Anguish in resonance

by The.Fictionist-2077

Have you ever wondered what the catalyst to rise of the Joker was? This is a story about how the laughing man became who he is today, and how he got there. But be warned, it doesn't have a happy ending.

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Arthur's forearms burned as the lactic acid built up but that didn't stop him from pushing his torso back up. Finally, after reaching fifty push ups he rolled on to his back and inhaled as deeply as he could. His sweat clung to his entire torso and even behind his knees: he was dripping with sweat and he had a feeling Aashi wouldn't approve of her floor smelling of odour but he didn't have the strength to move himself.

He was embarrassed of his own limited strength for Aashi could do a hundred push ups easily without breaking a sweat and despite going slower for his sake, he still finished after her, winded. She even managed to complete her entre workout in the time it took him to do fifty push ups.

His train of thought was interrupted when a pair of cream smelling feet came to a stop above his head and then Aashi's head came into his view. He gave her the sauciest smile he was capable of to which she laughed at softly and crouched down. She prodded at his left smooth cheek with her index finger, which Arthur nipped at, but Aashi continued to poke him, "Are you done?"

She asked not to mock him but to find out if she could continue with the rest of her day. After all, Lucy was still asleep and she needed to wake her up before she could do anything else. Water droplets dripped from her forehead on to Arthur's face. He blinked as one droplet fell close to his left eye. He used to his forearm to wipe the sweat off his brow and reached for her face. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Sure am, Tiger".

Aashi sighed, rolling her eyes, and then told him plainly, "Why must you insist on calling me that?"

Arthur wheezed as he was still winded, "Cuz' Tigers are the strongest of the big cats and you, Darlin', are downright feral."

Aashi stood to her full height holding the towel tightly around her torso, "That's your opinion."

"No, no." Arthur struggled to stand on his feet so Aashi helped him up and he continued, "I know that ain't-"

"Ain't isn't word" Aashi rose a brow.

Arthur continued like Aashi hadn't said anything, "ain't my opinion! Just the other day you almost bit that woman's hand off."

Aashi coolly justified herself, "That woman was accusing me of being an immigrant who kidnapped Lucy to use her as a hostage to negotiate her safety for a green card."

"Oh, then if that's the case you should have slugged her harder" Arthur nodded with a wider smile.

"Yeah that's what I thought too" Aashi concurred nodding along, "Anyway, strip."

The deadpan tone in which she told, ordered, Arthur to strip made him look at her like she grew three heads. He shrugged and began to take his shorts off.

"Woah!" Aashi took a hold of his wrists, "I meant your shirt."

Arthur's eyebrows bounced suggestively, "Oh, of course."

Aashi crossed her arms and laughed through her nose as Arthur removed his shirt. Aashi took her time in scrutinising his body and Arthur did the same for her.

Aashi's eyes slowly trailed from his neck down to his chest, where she took her time to see how and where exactly the muscles formed, then to his arms where her eyes focused on his forearms and triceps. Then she looked at his hips and noted with fascination how quickly his hip flexures were showing. She circled him and studied his back muscles and how the small amounts of fat refused to melt off from his shoulder blades. She skimmed over his butt as it clearly needed more work and examined his thighs, calves and finally his feet.

Arthur followed her with his own laser like eyes. He didn't even need to ask to know that her muscles, despite not looking like the bulging types that most men tried to achieve, had a lot of power in them. He hadn't seen her in a real fight but he had seen her workout routine and he grew green with envy.

Her neck was not thin like most woman had but it wasn't a stump either. Her collar bones were quite prominent and when his eyes followed the end of those collar bones he saw the lean and stringy bicep and triceps muscles which were connected to an equally mean looking pair of forearms.

He couldn't see her breasts or abdominals due to the towel but even her chest looked like it was more muscle than fat as it was small and he could even make out a few ribs below her collar bone. Her hips didn't add much curves to her body, in fact, they actually looked square like indicating that there was little to no fat there too. Her thighs were quite thick too and his suspicions were proven correct. Her thighs were well defined and he almost mistook her calves for those of a swimmer. Interestingly, when she waked he could see every tendon connected to her toes move and shift in her foot.

He felt a chill go up his spine when his eyes slowly trailed back up and he noticed two bumps on her chest through her thick red towel. He presumed that they were her nipples, which were erect due to the February cold but he wished that he was also the cause but he doubted it because she showed little romantic interest in him.

She nodded and paused, mulling over a few suggestions, "You've trained before, haven't you?"

Arthur licked his scar and cocked his head, "What makes you, uh, say that?"

Aashi smirked, raising a brow impulsively like how Arthur licked his scars, "Men naturally gain muscles faster than woman, but you developed your muscles much faster than normal, and your stamina also developed faster than average as well. Your body adapted well to your training and it's not because you're a man but… because of your memory cells."

Arthur eyebrows bounced and his smile stretched across his face, and his scar on the right side of his face made him look even more cocky, "Gosh, Ai! I knew you were a fan but please!" he pointed to her own body, "If anything you should be praised over your own body. I can't imagine it would be easy maintaining those muscles, especially since you're a lady."

Aashi eyes narrowed at him but he flashed her a charming look. It didn't work so he took her by the shoulders and laughed lightly, "Come on, Ai."

