The Unique Lee's Writeblr

"So, it's a horror movie?" Ellie asked as she held the bowl under the popcorn popper.

Lil just nodded before turning on the blender, crushing the ice and margarita mix inside. Ellie assumed they had done that on purpose, trying to avoid further questioning. Unfortunately, they did this to her regularly. Asking for Ellie to come over and watch movies while everyone else is out and about or too busy and then suddenly showing a terrifying movie.

Ellie could handle horror movies; she occasionally enjoyed them, but only if she had time to prepare herself beforehand. Suddenly being tripped up with a horror movie is not, has not, and never will be her idea of a fun time. Lil knew this, and that's why they were currently pulsing the blender instead of letting it go because they wanted to escape's Ellie's wrath a little longer.

Ellie glared at them before realizing the popcorn popper had stopped, freeing her hands. She all but slammed the bowl next to Lil, making them jump before pressing the button on the blender. The two of them stood there with the loud grinding noise filling the space before Ellie pressed the off button, effectively trapping Lil in a hug.

"Why am I just now hearing it's a horror movie?" She asked them.

Lil shrugged in response. Ellie clenched her jaw and sucked her teeth before moving away. There was no sense in arguing or being upset now. What's done is done, and she was going to be watching a horror movie with the person who didn't show fear like everyone else. Great. It was all going to be dandy.

The two settled with their snacks and drinks on the couch, and Lil pressed play. Ellie just hoped that it wasn't too frightening.

Ladybug Girlfriends

Maya opened Lillen's door and stepped inside, head grateful for the almost complete darkness. She had developed a headache a few hours ago, and the medicine wasn't working to relieve it. She hoped to get Lil to walk on her back or get a massage from Ellie, but she guessed they had already fallen asleep.

She slowly walked down the hall towards the tv light and sound, expecting to hear some snoring, but instead, she saw the two of them huddled in a corner of Lillen's couch, cuddling under a blanket and staring at the tv.

She heard a chainsaw begin to rev, and a woman screamed, so Maya guessed they were watching some slasher film, Lil's least favorite horror films, and Ellie's most nightmare-inducing genre.

Maya stepped back, not letting them see her, and decided to have a bit of fun with them. She quietly walked into the kitchen and waited until the chainsaw stopped before pulling out her phone. She waited until the woman was done screaming before making a quick blocked call to Ellie's cellphone.

Maya stifled her laughter as the two shrieked. Well, as Ellie shrieked and Lil squeaked, the closet to a scream they would make. Maya hung up the call before Ellie could answer and listened to the chaos she had created.

"They hung up." She heard Ellie say before the chainsaw started again, and the two went back to watching the movie.

Maya stayed there a while and composed herself before noticing a text from Sheb, saying she would be there shortly. Maya told her to enter as loudly as possible as they were watching a movie and wouldn't hear her otherwise. A common request on such nights so Sheb would play the perfect part in Maya's plan.

As long as she didn't get caught in the 15 minutes it took for Sheb to leave from the office to arrive at Lil's house.

She prepped her phone to make another call and listened to the movie, waiting for the perfect time. Much like the last time, the two shrieked in fear at the ringing, and Maya quickly hung up after hearing it ring a few times. She didn't need them catching on so quick.

"So they just hung up again?" Lil asked, pausing the movie now.

"Yeah. It's a blocked number which is annoying."

"And creepy. You don't have a stalker, do you?"

"No way. Not with Maya and Sheb around. There was a creepy guy on the train once, and Maya beat him so bad the conductor thought she was at fault."

"I remember that. Sheb was super proud."

"Of course she was. I was, too, kind of. Don't ever tell her, though."

"When do I tell anyone anything?"

The two laughed at their joke, and Maya almost felt bad listening in on the moment. Lil and Ellie's friendship was a strange one, but it was very important to the two of them. The time they spent together was for them. None of the other four ever really bothered them when they were hanging out. Here she was playing the creep, but she was also running out of time.

Maya guessed the time frame again; Sheb would be there in a moment which meant she had to work fast. She grabbed a stress ball from her purse, a gag gift from Melvin that was actually useful (Maya would never say such, especially to him), and her earbuds. She plugged in the cord and stuck the buds between her thighs before making the last call.

Instead of spooking the two as the calls had earlier, Ellie answered it furious, tired of the prank caller. Maya kept her lips shut tight, trying not to snicker, trying not to give herself away.

She waited a moment, wondering what Ellie would do now that she was done chewing the "prank caller" out, and upon hearing it was nothing, Maya threw the ball at one of Lillen's kitchen cabinets.

Their screams of terror had her neck hurt from the way she was holding her smile. She was biting back every bit of laughter that she could, with all the willpower in her body. Because she, unlike them, could hear the door opening.

Sheb ran past her, shoes still on and holding her purse up, forgetting about the pepper spray, taser, and baton she always carried inside, terrified for what could be happening.

Maya couldn't see what Sheb looked like, standing posed inside the hallway with the light on her back, but she could imagine it. And from Ellie and Lillen's resulting screams, she knew her imagination wasn't far off.

Their screams and shouts brought peels of silent laughter running through Maya, almost choking her. She laid down on the floor, her stomach muscles screaming at her as she listened to them. She continued laughing as they got the light on and listened to Ellie tell Sheb what was happening. She laughed more as Sheb turned into the kitchen and saw her sprawled out on the floor, still silently laughing.

"You fucking bitch."

"I can't believe I'm letting you two talk me into this," Ellie said, smoothing the skirt of her dress once more.

