Chapter Fifty: Cheveux Blancs

Chapter 50

Cheveux Blancs

Robin slept in her blue heart-shaped platform bed with a heart headboard adorned with vanity lights. Ashlee was curled up by her side. Silk blue curtains enclosed her bed. In the center of her bedroom, a large crystal chandelier hung. The room had black marble flooring with a plush blue rug under the bed. 

To the left of the room was a black vanity with various beauty products, a Louis XV upholstered chair, and a blue velvet chaise lounge chair with a glass coffee table by it. Neighboring her vanity was a huge walk-in closet with rows and rows of her clothes and racks of her shoes with mirrors all over the wall. 

Robin wore a long black silk night dress with a plunging v-neck line trimmed with delicate lace and side panel lace inserts. Her eyes fluttered and opened. She gazed up at the mirror on her ceiling, recalling what Darrel told her. What does that old fool want? She wondered. Claude killed himself in court because he couldn’t deal with what he did and that he would always be a pathetic loser, she thought. She had to do something to neutralize the situation. 

Robin rose from the bed, threw on her silk robe with faux fur trim, slipped into her high-heeled, fluffy black slippers, and left her bedroom. She went to her bathroom, which had black marble flooring, a pink toilet and sink, a shower stall, and pink marble walls. At the end, there was a platform with a heart-shaped jacuzzi. She went there to use the bathroom, brush her teeth, and wash her face.

When she left, she strode past the pictures of herself and descended the curved stairway with the leopard carpet. 

She sauntered to her kitchen. It was a kitchen with dark wooden cabinets, tile countertops, a sink, a microwave above the electric glass-top stove, and Victorian tile flooring. She began making herself pancakes for breakfast. 

Darrel entered. He wore a TMNT t-shirt, gray gym shorts, and socks with TMNT slippers.

Darrel: “Mornin’.”

He yawned and scratched his ass before he let out a belch. Robin turned her nose up in disgust. 

Robin: “Who gave YOU permission to enter my quarters?!”

She hissed. Darrel pointed to Ashlee, who rubbed against him. 

Darrel: “She did!”

He giggled and petted her. Robin rolled her eyes. 

Robin: “...You mentioned Basile Bellegarde was here.”

Darrel: “Yes, and his son, Fabien, lives here.”

Robin: “Instruct Gabriel and Oscar to kidnap him. I want Basile GONE.”

She commanded. Darrel tittered and grinned. 

Darrel: “Your wish is my command, honey-bunny!” 

He crooned. 

~

Darrel left Foxy Robin’s and went to the Winnebago in the back. He rapped on the door. The door swung open. Gabriel answered and wore his Robin-patterned boxers. He had a cigarette hanging from his mouth and leaned against the doorframe.

Gabriel: “Howdy.”

Darrel: “Interesting choice of underwear…!”

Gabriel chuckled. Oscar was in the back, and he wore pink silk pajamas, a pink silk robe, and fluffy slippers. He was brushing his teeth. A tan Great Dane with a dark muzzle came out and happily wagged his tail. He gave a deep “BORK!” Darrel cleared his throat. 

Darrel: “Robin wants you to kidnap Fabien Bellegarde.”

Gabriel gaped at him.

Gabriel: “Who is that?”

He asked. 

Darrel: “Basile Bellegarde’s son. He’s French, so he should have white hair and green or blue eyes.”

He nodded. 

Darrel: “I never met Basile’s son.”

He declared. Gabriel took his cigarette out of his mouth and blew out smoke.

Gabriel: “Not many white-haired folks in this town. Should be a piece o’ cake.”

He drawled. 

~

Tristan stepped out of the shower and dried his hair. He barely slept that night. He entered his bedroom and looked in the mirror. His eyes were red, and his face was puffy from crying. I have to look more presentable than this, he thought. He put his glasses on. He brushed his hair and tied it into a loose ponytail. 

He got dressed and wore a pressed purple shirt, black pants, and black sheer socks. He put on his black Y-suspenders and clipped them to his pants. He got a black tie from his closet and draped that over his neck and tied it. He tied it in the four-in-handsingle-breasted knot and adjusted his collar. He reached in and took his single-breasted three-button black sports coat slid his arms through the arm holes, and, shrugged into it. He buttoned the top and middle buttons and grabbed his briefcase, leaving his bedroom. 

Tristan descended the stairs and went through the kitchen, where his father was making breakfast. Victor wore his red pajamas with his red plaid robe over them. He smiled at his son, and Tristan forced a smile. Victor approached his son and threw his arms over him. 

Victor: “Oliver told me. It’s okay, Tristan. Ivy gets mad at me for nothing, too.”

