A house on the edge of town. The campus of Illedale University and its surrounding town of Addersfield proper.
Home.
Sylvia carefully limps along on her crutches, taking everything in slowly, almost hollowly. She trembles a bit, having to stop and control the shaking, taking a few breaths to mitigate the pain.
She looks like hell. As if she wasn’t on crutches, there were obvious bandages that she’d made some efforts to cover and still couldn’t completely hide all along her body. Not to mention the bruises she couldn’t completely cover, the general exhaustion radiating off of her.
But she’s alive.
She shakes her head to herself. She’s alive. She has to focus on that. She clears her throat a bit, taking a few more breaths and then looking around quietly, trying to find somewhere to sit before she drops as she realizes she wasn’t going to get steady just yet.
As such, Elec didn’t often park anywhere near Wily’s fortress and he never brought anyone ‘home’ in the past. He’d stay on base while there, utilising the room assigned to him. It wasn’t a secret that he had, what he called, an apartment off base. The thing was that they only knew what the upstairs interior looked like since he often sent and posted pictures of himself in bed or by the wall where his guitars were mounted. It simply looked like a very small room. None of them, as far as he was aware, knew what it looked like from the outside or that, well, it was a bus.
This did change as time went. Forte knew, he’s known the longest, maybe a couple others… This isn’t including the Light bots, of course.
As a precaution, because while he was more than certain Wily himself had never been suspicious of him? That didn’t include any of the others, he, later, wouldn’t park nearby Blues’ hideaway either. Walking distance, similar to how far from Light’s lab on that note, but not quite close enough to be associated with that particular property. Elec had been glad to discover Forte that one night long ago, even if it meant a surprise Blues’ popping up, since he was supposed to be, well, dead. Shadow had been tasked with disposing of him and the entire base was still convinced of it. Another thing about keeping secrets? They were easier to keep when they fell in line with the first one. Elec’s loyalty, Blues hoarding Forte…
It was just. A little harder; he had to be more cautious. It was one thing to slip up if no one else would suffer for the mistake, but with a side party involved…
That had been some many years ago.
Again, Elec didn’t leave the bus in front of Light’s lab either, to be certain, which meant approaching the building in a very roundabout way. He brought with him his new toy; a very pretty King V whose black paint had a faint shimmer, and a custom inlay of small, gold stars following up the side of a fin. As he walked up he was using the sling to hold his left arm in for lack of better things to do with it since the white pants he wore lacked pockets, and pinning fluffy hair out of his face against the wind with his right hand. Spotting Blues had been entirely by chance, and it was likely that the original hadn’t intended to be discovered. “Little nightingale, how is it that you’ve come to our garden today?”
INVOLVED: Mercedes Jones and folks
TIME FRAME: Friday, March 4, 2016
LOCATION: Los Angles
SUMMARY: Mercedes is back in L.A.
“Ms. Soul? Ms. Soul?” an insistent voice, broke through the very necessary slumber of one Mercedes A. Jones better known as Amiyah Soul. Stretching arching her back, she yawned raising her hand to her mouth. “It’s Ms. Jones.” She corrected, her voice groggy with sleep. “Sorry Ms. Jones.” The attendant said smiling sweetly, “We’ll be landing in 20 minutes.” Nodding politely to the brunette. “Thank You.” She said sitting up. She closed the laptop putting it into her bag, before likewise putting her pen and notebook away. Looking out the plane’s window, she could see the city coming into view. Yawning again. She smiled, it was good to finally be back home. They had extended her tour, a month, and now some much need R & R were in order. She would be spending a day in L.A., then a trip to her hometown to celebrate her parent’s anniversary and relax for a couple of weeks.
“I know that look…” A dissatisfied voice beside her said. Turning, she rolled her eyes at her band mate. Short and rounder through the middle, Ronda was 2 years older than her and had lips fuller than her own. She was forever commenting on her lips and constantly kept them covered in red lipstick. “What is that supposed to mean?” “You know DAMN well what that means.” “NO, I don’t.” the sharp click of Mercedes seat belt punctuating her sentence. Sucking her teeth Ronda hurled a none to subtle, yeah right, her way. “Speak.” Mercedes commanded crossing her arms over her chest. “He’s never going to settle down with for you. You know that right?” “It’s none of your concern.” Her friend let out a sarcastic laugh, “Look, you have enjoyed yourself for the last four months. No fighting or revolving door relationship,” scratching her hair, with her pointer finger, “and I am using that word loosely. Whatever you call what you and HE have, It doesn’t work.” Mercedes pursed lips, “I get it. You’re worried about me. Thank you, but I’m a big girl. Alright?” she said, turning her head back to the window. Frustrated with trying to give her advice Ronda snapped, “Mercedes a good fuck isn’t worth this much trouble.” Truly annoyed at this point, she stared turn back to the woman for a moment, smirking “You know very little about Sam or OUR relationship, you assume too much, and speak to freely. Now I’m going to say this one more time. -Stay -out -of -it. Turning back to the window, she watched as L.A. Grow bigger and bigger on the horizon.