"Stop worrying," Maya told her, checking her hair and makeup in the mirror next to the waiting area. "We're just having a nice dinner at a nice restaurant."

"Yes, one celebrities come to Maya!" Ellie whispered as harshly as she could. She knew she was out of place, she felt out of place, and no amount of comforting from her date partners would help her relax.

"Calm, Eloise," Sheb told her, giving a comforting half hug. "You will be fine. We won't let you make a fool of yourself, and if you somehow do, I'll just make a bigger fool of myself. I've done it before."

"She has."

"You still mad at me about that?"

Maya turned gave a look before turning her head to look at the hostess.

"I'm sorry, we're reservation only."

Sheb let go of Ellie's waist and stood in front of Maya as the other woman took a step back and turned away from the hostess. Ellie watched as Maya took a big breath in, waiting to see if it would be let go, but Maya stayed tense. It was as if the air in her lungs weighted itself to keep her rooted in her spot.

"Table for three under the name "Lovely". I spoke with Jorge to arrange it. I hope he's doing well on his vacation. It feels like he was talking about it every time we came here. It's been months of him talking excitedly about it, so I do hope he's enjoying himself."

Ellie quickly hid the bubbling laughter behind her fingers, trying to hold it in. There were only a few things Sugar hated above all else, and talking down to her, as if she didn't have a right to be somewhere, was an easy way to get her angry. And when Sugar got angry, she got passive-aggressive in a way that made it seem as though she was training for the Olympics. It was legendary and awe-inspiring. Ellie couldn't begin to understand how she managed it.

"Of course, Miss. I'm sure he's enjoying himself just fine."

"Well, that's good. Will you be showing us to our table then, or do we need to wait for another hostess?"

Ellie couldn't help but giggle that time while Maya gave a very unladylike snort in response. Some of the other guests giggled with them. Maya turned in time to see the hostess give a particularly unfriendly smile before moving from her podium, a few menus in hand.

She gestured for them to follow, and Sheb did so with a smile on her face, more than content in dealing with this woman. Maya gave a huff before retaking Ellie's arm and following behind. It was clear that the other two had no intention of allowing someone to ruin their evening. Still, the unpleasantness of their hostess was already starting to wear Ellie down. She already felt out of place; the last thing she needed was a snob looking down on her.

Being seated was a much quieter affair. The waiter, Pierre, who was already at the table, greeted Sheb and Maya with a kiss on the cheek before seating them. As the three caught up with each other in small talk, Ellie found herself relaxing more and more. Hearing Pierre say "Sheb" and not "Sugar" made her feel safe. She understood that this was a friend.

They ordered their food, getting a few things Pierre recommended, and enjoyed each other's company. As they talked and laughed and enjoyed themselves, Ellie found herself relaxing more and more. Her awkwardness fading away as she laughed at whatever ridiculous story popped out of Sheb's mouth or the absolutely scathing commentary from Maya.

The date was going far better than she could have imagined. Or the bottle of wine she was sharing with Maya was keeping her more relaxed than she realized it. Everything continued smoothly as the wine, desserts, and conversation continued to flow easily.

Ellie gave the history of the canelés she was eating while Maya took her hand and sipped at her glass of wine. Sugar told her stories of the office and their work. Occasionally leaning over and giving Maya kisses in thanks for being able to handle the travesty that was Sugar Honey Bee Lovely.

They laughed, and they joked, and most importantly, they enjoyed. It was marvelous and just what the three of them needed. It was perfect. And so, of course, it was interrupted.

"Excuse me."

Sugar paused in her story to look at the woman, dressed in a gorgeous black dress and expensive jewels with a sour look on her face. Ellie knew that look. She saw it often enough when working at the cafe. Maya knew the look as well and was already thinking of ways to verbally rip the woman to shreds.

"I wish to inform you all that you're disturbing the other guests. You're being very loud."

Loud. Ellie understood the tone in the woman's voice. It's the way she heard her cousins be talked about as a child. The tone people used when speaking about her lovers when they were demanding respect in their field. It was a tone and a word the set them so on edge it almost brought Maya to her feet. Sugar's hand on Maya's leg was the only thing keeping her from bouncing up and pouncing on the unsuspecting woman.

Ellie wondered if the woman knew how close to losing those jewels she was.

Sugar waited a moment, a ploy and a tactic to make the other woman feel uncomfortable or to rile her up more, and took a sip of her sparkling lemon water. An impossible slow sip. If there was one thing Sugar Lovely knew how to do, it was how to annoy people in the worst of ways.

She finally turned back to the woman and plastered a lazy smile on her face, free of care and completely unbothered by this woman. "Then leave."

The woman was quiet, shock steady on her face before the outrage hit her. Ellie could only snicker behind her hand. It most certainly wasn't the response she was expecting Sugar to have.

"How dare-"

"Is there an issue here?" Pierre asked as he smoothly came up next to the woman. "Would you like a chair brought to the table to join them?"

"I'm not joining them! I've done your job and asked them to quiet down."

Pierre's eyes went cold behind his polite smile. "Well then, madam, as you've done my job once, I'm sure you can manage to do it again and find your way back to your own table."

"How dare you speak to me in such a manner? Do you know who I am?"

"No, madam, I am not aware. Please inform me as we walk back to your table, where I'm sure you'll stay for the rest of your evening here and not pester any other guests. I'm sure the owner of this fine establishment would take offense to you harassing some of his favorite guests."