He said as his bottom lip trembled. Tristan tried hard to fight the tears burning behind his eyes. His trembling hands rose to hug his father. 

Victor held Tristan out. 

Victor: “You’re so handsome…”

He caressed his hair and kissed his head. Tristan’s bottom lip trembled. He removed his glasses to wipe his eyes. 

Victor: “It’s okay to cry, Tristan. You did nothing wrong. I know what it’s like for someone to always get mad at you for existing.”

He said as he started to sob. This isn’t the same thing, Papa, Tristan thought. He hugged his father. 

Tristan: “Thank you, Papa. I’ll be fine.”

He whispered. Victor smiled and wiped his eyes. 

Victor: “Want some breakfast?”

Tristan shook his head. 

Tristan: “I apologize, Papa. I’m not hungry.”

Victor’s eyelids dipped, and, he nodded. 

Victor: “Have a good day at work, my son.”

Tristan managed a strained smile and nodded. 

~

Tristan entered the mudroom and slid his feet into his black wingtip Oxfords. He tied his shoes, rose, and grabbed his briefcase to enter the garage. Tristan fiddled with his keys. He had a feeling of fear form in his stomach and didn’t know why. Is someone in here? He thought and froze, turgid with fear. 

Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind. Before he could scream, they put a rag on his mouth and nose and held it there until he passed out. 

In the far corner, Oliver hugged the walls, terrified of what he witnessed. 

~

Robin paced around her club. She wore a blue sequin wrap dress and black sandal heels. The door swung open. She turned around with a smirk as the two masked men entered carrying someone. Gabriel and Oscar removed their masks.

Robin: “Did you get Fabien?”

Gabriel: “Sure did, Mistress!”

He placed Tristan on the floor. Robin gasped and cupped her mouth. She couldn’t believe the man she saw was Tristan. 

Robin: “T-Tristan…?”

Oscar blinked and glanced at Gabriel. 

Gabriel: “Is this Fabien?”

She smacked Gabriel across the head. He winced and rubbed his head.

Robin: “No, fool! This is TRISTAN! I wanted Fabien!”

She snapped. 

Gabriel: “We don’t know any other white-haired men!”

He threw his arms up. 

Robin knelt to Tristan and smiled. He’s as handsome as ever. I wonder if he remembers me and if we can rekindle what we shared, she thought.

Robin: “Whatever. Carry Tristan up to my quarters.”

She commanded and planted her hands on her hips. 

Gabriel: “Y-Yes, Mistress!”

He stammered. He knelt and picked Tristan up, carrying him upstairs. Robin smiled and turned to Oscar. 

Robin: “Get Darrel to look into Fabien then. Find out what he looks like and get him.”

She ordered. Oscar drew a breath and folded his arms to go to Darrel. Robin turned around and flicked her gaze upstairs, biting her bottom lip. 

~

At the Katsaros hacienda, Deimos and Celeste sat at the island. Deimos wore a Nuclear Assault T-shirt and bleached torn jeans. Celeste wore a black crop tank top and her panties. Deimos barely sipped his coffee. He looked at the empty seat where Tristan sat and frowned. 

Celeste: “Why didn’t you sleep with Tristan?”

She asked and got an energy drink from the fridge. 

Deimos: “...I was angry with him. I yelled at him and made him cry.”

He admitted defeatedly. Celeste gaped at him.

Celeste: “...Why?”

Deimos shifted in his seat. 

Deimos: “Because he was looking into this girl he used to go to middle school with who gave him that book at Foxy Robin’s. Apparently, Fabien’s dad was her dead boyfriend’s lawyer, and her boyfriend killed her parents.”

He hung his head.

Deimos: “I was hurt he told you and Fabien but left me out of it.”

He said as he tried hard not to cry. Celeste stared at him. 

Celeste: “I think because he doesn’t want you to get distracted from your band. Nuklear is sadly dead, and Tristan knows this is your dream.”

She replied. Deimos nodded.

Deimos: “He said that too, but it makes me feel as if I’m inadequate to protect him.”

He said with hurt in his tone. 

Celeste: “I don’t think he feels that way. I think…”

She paused.

Celeste: “I think he’s worried the band will get ruined because Makayla is chasing Ashley, and maybe this reminds him of how Craig did that with Fabien.”

Deimos shook his head.

Deimos: “That wouldn’t be it, but I will admit that is a concern for me.”

He drew a long breath and raked his fingers through his hair. 

Deimos: “Fabien is into Craig. Ashley is done with Makayla.”

He said evenly.  

Celeste: “Give him flowers or something nice and say you’re sorry. I don’t think he thinks you can’t protect him. If anyone sucks at protecting their lover, it’s Craig.”