Aashi folder her arms over her towelled chest, "You were in the military, weren't you?"

Arthur became jittery and to throw her off, he abruptly asked the question that had been on his mind for a month, "You're into women, ain't ya?"

They both stood in stunned silence for a while and Arthur patted himself on the back mentally from stopping Aashi in her tracks. Though, it wasn't the reaction he was hoping for. Another name which he and Bob had come up with for her had been Iron Maiden as she rarely showed her true emotions. She guarded and veiled her emotions well as was the situation now.

Her eyes were stony and her mouth was pursued in a blank line. She stood her ground and even though she was a foot shorter than him Arthur felt a spike of fear in his heart when her commanding aura consumed his entire form.

He yielded, "Yes, I was once military." He was curious regardless, "What gave it away?"

"Your ease and knowledge of weapons (which is not just something anyone can get), your knowledge and style in disarming and self-defence, your body, your OCD needs, your idiolect, your defence stances, the list could go on."

"When did we ever go near any weapons?"

"Remember when that man tried to mug us with the revolver on the way we went to go get Lucy from school, and you disarmed him the way soldiers do?"

He squinted at her, "I did?"

Aashi gave him an obvious look which jogged Arthur's memory immediately and he corrected himself, "I did! I did, now stop avoiding my question. You owe me that much."

Aashi sighed and looked to the ceiling, "I owe you nothing. How did you find out?"

Arthur began to fidget and looked at his feet so Aashi grabbed him by the adam's apple which brought all of his attention to her and ceased his fidgeting.

"How?"

"I, uh, found your, uh… toys" Aashi released him and he gave her a meaningful look, "I was impressed by" he cleared his throat "the variety." He licked his scars.

Aashi folded her arms, "I hid them thoroughly."

He abruptly added, looking past her head "I did a thorough search but to be fair I didn't even know what I was looking for until I found them."

"So, you somehow got past the tripwire without triggering it, then you picked the lock of the box which was hidden underneath in the floorboards of my large wardrobe, and then got past the lock inside that box itself which was made to look like a makeup box and put everything back into place exactly how you found it?" she tapped his bare chest with her index finger rhythmically.

"Like I said, I did a thorough search" he still didn't look at her, knowing he would get the disappointed look.

"Of my room or the entire apartment?" she asked frankly.

"I had already done the rest of the apartment, your room was the only one left and the opportunity arose last week when you went to visit your friend." He gave her a charming smile and finally looked her in the eye.

She was not happy at all so he jumped closer to her and tenderly took her hands, "I'm hurt, Ai. You didn't tell me about your-" he struggled to find the correct words and as he didn't want to acknowledge his own defeat, "-preferences even after everything I've told you."

Aashi snatched her hands away ad ignored the hurt look on his face, "It is not a preference! Preference suggests it is a choice and it is not a choice! And you kept your secrets too" she didn't raise her voice but it would've have been just as bad.

Arthur tried to reach for her but thought against it when Aashi shot him a sharp look. His hands fell limply to his side and he nodded, "Yeah, I kept it from you because… because I wanted ta keep that part of myself… hidden and buried." He hesitated and like a reflex he stepped closer to her for comfort, "I'm ashamed of it."

Aashi's eyes softened slightly as she took in his vulnerable state of being. She paused and side hugged him. He leaned into the hug and buried his face into the crook of her neck until Aashi questioned him, "Why did you invade my privacy?"

Arthur flushed and turned his back to her. He muttered under his breath which Aashi didn't question so she leaned closer to his back to the point where she was resting on his back, "What was that?"

"I didn't have the balls ta ask ya if you were gay."

There was a pause so Arthur glanced back to find that Aashi was attempting to stifle a laugh.

Arthur looked around the room like there was some explanation hidden there, but his eyes focused back to Aashi's shaking half naked form, "What?"

She shook her head and doubled over in uncontained laughter, "You think I'm gay!"

Suddenly, the weight in his shoulders that weighed on him for months was lifted, "what?"

Arthur's eyes flickered to her chest but he averted his gaze feeling guilty for disrespecting her and knowing if she caught him there would be consequences. Aashi stood back up and collected herself, "I'm not gay".

His brows shot up in shock, "You use those on men?! You sodomise-"

"Arthur" she grabbed his chin, "I'm not gay but I didn't say I was hetero either."

He licked his lips and ducked his head to level with her, "So, you don't sodomise men?"

"That's not the point, Arthur. You were stressing over something which is not true."

Arthur blinked, "So, you're not gay… so what are you? You're not straight."

"I'm bisexual" she stated, and Arthur literally fell to his knees. He hugged her knees and laughed hysterically. Aashi's brows scrunched together, "Arthur, what are you doing?"

"I still have a chance" he said to himself.

"What?" Aashi lifted him to his feet.

"I still have a chance!" he shook her shoulders lightly and ran off. Aashi was left puzzled, alone, in the living room. She mentally thanked herself for hiding her precious shoebox in a better place which resulted in Arthur not finding it. She sauntered to her room and found that Arthur had rushed off to the bathroom leaving a bit of a mess in her room and waking Lucy.

She was rubbing her eyes and yawned. Aashi rubbed her head, "Morning, child."

"Good morning, mummy" Lucy smiled sleepily.

