!" I grunt under my breath more out of surprise that hurt, "too high! Bring me a little lower."
"Sorry." He apologizes bringing me down so my hips are at his shoulders. His head rests over my stomach as I struggle to balance on his hands. I brace against the edges of the window before leaning my top half over the ledge, pulling out my picking tools. This should be easy. I slightly jump as Gray's arm wraps around my upper thighs, the support beneath my foot vanishing. My hands shoot out to brace myself as he adjusts his hold on me, sliding both hands beneath my thighs as he sets me on his shoulders.
"G-Gray what are you doing?!" I almost squeak struggling as his hands help me balance.
"It's easier this way. Were you thinking of something dirty?" He cockily purrs as his head presses against my stomach. Oh come on you really had to put me on your shoulders in this kind of position?!
"Gray what's gotten into you?" I ask pushing his head back a little bit. His excited smile slowly falls as he shakily exhales, rubbing his head into my belly.
"Sorry. Just got a little excited." He apologizes lightening his hold so he's not squeezing the life out of my hips. I roll my eyes and rustle his hair a bit before picking at the lock. This is a pretty simple combination. I jump as my stomach loudly roars, immediately catching Gray's attention. Oh great there's no way he didn't hear that one.
"Hungry?" He chuckles, tugging up my shirt to expose my stomach.
"Little bit." I say making sure he doesn't inch it up too far. Why does he want to look at my stomach? He studies the smooth skin for a moment before pressing his lips against it.
"Looks like I'll just have to fill you up," he teases lightly nipping at the skin.
"GAH! Gray, knock it off! You've been so weird ever since you came in here!" Well, more like ever since I got a hold on his lizard. He numbly hums as his tongue very lightly licks my belly button before looking up to me with excited topaz eyes.
"I can't help it. When I see you standing before me and relentlessly teasing me it makes my old self want to come out and bite you." He dangerously purrs, resuming his little fun with my stomach. Oh whatever. The sooner I pick this the better. I continue to work it, making it by the first three ridges. Two more and-
"OW!" I shout as he takes a giant bite out of my stomach. "That freaking hurt! Why did you bite me?" I demand, completely shocked that he would do such a thing. He darkly chuckles before tapping his tongue along some blood beading up through the teeth marks. Ow ...
"You never stopped until I forced you to. Do you think you have what it takes to make me stop?" He laughs, taking a more delicate bite off to the side. I swear I hope Nightmare gives him hell for this!
"Oh just shut the hell up." I growl kicking his back.
CLICK
I hold the pin in place before turning the little lock, pushing the door open.
"Got it." I victoriously say trying to scamper on out. Gray's fingers leave a heated touch as he helps me through. I pause at the top trying to figure out how I'm going to get down. Oh fantastic it's about a nine foot drop to breaking my neck. At least it's grass here.
"Why did you stop?"
"I have to turn around and go feet first." I warn as he pulls me back in. I drop right into his arms spying his devilish smile.
"I've got you." He hums before kissing me. I heavily sigh as warmth spreads within my chest.
"That's just because I let myself get caught." I playfully pout before giving him a quick peck. "Now let's get out alright?"
"Are you sure you don't want to stay a little longer?"
"Why are you so bound and determined to stay and continue? You're acting like you'll never see me again."
"I rarely have time for breaks. Today was ... a special occasion." My eyes widen as it finally clicks.
"You're afraid that you won't have enough time for me." I state, shocked. We are going to be living and working in the same place it's not like we'll never see each other there!
"Yes. And I'm afraid you're going to get swept up by someone who has more time than me." He sheepishly admits as his face turns a bit red.
"Like Blood." His eyes immediately flash as his lips press into a hard line. Yep I just hit a land mine. I smile and gently run my fingers through his hair. "You're the one I care about, Gray. And I'm not someone who's wish washy when it comes to things like this." He absorbs my words before gently smiling.
"Yeah?"
"Of course! Besides we're going to be seeing each other Clover Tower since I'm going to be working there." His face lights up with a smile as he pulls me into a hug.
"I can't wait, Miss Jackie." He hums, hugging me closely. Of course I'm going to be working there.
I've got to pay off my debt to Blood and working is the only way I'll be able to.
‡
"Master Nightmare!" Gray roars throwing the doors back so they make an incredibly loud bang as they hit the walls. Nightmare jumps, waving his arms before he topples over back in his chair.
"G-Gray, you're back already?!" He shouts, flabbergasted as he looks over the two stacks of paperwork on either side of his desk. His face pales as Gray's frown grows deeper.
"IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" He screams quickly getting the papers in order. "These papers are what's done and these are what's finished!"
"Master Nightmare I told you to complete these by the time I returned! No coffee for ten time changes!" Gray growls harshly bringing down the sword of justice.
"Nooooooooo please Gray I beg of you! I need my coffee!" Nightmare cries before quickly ducking beneath his desk, hacking up a gallon of Blood. I heavily sigh and lean against the door watching as Gray went to his side.
"Please go see a doctor."
"No." He stops through up to answer before resuming? That's impressive. My eyes drift over the paperwork before I trot over, checking them out. He lied. These two sheets are all he's done and this big motha humpa stack is the work he hasn't done. Now that's just sad. Ah ... but then again, being debt to Blood is probably even sadder. My head immediately shoots up catching Nightmare's gawking. He wouldn't -
"You're in-!"
