Tattooed On You

XXXXIII: Pillow Talk

It's cold outside. Seemingly colder than when Hero and I waited in front of the front door earlier. When I breathe out, my breath looks like smoke, and for the first time, I'm actually wishing I was smoking something good because Jesus hell, what the fuck is wrong with the people in this house?

Hero warned me, sure, but for some reason, I didn't think I would witness the insanity tonight. I figured that during a first meeting -and a Birthday of the youngest child no less- they would keep it in check.

But now I see why Hero was so worried.

His dad is exactly like Hero said he is. Even the mere sight of him shows that his confidence is crushed badly and that the person who did that still has a huge space in his heart. But the person in question doesn't give two shits.

It shows too; his mum seems high-handed and likes to hear herself talk way too much. Without having any idea of the people and their feelings around her, she rambles, and she drags along the one person that seems quite fond of her still.

Toy boy, what on earth do I say about him? He seems young, between twenty-five and thirty if I had to make a wild guess. I know he checked me out when I walked in; I felt his eyes on me, and I know Hero noticed it too. It instantly made me wonder if he's with Hero's mom for other reasons than the right ones.

Just like Hero, Titan seems fed up with everything that happens in this house, and he looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here. His girlfriend clearly knows about all that has happened too, and therefore she just felt out of place.

Just like me really.

But at this moment, most of my sympathy goes to Mercy, and I never in a million years thought I would say that. I can't imagine what it's like to have this shit during your Birthday party. Nobody thought of her, everyone, including her two brothers that are in the same shitty position, was busy with anyone but her when she should be the center of attention on this day.

"Titan meant it when he said welcome to this hellhole," a voice behind me says, and without looking I know it's Mercy. Sure enough, she comes to stand next to me a moment later. "He meant the birdy part too."

Rolling my eyes, I take a deep breath as I look up. It's cloudy, there aren't a lot of stars, and since it's cold too, I think autumn is slowly making a place for winter. "Since Hero didn't introduce me as one of his birds, I'm letting it slip."

"You should," Mercy answers. "You really don't want to go in there right now. It's about to get violent, I think."

Not knowing how to respond to that, I just hum. "Okay."

And then there is silence. Awkward silence as we both seem to wait for the bomb to explode inside. I hear faint yelling, so I guess it's true what Mercy said.

"You want one?" Mercy offers me a cigarette, and although it seems like taking one would make this a hell of a lot less awkward, I decline.

"I don't smoke."

Chuckling, she puts one in between her lips before lighting it. She then closes her eyes and blows out the smoke, and I once again realize how much she looks like Hero. "Of course, you don't."

She is such a little brat and I can't stop myself from saying, "Okay, now that we're here, let me just ask you one thing. Why do you hate me so much?"

It sounds desperate as fuck, but for once, I don't really care. From the moment I first met Mercy, she has been a huge bitch to me while I did nothing wrong. She literally has no business hating me the way she does, and I want answers, goddamnit.