I leaped out of the black dining chair and raced to the staircase. Stumbling as fast as I could up the stairs I went directly to where I thought the shouting was coming from. Sure enough Lysandre was knocked to the ground, and Ghetsis pinned against the wall by Giovanni. I swallowed down a tingle of fear in my throat, I never realized how strong he really was. Giovanni's suit was frazzled slightly, his eyes burning with intensity. On the other side Ghetsis glared back at him without emotion, a mocking bland stare.
I stepped in cautiously watching them, "We heard yelling downstairs, can you please calm down..."
"NO!" They all screamed in menacing unison.
With tense muscles I walk closer, Giovanni was known for a temper and I needed to be careful. Ghetsis' stare wandered to mine, his eyes started to soften. I hoped that he had trust in me to calm the situation, I had a knack for being diplomatic. Taking a deep breath I laid a hand on Giovanni's shoulder, I could feel him tense at my touch.
I spoke softly to him, "What's up? What happened? Beating the crap out of them isn't going to make anything better."
"Yes it will! I'll get to laugh at their misery!" Giovanni snapped back at me.
"Okay so maybe it would make you feel better, but think about what would happen if you lost control?" I tread carefully with a calm tone, "Things would break, and there would be medical bill. That's a large loss in money we probably can't afford."
He gazed back at me and exhaled deeply, "You're right, it's not worth it. I was trying to sleep and these two wouldn't stop arguing, they also broke the damn lamp!"
"It wasn't me it was the psychopath Ghetsis over there!" Lysandre yelled in defense.
The tall green haired male scowled at him, "Psychopath? You're treading on my property, I have every right to tear the eyes out of your sockets!"
"Your territory? She doesn't belong to you!" Lysandre retorted.
I grabbed Giovanni by the sleeve and he rolled his eyes letting go of Ghetsis. The room went silent almost instantly, hopefully they would retract from each others throats. I was well aware that Ghetsis saw me as his property, so I imagined that they were fighting about this morning. Knowing Lysandre he probably provoked him on purpose, they could kill each other for all I care. I wasn't anyone's property but for the sake of avoiding argument I didn't bother to speak up.
Relaxing his shoulders Giovanni strut out cleaning himself in the process. I followed not wanting to be in the same room as those two, however they decided to leave to making the endeavor pointless. Trailing back downstairs I watched Vicki walk out of the bathroom in a dress. Vicki never wore dresses, it wasn't in her nature. Out of curiosity I sat by the table and watched her roam about in meaningful strides.
"What's up with the dress?" I asked raising a brow.
She swayed around to face me with a wide smile, "I've got a date!"
"What? Why didn't you tell me?" I questioned again with a wide glare.
"You've been so busy babysitting the villains that I decided to leave it alone" Vicki replied shrugging as if it wasn't a big deal.
I retracted my head in awe, "What about N? I thought you guys had a thing?"
She looked away awkwardly, "We were never really an official 'thing', we're just friends."
"Just friends" I repeated in a sarcastic tone.
Vicki glared back at me as she collected her things, "Don't give me that! Look at all the guys you're 'just friends' with."
"Hey, I'm not oblivious though and I make it clear. He really likes you, that's not going to go down well!" I grinned slyly at her remark.
She blushed while hiding her face, "No he doesn't. Anyway I'm off I'll see you tonight!"
"Alright, let me know how it goes!" I confirmed waving to her as she exited through the front door.
The door slammed behind her and her footsteps faded into the distant noise of chirping birds. Without much else to do I sat at the table in silence, my eyes on the smooth tabletop. Not long after her departure I heard thumping from the staircase. Maxie, N, Colress, Lysandre, and everyone else was crowded around the bottom window in curiosity. I smiled lightly to myself watching the weirdos reacting to her having an actual love interest.
"What's the matter?" I chuckled calling over to the group.
N was the first to respond, "She has a date? I thought she liked me."
"I don't like the idea of her being with anyone..." Maxie jumped in after.