Aashi grinned and turned away to dress. Somehow, both Arthur and Lucy would find excuses to sneak into Aashi's room to share her bed with her. Recently, they had begun to amplify their efforts to stay with her the most they could even when they were unconscious.

Arthur was the one who came up with the excuses while Lucy was the one who tried to buy her way by using her cuteness to her advantage. Like last night Arthur had said that the wind was too strong which created a whistling sound that scared Lucy, and he didn't want to be alone because he couldn't see well in the dark and he said there was a danger that he would've cracked his head open by trying to navigate the room himself so he tagged along.

It's not that Aashi minded sharing but she didn't like the idea that they were becoming dependent on her.

Aashi could feel Lucy's eyes burning a hole into her back, "what is it, Lulu?"

She heard Lucy's small feet padding her way towards Aashi and paused behind her, "Mummy, what's that?"

"What? Aashi peered over her shoulder to see Lucy pointing to her lower back dimples. "Those are Venus dimples. They're normal."

"Oh." She walked back to the bed and sat down, "Mummy, can you do my hair?"

"Ok, but you have to do the other braid, ok?" Aashi pulled her black poncho over her black camisole and dark leopard print harem pants. Aashi snatched the wooden comb from the chest cupboard and crawled to Lucy on her bed. Lucy giggled when Aashi ran her hand in Lucy's mousey brown hair. Aashi spread her legs to a 'V' shape and Lucy sat in the middle with her back to Aashi's front.

"What do you want today?" Aashi combed back Lucy's hair.

"Hm" Lucy put her hand to her chin in thought, "Twin Frenchie braids"

"Twin French braids coming up" Aashi split her hair in two and proceeded to gently do Lucy's hair. Every so often Lucy would reach up to see what her braid looked like but Aashi would slap her hand away.

"Mummy, I like it when you do my hair" Lucy informed Aashi softly as if she spoke too loudly she would break the spell.

"I know" Aashi bluntly replied but so absorbed she was in doing Lucy's hair that she forgot Lucy was supposed to do the other half herself. Aashi combed back Lucy's hair from the hairline to the braid to uniform the braids more.

"There" Aashi patted her back.

Lucy rose her hands t her hair and gently patted her braid, "Thanks, Mummy!" she rushed to the mirror and complemented Aashi's work, "It's beautiful, Mummy."

Aashi chucked when she twirled around which caused her PJs to flare as well. Lucy ran back to Aashi and sat down next to her and tugged on her wrist, "Mummy, do you think I can have hair like you?"

"Like me?" Aashi questioned.

Lucy nodded, "Your hair is really long and it's really pretty, and it shines!"

Aashi laughed heartily, "I didn't know it shined, but if you take of your hair very well" Aashi traced Lucy's hairline. "If you moisturise your hair and tie it up then your hair can grow as long as mine."

"Yeah?" Lucy's eyes sparkled with hope.

"Yeah"

"So" Lucy hesitated, "you don't use magic to grow your hair?"

"Yeah, Ai!" Arthur surprised them from the doorway, "You don't use magic?" he mimicked Lucy. His hair was still dripping and he had his arms folded to keep himself warm as he left his towel on the floor in his room.

Lucy pouted but then looked away quickly, "Ew, daddy! Put some clothes on!"

Aashi gave him an amused look, "Arthur, do you really want to scar your daughter by walking around in just your boxers?"

"Puh-lease!" Arthur sniggered to himself, "you're no better. You sometimes walk buck naked around Lucy when I'm not looking."

"I'm a woman." Aashi said pointedly, "She will have a body like mine one day."

"Maybe not exactly like yours" Arthur muttered under his breath and trudged away to find some clothes. Aashi told Lucy it was safe to look when a thought came to Lucy, "Mummy, can I do your hair?"

Aashi blinked at Lucy, "Very well, let me dry my hair first."

"Dry mine too, Tiger" Arthur rushed into Aashi's lap moments later in a loose navy tracksuit when Aashi sat down with the hair dryer in hand. Aashi sighed at his childishness but complied knowing by the time their little argument would be over their hair would have dried by itself.

Arthur's eyelids fluttered shut when he felt Aashi's hand gently weave through his hair and suppressed a groan when she accidently tugged on a few strands. When it came to Aashi's hair though Lucy and Arthur had a tug of war, arguing, exactly who would be more able to deal with Aashi's waterfall of hair.

Finally, Aashi had enough and decided Arthur would hold the hairdryer while Lucy would move Aashi's hair and find the areas that were still soaking. It took a while as Lucy and Arthur squabbled and because of the length of Aashi's hair.

Much to Aashi's amusement when it came to moisturising her hair with avocado oil both Lucy and Arthur backed away immediately, complaining about the smell and how it looked strange. Yet, after when Aashi finished oiling her hair and tried to comb it they both jumped back in. Arthur won as he snatched the comb and held it above his head so Lucy couldn't even reach for it.

Lucy sniffled in defeat so after Arthur's hands were away from her hair, Aashi punched him in the shoulder and roughly took back the comb, and gave it to Lucy who perked up immediately. Arthur pouted childishly and sat next to Lucy who combed Aashi's hair but grumbled in defeat.

"Daddy, could you comb the top of Mummy's hair, I… can't reach" she looked at her lap while she held the comb up to her father.

