Twisted Wires Shouldn't Spark ---* Rise!Donnie

Eight ---* Innocent Until Proven Guilty

You stalk into work in a foul mood. You'd been unable to call work today off much to your annoyance (Donnie and Leo had forced you to watch Jupiter Jim movies until you collapsed, not that you were complaining, but you were definitely exhausted).

You'd entirely forgotten what you were supposed to do today, so you came in with your zip-up hoodie on, wrinkled and unprofessional, and slammed the door. Glaring at Kendra. Her hair stood out viciously against the slab concrete walls.

Good god how had you not broken your ribs more frequently? The scars on your sides ache a bit, as though you're experiencing the dull numb pain from the adrenaline that had been in your bones.

"Who woke you up on the wrong side of the bed?"

You turn your gaze back to her, practically seething, shooting daggers with your eyes.

"What am I fighting, Kendra?"

She raises a brow.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're ungrateful." She crosses her arm over her chest, giving you the look of a disappointed mother. "Careful, Y/n. We can make you pay for that."

You sigh. Placing your hand on the strap of your bag and running between your thumb and pointer over the fabric. A nervous habit you'd picked up around Don.

"Sorry, just... having a rough day."

She scoffs, rolling her eyes.

"No testing. Today we're paying you for information."

Your heart jumps, you can't imagine telling Kendra about this. About him. It feels wrong. Especially after telling him what Tan said before she died yesterday...

Kendra notices your offputting look.

"You're really not going to tell us? After all we've done for you. You really think he cares? He's using you. He's trying to get to us through you." She uncrosses her arms and regains some sort of inhositlity. "He's manipulating you Y/n. He's our worst enemy. He doesn't actually trust you."

You shake your head, throwing the thought from your mind. But something still nags at you, clawing dully at the sides of your skull.

"No, of course not. I was just..." You rummage around for your notebook. "Looking... for my journal!" You say, grabbing the bound thing from within your purse.

She practically jumps for it, but you stuff it back into your bag, holding it there.

"You can't just have the journal. It's got my whole livelihood in there!"

She huffs frustratedly. Anger rolling off her.

"Really?!" she yells, her face contorting in rage, practically glowing red at your statement. "We're your livelihood Y/n! You think Tan would have taught you that!"

Everything goes quiet for a moment, before Kendra reaches out her hand. Your heart tha-thumping poorly against your chest as any hint of emotions escapes you.

"Journal. Now."

Your heart skips as you place the journal in her hand. Feeling as some sort of ache washes over you.

"We'll invoice you your payment." She says. Anger still rolling off of her.

"Will I get that back?" You ask softly. That wasn't necessarily your livelihood, but journaling was the only connection you really had left to Tan. You used to tag-team articles and information. It was like Kendra just ripped a piece of you out. You'd gone everywhere with that journal since she died.

Kendra gives you the world's most annoyed look. Before you nod. Trying not to shrink in on yourself but finding it increasingly hard not to do so. She had this air about her that made everyone in her vicinity.