Giovanni unexpectdly spoke as well, "I don't like it, it seems fishy."
"What if it's actually an evil mastermind who wants to kidnap her?" Colress pondered.
I rolled my eyes, "Seriously Colress, take a look in the mirror. She's allowed to date people, what are you all worried about?"
"Have you not been in this city Brittany, it's full of weirdos!" Giovanni said sternly, "What I had to do to get where I am now."
I paused for a second wondering what he did do, but I was too afraid to ask. Ignoring his endeavors I continued, "She's a smart girl she'll be able to take care of herself. She wouldn't date some random dude or girl."
"Or girl?" Lysandre asked curiously.
"Nothing, just don't worry about it she'll be fine" I reassured them.
"My mind is made up" Giovanni declared as if he were the alpha, "Maxie, N, and Colress I want you to shadow her to make sure nothing happens."
"You can't just follow her around!" I sighed in annoyance, "It's supposed to be private."
Giovanni locked eyes with me in a stern way, "You're living under my roof, so is Vicki, and what I say goes understand?"
"We share this house" I replied trying to seem persistent.
"I put the most money into it, so I make the rules" He raised his voice slightly to assert his dominance, "Don't talk back to me."
"Why are you so worried about her?" I asked this time in a submissive fashion.
"Your world is a messed up an horrible place, my evils are nothing compared to them" He explained a bit quieter, "it's mandatory that you both stay safe."
My stomach grumbled, I hoped he wasn't making alternate plans again. I decided not to question him further though, I didn't want to poke the bear more than I have. It seemed none of the others complained about this, they followed along complacently. If anything it seemed Maxie and N were relieved that they were allowed to follow her. I shuttered but continued to sit around doing nothing. The three prepared themselves in an average disguise of long coats, hats, and sunglasses which was pretty obvious and typical. Once fully 'disguised' they left to follow her, I assumed though that their cover wouldn't last very long though.
What was more concerning though is how Giovanni knew so much about this world in the short time he had been here. Where did he go to know about such horrible things? It was also possible he was just paying close attention to his surroundings and what frequented the news. Besides my burning curiosity to know I so difficulty fought off this desire as I knew it was probably something I really wouldn't want to know about.
With nothing better to do I trotted up to my bedroom as I watched the additional villains still staring out of the front window like dogs. Inside my bedroom I tossed myself onto the purple covers and turned some music on through my docking station. Closing my eyes I let my mind wander, ideas and sorts filtered through my mind in mass. It was so difficult to relax, but at least I had something to think about.
My peace was soon interrupted, I heard someone come through my rooms door. Opening my eyes I was greeted by Giovanni once more, his persistence today was odd and made me feel at unease. Not wanting to be rude I straightened myself up giving him my full attention. He positioned himself at the foot end of my bed sitting in the most stern way possible.
"What's up?" I asked once his silence started to creep up on me.
The man stared at the ground oddly, "Just making sure you're doing alright."
I raised my eyebrows in utter surprise, "Checking on me, are you alright yourself? You haven't been acting normal at all today."
"Straight to the point huh? I like that" He nodded still staring off, "It's not that I wanted to snap at you, but I'm telling you that it's essential... I've got a pretty good connection here, and you two are the key to my success. Without it everything I've worked for could fall apart."
"I don't understand what that has to do with Vicki and I?" I cocked my head.
He sighed deeply rubbing his temples, "How long we're going to be here already, I'm considering taking something here. Possibly using it as a second home, however you two are the only two who will vouch for us as real citizens if there happens to be any trouble."
"I thought you weren't going to end up coming back!" I asked with a hint of fear.
"It won't be anything important to you I assure you" Giovanni answered without continuing.
Getting up promptly after his words he stepped out closing the door gently behind him. I slammed my head back against my soft pillows, all I could wonder was what they were up to this time. Closing my eyes I reminded myself that I needed to let go of it, they wouldn't do anything to screw up. I only hoped so, the lingering fear dug itself into the back of my head.
