[Graves x TF Fanfic] - Ch 2&3 -The Mundane work day, and A date with Agony
I posted chapter one forever ago, i figured i should give an update to those that read the fanfic on the boards.
TLDR for current chapters -
CH1 - Malcolm recalls how Tobias betrayed and abandoned him in a hiest to steal ionia's money. Ch2 - Malcolm's day at work, and he gets invited out by a coworker. (boring filler chapter). Ch3 - A night at a bar, a blind date with Jayce, and learning Tobias is still alive through an excruciating encounter with Evelynn.
Line breaks will occur between chapters two and three :)
Next update will focus on the aftermath, and forming the plotline to finding Tobias. Enjoy the angst along the way ;).
Final note, formatting will be off since this is directly a copy and paste. If you'd like to view the proper formatting I've provided a link to it on archives of our own.
Ch 2
Malcolm heard a familiar ringing noise echo through his bedroom, and the annoying dissonance became deafening with each second. His eyes were heavy from another night's lack of sleep.
Fuck. It's way too early for this. He thought groggily. I'm gonna turn this bastard off and take my damn time today.
He lazily opened his eyes, and the tender rays of sunlight from the nearby window kissed his rough skin as a lover would. He groaned in response, firmly shut off the alarm with a fist, and slowly spread his arms and legs apart. Crackled noise echoed throughout his home as he stretched his limbs, and a tiny yawn accompanied the popped joints as he slowly sat upright.
Damn. I dunno where to start today. He mused. I imagine someone else can take inventory, but what about when I get off work? Malcolm sighed, he wasn't one for social endeavors.
He lazily shifted his legs to the side of the bed, and felt the immediate gravitational pull to fall asleep again. Tempted thoughts were scattered away as he forced his feet on the frozen floors; The sudden change in temperature jolted him awake.
He let out a soft groan as he walked towards one of the piles of clean clothes, and swiftly withdrew a dark blue button up flannel and pair of khaki's from the disorganized mess. He carefully put the shirt on one arm at a time to prevent further wrinkles, and slid into the pants that were just a tad too large for him.
I reckon I can slip in exactly on time without too much trouble. He thought.
He took slow strides as he went to fidget in yesterday's clothing for his keys, wallet, and cheap hextech flip phone. He paced towards the bathroom afterwards, and scoured his cabinet mirror for some hair product. He located the gel promptly, unscrewed the slightly sticky lid, and lathered a tiny amount to spike his short hair up a bit.
He examined his reflection in the mirror, despite being sleepy, confidence blossomed throughout his face. Soft hums collided against the porcelain sink while he washed his hands clean. A once exasperated expression became more alert after he lightly ran damp hands across sleepy eyes. He was primed for the clockwork nine to midnight cycle to be shattered. He swiftly dried his hands on a nearby hand towel and headed towards the exit after slipping on a pair of white shoes.
He unlocked the door, and sunlight cascaded the dimly lit home as he stepped outside onto the cold morning's busy streets. He squinted his eyes and locked the door behind him. Gleamed golden rays licked at his skin, and he began a mellow walk to work.
The light frigid wind nipped against his exposed hands and neck, and a light overcast hung in the far away region west of him. He smiled lightly, despite the freezing breeze, he managed to dodge being drenched in the cold.
Idle chatter and the light hum of traffic filled each crevice of the busy streets. Despite feeling out of place, he still felt an unbreakable smidgen of positive energy. He retained his laid-back pace to work as he crossed several side streets, waited for many crosswalks, and dodged the occasional splash of water from an oncoming vehicle.
Alright. Time to get this out of the way. He thought.
He approached the small retail and repair center. The bright yellow building contrasted with the large colorless stores in the area. He took a shallow breath and reached for the bar to open the door.
Ding
His entrance was noted by four employees.
“Malcolm, where the hell have ya been?” A young woman with pink hair groaned behind the sales counter.
“Sorry Vi, I overslept today. Figured someone else could track inventory for a change.” He replied.
Numerous displays of new products surrounded him. He navigated around them towards the fresh pot of coffee behind the counter, and carefully poured the dark liquid into a styrofoam cup. He took light sips as he glanced around the establishment. Two of the employees were setting up popular hextech chargers, adapters, and other various accessories along the wall, and the other was setting up posters that displayed the newest premium discount.
Everything showed signs of a normal work day for the older man. He appreciated some sense of order, and immediately retrieved a nearby clipboard that contained sales goals for the month. The new products sold with ease, and a shipment of extra followed when a new shipment arrived. Accessory sales were lower than last month's; however, they were still ten thousand gold above the expected standard.
Repairs were the only goal, coincidentally, that couldn't be met for the month. Too many free replacements were handed out each month to retain customer satisfaction. The overall revenue was still well above the margins thanks to the excellent salespeople, though.
He placed the clipboard on the sales counter, and turned his focus away from the mental checklist. The pink haired lady drummed her black nails on the counter and grinned at Malcolm. She looked devious, and Malcolm knew of her intent to give him hell over his late appearance. She hoisted herself on the counter and laid playful eyes on him.
Shit. He groaned to himself.
“So, what caused you to be so late, did you go out on a date old man?” She snickered with a playful tone.
Her right hand traveled from the counter top to cup her face, and her ocean blue eyes gleamed over Malcolm's brown pair for a response.
“No I stayed here until close. I'm not interested in investing time for women, and my life ain't that exciting,” He huffed in reply.
She furrowed her brows in confusion, “Well, you need to get out more old man.”
“You don't need to call me old. I'm 40, not 70,”
“And I'm 22, not 12. I'll call you whatever I want to,” she stuck her tongue out after the reply.
A soft high pitched echo broke the conversation, and a new customer entered the establishment. Vi immediately pushed herself off the counter and mouthed several apologies to her boss. Malcolm knew the girl only meant well to tease him a bit. He focused his gaze towards the customer, and one of the sales members was instantly assisting them.
“Hi my name's Katarina. I'll be glad to help you out today, are you looking for something in particular?” The dark red headed saleswoman coaxed.
The customer offered a warm reply, “Oh no, not really. I'm just looking to upgrade my old flip phone.”
He genuinely appreciated his sales team, and Katarina was one of the more valuable members. She had an unnatural charm due to a beautiful complexion clashing with a scar above her eye; however, how she got the scar was always a mastery to Malcolm. She usually offered a different response when someone would ask about it.
“Well I've got just the product for you,” She gloated while walking the customer towards a recent display.
“Damn, she's slick.” Vi muttered in a quiet whisper.
