Eight

If I pace anymore I’ll be making a rut into the floorboards, but I can’t help it waiting for Mitch to finish up her make up. Ire is at my feet, mewling at me and rubbing against my legs for attention and comfort. My sweet cat jumps onto the back of the couch and headbutts me lovingly, purring.

I scratch the top of her head, moving my hand to scratch her chin. The cat purrs, swishing her tail in delight. The beautiful color of black fur. I swear anything and everything I own is black.

Mitch pokes her head around the arch to the living-room and I nearly do not recognize her. She has her make up done quite well. She’s hidden her freckles, and given her eyes a dark look heavy with eyeliner. I know even without mascara her eyelashes are long, but with it they seem even longer and they flitter like a butterfly wing when she blinks. It’s as though I’m staring at my own personal model. Her make up compliments perfectly with the black dye, and I chuckled to myself countless times while applying to her hair. My father has some sense of humor. Even he knew I would approve of the black. It’s a stark contrast from her blonde but with everything she has applied, even I would struggle to find her in a crowd.

“So, how is it?” She blushes, hands behind her back.

I smile, leaving Ire to go to her. Her lip-gloss smudges on my lips when I crush ours together in a kiss and she giggles. She playfully places her palm on my face and moves me back, smiling ear-to-ear.

“I take that as approved?” She tries to reapply the lip gloss again, pulling it from her pocket.

I nod, taking her hand, “Very much so. Just remember that-”

“That you’re a different person outside this home and around people so don’t take your mood personally. I know, baby, you’ve told me countless times in the shower.” She smiles softly.

I scrunch my nose, “You don’t have to rub it in. I just like to make sure bases are covered so there are no mistakes.”

“There’s always going to be mistakes. Even when you plan things out a hundred times. The world cannot act according to your plan.”

She has a point, but I won’t admit it to her. It will make her head swell up too big. She already throws her ego around me on occasion just to get rises out of me. I sigh and fix my leather jacket, tightening it around me while swiping my wallet from the counter.

“Only one way to find out if this works. Come on,” I offer my hand and she takes it, squeezing it softly.

She’s changed into an old black dress of mine, it comes down to her knees, enough to show off her gorgeous legs but not enough to show too much. It blows behind her as she walks and the breeze tugs at it gently. I take a moment to lock the door after us. A neighbor of mine stares our way, an old man a few doors down by the name of Herold, but he doesn’t say much.

He nods in our direction as we pass, rocking in his chair with a book in his lap. He smiles warmly at Mitch and speaks up when noticing our hands.

“I never took you for the type of woman to have a woman, Ms. Harper.” He looks at me and Mitch is puzzled. I haven’t shared with her that the council gave me a change of name to move into the city with. I know she will question me on this soon enough.

“Yeah. She’s been living with me. For a few months now.”

“And what is this beautiful lady’s name?” He looks at her to answer but I answer for her instead.

“Ellen. Ellen Atticus. Now if you would excuse us, Harold, we’re going shopping and we have a tight schedule.” I nearly hiss and drag Mitch behind me, feeling her struggle to match with my ever-growing pace.

When out of earshot she stumbles next to me, looking at me. She brings us to a stop at a bench, eyeing me over. I already know what she’s going to ask. She wants to know why Harold called me Ms. Harper and not Rikkira.

“Who’s Ms. Harper?” She asks.

“Me. My name under the city council protection is Corinna Glenn Harper. Only a few people know my real name. Only those I hold close,” I squeeze her hand to emphasize my point.

“So I have to refer to you as Corinna out here? What about when we’re at the council meeting tomorrow night?”

We’re boarding the bus, finding the furthest seats in the back. She squeezes up to me, head leaning on my shoulder while I stare out the window to distract my chaotic thoughts. I guess I will need to better prepare her for the council meeting. She will need to pull of her act perfectly, just as father had said.

“Yes. You will have to pretend like you do not know the jobs I do and my real name. You will have to pretend that you believe I actually do online job business and work for some fancy company like Amazon or Ebay. There’s a lot we have to discuss tonight, but let’s save that for tonight. Right now you and I are Ellen and Corinna, just two women together, shopping. Is that clear?”