******
Vicki stepped through the door throwing off her shoes, I watched her carefully from the couch. She seemed terribly grumpy, I assumed she must have caught her pursuers. It's not often that disguises ever work when you're too proud, hence who they are. She approached the couch and slumped down onto it, her eyes burning with anger. Avoiding the urge to ask I just stared at the distant window in a dark haze.
"I can't believe them!" She blurted out in annoyance.
Pushing back the urge to laugh I asked, "So did you have an issue with the villains?"
"Yes, they tackled the person I seen!" Vicki responded, "I'm going to kill them!"
"What, why?" I wondered with wide eyes.
She rolled her eyes and kicked her legs up, "As soon as I seen the guy I said hello, and they just went crazy!"
"Wow, I thought they'd at least wait until something actually happened" I chuckled placing a hand on my forehead.
"You knew!" Vicki hissed in pure agony.
"There was nothing I could do, Giovanni ordered them to shadow you" I retorted unhappily.
Crossing her arms she huffed, "It makes sense but they're going to wake up to a particularly nasty surprise."
"What's that?" I questioned.
"I can't tell you, I don't want them to hear since they're so keen on eavesdropping" Vicki grumbled, "You'll see in the morning."
Pushing my hands into my dresses blue pockets I got up, "Well, I can't wait to see. I'm kind of hankering for some sugar I'm going to the store do you want anything?"
"No, no, you know how I don't like chocolate or candy. I'm fine with the popcorn we have here" Vicki waved me off in an exhausted way.
Nodding back to her I decided not to ask her to come along, her eyes were bagged and skin pale. It seemed she was gaining a cold of some sort, and that didn't happen very often. Already half asleep she curled up onto the black leather couch, I grabbed the fleece blanket on the opposite side of the couch and put it over her. Much quieter than I she snuggled into it probably already sleeping.
I sneaked away quietly up the stairs to grab my wallet and overcoat. In my room I searched around digging through a piled mess in which I needed to clean. Being quite irritated I began to organize the room into what seemed cleanest to me. Once half way through when I was putting away a box I had found my wallet inside my overcoat under the bed. I let out a breath of relief and turned around to head out the door, but of course someone was sitting at my doorway.
Giovanni blocked the door and interrogated me, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going out to the store to pick up some snacks, it's just a fifteen minute walk" I responded casually while attempting to brush past him.
He stopped me quickly with a grasp on my shoulder, "No, you're not going alone."
"I'm an adult, you're not my father, it's before midnight, stop it" I hissed back at him finally getting annoyed.
"You're taking someone with you, you live here where I make the rules!" He snapped losing his temper.
The last straw was pulled and I rushed past him, "I am not your property, Vicki isn't either! We are not having this conversation my god, you weren't this weird in the past!"
"Is it that difficult for you to actually use your brain you idiot!" Giovanni yelled pulling me back, "Just take someone with you, I don't care who!"
"Fine!" I mumbled walking away, "Ever since we've moved in you've been so demanding."
"I shouldn't have to remind you to make logical decisions, get over your pride and just accept that you're a naive and small girl who could easily be taken. N wouldn't have a problem restricting you, you're not able to defend yourself" Giovanni explained with pure toxicity in his tone.
My skin crawled at being called weak, "You don't know anything about me... You have no right to call me prideful when all of you can't stop fighting because you all have a power complex."
I bit hard down onto my lip knowing full well that he was right, but it still hurt hearing it. I watched his face but turned away knowing he'd say more. If I didn't care in the beginning then I could have let them figure things out on their own, but I made a mistake and now if they decide to do whatever they want they can because they have the power to do it. I clutched onto my head in anger wishing I wasn't so naive. At the staircase I saw the others hanging out playing cards at the table. Curiosity took me and I wandered over to check before I left.
Cyrus peered up at me from his chair while the others were fixed on their cards. Followed by him I saw Colress and Archie lift their heads as well in an accepting way. I sat at a chair in between Maxie and Lysandre for a moment to see what was happening.
"What are you guys playing?" I asked with a quivering voice from calming anger.
