TimeBell: Relapse, Regret, Repeat
Timebell was walking home to the small NYC apartment she shared with Timebomb and Timebot, when she saw some movement in a dark alley perpendicular to the street she was walking on. Since she was still in her superwear and she knew she could use her powers if anything went wrong, she stepped into the alleyway.
"I'm sorry, darling. I hate myself everyday for what I did." a male voice whimpered. At first, Belle simply thought it was a poor drunk bloke mistaking her for his ex-girlfriend, but then she really listened. The voice was deep, but not extremely low, smooth, charming, and now that she was listening to it and not the words, Belle recognized that proper, articulate English accent. It was the voice that, not long ago, had whispered sweet nothings in her ear at 2 A.M. after a nightmare, the one that used to hum against her skin when she was having a lazy Saturday morning stuck cuddling in bed, the one that haunted her dreams every single night.
"No... No. This can't be happening. This- this can't... be... real.." she whispered, backing away slowly. Suddenly she tripped on her own two feet and fell straight onto her bum. Bell saw the figure move closer to her, so she scampered backwards on all fours until she hit her back against a wall. Overtaken with panic, she curled into a ball and hid her face from view.
"Please! Please Michael, don't hurt me. Haven't you done enough? Can't you leave me with some happiness? Please!" Timebell cried, tears beginning to drip down her cheeks. Her small frame shook with terror as the figure continued to approach her when, suddenly, she peeped through her hair and saw a pair of dress shoes in front of her and felt two hands underneath her arms. Her body tensed as she attempted to find the courage to use her power, but then he simply picked her up and then dropped his hands, giving her a hesitant smile.
"Hi." He replied simply, his bright icy blue eyes looking down at her. With that one smile. the one he had always reserved just for her, all of the time and pain that had passed between them melted, and she was once again just Michelle; the small, broken 15 year old wandering the city streets of London alone in the middle of the night.
"H-hi.." Timebell breathed, forgetting everything as she looked into his eyes. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, but instead of breaking the haze, it only furthered the intoxicated state of her mind. All she saw was long lashes, tousled black hair, smooth, clean shaven skin, a strong jawline, and a grin that made her weak in the knees.
All of a sudden, his lips crashed onto hers, filled with years of guilt and love all twisting together into pure passion. At first the intensity shocked Timebell, but then it was quickly matched with her own excitement as her arms wrapped around his neck. His tongue parted her lips wildly as his hands raised to hold her waist, pulled her closer, and pushed her up against the frigid brick wall. A slight whimper came from Timebell's throat, encouraging him. With a smirk of victory, Michael's moth moved to her neck, slowly kissing her ivory skin and leaving a trail of goosebumps wherever he kissed. His deep voice began humming their old song against her skin and the lyrics began to dizzily spin in her head.
"Michelle, my Belle... these are words that go together well... my-"
"Belle... why was the word so important? No.. not Belle, but Bell... Time... TimeBell!" Her thoughts spun slowly in her head like the gears of an old, rusty machine, reaching the answer just after Michael's mouth began sucking on her collarbone.
"Mmm.. why did I ever.. pick modern dresses for you. I mean.. you were so stunning before.. but now.. Now, my Belle... you are so.. irresistible." Michael sighed against her skin before moving to her other collarbone.
Realizing the situation she had allowed herself to get caught up in, Timebell's blood went cold.
"Stop." She breathed, trying not to panic.
"Hmm?" he asked, his hands starting to travel to her hips.
"Stop. Michael. Michael, please." Bell pleaded, her voice firm this time. Immediately Michael stopped, but now his ice blue eyes were filled with concern, and looking right into hers.
"What's wrong, my Belle?" he murmured. With as much force as she could manage, which was barely a nudge, she pushed him away and closed her eyes. "I'm not your Belle anymore. Don't you remember hurting me? Betraying me? Ripping my barely mended heart in two? Or are you too drunk to remember such a minor detail in your life?" she accused, tears stinging her eyes.
"Wha- But... Michelle.. of course I remember it. After all, it was the biggest mistake of my life. I know what I did, I know it was horribly, horribly wrong, but.... I also remember my feelings for you. They were genuine, you know, and I was a fool trying to use your powers to gain strength. I was an idiot for wanting anything more than your love. I'm sorry. I was sorry then and I'm sorry now and I will always be sorry for everything. I've put you through hell, I'm probably only adding to that hell by saying these things too. I don't deserve you back, I don't even deserve the chance to apologize like I am now, let alone what just.. happened... But, my Belle, please, if there's anything, anything at all I can do to.. to show you I'm sorry and that I've changed... please.. tell me." he begged, slowly reaching out to hold her hands.
Timebell knew she should say no and walk away, but her feelings for him never really left. A tear rolled down her cheek before she mumbled, "Now I know you're piss drunk. You've never been one for apologies or declarations of love, especially ones as lengthy as that. Unfortunately for me, I can never quite say no to you. Give me.... three days. Then meet me right here at this time on the third day, completely sober, if you aren't just talking out your arse. If you truly mean everything you told me tonight.. I'll have your answer. Do we have a deal?" Timebell's voice cracked a few times as she held in her tears.
"Of course, my love." Michael replied with a grin before squeezing her hands and letting go. He began to walk away wit ha spring in his step, but then stopped, turned around, and walked directly back to her. His hand cupped her cheeks and he gave her a soft, lingering kiss. "Until then." he whispered as the pads for his thumbs brushed the leftover tears from before off of her cheek. Then, with a nod of satisfaction, he ran off.
For a long while, all the poor girl could do was sit on the filthy concrete and sob. Her world had already been dangling by a thread with just the possibility of him coming back, and now she was just letting him waltz back into her life.
"I.. I'm going to lose everything." she muttered when she could no longer cry. Emotionless, she walked back to the apartment in silence.
Her friends were both asleep in bed by the time she got in the door, but a faint song was playing from Timebomb's phone. Each lyric pierced Bell's heart like a knife as her knees buckled and collapsed onto the living room floor. She couldn't go any further, everything hurt far to much for her to bear.
Timebell attempted to find sleep, but it was completely impossible for her to even close her eyes. And to make it worse, the song kept repeating, though she wasn't sure if it was all in her head or if it was actually on repeat. The pain of the lyrics piercing her wounded heart and riling up old memories only ceased once she simply couldn't feel or understand anything at all. It was just meaningless noises she was hearing over and over again.
" I would say the only words I know, that you'd understand.. my Michelle..."