“Well she's a reformed assassin from Noxus. I reckon she's learned how to sweet talk people into what she wants before the kill.” Malcolm joked.
Vi's eyes widened with amusement, “Malcolm you ain't sick today are ya? You usually don't joke around dude.”
“Of course not. Just callin' it like I see it.” He scoffed.
She grinned wildly at him, and he focused his gaze back towards Katarina. She was attempting to up-sell various chargers and connection ports to the disinterested customer, yet she refused to take no for an answer.
“I don't see the need for all of this extra junk.” The customer replied to Katarina.
“You never know when you'll need a spare. Trust me, I've been in too many situations where my phones died and I need to call in late for work. What if there's an emergency? There's too many possibilities to not have a backup honey.”
“I suppose you have a point. My husband would throw a fit if he wasn't able to reach me on a girl's night out,” The customer admitted in defeat.
Checkmate, Malcolm thought.
Conclusion of the sale came as Katarina strutted towards the register with the customer.
“Go ahead and ring her up for the Hextech X-11 and a spare charger please,” Katarina said to Vi.
A smile blossomed across the young woman's face “Ok Ma'am, your total today will be twelve hundred gold. Would you like to sign up for our newsletter? We'll send you offers occasionally so you can save on new products.”
“Sounds delightful,” The customer replied.
Within a few minutes the customer's new product was programmed, and the staff beamed at the first daily accomplishment. The first daily sale always flourished a positive vibe among everyone, and it kept them going through the long eight hours to come. The customer exited the establishment with her smile towards the staff. A quick wave from behind the glass ensued as she walked away to her next destination.
The day continued to be mundane, yet Malcolm still felt something invigorated in the surroundings. Several satisfied customers left the building, and the staff made sure to not allow for any window shopping. The rhythmic cycle continued throughout their scheduled breaks. Only a few dwindled hours remained, for the mid shift workers would arrive soon to take over.
Few customers entered the shop as the final hour of the shift approached, and the team members took this time to stock the products back. The once idle chatter between sales representatives and clients turned to the occasional squeak of a screen being cleaned, grunt of a table being wiped down, and rustled plastic being set back up for a line of products.
“Great job today team, go ahead and take off 30 minutes early today. I'll watch things from here-,” Malcolm's sentence was cut off immediately by the door slamming against the window in a fury of rage.
“Listen here you fuckin' cheapskates,” a well built blonde man shouted from the entrance.
“Can I help you sir? I'm so sorry if something's wron-”
“Shut it bitch.” Katarina's attempt to help was cut off abruptly.
She was taken aback and hid a scowl by facing away from the older man.
Vi tried to interject from behind the counter with concern, “Sir, what's wrong?”
The man snarled at her, and his eyes were glazed over with an anger that didn't represent usual frustration. Malcolm stood in the background and began to step forward to deescalate the situation, yet Vi already seemed to be on top of it.
“Look, I just bought this cheap Hextech X-8 model from you guys yesterday, and the glass is so damn cheap that it cracked from a five inch drop! I want a free replacement now, or I will leave nothing but negative reviews for your company %%%%,” He hissed vehemently at Vi.
“Ok sir. I totally understand you're upset. Let me see your phone, I'll take it to the back and examine if any repair costs would apply up f-”
“No, you stupid bitch! I asked for one damn thing. Give me a replacement, now! If you won't do it I want your manager, now!”
Malcolm huffed a reply from behind the man, “Don't you ever talk to her like that again. That repair is your own fault without a premium warranty plan, and quite frankly, I wouldn't honor it for you anyway.”
The man's eyes grew wide with fury, and he hissed in response, “This is the worst customer service I've ever received. I'll be reporting to your superiors over this.”
“Do it then. You'll receive zero satisfaction from doing it, and I'll make sure you aren't compensated in anyway for being unprofessional to my staff.” Graves growled in response.
Everyone's eyes opened wide in response to Malcolm's way of the customer being handled. There was a negative reverberation in the atmosphere, and the older man defended his crew from the negativity thrown at them. In most cases, Malcolm would compensate the customer with a free replacement for the sake of positive feedback, but this time Malcolm would not tolerate it. He was tired of the mundane apologies, and letting people be ran over.
A moment of silence passed between the men until Malcolm firmly asserted, “Now, for a cracked screen that's gonna be at least five hundred gold to correct. If you can't pay that now, then leave my store.”
The blonde customer rolled his eyes, and took quick steps towards the exit of the shop, but all eyes were focused on Malcolm instead.
“Damn boss you handled that asshole better than I ever could've,” Katarina broke the ice with a light giggle in her tone.
“I actually do care about y'all ya know. Go ahead and go home. I'll prepare the mid shift workers,” Malcolm muttered back at her.
The employees exited after saying goodbye to their boss, a single ring accompanied all of them exiting. Malcolm let out an exhale as he turned back towards the register. Vi was was still there, and a light smile etched across her face.
“Yo boss, thanks for the help today. I really appreciate you sticking up for me,” Her words were warm and filled with appreciation.
Malcolm's face blossomed a light cherry color while he rasped a nervous reply, “I'd do it for any of ya'll. You're like family to me, even if I didn't show it much before.”
The young woman let out an innocent giggle and stretched her arms behind her head. Malcolm understood that it would take awhile for her to warm up to his newly found positive energy. Malcolm smiled softly back at her, and stepped behind the counter to finish checking inventory for the next employees.
“Since you're not staying over today, do you wanna go out? You said you're too busy for dates, but if you have nothing planned, we could get buzzed and chill over some karaoke. I have this cute person that would love to meet you too!” Her last sentence hung gleefully on her tongue, and the soft smile bloomed into a sinister one like the Cheshire cat.
An awkward ambiance filled the room again, and Malcolm let out a nervous laugh. He hadn't been on a real date once in his life, yet he couldn't turn down the offer in favor of sulking at home.
It won't kill me to try enjoying myself. It'll be like Bilgewater, but better! He thought merrily.
“Ah, what the hell. I don't see why not. I'm warning you now though, my voice ain't pretty for singing,” he stuttered
Vi extended her arms in celebration, “Ok then, I'll come pick you up at 8 o'clock with Caitlyn.”
“Sounds good, see ya then.”
With a wave of her hand she paced from behind the counter to the exit, and Malcolm felt a giddy nervousness eat at him like a leech's desire for blood. He was akin to a caterpillar beginning the final stages of metamorphosis, for he would soon be free from the captivated memories of Bilgewater. His first day of perusing genuine happiness felt successful.
