Chapter Two-Hundred Five: The Gold Todger 2.0

Chapter 205

Gold Todger 2.0

Celeste meandered around the carnival looking for her boys. She was lapping up a key lime ice cream cone as she strolled around the park. She spotted Blair passed out on the ground, his bear face painting smeared from the impact of the punch and hitting the ground. Good, I had to leave because he made me sick, she thought. She lapped her ice cream, and it fell on Blair’s shirt.

Celeste: “Shit, talk about perfectly good ice cream now ruined.”

She groused.

Celeste: “Where the fuck are Jax and Fab anyway? Are they still fighting?”

She huffed, dropped her cone on Blair, and left.

Celeste slowly approached the haunted house, which resembled a castle and a circus blended. It had stone walls and turrets, with an entryway shaped like the mouth of an evil clown, fanged teeth bared. Celeste groused at the hideous sight and strolled inside. She was surrounded by silence and darkness, with the flicker of red lights, lighting her path. Suddenly, she was jolted by a clattering sound as an animatronic skeleton reached out, grabbing her boobs. Celeste jumped like a cat and furrowed her eyebrows, smacking it away from her.

~

Jaxon and Fabien walked down the maze together.

Jaxon: “Why are you following me anyway?!”

He hissed.

Fabien: “Because I like you.”

He winked.

Jaxon: “And yet, you fuckin’ ruined my birthday party with that big loser!”

He huffed. Fabien’s smile faded, and he looked away.

Fabien: “I said I was sorry! I was…”

He embraced himself.

Fabien: “I was angry with myself for leaving you to be with HIM! I didn’t chase who I wanted because I…”

He paused, and his eyelids dipped.

Fabien: “I stupidly felt sorry for Craig.”

He muttered.

Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “Why did you do that if you didn’t want him, and why did you feel sorry for him?”

He challenged. Fabien’s right eye twitched.

Fabien: “I don’t know?! He wouldn’t leave me alone?! He kept telling me how Andreas abused him, and I guess I believed him and didn’t think or want to think that the most abusive thing he did was subject him to children’s card games!”

He clutched the temples of his head.

Fabien: “Yeah, I mocked Andreas for believing in those dumb cards, but as I lived with Craig, I saw what a fucking waste of space he was.”

He paced around.

Fabien: “He contributed fuckall to the house. I wasn’t speaking of his shitty job as a Viking Burger mascot, but he didn’t pay the bills. He spent it on booze and weed. Didn’t do any chores. Didn’t cook meals. Sat around in his underwear watching shitty shows.”

He furrowed his eyebrows as his voice rose.

Fabien: “Anytime I wanted to hang out with my friends, he would whine and want me with him at all times, and break my bong.”

He rolled his eyes as he paced around.

He pounded a stone pillar as Jaxon locked his gaze on him.

Fabien: “...Then he got angry with me for telling you and Celeste about what Finley Lloyd did to me and got angry with me that it happened.”

He said through clenched teeth. He then rested his forehead on the pillar.

Fabien: “And he wanted to adopt a dog. I think when he suggested that, I started cheating on him with other men, hoping he would catch me and leave.”

He concluded. Jaxon drew a long, gusty breath.

Jaxon: “Why didn’t you leave him?”

Fabien shrugged.

Fabien: “I don’t know? I guess I wanted him to leave me. It seems easier.”

Jaxon: “It’s not, though! You had to do more work to get him to leave you than kicking his ass out.”

Fabien looked away.

Jaxon: “It sounds like you were in an abusive relationship. I was engaged to Noriko… You saw those pictures.”

He looked away. Fabien bowed his head.

Jaxon: “I didn’t want to go to those stupid Viking theme parks or dress up as one. I hated all of that! If I didn’t laugh at her stupid jokes or praise the all-mighty Varg the Viking…”

He threw his hands up and rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “She would lock me in her ‘Viking Torture Chamber’ and tickle me for hours.”

He folded his arms and grumbled.

Jaxon flicked his gaze at Fabien.

Jaxon: “I think you didn’t wanna admit you were being abused because you want to seem ‘stronger’ and ‘smarter’ than all of us.”

He added. Fabien turned to him.