She nodded. Deimos sighed and agreed. 

Deimos: “Craig is absolutely useless, but whatever inflates Fabien’s ego.”

He muttered. 

He grabbed a pair of black socks and slid those on his feet; he grabbed his jacket, keys, and cowboy boots. 

Deimos: “I’m going out to make things right.”

He told her and slid his feet into his boots, shrugged into his jacket, and stepped outside. 

~

Deimos drove through downtown Pink Top City. Traffic was heavy as usual at this hour. Deimos had the radio playing and heard advertisements for Love Day and buying your lover a night out for two at Zabney World Honeymoon Suite. Deimos shut it off. He couldn’t bear to listen to anything like that in the state he and Tristan were in. He has to make amends first. He came across billboards for Love Day and specials at Cherry Bomb. 

Deimos felt his chest ache as if his heart wanted to rip out from his chest. He wished he didn’t lash out at Tristan. He wished he could have been more understanding and not let his ego get the better of him. 

Finally, he arrived at a flower shop called “Life in Bloom.” He parked in front of the store and climbed out of his car. He entered the flower shop. A wide variety of flowers greeted him. There were vases with floral arrangements, succulents, and packets with seeds. There were also bottles of wine, balloons, stuffed animals, and cards. 

A plump white pink-haired woman in a floral dress with a pink cardigan over it came out. 

Florist: “Can I help you, sir?”

Deimos raked his fingers through his hair. 

Deimos: “Hello, I’m looking for something to apologize.”

She nodded. 

Florist: “We have ‘Lily of the Valley’! Lily of the Valley is the best apology flower if you don’t know how to apologize to someone you hurt. This delicate white flower represents rebirth, which can be the result of a broken relationship if your apology is received well. It can express the start of a new chapter in the relationship and leave the past behind.”

She explained. Deimos twisted his mouth. 

Deimos: “I don’t think… it’s that bad.” 

At least, I hope not, he thought. 

Florist: “Who is this for, a family member, a friend, or a spouse?”

Deimos: “My boyfriend… My lover…”

He admitted. She nodded and picked up a bouquet of red roses. 

Florist: “If you aren’t sure of the perfect romantic apology bouquet for your significant other, roses are the way to go. It’s a simple way to express your affection for the other person, even through the past hardship and conflicts you may have been dealing with.”

Deimos cupped his chin and nodded. 

Deimos: “Yes, this is perfect! I will take it!”

He smiled a bit, feeling hopeful. 

She picked up the vase of roses and took it to the counter. 

Florist: “We also have balloons, stuffed animals, wine, and cards to complement your gift.”

She offered. 

Deimos: “I’ll take a card.”

He picked up an apology card. As she rang his purchases through, Deimos took the pen on the counter and wrote inside the card. 

~

Deimos drove to Tristan’s law office with the bouquet in the passenger’s seat. When he drove by his office, he didn’t see Tristan’s car in the parking lot. He saw Rosemary’s car and Erin’s car but not his. Deimos felt a lump form in his stomach. Is he that hurt that he didn’t go to work? He wondered. 

Deimos parked in front of the office and ran inside. He saw Rosemary and Erin at the desk. 

Deimos: “Hi, Rosemary. Is Tristan in?”

Rosemary looked up at him.

Rosemary: “No, Deimos. He didn’t come in or call to say he wasn’t coming in.”

The feeling of dread cultivated within Deimos. His heart thundered in his chest, and his anxiety soared. This is uncharacteristic of Tristan. Even if he is feeling horrible or didn’t get a wink of sleep, he always calls to inform his secretaries he won’t be at work, he thought. 

Deimos: “Thank you, Rosemary.”

He said tersely and promptly left the office to go back to his car. 

~

Tristan’s eyes fluttered. It felt as if bees were buzzing around his head. His head was pounding. He grimaced and gnashed his teeth. Did I pass out in the garage? Did I have a bad dream? He heard a ringing sound in his ears. He tried to rub his eyes, but his wrists were bound. His eyes snapped open, and he looked down to see his wrists bound by brown nylons. He tried to move his legs, but his ankles were also bound by brown nylons, and his shoes and socks were removed. He also noticed his sports coat was removed and draped over the purple barrel chair. 

He was reclining on a purple curved sofa. There was a tiger stripe rug in front of the sofa, potted plants in the corner of each room, large windows overlooking the neighborhood, and a silver pole on a circular platform for pole dancing. There was ambient lighting with deep shades of blue and purple casting a calm tranquility and several spirals dancing across the walls. 

Where the Hell am I? He thought as his heart thundered in his chest. The door swung open. Tristan swung his eyes to lock them on Robin, standing in the doorframe. 