Mitch blinks a few times before answering but she nods curtly and smiles, “Understood, baby.”

We seal it with a kiss, hearing a whistle from a few guys across from us. Pigs. Go watch some videos on your technology at home. It will last longer anyway. Rolling my eyes as we part I notice Mitch smiling. That’s new. What could she possibly be smiling about?

“What is it?” I ask.

“Is this what high school would have been like? Getting teased by the jocks and popular boys?”

I shrug and smirk, “I wouldn’t know either. I was raised by the council. Everyone there was under a strict order and law.”

She bumps my shoulder with hers, her smile growing even larger, if that’s possible. “Is that why you’re such a grump?”

I glare slightly at her, but playfully as my fingers dig into her sides and she flops around on the seat beside me like a dead fish. I attack her tickle spots, hearing her roar with laughter. We have gained the attention of everyone on the bus but I pay no mind to them and only to my shard of light. I have her near tears by the time I stop, holding my hands up innocently when she wags a finger in my face.

Our stop comes and I take her hand in mine once again, taking the lead off the bus. She trails behind me quietly, smiling ear-to-ear and squeezing my hand. She swings our arms as we walk, humming to herself while enter the store.

The usual customers are here. They move around isles like traffic, some swarming around certain areas of the store more than others. Mitch’s eyes light up like a kid in a candy store and she’s nearly bouncing around with each step.

“Is this your first time in a store?”

She looks at me, blush creeping on her face, “Well yeah. I didn’t get to go with any of my parents to them. I was always too young and stuck at home watching the younger ones. They always promised to take me, but they never did.”

Her words tug at my heart and my mouth droops into a frown. I pull her closer to kiss her gently on the lips, hearing whispers and murmurs about us around us. They’re only people. Granted, I can’t stand anyone, anyone but Mitch of course, but I couldn’t give a rat’s a*s about their opinion. Like they have any place to judge me. To judge us and our happiness.

I hear a little one talk to its mother, pointing at us. Asking why two girls are kissing, but the mother only hushes it and shoos it down the aisle to move onto the next. Mitch continues to purr while we push our cart, and she fills it up with anything she can get her hands on. My usual limit set by the council for my card is three hundred dollars a trip, but I never really have spent more than one-twenty in a month. But now with Mitch in the home, always wanting to cook for me, I know I will easily cap the three-hundred-dollar mark.

“Are you feeling pasta tonight? Or ribs?” She breaks me from my trance, holding up each item in her hands.

“Depends. What kind of pasta recipe are you hoping to make?” I lean on one hand, sighing.

She gives some thought before answering me, “I saw this cool pasta salad with like a bunch of bacon and cheese and it’s smothered in like this ranch kind of sauce.”

“You had me at bacon,” I smirk, nodding towards the pasta, “Why not both though? We can buy ribs for another night?”

“Or a fancy lunch. Like a lunch date!” She lights up.

“Lunch…date?” I raise a brow, “Are dates something normal for someone like us? We aren’t exactly normal.”

She shrugs, smiling, “Well, even more reason to do it. It will make us feel normal.”

I almost want to return the smile but give a curt nod instead, “Both it is then. You go ahead and buy anything else you think we will need. Don’t forget Ire needs a new bag of food.”

“I didn’t forget. We just haven’t reached that aisle yet, per the signs hanging from the ceiling.”

We make it through half of the store when the guys from the bus start to whistle at us again. Mitch continues to hold my hand as we walk and push the cart. With her dress moving with her legs, I can’t even argue with them. It’s sexy as hell and I instead release her hand and wrap my arm around her waist protectively.

“What are you doing with someone like that, Chica?” One of the men speak up, frying my braincells with the sound of his voice, “You should be over here with a real man.”

Mitch pays no attention to them as she leans her head on my shoulder and we continue to walk down another aisle, but again we’re followed by their little gang. Another speaks up, his voice more rough and deep than his friend from before.

“Seriously hottie, what she give you at night to make you cling to her that way?”