"Ha! I knew it!" Arthur pointed at her, accusingly. He took the comb and combed back Aashi's hair in awe, "Are you sure you don't use magic, Ai?"

"Yes, though I do have a secret" Aashi mysteriously told them.

"Really?" they both leaned towards her but were disappointed when Aashi then told them, "But I'm not going to tell either of you".

"Mummy, please!"

"No" Aashi said it in a tone which suggested that they would not be continuing that conversation.

"Wait, what am I supposed to be doin' here?" Arthur interrupted them having split Aashi's hair in two.

"Let's keep it simple: twin French braids"

"Frenchie braids it is" Arthur nodded arimitively.

"Ah so she got it from you" Aashi realised.

"Wha-t?" Arthur had honestly not heard her.

"I said not to pull my hair out" Aashi lied. Arthur nudged her with her elbow, "Hey, woman. When I'm done you'll be begging for more from these magic hands" Arthur licked his scar, pleased with himself.

Aashi exhaled sharply, "Please, Artie. Keep your Richard to yourself in front of Lucy."

Aashi was not a fool. She saw the fleeting looks that Arthur gave her and she saw the desperation in his eyes, and she couldn't lie to herself as she indeed felt an attraction, but did she want to be involved with him? No, not exactly. Asilia had allowed Aashi to have polygamous relationships but they were with the consent of all parties and rarely with other men (least of all with men like Arthur) and it had been a while since Aashi had taken on more than two lovers.

Not only that, but she noted that Arthur was very… adhesive with her. She had a feeling that he would get jealous very fast, no matter who she was with or what her relationship was with them, and she didn't want that right now. He didn't need that. She didn't need that.

Also, she didn't want to complicate her relationship with Arthur seeing as he was the father of her daughter, and he was still legally with Harleen. Maybe if Harleen was out of the picture and Asilia didn't mind then she might take him as a partner. She knew deep down Lucy wanted them to be a couple as she thought it brought greater stability and, bless, she wanted their happiness. If only it were that simple.

Aashi was pulled out of her thoughts when Lucy gasped, "Oh no, I'm late for school!"

Lucy padded away quickly to the bathroom and Arthur clicked his tongue, "Do you think we should tell her that it's President's day?" he continued to braid Aashi's hair.

"President's day?" Aashi whispered to herself. The date was Monday the eighteenth of February. Oh, it clicked in Aashi's mind, "Isn't it when you Yankees celebrate Washington's Birthday?"

"All president's birthday" Arthur informed her but then he was quick to add in a sardonic tone, "As if we need to celebrate the great American presidency" he paused, "rather we should neutralise it."

Aashi hummed, "And here I thought all Americans were insanely patriotic. Tell me, was it the war that turned you?"

Arthur was silent and as her back was turned to him she couldn't even see his face. "It was more than that", his voice was gruff and hesitant. "President's day is a" he struggled to find the words but he came around, "A reinforcement of all the excessive power and celebrity the presidents have acquired over the decades."

Aashi was silent and allowed him to continue, knowing she should be patient with him, "This country is… is-ah way i-nnnn over its head. Democracy" he scoffed, "there is no, uh, such thing-ah. People have just been given the illusion of choice when they're just toolssss. The, uh, Oval office and it's great people need to be, uh, knocked down a few notches. People need to be less respectful, and there needs to be less, uh, unfettered-ah authority exercised."

Aashi agreed, "Without regard for rule of law"

"Or common decency – that's what the, uh, Oval office needs. Not some bozos re-enacted how those fat cats got in power in the first place. "

Arthur exhaled, and released Aashi rom his hold. He skimmed her over while she checked her hair with her hands. "Nicely done… for a man", her eyes crinkled as a smile stretched in her face. "How did you learn?"

Arthur licked his scar and looked out the doorway then back to her. He leaned toward her as she sat back down, "That would be tellin', Tiger".

Aashi leaned towards him as well and stared right back into his black pools. Her eyes were like an abyss and he got lost in them quite easily. He leaned further in and just as his nose grazed hers Aashi put her forefinger on his lips, interrupting him.

Aashi was about to pull away but he took a hold of her wrist and kept her there, "Ya know, Lou, told me somethin' interesting 'bout your name."

"Yeah?" Aashi humoured him.

"Apparently, Aashi means to smile. Tell me, Ai, what does the rest of your name mean?" his eyes bore into her own.

"You don't know my name" she esily challenged.

Arthur's forehead gently connected with Aashi's, "Oh, Tiger. But, of course, I do. Whats'matter? Did ya think I forgot when you introduced yourself to dear Bob, huh?" he chuckled lightly.

Aashi's eyes flitted across the room when she heard a creak but she focused back on him almost immediately, "Go ahead, let's see if you do remember, bandar."

His dark eyes swirled with excitement, "Aashi Jaya Patil. Now, we know Aashi means to smile, so what does the rest mean?"

Aashi narrowed her eyes and took her hand back and took a hold of his collar, "Jaya means victory".

Arthur smirked, "Wouldn't mind havin' that name."

"Right? It's a shame that many people, especially in the West, can't appreciate it." Aashi looked to he ceiling but then back to him, "And Patil… means head or chief: it was used as a title."

