Not Quite Human
Thinking
Speaking
Alternate Personality/Mask Speech
I'm seriously flying right now. Never mix coffee and soda. It makes you write crazy stories and post them on line. The song is 'Bulletproof Heart' by My Chemical Romance. Anyways Enjoy.
Chapter 4: He's watching you again
It was dark by the time I dragged myself through my window. My feet were bleeding and my fingers ached. I could feel blood seeping through my suit and I wanted nothing more then a shower and waffles. I'd shower with waffles but I think that would defeat the purpose. I ripped my mask off and staggered into the living room.
"D! You bitch!" Randi was at my side and I tossed my mask towards the green blob that I hoped was Bernard.
"Bernard Batman got a hold of my mask. He messed with it. Please tell me I didn't just lead him to our home." He took my mask and rushed off to his room and I was rushed back into mine. My door was kicked shut and my suit nearly ripped from my body. The metal frame was off in moments and I took a deep breath as the bandages were removed.
"Not as bad as I thought. You'll be healed up by the time our gig comes around. We've decided not to add any new music because you'll probably sleep the next few days. Now get your ass in the shower you smell like sweat and broken dreams." She pushed me into the bathroom and I staggered into a cold shower.
"How can I smell like broken dreams?" I shook my head and washed myself. I would have to postpone any more activities until I healed, didn't need another brush with that Batman character.
"Max is making waffles, do you need help in there?" I could hear her pulling out towels and setting clothing around the bathroom.
"No I've got it. He better not eat my waffles if I bite my tongue again." I winced as the shampoo bubbles hit my wounds. Getting shot sucked.
"Don't worry I'll warn him off. You big baby." She closed the door softly and I finished my shower in peace. Drying off I found my glasses and slipped them on. The world swam back into focus and I dressed myself. I had a black bra and thong set, a pair of Capri pants and a blue t-shirt. I slipped them on and walked out into my room as I dried my hair. I froze seeing someone standing near my window.
"Who are you?" I looked towards my door thankfully it was closed. I could probably keep them safe if I had to fight.
"You know who I am." He stepped further into my room and I saw that it was the man who rescued me from the rooftops. The Batman.
"You're the Batman." My voice was flat and lacking awe. I saw him frown and stiffen.
"Yes. You took a big risk running here. I put you somewhere to keep you safe."
"I don't like being kidnapped. I belong here with my family." I flashed some fang at him in anger.
"Keep your teeth in check Red. I've got my eye on you."
"I don't need a babysitter." I really was getting angry at him now. I may be wounded but I could still kick him out my window if I needed to.
"Well you've got one. Next time you go out either Robin or I will be following you." He pulled something from his belt. He tossed that something onto my bed before turning and heading out my window. "Until next time D." With that he was gone. I was seeing red, I walked over and slammed my window closed then drew the shades. I turned to my bed and walked over to see what he'd left. It looked like some kind of grappling hook but it was made for a wrist. Did Batman seriously just leave me equipment? I picked it up and headed out into the living room.
"Bernard!" I saw him wince as I walked over to him.
"I checked out your mask D. He upgraded everything, I didn't find any trackers."
"He was just here and left me this. Tell me what you know." I dropped the grappling hook onto his lap and he looked it over.
"This is nice. A grappling hook but why is the hook shaped like a bat? Why not demonic wings to go with your outfit?" He poked at it and jumped when it discharged into the ceiling. My eye twitched as a piece of plaster hit me on the head.
"Which button did that?"
"Um this one." He pointed at what looked like a pressure sensor. "Looks like you just need to point your wrist and press this and it shoots." The grappling hook retracted and he tossed it back at me. "Looks like it hooks right into your metal frame, did he get your outfit too?"
"Yes." I took my mask and the hook back to my room. Sighing I put them alongside my outfit in my closet and rubbed my eyes. This was getting complicated way too quickly. I wanted waffles then a nap. I walked into the kitchen and sat down at my spot, waffles quickly appeared before me and I dug in. I didn't even bite my tongue this time, maybe the day was getting better.
"Get some rest D. We'll have everything ready for our gig in a few days. You need to be at full health or we're gonna suck so bad." Max pushed me towards my room and I sighed. I hated being pushed around but I didn't want to hurt the guy.
"Fine. But try to wake me up more then an hour before the gig, I want my coffee." I slammed my door closed and collapsed onto my bed. I was out in moments and I dreamed of free falling. I could almost feel the wind caressing my face.
"D wake up! Get dressed or we'll be late." I was shaken awake by my sister again. She was dressed as an angel. Her light blue fitted suit cat suit that clung to her every curve. She had a golden miniskirt and bikini top combo over top of it. Golden sandals on her feet and even a golden halo on top of her head. I sighed as she was struggling to get her white fluffy wings on.
