"Just Come Home."

This is set during Jude's exile, so right after TWK)

"I'm fucked up, I'm black and blue."

Jude grunts at the song. Vivienne had dragged her out to the club, shoved a drink in her hand then disappeared into the crowd of sweaty body. 'You need to get out of the apartment. What's a better way to get over someone then getting under another?' she had murmured into her ear.

She's pissed. Cardan exiled her right after he married her. She's a queen, it's been months and nothing, no words from Cardan, no appearances from the court of shadows, not even her own twin sister.

"I'm built for it, all the abuse."

The drink Vivi had shoved in her hand was an odd shade of yellow and sugar around the rim. 'Its a lemon drop Jude, it won't kill you.' she had spoken, a sigh of annoyance leaving her lips. Jude cleared her throat before downing the drink, making a face after. It was good but the lemon was overpowering for a first drink. She licked her lips, now somewhat grateful for Heather's run down on drinks.

Waving over the bartender she forced a smile. "A blow job please." He nodded, eyes never straying to far from her as he slid the shot towards her, amused as she threw it back and then she bit her lip, thinking over the other shots and drinks Heather told her. "A pornstar shot, oh and some uh...fries? Please?" She inwardly cringed, not used to saying please. He chuckled softly and nodded. "Definitely eat if you don't want to get black out drunk." Jude shook her head. "I'd like that honestly." Brown eyes flick up to look at him. Should she sleep with the bartender? She licked her lips. He looked too much like Cardan. The thought shot a jolt of heartbreak in her chest, a familiar feeling of unadulterated rage following.

"I got secrets, that nobody, nobody, nobody knows."

"Y'know..." She glances down at his name badge. "...Kayden." Fuck even his named was similar. "Give me 6 shots of whiskey." He rose a brow, eyes traveling down to her ring and she shakes her head at his on coming question. Would it be considered cheating if I sleep with someone?' she thinks as he gets the shots ready. 'I bet his bed is never cold...' the fury builds up and she throws the shots back easily, coughing slightly. "Two shots of that gold shit." She points at the Gold Schläger, nothing was measuring up to the wine in Elfhame and she was angry. He hesitates, she had down too many drinks too fast.

"I believe she will be fine for now."

"I'm good on, that pussy shit."

Heavy hands land on her shoulders and her head spins. Even as drunk as she is currently, she knows that voice, it's haunted her for months, in her dreams, random whispers she swears she hears. Her hand goes to her thigh, automatically sobered up a bit as she tenses, gripping the dagger as she spins around, head foggy and she regrets is quickly.

It's exactly who she thought. Cardan is behind her, staring down the bartender. He twitched before going to help another person. "Why the fuck are you here Cardan? Leave. Now." His lips quirk into a wicked smirk and Jude can't help but feel a bit calmer at the familiar smirk but then it feels her anger again.

"I don't want, what I can get."

She grabs him by the collar, dragging him towards a hall way and pinning him against the wall, knife at his throat. "Jude, my sweet villain, my darling God." She presses the knife harder against his throat. "Tell me why I shouldn't slit your throat right here, right now."

He waves off her question. "That's not important, why have you not replied to any of my letters?" The pressure lightens for a moment. "What letters?" He frowns, the only emotion she's seen other then a smirk from him. "Asking you to come back..." He dared not to move. "Ending your exile...telling you that you're safe to return. And, my queen. You could have pardoned yourself." His lips twitch up. "Don't you remember? 'by the crown'? You are a queen Jude, you could've ended it right there."

"I want someone, with secrets."

Her eyes widen a bit. Cardan bested her at her own game, her own wit. "....what...?"

"That nobody, nobody, nobody knows."

"I did it to keep you safe...Orlaugh was not happy. Jude...did you...did you really kill Balekin?" She hesitated but stood straight. "I did. But only after he poisoned you." She took a step back from him, the tip of the dagger still pressed against the underside of his jaw, forcing his chin up. "Then you exiled me, before you even heard why." The urge to draw blood only increasing the more he stayed quiet. "Say something!" She snapped clenching her hands into fists.

"Come back with me." Laughter leaves her lips, unbelievable and almost maniac. "Go back with you?" Her hand didn't move from it's position. "Jude...Elfhame isn't-" she shakes her head, just in time for Bomb to show up. "Jude!" There's a flash of surprise. "k-King Cardan, the land is still dying."

Emotion swims in Cardan eyes. "The land needs it's queen Jude. Elfhame is dying, im-" he forcefully cuts himself off. "You?" She scoffs. "Are you saying it's my fault? Are you saying you're heartbroken so the land is feeling that." At Cardan's silence Jude can't help the hysterical laughter that leaves her once again. "Bullshit Cardan. You exiled me." He bites his lip. "Jude, my sweet monster, you know I cannot lie. As much as I'd like to sometimes. I did it for you..."

Her hand shakes, the dagger wavering and she bites her lip. "Jude. Come hate me at a nearer distance, break my heart if you must, just come home..." He reaches up, lowering her hand. "Jude-"