They stood there for a moment before the woman turned around and went, hopefully back to her table, and the three of them burst out laughing. Loudly! As loud as they could, before they started their sweet habit, each raising the other's hand to her lips and giving it a kiss before they returned to their meal.

"Thanks again for helping close, Ellie. I really appreciate it."

"No problem boss. It's the least I can do since I'm off for a week."

"The least!? Girl, if you don't start using your time off you're gonna have a year of it saved."

"It's not that bad."

"Not yet!" He laughed as he finished locking the last of the doors. "But it will be soon. Now, you get your butt on home and enjoy the time off with those girlfriends of yours. And make sure to give Maya all of my love."

Once Maya had learned how much Dequan had helped Ellie out over the years she started doing the man's taxes for him every year. Along with creating business strategies, budgets for marketing, and reorganizing his entire payroll system plus more. After all of that Maya had stolen his heart, not that Ellie could blame him. Maya was damned good at her job.

Ellie waved him goodbye before starting the trek home, excited to have a whole week off. While it wasn't as bad as Dequan made it out to be, it had been a while since she took so much time off. The last time had most likely been when one of them was sick. She was looking forward to it. 

She daydreamed about their little vacation as she was walking home. Going over the list of boring stuff before focusing on the fun things. She knew it was going to begin with her cooking the chicken she had taken out that morning. 

Maybe she would make fried rice with it. Or have it with some pasta. There was still a bag of frozen broccoli, maybe they still had a jar of alfredo sauce. She was not in the mood to make it from scratch tonight. Or maybe-

She was brought out of her thoughts by a car horn honking behind her. She turned around, afraid, but relaxed when she saw Maya's ravishing red pulling up next to her. 

"Hey cutie," Maya called, through the window. "Need a ride?"

Ellie giggled, deciding to play along by twirling a piece of her hair while also twisting in place.

"I don't know if my girlfriends would like that very much."

"Aww come on now, what they don't know won't hurt 'em."

Ellie fell into a fit of giggles as she reached for the car handle and easily slid inside. 

"You're ridiculous," she told Maya before giving the other woman a kiss. 

"And you love me for it."

"I thought it was because you save me from having to take the subway."

Maya laughed sardonically before pulling back into the lane and the two driving off. The ride was quiet, the light sound of Maya's music playing along, a low hush, barely above the rush of traffic. 

Maya hating having the music on too loud when driving, another difference between her and Sugar-who believed in only loud and bombastic bass playing as she drove down the streets. Ellie didn't mind listening to either as they drove around. Since she didn't drive she felt she had no real right to tell them what to do with their cars.

There were no other cars in sight as Maya pulled into the building's parking garage and let Ellie get out first. Maya always did so, even though Ellie never went upstairs without her. Sheb would though. Sugar Honey-Bee Lovely didn't believe in standing around waiting on people if she didn't have to, but Ellie thought it was nice to go up with someone. 

She stood there to wait for Maya when she saw the nice elderly couple from down the hall bring down a bunch of luggage. She quickly offered to help them. 

As they all walked the 5 feet to their car, the couple informed Ellie that they were going to visit the grandson who lived out in the country for a few days. Ellie told them about her own vacation plans. 

Ellie liked the couple, if only because they were cute and kind. When the three had first moved in together many of their neighbors had tried to get them kicked out but the Masons had told them to ignore everyone else. All that mattered was that the three of them were happy. 

Afterward, Ellie and Mrs. Mason traded recipes all the time and took time each week to visit each and other and trade some more. The woman made a mean peach cobbler that can only come from being raised in the south. 

Maya joined Ellie and the couple in standing around and making small talk. When Mr. Mason noticed the time he urged the girls to go on with their day so he and the Missus could hit the road. Mrs. Mason promised to bring back the homemade cinnamon raisin bread recipe from her grandson's wife. 

Ellie and Maya waved goodbye to the couple before getting on the elevator and hitting the button to head on up. Maya casually grabbed Ellie's hand and held it the whole way up and down the hallway to their condo. It was sweet and rare that Maya showed affection in such a way so Ellie reveled in it the whole walk home. 

"Sugar! We're home!" She yelled as they slipped off their shoes and Ellie hung up her bag. 

Maya tossed her keys onto the hook without looking. It was an absolutely stunning display of skill that left Ellie shocked and feeling a bit flushed. Maya enjoyed showing off the particular skill of hers, tossing something and watching it land where it should, astounding everyone who saw. Sheb hated it.

"I'm in the bedroom!" Sheb yelled out to them.

"Our's or your's," Maya said mostly to herself, not truly asking.

"I heard that!" Sheb yelled back. " And it's not funny!"

"I'm a comedian so I don't know what you mean," Maya told her as they stepped into the room. 

Sugar was packing one of her suitcases, it was already filled with clothes, the bright pastels she allowed herself to wear on weekends when she was away from the office catching Ellie's attention. Ellie also noticed the some of Maya's bright red shirts were also packed inside and a few of her own pale pink shirts. 

"Sugar?" Ellie asked, too concerned and curious.

"Mm? Yes, Love?"

"Why are you packing a suitcase?"

"Because flower of my heart, we're going away for our vacation."

"I thought we were staying home this time. Sheb! I didn't plan anything! There's food in our fridge- I took out chicken this morning!"

"Don't worry about it, Lil is coming over to take care of Princess so I'll let her know to cook it up and eat here. Just her." Sheb reassured, quickly remembering the last time Lil had watched their condo. "She knows what to do. And you are going to enjoy a nice relaxing week at a hotel, where all of your food is going to be cooked by someone else."

"Sugar! Maya!"