"Those are going to bother you with the guitar on." I sat up and helped her get them on. She sighed and pulled me out of bed.
"I know but we're going with the heaven and hell combo tonight. Just get ready and I'll do your makeup soon. Max is making coffee." She rushed out of my room to put her own makeup on. I took a quick shower and poked at my wounds. They had almost fully healed and were puckered pink marks against my pale skin. Sighing I slipped into my metal framing and suit once I was dry. I pulled my hair back and hooked my horns on. I was always the demon never the angel.
"Hey D coffee's ready hurry up." Max popped his head in as I was putting on my metal thong and bikini combo over my suit. He whistled and I flipped him off. "Aww where's the love?"
"The love's about to kick your ass if you keep gawking." I clicked the locks closed and marched towards the door. He grinned before running off to my sister's room. He was dressed in a white suit with a golden halo over his head. He had drawn wings onto the back of his suit and I rolled my eyes. I downed three cups of coffee before Bernard walked into the kitchen.
"Keep drinking like that and you'll have to piss before the show." He was dressed in all black and painted his face like a skull. He had horns attached to his headband and I rolled my eyes.
"Yea, yea lets just get this show over with so I can eat more waffles and be merry." I put my mug in the sink and walked into my sister's room to prepare for the horribleness that was makeup. I was dolled up with red and brown eye shadow and black lipstick again. I was about to leave her room when she stopped me.
"Hey D wait up." She popped the lock off my metal thong and replaced it with a heart shaped lock. I raised an eyebrow as she did the same with my metal bikini top.
"What was wrong with the locks before?" I tugged at the locks a bit.
"Nothing but these make you look like you actually want a guy. Now remember to smile and hopefully you'll find a nice guy to rock your socks off tonight." She laughed and I rolled my eyes. All too soon we were in the loaded van and heading to the gig. This time we were at a place called the Iceberg Lounge. It looked really upscale and I looked over to Max.
"How the hell did we land a gig here? This place looks more expensive then my mask." I was nervous and it was showing. We parked around back and some of the off duty bouncers helped us carry our things inside. I took some calming breaths as we set up on stage and I was thrust out as lead vocals again. Blissfully blind I waited for the introduction before we went in at full swing.
Gravity
Don't mean too much to me
I'm who I've got to be
These pigs are after me, after you
Run away, like it was yesterday
And we could run away, if we could run away
Run away from here
I got a bulletproof heart
You got a hollow-point smile
Me and your runaway scars
Got a photograph dream on the getaway mile
I loved this song and it showed as I took lead with guitar and bounced a bit with the song. I saw a few people shaped blobs shaking their heads in time with the beat and I did my best to smile and keep my eyes focused into space.
Let's blow a hole in this town
And do our talking with a laser beam
Gunning out of this place in a bullet's embrace
Then we'll do it again
How can they say?
"Jenny could you come back home?"
Cause everybody knows you don't
Ever wanna come back
Let me be the one to save you
Gravity
Don't mean too much to me
I'm who I've got to be
These pigs are after me, after you
Run away, like it was yesterday
When we could run away, when we could run away
Run away from here
I'm shooting out of this room
Because I sure don't like the company
Stop your preaching right there
Cause I really don't care
And I'll do it again
We were all bouncing a bit and I prepared to hit the button on my suit to start my lights. I saw a few people shaped blobs dancing in the background and smiled flashing fang.
The papers say
"Johnny won't you come back home?"
Cause everybody knows you don't
Want to give yourself up then tell the truth
And God will save you
Gravity
Don't mean too much to me
I'm who I've got to be
These pigs are after me, after you
Run away, like it was yesterday
And we could run away, if we could run away
Run away from here
And though I know how much you hate this
Are you gonna be the one to save us
From the black and hopeless feeling?
Will you mean it when the end comes reeling?
I hit the button and my suit lit up with the red lights along my horns and shoulder/hip spikes. I looked like a glowing demonic temptress and I belted out the next line of lyrics. I saw a guy sitting close to the stage just staring at me again but I couldn't make out his features at all.
Hold your heart into this darkness
Will it ever be the light to shine you out
Or fail and leave you stranded?
I ain't gonna be the one left standing
You ain't gonna be the one left standing
We ain't gonna be the ones left standing
Gravity
Don't mean too much to me
Is this our destiny?
This world is after me, after you
Run away, like it was yesterday
And we could run away,
Run away, run away
Run away from here
Yeah
Away from here
Away from here
The applause was instantaneous as soon as our last chord faded away and I flicked my lights off as I looked back at the band. I could tell they were relaxing and Max led us into our next song. We finished off our gig with flying colors and the applause was intoxicating. We did our little bow at the end and walked off stage as a house band took our place. I slipped my glasses on and helped Randi take her guitar off without ripping the wings from her back. Max took both her and my guitars to be packed away. I needed a drink so I led my sister out to the bar area and we both ordered drinks.
