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.

15. Chapter 14

Chapter 14 – calamity collision

Arthur nudged Lucy, hard, with his hand. "Hey, little bandar, did you do your homework yet?"

"Dad!" Lucy moaned, but when Arthur kept nudging her she finally caved. "Alright! I didn't do it! Daddy! Come on!"

"Arthur! Stop harassing Lulu!" Aashi called from her room, a book (Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx) in hand.

"Yeah, Daddy! Listen to Mummy or she'll beat your ass" Lucy cheekily laughed to herself.

Arthur pouted, "What was that little girl?"

Lucy shied away, slightly, with a smile. "Nothing."

"Arthur" Aashi started towards him blindly, eyes still glued to her book, and gently laid her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her, attentive, with endearing eyes, "Tiger?"

Her voice echoed in his head 'His scars… they are a testament to how he has soldiered through life and I can appreciate that.'

Her hand trailed from one shoulder to the other languidly, as she walked across the back of the sofa, and sat down next to him. He slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her so that they sat hip to hip. Aashi pulled her feet up and absentmindedly placed her free hand on Arthur's knee.

Time seemed to slow for Arthur as a near silent, slow, sweet tune began to play in his mind. The dim lights in the kitchen cast gentle shadows in the room and from Lucy's angle the light's faint glow created a halo around her parents, just like they did in the old renaissance paintings for holy creatures, and the like. Arthur's hand played with Aashi's loose hair which had fell out from her limp bun.

The atmosphere became warmer despite the chill outside and Arthur felt his heart begin to slow while his mind began to relax. He felt the tension in his body slowly flow out with every breath he took. His eyes shimmered when his hand cradled her neck and he belatedly noted himself, "I feel like I'm floating in the clouds".

He studied her face all the while stroking her neck. A slight twitch down from the corners of her mouth. A minor furrow of her brow, almost unnoticeable, but in a few days it would turn into a full blown scowl if it went untreated. Her eyes were squinting gently. Something was bothering his Aashi – maybe it was her lover who disappeared that morning? But, Arthur knew Asilia would return because she left her possessions there and only took the basics. He should tell her that to put her nerves at ease.

Suddenly, he was stumped as he realised one thing else. His heart had slowed… for it had synchronised with Aashi's own warming pulse which was thumping away underneath his hands. His stare rolled from his fingers to her large universe-like eyes and entertained the idea of stealing a kiss.

"I need you to do something for me." Aashi pulled him out of the slow revere.

"Anything" he muttered against her ear.

Aashi's eyes halted skimming the page and blinked. Then blinked again. She faced him with a dumbfounded look. "What?" she cocked her head at him. In all honesty, it was not what he said but the sultry tone he had used and his smouldering eyes further stopped her heart.

Her voice echoed in his mind again. 'He's strong-willed though and he troopers through all that life throws at him for the sake of his daughter'. Aashi had, unknowingly, tied the red silk thread around their hands tighter. Her words touched Arthur and he wasn't just going to let her go.

He chuckled to himself in a slow manner. "I guess there's more than Lucy in my life now and I ain't gonna let this one go".

Aashi's response was so abrupt even Lucy paused her game to witness what had happened. "What?"

Lucy and Aashi shared a questionable look as if asking each other 'did you see that?'

Arthur's gaze didn't lift off of Aashi, "What's that you said, Tiger?"

Aashi dog-eared her page and closed it. "I need you to go speak to this man." She handed him a scrap of paper with a name and address. He memorised it and stuffed it in jean pocket.

"When?" he licked his lips.

"Now, preferably."

"Woman, you're not worried that you're sending me to Ace Chemicals at this time of hour."

She smirked, "Why, here I thought the big bad wolf was safe to go by himself."

"Well, what's in it for the big bad wolf?" he leaned further.

"Stable hours, good pay, paid sick days. It's better than what you're doing right now. Plus, you'll be able to see Lucy and pursue your passion." She spoke as if it were the weather and flipped another page over in her book.

Arthur leaned back, his smile gone, "What?"

Aashi glanced at him from her book and Lucy was creeping her way towards them, "What's this?" Lucy asked herself when she saw the look on her father's face.

Aashi turned a page. "You just have to meet a friend so he knows what you look like and can set you up for next to next Monday. Mind you, he is a bit of a tosser but I doubt you'll get the wrong side of him. Maybe, he'll have a chat and get to know you a bit. But, it's up to you in the end. If you don't want it, just tell him that."

Arthur wanted to kiss her at that moment but he didn't want to disturb her reading for he knew she was particularly keen on finishing this book.

Lucy looked between her parents unsure, and spoke up. "What's a tosser?"

Arthur enthusiastically leaned forward to answer but comically frowned in lieu. "Uh… Ai"

She detached her eyes from the pages again, "Hm?"

"What is a tosser?" both father and daughter asked.

"It's like saying he's an arsehole."

Arthur stifled a laugh and gave Lucy his signature cheeky grin. He leaned in towards Aashi and Lucy ran off for cover knowing full well that her mother would not be too pleased with what her father was going to do.

He licked his lips in anticipation and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Don't you mean 'asshole'?"