Fuck. I have nothing outside of my work clothes to wear. He pondered.
Within the next twenty minutes the next set of employees shuffled from the store's entrance and greeted Malcolm with brief welcomes. He provided them with an update on the store's current inventory status, and diligently briefed them on not staying over today for additional hours.
“Are you ill or something, boss?” A young slender black haired man questioned.
“No, I just realized I shouldn't be killing myself and overdoing it. I'll stay over occasionally when it's needed during peak hours, but I know y'all are capable of handlin' things at night.”
“Alright, take care then.”
The older man breathed a sigh of relief before he headed towards the door, and stepped outside into the looming dusk that approached. His steps on the concrete pavement felt more meaningful, and every stride pulled him away from the daily auto pilot he succumbed to. The gravitational pull of his traumatic betrayal was in a crevice, but occasionally - despite the distance in his mind - the floating thoughts escaped in unpredictable wisps.
This is my night to enjoy, and ain't no cheater gonna ruin it. He groaned in thought. I wonder who she's gonna try to set me up with. I've never seen 'er bring any friends around, or drive around with anyone other than her girlfriend. I'm sure she'll be cute, but that won't be enough to force my attention.
Dating was a touchy subject for Malcolm, yet he hadn't experienced one to this day. He always admired people from a distance, but never felt any special connections with people outside of his bond with Tobias. A strong friendship wasn't exactly a tool to gauge relationships with, and he didn't know what he wanted exactly in a commitment.
Relinquished thoughts leaked from him and were replaced with heavy rush hour sounds. He adjusted his tempo to a more relaxed pace, and crossed through a plethora of crosswalks before he found himself back home. He reached for the familiar brass key, swiftly unlocked the door, and let himself inside. The inviting atmosphere tugged on him to fall back into his normal habits, yet he stood his ground and wouldn't allow for it tonight.
Malcolm slammed the door shut, and darted towards his bedroom. The wooden flooring echoed under his anxious strides. He nervously sifted through the piles of clothes, and looked frantically for casual clothing.
Surely I have at least one normal shirt layin' around here somewhere. He thought.
After searching through three piles of clothes his hands found a dark blue T-shirt with a gray triangular pattern etched on the front. He nimbly replaced his work shirt with the wrinkled one from the pile, and stepped towards the pile of pants that towered a quarter of his body. A single pair of jean shorts rested in the middle of the pile. He swiftly removed them from the mound of khakis and slid into them, despite the fit being a little too tight.
I need to lose weight. He huffed in thought. I haven't worn these things but once since I stole them.
He exited his room and entered the restroom, and dug through the mirror cabinet for a dark blue colored cologne..He blitzed three sprays of the mist across his chest, a smell of hazel covered his body. His hair looked exactly the same prior to leaving for work, and confidence surged through his face. He placed the cologne back in the cabinet and darted towards his study to pass the dwindling hours that remained until Vi arrived.
The study had a different aura surrounding it compared to the disorganized bedroom. Books of various topics were organized on slim wooden shelves, and looted documents containing magical incantations laid next to his pens and other mundane supplies. He retrieved a book he reviewed a few days ago, and flipped to the bookmark he placed. It was a self defense book for beginner mages, yet he could only recall a single spell he learned successfully in the years of studying The spell was a pulse of energy that repelled incoming attacks, and Malcolm was aware this one would serve him no purpose in Piltover.
I swore I'd find him, but if I'm gonna get past this I should probably sell these off. His melancholy thoughts began to surface. Or, perhaps I could hold onto them for safekeeping.
He breathed a gentle sigh, and the dwindling hours passed in what felt like a blink. It was 5 minutes before 8 O'clock, and Malcolm heard two honks outside his door. He made sure all of his stuff was accounted for and stepped outside.
This is gonna be an interesting night. He thought
The pink haired woman waived from the passenger side of the purple convertible and shouted out to Malcolm, “Yo boss, lets go!”
|”I'm comin', hold your horses.”
He locked the door behind him and stepped into the vehicle.
“We're gonna have a blast tonight. Caitlyn thinks she can get an octave higher than me.” Vi giggled towards Malcolm.
“C'mon. You know I've got a higher voice than you babe.” Caitlyn scolded in reply.
“Aw, don't be mad cupcake.” She etched a diligent smile towards Caitlyn.
“Seat belt, Malcolm.” Caitlyn huffed.
He fastened his seat belt and shut the door. The engine purred like a crescendo as Caitlyn accelerated towards their destination. He gazed up at the sky while Vi continued her idle chatter and cheesy apologies to her girlfriend.
The night cast an iridescent glow littered with starlight, yet Malcolm felt a clot of darkness surrounding him. He wasn't used to social gatherings, and would ordinarily lay low in group situations he was forced to attend with Tobias. He perceived himself to be an outcast, and reminisced to the stars as people shining away from him. Tonight he was determined to not be an observer, but to join them with a light that radiated beyond everyone else.
He shook his head lightly, and the thin cold stream of air that was cast driving through Piltover distracted him from his somber thoughts.
He stared back towards Vi and shouted, “Put on some music or something? We can't just be silent on a night like this.”
Vi's eyes connected with his and she flashed an amused smile, “Sure, hope ya don't mind rock n'roll.”
Her hands reached for the stereo and volume control knobs, and flickered through several stations until a powerful beat emitted from the sound system. Malcolm closed his eyes for a brief moment in response to the resonated melody, for the strums of the guitar flickered an energy within his body that made him feel alive. He bobbed his head lightly to the rhythm and sang along with the cliche lyrics he unknowingly memorized from mainstream broadcasts.
“Shot through the heart,” He coaxed in a low octave.
“and you're to blame,” Caitlyn replied in a tenor tone.
“Darling you give love, a bad name,” Vi's voice filtered a trill of notes on a chromatic scale as the final word rolled off her tongue, and boomed with a resounding alto-soprano pitch
Malcolm stared at her with his eyes agape. He was stunned at her ability to sing, and wanted to ask her how long she took vocal lessons to be this gifted. However, his desire to question the young woman was cut short. She continued to take the lead and pressed forward singing the rest of the song. Each lyric was enunciated with care as the suspenseful bridge drew near. She belted powerful notes for the remainder of the song, and trilled the ending with a high octave scale.
The pink haired woman was breathless by the end of the performance, and lightly huffed short breaths of the night's cold air.
“You know you can't go higher than me cupcake,” she winked between breaths.
“Fair enough, but I can still give you a run for your money babe,” She mused in reply.