Robin: “Coucou, Tristan! Souviens-toi de moi?”

She purred and sauntered to him. Tristan blinked and narrowed his eyes at her. 

Tristan: “Robin! You!”

He hissed and struggled against his bonds. 

Tristan: “What is the meaning of this?! Why did you have your waitress give me that book, and why am I here?!”

He growled as he thrashed against his bonds. Robin massaged his shoulders. 

Robin: “Allow me to explain, Tristan.”

She said softly and sauntered over to his feet and rested them on her lap. Tristan froze and swallowed hard. 

Robin smiled and held his slender feet in her hands. 

Robin: “I always wondered what your feet looked like… and if they stink. I’m so glad they don’t stink… My former lovers had stinky feet.”

She groused and poked his big toe with her nail. He shivered and tried to hold back his laughter. Don’t let her know you’re ticklish, he thought and bit his bottom lip. He fanned his toes out and swallowed hard. 

Tristan: “I see…”

He said in a tiny voice. 

Robin: “Your feet are immaculate… You always were, Tristan.”

Tristan froze, turgid with fear as her hands caressed his soles, and he fought hard not to laugh. She’s doing this to ward off questions, and it’s effective, he thought. 

She poked his foot, and he placed his other foot to protect it. Robin smirked. 

Robin: “Are you ticklish?” 

Tristan’s heart thundered in his chest. He was sure she could hear it. He pursed his lips and shook his head.

Tristan: “Hahahaha, n-not at all!”

He blurted. She giggled and withdrew a large purple feather. Tristan jolted and yelped. 

Robin: “We’ll see about that!”

She held his toes back, teasing him as she brushed the feather across his soft soles. Tristan shrieked and laughed hysterically. 

Tristan: “EEE!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!” 

He laughed hard and loudly; his laughter filled the living quarters and her club. 

Tristan: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP! HEHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!”

He laughed and thrashed around, whipping his ponytail from side to side. 

She smirked and scribbled all over his soles and toes using her nails. Tristan howled with laughter. 

Tristan: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!! I CAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAN’T TAHAHAHAHAHAKE ANYMOHOHOHOHOHORE!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHASE!”

He laughed as tears dripped down his cheeks. He gasped for air in between laughing, and this was exhausting him. 

She grabbed the cat massager from behind the couch and used that all over his soles. Tristan shrieked with laughter. 

Tristan: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE!! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!”

He sobbed and laughed. He heaved and wheezed in between laughing. Robin’s arousal was increasing, and she felt an aching desire grow in the most feminine part of her. As her arousal cultivated, so did tickling his feet. 

Tristan: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA! NOHOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PLEHEHEHASE!” 

He laughed and wheezed. He started choking on his salvia and fell back on the couch, passing out. 

Robin stopped and put her fingers up to her mouth. 

Robin: “Oops!” 

She giggled. 

~

Gabriel and Oscar were down in the basement in a dark room with only the light from the screen from Darrel’s computer. He hacked into the Palm Tree State database and pulled up a picture of Fabien’s driver’s license. He tapped on the screen with his knuckle. 

Darrel: “That’s your boy.”

He giggled. Oscar raised his eyebrows. 

Oscar: “He’s handsome. So was the other guy we got.”

Darrel leaned back.

Darrel: “The mistress wants the other guy, and I think he’s out because I don’t hear him laughing.”

~

Celeste was at the Trémaux Château in the living room with Victor. She wore a leather bustier, a leopard print skirt, and black ankle strap boots. Victor wore a loose, light beige button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and bell-bottom jeans. He slid his flip-flops off and put his feet up, biting his bottom lip. Her eyes sparkled as she held up the Wartenberg wheel with eight rows of spikes. Victor shivered. 

She held his toes back and rolled the wheel on his feet. He jumped and laughed loudly. 

Victor: “OH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO MY!”

He laughed and squirmed, loving this. She snaked her arm around his ankles and dragged the wheel across his feet, causing him to howl with laughter. 

Victor: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!” 

He pounded the arm of the sofa and threw his head back, laughing. 

Deimos walked out of his car and groaned when he heard Victor laughing hard. Great, now Ivy will scream at him and Celeste, and we have another Victor Trémaux and Ivy Ferraro meltdown, he thought. He carried the bouquet of roses with the card and went through the garage. He saw Tristan’s card and sighed. He didn’t go to work, but he’s here, he thought. 

He entered through the mudroom and into the kitchen, where Victor’s laughter grew. Deimos grumbled and entered the living room, where he saw Celeste scrubbing an electric toothbrush on Victor’s feet. He harrumphed. 

Celeste stopped, and Victor laid back, panting. 

Deimos: “Is Tristan in his room, Victor?”

