tampered | in-complete // in progress // closed

in-complete // in progress // closed

When; Post Pancake-Massacre
Rating; PG - PG-13 for language and Road
Characters; Lady and Timothy (Road, indirectly)
Summary; After escaping the wrath of his apartment, Timothy goes to stay with Lady for the night. Unknown to him Road has prepared a nightmare for him that night...
Log;

"DIRECTOR--" He screamed out loud as he fell off the couch and onto the floor. Tears were streaming down his face as he lay on the floor, pressing his cheek into the carpet. His whole body trembled from the aftershocks of that nightmare, hands clutching at the short carpet fibers. He wanted to curl into himself and push those images away - he wanted to pretend he never did any of that. That no one had died by his hands, by his Innocence-

He pressed a shaking hand to his eyes and forced down a sob. Tsukikami loomed over him, knowing exactly how he felt as it was clearly written on his face. Although he could not physically touch him he pressed a ghostly hand a top the boy's head. Timothy felt the sentiment all the same.

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The snicker came too soon as soon as Lady caught a glance at his face. Was he really that weary? Pausing briefly to regain bravado, Lady rubbed her already flat black hair. "You're going to be difficult, huh?" There was a few minutes of silence, and then...

"You want to know something really dumb?" Lady started off, trying to desperately lighten the mood, "When I was really little, my mother told me if I fell asleep hard enough, I could hear an angel singing to me." She paused, biting her lip, and her voice became a little softer, with a hint of bitterness. But if it helped, "Actually, she was a really big fan of 'Phantom of the Opera', it's not some cheesy bedtime story, but... it helped. She'd stay as long as she could when she couldn't get me to sleep. It drove her nuts."

Timothy made an annoyed sound at the snicker, lifting a hand to rub at his eye again. He wasn't going to say anything until she began to speak again. He turned his head to look at her, listening with interest.

Quietly, "An angel?" He had never heard of Phantom of the Opera, but he was curious as to what she meant by an angel. His expression softened enough to mirror hers.

Suddenly without thinking about it, he asked, "Do I drive you nuts?"

It wasn't quite what she intended for, but...

Something still instilled in Lady, even now. The thought alone of her mother made her more bitter, reflecting on her father. And more importantly, what Dante had told her earlier. She made a sour face at the thought, still one hand in her hair and pulled her legs closer to her chest.

"Mmm?" Lady blinked, wrinkling her brow. Instantly, she shifted her position, waving both of her hands, "Oh, no, no," And it was the truth! When it came to smaller children, Lady had the patience of a saint.

"It's just that-" A nervous laugh, "I was glued to her, wouldn't budge. But she had the best ways to get anyone back to sleep... I miss it..."

Glancing back to him, Lady actually forced a weary smile, "I'd even sit out here all night with you, Timothy."

And suddenly, he knew why he had become so attached to her. He missed her - he missed the Director and her kind smiles and soft voice. He missed her hugs and the ways she comforted him whenever he was upset or angry. Now that he had joined the Order he knew that seeing her again was almost impossible - they had told him so. The only chance of him seeing her again was after the war and what were the chances of that?

Of him even surviving the war?

Lady's words were kind and deep down he knew she meant well, but it only succeeded in bringing forth more tears. Burying his face in his arms, he muttered something barely audible enough to hear.

"I-I miss her..."

She was quiet for a few seconds, only because the last three words uttered were the exact same thing going through her head. Her own mother's gentle hands rubbing her back so that she would sleep during those stormy nights the girl was so unsettled by. It wasn't fair. No one around that age should go through without a mother figure, Lady thought. All these kids around here... did it seem right? No, she'd never consider herself a motherly figure, not in the least, but it didn't mean they couldn't be comforted.

It was sadly a distraction. The lingering bitterness was soon replaced by an instinctive gesture. She couldn't do anything but reach down, encircle her arms around the boy, and hugged him. Couldn't think of anything to say, other than that. Despite anything, Lady couldn't even stand seeing someone like that. Did he lose a mother? Was his at home? Poor thing.

He certainly didn't expect the embrace, but for one reason or another he didn't push her away. The last time he had been hugged was by the Director and it had turned out to be such a bittersweet hug - one that he would have happily replaced with a better memory of him and the Director.

He wasn't sobbing, but he was certainly crying silently. Leaning into her embrace (just this once - it would never ever happen again) he blinked rapidly to clear his vision. Maybe it would help...if he talked about her...Just a little bit, not too much.

"She...She's th' closest thing I got...to a mother." He paused, voice growing quieter. "I don't know when I'll be able to see her again."

Edited 2009-05-31 06:58 (UTC)

"It's alright," She would try and reassure, finally free of lingering feelings on her end. It was getting easier to think clearly, but fatigue didn't help any. It would just have to be ignored, so Lady could do nothing but pat his back gently, rub it, just as her mother did. There. It made it easier to act like her.

"You'll see her again," She insisted, "Regardless of what happens, you'll see her. You're stronger than you think, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And..."

These weren't the best words of comfort, were they? "It's okay to be sad."

He fell silent again, unable to find the words to break the silence following Lady's words. He acted strong and tough, but inside he doubted himself - even more so surrounded by people like Allen and Kanda and Marie. How could he ever catch up to their level before it was too late? He didn't want to die and leave the Director to forever wait for him to return home, to never know that he was...

Road would kill him, he knew this. She would and it terrified him to know this. He couldn't bring himself to fully believe Lady's words, no matter how much he wanted to.

As if in response, he lowered his head letting his eccentric-colored hair fall into his face. Sleep wasn't such a bad idea at this point.

"It's alright," She affirmed just once more, pulling him closer, "You'll see her again." And damn those kids earlier for not treating him a little better. So what if he acted out? A mental note for later that Lady would definitely step in for him more often. She waited for a few more moments, still with gentle hands rubbing his back, before speaking again, "You've got to promise me that you won't lose faith that you won't see her again. You will."

At least you know she's alive. Added in mentally, but Lady dared not utter it.

"I-...I know I will." He managed to say, looking away for a moment before finally looking up at Lady, slowly. All of this was so strange - this woman, why was she so kind to him? He knew he was difficult with everyone he came into contact with and even caused a good many of them to hate him for being such a brat. Sometimes he couldn't help it - it was all impulse, to push away and act tough.

He knew no one could ever replace the Director, but being away from her love and care this long only began to make him bitter again. He missed her and acting out against others was his way of relieving that bitterness. Now being with Lady...It was almost like being near the Director again.

Very slowly, hands hesitant, he returned her embrace, unsure and wary of being rejected.

It felt right, regardless. No matter how much of a strain, a headache, and annoyance anyone was, if they didn't have a mother, Lady could be sweeter to them than most people. Lady couldn't do anything but smile -- a real smile, for once.

She couldn't reject a hug, after all, he was too cute to even Lady. With another final pat, and a tighter hug, Lady pulled away, "Do you feel a little better now? Or do you need something like warm milk to help you fall asleep?"

That made him frown, giving an indignant huff. "No, 'll be fine." Like he'd ever accept warm milk to help him fall asleep. That stuff was only given to small children and babies!

No way. His boyish pride wouldn't allow it.

She figured as much, offering a gentle laugh, and finally let him go with a ruffle of his hair. "Oh, right," Lady cooed, "That's more of a girl thing, isn't it. I'm sorry. But the offer is open if you need something to eat?"

Ignoring the fact she was tired herself, of course.

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