Arthur stroked her cheek, "Some name ya got there".

Aashi suddenly said to him, "What about your name, Arthur Fleck?"

Arthur leaned back finally, "I don't know, my mother chose it," he cursed himself when he let that slip.

Aashi laid down on her back and closed her eyes, "Arthur means courageous… not quite sure about Fleck though."

"See, I have an awesome name too" he pointed at her in victory. Aashi smiled humourlessly and quietly told him, "Did you know Harleen is also a popular name in Punjabi? It means one with God".

Arthur opened his mouth to retort but Lucy came rushing in, "Mummy, can you help me, pweaze?" she tugged at Aashi's hand but Aashi gently patted her on the head, "Child, you don't have school. It's President's day."

Lucy slumped onto Aashi's hard stomach, "Oh, thank you".

After a short moment, they all burst into uncontrollable laughter.

;-;-;-;-;

Aashi mirrored the wry face that Arthur was pulling at the decorations around the city centre. Lucy asked them what the fuss was many times over but she wouldn't understand any of their answers.

They were currently at a diner for breakfast much to Aashi's dismay. As they entered Aashi called Arthur's name expectantly, hesitating to sit down but when he didn't catch along Aashi shook her head reluctantly sat down.

Something had put Aashi on alter and Arthur was scrambling to find out why.

"It's so American" Aashi's coolly let Arthur know why she didn't like dinners.

"They're wholesome" Arthur larked.

Aashi raised her brows in mock surprise, "Wholesome, you say? They're greasy and shoddy".

"I like them" Lucy gave her two cents. Aashi gave her a light smile and sighed away her complaints, "Very well, child." She looked outside the large window and studied the people walking by like they were insects. She sat in the booth that was nicely tucked in a corner and could easily see anyone who entered or left the diner. Lucy and Arthur sat opposite of her.

While Aashi brooded over whatever it was bothering her, Lucy and Arthur ordered their food: Lucy had pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and milk and Arthur had the fried egg sandwich. Originally, he was going to have the fried egg and cheese with meat sandwich but Aashi had influenced him to eat healthier. She was right. He ate too much meat, he realised.

When the lady served them Arthur had to do a double take. She was a middle aged portly woman with greyish blonde hair.

"Happy President's day!" she served Arthur and Lucy with a strong smile but just as she turned to leave, she paused and then her fat face clouded up with antipathy. Arthur's finger itched to grab the cutlery and stab her in her chins at the way she was looking at Aashi.

Aashi, who had a hand covering her mouth, halted bobbing her knee and looked at the woman with harsh black eyes. "Do you have an issue with me, ma'am?"

The woman's eyes narrowed at Aashi, "Yeah, why don' you take your coloured ass outta of my diner if you're not gonna hav' anythin' ta eat!"

Arthur tried to diffuse the situation, his own brow twitching at the woman's words, "Look, now let's, uh, calm down."

Aashi lowered her hand and her face settled into haughty look, "Well, I usually wouldn't set foot into a pig sty such as this one, however, my daughter here wants to enjoy this pathetic excuse you serve as food. So, instead of antagonising me, why don't you waddle along and serve your other customers, you chuffed chav?"

"Ai!" Arthur whispered, warningly.

The woman looked gobsmacked and even took a few steps back with her jaw hanging open, "What did you say? That's your daughter?" she pointed at Lucy, astonished.

Lucy had been tucked into her pancakes enthusiastically when the plate was set in front of her but now she had completely forgotten it even as a pancake piece slid out of her hands. Her eyes were filled with worry as she thought it was her doing that caused this scene, after all, the woman was pointing her sausage hand at her.

The fat lady chuckled with disbelief, "Her? Your daughter? She's too much of a sweet pure White Christian American to be your daughter. Just looka her and look at yourself! Have you looked in a mirror, you devil worshiper? I don' know what y'all doin' with her but she ain't your daughter."

Arthur's jaw tightened and he swallowed a scream.

Aashi's face didn't indicate what she was feeling and her stony face moved ever so slightly as she demanded with dark eyes, "Don't point at my daughter." Meanwhile, Arthur who sat closest to the woman ground his teeth and also demanded, "Don't just, uh, go on to presume things, lady!" he licked his face and turned completely so that the fat lady got a good look at him.

"Ugh" she exclaimed, "No wonder you settled for her. Look, I know you're not good lookin', son, but I'm sure there are good Christian woman out there for ya. Just think of you littl' one" she pointed again at Lucy and this time Aashi stood up abruptly.

Her trench coat swished as she walked toward the fat lady and Arthur noticed how the small baby hairs fell onto Aashi's forehead. She had taken her time in doing her hair up into a single French braid with not a hair out of place and now it was slightly ruffled: she was not going to be happy later.

Aashi got in the woman's face and hunched down so that her face was levelled with hers, "Don't point at my daughter."

The fat woman gasped sharply and stumbled back until her fat ass planted on the table behind her. The customers immediately began to protest angrily as the fat lady literally sat in their food. The attention was deflected away from Aashi and her family and they quickly settled down. The fat lady apologised profusely to the customers and with a tear streaked face, she was dismissed. Arthur barely touched his food and Lucy was struggling to finish off her pancakes.

After a minute of pushing around her pancakes, Lucy squeaked in a high pitch voice, "Mummy, I don't wanna be here anymore."