The two went about their idle chatter, and within three songs they arrived at their destination. The Blue Moon Pub was a dimly lit building that clashed with the bright neon sign. Several parking spots were available throughout the lot, and Caitlyn wheeled them in a vacant area towards the entrance. She shut the ignition off quickly, and Malcolm's eyes focused on the building's structure.
The structure was dark brown, and the lighting dimmed unlike a typical bar scene. Warm low lights brought an inviting feeling in Malcolm to step inside.
I'm ready ta have at this. He thought. I won't be sit back while he plays his ace this time.
“Runterra to Malcolm, if you don't get out of the car we're gonna lock you in it!” Caitlyn hissed.
Malcolm stepped out of the vehicle and briefly apologized, “Sorry bout' that. Let's go ahead and head on in. I'll buy you ladies the first round of drinks.”
“Charming,” Caitlyn huffed. Her cherry colored lips formed a tiny curve, and eyes gleamed with amusement.
The three walked forward to the bar's entrance. Malcolm the women forward while he held the glass door open for them. The low rustle of rock music hummed through the building, and echoed outside as the door was opened. It seemed like a warm invitation, but Malcolm still couldn't shake some of the lingering nervousness off. The older man followed suit behind the two after they entered, and familiar lyrics filled the air.
“Stairway to Heaven,” several people sang out of tune.
He let out a tiny giggle in response while they continued forward, and took a moment to observe the surroundings. The lighting was dim at best outside of the neon lights cast beside the bar-tending area. The bar table was jet black, and the stools were a dark velvet shade. The actual structure appeared to be wooden, and only a few windows were cast along the sides of the establishment. The white tiled flooring clashed with the walls, yet they added a desired touch of class to the area. A few tables for playing cards and watching television were setup, but Malcolm knew it was best to avoid his vice for tonight.
His attention was shifted abruptly,
“Malcolm, hello? Are you gonna keep us waiting on those drinks until new years?” Caitlyn prowled sarcastically.
“Sorry, I'll get them for y'all now. What do you want, something only the most delicate princess could down?” He shot back at her with a devious smile.
“Oof. Now I know why Vi likes you so much. Get me a cosmo please, and a martini for her.”
Malcolm turned around towards the bar and stole a glance back at the pair. They were loosely dancing next to each other and giggling lightly back and forth. He turned back towards the bar and motioned the bartender forward.
His eyes shifted towards the menu while debating what drink he should get.
I'm not in the mood just to get plastered. He thought. At the same time though, I don't want to look frilly with a blue or pink cocktail.
He debated on whether he should get a fruity cosmo, or surrender himself to a light craft beer. He wiped his fingers against his head in frustration, and without further frustration made a decision.
“Yes sir. I need two cosmos and a martini please,” Malcolm nodded towards the bartender.
The tall pale skinned man nodded as he quickly prepared the drinks. His hands danced across the bar as he fumbled through ice, liquor, and various fruits to make the beverages. He turned around with the three drinks in what felt like an instantaneous response to Malcolm's request.
“Thirty gold please,” the busy man replied.
Malcolm fumbled for the change in his pockets and retrieved the drinks. He turned back towards his two companions and gave a quick wave with the hand holding Vi's martini. Their hands fumbled towards him for their drinks as he stopped infront of them, and a soft smiles spread across the duo's faces in response.
“You're the best old man,” Vi motioned him forward in a brief hug.
“It ain't no thing,” Malcolm replied.
Malcolm nervously sipped his cosmo, and the fruity flavor overpowered the lingering burn he usually despised with alcohol. He felt comfortable, only a few dozen people were in the bar tonight, and the occasional sips of his drink placed all worry in the back of his mind. Between loose dance moves and quirky jokes he found his drink was finished rather quickly.
“Hahaha, oh god you're so silly boss.” Vi giggled between shallow sips of her drink.
Malcolm was exhibiting a silly attitude in the moment, yet he wasn't sure if he could blame it entirely on the alcohol. His behavior in the bar clashed with his serious down to Earth side shown during working hours. He stumbled backwards a tiny bit after performing a half-assed twirl that appeared graceful in his mind.
“Yo watch it old guy,” Caitlyn remarked after he nearly tripped into her.
“Sorry princess. I'll go get us another round. Same stuff, right?” He poised the question playfully back to her.
“Yes. Same stuff. Now go.”
Malcolm turned towards the bar-tending area once again, and paid for a second round.
A voice echoed throughout the room, “Ladies and gentlemen, we're about to start karaoke in a few minutes. Get up here and join at any time while we dim the lights for some more fun.”
The light shifted to a minimal soft glow, which revealed only what they needed to- the colors of the labels and the shapes of various alcohol bottles - behind the rather uninterested bartender that awaited one's service. The scattered figures were like shadows of night, shifting here and there like a dance. Though, for those closer to Malcolm, there were many actions being done in a rather crude attempt to conceal how sexual they may be feeling.
He turned his attention back to Vi and Caitlyn, and walked towards them. He noticed the two relaxed a bit further back. They were giggling about god knows what, and both of them offered a smile while he presented their drinks.
“Thanks Malcolm,” Caitlyn said with a light smile.
The alchohol must've lightened her mood up. He thought.
“Dude lets get up there and sing!” Vi pleaded after she snatched the martini.
The stage was empty, like a barren desert too hot to tread. Malcolm had no desire to show off his inability to sing, and wanted no part in any duet after Vi flaunted her resounding performance in the car. He bit his lip in frustration and focused his gaze back towards the microphone, the situation seemed surreal. The orbit of his apathy pulled against him like the moon to the tides – despite knowing he should enjoy himself – part of his mind forced him to be content with a bitter loneliness.
No. I'm gonna show her up. He thought. My lower register might impress this date that she promised would be here too.
“C'mon now. We need at least two volunteers, who wants to get up here?” a low voice boomed over the sound system.
Malcolm's eyes darted towards Vi and the stage, and the area fluttered with murmured chatter. He pushed his negativity aside and mustered what confidence he possessed.
“We'll go next!” He practically yelped while putting his arm around Vi's neck.
“Cute voice crack,” Vi Giggled in a whisper. “Let's hit the stage!”
He nodded in agreement, and the older man took confident strides towards the stage with Vi behind him. The wooden stage creaked under his larger figure, yet could barely be noted by the other members with the ambient chatter filling the bar. They grabbed the two microphones on the stand and glanced towards the brown haired DJ. His eyes were poised with sureness when the DJ glanced back at him.
“What will ya'll be singin'?” The DJ slurred towards them.