The men laugh together in sync and I remain quiet myself, though my anger starts to boil at their persistent cat calling of my girl. They continue to tail us throughout the store, getting more and more bolder with each sentence until my top finally blows when one decides to grab for her shoulder.

I’m quick to draw my fist, slamming it into their face without a second thought. I can hear the bone breaking under my fingers as the sound of their nose shattering echoes through my ears. It bounces off my eardrums and is enough to drive him back a foot or two, straight into his two friends.

“That’s enough out your mouths. Next one to cat call my girl gets more than that, probably a hospital trip, and it won’t be on the house. Leave my girl alone if you value your health. Cause I’m just crazy enough to try something new.”

They quickly scramble to pick up their friend and move out of my sight. We’re left alone after that episode, and I return to enjoying the shopping trip with Mitch again. She returns to leaning her head on my shoulder and caressing the back of my hand with her thumb, still humming the same tune we entered the store with.

“Thanks for defending me, baby. I was too scared to do it myself.”

“It’s what I’m here for,” I squeeze her hand, kissing her forehead, “You’re my piece of light, and nobody is going to have you.”

“Well, I guess I better tell my other girls that then,” She nudges me playfully but I decide to play along.

“You better not have any other girls than me. Besides, I’m prettier than them anyway.”

She grins, kissing me softly while pulling a jug of milk from the reach in, “No. You’re more beautiful than any of them.”

I nearly blush at her comment but manage to keep it together instead. It’s a new thing to be told that I’m beautiful. Then again, I haven’t had much people around me in life to do so. Of course, my mother would when I was a child, but it was required of her to. She was my mother. But to hear it from someone else, someone who sees you with fresh new eyes that you have no ties with except a certain bond, it’s amazing. It makes your heart swell and your lips curve into a smile you cannot fight. Then you feel like you can do just about anything when they compliment you and you cannot see yourself any other way but how they describe you to someone.  

“Now look who’s trying not to blush,” She teases me, walking with me to the check out.

It takes longer than normal to scan everything since I have about triple the amount I usually am seen carrying around the store. People weave around us when we make our exit, holding out the receipt to the old greeting lady by the doors. She checks each one with shaking hands and squinting eyes behind large, bottled glasses.

When she reaches me she smiles to both Mitch and I, and she hands me back the receipt. “You have a great day now, Rikkira. We hope to see you tomorrow night.”

I nod to her warmly, giving her a small smile as I quickly reply, “We will be there. Tell Doris I said hello, and give the puppies each a bone for me.”

We push the cart out the store and down the street, following the concrete. Mitch seems almost ready to burst with questions yet again, and I know if I open that door, they will all flood out, but curiosity is a good thing. It will help her better understand the world she has voluntarily brought herself into. And maybe getting a better understanding of where I come from can help us in the long run, relationship wise.

“You have questions. Ask.”

She waits a couple of steps till she asks, “That lady back there in the store. How does she know you?”

“She’s one of the oldest council members. She holds a high chair and status behind those doors, but she tries to do other tasks to keep her occupied throughout the days. With her personality she quickly took to being a door greeter and hasn’t quit since. As long as I have lived here, I have known her. She took interest in me the moment I came in through those store doors years ago and she’s sort of raised me like a new parent. Her and Doris are roommates. Doris has no clue that she is part of the council, and their puppies love to see me when Doris brings them by the apartment.”

Mitch stares at me while we wait for the crosswalk. It seems I’ve given her far more information than she was looking for. “That was a council member? But the way you describe them, they’re like soul sucking leeches and that lady was so nice.”

“She was on duty. No need to break character when she was on the clock. Trust me. There is a completely different side to the council members. Some are even more worse than others.”

 

 

The smell from the kitchen keeps me awake while I flip through channels in the living-room. Mitch continues to sing off key, but it makes her happy nonetheless to do so. Ire is asleep in my lap, purring away.

With nothing to find, I toss the remote to the right of me in frustration. It bounces slightly but does not leave the couch. Ire raises her head from the sound but she doesn’t bother with it. Her jaw opens in a large yawn, till she returns to sleep. I stroke through her fur, taking a deep breath of the scents from the kitchen.

