Billie doesn’t expect the ghost of the boy; make that the man, when she finds out about Les. It’s a game of hide and seeks, tag and run, and the world mocks her as she races through it. The war is over, and people are calming their beating hearts, others are picking up the pieces. He’s pale and tired, and standing too close to the edge of the rooftop garden at the hotel where he’s been spending the past few days. There’s nothing left of the boy in that tall frame save for his uncertain, scared smile when he sees her.
“It’s good to see you again, Billie,” his voice sounds hoarse, and he doesn’t notice her shaking. The wind so high up ruffles his long hair, now teasing his shoulders.
“Graham is dead.” Billie’s usual composure evaporates when she hears her own voice, and the weakness she hides from the expecting world is back once more. Years of being perfect wear her down, and for the first time in her life, she’s broken and weary and scared all at once.
She doesn’t feel her tears until they stain Les’s shirt, and a moment later, his arms pull her close. They stay that way above the world for the longest time. Billie doesn’t leave the hotel alone that night.
~*~
“If you won’t return with me, then you leave me no choice,” the young man with the hard eyes reveals his second crushing surprise for that day, a small automatic whipped out swiftly and threateningly, “I can’t leave you alive, Sumeragi Li Noriega.”
Billie wants to scream and accuse and shout at the stranger, and Kujo who’s not moving away or pleading for his life. Her voice is not her own, and nothing comes out.
The shot happens too soon, but not too fast for her to see Kujo close his eyes with resignation. The cream white carpet drinks the blood in stretching stains, and when Kujo falls, she can’t see anything else.
They avoid her when she’s back at work (A lovers’ quarrel, some say it was), but she needs every chance of peace to be perfect, for her perfect revenge against a broken world.
“It’s good to see you again, Billie,” his voice sounds hoarse, and he doesn’t notice her shaking. The wind so high up ruffles his long hair, now teasing his shoulders.
“Graham is dead.” Billie’s usual composure evaporates when she hears her own voice, and the weakness she hides from the expecting world is back once more. Years of being perfect wear her down, and for the first time in her life, she’s broken and weary and scared all at once.
She doesn’t feel her tears until they stain Les’s shirt, and a moment later, his arms pull her close. They stay that way above the world for the longest time. Billie doesn’t leave the hotel alone that night.
~*~
“If you won’t return with me, then you leave me no choice,” the young man with the hard eyes reveals his second crushing surprise for that day, a small automatic whipped out swiftly and threateningly, “I can’t leave you alive, Sumeragi Li Noriega.”
Billie wants to scream and accuse and shout at the stranger, and Kujo who’s not moving away or pleading for his life. Her voice is not her own, and nothing comes out.
The shot happens too soon, but not too fast for her to see Kujo close his eyes with resignation. The cream white carpet drinks the blood in stretching stains, and when Kujo falls, she can’t see anything else.
They avoid her when she’s back at work (A lovers’ quarrel, some say it was), but she needs every chance of peace to be perfect, for her perfect revenge against a broken world.
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