"Oh no, don't turn that cute voice on me. I'm agreeing with her on this." Maya said from the chair she was sat in, Princess already in her lap.

"I don't understand," Ellie said as Sheb moved her to sit down on the bed. 

"You took such good care of us last month while we were running ourselves ragged with the planning and the campaign and when you were already so overworked at the cafe, we just want to give you something back as well."

"It wasn't a-"

"Don't!" Maya scolded. "Don't you dare tell us that it wasn't a lot of work. You barely got any sleep at all last month, less than we did because you got up and fixed us breakfast and lunch and came home from your busy day and made us dinner and Ellie-"

"Eloise." Sheb started again, taking Ellie's hands in her own. "We love you and we care for you so much that we want to give you something back for all the good you've done for us. Let us give you this. If you really hate being in the hotel and being waited on then we can cancel it early and come back home. But I want you to try and enjoy it. Please."

Ellie's resolved wobbled at that, it was rare that Sugar begged or said "please". She was convinced it was too much on her pride, and Sugar Lovely was nothing if not prideful. 

Ellie frowned before sighing, defeat in the sound. She simply nodded her head and allowed Sheb and Maya their joy at winning. It wasn't as if Ellie was losing anything really. She was going to what was sure to be a 4-star or more hotel with her lovers, who would pamper and spoil her all week long while eating delectable food and probably enjoying a spa. 

"Hey, Ellie?" Lil called out as they were walking into their kitchen.

"Hi, Lil, what's up?" Ellie asked as she put another bowl into the dishwasher.

"Wondering if I can help you."

Ellie looked out at the others sitting around Lil's living room table, yelling at the board game.

"Had enough of that?" She asked pointing to the chaos.

Lil didn't even bother nodding, they just continued to stare at Ellie who eventually smiled in return.

"Well, you can help me decorate because that's the last thing to do at this point."

"I'm not good at cake decorating."

"You don't need to be with the yule log actually. Wash your hands real quick and then you can help."

Lil quickly did as they were told and then stood next to Ellie, grateful to be in the room with the person closest to them in height. They for once didn't have to look up when she was talking.

"Ok, so the cake and the ganache are both cool enough to work with now, so you just need to slap it on top and then use this offset spatula to spread it around, ok."

Lil took the spatula, once again amazed that such a thing existed, and then did as Ellie said. Ellie smiled at them before going to the refrigerator and grabbing the tupperware bowl of meringue mushrooms she had made earlier in the day. She set it down on the island next to Lil before grabbing the small bowl she used for melting chocolate.

The melted mixed chocolate would be amazing with the decadence of the meringue. The milk chocolate would add a touch of sweetness to compliment the high percentage dark chocolate pieces, keeping it all from being overly sweet. Something everyone but Lil would notice.

"What are these?" Lil asked holding a white meringue cap in their fingers.

"Meringue mushroom. Or they will be once I put them together anyway."

"Both?"

"Yep, I made normal meringue and chocolate meringue for it. I like the look of both together, makes them look more like mushroom clusters to me."

Lil didn't say anything and instead just stood, waiting for Ellie to give them more instruction. She handed a fork over before pulling her melted chocolate from the microwave and sitting across from Lil at the island.

"Ok, now you just take the fork and make a bunch of lines thru the frosting. Then we have bark on the log."

Lil made an affirmative noise before doing as they were told. Ellie quickly worked thru the meringue mushrooms, attaching the stems to caps with a bit of the chocolate and setting them aside. Soon the two were done and then they went about adding the mushrooms to various spots on the log.

"This looks good," Lil said when they were done.

"It does. Now we just add a few cherries and raspberries and then a bit of powdered sugar on top and it's finished. It will probably need to cool in the fridge for a bit before-"

"FUCK YOUR MONOPOLY!"

Ellie and Lil turned to look at Melvin beginning his tirade, Maya sitting there looking smug. Why anyone went with her idea to play Bankrupt or Billionaire, no one knew but Melvin sure was suffering from the sounds of it.

"Well, let's finish decorating before Maya's fat head knocks your condo down 3 floors."

"I hear the ground floor units have cheaper rent anyway." Lil joked in response.

Ellie snickered at the remark before starting to pour some powdered sugar into the sugar shaker. Lil grabbed the container of bright red fruit from the fridge and handed it over. Working together they easily decorated the cake, Lil placed cherries underneath some of the mushroom clusters while Ellie had placed a few raspberries along the bottom.

Ellie then showed Lil how to put the powdered sugar on top with a shaker. They told her that their parents had always used the mesh strainer to do this part and was a little amazed at the shaker. Lil was constantly surprised at the gadgets that existed to help around the kitchen.

Altogether the yule log looked amazing and Lil salivated at the thought of getting a slice.

"NO FUCKING WAY!"

"THAT'S WHAT YOU GET, YOU FUCKING WHORE!"

"Say it again you little bitch! I'll knock you so hard you might get smart."

"You wanna go?"

"KNOCK! It off you two!" Sheb yelled and then lowered her voice. Most likely trying to get their attention without causing any more noise, for all the good it did her.

Ellie shook her head before turning back to Lil who was doing much the same. They shared a laugh before putting the cake in the freezer to chill for a while.

"Now we do the cleanup and by the time we're done it should be set."

"Cool."

The two listened to the incessant yelling of the others, Melvin and Maya ranting at each other, Sheb yelling at them to calm down and Delphon yelling at Melvin for trying to jump over the table. The normal sounds of family board game night when Maya was allowed to pick the game.