Fabien: “I wasn’t being abused! I made a mistake and felt sorry for that idiot! Don’t psychoanalyze me, TRISTAN!”

He snapped.

Jaxon: “Oh, is that why you hate him? ‘Cause he can read you?”

He hissed.

Fabien glared at him.

Fabien: “You’re just angry Celeste prefers me to you because you’d rather mope about some broad who died instead of focusing on the amazing woman before your eyes!”

He spat. Jaxon sneered at him.

Jaxon: “Deimos should have cheated on Tristan with YOU, because you’re both assholes!”

He shoved him and marched away.

He bumped into someone and fell back.

Jaxon: “HEY!”

He snapped, and he gasped when he saw Dougal standing before the two men. He wore a full suit of gold armor. It featured a gold breastplate with a lit-up rainbow outline of a penis-shaped inlay in the center. This was connected to large gold shoulder guards. On his arms were oversized golden gauntlets, and on his hands were black gloves.

The pelvic guard was gold with a lit-up rainbow outline of a penis right on his groin. On his feet were exceptionally large, flared golden boots with pointed toes and reinforced plating.

Beneath the heavy armor plating, he wore a more flexible, light gold ribbed suit.

The helmet was gold, while the center crest and crown were a lighter gold. A distinctive light-gold raised section ran from the forehead to the back of the crown, giving it an aerodynamic, robotic look. In the center of the forehead, there was a large, oval-shaped sapphire with a lit-up rainbow outline of a penis. The sides of the helmet featured circular, black-rimmed pads that resembled high-tech headphones. The helmet fit seamlessly with his large bean-shaped head, framing his fat face with sharp, angled edges that fell to his cheeks.

Jaxon scrambled to his feet and backed into Fabien. Fabien stood there, his face ashen. Dougal spread his smile to show his spaced-out, yellow-brown teeth.

Dougal: “Well, well, I knew me schmoodar alarm was going off! Well, well, here comes THE GOLD TODGER 2.0!”

~

Celeste roamed around the haunted house and blew out a puff of air. Where are those boys anyway? Are they even in here? She wondered. She stopped dead in her tracks when she heard Jaxon and Fabien scream.

Celeste: “Jaxon?! Fabien?!”

She ran down the flashing foyer and through the puffs of mist down the hall.

When she burst through the wall, she saw Dougal with his blubbery arms snaked around Jaxon and Fabien. Jaxon whimpered and trembled, giving Celeste a beseeching look. Fabien moaned and knit his eyebrows, shaking like a leaf.

Celeste: “DOUGAL! GET YOUR FAT HANDS OFF THEM!”

She screamed and charged after him. Two blades shot out from his gauntlets, pressing against their necks. Celeste halted in her tracks so fast that she almost fell over. Jaxon let out a mewl as the bold steel brushed against his neck. Fabien gasped and froze turgid with fear.

Dougal: “Not comin’ after me, eh, bint?”

He chuckled and licked Fabien’s face. Fabien’s face contorted with disgust. He turned Jaxon and buried his face into his hair and neck, inhaling his scent. Jaxon’s jaw tightened as he whined. Celeste narrowed her eyes at him, feeling her fury soar.

Dougal: “So, let’s play a game, shall we? You get to pick which one to save. You can only pick one.”

He laughed and pressed the blades against the faces as the two men whimpered.

Celeste shook her head at the golden mass of fat.

Celeste: “Well, if I can only pick one.”

She raised her hand, pointing her forefinger at Dougal’s bean head.

Celeste: “I pick this one to kill.”

She sneered at Dougal. She leaped in the air and came down about to kick him, but she was punched away and slammed into the wall, breaking it down.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He cried. Fabien’s heart hammered in his chest.

Celeste lay on the ground in the rubble and winced in pain.

Fabien: “CELESTE! LOOK OUT!”

He cried. Celeste opened her eyes to see Darashinai before her, grinning inanely. This Darashinai was tall, muscular, with dark blue skin, glowing red eyes, a fierce, snarling expression, and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. She wore a kabuto with a crescent moon ornament. Large, tiered red plates fanned out from her back, giving her a broad, intimidating look. She also wore a kusazuri made of red tiered plates with gold trim. On her legs, she has red greaves and traditional Japanese waraji over white tabi.

