THANK YOU to everyone for following me through this fic and leaving me awesome feedback and commentary! It has been a lot of fun writing about Dailey, but now I give this story its final send off. I'm sure there could be a lot more I could write about, but it's time I retire the Normal Saga. It's been a pleasure writing for the POM fandom!
Another HUGE kudos to Gonturan0 for being my proof reader throughout Normal 2!
This will also be my last fic update on as I will be retiring this account and moving all my future works to Ao3.
Chapter 18: A New Leaf
The artificial light from the computer screen illuminated my light skin as my regular human fingers tapped away at the keyboard. Even months after the incident, looking at my hands and at myself in the mirror seemed to be a common occurrence as I pondered what it meant to be me… what it meant to be Kailey.
This morning was typical in a sense that the world continued to spin, and news of the day continued to do what it always did; ads on billboards and internet pop ups about beauty products here, commercials and news stories there; you know the next big thing to shove down our throats. In particular, I read a story about the already long passed incident of the 'mysterious alien' that was spotted in the northeast, where authorities still to this day had no idea what had happened.
'It was hideous and it attacked me, straight up sending me flying across the room!' the article quoted, which happened to be from a security guard. They didn't say who and where this security guard was from or what he was doing when this occurred, but it seemed safe to assume that it was the poor guy I attacked when I escaped the facility.
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. At least he was all right.
I continued my scan of the internet, hitting a title written by Rayonna Desiree. Among the many articles she had written about me in the last half a year since our coffee shop interview, this one was highlighting the next big scene with Dr. Octavius Brine and his soon-to-be bride, Mrs. Brine.
"I see, can't even use my name," I mumbled. But honestly, maybe that was for the best.
"Kailey! We're on TV!" Dave yelled from the other side of the laboratory. His henchmen turned on another large screen, which began to air the show Dave was so giddy about.
Upbeat music began to play as words flashed across the screen, the introduction and name of the show lighting up with white and purple color that read, the 'All that Creeps and Crawls' show, starring Dr. Octavius Brine and his lovely assistant and fiancée.
As the audience on the show applauded, the henchmen gathered, gobbling ecstatically in an uproar.
"Shhhh, be quiet! Pay attention!" Dave said, lifting a tentacle to his mouth to shush the bunch. It didn't take much for the henchmen to oblige, but they remained ecstatic as their eyes gazed upward at the show.
It had taken us a while to get something else going that didn't involve kidnapping penguins or stealing people's money though bogus pledge drives. The result was a TV show that would broadcast for all the world to see. I didn't ever imagine myself being part of a science talk-show, but here we were.
As the show aired, it rang in my memory, clear as day, and it felt like I was still up there on the stage.
"Welcome to the All That Creeps And Crawls show!" I said on the screen, waving at the audience and managing a very convincing smile that would make any normal person assume I had my shit together, but honestly at that moment I was on the verge of passing out. Lord knows how I managed to not only lie out my ass but look perfectly fine on screen.
"Kailey, look! It's you!" Dave said, squeeing as I walked onto the stage.
"I know," I muttered, continuing to watch.
"Today I will be your host, as Dr. Brine is currently out doing some very important work, but why don't we tune in to see how he's doing?" TV me said, as the camera panned to the left to show another monitor, which clicked on, showing Dave as Octavius in what looked like explorer gear at the ocean side.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" TV Dave responded. "As you can see, I am out on the coast, examining the world of the ocean, as the creeping creature we'll discuss today is none other than the octopus!"
The screen switched from Octavius Brine to images of octopus in the wild. Dave narrated, saying, "Octopus come in many colors, and can even change color on the spot. Sure, the many tentacles might be frightening to some, but they are actually intelligent and inquisitive beings. I should know!"
During the show I thought he shouldn't have said that and thought exactly how are these people not getting the hint, but alas, the crowd was unfazed.
The show switched back to myself again and the stage as I took back the focus. "You got that right, Octavius!" I said, laughing a little. Viewing myself from the third person was so weird, because I could read myself clearly and knew what I was thinking while recording all this. The laugh wasn't for any type of effect to make me relatable to the audience like it seemed, but me laughing off his "I should know" comment.
