Not Quite Human

Thoughts

Alternate/Mask Speech

Speech

Chapter 25: What the hell?!

I was exhausted and my feet felt like shredded hamburger. Thanks to Max I was starting to regain my strength as he spent the last month and a half nagging at me. We found an old warehouse out by the docks and we set up house there until I was back in fighting shape. He spent every day throwing ideas at me of ways to help me regain my endurance and tests to see what I needed to work on. Today he chained me to the back of a car and had me run behind it until I collapsed.

So here I am lying on the dirty cement behind the warehouse panting like a dog with a chain wrapped around my waist. I can see Max banging his head against the steering wheel but for the life of me I can't figure out what I'd done wrong. We did about a hundred laps around the property wasn't that good enough? I tugged at the chain for a bit before sighing and staring up at the sky.

My thoughts wandered for a bit as I wondered where everyone else was and if they were okay. I hadn't seen or heard of any news regarding my roguish men or even Miss Ivy. There hadn't even been a peep from Randi and that's what worried me the most. She was always over the top and drawing attention to herself and being off the radar for so long wasn't like her. I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut as a wave of dread washed up my spine.

"Oh come on D I know you're not that tired." Max's voice pulled me from my thoughts and I opened my eyes to look up at him.

"Not tired Max, just thinking that's all." I sighed and sat up.

"Well you can think later, I want you to try doing more pull ups. I don't know what Ivy did to you but it seriously starved your body. We need to get those muscles back."

"Max I get it okay. I miss her too but working me half to death isn't the answer."

"I know D. It's just…I just want her back so bad" He rubbed his forehead as he sighed and looked close to tears.

"I know Max, I miss her too. We'll get her back just give me a little time to breathe you know."

"Alright D take a breather then please go do some pull ups D…I need to get a drink." He groaned and stomped back towards the warehouse leaving me sitting there. I sighed and slid the chains off my body and hissed as I stood.

"Oh my poor feet…I defiantly need better shoes." I winced with each step I took until I was at the hanging metal bars that Max had set up for me. I jumped and grabbed onto the bar with ease. I started pulling my chin up to the bar and slowly lowering myself back down. After about a hundred of those I dropped one hand and started pulling myself up slowly. I struggled with the one armed pull ups but persisted until both my arms were jelly and I fell down onto the cement below.

"Oh god my poor ass." I whined to no one. I curled up on my side and sighed as I waited for my arms and shoulders to stop burning. I was already stronger then a normal human again but I wasn't where I used to be. I dragged myself away from the pity party in my mind and got back on my feet. I jumped when a murder of crows cackled and flew off the roof of the building. I took a moment to calm my racing heart and wondered what could have scared them off. I didn't see anyone up there so I shook my head and limped back inside.

"Hey D we're out of beer. I hope you didn't want me to save you any." I snapped my gaze to Max and sighed. He was drunk already and looked pathetic. I shook my head and limped towards my room to take a shower. Hopefully he'd be passed out by the time I was done and back out in the main room.

Sure enough Max was passed out and snoring like a bear when I walked out of my room. I sighed and began picking up the empty beer cans before tossing them in the recycling bin. I pulled a gallon of milk from the fridge and started chugging it down as I searched the cupboards for something to eat. Unfortunately, unless I wanted to eat nothing but three tins of beans I was going to have to go shopping. I groaned and put the milk back into the fridge before heading back to my room to change.

"Sorry Max but I'm taking your car." I fished the keys from his pocket and walked back outside. I threw the chains into the trunk and got behind the wheel. I shivered as it felt like I was being watched but I couldn't see or smell anyone nearby. I must be losing it and getting paranoid. I drove into town and took some time to load up on groceries before conveniently slipping out the back door and loading up my car without paying. I drove around town to make sure that no one was following me before I headed home.

I unloaded the car and snuck the keys back into his pocket before heading back into the kitchen. I whipped up a nice big sandwich before pushing Max to the far side of the couch so I could sit down. I flipped the TV on and surfed the channels trying to find something to watch.

"There's nothing on." I whined softly to myself and clicked the TV off. I stood up with a sigh and looked over at the drunken unconscious Max. He was drooling with his arm over his face and snoring like a bear. I picked him up and winced as my back started aching. I carefully carried him to his room and tucked him under the covers. I know Randi would be pissed at me if I let anything happen to him. I carefully closed his door behind me and walked back out into the living room. I looked around with a sigh and bit my lip. I wanted to go running so badly but I wasn't sure if my back would be able to take a fall yet. I narrowed my eyes and headed to my room.

"Just don't fall and you'll be fine." I kept muttering to myself as I stripped down and slipped my metal framing over my body. Max had done his best to adjust it and keep it rust free for me so it moved easily with my limbs. I slipped my claws on and then carefully pulled my suit up and slipped my metal bikini top and thong on. I slipped my horns on and picked up my mask. It was still dead and I decided that I was going to break into my old apartment and get a few things. I took my glasses off and slipped the mask on and sighed wishing that I had the lights on the sides to at least help keep me somewhat distracted. I slipped the warehouse keys into my hidden pocket and locked up behind me. If everything went well then I would be back well before Max woke up so he wouldn't suspect a thing.