She held a large boulder over her head.

Darashinai: “STAY AWAY FROM MY SEXY DOUGAL!”

Celeste’s eyes widened as Darashinai threw it down. Celeste rolled over as the boulder hit the floor, shattering and cracking the wood.

Celeste rose and stumbled over to the wall. Darashinai lunged at her with her clawed hands. Celeste lept, and Darsashinai grabbed her foot, flinging her at the wall, where she crashed through several walls.

Fabien: “CELESTE!”

He cried.

Dougal: “Don’t cry, my sexy schmoodar. Daddy Dougie will dry those tears.”

He crooned and cupped Fabien’s groin. Fabien whimpered and panted.

Jaxon: “Let her go! You can take me and do what you like!”

He sobbed. Dougal chuckled.

Dougal: “Oh, I was gonna do that anyway…”

He grabbed his groin and massaged it. Jaxon shuddered and clenched his teeth.

Darashinai lunged at Celeste, baring her red breastplate, which featured a massive red demonic face with glowing red eyes and jagged silver fangs protruding over the midsection. Celeste grabbed the teeth and used her right foot to keep the jaws pried open as Darashinai tried to use her torso to bite her. Celeste kicked her away. Darsahinai pulled a Katana out of her ass and slashed at Celeste’s arm, drawing blood. She grunted and delivered a hard punch to Darashinai’s face, sending her crashing through the walls.

Darashinai lunged at Celeste, slammed her into the wall, and her torso caught her arm with its teeth. Celeste cried out in pain as the razor-sharp fangs pierced through her flesh.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He screamed. Fabien panted. As Celeste cried in pain, trying to pry her arm from the demonic torso, Fabien’s hand rose, and he stabbed his car keys into Dougal’s arm. Dougal wailed in pain and released the two men. Fabien grabbed his bladed arm and drove it into the eye of the demonic face on Darashinai’s torso. Darashinai screamed out, and the demonic face released Celeste’s arm. Jaxon rushed over and knelt to her as he healed her.

Jaxon: “Please hang in there, babe. I got you.”

He sobbed as a red glow emitted from his hands, healing her.

She felt a tingling sensation as his healing sealed her wounds. She stretched her arm and clenched her fist. Darashinai roared and lunged at them. Celeste delivered a hard kick to Darashinai, sending her crashing into the ceiling, and she landed on the floor. She snarled at Celeste and charged after her, baring her fanged torso. Celeste bared her teeth, grabbed her hands, and bent her wrists back, breaking them. She then ripped her arms off, causing blood to spray everywhere. Celeste then grabbed the teeth on her torso, pried the mouth open, and ripped Darashinai in half, tossing each part aside.

She turned to Dougal with rage in her eyes as he clutched his arm.

Dougal: “NO! NO! NOOOOOO!!”

She delivered a blow so hard that Dougal crashed through the walls of the haunted house and rammed right into a tree, causing the tree to fall over and crash onto a utility pole, resulting in a blackout at the carnival.

Jaxon and Fabien rushed over to Celeste and hugged her, all three soaked in Darashinai’s blood. She smiled and patted their backs.

Celeste: “Let’s get the Hell out of here.”

Fabien: “Yeah, sure.”

Jaxon: “Okay, babe.”

The trio stepped over Darashinai’s corpse, leaving footprints of her blood behind.

~

Narcisse stood over Dougal, whose armor was smashed, and every bone was broken in his body. Narcisse clicked his tongue.

Narcisse: “I would dispose of you if you were not my naughty little nephew’s Kyptonyte, my useless fat fellow.”

He folded his arms behind his back and stood in a regal posture.

Narcisse: “Furthermore, you are a great distraction while I make bigger, better plans. Big plans as big as your bottom.”

He laughed. Dougal moaned.

Narcisse: “Amanda, get this bowl of jelly to a hospital. I have bigger fish to fry. No offense, fatty.”

He dusted himself off.

Narcisse looked at the silhouette of the haunted house, which crashed down before his eyes. He raised an eyebrow.

Amanda: “Before I go, sir… I spotted Victor with a rotund man in romantic positions.”