There was a stern pause.

"ARHUR!"

Both mischievous father and daughter bounded off giggling, hand in hand, to their fort so that the tiger would not devour them for correcting her despite knowing that where she came from certain words were pronounced in a different manner. Aashi had made a conscious effort to pronounce certain words like the yanks did: but on occasion she did slip back to her original accent and Arthur made a habit of constantly correcting her, which was not necessary and as you could see it infuriated her to no end.

;-;-;-;-;

Asilia sat across Lucy with a grin that could have matched the devil's own. They had stretched some newspaper all over the dining table and were rolling playdough into all types of shapes and sizes.

Aashi was out and Arthur had gone to his 'interview' at Ace Chemicals. Somehow, Arthur had managed to convince Aashi yesterday to push the interview to today. Fortunately for Aashi, Asilia had returned last night, so she was on babysitting duty.

Asilia felt horrible though. She was going to leave soon without so much as a goodbye, and usually Asillia told Aashi everything but she did not this time. She didn't tell Aashi how she had secretly met with her brother, Gatimu Nuru Emese, to discuss her father's illness and how they would get back home.

While she was deeply relieved to see her brother for the first time in the years they spent apart, a twinge of paranoia crept up on her which told her to be cautious, perhaps it was the effects of staying with Aashi (who was the most distrustful person on earth). With every sentence that came out of his mouth, it only served to fuel her cautiousness.

Yet, even if there was a semblance of truth in his words, then she had to go for sure. Asilia may not have been close to her father but she still had a care.

Aashi trusted her (which was a miracle in itself) and Asilia knew Aashi never trusted her father, least of her brother, and Aashi's misgivings deepened when she learnt that Gatimu was a politician.

Aashi would be against it. She would tell her to 'look for their ulterior motives'; to stay open to possibilities that they would be working against her; to not trust them simply because even family could betray her.

Much to Asilia's guilt, Aashi did not question Asilia because of her trust in her. She had only wanted to know about her health when she returned: did you eat well? Are you tired? Do you want anything to eat or drink? Do you ache anywhere?

Asilia was going to risk that for a father, who had near abandoned her, and so that she could uphold the respect Asilia had for her parents.

"Asilly, where's the cat gone?" Lucy ripped her out of her thoughts.

"Cat?! I thought it was supposed to be a dog?" Asilia exclaimed.

"No, silly! It was supposed to be a cat 'cause it would look better in the jungle house with the monkeys! You don't see any dogs in the jungle do ya? Hm?" Lucy discreetly laughed at the woman.

Asilia pouted. "That… urgh!" she squashed the dog in her hands which made Lucy gasp shockingly. Asilia looked up, puzzled, "What is it, ma chou?"

"You killed the dog!" Lucy pointed a slim accusatory finger at Asilia. She looked at the mixed playdough in her hand sheepishly and then smiled at Lucy guiltily, "It, um, it was not good. Can you ever forgive me?"

A thought struck Lucy, so she stuck out her chin and stood up to gain some sort of authority but that was dampened by her cuteness. "I'll forgive you, IF you tell me when Mummy's birday is?"

Asilia put a hand to her mouth lightly to hide her laughter, "You mean birthday?"

Lucy pouted with a frown, "You know what I mean!"

Asilia frowned slightly, "I believe she was born on the eighteenth of June Nineteen-seventy-one." She stared hard at Lucy suddenly, "Why do you want to know?"

Lucy sat down with a sly smile, "Uhm, Mummy did a lot for my birday so I wanna do something for her birday." Then Lucy paused and a look of shock passed over her, "wow, Mummy is really old but… she doesn't look like it."

Asilia shook her head with pity, "No, ma chou, Aashi she- she doesn't like to celebrate her birthday."

Horror warped on Lucy's face, "What? Why not? Does that mean Mummy never got presents or cake on her birthday?"

Asilia bit her lower lip and shook her head.

Lucy stomped on to her feet, "What?! Why not? Mummy should get a cake!"

Lucy made to get the equipment she needed but Asilia managed to prevent her from going further in her little mission, "How about we make a dummy cake?"

"Huh?" Lucy cocked her head with a scrunched up face.

"We could make her a… colourful cake out of this" she pointed to the playdough.

Lucy beamed at the idea but her face dropped quickly, "But… Mummy won't be able to eat it. And- and playdough doesn't taste nice. I know, I tried."

"It's the thought that counts besides I don't know if Aashi would eat cake." Asilia patted her on the head. Reluctantly, Lucy began to make Aashi's cake with Asilia's help with a few mutters from Lucy saying 'it's not fair'.

Now that the thought struck Asilia, she had never seen Aashi eat cake before, but she was not going to tell Lucy that, it might out her even more down. To be frank, the only reason Asilia stopped her was because neither Lucy nor Asilia could bake. She didn't want their home to come burning down.

Asilia saw the hurt edging on to Lucy's baby face and instantly felt the need to comfort her. "Lucy, how much do you love your mother?"

Lucy appraised her seriously, like she had asked her the dumbest question ever. "I love Mummy a lot! She's the bestest Mum in the world" she snapped unintentionally.

