When they walked into breakfast, everyone looked. Maybe not at once, but at one time or another people were looking at them. Instead of toning it down even a little; Iris showed up in a low-cut green tank top and a floor-length paisley skirt, also predominantly green. Skirts weren't uncommon, hippie garb was. The kicker was how carefully she picked a shirt to show all of the previous nights damage. Lovebites, hickeys, and the mark that saved her from the gallows.
Pie had been somewhat against it, but the fact that she was so damn proud to walk out there with everything on full display swayed him.
Others weren't as appreciative of her boldness- a few showed partial approval, but the most shot glares in her direction. She ignored all of it, brushing it aside with uncharacteristic grace. She had bigger problems than the opinions of a bunch of immortal mosquitos.
One of those problems was seated next to her. His fondness in the bedroom didn't carry over to outside life, and he was cold. He hated himself for it a little bit, but it was what had to be done. Iris just smiled and seated herself at his side, her hand finding his leg under the table and resting unreasonably far above his knee. If he wanted to play... She could play. Unfortunately, this didn't bother Pie quite as much as it probably should have, and he simply ignored her. He was deeply engaged in conversation with someone across the table with him, while she sat with her legs crossed, listening quietly. The man he was speaking to seemed fond enough of her, and Iris smiled when he turned to her. "How do you feel about this? Returning to a Patriarchy, instead of a government system?" He asked. Pie opened his mouth so speak but Iris gave his leg a gentle squeeze under the table, and he took the hint. "I think it would depend. Humans are run by a government, and its terribly corrupt, but Patriarchies have the same predetermined failure. I think its more about who is leading than how they are leading" She said, and the man nodded. "Well enough. I have seen many a king, and a few queens. They had their flaws but they were at least a bit more competent and less money-hungry" He grumbled and Iris nodded before someone to her left started speaking to Pie, who stood. "Well, it seems I have business to attend to. Iris, please stay out of trouble" He said and she smiled. "Don't I always?" She asked, and the man chuckled. "You can't stay out of trouble if it follows you" He pointed out and Iris nodded. "See? He gets it!" She argued and Pie sighed, waving his hand passively before heading off.
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Iris was wandering around the back garden; still decked out in her long skirt. She was bored half to death, and nobody seemed too keen on talking to her. Not even the girls she previously fought with- Who knew killing a man would so effectively silence people, she though. Her cynical side slipping through for a moment. She wasn't very aware of her surroundings until she found herself under and oak tree, surrounded by Daisies. Three hours of wandering, and she was just now stumbling across this? Panic settled in her chest- it had started in her throat, just a little pang of guilt, but it consumed her so fast she barely had time to notice what was happening until it was too late.
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Pie opened the door to his chambers somewhat hesitantly, stepping inside to find Iris sitting on the floor against the bed, her knees drawn to her chest, sobbing. And suddenly it didn't matter how pissed he was, or what she had done. All that mattered was the look of absolute hurt written all over her, and he dropped his papers to kneel infront of her, taking her face in his hands to study her for a second. "What happened? Are you okay?" He asked and she shook her head, choking back another sob. "It hurts so bad, Pie" She mumbled, her voice hoarse and he closed his eyes for a second, regretting leaving her. "What hurts?" He asked, his hand moving from her face to her arm. She took a deep breath, composing herself for a moment. "I went in the garden, and- and in the back corner.." She trailed off, starting to cry again and Pie pulled her into him, kissing her face before burying his face in her hair. He didn't want her to see him cry, too. "I'm so sorry" He murmured, and she just cried silently into him.
It felt like they had been there for hours- holding each other, mourning. He knew she would snap- she did, too. It had been a week. When her mother died, it was almost two. She internalized things, the longer she was silent the bigger the blowback.
Once she had calmed a bit, and Pie had shed his own tears, he stood; lifting her with him and repositioning them both on the bed. She was barely awake, just managing to kick out of her skirt, the room dark. He left her to her side of the bed; tossing a blanket up around her shoulders before moving away from her to his side. They'd been close before, but not like that. They would have sex, and then separate. Iris was typically the one to prompt it; which is why Pie was speechless when she turned towards him, moving closer. "Oh no you don't" She whispered, managing to sound a bit playful. She tugged at his shirt a bit. "Take it off" She said, and he raised an eyebrow at her before doing so, chucking it across the room. She finally nodded, wrapping an arm around him and pressing herself entirely against his side. Pie was still. Iris was.. Territorial. Protective. Passionate. Hell of a partner. But she was never affectionate- as long as he could remember in the moment, she just wasn't. She loved hard, but it was only hard. Bianca was the sweet one, the soft touch. She may have died far too young but at least she left Iris with something, he decided, wrapping his arms around her and taking a deep breath.
It may have been a living nightmare. Not only for him, but for Iris- the girl who, despite her jaded harshness couldn't kill a housefly, managed to look a man in the eye and shoot him. For the people around him, even for Bianca, who was stolen from them so brutally. But they were safe, together, on that big canopy bed. At least in the moment, they had each other.
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This chapter is short, I know, but it is important for the next (longer!) chapter. Thank you!