The smile faded from Narcisse’s face.

Narcisse: “Oh, is that so? He’s moving on fast from Charlotte and me, isn’t he?”

His right eye twitched, and his bottom lip trembled.

Amanda: “Is the plan still on?”

Narcisse punched a tree.

Narcisse: “Victor will NOT cheat on us with that fat fuck!”

He cried.

Narcisse: “Get that fat bastard to a hospital! And get me to Victor after that!”

He cried. Amanda nodded and grabbed Dougal, flying off with him into the sky.

Narcisse panted and then threw his head back, screaming with rage.

~

Tristan stood in front of his vanity, gazing at his appearance. He wore a black Italian-cut double-breasted suit with gold buttons, a royal blue pressed shirt, a dark blue tie, a blue-and-gold paisley scarf loosely tied and draped over his neck like a circle, and sheer black socks. He had showered, spritzed on cologne, and was ready for his dinner date with Deimos.

Oliver ran through the door and meowed at Tristan. He heard a light tap on the door. Tristan turned.

Tristan: “Come in.”

Bastien opened the door. He wore a white pressed shirt, a green sweater over it, dark green pants, and brown loafers. He smiled at his brother.

Bastien: “You look nice.”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Thank you. Are you in the midst of preparing Papa’s dinner?”

Bastien nodded.

Bastien: “You look awfully nice for a simple dinner.”

He teased.

Tristan: “I always look my best.”

He looked away.

Tristan adjusted his scarf.

Tristan: “So what are you making for Papa and Jasper?”

He asked. Oliver rubbed against Tristan’s legs.

Bastien: “Lemon and herb roasted salmon, seared scallops, and creamy mashed potatoes.”

He smiled. Tristan laughed a bit.

Tristan: “Well, it’s good I am sitting this one out.”

He chuckled.

Bastien: “Yes, Father told me you weren’t a fan of seafood.”

He was about to add that neither was their mother, but held his tongue.

Bastien: “Deimos should be here any moment now.”

He checked his watch. Tristan nodded. The two brothers left Tristan’s bedroom and walked down the pedestrian walkway and the stairs. They saw Victor and Jasper on the couch.

Victor: “Well, hello, Tristan, ready for your date?”

He smiled.

Tristan: “It’s not a date, Papa. It’s an arrangement and a favor.”

He sighed. Victor smiled tightly.

Victor: “If you say so.”

Jasper: “Is it with that oafish man?”

He asked with disdain. Tristan grimaced. Victor chuckled.

Victor: “Yes, Deimos tends to be oafish.”

He placed his hand on his shoulder. Jasper smiled and patted Victor’s hand. Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan stepped out into the kitchen, where Bastien was cooking their dinner. He entered the mudroom, slid his feet into his black wingtip Oxfords, and bent down to tie his shoes. He heard Deimos’ Ferrari pull up the driveway and stepped out of the garage.

Deimos parked his car and stepped out. He wore a white pressed shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a few buttons unsnapped at the collar, a deep purple vest, black dress pants, black oxfords, and a silver watch on his left wrist. Tristan’s eyes widened at Deimos, and his smile spread to show his teeth.

Deimos: “Do you like it?”

Tristan reddened and nodded slightly. Deimos beamed and strolled over to the passenger’s door to open it for him. Tristan smiled and stepped over to climb into the passenger’s seat. Deimos closed the door for him and got into the driver’s seat. He shut the door and looked behind his shoulder as he reversed out of the driveway.

~

The two men entered an intensely romantic, intimate dinner setting framed by a window overlooking Pink Top City at night. The atmosphere was warm, opulent, and celebratory.

A heavy cream-colored cloth draped a small, round table. It was adorned with a bouquet of red roses in a gold vase, scattered red rose petals, a wine glass, and a beer mug. Two classic wooden chairs faced each other on each side of the table.

Three tall, slender candles in ornate gold candelabras provided a soft, warm glow that illuminated the table.

Rich red velvet curtains framed the window, and the floor was covered in a lush layer of red rose petals.

Small red hearts were stuck to the window, adding a whimsical, “love is in the air” touch.