It warmed Asilia's heart to her that and an equally warm smile captured her face, "But she can sometimes be very hard on you, right?" knowing Aashi she was more than harsh.

Lucy's anger dissolved and a passive look replace it. "Yeah, but I don't know why she does that. She can be mean but then… later she's really nice to me, like she didn't want to hurt me."

Asilia dropped the playdough and kneeled in front of Lucy. Asilia took her shoulders and a very intense look came over her. "Lucy, know this, no matter how harsh your mother may be, she loves you very much. Do you understand?"

Lucy's eyes widened and she felt that these words which Asilia was telling her were very important. She nodded mutely.

Asilia nodded with her, "Everything she did, everything she will do, it is for your own good. She would rather die than hurt you."

Lucy was frightened, "Is… is Mummy in trouble?"

Asilia snapped out of near panic attack and shook her head feverishly, "No, no. I'm just telling you this so you know, ma petit chou." She cupped Lucy's face, "Your mother is a good woman. I know it doesn't look like it from the way she acts, but she is. Never forget that."

Lucy instinctively grabbed her amnesty necklace for comfort – it reminded her that Aashi was with her even if she couldn't see her. This suddenness gave Lucy the impression something bad was going to happen, "You're leaving!" Lucy grumbled.

It was not a question, she could see it in Asilia's eyes, it was the same look Arthur used to get before he went on a job and left Lucy with an intoxicated Harley for days.

Asilia smiled soberly. She wasn't going to lie to Lucy. "Yes, my father… he's dying. I have to go see him and my brother needs me."

Lucy couldn't understand. She had no siblings of her own. Arthur was also a single child and barely had any parents. Harley also had no siblings and parents had disowned her for being with a 'deadbeat'. So really, Lucy didn't understand why Asilia had to leave to comfort her sibling and see her father. She had always assumed children would never see their parents after they grew up.

Of course, that didn't apply for Lucy because she would never grow up. Then a shiver went up her spine.

"Does Mummy have to go to? Does Mummy have brothers and sisters too?" Lucy knew Aashi had parents: everyone did!

Asilia looked to the ground in thought, "No, Ai doesn't need to go. Ai doesn't have family like that."

Relief. "Ok. How long will you be gone?"

A melancholic smile filled Asilia's face, "I'll be a while."

;-;-;-;-;

Aashi was right, of course. Arthur arrived much earlier than expected seeing as Ace Chemicals was in the narrows and they were so close to it.

He could even walk it that's how close they were. He had always wanted to apply to Ace but he was not qualified enough and his background also put people off. However, Aashi had assured him that it would not an issue this time round.

He was a bit angsty waiting for Aashi's friend to show up. Apparently, he was the head of human resources but was a bit of a chemist himself, or so Ai had said. It was just a little over five when a pair of black boots came into his vision.

"Ye mus' be Ash's man, Jack Napier?"

Thankfully, Arthur was a skilled liar and went with the flow. He got to his feet and replied though he didn't know what exactly because in his mind all he could think of was, "Great another Brit."

"And you are?" he bit his scar from the inside of his cheek.

"Harry Turner".

They shook hands and Arthur vaguely remembered Aashi saying to him before he left, "Good luck trying to understand that damn Geordie". At the time he had no idea what she meant but now standing in front of the small man who had a bit of a beer belly, he understood exactly what she meant.

"Ash told me ye good with chem!"

He spoke very fast and he exaggerated his vowels, especially his 'O's. Thankfully, he at least had a grasp of what the man said.

"Yeah, I dabbled with it in college but I couldn't do it full time with my daughter bein' around". Arthur scrutinised the man in front of him. His face was wrinkly and discoloured. His brown beady hooded eyes were guarded but outgoing, even though his short brown hair was greasy and unkempt which made him look like a hobo.

After Arthur replied, his small cracked lips spread into a grin which showed off his yellowed teeth. His bulbous nose wrinkled as he chuckled, "Ah, got a bairn, do ye? 'ow old is she?"

Arthur hesitated thinking to himself, "what is a bairn?" He managed a response to his other inquiry, "She just turned seven."

Harry nodded, "Good stuff. 'ow abou' aye show ye 'round?"

Not knowing how to reply Arthur simply nodded.

As he took him inside, Harry turned and asked with narrowed eyes " 'Ey, do ye know wha' I'm sayin' lad?"

"I, uh, don't know what you just said." Arthur blatantly told him.

The man heartily guffawed, "I can water down me accent for ye."

"Yeah, much obliged-ah" Arthur licked his lips.

So far, he liked this man, despite his inability to speak in a manner in which Arthur could understand him, the man had been welcoming so far. He had been expecting to see this man's disgusted or curious reaction to his scar, however, surprisingly the man just glanced at it once and dismissed it. But he didn't avoid it either and simply accepted it as his face. He didn't fuss over it. Much like Aashi.

"Aright. Down 'ere are the four plant areas. Ye'll be workin' with Jerry up 'ere." They crossed the vast plants and reached a metallic staircase going up to a catwalk. They turned right at the top which led to another door.