"Beer for me don't care the brand as long as its cold." Randi dug into her bra for some cash and I slipped some out of my emergency stash.
"Rum and coke for me please." The bartender took our orders and within moments and we took a seat to enjoy the alcohol.
"That guy was here again tonight." My sister had an impish smile on her face.
"I thought he was, I can't see him though for the life of me. What does he look like?" I sipped my drink as she took a chug of beer.
"He's not my type."
"I didn't ask that. What did he look like? Seriously." I wanted answers. If some guy was gawking at me the entire show I wanted to know who. I could see now so I wanted to get a glimpse of this guy.
"Can I buy you ladies another round?" We both turned to see who had spoken. Randi looked the guy over before shaking her head.
"No thanks I think I'm done." She set her half empty beer on the bar and walked off. I wondered why she looked so upset. I gave the guy a once over and he didn't look too bad. He wore a nice suit a dark color I couldn't quite distinguish. He had a bowler hat upon his head that obscured his eyes but I could see his red hair peeking out from beneath the fabric. He was leaning heavily on a cane and it made him seem older then he looked.
"I wouldn't mind another." I finished off my coke and his smile grew as he pulled some cash from his pocket and sat down at the bar next to me.
"Another for the lady and give me my usual." I tried to see his eyes but it was almost as if he were wearing a mask under his hat. My curiosity grew but I wasn't about to push my luck. We sat in silence for a few moments after our drinks came. He had some kind of green drink that I tried to keep my gaze away from. I didn't want to seem weird by staring.
"Thanks for the drink." I probably wouldn't order another I wanted to be clearheaded for the rest of the night.
"Oh its not a problem. I quite enjoyed the show." He smiled and I relaxed, leaning against the bar a bit more.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed the show. We're not exactly like the average band out there." I took another sip of my drink and soon it was half gone.
"I do enjoy exotic things." He chuckled to himself. "Your band seems quite exotic to say the least." I felt his eyes graze over my suit.
"Technically its my sisters band, I just sing lead from time to time. And the costumes were her idea as well." I saw Bernard walking out towards me from the back. It must be time to go because he looked cranky.
"Interesting."
"Hey D time to go." Bernard pulled the glass from my hand and set it down harshly on the bar. A few patrons looked up at the noise and I sighed.
"Fine don't get your panties in a bunch." I sighed and brushed my sleeves off before turning to the stranger. "Thanks again for the drink." Bernard grabbed my elbow and pulled me backstage as fast as he could drag me. I wasn't happy.
"Finally. We've been waiting for you." Bernard was throwing a fit and I was really getting pissed.
"I was having a nice drink and had a guy actually willing to talk to me. The fuck were you thinking dragging me away. You know I could have gotten my own ride home or even climbed a building and jumped it." I pulled away from him and he grabbed my chin digging his nails in until I felt blood.
"I don't give a shit if you were talking to the pope himself. You put all of us through hell the past few weeks and I'm tired of it. We're all going home together and then I'm nailing your window shut. You wanna be a freak on your own time then fine. Move the fuck out." He shook my head as he spoke and I ripped his hand away not caring that it ripped my skin open more. Little drops of red were sliding down my neck and into my suit.
"I don't know what the fuck has gotten into you tonight but I'm not putting up with this. I'm an adult not some child for you to throw around and scream at." My voice was getting louder and I didn't care who heard me. "I'm tired of your shit tossing me around like I'm some fucking freak that you're taking care of out of the goodness of your heart. If your that put out by me then back the fuck off and leave me alone!" I pushed him as hard as I could and he flew into the opposite wall. I stormed out the back door and ran past a confused looking Max and Randi. I jumped up the nearest wall and climbed as fast as I could, I slipped due to the lack of claws but I'd be damned if I was going to ride home with that fascist ass tonight.
I ignored the yells from my crew as I took off running from building to building. It would take me hours to get home but I didn't care. For the first time in forever I was having a decent conversation with someone and I got dragged off and had my defects thrown in my face. I was tired of it. I stopped on the roof top of a small electronics store and sat on one of the vents. Hanging my head in my hands I tried to keep from crying, and failed miserably. My tears joined the blood that had seeped into my suit. I probably looked like a horror show and i didn't care. Its true that I never really liked Bernard but damn if he couldn't cut me to the bone with a few sharp words.
I sat and wallowed in self pity for several moments before wiping my eyes and looking up at the sky, there were no stars in Gotham. The lights drove them all away but I imagined they were there staring down at me anyways. Taking a deep breath I got to my feet and looked around for my bearings. I took a running leap and started making my way towards home.