Tristan clasped his hands over his mouth and gasped. Deimos beamed and strolled over to pull out a chair for Tristan. Tristan smiled tenderly and went over to sit. Deimos sat across from him. A waiter in a tuxedo arrived and poured chardonnay in Tristan’s wine glass and poured beer in Deimos’ mug.

Tristan: “Thank you.”

He left the two of them, and Tristan drank in the scene. Deimos beamed, proud of himself.

Tristan: “You certainly went all out for this favor.”

He smiled.

Deimos: “Well, it’s more than a favor. I would have done the gore make-up to lure in Ichiro’s body double anyway, but…”

He reached over and placed his muscular hand on Tristan’s slender hand. Tristan shivered.

Deimos: “I wanted to make this day special for you.”

Tristan: “Why is that?”

He smirked and sipped on his wine. Deimos turned Tristan’s hand over and ran his forefinger over his palm. Tristan shivered and let out a peal of giggles. Deimos pursed his lips and smiled.

Deimos: “Because you’re special to me, Tristan. You mean the world to me, and I would do anything for you.”

He said softly. Tristan paused and gazed at him. Deimos took his hand and pressed his lips on it. Tristan flushed red and looked away.

Tristan: “But you hurt me badly…”

His eyelids dipped. Deimos sighed.

Deimos: “Yes, I know I did, and I let my emotions and impulses get the best of me, but I am truly sorry, Tristan.”

He said tenderly as he kissed each of his fingers. Tristan melted to his tender kisses and gripped his hand.

Deimos: “I don’t want to be the man who hurts you. You’re so perfect, and you’re my prince…”

He whispered.

Tristan inhaled sharply, beaming at his compliments and his gestures.

Deimos: “I didn’t go out of my way just to catch Ichiro’s body double, but I did because… I love you, Tristan Trémaux. You are my true love, my soulmate, and my prince. I want to show you that you’re the only man I have eyes on, and I will do anything to prove to you that I love you and will protect you.”

He caressed Tristan’s soft hand. Tristan melted to his touch and his words. He knew Deimos had hurt him, but he couldn’t fight his feelings; he hated that he loved Deimos’ gestures and words, yearning for this passion. Before Tristan could think, he felt his hand squeezing Deimos’ hand. Deimos raised his eyebrows in pleasant astonishment that Tristan returned the gesture.

The waiter arrived with their dinner. He placed chicken fettuccine alfredo with plenty of mushrooms and peppers before Tristan and Pinetree State lobster before Deimos. Tristan chuckled. Of course, he thought.

Deimos raised his beer mug, and Tristan raised his wine glass. Their glasses touched each other, and Tristan started eating his dinner in delicate bites. Deimos used the lobster crackers to crack the claws open and the fork to dig out the meat.

~

After the two men finished their dinner, Tristan folded his hands and rested his head on them, gazing out at the city line. Deimos gazed intently at Tristan. Soft, smooth jazz music played in the background. Deimos rose from his seat and put his hand out to Tristan.

Deimos: “Shall we dance?”

Tristan gazed at Deimos, his eyes aglitter, his face red. He smiled and took his hand, rising to his feet. Deimos brightened. He held Tristan in his embrace and placed his hand at the small of his back, while Tristan grasped his other hand and placed his hand on Deimos’ shoulder. The two men swayed to the soft saxophone music playing as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

Deimos inched his face closer to Tristan’s. Tristan leaned forward and closed his eyes. He opened his mouth, allowing Deimos in. Deimos closed his mouth on Tristan’s, wanting this for a long time. He kissed him deeply, tasting his hot guy breath, his sweetness, and wrestling his tongue on his. He savored every moment of this. Tristan moaned into his mouth, and two men felt a burning sensation grow in each other from their heads to their hardnesses, and down to their toes. The sensation they felt was like a bomb going off.

Deimos rubbed Tristan’s back as he kissed him while Tristan kept his hands on Deimos’ shoulders, feeling his hard muscles under his soft palms. Deimos ran his fingers through Tristan’s silken, snow-white tresses, running his fingertips down his spine. Tristan shivered at his touch.

He broke the kiss and panted as he pressed his palms against Deimos’ sculpted chest, feeling his heart beat.