Aashi turned away from the window and her eyes softened, "You haven't finished you food, child."

Arthur swallowed, "Ai!" he said gruffly, "I think we're done here. Let's go."

Aashi's eyes flickered between Arthur and Lucy until she came to a decision. She pulled out her black leather wallet and was about to pay the bill but Arthur insisted he paid. When Arthur stood and turned to leave his eyes caught what had been bothering Aashi: above the kitchen of the diner was a small confederate flag.

He closed his eyes cursed at himself mentally for being so oblivious. Aashi nudged him forward gently and they left without a word. Lucy tugged at Aashi's coat sleeve once they were in a secluded area, "Mummy."

Aashi halted and knelt in front of Lucy on one knee. She took out a handkerchief and wiped off some cream from the corner of her mouth, and then nodded, "Yes, daughter, what's the matter?"

"Mummy, did I-" Lucy began to stutter and her eyes watered. Arthur rubbed her head, "Sweet pea, whasmatter?"

Lucy looked at her shoes, and then her watery eyes looked back at Aashi's soft black eyes, "Mummy, did I do something wrong back there? Did you get in trouble 'cuz of me?"

Aashi shushed her when she began to cry and Arthur also kneeled down, wiping her face with his sleeve. Arthur glanced at Aashi but she was concentrated on Lucy.

"No, no." Arthur paused to lick his scar, "It's not you, princess."

Lucy bowed her head and cried into her hands, and the parents strained their ears to catch what she said into her hands, "Then why do people always pick on Mummy?"

Aashi lowered her hands from Lucy and inhaled deeply. She raised her head and looked down at Lucy through her lashes, "Lucy."

The tone in which Aashi addressed Lucy made her tears stop and even Arthur gave her his whole attention.

Aashi's eyes were no longer soft and understanding. It was like a wall had been erected. "Why do you blame yourself, child?"

Lucy licked her lips and her mouth gaped but no sound came out.

"Close your mouth" the curt tone that Aashi spoke in was not to be challenged and even Arthur stayed silent. Lucy's mouth slammed shut.

Aashi stood tall her face stoic, "Tell me, child. Every time when someone is going to pick a fight with myself, your father or yourself, are you going to just kneel over and cry? Did you not say you wanted to be strong?"

Realisation hit Arthur like speeding car and he kneeled back giving Aashi permission to dish 0ut her little lesson.

Suddenly, a look of anger flashed on Lucy's face her tears completely dry now, "What? No. No! That's not what-"

Aashi interjected, "Then why do you let it affect you so?"

"Because I…" when Lucy trailed off Aashi took a step back. Her spiked boots clicked against the ground which alerted Lucy again. Lucy's eyes trailed up Aashi's form timidly. She was reminded of the moment when she first ran into Aashi.

Her boots looked meaner than before though and even her ripped jeans looked scruffier. Her forest green thickly stripped t-shirt also made Lucy dizzy. Her spiked choker looked like it was ready to wrap itself around Lucy's own neck to squeeze the life out of her. However, as her eyes trailed up more she admitted that Aashi's thick eyeliner made her even more intimidating. She looked like the Aashi from her nightmare in that moment.

"Because you what?" her tone now stern, "What is your answer? How will I know if you never complete your sentences, child? Do you not know how to speak?"

Lucy looked away to her father but his eyes were on Aashi, "No, I- I know- I-"

Aashi pushed her more, "Tell me, how am I to get an answer out of you? Why do you let people get to you? Answer me! Do you know how to answer me?"

Lucy stomped her feet aggressively, "Because I love you!" she yelled on the top of her lungs, "And- and I don't want you to leave me again."

Lucy rushed towards Aashi and hugged her legs. She tried to control her tears but she couldn't stop her voice from breaking, "I don't want you to leave, Mummy! Please! I don't want you to leave because I made trouble for you! Please, don't go!"

Aashi's eyes softened and her hands tenderly took Lucy in her arms, kneeling again at her level. The moment Arthur saw the wall break in Aashi's eyes, he leaned into the hug as well. Aashi held Lucy's face in her hands and wiped away her tears again. Smiling, Aashi told Lucy, "I'm not going anywhere, child. Why on earth would I leave such a loving daughter?"

Aashi kissed her forehead and held her again. Arthur gave Aashi a meaningful look and smiled softly, "Oh, so you're staying just for Lucy? Where's my love, huh?"

Aashi chuckled, "Sorry, all my love goes to Lucy."

"All of it?" Arthur suddenly asked in a dead serious manner.

Aashi paused and was dodge the question but Lucy beat her to it, "And Asilia!"

Lucy beamed with pride having remembered Asilia's name for once but it caused Aashi great problems. Arthur's eyes sparkled with this new found discovery.

"Ai didn't like that. Lucy just let me on something I wasn't supposed to know. Lucy knows. She's probably met her if she knows her name." Arthur spoke to himself mentally. "Asilia. My new rival. Intruder."

Arthur licked his scar, "Asilia? Who's that, Lou?"

Lucy's smiled and pulled out of Aashi's hug completely, "She's mummy's-"

Thankfully, Aashi's phone blocked out Lucy's voice as it rang loudly. Aashi sighed in relief to herself and stood to her full height. She took one look at the phone screen and declined the call. She looked at the both of them expectantly, "We must go."

