i'm everything you wanna be.

Lenny took a seat on a haybale, next to David. She felt nervous around him, knowing that she was going to be leaving in a couple of days. If she could just have this one night with him, bonding and laughing like they used to, then maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much when she walked away. She’d always have the memory of tonight whenever she missed him or felt lonely without him and the cult. 

“How’s it going, man? You enjoying yourself?” she asked, pulling a packet of Twizzlers out of her jacket pocket. “I won’t tell the others if you don’t.” With a teasing smile, she offered one to her best friend. She’d miss this -- miss sharing candy with the man who knew her better than anyone else did and having laughs with him. “Having a bonfire tonight feels so... Halloweeny. I dig it. Good call.” 

Resting a hand on David’s knee, she gave it a squeeze to get his full attention. “I love you, kid.”

Lenny was walking through the house, gathering up the things she’d left lying around. If she was going to make her escape during the next few days, she needed to have everything prepared to make a quick exit. As she walked through the seating area, she heard strange noises coming from Jervis. He looked distressed and sweaty. At first, she hadn’t taken a liking to him. But, after spending a couple of months with him, she didn’t mind him all that much anymore. 

“Hatter,” she said, crouching down and placing a hand on his shoulder. When he didn’t wake up, she shook him gently. “Jervis, you’re okay, man.” Her voice was soft, and it sounded like she actually cared. “We’re in the house, David’s protecting us.” She dropped her bag filled with things, kneeling down in front of the other while he came around. Lenny often had bad dreams herself about Farouk, so she knew how Jervis felt. “Everything’s cool, kid.” 

David dropped a head of lettuce into his bag, and decided he’d got enough for today. He’d found a few cans, a green throw, and a couple of vegetables. It was crazy, the stuff people threw away. Lenny was too delicate to do this with him, but he didn’t mind doing it by himself. It was nice, getting some space from the family. Having some time to himself. He looked at the dumpster one last time, and decided to call it a day. They’d worry if he stayed away too long.

He didn’t read Lenny’s mind – he didn’t wanna invade her privacy like that – but he sensed where she was, a few blocks from him. With his bag over his shoulder, he teleported, and stood right behind her. She’d insisted on taking the goat for a walk, like it was a pet dog or something, and he looked at it. Lenny was obsessed with building a farm out the back of the house, so they could their own vegetables, get milk from the goat, eggs from the chickens. It was a good idea – it meant they were more self-sustained – and he’d given her Bowie to help her out with it, but he didn’t like the goat. It gave him the creeps.

When Lenny spoke, David raised his hands in a parody of surrender, like she could do him any damage with the piece of metal. “Hey, hey. Cool it. It’s only me, Len,” he said with a smile. “I finished the garbage run. Wanted to see what you’re up to.” He looked at the goat again, and frowned. “I don’t know why you insist on walking that thing,” he said. “It’s not a dog.”

Lenny dropped her arm to her side when she heard David’s voice. “That habit you have of popping outta nowhere really puts me on edge, man.” She crouched down, grabbing a couple more pieces of scrap metal. Hopefully, her chicken coop would be finished in no time. The family would be so excited to eat fresh eggs -- well, those that weren’t entirely vegan would be. Betty and Beatrice would also enjoy all the space they were going to have, where they could safely strut around without fear of being eaten by wild animals.

“I’m just collecting some scraps. Figured they’d be useful for the yard. Wanna help me? Or is that beneath our God?” she asked, her tone playful. She didn’t mind doing it on her own. It was a welcome change from sitting around the house, bored out of her mind, watching the others get high on the blue stuff. Sometimes, she really missed huffing it. Being as high as the others meant that she didn’t have to watch them all cuddle and spread their free love. She’d be in such a daze that she often fell asleep with her head on Salmon’s lap, or ran around the yard proclaiming that she was the Breakfast Queen. 