Tristan: “My God, Deimos.”

He whispered.

Deimos: “Tristan…”

He cupped his face in his hands.

Deimos: “I never want to let you go.”

He said breathlessly and traced his thumb against his soft, supple lips.

Tristan: “Don’t hurt me again, Deimos.”

Deimos pressed his lips against his forehead.

Deimos: “It’s the last thing I want to do to you…”

~

Deimos’ car rolled into Tristan’s driveway. Deimos parked his car and went over to let Tristan out. Tristan stepped out and stroked his ponytail.

Tristan: “Would you like to come in?”

Deimos beamed.

Deimos: “Yes!”

Tristan smiled. He went to the door and unlocked it with his keys.

He and Deimos stepped into the mudroom. Tristan untied his shoes and took them off, revealing his sheer black socks. Deimos kicked off his shoes, revealing his black socks. As they ventured into the house, they could hear loud moans from Victor and Jasper coming from his bedroom. Tristan cupped his mouth and laughed. Deimos breathed a sigh of relief and followed Tristan upstairs and down the pedway.

~

Deimos sat on Tristan’s bed, taking in his surroundings, inhaling Tristan’s sweet aroma, and admiring how everything was just the same as it was before he did the unthinkable. Deimos wore a dark gray tank top and dark plaid pajama pants. He heard the sound of Tristan in the shower and popped his lips as he waited for him.

He rose from his bed and paced around. He stepped into the doorway and spotted the hamper outside the bathroom. He looked around and shifted his eyes. He zipped over to the hamper, lifted the lid, and pulled out Tristan’s briefs from the dirty laundry.

He beamed as he held up Tristan’s dark blue briefs, feeling the soft fabric. He then pressed it to his face, inhaling where Tristan’s cock rubbed against. As Deimos sniffed it, he felt his hardness press against his pajama pants. He moaned as his arousal rose.

He ran his briefs all over his neck and shivered, inhaling the scent of sex from Tristan.

He then heard a creak and froze in his tracks. That’s too heavy to be a cat, he thought. He slowly turned around to see Bastien standing outside his bedroom, gaping at Deimos with shock. Deimos froze as his face turned as red as a beet. He tossed the underwear into the basket and ran back into Tristan’s bedroom, shutting the door.

Bastien stood there in horror. Tristan stepped out of the bathroom. His hair was loose, and he wore his silver silk pajamas with his name embroidered on the left breast pocket. He gaped at Bastien.

Tristan: “Is everything okay, Bastien?”

Bastien nodded mutely and dashed back into his bedroom. Tristan blinked and looked across the hallway, where he heard his father and Jasper loudly making love.

Tristan: “I guess that’s bothering him.”

He muttered and returned to his bedroom.

Deimos embraced Tristan from behind. Tristan turned and cupped his face, threading his hair. Deimos’ hands trailed down his waist. Tristan gently placed his hand on his.

Tristan: “Can we wait for that, Deimos?”

He asked gently. Deimos gazed up at him, wanting nothing more than to make love to his man, but Tristan wanted to take things slowly. Deimos smiled and nodded.

Deimos: “You’re worth the wait.”

He kissed his neck. Tristan giggled as his kisses tickled his neck.

Tristan: “Thank you, Deimos.”

He turned around and kissed him back.

~

Jordi drove home after dropping Madelyn off at her house. He declined to spend the night because of the water leakage at their house and felt like spending time in his own bed. As he drove closer to his house, he saw the silhouette of a young woman and furrowed his eyebrows. Don’t tell me Gina is here, he thought. As the light shone on her, it wasn’t Gina, but someone else. Jordi raised his eyebrows. She appeared to shield her eyes from the bright lights.

He turned into the driveway and parked his car. He stepped out to see a young woman who was five feet four inches tall. She had tanned skin, large, expressive, byzantine eyes with thick black lashes, and a pointed, slightly upturned nose. Her purple hair was styled in a voluminous bob with a pink heart-shaped clip holding back her bangs. She wore a light blue, floral-patterned sundress with white lace trim along the neckline and hem, and white high-heeled sandals adorned with butterflies on the straps. A simple gold necklace with a heart pendant completed her look.