Archie shifted awkwardly in his chair, "Poker... I think..."
"Awhile back I read online about poker and thought we could give it a try... Giovanni kind of just up and left" Colress elaborated.
I sighed leaning on the table, "He's been acting way too different and it's annoying, it's like he owns us."
"I noticed that too, acts like he has full ownership over everyone in the house" the usual silent Cyrus agreed with me.
"We shouldn't talk about him behind his back though" I mumbled with my stupid morality, "I need someone to come with me to the corner store because he won't let me leave otherwise is anyone in?"
Maxie replied, "No I'm interested in this absurd game, did you ask Vicki?"
"She's too tired because you idiots today!" I snapped at him.
N sunk into his chair a little, "I was jealous and I convinced Maxie to tackle him I'm sorry!"
"You better be" I glared at him while leaning in my chair, "Is there anyone else who can take me? I have crazy sugar craving."
"Eat some of the sugar we have then" Lysandre piped in while stroking his beard.
"That's not how it works..." I replied wondering why he thought that was a good idea.
Lysandre feeling awkward blushed slightly, "Oh..."
"I'll go with you" Archie replied throwing his cards down, "I have no idea what I'm doing anyway."
Ghetsis appearing jealous stood up, "I'll go too."
"Well now we don't have many players if everyone just goes!" Colress groaned with disappointment.
Lysandre joined in as well, "I'm with them this is really boring, I prefer engaging games."
"This is engaging" Cyrus replied blandly.
Before the inevitable fight could break out I spoke up, "I only need one person to take me you know."
"Well it has to be me because I'm dying of boredom" Archie grumbled in annoyance, "I'm getting sick of sitting around, I want to be on the ocean... I guess a walk is fine too."
"I'm coming too" Ghetsis chimed in staring at Archie who seemed oblivious.
Lysandre shrugged, "I could go for a walk."
"Alright you can all come if you want, enjoy the cards guys!" I confirmed waving at the rest of the table.
N sat uncomfortably staring regretfully at us as if he was bored too, he must have been too afraid to come with me after being angry. We approached the door and I slipped on some black boots. I peered behind me to make sure they were ready, they stood waiting and I took a step outside. The brisk air tackled us as soon as we left, it was cold and rough against my clothes. Why had it still been cold in the late of March?
The silence itself made the wind feel more chilling than it actually was, I shivered lightly wishing I had wore a thicker jacket. Ghetsis walked behind us in slow steps, he seemed unaffected by the cold as usual. However Lysandre and Archie already seemed to be partially affected as they were wearing regular spring clothes of shirts and jeans. Our footsteps beat down the sidewalk in an oddly loud fashion, everything was perfectly silent.
In the distance I watched a nearby patch of forest sway with the wind. It seemed so peaceful all on its own, I really did wish I lived far from civilization where we could relax. Vicki and I had the plan recently as we thought a lot in the same mind, however we weren't expecting a bunch of game characters to pop up out of nowhere. There had to be a reason they were here, maybe one of them knew? It seemed so stupid at the time, but it always was a floating question of how they got there. Just asking would never solve anything but perhaps they would reveal themselves through utter mistake.
Drifting in thought Archie spoke loudly, "It is REALLY cold!"
"Heh... Yeah..." I agreed with a smirk.
Lysandre was second to speak up, "You know I was thinking it is rather strange that Giovanni was so concerned with letting you two go anywhere."
"I don't know, he said that apparently we're important for something" I explained to the best of my ability, "It makes me really uneasy, he's too powerful if he wanted to he could squash this nation. Too manipulative, too intelligent, it makes me nervous."
"It is kind of weird..." Archie chimed in still shivering.
I gazed at the long grey sidewalk while I walked, "Do any of you have any plans?"
"I HAD plans, but you wrecked those" Lysandre teased at me, "Maybe I'll get you next time."
Ghetsis finally spoke up, "That's too bad, because then I could have killed him..."
"You two are crazy... Why do I put up with this?" I sighed playfully.