;-;-;-;-;

Aashi had been in and out of their home which made Arthur question as to who needed his Aashi during the public holiday. He and Lucy had played a few board games and when Lucy tried to go for the PlayStation Arthur would drag her back to another game.

It was nearing dusk when Arthur finally texted Aashi (she had given it to him during Christmas for emergency's sake). She had left hours ago and had not been back yet. She hadn't eaten or taken a rest since that strange call.

No reply.

Lucy had tired herself out emotionally so they decided she would go to bed early. He tucked her own bed before he went to Aashi's room. Whilst he awaited Aashi's reply he brewed over what he had found out.

"Aashi was bisexual. Asilia sounds like a potential lover. Asilia is most likely a woman."

"Asilia" he rolled out her name mentally to help himself to picture a face.

"If you kill her, you can have Aashi to yourself" a malicious voice suggested.

"But… does Ai love this woman?" Arthur asked himself.

"It doesn't matter. She deserves better." A second voice said.

"We're better" A third voice declared.

"We're better for Aashi!" Another voice.

"We deserves her!" Then another.

"If we kill this… Asilia woman, and if Aashi finds out… what will she do?" Arthur worried his lips between his teeth.

A softer voice said, "She will leave you, of course."

"She will leave just like that." The malicious voice returned.

"You'll be alone" Another one added.

"Alone again" another voice repeated the last.

"Do you really want to be alone again, Jackie boy?" the malicious voice mocked him.

Arthur gripped his head as he rolled in Aashi's bed. He felt like he was choking so he struggled to his feet and ripped the polo shirt off of his torso and threw it against the wooden chest. He held his neck as he heaved and sucked in as much oxygen as he could.

The voices were screaming and chanting that he would be alone for eternity. He couldn't see straight anymore and was sure that his dinner was traveling back up in his gullet. He stumbled around in circles until he felt something grip his ankle.

He looked down and saw tiny naked grey demons smirking up at him. His heart almost stopped in his chest. They had horns, ugly wrinkles on their tiny faces, sawed teeth, and devil like tails which they shanked him with. He cried and fell back, fortunately, into Aashi's bed.

The malicious voice returned, "But… if you get rid of the competition properly, without leaving a trace, we could keep Aashi to ourselves. Forever!"

"No, she'll be hurt" Arthur argued with himself.

"She'll only find out because you'll mess it up!" the malicious voice snapped back.

Arthur crawled to the head of the bed and as the demons began to surround him he buried his head into the pillows. He couldn't see anything but he could feel their tiny grubby hands probing at him. He shook as the voices became louder but as quick as the demons came, they vanished. He was too afraid to look though.

A hand was on his head.

It was larger than the hands of the demons and he didn't know what his mind would conjure up so he hesitated. He didn't want to be a wreck when Aashi came back and he didn't trust himself to be around Lucy just yet so he had to wait it out.

When the hand ruffled his short greasy hair, he begrudgingly shifted his head to find Aashi above him with a look of concern.

He let out a relieved gasp and pulled her into bed. Aashi unwillingly laid on top of him but whenever she tried to move off of him, thinking that she was crushing him, he would keep her there.

He was in a fragile state and Aashi did not want to use force in fear that it would hurt him or cause some misunderstanding so she didn't move again. It was an awkward position, or so Aashi thought, but he seemed content so she stayed that way.

After a few moments Aashi patted his sides, "Arthur, let's get comfortable and then you can hold me all you want, yeah? Let me change and you can go under the covers."

Arthur let out a strangled breath, and moments later replied, "Yeah, yeah." He let her go and she moved to change. Arthur moved to help, "Here-"

Aashi gently pushed him back down, "No, no. It's ok. You just wait here."

It was dark and her back was to him but he still took this time admire her body. It wasn't that Aashi didn't have shame. She thought that Arthur's vision wasn't as good as hers in the night and she was confident in her body so she didn't see a reason why she couldn't change her attire in her own room.

That's what he loved about her the most: she didn't feel the need to fit social norms or to the standards of others. She was confident in herself exactly the way she was.

He admired how her muscled arms pulled the baggy thermal over her torso and how her thick thighs moved as she pulled her long shorts up. She strolled over to the chest draw and opened her hair and combed it through. She then hurriedly snuggled into the sheets and unravelled.

He could see the way her muscles relaxed as she let out a few more breaths. His fingers curled and relaxed as he itched to hold her again. He really didn't mean to vex her but he had to hold her if he wanted to have a peace of mind.

Mustering up the courage, he stretched his hand over to her and felt for her hand. When he found the shape of her hand he intertwined his fingers with hers. She responded by holding his hand gently. His breathing became heavy and then he pulled her over to himself.

He heard grunt but she didn't fight him. Both of his arms wrapped around her and he let her have this peaceful effect over him. He shook as a sudden coldness travelled up his spine but he did not stop shaking even as it passed.

Aashi's left hand awkwardly weaved around their bodies and went to the left side of his cheek and stroked it reassuringly, "It's alright."

The voices had faded but the fear of loneliness was still there so he muttered to her, "Don't leave."

"I'm right here" her deep voice lulled him into a net of safety.

"With me?" he was desperate.