Jordi gazed at her, feeling like he knew her from somewhere. She looked young, so it couldn’t have been from work or school.

Jordi: “Excuse me, Miss? Can I help you?”

He smiled at her. The girl fumbled with her locket and opened it up. Jordi leaned in to look at what was inside. He raised his eyebrows to see his high school junior picture beside a picture of a toddler girl, who resembled the young woman before him.

Jordi: “...Why do you have my high school junior picture?”

His heart hammered in his chest.

Girl: “Are you Jordi Vaquero?”

Jordi pursed his lips and nodded. He had a hunch about what this was leading to, and his grandmother warned him that his mother hadn’t told him who his father was, thinking she was a half-sibling of his father, who was unknown to him. The girl smiled at him and pressed her hand against her chest.

Girl: “I’m Lena… Lena Vaquero.”

Jordi raised his eyebrows. Vaquero?! He wondered.

Jordi: “...Vaquero?”

Lena: “Yeah, I’m Lena! Estrella Vaquero was my mother—our mother.”

Jordi gaped at her.

Jordi: “...What?! N-No, Mom didn’t have other children…”

He shifted his eyes.

Jordi: “She had one when I was little, but that was a stillborn.”

He blurted and rubbed the back of his neck. Lena bowed her head.

Lena: “No, it wasn’t. Grandma said I was born prematurely and I needed medical help, so Grandfather forced Mommy to give me away.”

She twiddled her thumbs. Jordi panted. He went over to his car and leaned on the hood, panting rapidly.

Lena approached Jordi and placed her hands on her brother’s shoulders.

Lena: “Are you okay, Jordi?”

She asked softly. Jordi shut his eyes and shook his head.

Jordi: “So you were never a stillborn? Grandpa made Mom give you away?! WHY?!”

She drew back and embraced herself.

Lena: “Grandma said it was because they couldn’t afford it.”

She murmured.

Jordi: “Grandma?!”

Lena nodded.

Lena: “Yeah, she found me in the group home when I was eleven. She gave me your picture in my locket.”

She clasped her locket. Jordi panted, and his bottom lip trembled.

Jordi: “That was when she walked out on Grandpa and me.”

He muttered.

Jordi: “So you were with Grandma?”

She nodded.

Jordi: “For how long?”

Lena: “Since I was eleven. For my eighteenth birthday, I wanted to come be with you.”

She smiled. Jordi nodded and cupped his mouth.

Jordi: “So she found you and never came back with you or told me?”

His bottom lip trembled. Lena put his hands on his arm.

Lena: “She wanted to, Jordi, but she didn’t want Grandpa to know!”

Jordi: “So why now?”

Lena: “Because I am now an adult and I want to be with my family!”

She cried. Jordi smiled a bit and nodded.

Lena put her arms around Jordi and hugged him. Jordi’s eyes widened, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

~

Jordi carried her luggage into his house. He knelt and unzipped his boots, taking them off to reveal his black sheer socks. Lena removed her sandals and looked around the house at the various pictures of Jordi through the years, her mother, and her grandparents.

Jordi: “Can I get you anything?”

He asked her.

Lena: “No, but where will I sleep?”

Jordi: “I guess you will be sleeping in Mom’s old bedroom. I’ll get it fixed up for you later.”

He smiled a bit.

Jordi cleared his throat.

Jordi: “Where is Grandma?”

Lena fumbled with her locket.

Lena: “She isn’t here.”

Jordi: “Where is she?”

Lena: “I don’t know, but she said she didn’t want to be around Grandpa.”

Jordi bowed his head. Yeah, I can see why, he thought.

Jordi: “I wish she had brought you to us when she found you.”

Lena bowed her head.

Lena: “Me too, but she didn’t want me around him.”

Jordi: “But what about me?”

He asked sharply.

Lena: “I don’t know why she didn’t take you, but she left to find me.”

Jordi looked away and grimaced, clenching his fist. I wish she had brought you here; I always hated it when my grandparents made decisions for me, he thought.

She followed Jordi to his bedroom, looked around at the various items on his dresser and in his closet, and marveled at his fish.

Lena: “Do you have a job?”

Jordi nodded.

