"Tickets?"
Staring down the man in front, doing my absolute best to control the anger, Washu attempted to fix whatever this was. They spoke for a while until he told us to leave.
"I don't get it!" I argued. "Why do you have to pay for common transport! It's just some shitty vehicle, not worth a coin!"
My friend scratched her neck and shrugged. "It's fine, that club is not far from here," she told me while following the directions on her phone.
"We are never using buses again," I muttered not letting this go â Ridiculous!
My friend laughed and answered with an attitude, "Suit yourself, but I'm not walking back."
Exhaling, my warm breath visible against the chilly evening air. Hiding my hands in the pockets of the dark coat I allowed my eyes to roam around the busy city streets, filled with life and brightened up by the lights with sources of a different kind; bars, stores, and cars.
Finally landing on the back of my friend, her ashy brown hair tied into the usual high ponytail. Shoulders lean, but strong covered by the elegant dark green coat.
She fitted in, somehow seeing her walk among humans warmed my heart. Washu was a sweetheart, she deserved a life of happiness, not fights and punishments. She didn't fit into pentagon's ways, a touch of regret for being the one to put her in there, yet I knew, otherwise she might have been very well dead by now.
Did she ever think about it? Has she ever held any anger for my decision, for taking her from that abandoned planet? The bullying, the suffering, I was the reason behind it.
Scoffing a dry smile rose upon my lips, my entire existence seemed to only bring pain and destruction. If there was a way to leave her on this planet and return by myself... Bribing the admin, giving them full control over my person, if I were to do so, they might have let it go. To them, she wasn't important enough to care, but to me? She kept me away from falling into the darkest parts of my mind.
"Watch it!" a warning as I got pushed to the side.
"You okay?" my friend asked, looking up from her phone.
I must have been lost in thoughts, walking into someone as they passed by. Still, humans weren't exactly the kindest of species.
"Yes, got distracted by... Well, everything?" I chuckled pointing around.
Her greyish eyes shone brighter. "I know!" she gushed, containing her excitement without success. "This place, planet. It's amazing, isn't it?!" Her thin lips molded into an infectious smile, that caused me to do the same. Seeing her this happy, it wasn't often.
"Indeed," I lied, not sharing similar experiences, overwhelmed by the sounds and scents. "How far?" I asked, changing the topic before she sensed the untruthfulness in my voice.
"Just around the corner," she pointed ahead, and turned around in order to walk in front.
Following behind, the anxious thoughts occupied my mind, yet there was nothing that could have been done, at least for now.
Once we stood in front of a large wooden door, we knocked and waited until a tall skinny man showed up and looked us up and down before allowing us to enter. The sound of the odd music as we walked deeper into the basement of the club. Neon lights, smoke, and stench of the mixture I wasn't going to like was so strong even my friend grimaced and covered her nose.
"Have fun," said the man before leaving our side.
Taking a seat near the bar, my eyes followed multiple species, but none of them seemed right. My friend tapped my shoulder and told me she will go ask around. Leaving me alone with an awfully bad mood and anger growing by the second.
"Drink?" a familiar voice offered.
My eyes connecting with the icy blue crushing under the frost of Azgardian winter nights. For a second, I thought, this could be it, but quickly recognized the girl from earlier and my hopes went back down. Her tanned skin and black curls, now lazily put into the bun, there was no mistake.
"Usually, it takes a few weeks before someone finds out about this place," she commented while handing me a tiny glass. "Drink," she offered noticing my curious stare.
Giving it a gentle swirl, I took a quick shot, regretting it right after; my throat burning and begging for a sip of water.
"Before you say anything," she paused me from lashing out and quickly handed another glass. "Trust a stranger, drink."
It wasn't poison, my throat calmed down after a few seconds, however it wasn't pleasant. Why in the world would I take another? Yet her inviting stare, almost as if she knew this was exactly what I needed. And so just like that, I took another.
Unsure of how many I've taken before feeling dizzy yet calmer. The noise quieted down, and my brain almost shut out from the world, whatever this was; I liked it.
"So," she finally spoke, leaning against the bar with her skinny hands that could have been easily snapped in two. "Where are you from, my new stranger danger."
I giggled. What the fuck?! But it was funny, stranger danger â I giggled again.
Her smirk almost evil, this is where my senses would come into high alert, yet my brain was screaming to stop thinking and just relax.
"Mmm pluton 543," I mumbled, words weren't making sense when spoken out loud.
Her lips pursed into a straight line, tapping against the side of her chin she asked again, "Where are you from? What is your name?"
Annoying. Being interrogated was annoying, but asked the same question twice? Now that was unacceptable. What was I going to do about it? Absolutely nothing.
"Elina, I'm fromâ"
"Elina!" my friend's soothing, yet alarmed voice getting in the way of the answer.
She embraced me and scanned my face, by cupping my cheeks with her slightly larger hands.
"Oh, Elina, you haven't mentioned a friend!" the girl added, her tone was lining with irritation, but quickly changed into something much more chipper. "A cute puppy at that."
"Excuse me?" Washu snapped, unsure of how to react, her cheeks slightly reddish after hearing the unnecessary comparison, but thinking it through it was most definitely fitting. "Elina are you okay? What have you given her?!"
"Shhh," I calmed her down. "You are so loud, just relax." Closing my eyes, I smiled and bounced my head to the sides.