Malcolm took a moment to ponder on the best choice. He figured something commonly played on the radio would be easier for Vi to reference, despite onscreen lyrics. He recalled several songs by various pop culture artists, and finally decided on a song that would explore both his lower tenor and her soprano octaves.
“The greatest, by Sia.” Graves muttered.
“See ya? I haven't heard of'em. One sec.” He seemed to be more lost as a child would be without their parent.
Malcolm groaned in annoyance. Maybe this was a bad idea. He thought. This guy is way too drunk to do his job properly.
“No, Sia – S.I.A.” The words were enunciated with annoyance.
He felt embarrassed enough by the situation, and the drunk worker wasn't doing him any justice. The younger autumn haired man typed through his playlist and squinted through the selection that returned. After a few hurried clicks light sounds resembling a xylophone echoed a quick beat through the room. The sounds filled the void like water in a glass.
Malcoml's eyes fidgeted around the room. I hope I don't fuck this up. He thought. The xylophone echoed with a few drum beats behind it, and the lyrics finally appeared on screen. Here goes nothing. He groaned while his nerves wrapped around his voice like an over attached lover. All eyes were on him, and the quiet chatter came to a halt.
“Uh oh, runnin' out of breath but I oh, I, I've got stamina.” His voice boasted an uneven crack as the original artist's would, though unintentional.
His eyes darted towards Vi, and the gaze was returned with a smug grin and a quick wink.
Oh hell no. She isn't about to show me up. He fumed in thought.
“Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes. Well, oh, I got stamina.” Short breaths escaped him between the pause in the lyrics.
He felt himself slowly in a more relaxed mindset, and carried each lyric with a brief vibrato to showcase his vocal range. Curious eyes glanced towards the older man in wonder. I'm liking his style – He read from the lips of a patron. The anxiety that embraced him melted away with each lyric he conjured, and Vi's enthusiastic glow radiated onto Malcolm's desire to shine bright. He was the star of this show tonight, for he wouldn't allow his damn memories to intervene.
“Don't give up. Don't give up, I won't give up. Don't give up, No! No! No!” The build up of the chorus hit, and the audience seemed unprepared.
He threw a chromatic trill through the no's and belted the last one with confidence while he glanced towards Vi. Her eyes shimmered with excitement as she took a deep breath in anticipation.
She better not disappoint me. He moaned in thought.
“I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive. I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest. The greatest, the greatest alive. The greatest, the greatest alive.”Her voice roared with a chill inducing treble, and the audience's once interested faces turned to shock.
The sounds of drinks being slammed on the tables, hands clapping to the songs rhythm, and amused cheers filled the bar, but the duo was completely unfazed by the garnered attention in their performance. They focused on the positive energy they filled inside of each other, and continued the back and forth cadence of verses and chorus's. Each new section of the song introduced a stronger vocal melody, for the bar was set extremely high when they drew into the bridge of the song. It was as limbo is to the final contestant, little room for error.
Malcolm echoed the final lyrics behind the younger woman after the final portion of the song faded from behind the screen. He took quick breaths while he waited for the crowd's reaction, and to his dismay, a silence threatened his insecurities. His eyes relocated from the speechless mass to Vi's brown pair and, on a whim, searched for her own reaction to their performance. The glow she gave off radiated brighter than the start of the presentation, and gleefully mouthed an inaudible “Sick job boss.” towards him.
The silence dissipated without warning and transitioned into a deafening cheer for their duet. He let out a short uneasy laugh and gave a quick bow in unison with Vi. She gave him a thumbs up and began to pace down the stage's stairs towards her girlfriend. Caitlyn reflected their excitement to Malcolm's surprise, and offered a pat on the back to the duo.
“Now, if only you two would go out and sign a label. It sure as hell would make more money than that damn cell phone store,” She playfully mused.
“Cupcake, when you can afford the startup fee's I'll do whatever you want. Until then, you'll just have to get used to my wasted talent.” Vi winked back at her in amusement.
Malcolm chuckled at their comments, “I'll second that one. Anything for a change of pace.”
Idle chatter echoed within the tavern once again, and the lights reverted to their previous illumination. Caitlyn and Vi continued to exchange playful jabs towards each other, and their carefree attitude reminisced of Malcolm's previous life he led. He was lost in the moment, and a high filled with fervor enticed his thoughts. The reaction he generated with Vi rubbed his ego in a generous way, yet he couldn't determine if it was that or the alcohol changing his certainty.
“So Malc, I think it's time you meet your date now.” Vi giggled lightly with her arms outstretched.
Malcolm rolled his eyes lightly, for the only thing uncertain about tonight was this supposed date he was setup with. His nerves were notably less clingy than usual though, and he knew without a doubt that would be the alcohol in his system – never mind his annoyance at being called half of his first name.
“I guess we should arrange that.” Malcolm acknowledged with a cheerless tone.
“Lighten up old man, geez.” Her tone was harsh, and she was visibly frustrated by his shif in tone. “I'll go get'em. Sit over by the bar and wait. Got it?”
“Okay, alright.” Malcolm mouthed in an almost silent tone.
He turned around towards the bar tending area and paced towards the familiar alcohol labels and dim ocean blue lights cast over the velvet bar stools. There was a small pit of nervousness fluttering in his stomach, but he knew this type of nervousness was different – it would carry him through the conversation to come. It was like a calm before the storm, he felt
I reckon as long's I don't forget my first name I'll be ok. He thought. Or that she didn't find my voice laughable.
Malcolm chewed over his thoughts as he stood in front of the red cushioned seat. He attempted with drunken grace to elegantly jump while lifting himself up on the bar-tending counter to sit down. It was certainly not the most amiable scene he could display. The seats were much higher than they appeared to be. After struggling for a few seconds he finally managed to pull himself upright. He periodically glanced around in anticipation for his date.
I wonder what she looks like. He thought. His anxious eyes searched for anyone who was about to sit next to him. Surely she's found whoever it is by now. It ain't a big crowd exactly
He relieved himself of a gentle exhale and surrendered into his over analyzed thoughts. He didn't know what to expect to come of this forced arrangement. He was confident in his physical appearance, but what did he have to boast or describe about himself? He was a workaholic, retail manager, and anxiety driven ex pirate with Post traumatic stress disorder. It wasn't the pinnacle of an engrossing life, but Malcolm knew he couldn't lie to save his life. Despite being a crafty thief in the past, he was an honest man.
The trebles of the soft music abruptly spread within the room like a storm's raindrops through a river. Uneven jabs of bass poked Malcolm's ear, and the small crowd cheered another performer on stage. He scrunched his nose in annoyance at the songstress singing out of tune - the mix of sharp and flat notes threatened the dwindling patience he had left. It had been fifteen minutes since Vi ran off to grab his date.