Jordi: “Yes, I work as special ops for Dr. Minerva Marzilli.”

He forced a smile. She smiled at him.

Lena: “I always knew my brother would be so brave.”

Jordi bowed. Yeah, brave could be fitting to face Minerva’s bullshit as well as Vasilos’, he thought.

She rushed over to his synthesizer.

Lena: “You play music?!”

She asked excitedly. Jordi smiled widely and nodded.

Jordi: “Yes, I do! I’d play something for you now, but I don’t want to wake Grandpa.”

She smiled a bit. Jordi looked away. I actually don’t want to face that old bastard, he thought.

Lena clasped her hands, and her byzantine eyes lit up.

Lena: “Jordi, who will make you breakfast tomorrow?!”

Jordi raised his eyes to her.

Jordi: “I usually grab something on the way to work. Henrietta makes breakfast for Grandpa.”

Lena pouted.

Lena: “I want to make you breakfast! I always wanted to make my big brother breakfast.”

She said enthusiastically. Jordi beamed.

Jordi: “Is that so?”

She nodded.

Lena: “Do you have work tomorrow?”

She folded her arms behind her back and swayed her hips. Jordi rubbed the back of his neck.

Jordi: “No, I have tomorrow off.”

Lena pounded the palm of her hand.

Lena: “Great! I will make you breakfast, and could you take me out shopping to get some stuff?”

Jordi raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Jordi: “Yes, of course! I’d love that!”

Lena smiled widely and wrapped her arms around Jordi, kissing his cheek.

Lena: “Thanks, Jordi, I can’t wait to spend more time with my big brother!”

Jordi smiled and hugged her back.

Jordi: “Yes, likewise.”

I just wish it were much sooner, and Grandpa has a lot of explaining to do, he thought.

~

A taxi pulled up at the Donati residence at exactly midnight. The cab driver stepped out and opened the door. Samson, in his stroller, stepped out with Ivy pushing it. Ivy wore a black dress with lacy shoulders and angel sleeves, and black criss-cross sandals. The cab driver carried several of her suitcases to the door, following Ivy. She rang the doorbell and waited. Blair answered the door, dressed in a kitty onesie and beard, carrying a tub of ice cream with a spoon.

Blair: “What do you want?!”

He huffed. Ivy clicked her tongue.

Ivy: “You let me in and allow me access to my bedroom.”

Blair rolled his eyes.

Blair: “No, we’re done, Ivy! I’m done with love! You want Tristan, and I want Ashley!”

He stomped his feet. Ivy flipped her hair.

Ivy: “No shit, you simpleton.”

She shoved her way in with Samson, and the cab driver plopped her suitcases down.

Ivy: “Charge it to their bill.”

She said to the cab driver. He nodded and tipped his hat.

Blair: “Uhhhh…”

He left the house.

Blair turned to Ivy.

Ivy: “Blair, let’s enter a pretend relationship. We don’t want each other, but if we’re together, it looks good for the public eye, and who knows? Ashley might get jealous.”

She sat down and used her nail file.

Blair: “I don’t want to be with you!”

He snapped. Ivy glared at him.

Ivy: “The feeling is mutual.”

Blair: “Then why are you here?!”

Ivy scoffed.

Ivy: “You blackmailed Ashley. You told her Lazaros put you in a coma, and if she didn’t comply, you would tell the police and they would execute Lazaros.”

She examined her nails. Blair turned ashen.

Ivy: “That extortion and that is illegal. I worked for Tristan briefly. I should know.”

Blair sank to the ground.

Ivy: “If you don’t want your extortion getting out, then enter this make-believe relationship with me and give me anything I want!”

She smirked.

Ivy rose.

Ivy: “Shave your face. I may not like you, but I don’t want you looking like some bum. For the love of God, comb your hair. Don’t eat from the ice cream tub. That’s disgusting.”

She rose and flipped her hair.

Ivy: “And I’d better have a masseuse here tomorrow at nine o’clock sharp.”

Blair’s bottom lip trembled. Ivy unstrapped Samson from his stroller.

Ivy: “See to it my luggage is unpacked. Have a good night, Blair.”

She smirked and strolled past him. Blair curled up and cried into his ice cream tub.