"See, listen to the blondie," the girl handed Washu the same drink.
"No thank you," she refused sternly, unamused.
The messy bun slid to the side following the movement of her tilted head. "Why so defensive? I'm just helping out your friend. Before she was stressed and angry, now look at herâ" she pointed at me. "Tell me this wasn't what she needed.
Washu grabbed a drink and sniffed it before putting it away. "What she needs are not drugs. Is that how you greet new locals?" her voice low, filled with anger. "Cut to the point."
Her tongue clicked as she hopped over the bar, taking a seat on top, which was just enough to be at a similar eye level with my friend.
"The point is, look around," she scoffed. "Everyone here is running from something or someone, if you think we greet new species with welcome basket and hugs you are fucking insane."
"If you needed a clarity check you could have asked instead of doing this to my friend!" Washu argued not agreeing with the girl's ways.
As a response, she only got an eye roll, which pissed her even further.
"It's funny!" I chuckled, brunette observing me with confusion. "I have never seen you this bothered."
Shaking her head she complained, "Stop laughing, giggling, or whatever it is you are doing. Creeps me out." Her comment made me pout. "That too! Ugh, this isn't you... Of course, I'm angry, look what she did to you!"
Raising her hands in pure defense the petite girl let her hair loose before leaning closer to my friend's face. "You are cute," she told her, this time it wasn't to mock her.
Washu turned to the side, her face reddish, just like her eyes when in control of her ability.
"We should go back," she informed while ignoring the girl, who observed us with displeasure. Helping me stand, my body wobbled to the sides. "Next time we are here, it will be me trying to prevent this crazy-ass psycho from killing you. Don't forget that."
Laughing, her icy irisesâenhanced by the tanned skinâsparked with mischief.
"Are you implying you will be my knight in the shining armor?" she teased, causing my friend to utter a groan.
"No!"
"Goodâ" dropping herself from the bar she approached closer, standing on her toes in order to reach just below Washu's ear. "Because I don't need one," she hissed and turned around, leaving us alone.
There goes my peace of mind, I thought as my friend complained about the infuriating little troll, was what she called her. But let's be honest, she was anything but that. Her beauty was rare and unique. Nothing I would ever consider my type, nevertheless hard to overlook.
"Tell me one thing," she began seriously. "Did you tell her about the Pentagon, our mission?"
Doing my best to think I couldn't recall mentioning anything of sorts. "No," I assured.
"Good, good," she sighed and covered me with a blanket. "Sleep well, Elina. Enjoy the last moments of peace, because when you wake up you will feel like shit."
Chuckling I snuggled into the pillow. "You aren't being too nice you know? Goodnight."
She wasn't being wrong either, not even morning, my head pounded like a hammer against the skull, there was no air for me to take. Hardly slipping out of the bed, and putting on the clothes, I raised a brow at my friend's sleep talking; something about a troll.
Going outside the night was still embracing the sky, taking careful steps never in my life have I felt this weak and helpless. Whatever she gave me worked, but it was my fault for dropping my guard.
Sadly, it wasn't raining, but no matter it still felt better than staying inside. Checking the time, it was three in the morning, yet there were still a few groups of people walking by, chatting and laughing loudly. Some of them were even singing, which quickly turned my headache into a migraine. Never have I felt so shitty, not even after surviving poisoning gas on the pluton 089, whatever she gave me was strong.
My legs with difficulty taking me up the hill, towards the little spot I've found yesterday. To my surprise the woman was here again, sitting in her wheelchair watching the city view. Furrowing my brows I approached her sideânot too closely, yet she didn't even have to check in order to know who it was.
"Rough night?" her voice was hoarse, causing my heart to skip from concern; it wasn't normally like that. She coughed a few times, before snuggling further into the grey scarf, that was softly entangled around her neck.
Thinking of an answer, I suppose we could call it 'rough', but after recalling the bus situation it became so much worse.
"Mhm," I muttered thinking about the annoying ticket man or whatever they called them.
Massaging the side of my forehead I exhaled and allowed myself to observe the woman. As always dark shadows underneath her eyes, which made me wonder. Was it always like this? No. There wasn't even any need for a scan, her body was at the peak of exhaustion.
"Can't sleep?" I bit onto my lip preventing myself from asking a thousand questions.
She finally pulled away from the view and glanced at me from the side, her tired expression causing an unfamiliar sting. "Something of sorts," she chuckled nervously.
Frowning not sure what to think of it, I decided it wasn't any of my business. We remained there till the dawn began to break, and birds chippered loudly from between the trees.
Her wheels moved for the first time in hours, noticing she was slowly pulling away I wished to ask her to stay, enjoying the comfort her presence has brought to my now much calmer mind. However, I haven't. Why would I?
"You should get some rest," her honeylike words coated by unknown warmth.
Turning to face her she was blessing me with a faint smile. "Will you?" something inside of me cared enough to ask.
"Maybe," she grinned, but there was no amusement on my part. Humans might have not seen it, but I haveâa fragile body giving up on its owner.
"Please do," the unfamiliar tone that has never left my mouth, directed towards a stranger.
Her expression changing, she allowed the exhaustion to come forth as she nodded and corrected her scarf. "Goodnight sweet human," she whispered before leaving in the opposite direction.
The woman couldn't be further from the truth; not sweet, nor human.
Just a monster.
â