"SHUT UP! Just shut up!" If you tell Gray so help me I will wring you out and throw you out the window if you say one word about it, Nightmare. His face pales as I imagine him sailing through the air, splattering all over against the pavement below.
"BLARG!"
"A-Ah! Master Nightmare!" Gray frets directing the blood into the trashcan. I nervously hedge back staring at Nightmare. Oh great now he knows. Now what? Oh, wait.
"Nightmare I'm going to be working here alright?"
"H-huh? Oh, yeah of course - BLEH!" He hacks up some more as he reads my thoughts. Whoops. I was a little too ready on my threat. I heavily sigh and turn around heading towards the door.
"I'm going to bed."
"Huh?" Nightmare looks up to Gray, his face paling. "You did WHAT to her-?! BLEH BLARG HACK GHOOSH!"
"Don't read my mind."
"Don't think such lovey dovey thoughts!" He cries with tears in his eyes.
"Then~ don't read my mind." Gray reiterates making Nightmare hack up more blood. I cover my snickering laugh as I trot down the hall. They're just too funny! I'll have to make sure to keep Nightmare quiet somehow though or else Gray just might cut off all my fingers and kill Blood. I slip into my room, still chuckling before falling flat on my bed.
The hard bed horribly squeaks immediately catching my attention. Why is my bed so squeaky? I twist around spying a poorly maintained cot with holes in it and a tattered dusty blanket folded up at the foot end of the bed. What in the heck? I look up spying prison bars completing the fourth wall of the cramped space. I'm in a prison cell?
"You think you have a right to be laughing, maggot?" Jay coolly smirks, leaning against the poorly made bars. My eyes widen as he smoothly grips the bar leering over me as I get up from the cot.
"Jay, where are we?"
"You're in prison for pushing me into the semi truck." Jay cackles, smacking the rattling bars. My heart constricts as I stare into his perfectly clear eyes before anger flares up in my heart.
"Yeah right you stupid smack. Where am I?" I growl as I draw closer to the bars, peering down the long hallway finding that in both directions there are cells. Seriously how did I get here?
"Heh. I'll bet you didn't even cry at my funeral. Don't you miss me, Jackie? Can't you feel those sins that have been piling up?" He asks, madly laughing as he sets his head against the bare and crazily eyes me with his good eye. "Every time you laugh is a time where I should be laughing. You don't deserve to be happy! You should cry instead of laugh! Beg instead of ask! Why don't you go off and die and let me live?!" He demands punching the rattling cage.
"Shut the hell up you stupid brat!" I shout, lashing my fist out and punch him right across the jaw. He falls back into a puddle of blood, splattering it against the walls. I try not to look at the disturbing scene as I quickly whip out my picking tools.
"Ah~ what a shame. And I just cleaned this hall up too." A man sighs. My head snaps up spying a red head with an eye patch glancing over Jay.
"Who are you?" I ask staring at his one blood red eye as it swings over my way. He grins as he folds his arms sliding his eye up and down my body. Oh~ it's a creeper.
"My name is Joker, Jackie." Joker? What kind of name is that? "And it seems you have already met your 'sin'," he chuckles glancing over the body. My sin? What is he talking about? Jay's finger twitches making my heart jerk. Oh Jay ... no, that's not him. He would never treat me like that! Joker raises his foot bringing his down hard into my brother's abdomen.
"Hey! Stop it!" I shout, nearly dropping my tools. I quickly punch in the simply code
"Hah? Why should I? You've done worse to him." He laughs, keeping his heel digging into Jay's abdomen.
CLANK
"I said get off him!" I shout slipping out of the cage. He looks up, his single orb growing wide.
"How the f*** did you get out?!" He demands, rushing right by me as he picks up the lock, looking it over.
"Your lock sucks." I spit looking over to Jay. Where did he go? "Jay?" I worriedly call out looking around the jail cell. Where did he go?
"My my~ I've never seen this happen before." I look up spying the red head dressed as a clown. What in the world ... ?
"Who are you?" I ask, whipping me head back to the one dressed in black. "You're twins?"
"Not quite but close." The jester hums as he sweeps up my hand, kissing the back of it. "I look forward to the next time you're lost which I sense is swiftly approaching."
"Lost?" I jump as a hard hand slaps over my shoulder, spinning me around to face the livid warden.
"How did you get passed that so easily?!"
"Your lock stinks that's why."
"No! This is impossible to get by unless you've actually overcome your fears! How the f*** did you do that?!" He shouts shaking me back and forth. My head whips back and forth giving me some serious whiplash.
"H-Hey, knock it off!" I shout, throwing off the weak arms. My eyes narrow before I pull back, startled to see Gray. "Gray?" Where did the jail or whatever go?"
"Are you alright Jackie? You started crying."
"Did I?" I ask, sweeping my fingers beneath my eye. Oh. I did? But, wait where did those freaky twins go? I place a hand over my racing heart trying to calm down.
Who were they and how did I get there and back so fast?
‡
OK so since Jackie has accepted that Jay died protecting her, no matter what anyone else says, Joker can't use it against her and that was him trying to use Jay to keep her in the prison with her regret but failed. That's why the lock broke and how she was able to pick it so easily, concerning this series and excluding my Joker series. What other memories or tactics will Joker use to try and lock up the little engineer? And what about Blood's debt? How will Gray react to all this WHEN Nightmare spills the beans? 10 REVIEWS for the next chapter~