It smelled like rain when I left the warehouse district and crept around in the shadows. I welcomed the rain and knew that it might help me hide if we got a good downpour. I caught a few rides on the tops of a couple of busses and soon I was in familiar territory, my old territory. I took a deep breath and started climbing the first building I saw. It was just a small twenty story brick building but by the time I reached the top I was out of breath and my back felt cramped and stiff. I did a few stretches and that seemed to help it out. I walked over to the edge of the building trying to judge the distance between it and its neighbor. I bit my lip when I realized that I couldn't tell the distance between them and that I'd be making blind jumps until I could get to the apartment.

Taking a chance I took a running leap and managed to launch myself to the next building without too much pain. I clawed my way to the top and sat on the edge for a moment to catch my breath. I couldn't stop now so I got back to my feet and launched myself over and over again until I was so close I could see my apartment building. I gritted my teeth and made the last few jumps until I was at the building next to it. It felt like my fingers were bleeding and maybe they were but I couldn't stop now. I let out a low hiss as I jumped over to my apartments and started the slow climb up to my window.

"And it's locked…" I growled as I peered through the window. I could still see all my things sitting there covered in a fine layer of dust so I knew that no one must have moved in yet. I tried the window carefully again and growled when it was still firmly locked. I winced as I forced the window open and the glass cracked. Sighing I crawled inside and looked around for my old bag to pack some things. I found it in the back of my closet and I started packing clothes and other small things that I didn't want anyone else to take. I winced as I opened my underwear drawer and saw the riddle letter that Edward had mailed to me. I lifted my mask and smelled the letter but it didn't hold any of his scent so I sighed and stuffed it into my bag. I pulled my mask back down and began hunting for my charger.

I walked around the apartment and found that the main room was actually free of dust and looked lived in. I peered in Randi's room and it was covered in dust but Bernard's was clean and still smelled like him. I let out a low hiss when I realized that he was still living here and I thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't run into him. I found my masks charger and quickly packed it away in my bag. I checked for anything that I could take of Randi's and found a few of her old CD's and her ipod so I packed them away for Max. I figured I'd spent enough time wandering around and quickly left the same way I'd come in. I closed the now cracked window and climbed around the building to find a safe place to jump.

I jumped and nearly screamed as I felt my wrist pop when I grabbed onto the ledge wrong. I pulled myself to the roof just as the skies opened up and began raining heavily. I sighed as the cool rain soaked through my suit and cooled my skin. My wrist popped back into place and I hissed in pain. I took a running leap to the next building wanting to get as far away from the old apartment as I could now that I knew Bernard was using it as his home. I was on edge and I hitched a ride on a passing semi trailer. I didn't want to jump too much in case Bernard or the Bat were out patrolling. I laid down on my back and watched the buildings pass by until the semi headed down into the lower parts of the city. I didn't like being in the tunnels but this was a lot safer option at the moment.

I watched the scenery go by and I nearly jumped off the trailer when I saw what was painted on a patch of wall that we passed by, a giant green question mark. My eyes nearly popped out of my head and I wanted to go back and search to see if Edward had left it behind. I made a mental note of where it was so I could come back later. My eyes stung as I started to cry wanting to wrap my arms around him again. I curled up into a ball and tried to control my breathing so I wouldn't begin sobbing. The semi finally left the tunnels and we were only a few miles from the warehouse. I jumped off and ran into an alley to hide for a bit. I finally calmed down and I rubbed my tearstained eyes before lowering my mask once again and heading back home.

It was nearly dark when I stumbled back into the warehouse and Max rushed out to greet me. He looked hung over as hell and terrified. He pulled me into a giant hug and wouldn't let me go until I told him where I'd been.

"God that was stupid D! What if he'd been there and caught you? What would have happened then?" He was fuming but I understood why he was so upset. It had been a close call and so much could have gone wrong.

"I'm sorry Max I just wanted…" I didn't know what I wanted anymore because it didn't seem important at the moment. "Max I saw something on the way home."

"Bernard?" He sounded worried again.

"No, down in the tunnels. I saw a giant green question mark."

"Riddler? He's alive?" He looked hopeful and I shook my head.

"I don't know I didn't check it out. I'm going to go back first thing tomorrow morning to check. I don't want to show up for too long on anyone's radar." I sighed and wrapped my arms around myself again.

"I want to go with you." His voice was firm and I shook my head.

"Max I can't risk both of us getting caught if it's a trap. I can charge my mask now so you can stay here and keep in touch with me. If something goes bad I want you to go into hiding so you can come find me later."