Perhaps I should leave and say I got sick or somethin'. He thought. I'm sure she won't be too pissed.
He placed his feet on the ground, stretched liberally, and searched lazily through his pockets for some cab money. It was in that moment, however, that a woman with bright red hair sat in the seat to the right of him. She had a thin scar above her eye, and could swear he recognized her somewhere. The alcohol certainly wasn't doing him any justice with being too laid back. He scratched the back of his head and fumbled on the bar table to sit properly again. An awkward silence accompanied the space between them. He extended his arm out as a gesture towards the younger woman, and his heart raced in conjunction with millions nerves that clung to his tongue.
“H-hey I'm Malcolm nice to me-”
His words were immediately cut off by a baritone voice that blossomed to his left. “Oh, so you're Malcolm. I never thought you'd introduce me to yourself – or anyone else here for that matter.”
The man offered a small chuckle, and the woman he inadvertently introduced himself to looked him in the eye. There was no mistaking who she was once he got a better look at her.
“Oh, h-hey boss! Nevah see you out in places like this. You got a date or something?” Katarina slurred with a tipsy grin.
He gave her a modest smile with a swift nod, and gazed towards the other voice behind him. He was a man in his early thirties. He had short, delicately placed, brown hair and a complexion that any man would kill for. He was curious why the man felt the need to act sly.
“Yeah that's me. Why do you want to know?” Malcolm poised the question carefully.
The man smiled back at him and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “That's no way to talk to your date, sweetie.”
His pupils grew at an unnecessarily high rate.
Oh shit. He thought while wearing a half baked smile. Oh shit, Oh shit. Why did she hook me up with a guy?
His glazed pupils looked into the other man's pair with a sense of confusion. His eyes reflected as the ocean would, vast, with a shade of cerulean. Although he never dated anyone before, he had not considered men the primary candidates as a first, yet he knew his life living with one man for nearly a decade wasn't exactly convincing. He could feel the temperature running straight to his cheeks while the man smiled at him, and his breathing was just a few steps short from becoming a mute. There was an awkward ambiance between the two, but he welcomed it. The surrounding chatter and attempted singing faded away, for it was just the two of them. His date showcased a smile that could kill, and Malcolm could only conjure an awkward uncertain look in his eyes.
Well, I ain't apposed to trying this I suppose. He groaned.
“Oh, you blush brighter than a cherry. How adorable.” His date teased.
Heat rushed back into Malcolm's face, and we last left unsure of how to reply. He offered an embarrassed grin and chuckled lightly. Attention from a man was definitely something he felt unfamiliar with. The other man teased a flirtatious click of his tongue back at Malcolm, and in response he could feel the heat radiating off his skin like a wildfire. He was clearly not in the most advantageous position.
“Well, you know my name. What's yours, son?” Malcolm mustered with careful breaths between each word.
“Jayce. You can drop the father son fetish though,” He chuckled lightly.
“Good to meet ya, Jayce.”
“Let me buy you a drink, let me guess. Martini, whiskey?”
“A Cosmo, please.”
What happened next shocked Malcolm. An honest, yet heartwarming, laugh escaped Jayce's lips, and it was visibly difficult for him to contain. Malcolm stared back at him feeling lost, for he was bewildered at Jayce's unexpected outburst.
“A burly bear downing fruity drinks? I like you already.”
Jayce motioned the bartender over an ordered their drinks - one cosmo, and one screwdriver. The worker's hands crafted through the ice, flavorings, and booze in a few methodical sweeps. He handed the beverages over mere moments after the request. Jayce paid the man, thanked him briefly, and took a quick sip from his drink. A small satisfied coo etched from the corners of his mouth. The brief satisfaction from his drink faded within a second, and his eyes returned back to Malcolm's.
“So, do you come here often?” Malcolm posed the question carefully to break the mutual silence of the two sipping on their drinks.
“Hardly. Why go out and get buzzed when I can do so in the luxury of my home?” Jayce continued after a brief pause, “So where are you from, Malcolm? Vi mentioned you are her boss at that hextech store downtown, but said she knew nothing else about you. I've gotta make sure you're not a killer or something.”
What am I gonna do, describe my life as a filthy pirate? Malcolm groaned in thought, and opted to sprinkle a lie instead. It'll just be this one time. Being a criminal wasn't exactly impressive.
“I'm from Demacia. I graduated state university a few years ago studying mechanical magics.”
Jayce tilted his head in interest, yet his eyes reflected a look of suspicion. Malcolm gulped on the lingering aftertaste of his drink, for he sensed that perhaps the lie he wanted to tell wasn't convincing.
“Interesting. I actually graduated from the same university and never saw you or your name anywhere. Would you like to try that introduction again?”
Fuck, real smooth Malcolm. He cursed to himself in frustration. Jayce's expression shifted in appearance with each word Malcolm expelled. Every statement from him caused Jayce's posture to fathom a mix of amusement and a confidence that bordered cockiness, so he waited in annoyance for him to take another sip of his drink before continuing.
“I...I guess you could say I'm a freelancer of sorts. I used to travel the world.”
“Oh, so you must have seen tons of places then. Sounds exciting.”
“Nothing but the seas for the most part. I never traveled by land much.”
“Oh, so that's why you're into booty, right?”
Malcolm chuckled a little more heavily than he should have, and ,apparently, his comments may have hinted how he lived a bit too much. His cheeks were a little flushed again from the joke, and he cursed under his breath due to letting himself express such vulnerability. He earned a chuckle of amusement back from Jayce after he was visibly more calm, but the desire to laugh attacked him like he was being tickled. For someone who had little social interaction his whole life, laughter wasn't exactly a difficult thing to extract from him.
“Well you seem rather easy to amuse then,” Jayce's words traveled to Malcolm like a waterfall cascading through a river, and he didn't have a point to prove the man wrong.
“Ok, sure. What about you then? I know where you graduated, but what do you do exactly.”
Jayce toyed a calculating glance at Malcolm, and lightly clicked his tongue in amusement. Time seemed to be non existent in that moment, for the ambient space they shared omitted the dissonance of the bar. His uncomfortable warmth spread from his cheeks, and the scarlet color he tried to conceal bled into the remaining etches of his face. He didn't want this to be awkward, but this guy wasn't letting his control of the conversation go.
“Well, I'm a millionaire, an inventor, and studied mechanical magics. There's two truths and a lie. You can pick whichever suits your fancy.”