"Today we have two guests with us that I would like to introduce you to," I continued. "First is our transfer-and-rescue octopus, Billy, originally from the Central Park Zoo!" My words narrated over the appearance of a little red octopus behind me in a large tank. It was the same octopus I had seen late that last year when we were doing our last crappy pledge drive there. We adopted him into our ranks and made him a home at Octo Corp, but gave him the first spotlight in our show for this occasion.
The crowd cheered, both on screen and the many-legged crowd in the lab before me. Billy, the little red octopus, was sitting at the front directly in view of the monitor, watching himself on TV, and I could see the other henchmen hug him and pat his head, happy for him.
TV me went on a big 'did you know' information dump about octopus on the screen before she moved on to guest number two.
"Here it comes!" Dave said, his grin so big and bright he might as well have stars for teeth.
"Our second guest is also originally from the Central Park Zoo," TV me said, "and has since traveled the world from zoo to zoo to finally find himself here with us! I am happy to introduce to you Dave the octopus!"
The crowd, again, both on the show and in the lab went wild. The henchmen were rolling all over the place as they gobbled and cheered, seeing Dave… the real Dave on the screen for all to see.
They were literal mirrors. Dave was so happy in front of me, watching himself on the screen. He loved being adored as Dr. Brine, but there was something completely different about him being his real self to the world. It was something I admired, honestly.
To be real, and genuine for all to see. I had fallen so hard that maybe that green monster was me. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was what society wanted me to be. I don't know. But it was something I was working on, and growing towards every day, whether that creature was part of me or not.
At least Dave knew who I was.
"Kailey! Ah, oh my goodness!" Dave cried as he tumbled over towards me from across the room and tugged me into one of his larger-than-life embraces, chair I was sitting in and all. "Do you see it? Do you see me? They love me!"
"Yeah, I know," I said, grinning widely. "You know, every single traditionally creepy animal we've brought on the show has gotten a lot of love. Maybe Dr. Brine's influence is actually doing something to change things."
"Oh, you know it is!" Dave said. "Why didn't I do this before?"
"I don't know… maybe because you had your panties in a wad about penguins and cute animals before all this?"
"Exactly! I was blind! Why would I waste my time attacking my enemies when I could just use my awesome fame to bear up animals that are traditionally hated? Where is the hate now? Do you see it anywhere?"
I looked at the show when he said that, watching TV Dave as his octopus self swam around the tank in front of TV me, waving at the audience and blowing water hearts at me. Everyone in the audience, likewise, was so happy. Children in the audience were being lifted up by their parents and onto their shoulders, their hands outstretched to the stage as they let out joyous chuckles.
"Nope, not a sad face in sight," I replied.
Dave pulled me deeper into his embrace, for a moment quiet as he sat his forehead into my neck. "But you know what's better than all those people smiling at me?"
"What?" I asked, raising a brow.
"Come on, you know!" Dave cooed, his voice getting a tad louder as he pulled his head from my neck to look at me. "It's you!"
"Oh, shucks, Dave." I blushed.
"And you know what'll be even better?"
"Huh?"
"When I meet you at the isle tomorrow."
I blushed more. It wouldn't be a surprise if I was sunburnt-red at that point.
"Yeah…" I said, twiddling a lock of hair in my finger.
The computer next to me chimed, jolting me for a second as I glanced to see who was trying to call us.
Surprisingly, it was the North Wind.
"Should I answer?" I asked Dave.
"Sure, why not. We did fix him up after all, didn't we?"
I obliged and clicked Enter, allowing the call through. On the screen appeared Classified, normal regular wolf Classified, but it looked like he was alone. He coughed into his paw, clearing his throat, before he spoke. "David, Kailey," he acknowledged. "I just wanted to thank you again for working with me to get through that Medusa Serum incident, even though it was your fault to begin with."
"Not really an apology now, is it?" I asked.
"Well, law dictates that the North Wind arrest David for his criminal acts." Classified paused for a second again, as if contemplating his next words carefully. "But I think David's agreed upon community service will suffice."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Dave replied, rolling his eyes.