If the games didn't end with Lil winning with skill, or Delphon winning out of luck, then Maya won out of a slow and agonizing torture spree that drove the others to dramatic deaths.

It didn't take long for Lil and Ellie to clean up everything as they worked together. Ellie rinsed the bowls out, giving the melted chocolate one a quick scrub, before stacking them into the dishwasher. While Lil cleaned off the island and wiped the countertops down before getting out the plates and silverware.

"Game up!" Lil called, from the safety of the kitchen still. They hoped the others would at least put the board game away. Maybe they would all have to eat their cake around the pieces and possibly bloodshed if Melvin got out of Delphon's grip.

Ellie set the knife on the counter and told Lil to come back in for it after they set the plates down. She would bring in the cake after she took pictures of it for her social media. She quickly snapped a few, listening to Lil kick the game off the table so they could put the plates down, before grabbing the tray. Lil passed her as they came back into the kitchen, careful not to bump into the tray she was holding.

Sheb was in the games cabinet, most likely putting the game up while Delphon was sitting on the couch, looking far more exhausted than Ellie had ever seen before. Maya and Melvin were standing, arguing about who the real winner was in light of the game ending early.

"I was the winner, you wannabe punk, get over it," Maya said, giving him a push.

Melvin gave a push back, not seeing Delphon's legs were right behind Maya and Ellie knew what would happen before she could stop it. She twisted somewhat, hoping the cake would survive but as Maya fell back on top of her, Delphon reaching out to catch her and Melvin staring in shock, she knew the yule log was done for.

The two hit the floor with a thud and the cake hit the carpet with a splat.

"Oh my god, are you two ok?" Melvin asked as Delphon moved to pull Maya up.

"Yeah, I'm ok." She told them, letting Delphon manhandle her over to the sofa. "Ellie, you ok?"

When Ellie didn't answer Delphon quickly knelt down and looked to see if she was ok, constantly calling her name. Ellie laid there on Lil's plush carpet just staring at the remains of her hard work. The last 4 and a half hours of her life sat in a mess all along the carpet.

"Oh shit," Melvin said when he noticed.

"Come on Ellie, let's get you up," Delphon said, all but picking her up like a parent does a sleeping child, before setting her down on the couch near Maya.

"Well, that's bad," Sheb said, a bit of worry in her voice.

"You're telling me," Melvin grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "I hate cleaning Lil's carpet."

"I meant Lil, actually," Sheb whispered fearfully.

Everyone but Ellie turned to look at the kitchen's archway and saw Lil standing there, the large cake knife in their hand.

"Oh fuck."

"Lillen, let's put the knife back down," Del said, slowly approaching them. Hoping to convince them with his words or stop them from using it in the worst-case scenario.

Maya stood and walked behind him, trying to apologize while also using Del as a shield between her and Lil. She told them that she would go out right now and buy whatever dessert Lil wanted, as an apology and a replacement. Hearing those words made Ellie see red.

How dare Maya think she could just replace 4 hours of work! How dare she think any other dessert would be comparable to her fantastic if not damn near perfect brandy yule log! How dare she think she could just replace the fucking meringue mushrooms!

Before she could stop herself, Ellie grabbed one of the large and decorative throw pillows and hit Maya in the head as hard as she could, sending the other woman falling to the couch with a shout. Before Maya could say anything Ellie was beating her with the pillow, repeatedly hitting her and hitting her and hitting her. Maya all the while yelling at her to stop.

"That fucking hurts!"

"Well, it should! I spent 4 hours on that cake Maya Thornridge! 4 hours!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I used good brandy in that cake damnit! And now it's sitting on the fucking floor!"

Ellie ignored Maya's pleas and instead heard Melvin chuckling behind her. She swiftly swung around and hit him in the face as well, sending him tumbling back into a chair with a thud and an oof. He quickly raised his arms to protect himself from her onslaught of pillow pummeling, not even bothering to try and apologize.

"Don't you dare fucking laugh at her Melvin Craig! You're the one who pushed her! I don't care if she pushed you first! You pushed her on top of me and we lost 4 hours of fucking work and the good brandy I put in there and the good chocolate I used for the ganache and I bought real actual cherries to go on top and you! pushed! her!"

She punctuated her last words with particularly hard swings before running out of steam. Her arms hung low as she panted, her chest and shoulders heaving with each breath she took before she simply let the pillow go. It dropped atop the plates and silverware forgotten on the table, making a loud clacking noise as they bumped each other around. Ellie fell back onto the couch, the fight completely out of her.

Everyone looked at her in silence, amazed that so much anger had come from her when before they had barely heard her yell at someone, let alone pummel them with a pillow.

"This place is gorgeous, Sugar." Ellie gasped as she looked around the gallery. Sugar couldn't deny it as she and Maya stared in awe as well.

"How the hell did your cousin get art into somewhere this bougie?"

"Maya!"

"Nah, it's a fair question."

"Sheb!"

Ellie huffed at them before walking off, intent on finding Lillen and congratulating them, but before Ellie could locate them, she found one of their pieces. She instantly knew that it was Lillen's because she knew the subject matter intimately. On the wall was a painting of her and her lovers embraced together, dead drunk and sleeping on Lillen's floor.

Ellie didn't remember the when, if it was even a particular when, but the sight of her bare legs laying over top of Maya's with Sugar's arms wrapped around her middle was something that happened far too often when they drank over at Lillen's.

She saw the mismatched way their hair lay as if it was posed. Gazed at the way the street lamps glow shined over them. She noticed Maya's favorite purse thrown haphazardly on the couch. Sheb's coat underneath their heads. Ellie's own shoes in the corner of the canvas. She saw the care Lil had put into each stroke of their brush.

