Tempus Fugit {Who Killed Markiplier}

~Out On the Town~

After a week of sitting at home and doing absolutely nothing, I started feeling trapped. I hated being alone with my thoughts. It was pure torture. Celine and Mark were on vacation, the Colonel was who knows where, and now.. I no longer had work.. Or moreover Damien.. To turn to. I was just.. Stuck. Painfully, heartbreakingly stuck.
 
~*~*~
   
Finally one day the Colonel showed up for on of his intimate visits with Celine. "Hello hello Iris!" he boomed as I opened the front door. I smiled. It was good to have a bit of positivity at last. "Good morning Colonel." I replied, closing the door as he strode towards the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of Coke from my fridge. "Bully, that last expedition left me quite tuckered out. I'm so happy to be back home, not to mention, seeing Celine again. I have many stories to tell the both of you." he mused in a chipper tone, taking a swig from the glass bottle.
   
I frowned. "I guess Celine didn't tell you, she's on vacation with Mark. She said she'd be back next week." I said. His broad shoulders slumped. "Bully. I was really looking forward to seeing her." He finished off his soda and set the empty bottle on the counter. "Well I won't waste your time. I'll be seeing you next week!" he said, giving me a smile.
   
He started walking towards the door, but on a slightly selfish impulse, I grabbed his arm. "Colonel, wait." I said. He turned back around, his eyes confused behind his spherical glasses. I stepped back, removing my hand from his arm. "Actually, can I take you up on that offer you made back in July? About going out on the town? I want to get my mind off some things, and being alone doesn't help much." I said sheepishly. He frowned. "Are you alright?" he asked. I chewed on my lip. "Not exactly. I'm not hurt physically, but.. Something happened a few weeks ago that I wish hadn't."
   
He opened his mouth to speak but I quickly stopped him. "We can talk about it later. Let's just.. Go somewhere. I don't care where, let's just go." He nodded in agreement and understanding. "Let's get something to eat, then maybe we can try going to the cinema?" he suggested. A faint smile traced my lips. "That sounds amazing."

~*~*~
   
I got dressed in a blue short sleeve blouse and high waisted black slacks, than followed the Colonel out to his car. We chit-chatted on the way to a small Italian restaurant, a favorite of mine when I was younger. He told me he had gone to Asia for a month, for a bit of hunting and studying.
   
"I found Thailand quite fascinating," he explained, "the people, the fauna and flora, everything. I'd love to go again sometime."
   
"You know Celine wants to travel as well?"
"She mentioned so, yes."
   
"You should take her on one of your expeditions sometime! I'm sure she'd love to accompany you."
   
"I would absolutely love to, but unfortunately I would have to take mister Rich Bitch along as well."
   
I gave him a look and he sighed. "Sorry."
"You've got to give him a chance Colonel. You have to keep yourself composed."
   
"I know, it's just so hard to see him with Celine."

I snorted. "Trust me, I understand."

He chuckled. "Still into our dear Mister Mayor aye?"

I winced. "I um.. Can we talk about something else?" My friend gave me a concerned look, but shrugged. "Alright.. Did you hear George Cukor released a film adaptation of the old play My Fair Lady yesterday?"
   
"I didn't!"

"I've heard it's excellent. Want to go see that after lunch?"

"Yes! I'd absolutely love to!"

"Bully! It'll be great."

~*~*~

We say down at a table out on the patio. I almost instinctively ordered wine, but stopped, remembering the week prior. The Colonel expressed his concern when he noticed that I didn't order my usual. "Iris are you ever going to tell me what's the matter?" I shook my head.

"Later." I replied shortly. He sighed, but nodded.

"Hey Colonel?"

"Hm?"

"What about my sister drew you to her?"

He instinctively smiled. "Well you should know, shouldn't you? The two of you have spent all of your lives together after all! She's so unbelievably kind and wonderful, not to mention, she's the most beautiful woman I ever met. I've always admired that she knows exactly what she wants and that she won't let anyone stand in the way of getting whatever that thing may be. She's amazing in every way I can think of. I'd do anything for her."

I hid my growing smile. "You know, I never pegged you as a romantic. Suppose I was wrong than, hm?"

He laughed heartily. "Oh Iris, I'm full of surprises."

~*~*~

Lunch came and went. Though the Colonel protested, I paid for our meal, then we drove to the downtown cinema. He parked the car, but before I could get out, he stopped me. "Before we go in, will you please tell me what's going on? Why are you upset?" he asked. I sighed. "Damien and I were at a party last week. We both got drunk, and he told me he loved me. Then one thing led to another and.. I think you can guess what happened. But the morning after, he told me everything was just the booze talking. His confession, the kiss, the.." I paused and cleared my throat, "he said he regretted everything. I got mad and so did he, and we haven't even talked since."

The Colonel's expression was sorrowful and sympathetic. "That's why you avoided talking about him at lunch." he realized. I nodded. "I don't know what to do. I think I still love him, and yet I can't forgive him.

The eccentric though a moment. "You should talk to him. Explain how hurt you are. He'll understand, trust me."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I dunno.. He didn't seem very remorseful when I told him so last week. Plus I haven't even come into work out of fear of seeing him."

"He was probably still caught in the heat of the moment. You know he's got a short temper, and now he's had his time to think, as have you. Maybe you'll both be a bit less hotheaded."
I smirked. "I hope so."

"I'll go with you to the office after the movie if you want." he offered. "I would really appreciate that, if you wouldn't mind." He grinned. "Of course not! Now, let's go enjoy that movie, shall we?"

~*~*~

After the film ended, the Colonel drove us to city hall. I gave Abe a quick smile as we passed him on the stairs, but kept going towards my old hall. I paused in front of my old office. "Wait here." I instructed the Colonel. He gave me a fake salute and a goofy grin. I chuckled, then went two doors down to Damien's office. I raised my hand to knock, but jolted to a halt. My heart felt still. I stormed away from the door with hot, angry tears in my eyes. I kept going past a confused Colonel, who swiftly followed behind me. I barely heard him calling my name over the raging ringing in my ears.
How was I so stupid! Of course this would happen! I should have expected this. For what I had seen, was Damien and Mari, locked in a passionate, all too familiar embrace.

a/n: :, ) i would say i'm sorry for that ending but ehhhh no i'm not ;) i'll have another chapter out soon! be prepared! these next few chapters could quite possibly the classified as the boston tea party with the amount of tea that gets spilt ;))))

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