"Alright D I really hope you know what you're doing." He sounded defeated and he stumbled into the kitchen and started looking through the cupboards. "Did you go shopping?"

"Yea I walked out with a good amount from that whole foods store across town."

"Nice." He grabbed a bag of salted nuts and walked back to the couch before collapsing down onto it.

"Wasn't as hard as I thought it would be." I sighed and started walking back to my room.

"Crime never is D." He sighed and ripped the bag open.

I sighed and dumped my bag onto my bed and kicked the door closed. I pulled my mask off and slipped my glasses back on. I hooked up my mask to the charger and plugged it into the wall and it beeped as it started charging. I stripped my suit off and began removing my claws and metal framing and winced as I saw that I'd ripped my fingers open and I was bruised horribly. I headed to the shower and stood under the cold spray until I was numb. Then I dragged myself from the shower and collapsed onto my bed burrowing under the covers and passing out from exhaustion.

The next morning seemed to come far too soon and I rubbed my eyes and groaned at the clock. Who gets up at four in the morning? I sighed and crawled out of bed and began trying to tame my wild bed head before trudging to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I then slipped back into the metal framing and put my claws back on. I dragged my suit over my tired frame and trudged to the kitchen praying for coffee.

"Couldn't sleep?" Max was curled up in a chair sipping a mug of coffee while he read the paper. I just mumbled something about coffee and poured myself a mug. "Yea, yea I know D don't talk to you until you've had at least a pot of coffee." He chuckled and I sat down to drink my cup.

"It's too early for this shit." I sighed and started another pot of coffee making sure that it was a nice strong brew.

"I know D but at least most everyone is still asleep so you won't have to worry about traffic."

"Yea, yea traffic and shit." I groaned and dug through the fridge until I found some of last nights stir-fry and started eating it cold. Once I'd had my fill on coffee and stir-fry I trudged to the bathroom yet again to brush my fangs. Then I slipped my horns on and made sure that my hair looked nice. I then unplugged my mask and headed back out to Max to remind him what my radio frequency was so he could get in touch with me.

"Got it now be careful and make damn sure that you can get back here. I'll be damned if I've gotta flee the country because Bernard finds us." He nearly growled and I giggled at his ferocity and slipped my glasses off and my mask on. The glowing lights and random bits of electronic information fed to me was a calming reminder that I could do this. I took a deep breath and left Max in the kitchen fiddling with his radio frequencies.

I'd worked up a good sweat by the time I'd made it back to the tunnels and I was now standing in front of the giant green question mark. I looked it over and tapped the wall softly with my claws looking for a clue. I walked from one side of the wall to the other wondering why there would be a giant question mark here. I looked around trying to find anything that could help me out and sighed when I didn't see anything.

I was so frustrated that I punched the question mark and I froze when I heard the wall crack as if it were wooden. I looked confused, this wall was cement yet there was a crack where I'd punched. I reared back and punched it again and this time my fist when through and I felt a hollow space behind the wall. I pulled my arm out and peered in. There was only a few inches of cement covering wooden paneling and I started throwing my shoulder against it to force a hole big enough for me to crawl through. I hissed in pain as I felt bruised and battered by the time I made it inside. I was face to face with a wooden door and I tried the handle, it was unlocked. I didn't think twice when I swung the door open and walked into the darkened room beyond.

I switched my mask to night vision mode and looked around the room for any signs of Edward but I only found what looked like a very comfortable chair in the middle of the room. I walked around it and sighed as I lifted my mask and sniffed the leather of the chair. I froze when I faintly smelled Edward on it, his scent smelled different and it made something inside of me nearly purr.

I curled up on the chair trying to surround myself in his scent when I heard a thump from underneath me. I looked down just in time to see the floor open up before the chair and I fell through the hole and into the darkness below. I squeaked and held onto the chair afraid that I'd break my spine again if I fell too hard but I landed on a few well stacked mattresses and bounced safely to the floor. I groaned and slowly got to my feet before looking around trying to figure out where I was.

I found a door on the side of the room and I easily broke through it to the hallway beyond. I crept down the hall until I came to what looked like a control room but everything was powered down and I couldn't figure out how to turn it back on.

Just when I was about to give up I found an old battered and bloodstained hat on one of the shelves and I carefully sniffed it. I groaned when I smelled Edward on it and I looked around half expecting to find his broken body lying somewhere. I searched the other rooms but only found a door leading to the outside. I held onto the hat and left the building as quickly as I could. Where was he? I carefully tucked the hat into the metal bikini top as I started climbing the nearest building to begin my jumps home.

I was mid jump when something crashed into me and I let out a pained scream as we hit the rooftop and rolled around. I wheezed and held my ribs as it felt like I'd hit a tank. I made sure that I still had Edward's hat with me as I slowly got to my feet. I looked around to see what might have hit me but froze when a strong hand gripped my shoulder and someone whispered into my ear.

"Well hello there cutie, come here often?"