It didn’t exactly feel like a breakfast. Not that breakfast time felt like anything, but there were so many things on the table that didn’t fit together. There was a box of cereal, a carton of milk, several bottles of something (alcohol maybe?), a flute, a hookah from where blue smoke curled into the air, and several decapitated dolls wearing napkins. She wasn’t alone, though. At the other end of the table there was a girl with a tangled nest of hair sitting with her feet up on the table, bare and black with dirt. She was carving something into a potato while mumbling incoherencies under her breath. Mhm. She brought another spoonful of cereal into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, her eyes glued on the girl’s feet the whole time. There was a smiley face tattooed on her big toe. Mhm. Laura set the spoon down, leaned back against the chair and looked down at herself. She was wearing one of David’s weird dresses. Mhm. Nothing fit. Not the table, not the girl, not the dress she was wearing, not Laura in the house. Her ears twitched. There was someone approaching from the back, their feet light against the carpeted floor. Under normal circumstances, her claws would have been out already. But she knew she didn’t need them. Everyone in the house was too disconnected from their brain to actually cause her any harm. “Morning.” She said simply, still looking at the girl’s feet. 

@breakfastsqueen 

After her morning shower, Lenny made her way to the dining room for breakfast. She was always expected to appear there by everyone in the house -- she was the Breakfast Queen, after all. As she entered the space filled with chairs and a table, she noticed that one of the women had her feet resting on it. Disgusting. That was where she ate, man. “Get your damn feet off the table, sicko,” she said, walking over to the girl and slapping her legs. Why did nobody have manners here? It was probably because they were never sober, which meant that they never knew what was going on around them half of the time. “Yeah, morning,” Lenny replied to whoever had spoken to her, then took a seat at the table. As she was reaching for her cornflakes and almond milk, she realised that she didn’t recognise the girl who had also chosen cereal for her breakfast. “Man, oh man. Daddy’s gettin’ real generous with these cult invites,” she said, smirking as she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “What’s your name, kid?” She didn’t look much older than some of their youngest members. “And how did you end up down the rabbit hole?” she asked, before shovelling a handful of dry cornflakes into her mouth. “David promise ya some religious experiences?”

Salmon’s grin grew wider when she noticed who it actually was and she let out a few ill-contained giggles as the other said she wanted a flower crown. She leaned in to her girlfriend’s kiss, her eyes fluttering closed. Trying to imagine them as one, so she couldn’t leave her again. God, she missed Lenny. Every minute of every day. She loved her, more than she loved anything before. Now their daughter was at the same level, maybe even a little more but she wouldn’t tell Lenny that. She smiled at her when she pulled away and then gave a little attention to their daughter. Watching the two of them fondly. 

“Hi!” She got out, “I wasn’t expecting you today. What a treat! I’m so happy to see you, Lenny… I’m always happy to see you.” She took the flowers from her girlfriend and grinned as she pulled them into the now finished crown. Slipping it onto Vi’s head.  “You’ve missed us? Oh, Baby. We’ve missed you.” 

Salmon was always so sweet to her -- so appreciative of their time spent together. Lenny had never met someone who wanted to be around her all the time, even David had to take breaks from her. It felt so heartwarmingly special to be so cared for and loved. Fuck, there was so much love between them. When they first met, Lenny had expected to sleep with Salmon and never speak to her again. She was going to treat her the way she’d treated all the women before her, but somehow, her beautiful, ray of sunshine girlfriend had wormed her way into her heart. She was just so... perfect for her. It sounded cliche, but she was her missing puzzle piece. The piece of her heart that had been missing for so many years. 

“The feeling’s mutual, my flower queen. I crept away from the others while they were distracted. I just wanna spend time with you, and Vi. I wanted to bring Dolly, but they woulda noticed.” When Salmon put the flower crown on Violet’s head, Lenny felt a little choked up. Their daughter really was the most precious little thing. She looked just like her mommy. “How did we make something so amazing?” she asked, obviously in awe. Salmon said they’d missed her too, and Lenny gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She wanted to be with them all the time, never missing anything that happened. But David wouldn’t let her -- he needed her. She rested her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder and sighed. “You know I’d never leave you if I had the choice, right, babe? You two are my whole world.”

She was kneeling down in the grass and dirt, plucking flowers from the bottom of their stems. Weaving them together in a swift and practiced fashion. Little Violet didn’t get a flower crown ceremony like she thought she would when she was born, so she’d have to do it herself. Her baby was wrapped up and in a little sling that hung off her shoulders in the front of her. Fast asleep, peaceful at last. 