"Yes, I'm right here with you. I won't leave you." Her voice was so clear that it cleansed his mind.

He shook one last time before he relaxed and held her to himself. "Stay with me" he muttered to himself.

The rhythmic strokes had such startling effects especially as it was instantaneous. Yet, he didn't want to go to sleep. He turned more to his side so he could nuzzle his face in her hair, "Aashi?"

"Yeah?"

"Where were you?" he sounded almost hurt.

Aashi tensed and she opened her eyes but did not look at Arthur. Arthur cracked his eye open slightly and though he could not see anything but her long inky hair.

"Out."

Arthur quickly reminded her, "Your hands are swollen."

Aashi didn't answer him. He rubbed his head on the side of her forehead, "You were out lookin' for a fight, weren't cha?"

"No, they were looking for a fight, I was just coming home."

"And who might 'they' be?" he repressed the urge to lick his scars.

"I don't know, some bratty kids. They're getting worse these days…" She huffed like just thinking about them made her tired.

Arthur sat up and leaned over Aashi. His aquamarine necklace slipped out of his shirt and dangled between them. The small specks of moonlight reflected off it thus giving it a strange glowing aura. Aashi's gaze flicked to it and then back to his eyes, "You shouldn't wear that to bed. You might hurt yourself."

Arthur ignored her, "Come on, let's get you some ice."

"No" yet despite her answer Aashi still allowed Arthur to peel the duvet off of her and took her to the kitchen. Both of them blinked rapidly as their eyes adjusted to the blinding lights. He held her hand gently as he led the way and only let go to open the freezer.

"C'mere" he took her hands in his own and as he was about to put the ice on her red irritated knuckles, he sarcastically quipped, "What were you doin'? Practicing your bare-knuckle boxing?"

He had led her to the sofa by the time she retorted in all seriousness, "Please, they were just child's play. Real bare-knuckle fighters have sturdier bodies. They have to in order to stand the real deal."

Arthur's grip slackened as he looked at her with wide eyes, "You… box bare hands?"

Aashi blinked at him nonchalantly, "Yes, I thought you already knew. How do you think I broke my nose so many times? Have you not looked at my hands before?"

Arthur licked his lips and thought to himself, "That explains the scars on her face. But her hands?"

For the first time perhaps, he looked at her hands and scolded himself for not realising how scarred they were.

He shook his head and then looked at her with a grimace, "Tiger, you're something else. How'd you end up in this industry?"

"I beat my first manager's son to death but he was so impressed he introduced me to the industry."

Aashi laughed as his face of disbelief flashed before her. Arthur then left her momentarily leaving Aashi confused on the sofa but returned shortly with a bowl of water and a cloth. He removed the closed ice pack from her hand and began to clean the small flecks of blood.

It wasn't her blood but she was somewhat touched by the gesture anyhow considering Arthur rarely showed such concern openly.

"I can do it." Aashi reached for the cloth but Arthur held it close to his chest, "No."

As Arthur cleaned her hands, he shook his head and muttered to himself, "Gotta look after my woman."

Aashi felt like the oxygen in her lungs had disappeared suddenly. She watched him wide eyed, "What?"

Arthur's concentration broke, and he hurriedly looked up from her hand before carrying on with her hand, "What?"

Aashi could tell he didn't even realise what he had said but he had said it to himself so many times now that it completely slipped off his tongue without so much of a second thought of the repercussions.

Aashi watched him as hi tongue came out to lick his scar again, "Just now… you called me 'your woman'?"

Arthur paused and swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. He had just recklessly outed himself. Begrudgingly, he rose his eyes to Aashi's cool kohl ones and saw not one speck of empathy in them.

"What?"

"Don't make me repeat myself." Funny, her hand was still in his but by the tone she just spoke with him, one cold have thought she was miles away from him sitting in an ice throne while he grovelled at her feet.

He rubbed her hand and looked down at it as he answered, "I… I just-"

"Don't stammer. It's unbecoming of you." He couldn't see her face but he could imagine it.

Clearly, his head rose and with his eyes boring into hers, he announced, "I want you."

Aashi's face was unchanging and Arthur could feel the voices grow louder as the stress mounted on. Aashi then removed her hand from his hold which made Arthur drop his head. However, just as the tear began to cloud his vision a hand on his scar made him snap his head back.

Aashi eyes sparkled as she failed to choke back chuckles, "Was that so hard to say?"

Arthur's eyes scanned hers to find any deceit but all he saw was genuine joy.

"What? You mean you-"

Aashi held both of his limp hands firmly in both her hands, "As long as you have the consent of your…" she paused to find the correct word "…your current partner or you somehow become single, then we can be an item. I'm not opposed to polygamy."

Arthur looked around the room in hock. What Aashi just said made him want to dance in victory but also rip his hair out. While on one hand he could easily break it off with Harley and be with Aashi (if he wanted to be with Aashi peacefully he would have to move somewhere far away). On the other hand, Harley would never give him consent to be with anyone else but Aashi was willing to be with him as long as it was with consent.

Lying was out of the question. He could never lie to Aashi about getting consent from Harley. Also, he couldn't just up and leave from their home just yet: he didn't have the money and he didn't know if Aashi did.

This was going to be difficult.

To be continued…