Victor removed his glasses to clean them. 

Victor: “No, Deimos, he’s at work. Are those for him? I wish Ivy would give those to me after she gets mad at me for nothing, too!”

He huffed. Deimos’ heart sank. 

Deimos: “He’s not at work, Victor… His car is in the garage.”

He said grimly. Victor put his glasses on. 

Victor: “A-Are you sure?”

Deimos set the bouquet on the island in the kitchen and led him to the garage. Victor slid his feet into his flip-flops, and Celeste followed them. They entered the garage. Victor paused, and he heard whimpering. He looked and saw Oliver huddled in the corner. Celeste knelt and picked up his car keys and his briefcase. 

Deimos: “How did I miss those?!”

He exclaimed and panicked. 

Victor swallowed and picked Oliver up, who trembled in his arms. 

Oliver: “Grandpa, some men took Daddy away!”

Victor froze and stood still. 

Celeste: “Victor?”

Victor: “No…”

His bottom lip trembled. 

Victor: “He said someone took my son!”

He cried and ran into the mudroom. Deimos’ eyes grew large. He put his hand to his chest and panted. 

Deimos: “Goddamn it… This is why I wanted him to tell me about this! I shouldn’t have gotten angry with him! I should have protected him and put my ego aside!”

He sank to the floor and pounded on it. Celeste knelt to him.

Celeste: “Deimos! We’re going to get him!”

She said doggedly. 

She ran back into the house to Victor. 

Celeste: “Victor, we’re going to get Tristan!”

Victor sat on the couch, holding Oliver in a daze. 

Celeste: “Victor…?”

She waved her hand in front of his face, and he didn’t move or blink. 

Deimos: “He’s in a state of shock. We have to go.”

He stammered. She nodded. She grabbed her jacket and left with Deimos. 

~

At Danny Donger’s, Fabien’s shift ended, and he left the place in his uniform and went to the employee parking in the back to his car. Before he could get to it, Oscar and Gabriel grabbed him and put a rag on his face until he passed out. 

They carried him off to their car.

~

Craig was in his underwear in Fabien’s house, pacing around, anxious, waiting for him to come home. He was two hours late. Gus strolled into the living room in just his underwear, smoking from a bong. 

Craig: “The fuck are you doin’ in your underwear?!”

He gaped at Gus.

Gus: “I dunno. I don’t have to work today, and I don’t wanna get dressed.”

He drawled and looked at Craig. 

Gus: “Fabien is late. Think he went back to that Axion Jaxon?”

He asked. 

Craig: “Don’t fuckin’ say that!”

He shook his shoulders.

Gus: “Why?”

He asked.

Craig: “What do you mean why?! He better not be with Maxxy Ma-clone cunt again!”

He huffed, shoving his jeans on. He grabbed his Nuklear Intoxikation shirt and denim vest and shoved his feet into his work boots. 

Gus: “Where else would he be, though? He’s never late.”

They heard a knock on the door. Gus went to answer it, and there was a tape on the doorstep. It said, “For Basile.” Gus put it in the VCR and pressed play. 

Craig: “The fuck are you doin’? Now’s not the time for watchin’ foot porn, mate!”

He huffed. 

The screen showed Fabien in a dungeon, strapped to a BDSM wooden bench with red leather padding. His butt was facing the camera. He had his hot pants on but his shoes and socks removed. He looked over and had a ballgag in his mouth. He struggled against his bonds. Darrel, in a full gimp suit, appeared on screen, caressing Fabien’s back and slapping his buttocks. 

Darrel: “Hello, Basile, your handsome son is with us. You have to drop the Claude case and leave town, or your son gets it!”

Fabien moaned and struggled against his bonds. Darrel stroked a feather against Fabien’s feet. Fabien laughed through his gag and moved his feet. 

Fabien: “HURMPH HURMPH HAPH HAPH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed through his gag. 

Craig: “WHAT THE FUCK?! THAT’S MY FAB!”

He rasped, grabbing his car keys and rushing to the door. He heard spanking sounds and Darrel was spanking Fabien’s butt with a flogger to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody. Fabien was crying out in pain with each wallop. Craig seethed and roared in tune with the music, he rushed out to get in his Jeep. 

Gus: “Craig, do you know where he is?”

He asked as he ran outside. 

Craig: “Why?! Do you?!”

He exclaimed.

Gus: “No.”

He scratched his ass. Craig pouted.

A taxi pulled up. Basile got out and paid the driver. He huffed and puffed. 

Basile: “This has better be good. I don’t have the time to deal with Fabien’s 25-year-old toddler.”