She was nearly done the flower crown when a shadow over casted her. Salmon glanced upwards and blinked a few times, lost deep in the moment. It took her a moment to speak before she said in a soft, breathy voice. “Oh. I’m sorry, did you want one too?” 

Lenny smiled when she spotted Salmon, kneeling on the grass, looking as beautiful as ever. She’d managed to escape the cult for a couple of hours, and what better way to spend them than with her girlfriend, and their baby? She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. A year or so ago, she had nothing. And now? Now she had a family -- two amazing girls who completed her. Being with them made her the happiest she’d ever been, and she wished that she could spend every hour of every day holding them, kissing them, and loving them. 

“Shit, yeah. Of course I want one!” Lenny said, with a grin. She sat down next to Salmon, leaning in to give her a sweet kiss on the lips. “Hi, babe,” she whispered, then pressed a kiss to the top of Violet’s head. “How are my girls doing? You’re both lookin’ gorgeous today.” There was a grin on her face as she spoke, and she plucked a couple of flowers from the grass, handing them to Salmon. “I’ve missed the two of you.”

Daniel found himself looking around trying to take everything in, of course being in such a place didn’t fit him at all. Or at least he could hear Clark’s voice telling him so, even since he’d lost his memory, he never knew what was right or wrong, he enjoyed being dressed down in t-shirts and jeans but somehow whenever his family eyed him it seemed like the wrong thing to pick. “That’s what the person told me who yanked me into this house” He replied following after her without hesitation. “I don’t quite understand it, but they said he was some kind of healer I think” He replied before chuckling softly “that was a very big movement back in the 70s I think, I take it you haven’t quite adapted the hippie fashion?” He questioned before nodding his head, he was sure anyone of this level of somewhat brainwashing wouldn’t take on anyone could poke holes or talk back about whatever teaching that seemed to go on here. He found himself chuckling a bit “I promise to paint the white roses red and be a good lad so long as I can keep my head sweet queen” He smiled before sighing “I had…an accident a while back…I lost all of my long-term memory…I don’t know exactly why it was done but when I was rescued, I didn’t even know my own name” he replied running his hand through his hair before meeting her graze “I have a husband and son, who try every day to make me remember some sherd of our lives together……I just want to know if he can help…Make it better somehow…a” he rubbed his hand over his eyes. “fuck, he could even kill me if it made people stop looking at me with pity and sadness like I’m some broken thing in need of coddling” 

Lenny chuckled to herself, continuing to walk. “I guess you could call him that. His power comes from his mind.” She wondered just how many people knew about David, and the things he could do. Would there be queues out the door one day? God, she hoped not. Living with his huge ego was bad enough already, without it inflating even more. “Mm, I think the hippies were onto something with their flower crowns and flared jeans, but I prefer to keep my originality.” She turned to him, then nodded towards the door of her office. “C’mon in,” she said, unlocking it and stepping inside. “I’ll only take your head if the Magic Man tells me to,” she said, grinning wide. Killing people wasn’t really her thing since settling down with Salmon, but she’d still do it for David. “Oh,” she replied, after hearing the man’s story. She didn’t see why losing your memory was so bad, but he obviously had a good life before it happened, unlike her. “He’s not gonna kill you -- that’s not how he does things.” She sat down on the edge of her desk. “If people look at you with pity, tell ‘em to fuck off. They’ll soon stop.” Placing her cane on the desk, she looked at the stranger. “He might be able to help.”

Clark was headed home after picking up some supper for that night. He wondered if Daniel would like the same food as he used to, or if his memories had something to do with his choices when it came to that. In the end he decided not to risk it and just pick up his regular favourites. Surely his tastebuds would be the same. His trail of thought was interrupted when his caught a peculiar sight. Lenny Busker with a goat picking up scrap metal. His lips pilled into an irritated smile that didn’t at all reach his eyes. She was raving about the goat. David and her were truly a well deserved pair, weren’t they? He’d been hoping not to run into either of them at all. 

“Go right ahead. I’m paying for enough therapy as it is alright, what’s one more bill?” Clark said, clearly sarcastic. He knew she’d probably panic as soon as she realized it was him, if David hadn’t warned her already. She left with him in a hurry and likely remained at his side. He couldn’t imagine it was a coincidence that they were both in the same city, and he doubted that David would have allowed another betrayal. If she tried to leave him, she’d probably be stuck in another wall. 

