Dying to Breathe

6.5: all surety and no vulnerability

A/N: the fact that this entire scene makes me swoon is really telling of my sexuality. I just want to elope with this dude in Vegas and call it a night. I don't want children, but I will have this man's kid. Why isn't he real (and college-age or older in this specific instance)? ughhhhhhh 

Chapter 6, Part 5: All Surety & No Vulnerability 

The city was a maze. Even after walking and getting to know her surrounding area, the large city sprawled out beyond her little bubble. Around her were roads that made no sense and streets that had no end.

In other words: Penelope was lost.

Exhaling loudly, she stopped at the lights, checking her phone for the millionth time for the direction as she scowled at the loud, unrelenting traffic. Everyone was coming home from their 9-5, and she was going to be late to her interview with Coraline's boss. What a great first impression.

Staring down at the screen, she chuckled to herself. Both Coraline and Nina were blowing up her phone, unable to refrain from asking how it went every five seconds (she could barely even see the map under the steady influx of silent texts).

The intersection bustled around her as she pulled her sweater tighter—the September air really was beginning to turn crispy with October right on its horizon. She would have to go shopping soon. Maybe she would ask—

"Goddammit, King!"

Penelope spun around instinctually at the hurdling screech as her heart leaped dramatically in her chest.

Her eyes narrowed in on a young wiry man bent forward with his hands on his knees. He was out of breath, dripping wet, and splattered head-to-toe in blue and red paint. Looking behind him to where the voice had come from, he laughed excitedly, swearing in between gulps of air.

Penelope quickly looked away, waiting impatiently for the light to turn red. She was still not immune to all the vast, unique characters living in the city even after encountering so many strange and unnerving scenarios almost on the daily.

Her eyes drifted back towards the young man who was evidently shaken up. He was still catching his breath, now standing tall with his head back, facing the cloudy grey sky. Pushing his wet, messy, dark hair back with a hand, he revealed two partially healed black eyes, and a swollen bleeding cheek (she began to doubt whether the other red liquid along his body was paint, too).

He wore a pinstriped black and white matching blazer and pants set, rolled up in a casual manner like he was someone who regularly found himself in such strange, concerning situations. The black button up under the blazer was done up incorrectly, unevenly, and missing a button or two in between (revealing fair glistening skin and lean muscle).

As she stared, bewildered by how someone could possibly get into his physical state, he glanced over. His glowing blue, amphibious eyes caught hers as he unwrapped a purple spherical lollipop, popping it into his mouth before showing her a mischievously beaming, crooked smile—the stick hanging out of his mouth like a cigarette as if he were channeling James Dean.

She gave an intrigued but apprehensive smile back, her eyebrows furrowing together slightly as her stomach churned anxiously. City folk were interesting, but he seemed out of their league with that chilling smile and calculating, cold blue eyes.

Keeping that uncontained grin on his face, he stepped backwards until he was flush against a brick wall, "Want to see something fun, Lulu?"

Lulu? Penelope frowned in confusion at the nickname—was he mistaking her for someone else? She shook it off, watching him carefully. She hummed warily, deciding whether to interact with the strange creature or not.