He said gruffly and glared at Gus and Craig. Craig glared at him. Before he could speak, Basile heard the spanking sounds inside and went in to investigate. His jaw dropped at what he saw on the television. 

Darrel: “See that, Basile?”

He cupped Fabien’s butt. Fabien whimpered. 

Darrel: “Drop this Claude case. It’s history now.”

Basile’s jaw dropped and he clenched his fists. 

Basile: “Like Hell, I will…!”

Gus: “Claude case?”

Gus asked. 

Basile: “That Robin Rénard! I represented her boyfriend, Claude Haprèle. She now runs a club called ‘Foxy Robin’s.’ ”

Gus went out to Craig. 

Gus: “He’s at Foxy Robin’s nightclub.”

He said evenly. Craig gaped at him.

Craig: “What?! Why is he at a club for foxes and birds?!”

He huffed and climbed back into his Jeep again.

Craig: “I'm goin’ after him!”

He started his Jeep, turned up his music and drove out of the driveway, flooring the accelerator. He knocked over Jaclyn’s trash can and drove into the night.

~

Celeste and Deimos arrived at Foxy Robin’s. Celeste kicked open the door. She and Deimos stormed in. 

Deimos: “ROBIN! I know you have Tristan! Let him go NOW!”

He barked. 

Celeste: “No one is here, Deimos!”

Before they could move, Darrel appeared before them in his gimp suit and shot something on the floor. 

Deimos: “What the?!”

Before they could move, they found themselves stuck. Celeste and Deimos had blue glitter glue under their feet. 

Celeste: “What the FUCK?!”

Darrel lifted a huge gun. 

Darrel: “Like my invention?! It’s my glue gun and seeing you two trapped like rats is making me hard!”

He giggled. Celeste flicked her gaze down to his crotch and winced when she saw his erect penis through the latex. She lifted her leg and gnashed her teeth as the glue stretched whenever she or Deimos lifted their legs. 

Deimos: “Goddamn you… Give me Tristan! He’s MY lover! Whatever she had for him in middle school is OVER!”

He rasped and struggled to release himself from the glue. If only we had some solvent to release from this shit, he thought. 

Celeste and Deimos heard footsteps. They raised their gaze to the balcony where Robin showed up with Tristan, whose neck and wrists were shackled in a spreader bar. Deimos’ heart sank when he saw Tristan in that state. 

Tristan: “D-Deimos?!”

He cried. 

Deimos: “Let him go… LET HIM GO!”

He said in a gravelly voice. 

Robin: “What would you have in common with him? Tristan is the only man who ever understood me!”

She said loftily. 

Robin: “He’s not like other boys!”

She added. 

Deimos bared his teeth. 

Deimos: “I don’t give a damn! I love him! I will always love him and we understand each other! He forgot about you until we came here!”

He barked at her. Robin sneered at him. Tristan looked down at Deimos as tears filled his eyes. 

Gabriel and Oscar carried Fabien who was tied to a chair and gagged, and placed him into a glass box. They left the box and closed the door behind him. Fabien struggled against his bonds. 

Celeste: “Fab!”

She put her hand out. Fabien screamed muffled screams through his gag as he thrashed around trying to free himself. Tristan panted and glared at Robin.

Tristan: “Let them go… This doesn’t concern them. It’s between us.”

He growled. 

Robin: “Yes, Tristan, we will sort it out when I rid myself of these fleas.”

She waved her hand dismissively. 

The doors busted open and Craig rushed in. 

Craig: “FABIEEEEEENNNN!”

He hollered, ramming in like a wrecking ball, slamming into Darrel. Darrel flew across the room, his glue gun sliding across the lounge. Fabien screamed out for Craig. 

Robin: “Who is that big clown?! GET HIM!”

She screamed. Gabriel charged after Craig and delivered a right hook to his face, followed by a left hook, and kicked him hard with his cowboy boot spur. Craig rasped and winced.

Craig: “FUCK YOU, COWBOY CUNT!”

He spat. Oscar tripped him over and he and Gabriel both kicked him on the ground. Craig cursed and rasped in pain and fury with each kick. Fabien cried through his gag. He thrashed around as he sobbed. 

Celeste and Deimos bared their teeth and growled as they tried to release themselves from the substance. Celeste knew not to try to trip and fall, so she had to think. 

Darrel struggled and rose to his feet. He ascended the stairs and went to the balcony overlooking the tank where Fabien was contained. He turned a huge nozzle and a ton of water poured from a faucet overlooking Fabien to fill the tank he was in. Fabien cried and struggled against his bonds. He helplessly and beseechingly looked at Craig. Oscar and Gabriel stood over Craig, who was a beaten, bloody mess, trying to reach out to Fabien. 

Tristan’s jaw was ajar. He turned his head to Robin. 

