I Got A Story Book Of My Own • Tank Dempsey

8

Love stood inside her bathroom looking at herself in the mirror, her light skin soft to her touch. She stared at her hair that had grown some lately, then running her fingers through it. Her hair was dangerous she thought, it was too long. Her hair went down to her shoulder blades. She ran the tip of her fingers through her hair, long and soft.

Her attention went down to her sink, nothing, then it went to the broken cabinet, inside she found a pair of silver scissors. It was perfect. She reached forward and grabbed them grasping them in between her fingers.

*Snip snip snip*

The sound she heard every time she cut through her hair

*snip snip snip*

More and more now, she kept cutting, it wasn't short enough.

*snip snip snip*

Setting the scissors down she looked at herself in the mirror again, her hair was now to her neck, just sitting on her shoulders. She won't be grabbed and dragged back by the zombies now, ponytails will be extra helpful to keep her from being grabbed and gutted.

It wasn't because she was starting to lose it or anything.

"Common now Love, why did you cut that beautiful hair of yours? You know I loved it long."

"Fuck off." She muttered holding her hands over her ears staring down at her feet

"Was it one of those guys who told you to cut that hair? You listened to them?"

"No. I am my own person" she muttered "no one can tell me what to do with my appearance except me. Leave me alone"

"Now Love, we both known damn well that's not true haha."

Being taunted she wanted to punch the mirror but it would be stupid to do so she stayed still "stay out of my head."

"I don't think I will"

The rest of the guys sat around the living room, Richtofen standing walking around the room with his Kronorium in hand. Nikolai sitting on the couch with Takeo sitting by him consoling him if he still felt heartache. Dempsey sitting on the large chair in the corner staring at the three.

"What now, Doc?" Dempsey says, he knew there was something next, never in 10 years was there a break from a mission, it's always dimension after dimension.

"I-"

"Richtofen, Nikolai and I discussed this in Russia, does Love have to kill herself as well?" Takeo spoke up for his friend, the whole room turned to the doctors way.

"I— I am afraid so." Richtofen nods

"But she wasn't apart of us when Tak and myself had to kill our selves, only when it was Nikolai's turn!" Dempsey stood from the chair walking over to the doctor, Richtofen rose an eyebrow at him.

"Dempsey, the Kronorium changed on us before...this isn't a surprise to me anymore." Richtofen sighed

"She's a strong girl." Takeo said standing up tall, he kelt his head down then back up  "she used Nikolai to kill her partner because she couldn't do it herself. She can kill herself with some heartache. It is normal."

"I agree." Dempsey said turning away walking back to the chair

"Any of you want tzo tell her?" Richtofen says

"She likes you and Dempsey the most. Flip a coin." Nikolaï said leaning back on the couch.

"Tell her in German doc." Dempsey said

"Ja ja ja, like she knows that much german yet. She's getting there, I will tell her zhen."

"Why are you guys still awake? You've been complaining about how tired you all were since coming back from that dimension." Love came to the living room joining the meeting, she watched all their heads turn to her then she seen their surprised faces looking at her. "What?"

"You cut your hair, Love?" Dempsey says

"Yeah" she shrugged "having long hair is dangerous. I always have it up anyways, why not cut most of it off?"

"It's nice" Takeo nods at her

"Thank you, Tak." She smiles and gave a quick nod.

"Frauline Hannah, ve needs tzo talk."

"Again herr Richtofen?"

"Again? Well alright." Richtofen looked over at Dempsey then he walked over to her. "Listen Frauline Hannah, Nikolai had to kill his self along as Takeo and Dempsey, I had to kill my past self too, just us alone we were supposed to go and see one of my old friends with all our souls, but since you joined our group... you need to kill yourself in another dimension. "Es tut mir Leid"

She looked up at Richtofen, she knew this wasn't impossible. With everything that had happened so far, there had to be more to come, but having to kill herself was inevitable. She turned her head looking at Dempsey, who slowly nodded at her, Takeo and Nikolai did the same but Nikolai looked down.

"Nice when do we start?" She asks looking back at Richtofen with a smile, it seemed it didn't phase her that she had to kill herself. Being sad about didn't cross her mind.

"Uhhh what?" Dempsey said in confusion, he expected her to be sad, they all did.

"When can I kill myself?"

"Don't ask it like that—" Nikolai said half disturbed with her comment

Richtofen couldn't help but chuckle "ahhh Frauline Hannah" he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pet her now short hair "ve love your macabred mind. Ve are the same, you have always been mein favorite."

"I thought I was your favorite?" Dempsey rose his eyebrow, Nikolai glared over at Dempsey then back at the Doctor

"You said I was your favorite-" Nikolai said then after, he and Dempsey just stared at each other for a second there

"Edward Richtofen is very indecisive for a Doctor." Takeo glared over at the Doctor, the Doctor was hugged back by the only girl in the group.

"I hate this group so much" Richtofen sighs shaking his head "anyvays, Frauline you want to continue learning german now?"

"Yes I do" she smiled walking with him to the kitchen. Takeo and Nikolai turned their heads to Dempsey, he seen their looks and rose his eyebrow.

"What now?" Dempsey said

"Love feels the same affection for you, Dempsey. I can feel it" Takeo said calmly "I wish you luck." He proceeded to walk outside alone. Nikolai put his hand on his friends shoulder

"You got her comrade, you just have to claim her eh?" He laughed giving his shoulder a pat "I wish you luck, my friend." He walked away.

Dempsey stared at the kitchen where he could hear her and Richtofen talk. He could hear her stuttering to say a German word then Richtofen correcting her and laughing after. Dempsey's feelings were stronger, since the night they sat on the balcony before the storm and shared a cigarette. Hearing she felt the same was a weight lifted from his shoulders.