"Through 'ere are the laboratories an' the offices. On the other sides of tha' catwalk there are the tank farms an' the change house. Hey Jerry! He shoulda been 'ere somewhere…" down the corridor they went and as they strolled into one of the laboratory they ran into a lanky man.

"Argh, Harry! Watch where you're going!" the man had dropped his files.

"Jerry, this 'ere is ye new partner!"

The man looked up from his pile of papers, stood sharply and stuck out a firm hand, "I'm Sherrill David Robinson but you can just call me Jerry."

The man was thin with a very bony face. His small, brown eyes were sparkling with intelligence. His black hair was slicked back with gel which glistened almost as much as his inquisitive eyes. He was taller than Harry but still shorter than Aashi. He must've been five foot nine or a little below that.

Arthur stared at his lips as he spoke. It was strange. His lips seemed to move very quickly though by the sounds of his voice he wasn't speaking as fast as Harry was, or maybe it was because Jerry's upper lip was non-existent. His beak like nose only added to his overall comical appearance.

Arthur licked his lips nervously as he couldn't recall his pseudo name as quickly as he would've liked, "Jack Napier." Arthur took his hand firmly and to his surprise he felt a slight tremor in Jerry's hand. When Arthur caught Jerry staring at his scars, Jerry looked away, flushed and apologetic.

Harry nodded, pleased with their acquaintance, "Aright! Jerry, ye show 'em 'round then he can be on his way." Before Jerry could rebuke this, Harry had hobbled along his merry way.

Jerry stared with his mouth agape, and his hand still limply in Arthur's hand. When he realised a moment later, he chuckled awkwardly and retracted his hand, "This way, Mr Napier."

Arthur relished in his nervous demeanour and tutted him, "Please, Jack. Mr Napier was my father."

Jerry craned his head to look at Arthur's face and nodded, "Right. So, here are the laboratories, we have six in total."

Jerry led him into one of the humongous laboratories and if he had been alone, Arthur would have drooled. There were glass cases and cabinets filled with all sorts of equipment and chemicals which Arthur had been dying to play with since his junior year. He even spied a bomb in construction at the end of one of the lengthy eighteen desks.

As Jerry took him down to the other end of the hall where they entered the offices which Arthur didn't have much care for, but kept an ear out in case of vital info. Apparently, the offices were there to organise each experiment, and product produced. They generally dealt with the financial stuff.

Next Arthur was led across the catwalk, where he finally burst out his question, "Soooo" he drawled trying to make it sound casual. "What do you make round here?"

Jerry peered over his shoulder when he answered, "Many things. We're high in demand you see because of our quality and reliability. We produce everything from plastics to beauty products, we even produce C-4 and PE-4 since we have a few military contracts."

Arthur smirked to himself with a childlike glee. He was already warming up to the place.

Jerry brusquely stopped in front of Arthur and had Arthur not been paying attention, he would've ran him over. Jerry took a gander at Arthur over his shoulder, "If you don't mind me asking, Jack."

Arthur tilted his head to the side and appraised the once jaunty man, "Go on".

Jerry pivoted and puffed up his chest like he was trying to make himself look bigger to intimidate Arthur. But, it wasn't working. "Do you want me to say something about your scars or do you just not care? I can't figure that out."

Arthur blanked completely. Then his lips opened wide as he released an effusive chortle and it took a while for him to calm down. Arthur wiped a tear from his eye, "ah, you're…" Arthur stifled another laugh. "You're too much." Clearly, Jerry had little regard for the social norms, that or he had no idea of social decorum.

Arthur suddenly became sombre and looked him dead in the eye which caused the hairs on the back of Jerry's neck to stand. "I don't want your pity, Jerry." Jerry was nearly throttled by the venom that was evident in his words.

Jerry supressed the need to moisten his lips nervously and put on a façade of a brave face, "Good, 'cause you ain't getting any from me!" he pointed to his chest.

Jerry felt like he was in the spotlight when Arthur began to scrutinise him with an aberrant look on his face. Jerry stared into the two black pools that were displayed in front of him, and foolishly he told himself that not everything was as it appeared: he could see the intelligence in his eyes and thought Arthur would make a good friend, even if he did look like a social deviant. Though, had he looked carefully without his ridiculous idealism fogging his mind, he would have seen the psychotic glint in Arthur's eyes.

As if he had finally cone to a conclusion, Arthur's hard eyes turned playful and an arrogant smile stretched on his mangled lips, "Jerry, you an' I are gonna get along just swell."

Arthur clapped a hand on Jerry's bony shoulder and led him along, "Now, how about you show me the rest of the facility?"

Jerry managed a coy smile and almost forgot to reply, "Yeah, this way!"

Jerry had made a new friend. His first friend in five years, or at least he was on the way.

"Just make sure you don't take anything home by accident. We've been missing some equipment and some minor chemicals recently and Harry has half a mind to get a search warrant of every employee to find them."