He delivered a wink after those words, and Malcolm felt himself crawling back into his anti social mindset. Jayce read him like he was an artist painting from a blank canvas. Malcolm understood there wasn't much he could tell him, but this man would be damned if he didn't squeeze his buttons just a little for information out of him. He felt defeated in a sense; however, there was a small desire to know him a little bit better.
I'll be damned if he gets away with being sly. He composed himself as best he could, and took the final sip of his drink The alchohol that remained burned with a new fierceness down his throat. He was a little above tipsy still, but the confidence that came from it would allow him to toy with Jayce a bit easier.
“With those clothes I'd have to say you're an adopted puppy at best, and you already gave me the answer to one o' those. Cute bio I suppose, though.”
“Ah, well you're smarter than I give you credit for. Perhaps I'll just luck out on a few million someday, though.”
“Or- you could just steal some booty from me.”
Malcolm covered his mouth up in shame. Ok I've had one too many. What the hell was that?! He fumed in thought. The words were reciprocated well by Jayce, for a genuine laugh as strong as Malcolm's earlier erupted from him. He clutched his head while trying to calm the tiny outburst, and wiped a single tear from the corner of his eye.
“Oh damn. Please, tell me you're like this sober too.”
“I'm learning not to be a hardass all the time.”
“Well, that being said, I want us to have an actual date instead of an awkward meet up. You seem too cute to pass up.”
Malcolm blinked a few times in surprise, and it took him a moment to process what happened in that moment. He was being asked out again, but he wasn't sure if he was up to it without something to loosen it up. Jayce sat there and waited patiently for a response, and Malcolm wasn't sure how to reply exactly. He didn't see any negatives of saying yes. Worse case scenario the second date is a train wreck and he stays single, and he didn't see anything wrong with that. This guy was entertaining enough enough to keep around.
“I suppose we could do that. Though, I'm not sure how I'll be without something relaxing me, to be honest.”
“Oh, you think you're drunk? How adorable. I totally slipped an incantation in while you were busy daydreaming. You've been sober since a little before that booty comment. I just thought it would be fun to play along.”
Bastard. He grunted to himself.
Malcolm was a flushed with a flabbergasted expression, and wasn't sure how he was played so easily. It pulled him back to the nostalgia of Tobias pulling an ace out of his deck when he needed to. He had a feeling this guy was a cheater, and he played right into his trap. Jayce's ace was played straight to his heart, and - despite feeling frustrated over being delt a cruel hand - he felt a new warmth blossom towards the other man. His true colors were taken up by someone else right away and it felt comforting.
“Well, glad to oblige.”
“Come see me tomorrow at around Three. Text me and we can discuss where to meet up.”
Jayce slipped a piece of paper in Malcolm's right pocket and got up from his seat. Jayce's lips left a brief trace on his forehead, and Malcolm felt a jolt of electricity pass through him. This man was enticing feelings he wasn't used to throughout him.
“If I could give you a nickname, it would be scar. I think Scarlet is to effeminate for a man like you,” Jayce's comments drilled a final blow into Malcolm.
He couldn't help but blush from embarrassment over nearly every remark Jayce threw at him. It was like being in a warm tropical breeze after falling in the arctic ocean. His cold nature was leveled out by the other man's comments. Time began to fall back into place, and reality wheeled itself back into Malcolm like a mirror's reflection. Instead of everything being isolated and slow, the momentum and energy of the bar boasted into a cascading roar of song lyrics and laughter.
The kiss served as Jayce's goodbye as he retreated towards the exit. His gaze was fixed on him, and just as he was about to break his unsatisfied stare a pair of hands were laid on his shoulders. He sighed in annoyance, and turned towards who he assumed was Vi. To his surprise, however, it was Caitlyn.
“I've gotta say, I'm disappointed you kept us waiting until we sobered up. You ready to head out?” She waived her words in a playful tone, and appeared to be impatient.
“Yeah, let me run to the restroom real quick and we can head out of here.”
Malcolm turned away from caitlyn and excused himself towards the restroom beside the bartending area. The hallway matched the bar's normal color scheme, but he could sense something was amiss in this area. There was a magical aura pulsing faintly behind the women's restrooms, but he dismissed it immediately. He knew his abilities to detect magic outside of Tobias's were guesswork at best, and assured himself it was just the side effects of the spell Jayce slipped into his drink.
He propped open the door to the men's room and slipped inside. The bright light was blinding in comparison to the establishment's near minimalist approach. He blinked a couple of times to adjust his eyes to the new lighting, and walked over to the urinal a few feet away. He relieved himself into the white porcelain bowl and pulled the handle. The silence of the bathroom was replaced with a hiss from the murky water being washed away.
Malcolm scrunched his face and placed his right hand on his forehead, for he began to develop a slight headache as he walked towards the sink. The silence returned a few seconds later, but the stream of water colliding with the sink replaced the mute atmosphere within moments. He took his hand away from his forehead, applied what little soap remained from the dispenser, and washed his hands liberally under the lukewarm water.
Just as he washed the suds that remained, a jolt of burning pain cascaded from his head into his neck. He let out a yelp of pain and shut the water off.
The hell am I hurting for? Is this some kind of side effect? Because if so, that asshole will get an earful tomorrow! Malcolm huffed in thought.
He gripped his head with his soaked hands and slowly settled himself to the floor, and - with the pain that accompanied him - several flashbacks replaced his current surroundings. Instead of seeing the bright white walls he gazed into Tobias's face, and the scene behind him shifted with each breath he drew. He saw the disturbing memory of the heist after hyperventilating several years of memories in front of him. He was viewing himself inside the castle where Tobias left in real time, and the cards that materialized beside tobias generated a wind stronger than he remembered. It was like the calm before the storm, and – suddenly – he felt the physical and emotional pain of that night. His pain amplified to a greater magnitude beyond what his memory offered.
“What the fuck!?” He screamed in a confused rage.
He shivered with an uncontrollable tremble, and watched himself desperately crawl down the castle entrance and dodge oncoming attacks. He made a mental brace for the impact of the sword when he saw himself thrusting the door open. Closing his eyes wasn't enough to stop what came next, however. Blood oozed liberally from his sides, and the pain he felt that night rushed throughout his body. He clutched himself as he watched the final bits of the scene unfold. The frantic running through the town, blindly tripping through brush outside of Ionia's border walls, and falling into the forest floor hit him like a magnetic force – compelling his body to the scene.
The hell is going on? This shit hurts so bad. He thought in confusion.