"Thought you'd like this one most."

Ellie turned instantly to look at Lillen who stood there in their pure white suit with a matching coat and a black tie. Their hair was braided and tied back for the first time Ellie had ever known them but there was still a sucker in their mouth.

"You... you painted us?"

"Painted everyone. You three just came out good enough to be shown in this display."

"Everyone?"

"Mel and Del. One of my parents as angels. Did some of everyone separate. One of Sheb and the She-Devil in the workshop, that type of stuff."

Ellie's mouth hung open as she looked from Lil to the painting and back again and again. As if she couldn't believe such a thing was truly happening.

"Don't worry, none of my paintings are being bought, so no weirdo is gonna end up with yall in their living room."

I speak and I speak and I speak. The words just won't stop flowing from my mouth, but she doesn't seem to mind at all as she lays atop the water. The lake still beneath her body, as if she isn't there. Her hair flowing around her, long strands, so thick and gorgeous, soaked from the water and yet somehow looking weightless still.

I blush as I notice her eyes, black pools with the twinkle of the stars inside, staring at me so intently. She always watches, always stares, as if my words can mean anything, can be anything but ridiculous babble.

But her eyes always further the scene of serene calm that the tilt of her smile hints at, a way of telling me she is listening. A way to say that the way I speak matters to her. This time is no different.

That feeling of her eyes watching me and only me is a feeling that stops my breathing, that hammers my heart. It's a feeling I can not handle for too long.

"I've spoke too long, please tell me-" My words catch in my throat as her finger brushes against my face, trailing from one cheek over the bridge of my nose to the other. There was no way more effective in silencing me, not even if she had stolen my voice away. A motion of her finger moved the mightiest of oceans, and I am just as compelled.

Her touch is soft and gentle, stroking my face, my throat, my arm. Reminding me that she is right there, right in front of me, that she can touch me, and if I attempted, I could touch her too. But my hands stay still as I lean my head into her hand instead. Why should I touch such beauty when it can touch me instead?

She floats from the water, the night chill drifting off her body as she closes in on mine, and I can not find it in myself to care about such a trivial thing. Who cares about a bit of cold seeping into my bones and freezing them solid when she's there kissing me so sweetly. Soft and consuming, as if her lips can't bear to part from mine.

But part they do, and as always, a pang of sadness fills me, a hallowing feeling, as though I will never be whole again, at least, not till she reaches for me once more. She's smiling as she looks at me, her eyes twinkling with her amusement. What was she amused by, I easily wonder. Was it my babble? The way my knees collapsed under her touch? The way my body trembled in awe of her grace?

The palms of her hands caress my cheeks, her fingers curl under my jawline, the chill from her body freezing my throat. As if it was clutched in her grip, tight but gentle. Or maybe it's my heart pounding against my insides that's locking me up.

"I enjoy your words, my love. I wish to hear them continue to drip from your tongue, to see how they overflow from your mouth in the reckless need to speak them to me. I wish to hear the tales you'll bring to me each night we meet. The webs they'll spin with the silk you speak."

She brushes her lips against my cheek traveling over the bridge of my nose to the other. The ghost of her chill shifts off her and into me. It soaks into my bones once more, her presence making itself known, as if my body ever forgets her freezing touch.

One is not made to touch such Celestial Beings, and as her lips lightly press against mine, I am reminded why. Enlightenment. Wisdom. Peace. The calm of a simple spring breeze brushing over me as she steps back.

I was not created to learn her secrets, and yet she shares them with me anyway.

"Do you know, my love?" She speaks to me as if my brain has started working again already, but it must, because I refuse to ignore her words.

"I know very little in this world, Lady Moon."

Her laugh is like stardust, dancing across my face.

"That is not true, but I will allow you to speak such this night. I will tell you now, nothing you do makes me feel so loved as when you intently focus on telling me a story. Pausing to rehearse it in your mind once more so that you may tell it perfectly to me. Taking the time of your night to sit and speak to me.

With those gestures, you show how much you love me. You show how much care and thought you put into every word that you speak to me. It tells me how much you yearn for me, my love, and nothing is more special to me than that."

"Oh, my Lady. If my yearning is enough, then you shall have it until the end of my days, for you deserve it and so much more. But is there truly nothing more I can give you?"

"Well," she says, a mischievous turn of her lips as she moves to whisper in my ear. "I do have some ideas for other ways you can show your love."

She was taking a drink when she heard the noise, a simple sound, a rattling. Some else would just think it's an animal, something in the garbage outside maybe, she knows better.

She clicks her tongue before tossing her long dark brown hair over her shoulder, regretting that she had freed the mess from its braid earlier. She raises her glass and gulps down the juice before chucking the glass against the wall, shattering it completely.

Her body moves quickly, pulling her gun from its holster that was draped across her chair and faces the intruder. Standing there, slowly coming out of the shadows of the hallway is Nick Fury, staring her down with one eye.

He raises an eyebrow at her before motioning towards the gun.

She clicks her tongue again.

"You're needed with us at S.H.I.E.L.D." He tells her, sitting down at the table, a glass of juice in front of him, and the carton in front of her.

"Why should I, Fury?" she asks him

"Because it's the right thing to do."

She laughs at him, cold and dead, but a laugh nonetheless.

"'The right thing' huh? You've gotten funny in old age Fury."