;-;-;-;-;

That Thursday, the second of March, hit the second week for a couple of things for the Flecks. It had been two weeks since Arthur had been officially employed in a legitimate business. Two weeks since he had sworn against working for the mob, but not necessarily letting go of his illicit ways. It had been two weeks since Lucy began to contemplate how to celebrate Aashi's Birthday and what the perfect gift would be. Two weeks since Lucy actually realised how old Aashi was and more importantly how lonely Aashi must have been in all her years of living.

It had been two weeks since Asilia left the country. Two weeks since Aashi's last contact with her. Two weeks since Aashi had last heard her voice, saw her smile that brightened Aashi's world, two weeks since she had touched Asilia's silky skin, two weeks since she had kissed Asilia's plump lips.

Aashi punched the bag with a brutal force.

Two weeks!

"Mummy, are you ok? Did you not like the rainbow cake I made, are you ok? Mum?" Lucy's innocent question felt harsh on Aashi's ears which did not seem to be functioning properly due to her rampant thoughts.

Aashi peered down at Lucy, "What makes you say that, child?"

Lucy felt like she had been stuck right through the heart. Lucy was disheartened when Aashi called her 'child' because it felt like Aashi had taken a few steps back. Aashi had just begun to use Lucy's name and referring to her as 'child' made her into a stranger again.

Lucy must have been on the verge of tears because Aashi's eyes softened considerably. She stripped her hands of the gloves and threw them to one side and kneeled down to Lucy's level. "Lucy."

The regret in Aashi's eyes brought a bounce back in Lucy. "Mummy, are you sad that Asilia is gone?"

Aashi stroked Lucy's head assuredly and hesitated to answer her directly but gave in, "Yes, I miss her very much."

Lucy hugged Mr Bubble-gum closer and pouted, "Don't worry, Mummy! Asilia will come back, I know it! She loves you very much, like more than daddy does!"

Aashi's sour mood lifted slightly, and asked in a sceptical tone, "What makes you think your daddy loves me?" Aashi already knew the answer to that but she wanted to see what made Lucy say that.

Lucy giggled to herself, "Mummy you're so funny!" however she calmed down and said with a fond smile to Aashi, "Because Mummy, I know my Daddy, and he really likes you. I can tell." Aashi was taken aback when Lucy rested her small warm hand on Aashi's glistening cheek and nodded, "I can tell. You're like a wife for Daddy"

Aashi considered Lucy for a moment, however, as she opened her mouth to rebuke Lucy's claim, her daughter jumped a mile, "Mummy, you're so worried!"

Aashi cocked a brow, "What?" Aashi adjusted her sports bra with her free hand and grumbled mentally about how it was becoming too tight in recent weeks but Lucy was speaking again.

Lucy traced Aashi's forearm that was dangling from Aashi's knee, "Daddy says that when he's worried his muscles go 'tense'. You need to lie down Mummy, come on, come on!"

"Lucy, Lucy!" Aashi called her as Lucy tugged her along but she had completely lost her. Aashi sighed and let her daughter do as she pleased.

After she forced Aashi down to the bed, Lucy jumped onto the bed and tried to get under the covers with her.

Aashi looked at her funnily, "You are something, Lucy Fleck. Cuddling up to your mother even though you know she hasn't taken a shower after her training."

Lucy smiled cheekily, "It's ok, Mummy. It's yucky but you're my mummy. I would never leave you Mummy. When I grow up, I'm not gonna be like most people. I will get a job and then get a house so you can stay with me, forever."

Aashi felt her heart swell with repletion at hr daughters words, yet she did not outwardly show it. She turned her head and said, "I won't stand for it. It's not right to be in a clean environment if you're dirty."

Despite Lucy's attempts, the pit in Aashi's stomach grew and she began to brood again with that mournful look on her face. So, Lucy went to desperate measures.

Roughly an hour later, Arthur came swaggering back in with a satisfied smirk on his face but slowed his gait when he realised how quiet it was. It was too quiet. He couldn't hear Lucy's babbling, or her Jack and Daxter game, or Aashi's hard metal songs piercing the silence through the headphones or radio. He didn't even hear Aashi's heated breathes which was strange as it was around this time she worked her body till it shook with exhaustion.

He strolled around the flat; first the living room, then the rooms and then finally he checked the bathroom.

"Eep!" he heard Lucy squeal. "Daddy!"

Arthur released an unbelieving sigh. "What is goin' on here?"

There in the tub, overflowing with bubbles and water, sat Aashi on one side with her head hanging back with her eyes closed (totally relaxed) and on the side Lucy who had suds even in her hair and face.

Arthur shook his head and dropped his coat on the floor. He heard Aashi tut at him but he only smirked evilly at her and kicked his shoes off which joined his coat. He then sat beside the tub and play with the suds on Lucy's face.

"Lucy, you're so mean, you started a party without me" Arthur teased.

Lucy's jaw fell and she looked at Aashi looking like a gaping fish and then back to Arthur. She leaned against the tub, "I- I didn't! Mummy just needed to relax, right, Mummy?"

"Hm" Aashi lethargically answered.

"What does hm mean, darlin'?"

Aashi opened one eye lid and peered at him lazily, "It means sod off, we're trying to relax."

Arthur chuckled, revealing his slightly yellowing teeth. "Oh and this is the gratitude I get" Arthur held his hands up in surrender.