He blinked and froze in pure panic. The world around him began to melt away in a black haze, and the bright white bathroom walls came into view once again.
Damnit, get me out of here. I need to collapse at home. He thought.
He straightened himself back upwards again and glanced into the mirror. There we no visible injuries on his body, but he still ached everywhere. It was as if the scene itself was reality in that moment. His eyes were nearly pale, and his once scarlet colored cheeks were transformed into a pale color. He wasn't sure how to process the situation.
Was I drugged? Am I hallucinating? Have I gone mentally insane? These were only a few of the questions he thought in pure panic.
After taking a moment to compose himself again, he tried his hands off with the scarce brown paper towels in the dispenser. He heard murmuring from within the room -no- from the other side in the women's room as he disposed of the soiled paper towels.
“Tobias Fate, the all powerful mage, and renowned cheater?” Came an eerie female voice.
“Yes, him. I've got him locked up in the shadow isles, and have enough mana to keep me transformed for eons.” Another replied, her voice etched an occasional malevolent giggle.
Wait, the bastard is alive!? What the hell is he letting these women do to him. Malcolm thought.
He was exasperated and never thought he'd hear of Tobias again, for his name being mentioned sent a cold chill down his body. He trembled under the cold feelings, and felt agony itself embrace him. He was hurt for all of these years, and vowed that – one day – he would kill Tobias himself for leaving him.
“He should be completely drained in a few days. After that, he'll simply die a painful death. He's longing for what he loves the most, and that kind of agony exhilarates me SO much.”
Malcolm – fearing for his own safety - nudged himself towards the door to leave. He opened it with care, attempting to avoid any unnecessary noise, and – gingerly - let the door close behind him before he walked forward. The aura behind the women's room faded, and any magical pulses that lingered dissipated.
He approached the women's restroom - the door opened, and a woman with short golden blonde hair exited. She walked towards the bar-tending area, only keeping a few paces behind Malcolm. She abruptly turned around to meet his gaze, and her ocean blue eyes poured into Malcolm's.
Damn she's cute. I need to say hi to her. He thought to himself
He felt compelled against any better judgment he had, for a strong desire to speak to this woman overcame him. It was as if she magically allured him into her and ,by force, overwhelmed Malcolm into her beautiful complexion. Her cherry lips complimented her sun kissed skin, and – in that moment of admiring her – he noticed her black dress was slightly shy of revealing her breasts. She delivered a wink that would kill and walked closer towards him.
“Hey there, are you lonely?” She purred the question in a somber tone.
There was no mistaking it, her voice matched the woman that claimed Tobais's captivity.
She's just an ordinary woman. There's no way Fate would allow this. He reassured himself.
“You need to relax, love,” Her voice echoed into the small hallway.
His vision became distorted again, and the surroundings melted away into a dreary black mist. The painful sensation he endured moments ago began to etch from every ligament of his body, and felt like he was being burned alive. He couldn't determine if he was feeling sick, or if this woman had ill intentions planned for him.
Screams of suffering flooded his mind, and with each cry he came closer to finding the voice familiar.
“Please, let me go!” The voice was deep
“Is he ok still?”
“You stupid bitch!”
Fate. Malcolm uttered the thought with a desperate desire to see him again.
His emotional torment wrapped around him like a spider would its prey, and the webs of screams built into a cascading echo. Malcolm's body ached with a pain he never felt before, for it was like agony took on the form of the spider and bit him, injecting a poisonous trail slowly within his body. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead as his body temperature rose into a level he never experienced before, and his body was shifted to the ground in his disoriented state.
“Come on, touch me. I'll make it all go away.”
He saw the woman reach down with gentle hands – his eyes traced them in panic. The mysterious woman's face materialized in a puff of red smoke, and the beady black eyes of a demon glared at Malcolm with killer intent. He froze in place as her arms wrapped around his body in a loose embrace – the contact began to dissipate his pain, or so he thought. Shortly after, the painful pulses dropped and a new wave of torture kicked in.
“I'm not done yet.” She hissed.
“Fuck, let go of me!” Malcolm cried.
His body was akin to lava, and the pain transformed from a burning agony into hellfire. Malcolm's bones felt severed from each joint, and his eyes were frozen in place. The aghast man could only stare at the horror above him. She leaned in closer, and the petrifying eyes prevented even the most shallow breath like Medusa would.
I'm going to die. He thought.
She tilted her cloaked face to reveal what appeared to be a pair of razor sharp tails attached to her, and slowly lowered them to Malcolm's neck as a feather would in a breeze. She giggled lightly in amusement and etched a small incision into Malcolm's neck. A tiny drop of blood dripped onto the fin, and she pressed a little harder in response to a whimper that escaped his lips.
He could feel her digging deeper, and the pain flared to a level he could only describe as inhuman.
“Mmnf-.. AGH!” His cries were muted to the outside world.
Malcolm wanted someone, no, anyone to save him. The pain was too much for him to bare. Hot tears welled down his eyes through both pain and misery, but the wet droplets that echoed on the ground were like a speck of dust in the lighting compared to the festivities occurring outside the small hallway. All he could think about during period of suffering was Tobias's well being.
Is the bastard getting torn up like this every day? What the hell is his deal, is he a sick masochist of some ki – His thoughts were cut off abruptly.
“Malcolm? What the hell are ya doing over there?!” The frantic voice was Vi's.
The hazy visions faded along with the mystifying woman, and he slowly began gain control of his body again. His friend looked panicked, for Malcolm appeared like someone out of the morgue. She dropped closely to him and offered her arm to help him stand, and he accepted it generously – using mostly his regained strength to stand.
“Sorry, felt a little dizzy for a second. I'm ok now though,” He mumbled while rubbing the wound on his neck.
“Did he get crafty with you or something?”
Her eyes were fixated on the wound the unknown woman inflicted on him.
I reckon this does look like a lovers bite. He thought.
“No it's nothin' like that. Let's get outta here. I need some sleep.”
The walk back to the car was slow, and – with every step - his mind flashed replays of the hellish torture. He winced at the thought of Tobias being alive, for he couldn't imagine this type of pain over several years. All of the dreary dark nights fearing for his life, his life essence -mana- being drained to a few drops, and the false sense of hope she offered for release. All of it seemed too depressing to cope with, and the fact she hadn't killed him yet seemed worse than the liberation death would offer.
Fate. I don't know how the hell this happened to you. Malcolm's somber thoughts overflowed any positive energy he gained from that night. But mark my words, she won't be the one to kill you. I will, once I get my damn answers.