Hearing Clark’s voice brought back a lot of unwanted memories for Lenny. What the hell was he doing in New York? Had he come because he’d heard about her and David? Maybe he wanted to catch them doing something bad -- something that would give him a reason to hurt them both, and split up their family. God, she was so cynical, but it couldn’t be helped when it came to people like Clark. He was the kind of man who could destroy anything he wanted, then ask questions later. “As it’s you, I’ll pick the most expensive treatment plan,” she said, clearly irked by his presence. 

Her shoulders tensed up, and she pulled on Gabby’s leash, making the goat move closer to her. She didn’t want Clark to try and take her, or come near them in general. Seeing him was bad news. “What’re you doing here? Come to arrest me for the fourteenth time?” she asked, trying to ground herself by running her fingers through Gabby’s fur. Lenny couldn’t let herself get caught up in an argument with him, she had to think about Salmon and baby Vi. She was putting the past behind her. “Look, I don’t want no trouble, man.”

Oswald found that launching a mass scale of cleaning up the aftermath from the Sentinal fight put him in a lot of people’s good graces. Much like in Gotham he had long since learned the way to information was playing roles. He was busy looking down at his tablet filled with scheduled information when he felt eyes on him. “If you are here to volunteer please see the people under the tent, please and thank you.” He replied not bothering to look up from his work.

Lenny spotted him while out for her morning walk to the store. She needed to get almond milk for her cereal. The rest of the cult drank Gabby’s milk, but no, not Lenny. It had a strange flavour -- one that she didn’t enjoy. “Volunteer? Nah, man. I clean up enough shit at home.” She took a couple of steps closer to him. “I was actually lookin’ at that fancy tablet you’re holding. It’s been a while since I’ve seen technology like that,” she said, with a shrug. David liked to live a minimalistic life, and who was she to argue with their fearless leader? She did miss the memes, though. And the weird conversations with women on Tinder. “However, I’d be happy to take some of the metal and whatnot off your hands,” she offered, grinning. 

“Okay…” Edward sot out in a breathy sigh, taking a moment to himself to relax. Irritation pouring in his mind. He was quickly reminded of the other children in school, the ones who’d stand up and make jokes while the teacher was trying to make a point or poke fun of him, why? Because they couldn’t stand being less intelligent? “Firstly, math is not ass. You’re just saying that because you don’t understand it.” He told her. “I would say go back to school but I doubt that they would even let you in. Secondly, it was a riddle. The answer isn’t in the math but rather the question itself. I asked you how many eggs a peacock could lay. But a Peacock can’t lay any eggs at all. It was a misdirect. Peacocks, like Puzzles here, are the male form of peafowl. Peahens lay the eggs.” 

Puzzles took a few cautious steps towards the woman, like he was inspecting her. Cocking his head in a curious manner. “I… must ask.” He said before pausing, “What exactly makes you the Breakfast Queen? Are you some kind of mascot for a cereal box?” 

Lenny arched an eyebrow at the stranger, a little taken aback by his abruptness. He wasn’t wrong about her not understanding math, but he didn’t have to point it out. Not everybody could go to school when they were young -- she had other responsibilities. “What the fuck, man?” she asked, jumping up from her seat. She didn’t like his attitude. He was insinuating that she was dumb. It was a sore subject for her, one she didn’t like to discuss. Ever since she was born, she was set up for failure. Her mother, her father, her grandmother. The alcohol, the drugs, the lack of care and love in her life. “You think you’re smarter than me, huh? I’d rather be a dumb bitch than a nerd.” The anger inside her was bubbling over, making her want to lash out. No, she had to be calm. This wasn’t the right way to handle things. Not if she wanted to be a good partner, and mother. “My peahen at home is the only reason I’m not putting you on your ass, dude. I’ve got an egg that’s about to hatch.” 

She looked down at the peacock -- his beady eyes were staring into her soul, she was sure of it. “Do I look like mascot material? I know I’m hot, but I ain’t exactly a role model for kids on a cereal box,” Lenny said, cracking her knuckles and rolling her shoulders back. “I like cornflakes,” she shrugged. “It’s a nickname from some old buds.”