"I expect you at headquarters sharp the first of next month to get started on your assignments. But of course, before then, have a wonderful wedding."
"What?"
But before anything else could happen, Classified ended the call.
"Guess he's shy," I said, shrugging.
It wasn't easy getting his berserk ass back to normal either. I mean, I guess it seemed easy looking back on it, but I was terrified out of my mind. Dave, the henchmen, and I, had worked together to get the ray gun positioned in front of the large garage doors we had locked him behind while he was still under the influence of Dave's freak Angel Serum, and just as we opened the door, BOOM, we got him. Teamwork makes the dream work.
"So, you think we should practice our vows again?" Dave chimed, his immediate redirection of thought truly remarkable, but I guess I couldn't blame him.
"We already did all that," I replied.
"But come on, only as Dr. Brine and Mrs. Brine. Not as Kailey and Dave. You know, now that I think about it, maybe we should have two weddings."
"We have another show to do next week! I don't know if we have the time."
"There's always time, dearest!" Dave smiled again. He was so giddy it was adorable. "What do you say?"
"Well, okay…" I said.
"I, Dave, take you, Kailey, to be my wife," Dave began blurbing out his vows.
"Oh, like right now?" I asked, but he continued over me.
"If you need a friend, there will be no need to look to a stranger, for I will be your best friend. When you are in danger, I will be there. When you are sad, I will be your shoulder to cry on. When you want to go on a new adventure, I will encourage and follow you. Till death do us part, I will love you."
I felt tears well up in my eyes. I hated being a sap but, behold, that was exactly what I was.
"And then you would say your vows," Dave whispered.
He was so into this that I just rolled my eyes, which were still filled with tears, and went with it, repeating my vows to him. "Through thick and thin, through turmoil and peace; though the dark of night and light of day, you and I will meet. There is no sorrow, nor pain I will not bear; every moment spent with you is paradise. Till death do us part, I will love you."
Before I knew it, he picked me up off the chair and lifted me high above him, twirling me around. Once he set me on the floor on my own two feet, he looked into my eyes, deeply enamored, which only caused me to blush more.
"I hope you aren't going to do that during the real thing," I stated.
"Why not?" Dave chuckled.
"Doesn't that seem like a bit much?"
"Nope," he said, twirling me halfway again, but dipping me towards the ground, "and neither is this."
. . . . . . .
White and purple flowers fell from above as Dave reenacted the exact same vows and twirls as before, lowering me after his extravagant show of love before he gave me a deep kiss in front of all to see.
At the top of a building in New York City, surrounded by a luscious garden, springtime never felt so beautiful. All had gathered to see Dr. Octavius Brine marry his beloved fiancée. Finally, after all this time, his fiancée was now Mrs. Octavius Brine.
When the wedding kiss was over, I looked out into the audience, waving at my mother in the front who was crying with a white handkerchief in her hand. My father, stern, was standing there with his arms crossed, but he was managing to smile softly.
Yes, they were all there: my brother, his girlfriend, my grandfather, and my grandmother. All the family I could count on was there, and more. Seeing them there all at the same time made me see in my minds eye all the future Christmases, dinners, and special occasions I would get to spend with them at my parents' new place. There was so much to look forward to.
A helicopter hovered a distance a ways, obviously recording our ceremony. But most interesting of all, at the corner and in the shadows, was the North Wind. Classified, the owl, the little seal, even the polar bear was all there. I saw the polar bear start crying as Classified gave us a thumbs up before they crept away, and away from view, somehow going unnoticed.
Interesting how all these guys were able to do that. No wonder this whole animal-human contact had gone unnoticed for so long and would probably continue to do so for some time.
Yet, I knew there was more to this than meets the eye. But for the most part, I was just happy that Dave was finally allowed to feel like he could be himself in front of the world. Maybe someday, together, we could reveal our secret. Hopeful thinking or not, it was a dream to look forward to.
But until then, I guess we'd just have to go on living normally as always. At least as normal as it could get when you're married to Dave the octopus.
FIN