Once the plane lands, Mercedes immediately pulled out her phone, switching it back to regular mode. Exiting the plane, her face was glued to the phone as dozens of message alerts flood her screen. Sending a quick, I’ll be there late tomorrow, text to her sister. She then text Sam to let him know her flight had landed. She began answering the business texts first, wanting to settle matters, before her vacation. Off the plane, down the gain way, across the tarmac, she responded to texts. She only halted to thank the crew and worker she passed. “Mercedes… Earth to Ms. Soul.” “It’s Ms. Jones she absently remarked, then lifted her head, laughing at Ivan. “Smart ass. What’s up?” “We’ve been trying to plan a quick get together before you run off to bum fuck tomorrow.” Shaking her head at, as she decoded his words through his thick accent. “Did you just say bum fuck? My goodness.” “Yes, I have been trying to learn new words.” Smiling brightly at her, “What do you say, we meet up at Reese’s tonight, 10 pm?” Looking down at her screen, she scrolled through her messages again, quickly scanning for the one name, she wanted to see. Without warning, her phone was taken from her hand. “I will not take no for an answer.” Putting her hands on her hips, she looked at her band, “I’ll be there, but let’s make it 9 pm I have a flight tomorrow. A smile splits Ivan’s face, his cheeks going red. “Good.” Politely plucking her phone from his hand. She switched away hips swaying, her behind jiggling with every step. “See you guys later Mercedes called, returning her eyes to her phone to finish answering texts. “надто сексуальний” Ivan whispers, watching her walk away.
Work first, play second, she repeated to herself. Sam was going to kill her. The thought came with a flush of heat creeping up the back of her neck. A nervous giddiness causing her to giggle. God, she hoped he would. She should have invited him along. Why hadn’t she? This wasn’t a party. It was work. Showing her band and backup singers appreciation was important, they were like family to her. “You like?” Ivan said more a statement, than a question, after seeing the expression on her face. Taking another sip of whatever he had ordered, she smacked her lips appreciatively. It had the courtesy to be strong, but fruity which was her favorite combination. “Let me buy you another.” He said leaning in close, she could feel the scruff of his beard, against her cheek. He had a harmless crush on her, she knew. Older, he was sure of himself in a way that sometimes made her feel uncomfortable. “No thanks.” Shaking her head, “but this is good.” “I'm glad you like,” He said winking at her. Mercedes checked the time for the, twenty more minutes and she was out of here.
9: 45 pm. Mercedes finished her drink and stood to her feet, “Guys, I really need to get going. It’s been a long day.” A bevy of ‘Aww mans’ and rolled eyes accompanied her announcement. Ivan lips curled into the funniest pout she had ever seen. “So soon. Nooo… You just got here.” Reaching out he took her hand holding her in place. “I really need to go.” She said pleadingly. “One dance. Then I will give you your hand back.” Holding up one finger, “One,” she repeated, As the man pulled to the dance floor.
A quick spin, with a snap pulling her to his body Mercedes was impressed. Before she could comment on his dance skills he was speaking to her. “You should not run off so fast. How’s a man supposed to catch you?” His accent had rolled into a sexy husky whisper. Chuckling “I didn’t know I was being chased.” Pulling away from her, he stared down at her. “Well, you are.” he said sincerely, raising her chin so their eyes could meet. Mercedes placed her hand on his chest. Putting more space between them. She swallowed raising her eyebrow slightly at the firmness she found. “I am flattered, but I’m seeing someone." Quickly adding, "Despite what you may have heard.” She really needed to hide her emotion better. “I know.” He said simply. “And when you are tired of him. Come and find me. I intend for you to have me many babies.” Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed it slowly. “Go. And tell him I said Hello.”
Kurt was very glad he had a relatively good memory, because he wrote down none of the ingredients or anything to the pasta he was cooking, but somehow managed to make it look like it did on television when it came out of the oven. Of course, the true test was whether or not it tasted good, but he had a pretty keen eye for what flavors worked together to compliment one another, so he assumed that even if it wasn't exactly the recipe on the cooking channel, it would be tolerable at least. It was good that he couldn't actually taste the recipe version, because comparisons with food always drove him crazy, especially if one was better than the other, and the lesser of the two was his own dish.
After tasting it, he decided it was pretty good, keeping it in the oven on warm until Blaine got home. Just as Kurt turned around to set down the oven mitts, Noah rounded the corner, another toy car in his mouth. "Hey, little prince, where did you find that?" Kurt asked him with a smile, reaching down to pick him up. Noah just gurgled against the car before pulling it out of his mouth. "My toy box," he answered enthusiastically, handing the car to his father, Kurt barely even phased by the fact that it was covered in his saliva. He just put the car on the kitchen island and walked Noah over to the couch, setting him down beside where the little fort was they built earlier in the day.
"Are you hungry, Noah? Daddy should be home any minute," Kurt explained, tilting his head with a huge grin on his face as he looked at his son. Sometimes, it just got to Kurt how cute Noah was, and he just had to sit and adore him for everything that he was. He simply nodded and fiddled with one of the plush dog on the couch, pressing its tummy to make it bark. Just then, Kurt heard the door handle jiggle, and he hopped up from the couch to all but run to the front door.
Kurt was beyond ecstatic that Blaine was finally home, even if it had only been a few hours since he'd seen him last. There was always that excitement in seeing him after they'd been apart for a little while, like a nervous flutter or tickle in his stomach. He got to the lock before Blaine could with his key, opening the door and instantly swiping his arms around his husband's waist, letting his hands flatten against his lower back. "Why hello, Mr. Hummel-Anderson," Kurt said, in the same attitude that he did when they were newlyweds, before leaning forward to peck Blaine on the mouth. He kneaded their lips together in a soft but affectionate kiss before he heard Noah squeal and attack Blaine's left leg, causing him to pull apart in a laugh.
