Puppet vs. Master
Rating: R (Just in case)
Genre: Drama/Romance
Type: Series
Prompt: 004: Lost
Characters: Selena, Jonathen, Julian, Maria, Lucasz, Anna
Warnings: Jonathen likes to curse... a lot, Creepy boozed up fat guys, "heroic" rescue, sexual references
Summary: Selena finds out that the world is a lot more different than it is in books, Julian and Maria are in hot water, Jonathen is way to imposing for his own good.
Notes: I'm going on a (forced) three week road trip with my family starting tomorrow, so I doubt there will be another update until then, I hope you enjoy this one!
She's been running for a long time now, so she thinks it will probably be okay to rest for a moment. There's a building ahead, a little run down, but she doubts that the tenants will mind if she rests outside for a moment. She doesn't know how long she's been running, or how far she's gone, or where she's going, but she doesn't care. She's free. She slows down and stands next to a support pole for a moment, just catching her breath. It's a little bit chilly outside, but she has her jacket on, so she doesn't mind it that much. She's startled out of her thoughts by a harsh voice.
"Well hello there!" The man says. His voice is raspy, as if it's been dragged over a shredder before the sound comes out. His hair is unkempt, and she can see a beer bottle in his hand. It's nearly empty. His shirt has stains running down it, and it's not quite long enough to cover his belly, which she can see trying to escape the confines of his pants. This man gives her the chills, and she backs a way a little bit unknowingly.
"Now, come now! Don't be rude! I said hello!" He says again, his words slurred.
"Now now Bill, don't scare the poor girl." Says another man. He doesn't look quite as scruffy as the other one, and Selena relaxes a little bit at his words.
"Sorry about Bill, he can be a little bit... rough... at times."
"Oh, that's fine. I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, I'll be on my way in a moment." She replies. The man cocks his head a little bit.
"But why would you be doing that? You can stay as long as you want to, we're not on any time schedule. Why don't you stay and talk?" He asks her.
"Oh, that's fine, I really should be going now." She replies, making a move to leave.
"Now now, I said, why don't you stay and talk!" The man says, raising his voice, and stepping closer to Selena. She backs against a post.
"Why don't you have a drink, loosen up a little. Then we can head back up to me and Bill's place. How does that sound?" He asks. Selena's breath catches in her throat.
"I-I really need to go-" She begins, but the man presses closer to her, until she's backed up straight against the post. There's no where else to go, and she doesn't know what to do.
"Now didn't your mother ever teach you that pretty girls shouldn't run around by themselves at night? It might give men the wrong impression." He leers. He's close enough to her now, that she can smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Please, I can't-"
"Gosh, she sure likes to talk a lot Ray, maybe her mouth has other uses?" Bill calls out. Ray laughs.
Suddenly, Jonathen rounds the corner.
"Hey man, back the fuck off!" He yells out, grabbing Selena by the arm and pulling her towards him.
"Stay behind me, and get as far away from them as possible." He whispers into her ear. Trembling, she nods her head slightly.
"Hey man, what the fuck was that about?" Ray calls.
"Look, I'm going to give you until I reach five to back the fuck off. And if you're not out of my sight by the time I say five, I'm going to beat your ass so hard you're going to wish you'd been born without one."
"Right, like we're going to be scared of some trash talking little fagot?" Bill laughs.
"One."
"Ooh, Bill, I'm real scared of this one." Ray jokes.
"Two." Jonathen cracks his knuckles at this one, causing Bill to jump a little bit.
"You're not gonna scare us. We saw her first, she's ours."
"Three."
"Bill... maybe we should leave, this guy looks like he means business."
"Four. You know, I haven't had this much fun in a while... maybe it would be best if you guys didn't run. I don't work out for nothing."
Ray glances at Bill and heads inside the building. After a minute, Bill follows him, watched by the cold glare of Jonathen.
"Thank you." Selena whispers. Jonathen nods.
"Look, where are you headed?" He asks.
"I don't know, I just wanted to get away from my parents house. They were talking about, like, selling me or something... it scared me." Jonathen looks at her with a slight look of pity for a moment, and then it is gone.
"Here, why don't you come back with me to my place until we can figure out what to do with you." Jonathen says. He has no idea why, but the words just fell out of his mouth.
"Really? That would be great! Thanks! I'll just get my bag, I dropped it over there by the post." She says, a huge smile on her face.
She runs back to get it, and Jonathen starts to walk in the opposite direction.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Selena whispers. Jonathen nods in acknowledgement, and then starts walking again.
"Come on, are you coming?" He asks.
"Yes, sorry!"
*****************************
"Cooper, my father and I are most definitely not pleased with you." Lucasz says. Maria's body is rigid, as she tries to control her anger. She told him not to unlock the door, the fool. But no, he had to leave it open.
"I know, and I apologize sir, I don't know how she escaped."
"Hmph. I told Mikhail not to trust a bunch of dirty Spaniards, but no, he had to have your daughter."
"I apologize for this Mrs. Ravonskanski, I assure you that my husband and I are doing everything we possibly can to find her."
"Then do more than you possibly can, Cooper." Anna spits. She and Lucasz leave, leaving Maria and Julian alone.
"Dammit Julian! I told you, I told you, I told you, but no, you just had to unlock it. Age has made you soft."
"Shut up Maria! Shut the hell up! I have men out looking for her right now, it won't be long until we find her."
"It better not be, for your sake."