Tristan: “Robin, I am warning you to release them all now. You don’t want to make me angry.”

He said as his voice rose. Robin rolled her eyes. 

Robin: “Tristan, you don’t need them. You have me now.”

She said loftily. Tristan growled and shook his head. 

Tristan: “How dare you?! We haven’t spoken since collège! I am not the same 14-year-old boy you knew back then! Did you think I was going to wait for you forever?! When I left Nouvelle Gaule, I left that life behind!”

He snapped. 

Robin: “Tristan, don’t be this way! We had lovely talks about my ballets and plays!”

She said flippantly. 

Tristan: “But did you ever ask anything about ME?! From what I recall, you always discussed your interests but we never circled back to mine!”

Robin furrowed her eyebrows. 

Robin: “Okay, time to go night night, Tristan, you’re starting to sound like the other boys and I like you better when you don’t.” 

She huffed and grabbed his face to lock her gaze on him.

Deimos saw red. He lifted one foot to march over and was about to fall until Celeste grabbed his hair and yanked him back. 

Deimos: “GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

He bellowed. Robin sneered at him.

Robin: “You’re ruining the mood between Tristan and me, you little pest.”

She said and marched downstairs. 

She approached Deimos and locked her gaze on him. She closed her eyes and opened them, her scleras turned black. Deimos’ head started to spin and he started to lose himself. He concentrated on using his healing powers. He gnashed his teeth and broke the hypnosis link glaring at her and baring his teeth. She gasped and stepped back. She blinked and her scleras turned white again. He’s a healer, she thought. 

Robin: “Gabriel, Oscar, dispose of these two!”

She commanded. 

Celeste growled. She looked at the tank filling with water and at those two stooges approaching them. She recalled Fabien gave her something to trash and reached into her purse to see if she still had it. Her eyes lit up and she smiled. She had it. She put her jacket over her nose and mouth. 

Celeste: “Deimos, cover your nose and mouth!”

She ordered. 

Deimos: “Why?!”

Celeste: “Just do it!”

She gagged, removed something from a Ziploc bag, and threw it across the room. 

Jaclyn’s red heel landed near the bar; the stink of Vieux Boulogne, malt vinegar, and a dead skunk on a hot day pervaded the room. Gabriel, Oscar, Darrel, and Robin gagged as tears filled their eyes. 

Gabriel: “Oh, dang it, A STINKBOMB!”

He coughed and held his shirt over his nose.

Robin: “That is the most DISGUSTING SMELL!”

She cried and sank to the floor, on the verge of vomiting. 

Tristan froze the spreader bar on his neck and wrists turning them to ice and shattering them. He coughed and gagged, trying to cover his mouth and nose as he staggered down the stairs. He marched to Deimos and Celeste, stomping on the floor turning the glue to ice and stomping against shattering it. Deimos’ eyes lit up and Tristan ran to him, throwing his arms around him. 

Deimos: “TRISTAN!” 

The two locked their gaze into each other’s eyes and kissed deeply. Robin’s heart broke when she saw this. The only man who ever understood her is with some slacker rockstar wannabe. The tears of losing him and Jaclyn’s footstink overwhelmed her and she tried not to cry.

Craig’s face was swollen and bruised. The tank Fabien was in, filled with water. He couldn’t move or do anything to save him. Celeste kicked the frozen bits of glue away and tried to open the door. She broke the handle off and delivered a punch to the glass, cracking it. She punched it again and again, cracking it more, until she delivered a final punch to smash through the glass, breaking and shattering it and the water gushing out and flowing out into the lounge. 

Celeste lifted the chair Fabien was in and threw it down smashing it and breaking it, freeing him. Fabien rushed to Craig and knelt to him. 

Fabien: “CRAIG! CRAIG!”

He cried and rested his head on his lap.

Craig: “F-Fabien!”

He stammered. 

Fabien: “I am here, Craig. Celeste broke me out.”

He smiled down at him. Craig was sore all over; he was bruised and his ego was bruised more. He turned his head and passed out. 

Fabien: “CRAIG?!”

He cried. 

They heard footsteps and turned to see Basile entering. Celeste, Deimos, Tristan, Fabien, and Robin stared at him. Basile growled and glared hatefully at Robin. 

Basile: “Robin?! Robin! I found you at last! This ends NOW!”

He bellowed. Fabien rose to lock his glare on his father. 

Fabien: “No, Father, it ended eight years ago when Claude killed himself in court.”

He said coldly. 

Basile: “NO! He didn’t willingly kill her parents! I know he didn’t!”

He snapped. Fabien shook his head and rolled his eyes. Robin sneered at Basile.