"Gratitude for what?" Aashi glared at him playfully with both eyes.

Lucy looked between both her parents, "What is gra-tea-tude?"

Arthur quickly nodded at Lucy before he fired his quip back, "It means to be grateful, Luo. And you" he turned to Aashi "should be grateful to be in my very presence!"

Aashi shifted in the tub and laid her arms on the brim of the tub. She scoffed, "Please, you plebeian. You should be the one who should be grateful for everything I've done for you."

Arthur stifled a chortle but then leaned toward her. The suds had moved and he attempted to peak at her breasts. At once, there were bubbled in his face and hair.

He sputtered and stared at Aashi incuriously, "what was that for?"

Aashi cocked a brow, "You were trying to peep."

Arthur feigned innocence, "How do you know?"

Aashi gave him a coy smile. "Because that's what I would do."

A perverted smile graced his face, "Oh, you would, wouldn't cha?" The chuckle he released was innocent by no means.

The two adults shared a heated look for several moments. Arthur gazed at his star taking notes of her body: the way her chest rose with each soft breath, how a couple of scars littered her torso, particularly concentrated on her hands, how her long sooty lashes framed her big, big eyes and the way those pupils of hers were slowly but surely dilating the more she looked at him.

Aashi was doing the same. She memorised how his scar was thick and jagged on his otherwise blemish free cheek, how his small but roughish and intelligent eyes fleeted all over her person, the dark circles under his eyes which had lightened in the past months and the way his eyebrows were slowly bunching together as he fixated on her further.

Aashi briefly wondered what it was he saw when he looked at her.

The moment was broken was Lucy added more suds to Arthur's face.

"Oomph!" Arthur fell from his squat and onto his buttocks.

"Why Daddy, you have a beard like Santy Claws!"

Arthur swiped at his face and playfully glowered at his kid, "You." His hand slipped as he tried to get back to his feet, "Have been-" slipped again. "With Skeleton Jack too long, bandar!"

"Hey" Aashi softly in mock offence, "That's my endearment."

"Yeah" Arthur leaned forward, his face right in front of Aashi's and his shift dampening the more he leaned on her naked chest, "Well it's mine now too, hm?"

"Eww, Daddy!" Lucy smacked his shoulder, "I'm a child, I don't wanna see that!"

Arthur didn't budge from his position, "See what?"

Lucy looked between her parents and blushed brightly, "You know…" whilst Lucy did encourage romance between her parents, she did not want to be caught in the middle of it.

Arthur, puzzled, looked at Aashi who was just as dumbfounded.

"Daddy! Just leave!" Lucy pointed to the door.

A smirk played on his lips, "Oh, you mean kissing?" Arthur rose his brows in a mocking gesture.

Lucy became beet red and her voice reached a high pitch, "Daddy! It's not funny! Mummy, do something!"

Aashi nudged Arthur's shoulder, "Arthur, don't torture the poor girl and leave already."

"Ohh, but now I want a kiss from Mummy" Arthur puckered up his lips and closed his eyes. Of course, he did not expect any kiss from either of the girls, and so when he heard Aashis sigh and did feel a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek, he felt a jolt go through his entire body like he had been struck by lightning.

Dazed, he blindly left the bathroom and crashed onto the bed in Aashi's room. His hand went to the cheek that was still wet from the kiss and he held it there. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he gasped and spammed as he relived that moment many times. He didn't know how long he had been on the bed, but by the time someone had joined him in Aashi's room it was dark out. The person softly closed the curtains and started to relieve him of his clothes.

The ease with which the person was moving him it had to be Aashi.

When he was only in his boxers and had been pulled to the top of the bed, Arthur opened his eyes before Aashi covered him in the duvet. Aashi was above him and quickly realise he was awake. She placed a hand on her hip and raised a cocky brow, "So, you made me do all that work for nothing, huh?"

He had to do it. There was no question in that. He would go insane with longing if he didn't.

Still reeling and out of his mind, Arthur scrambled up from the bed and grabbed Aashi. By her biceps She didn't fight him but her brows furrowed in concern at the crazed look in his eye. He pulled her onto the bed and began to breathe heavily. He looked her dead in the eyes and licked his lips.

Aashi appraised him quickly; he was sweating all over, his entire body tense and he was mumbling to himself. She thought he was having an episode. Aashi held his shoulder in an attempt to stabilise him, "Arthur, what's wrong-"

He had to do it!

Arthur lurched forward and connected his lips to hers, harshly. He pushed her down to her back in his rush and continued his assault on her lips. His hands went to either side of her head and he involuntarily bucked against her when he found that he was on top of her.

Aashi tensed and remained unresponsive as she stared at Arthur's face above her. His eyes were shut closed tightly and his brows were crunched together like he was in pain. She felt his excitement on her thigh and was aware of how his hands beside her head were now closed in fists. The salt on his brow was sliding down his face as he sloppily kissed her and became even more desperate.

She wanted this, so badly, almost as much as he did. Damn Harley! And Asilia knew of Aashi's intentions towards Arthur. There was no harm.