Mitch mentioned once we got home that she wanted to make the pasta for dinner tonight and the smell of bacon is overwhelming. It has my stomach growling and my mouth watering. I’m always a sucker for bacon. It’s so delicious and perfect.

“I have an extra piece if you want it,” Mitch makes me jump when she suddenly announces her presence with a piece of bacon in my face.

I take it, nibbling on it, though I want to shove the whole thing into my mouth. When I get halfway I turn to her and offer her the other half. She takes it between her lips from mine, ours touching in a salty kiss. She eats the piece, and then runs her tongue over my lips. I shiver and playfully shove her away. She giggles.

“Sorry. I had to.”

I roll my eyes with a smirk. “Uh huh. You had to.”

Still giggling she goes back to the kitchen and I sigh, leaning my head back. I watch the sun slowly dip down behind the buildings, I have decided some earlier today to use my pistols tonight. I haven’t used them in ages except when forced to. I know my katana will be disappointed that I’m not using her tonight but tonight feels like a good change.

As if on que, Mitch shows up by the balcony, opening it for me. With her back to me I slide up and hold her close. I pepper kisses over her shoulder and finally her lips when she looks at me. She looks at me expectantly. She knows I will come back to her, but she expects me back with no wounds this time. I smile as if to say ‘no promises’ and she glares carefully at me. I chuckles till I go serious and drop off the balcony onto the awaiting concrete below.

Strangely, I’m greeting by nothing. The manhole is untouched and unmoved. Though I do not keep my guard down as I move more around, looking cautiously. Nothing else seems disturbed as well. The streets are quiet. Just silent. My boots crunching on rocks and pavement is the only sound in the area.

No, not rocks. I notice the familiar ring of a bullet casing under my heel. Moving my boot back I see small shotgun shells. Picking them up I notice they’re still warm and I tuck them into my jacket pocket. All I can see is flashes of gold and red in my vision until they stop spinning and focus in on the tall statue before me.

It’s my guest from a few nights back. It squares its shoulders, hood still up, still shielding its face. I can see the bright burning end of a cigarette. It inhales then blows smoke my direction. Then I see their piercing blue eyes my way. Almost like they glow under the hood.

“There you are, little raven. I knew you lived around here somewhere. You’ve kept me waiting too long.” They flick their cigarette and it bounces into the manhole through the holes atop. “We need to talk.”

“No we don’t. You need to get out of my part of the city. You’re doing my job for me.” I glare, hands relaxing by my pistols, though I keep my guard up.

“God you’re stubborn. Look, you’re going to that meeting tomorrow that those stuck up council people have been spreading word over, right?”

I glare, “Why do you want to know?”

“Just answer the damn question woman.”

“I’m thinking about it. Rather, I’ve been forced into it. I’m in a rough place right now.”

The hood looks towards my balcony, looking at Mitch who’s peeking over it at us. Then the blue eyes come back to mine, “And you’re taking the queen too.”

Queen? What the hell are they going about?

“Excuse me?” I hiss. “What the f**k are you sputtering?”

They chuckle, its deep and almost dark. Male. They’re definitely male. Up to this point I couldn’t tell but now I know for sure. He points towards Mitch again with his hood, eyes never leaving mine.

“Naïve little raven. You don’t think she’s wanted for nothing do you? Hiding her from people won’t hide her from Voices. She’s like a beacon for those things. One of these nights you’re going to have to fight life or death when they come for her. Those b******s are restless without her.”

I stare at him with a blank face. What the f**k is he talking about? Mitch some kind of leader to these things? I blink, raising a brow. My mind is racing at every which way, confused, scrambled.

“Who the hell are you?” I hiss.

“Your past,” He stares at me, unmoved by my seething anger, “I also heard the council is looking for your brother. Must be an important guy.”

“And what does that have anything to do with you?”

“Any reward for him if they find him?”

I stare, “I don’t know. I haven’t been told anything but where to meet them and when.”