Fabien: “You don’t know that! Did he tell you this?! He killed himself for her so I don’t think he did! You projected yourself on him because you didn’t want to admit you were defending some loser who killed his girlfriend’s parents. After all, they told her to stop dating him or whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

He snapped and folded his arms over his chest. 

Fabien: “It was eight years ago and I know you can’t stand to lose but there were no winners or losers, Father! You treated him more like a son than you ever treated me! I want you gone! Since you came here, my mood has been worse and everything is pissing me off!”

He cried. 

Basile: “NO! I am not leaving until I get answers!”

He growled. Fabien sighed and shook his head.

Fabien: “Sometimes you will never get closure, Father.” 

He shrugged. 

Fabien: “I’m not getting closure from you and I’ve accepted that.”

Basile growled and snarled at Fabien.

Basile: “You insolent boy! How dare you?! You were never going to be anything more than a poster boy for manchildren like that fool you’re with now! I should have known better! I should have kicked you out sooner!”

He bellowed. 

Tristan: “He’s right, Basile. Let this case go.”

Basile swung his gaze to Tristan.

Basile: “You actually believe Claude willingly killed her parents?! I thought you were better than this, Tristan! I thought you were more intelligent!”

Tristan narrowed his eyes at Basile and folded his arms over his chest. 

Tristan: “With all due respect, Basile, all I know from this case is hearsay. He killed her parents and you’re going to say she made him do it. Why, because of his final words? That could mean anything. He killed them, and he was guilty whether she pursued him to do it or not. Nothing is going to change that. If he wasn’t guilty, why did he kill himself?”

He challenged him. 

Tristan: “Robin complained to me about him often, so it seems like he did what he thought would gain her affections.”

He offered. Basile glared at Tristan.

Basile: “You disappoint me, Tristan. My son is rubbing off on you.”

He straightened his jacket. 

Tristan: “I did my research and can think for myself. This case is closed. It has been for eight years.”

He looked away. Basile harrumphed and promptly left the place. 

Fabien: “Do you believe what you said or did you do it to get rid of him?”

He hung his head.

Tristan: “I don’t know what I believe anymore after what I saw.”

He sighed.

Fabien: “Anyone who kills himself over a girl is a loser anyway. Good riddance.” 

Celeste piled a passed-out Gabriel and Oscar on top of Robin. 

Robin: “HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”

She shrieked. Celeste unbuckled Robin’s sandals and slid them off. 

Robin: “DON’T YOU DARE!”

Celeste: “I’m not doing it this time!”

She got whipped cream from the bar and squirted on her feet. She carried Ashlee over and Ashlee licked the cream off her feet. Robin shrieked and laughed hard. 

Robin: “ARGH! DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOHOHOHOHOU! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! AHAHAHAHAHAHSLEHEHEHEHEEE!! HAHAHAHAHAHA! STAHAHAHAHAHAP! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

She laughed hard and her mascara streaked her cheeks. 

Deimos rolled his eyes and Tristan chuckled. 

Deimos: “Let’s get out of here.”

Celeste nodded and left with them. Fabien looked down at Craig and sighed. 

~

Victor sobbed as he hugged Tristan tightly. 

Victor: “I am SO glad you’re all right, Tristan! I was SO worried about you!”

He bawled. Tristan hugged his father. Tristan: “Thank you, Papa! Deimos and Celeste saved me!”

He nodded to them. Victor looked at them and nodded. 

Victor: “Thank you, both. You’re forever in my gratitude!”

Celeste: “Can you make me tacos?”

Victor laughed and removed his glasses to wipe his eyes. 

Victor: “Of course!”

~

Tristan and Deimos were in Tristan’s bedroom. Deimos handed him the bouquet of roses with the card. Tristan smiled and took the flowers. His green eyes sparkled and he inhaled them.

Tristan: “They’re beautiful, Deimos!”

Deimos: “Those roses cannot match your beauty, Tristan.”

He smiled. Tristan blushed. He took the card and opened it. It had written in it, “Tristan, I am so sorry for how badly I treated you. I didn’t mean to hurt you or treat you this way. I love you more than anything in this world and you’re the light of my life. Can you forgive me?” Tristan smiled and tears welled in his eyes. He removed his glasses to wipe his eyes and put his glasses back on. 

Tristan: “I forgive you, Deimos. I’m sorry for not telling you about this sooner…”

Deimos cupped his face and kissed him.

Deimos: “You already apologized…”

Tristan smiled and the two kissed again. Deimos held him in his arms. 

Deimos: “I love you, Tristan…”

Tristan’s eyes grew large and he hugged Deimos. 

Tristan: “I love you, too, Deimos.”

He said softly and the two kissed deeply.