She's riding a motorcycle, sans helmet, down a highway road. She moves past trees, still bright and green. As she moves past the background changes, the trees are orange and the leaves are flying around her. The background changes again, she's driving through a desert. Once more the background changes, she's driving past snow-covered hills.

She's standing now, pointing a gun at someone, frowning most likely at their words. She pulls the trigger. Once. Twice. Again and again and again. She's going to do it again but she turns, just her head as her gun stays pointed at the person. She shoots the person, their blood splattering over her before she opens her mouth, her eyes are lifeless.

"Hey Cap," she says, bitter and resigned all at once.

"He wouldn't want you doing this." Captain America says, eyes sad as he looks at her.

"No, he wouldn't." The grief is clear in her voice.

"Look, Fury, I don't give a fuck what you want from me. S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't find him and neither can I but I sure as hell ain't stopping."

She's killing, the gun firing, the bullets falling, the blood spraying. She's not sad, she's not resigned, she's not lifeless. She's wild. She's unstoppable. She's angry.

"Those monsters have had him for almost 10 years now." She yells, her fist slamming down on the table, teeth ground together, eyes wet with tears at the thoughts racing through her mind.

A body, floating, trapped, in a tube chamber, wires coming out from them, a breathing mask over their face.

"Who knows what the hell they've done to him." She's ignoring the tears down her face, letting the anger, the rage is what drives her instead.

"Look here little girl," someone speaks, an agent or an avenger, she doesn't know, she doesn't care. the anger takes over.

She's in a conference room with the avengers, Fury, and Hill. She's up, pointing a gun at him before Hill or Widow can point at her.

"I can kill everyone in this room before they get three bullets into me and you know it, Nick. My father never wanted this life for me. But you, you and your fucking organization COULDN'T FIND HIM!"

A shot of a little girl standing in front of a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent holding a piece of paper. the agent is patting her on the back trying to comfort her. She runs outside and hides. she stares at the paper wiping at her tears.

"My mother died before I could ever know her because you couldn't keep her safe. My dad gave me to S.H.I.E.L.D. hoping I would be happy and safe but HOW THE FUCK am I supposed to be happy when my dad has been missing for almost my entire life?"

A different room, a workshop, a mechanic's room. Tools are thrown around everywhere, vials of a red liquid are behind glass casings. There is an Ant-man and a Wasp suit on display, behind a thick wall of glass.

A woman with a dark smudge across her face while dressed in overalls and gloves comes to greet them, her wrench still in her hand.

"Hi, I'm Cassandra Lang, Stinger."

Cassandra Lang is dressed in the Stinger outfit, her wings slightly smaller than Wasp's and the yellow of her outfit slightly brighter, shrinking and de-shrinking quickly. Knocking appoints out while using a repertoire of gadgets to incapacitate them or to tie them up.

She's shrinking to go fit inside of machines, disarming them before the enemy knows what's happening. She is very clearly Ant-man and the Wasp's apprentice.

A figure flying past skyscrapers, a dark suit, and the backlight keeping their identity in the shadows. But the people of New York know that form, know the way he jumps and dives and flips. Knows the way if they yell for him he will help. Knows that he stands on top of the roofs, keeping them all safe.

Spider-Man in his signature black and red suit, looking up at the night sky, his fists clenched at his sides.

"The first Spider-Man-" He starts, the light of the conference room he's in is being swallowed up by his suit. There is no fading it's coloring.

"He died, years ago." Cassie interrupts, trying to spare the man any more grief but not understanding.

"They never, never, found his body. It's out there somewhere, in who knows' whose hands."

Spider-man is standing atop the statue the people had made, had called it art, and demanded it never be taken down. It's Spider-man but not the one who stands before New York. The statue is of the one who stood there all those years ago. The one who saved them before anyone else thought too. The friendly neighborhood kid who they heard and watched grow up.

The one they now all grieved over. Spider-man was a part of New York and the people watched as his successor grieved with them. Cassandra Lang couldn't begin to understand, the loss of a hero, the grief that comes from loving them, that never goes away. Not truly.

A tube chamber, light glowing purple around the body, the wires, and mask hiding any features they could be made. The body does not move, it's just suspended there, held up by the wires and tubing. The glow fades and so does the body.

"You think you would give up by now Fury. Been trying to get me to stop for how long now?"

"Eleanor" Maria Hill starts, lowering her gun, eyes filled with sympathy. An emotion Ellie didn't know the woman still possessed. "We have a lead."

Ellie's face crumples into anguish.

The purple glow is back once more, surrounding the tube chamber in its light. The wires and tubes are wrapped around the body, it's impossible to make out any features. Their mouth is opened, bubbles are swirling into the liquid surrounding them. They must be screaming.

Ellie and Cassie are shaking hands, Spider-man hanging above them, the entire room of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents surrounding them, waiting. Treating the two women as if they were caged lions about to fight each other.

"Eleanor Camacho, Monster," Ellie tells her, amused at the agents surrounding them.

"Like Little Monster!?"

"Trying to drop the "little" bit."

"Oh man, I get you," Spider-man says to them. "Took forever for people to stop calling me Spider-kid."

Spider-man, Ellie, and Cassie are inside of Cassie's workshop. Cassie was packing pieces up, cases, and cabinets of the lab shrinking all around them. She was easily sliding them in various cases or clipping them to keychains.

"I've never really worked with a team before," Ellie told them as they all stepped outside.

"That's ok," Cassie tells her, tossing a shrunken van in front of them. "I don't think we're really a team. At least not yet anyway."

She presses a button and the car changes to its full size.