Aashi let her body relax and began to respond to his frantic kisses, slowly, her lips worked his and he released a staggered breath. It sounded like he was relieved.

Aashi's right hand wove into his hair and pulled, teasing him, whilst her left hand which had remained on his shoulder began to anchor him to her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled his hot body flush against her own.

Arthur's response was another, but fully intentional, thrust of his hips. He groaned when he felt Aashi's hand migrate from his shoulder to his neck where she squeezed ever so slightly. Arthur's lips slowed to a similar tempo as Aashi's and that was the moment she knew she had Arthur wrapped around her finger.

He groaned deep in his throat when Aashi switched their positions, unwrapping her legs and pushing him back on the bed, and then crawled on top of him. Arthur revelled under Aashi's attention. He admired her from his position. Her shorts hung low on his hips and her tank top was not hiding anything.

Her hair was sweeping over him on one side, and her own excitement could be seen in her dilated twinkling eyes and that cocky smile which revealed a pearly set of teeth. She bit lower lip whilst maintaining eye contact. He shuddered but he was not going to apologise for his actions.

He gasped loudly and a hand flew to Aashi's head when she rubbed his erection. "Oh, look at you, Arthur!" her voice low and sultry. Her hand played with him slightly, "There's already pre-cum". She tutted, "Naughty. Were you holding back on me, hm?"

Arthur's tongue swiped his scar, "Please Darlin'!" he near shouted.

Aashi connected her forehead with his, "Please what, Arthur? Please leave me or… please make me cum?"

He was helpless at this point, "Please- make me- make me cum, Darlin'"

Aashi looked down at his hard on, "I don't know" she looked him in the eyes again and began to retract her hand, "What do I get?"

He was really hopeless. "A slave, Darlin'!"

Aashi gave him a toothy grin, "Tempting." Her hand returned and gently her fingers trailed his shaft. He shuddered underneath her, "Very tempting" she repeated. Then she swiped her tongue on his lower lip, "But, luckily for you, I don't want that."

Arthur groaned but Aashi answered him, "Don't worry love, I won't leave you like this that would be mean."

She reached over him for some lotion and then underneath his boxers to hold him. Arthur grasped her head firmly and brought her lips down to his, unable to speak at this point, and sucked on her tongue. She stroked him for some time but held off.

Arthur whimpered and nipped at her lips but she went further down to fondle his balls. She kissed his nipple and brought her attention to those as well. His nails dug into her scalp and arm, "more" he demanded. Aashi chuckled and finally pressed his perineum region in a circular motion which set him off with a low groan. She licked and sucked on his neck as he came. She held him close until he came off his high.

She looked down at him and smirked, "Who would've known-" she was cut off again when he pulled her in for one final searing kiss. Aashi was first to pull away and slipped away to pick him up bridal style. Arthur would have made some snarky comment but chose to savour the moment. Arthur had a satisfied smirk on his face on the way to the bathroom, and he reminded himself, "Yeah, she's a keeper. Any other woman would have wanted me to pick her up instead but… my woman takes care of me exactly like I would take care of her."

They were especially quiet when passing Lucy's room. Thank Satan that all of the doors had been closed.

Aashi set him down and ensured Arthur didn't fall over, which he almost did, twice, and left him to clean up while she washed her hands. "Not that I mind", Aashi started, "But what got you so riled up?" she looked at him through the mirror.

Arthur having cleaned up and removed his soiled underwear came up behind her and whispered in her ear, "Daddy wanted a kiss from Mummy."

Aashi chuckled deep in her chest, "Is that all it takes?"

Arthur wrapped his arms around her waist (being more comfortable with her), and buried his face in her neck becoming abashed, "Only with you."

Aashi patted his head, "Alright, let's get to bed before Lucy wakes and is scarred for life."

Aashi guided Arthur back, who only had a mind of being playful, and threw him another pair of underwear before he could do anything else. He mumbled underneath his breath, "Woman, I know I'm handsome but that doesn't mean you have to be jealous."

Aashi's remark died in her throat when her phone went off. She checked the number and became nervous. There was a great shift in her mood and it was visible on her face. She answered it without hesitation, wandering off into the living room.

Arthur was about to follow but gave Aashi her privacy and returned to bed. If only he had known better.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Aashi strained her ears, "Asilia? Asilia answer me, what's wrong?" She had called her name several times but heard no reply.

Finally, there was a mumble on the other end and as more time passed, the more the knots in Aashi's stomach began to twist.

"Asilia, speak! God damn it!"

A voice which she hadn't expected. No, it was not a voice but venom that filtered through the phone, an evil, dark and shrill voice came through. It caused all the hairs on Aashi's body to stand. Her throat tightened and her voice nearly died in her throat. Nearly.

Accusing, exasperated, sombre. "We know what you are, and it's because of you that we had to do this, you bitch!"

Instantly, Aashi's anger rose like a great fire and was instantly alarmed. But she kept her cool, "Gatimu!"

She held much distaste for this man and had made it known to him on several occasions, "What are you doing? Where is Asilia? Put her on the phone this instance!" her voice easily let on that she was no happy at all with his actions.