He seems to accept my answer and turns to leave. I let him, glad to see him leaving my property. Though I do not expect his arm raise and see the reflecting shine of his double barreled pistol. The quick-fire rings through my ears and everything goes silent after Mitch cries out from the balcony.

I hear his voice in my head when he continues his walk. I’m doing you a favor, little raven.

Mitch trips over the balcony, holding onto herself as she falls. Everything moves so slow. I can see her slowly open her eyes to me, calling out to me. My feet try to build traction, try to move faster than she can fall.

She’s decorated in scarlet down her shoulder and grazed across her forehead. She did well to dodge bullets she could not see. I dive to catch her, landing on my ankle on a funny angle yet again, and the weight of Mitch in my arms adds pressure to it. I cry out, arms shaking to hold her.

She’s out like a light, head back. I gently move back to sit on the ground. I lay her in my lap, checking her wounds. They’re not grave but not light either. She really did well not to get either of those bullets into her body. I caress her face, kissing it softly until she opens her eyes. She purrs then follows it with a groan once the pain comes to her.

“There you are, blondie. How are you feeling?” I try to coax her into sitting up on her own.

She does so, holding my hand, “What the heck happened?”

“The hooded intruder was back. We were talking,” We talked about you… “And I guess he attacked you out of habit,” Lies, all lies. Don’t do this to her.

She blinks slowly but brings herself to stand, allowing me to lean slightly on her once I join her. She holds me around the waist as do I for her. We take our time back to the apartment. Once inside we sit together on the couch. Ire goes to her lap, purring almost instantly.

“What did you two talk about?” She looks at me.

Just that you are the reason these things keep showing up and there’s a chance you could kill us in the middle of the night, “He wanted to know about the council meeting and what it’s about.”

“Is he part of the council?”

That is a good question, but… “If he was he wouldn’t have asked about the council. He would have already known about the meeting.”

She squeezes my hand, “How’s your leg?”

How did she know? “Uh, it’s fine. I’ve had worse.”

“You keep saying that. You’ve never told me about what happened when you were in the council camp.”

“Horrible things, Mitch. You don’t need to hear about them.”

She winces when moving her shoulder so her hand can cup my cheek, “But what if I want to?”

I smirk. She’s impossible. Stubborn like me. It’s why we butt heads so much. I lean down and kiss her, stroking Ire while doing so. She sucks on my lips softly. The hand on my cheek tightens and she deepens our kiss, tongue pressing against my lips, begging for entrance. I suck on it softly, allowing access.

I guess when you’re terrified of losing someone, you want nothing more than to feel them near you, with you, anything you can do to make sure they won’t leave you again. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her towards me.

“Rikkira,” She coos, whispering, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

I stop what I’m doing to stare at her. “What?”

“I’m falling in love with you,” She pins me down on the couch and Ire scrambles off her lap to bolt out of the room. Mitch hisses slightly with the pain of her shoulder but otherwise ignores it to lay atop me.

I can feel her heart beat over mine. Her eyes meet mine again and there’s a certain warmth behind her gaze. She stares at me so lovingly I feel like I’m the only thing she can see in the room. But inside I’m slightly curled up in a ball. Words echo in my ears. She’s the queen of those things outside. She can’t be capable of love. I want so much to give into her words, to say it back but I shake inside. I don’t know what to believe.

“Stop thinking so much, baby,” She kisses me, “Relax. I’m here. You saved me. I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”

The shaking inside me stops hearing those words. They’re so real. So raw. I tear up, holding her face in my hands. I can’t lose her. I have to protect her. These emotions she shares with me. They’re too real to be faked. I kiss her back.

“Mitch,” I whisper, licking her lips, “My Mitch.”

She giggles a little, tearing up too, “Yes. I am.”

I caress her cheek while wiping away her tears. We meet in a salty, wet, and passionate kiss. She lowers herself on me completely. I wrap my arms around her waist. She’s safe here in my arms. Everyone is wrong. I feel burning inside, the fires of her burning bright inside me. Filling me with her light like she always does when we’re in contact.

Say it. Say it damn it. Say you love her. Come on. Do it. Damn it. Do it!