"Man-" Spider-man starts. " No matter how many times I see it, that it's still so freakin' cool."

Spider-man is chilling on top of the van, bopping his head to the music as Cassie drives, following behind Ellie's motorcycle. Cassie grips the steering wheel tighter, frowning as she looks at the red glow of taillights.

Fury is handing her what seems to be a flash drive and is glaring down at it and in some way her.

"Remember what I said." He tells her. "Eleanor Camacho is in no world stable. She is to be considered a high-level threat. You are to keep her under control."

Ellie is driving ahead of the van, her sunglasses on, and her long braid whipping around in the wind. She tightens her grip on the handlebars as she makes the turns, her face stone as she thinks on the mission.

"I'm coming, dad." She thinks, taking the next turn with pure recklessness. "I'm gonna find you. I don't care that everyone says it's impossible. I'm Deadpool's kid, impossible is in the blood.

There's a man dressed in a long white lab coat, his glasses reflecting the purple glow, his wine glass glowing the same purple as the chamber. He smiles and takes a sip before looking back at the chamber. The glow begins to fade, the shadows devouring everything in sight.

"Suits! It just had to be suits!"

Eloise Nacamara looked down at the invitation in her hands and swore lowly under her breath. She was cursing the very existence of a suit night. She hated suits!

Maya and Sugar would have no problem wearing one. They'd both looked amazing!

Sheb would dress in her dark blue-almost-purple colored one, violets in the front pockets. Hell, she'd probably get a few braided into her hair as well. She would look amazing in a traditional suit, tailored to fit her perfectly.

Maya would wear red, gorgeous as it was on her. A plain black woman's pantsuit would never fit her. No, she was already planning to get some clothing tape and an under bodice to have her favorite plunging neckline. Maya hated the attention but she would be damned if she wasn't going to show off her body in the hopes of making people buy more of Sugar's products.

They would look gorgeous and Ellie. Well she would look pretty, Maya didn't allow for less when it came to them on the red carpet, or any carpet really. But she would be uncomfortable the whole damn night and that would show on her face and then there would be pictures!

She groaned as she flopped back onto the bed, praying silently that some higher being of mercy strike her down where she lay.

The idea of wearing a suit brought her back to middle school and high school. The dances. Church events. Her mother demanding she wears one, the look of her father with a pair of scissors. Her steadily telling them she didn't want it cut.

Her sisters defending her. Being made fun of when she didn't have a date. Being called -

No, she wasn't thinking of that. She was safe now. That time was well behind her and she didn't and wasn't going back. At least not anytime that wasn't with her therapist.

No, she wasn't thinking about that. She was going to continue thinking about what she was going to do with this suit situation.

She could be honest with the other two, telling them she just didn't want to wear one and therefore she didn't want to go. She could just, suck it up and wear the damn suit. She wasn't a child under her mother's thumb anymore. It didn't have to be a scary experience. She could just run away for a week and apologize to Sugar and Maya when she got back?

She groaned again and kicked her feet against the bed, anger, and frustration taking hold of her. Soon Princess, Maya's small black puffball of a cat, jumped up on the bed and nuzzled into Ellie's side.

"Oh Princess, what am I going to do?" She whispered petting the small thing. "I have to figure something out. I know Sugar said she'll handle my clothing but I don't want to wear a suit of any kind. Women's fitted or traditional fitted."

"Well isn't it a good thing you're not wearing a suit then?"

Ellie jumped up, scaring Princess into screeching and saw Sugar was standing in the doorway with a cloth bag hanging over her shoulder.

"How long have you been there."

"A while." She answered, throwing the bag onto Maya's vanity chair. "Since you groaned the first time really."

"So the whole time?"

"Yeah. Pretty much." Sheb smirked as she watched Ellie start playing with a piece of the comfort in her embarrassment.

The two let the silence rest over them. Sheb with nothing to say and Ellie trying to work the courage to say what she wanted to.

"I really don't want to wear a suit, Sugar-Honey Bee." Ellie finally said, still twisting the thread of the comforter.

"I know."

"Then what are we gonna do? Am I just...am I not going? Which makes the most sense. I don't want to embarrass you in front of all those business people and the cameras and I know you said this party was important too and I just-"

"Eloise. It's fine. You're coming with me and Maya and you're going to look great and feel right."

"But-"

"No but's. I would never make you do something you didn't want to do so don't worry about it any more ok. Now, why don't we go and eat some of those lemon-cran cookies you made. I fucking love those things."

Ellie chewed her lower lip, debating if she wanted to say something else, but in the end, she decided to trust Sugar. Never once had Sheb hurt her in such a way and she knew in her heart she wouldn't be hurt now either.

"Ok." She said, picking up Princess and grabbing Sheb's arm as they went to the kitchen.

-1 week later-

Ellie ran her fingers over Maya's hair once more, the two making sure the other woman was as picture perfect as she wanted to be.

"You two worry too much," Sheb said as she adjusted her tie once more.

"And you don't worry nearly enough. Now shut up, breath mint up and get ready to escort us." Maya told her, closing her compact with a snap that left no room for argument.

Ellie chuckled at her girlfriend's antics and soon the limo pulled aside. She saw the lights from the venue, the lights from the cameras and she breathed in deeply.

"You two ready?" Sheb asked them.

Ellie nodded and Maya scoffed before scooting forward to get out. Sheb smiled Before getting out first and holding her hand out for Maya, who with every bit of elegance left the limo. Ellie waited until both of their hands were ready before grabbing at the skirt of her dress and pulling it away from her feet.