"You see, I cannot do that" his Kenyan accent became thicker as his voice rose, "I simply cannot do that!"

"Why not?" Aashi rebuked, "All you must do is put the phone in her hand" her tone became mocking, like one with which one would talk to a child, "And then give her some space so that we may speak."

There was a pregnant pause and Aashi could imagine him with that shit eating grin on his face right now which did not ease the tempest raging in her mind. "She is unavailable-"

"How long? You see, I refuse to speak to a man who lowers the IQ of every animal within a fifty mile radius to less than a hundred simply by opening his gob-"

"-permanently" he finalised in a sick, twisted tone.

Aashi's brain went haywire and she lost all feeling in her body. It was like she instantly became numb. All sensors just shut down and no electrical currents could be passed through her synapses because it was like she died in that one moment.

Another tight pause. Suddenly, just as quickly as her body shut down, it came back to life, but it was too much. There was too much to process. She could still smell the sweat from Arthur's body, the light from the lamp was too bright, the blood rushing to her heart was too painful, the carpet connected to her foot was too old, the phone was too heavy, her throat too tight!

She somehow forced her tone to remain impassive, "What have a done?"

A sigh came through, like he had to explain something obvious to a retard. "The elections are coming up and, as you know, I want to be the next leader for the *KANU-"

"What have you done?" Aashi repeated in an aggressive tone, in a near growl.

"It's unfortunate but it had to be done."

His initial words echoed in her mind – we know what you are!

"What. Did. You. Do?" Aashi asked in a low but threatening tone.

Gatimu hesitated, as if he knew he should not anger the tiger further, but the fool knew no better, "I don't know where you are from, mongrel, but we of the Massai cannot accept your kind!"

It's because of you that we had to do this!

"My kind!" Aashi spat, "What do you know what my kind is, Gatimu of the Emese tribe?"

"It's not right!" Gatimu lost it, "A woman should be with a man! A man and woman have specific roles-"

"Specific roles?" false humour laced Aashi's tone, "Wait, let me guess these roles! A woman has to roll on her back and just take it from a man! God forbid should a woman provide for herself-"

"GOD!" he bellowed, "Every God makes it clear what a woman should do! And he clearly says a woman should never be with another woman!"

We had to do this!

"What did you do to my wife, you dickless ingrate!"

"I gave her a choice" he egotistical voice grated on her nerves, "Either uphold our honour by marrying the best suitor in the nation or… to be lynched."

Aashi felt ice form on her internal organs.

"And I couldn't deny the suitor to have a taste of his bride to be"

Aashi felt a part of herself die when those words reached her ears. Despair and depression set in quickly, and her vision blackened, an iciness filled her eyes which was as cold as the arctic tundra. The despair which staked into her heart was rapidly smothered by an inconsolable bitterness and ferocity, the barbarity of which butchered whatever clemency which she held deep within shredded heart.

A switch was flipped in her mind. She became totally detached and the sociopath within her began to calculate. "What was Gatimu seeking to gain from relaying this particular information to her?"

Her voice did not quiver, nor did it waver as Gatimu had hoped for, if anything her voice was more concrete and unyielding, "That is unfortunate indeed".

Dread filled his heart, and the coward in Gatimu scolded him for his mishap. He had irked the tiger but now the tiger was going to maul him to death.

Aashi's sharp mind quickly caught on, "What is it, Gatimu? Did you hope that I would rush over to you to seek vengeance for my beloved?" she chuckled mirthlessly, "Do you think me a fool? Did you think I would step into your territory without so much as a plan? If so, then perhaps your IQ is lower than I suspected. Frankly, I'm surprised you can link words together to form a simple sentence."

It brought Aashi great sadistic satisfaction to hear Gatimu swallow his pride and stumble out a few mediocre apologies.

"Fret not, Gatimu" her voice took a sharp and sardonic tone, "I will not kill you…"

He sighed.

"…yet."

An ancient region of Gatimu's brain which he inherited from his ancestors foretold him of this danger and every instinct within him told him to run. However, like any prey which was being hunted by a feral like predator, he became paralysed with fear. He could not think let alone move.

"I must muse over how to bring you the greatest hell you can imagine, and only when you are begging for mercy, shall I indulge you in your wishful demise."

Gatimu felt a sharp pain in his chest. He opened his mouth to scream but his voice failed him.

"Rest assured, when this is all over the Emese tribe will be annihilated off the face of the earth."

The call abruptly ended and just as the phone fell from Aashi's hand, Gatimu, many miles away fell from his chair and clutched his heart as he suffered from an oncoming heart attack.

One thought ran through both persons mind which caused them great pain but for polar reasons: 'Asilia is dead'.

Gatimu's last thought before he fell into shock was, "And I will be joining her soon."

But, Aashi's last thought before she lost herself in the numbing oblivion was, "I wasn't there for her!"

To be continued…

AN – I know I didn't want to do it, she was actually one of my favourites, but it had to be done. This is a pivotal point in the story… and to think Asilia wasn't even in the initial draft of this story.

*KANU – it is a real political party, the Kenya African National Union.