The wind hitting her skin felt more like an icy hand than a gentle caress as she flew around Paris. Her wings buzzed lowly, a sound she used to find annoying but later became a sort of comfort whenever she was flying.
The view to the Eiffel tower appears and she picks up her pace. The heels that accompanied the costume made it seem like she'll have difficulty in jumping from building to building, but miraculously it felt like running in those basketball shoes she had as a kid.
Chloe hums as her feet finally landed, her wings slowing down to a stop. The place was empty. The others must have had plans tonight as they didn't show up for their nightly patrol. Oh well, more time for her to roam the city then.
She flicks out her weapon as a flying dagger sweeps past through her with barely an inch from her face. The handle is a gleaming ruby with a black, lone line at the center.
A smile erupts from her, "Oh, you're here too!"
"This is the first time someone smiles after I try to kill them."
Chloe giggles as Shadybug emerges fully from her spot.
"Well, I'm not just someone to you."
Shadybug pauses and Chloe could have sworn her lips tilted upwards for a split second.
A scene that might have happened in the Upton House Oasis (Episode 181) but if it did, it was forgotten.
Rated: G
Cw: Rabbit
They sit on the stairs outside the large doors. The beautiful gardens sprawl out infront of them as Jon idly traces patterns up Martin's arms. He's already feeling dizzy, his mind wanders as he attempts to bring Martin's voice into focus again.
"...and sneak in while he's tanked up and just take it, it really won't be hard."
"H-huh? What?" Jon blinks.
"The camera, Jon. I'm sure it can be used in some way to help against Elias or that Eye once we get to them."
"O-oh yeah. Perhaps." He blinks wearily gripping harder at Martin's wrist, trying to anchor himself.
"Jon? Are you okay? You look like you're about to keel over. Do you want me to get you more tea?" Martin glances down worridly at the familiar sight as Jon leans his head on his shoulder.
"No, I'm fine. Let's just stay like this for a little bit".
They both knew the Quiet comes with a price. They knew that Jon is too immersed into the new world to be yanked out of it so thoroughly without any consequences to his constitution. They tried having him step out of the bubble for a moment and then step back in to try to replenish his energy but that served little more than to intensify his headache and disorientation.
Jon feels Martin's last comment nagging in the back of his brain and he slowly lifts his head and shakes it in a last ditch effort to concentrate.
"We could try to take it. But you would have to go on without me. I don't think I'll be much help in this state and I do not want you princess carrying me all the way there".
"Are you sure? I think Elias would find you quite intimidating draped over my arms" Martin teases gently.
Jon snorts "Either way, I won't be able to guide us with that thing next to me. I can't even remember any of the domains we've been in until now". He finishes bitterly, scrunching up his face in frustration.
"Okay, maybe it's not the best idea... Maybe we could ask Salesa to ship it to us when we get there? That's his area of expertise, if I recall".
"Or we could ask Anabelle Cane" Jon counters, headache growing. "Look, I don't think that camera will be the answer we're looking for. Maybe if I wasn't around but as things are..."
They fall into another silence, following the clouds as they slowly passed over the Estate and disappear past the line of trees where they know the bubble ends and the real horror show of a world begins.
Martin sighs "This can't last, can it?"
Jon looks down where their hands and arms are intertwined "No, I don't think it can".
"Then let's enjoy it while we can! C'mon!"
Getting up with sudden, newfound energy, Martin drags a startled Jon to his feet and pulls him down the stairs, into the grassy lawns.
"Martin what are you- I was perfectly comfortable sitting there!"
"I think I've seen it somewhere over there before..." Martin ignores his protests, scanning past the yard, to the nicely trimmed rose bushes near a dense group of trees.
He approaches the area, dragging a grumbling Jon behind him.
"Ma-"
"Shh, Shush you. We need to be quiet." Martin pulls out the apple slices they took outside as a late morning snack.
"what are we looking for?" Jon half whispers and Martin pulls them both into a crouch by the bushes.
"Shh. Wait for it."
They both hear a soft rustle. Martin quietly scrambles near the sound, Jon huffing a quiet laugh at his tail. He holds out an apple slice and places it by the shaking bush. They wait.
Jon is about to open his mouth for a tease when they see a small brown snout poking out. Whiskers and long floppy brown ears follow and soon a soft brown and cream colored rabbit pads out, sniffing at the sweet fruit.
"There you are" Martin coos so softly, Jon's heart squeezes a little.
The bunny scoops up the slice with its teeth, nibbling quickly finishing it up in a blink of an eye. Martin takes out another piece and places it closer to where they are crouching. The rabbit follows.
The next piece remains in his hand. The rabbit, fearless and unabashed, approaches.
"There you go, enjoy your little piece of comfort" Martin murmurs, slowly bringing his other hand to stroke the soft fur behind the bunny's ears.
The rabbit doesn't even flinch, just continues to chew.
Martin, face glowing, turns to Jon.
"C'mon, Joe Spooky is waiting for you".
"Joe Spooky?" Chuckling Jon reaches out to pet the rabbit's back side. It's fur is as soft as it looks and its brown and white colors blend together like warm marble cake.
"You've got a problem with Joe Spooky? He was privvy to some sinister happenings not too long ago and oh, the stories he has to tell" Martin gestures dramatically. The memory of the name's origin is branded in their hearts like so many other scarred over wounds.
"Now that he has time to eat apples and enjoy some comfort, I don't think he'd want to tell these stories."
"Nonsense! Joe Joe over here knows how to turn any horror story into the best of comedies" Martin is laughing and Jon shakes his head in amusement.
"I wish I had his talents" he quietly admits, crouching there, gently stroking Joe Joe, contemplative.
"You don't need his talents, you've got me to do all the translating for you" Martin meets his eye.
Jon looks back "Yes. I've got you".
They hardly notice as Joe Spooky scrambles away to greener pastures. They sit there with each other for a while, Jon discovering Martin's curls are infinitely softer than any bunny's fur.
This is a moment. And it's completely theirs. There in the sunlight, on the grass under the trees. Worries pushed aside. Theories momentarily forgotten. Apocalypse a touch away, not reaching them.
This is them now and forever. Every moment burned into their soul. And even later, as Martin walks hand in hand with Jon who has forgotten these little slices of peace and love, he knows they're there, beneath their clean clothes and renewed vigor. It's an eternity of just them, wrapped within a blink of an eye, just as it closes.
Inktober Day 2. He might not understand exactly what a white tie event is, but this giant alien boyfriend is *pretty* sure he’s ready to take you to it.