Archie walked awkwardly almost playing on the sidewalk, "My plan is to get home, I can't stand it any longer here."
"I know how that must feel I was born on an island" I nodded lightly.
His eyes glistened as he peered back at me, "Ye' were huh?"
"Yeah, I used to live by the ocean but we moved to the city for work. I miss it a lot" I confirmed giving him a genuine smile.
"That's awesome! Ye' love the ocean right?" He continued with a spring in his step.
Kicking a rock I yawned, "Yeah, it's much different here though."
Before anyone else could continue we arrived at the store, the glowing lights pushed through the darkness. I stepped inside grabbing some candy, chips and chocolate, meanwhile the villains grabbed some junk food they liked as well. Archie had taken to some candy sharks, Ghetsis enjoyed anything with chocolate which often times was hilarious, and of course Lysandre was more picky often choosing something different. We approached the counter happily as the clerk glared at us awkwardly with the huge amount of snacks that were more than enough.
******
I slammed the door open with the bag full of food and attracted the attention of everyone. At the table Vicki had woken up and finished a bowl of popcorn. She was cuddled up in the couches blanket and seemed half asleep in between N and Maxie. We trotted over to join them, Giovanni had came back down, his eyes seemed drained to exhaustion like he hadn't slept in days. I sat down next to Giovanni smiling at him gently, he didn't react and continued to stare of weary eyed. Something was definitely up with him.
Ghetsis pulled into the chair next to me and Archie across, while Lysandre attempted to get close to Vicki this time. They weren't really playing cards anymore, instead they were playing an old fashioned game of monopoly. Vicki seemed to be doing pretty well at the moment as she moved next, however to her dismay Maxie had an entire line up of traps to steal all the money you could possbily gain. It was no contest he won within a small matter of time. Everyone being exhausted they traveled to their bedrooms for a good rest, I gave Vicki a firm hug but when I looked behind me Giovanni hadn't moved. He stared down in a clouded vision.
Forced by my natural good nature I approached him, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'll get to bed in a little bit" He replied to me with a blatant lie.
Frowning I pulled out the chair next to him and sat down, "Okay so I get that you're really important and big and everything and need to keep a strong outward appearance, but you can't bottle up what bothers you."
"What makes you think I want to talk to you?" Giovanni narrowed his stare.
I rolled my eyes, "Stop that, everyone knows you're acting different."
"I'm stressed out, I really miss home and having a drink in my hand" He caved in resting his head on his hands, "I wish I could have everything I need here but it's not the same."
I nodded in agreement, "It's difficult, not to mention you didn't choose to be here."
"No, I didn't and it's killing me. However at the same time it's so easy to gain control here. This world is already so torn and corrupt, people are too blind to stop anything. I like it, but I don't. I'm cross with how I should address this" The man continued on his rant.
"Yeah it does suck here... Honestly I would go back to you home and not come back if I were you but that's not the situation" I confirmed with him while in a half daze.
Giovanni took a deep breath and stared back at me, "You really don't like it here do you?"
"Well... Yeah but you be here for so long, it gets really boring" I replied lying my arms out on the table.
He crossed his arms calmly, "Perhaps I'll take you and Vicki with me if you want, just give it some thought and go to sleep..."
"Right..." I mumbled walking away, "Goodnight..."
Rushing up the stairs I tore off my overcoat and slung it around my arm. Once inside my room I threw it into a pile and thrown myself onto the bed. I closed my eyes tightly attempting to dispel the idea of abandoning this world. However it seemed so tempting, was I really considering doing the very thing I shouldn't do? Most people would do anything to live in a fantasy compared to our world, why does it feel so wrong?
******
END CHAPTER
Authors Note: I really wanted to post another chapter, and wow this one is REALLY Giovanni focused. It's also a pretty long one so I hope you Giovanni fans really liked this one aha! As always please do let me know what you think and if you see errors it really helps me out. Another thing I've been curious about is what you guys think is going to happen? What do you want to happen? Alright thanks everyone!