The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 15 [i don't want to want to know - | - dizelde]

Luke chuckled to himself and then took the seat beside me, putting on his sensory items. "A comedy. Hopefully we can turn a shit start to the day into something a little lighter."

He sighed and leant his head back against the chair as the opening credits began. He seemed tired. I looked to the wall clock and saw that it was just past seven am. I gaped at it for a few seconds. It was the latest I'd slept in for years. But why was Luke here, babysitting me, at seven in the morning? Surely he could have left Garth to it. I knew Larkin was out this morning. Last night, Fiachra had done nothing but moan about getting up early.

I flushed, thinking of last night. Larkin had subdued in Fiachra's presence but his friend was ten times worse. I don't think he even knew the meaning of personal space. I had tried to awkwardly talk my way out of the room and into the guest room close to fifty times. I'd been close to fighting my out when Larkin had grinned and relented, telling Fiachra to let me be. That, however, hadn't stopped his friend following me into my room and going through with his teasing threats to tuck me in. Thankfully, he'd left it at that. By that time I'd been itching to show him a few subtle, but painful, wrist locks.

I blinked as something flashed on the screen, seeming to literally envelop me, the sensors on my arms and legs squeezing. I relaxed in the chair and prepared to be engrossed in the movie.

** **

The movie was good enough that, when it came to the end, I was surprised at how into it I'd been. I turned to Luke, who had started out laughing at most of the jokes, but gotten quieter in the second half. His gloves were off and he was snoozing lightly, his mouth wide open. I held back the laughter that built up, letting out only a soft snort.

"Fuck, Lark, you do realise that my room is directly above the lounge?! You could've at least waited until midday..."

I turned to see Garth standing in the doorway, scratching his head, his hair flat on one side and sticking out on the other. He was wearing a white singlet and... briefs. I averted my eyes.

"Ugh, that'd be right. Luke turns the fucking movie up full blast and then falls asleep as if it's white noise. YOU could've turned it down though, Dizelde." He sighed loudly. "Oi! Dizelde!"

I looked him in the eyes to show I was listening. He seemed to be expecting something. I swallowed, kept my vision above his shoulders, and tried to speak without stammering. "Erm, I didn't know you were sleeping. And Luke was holding the remote. I couldn't have just taken it from him. That would've been rude."

He scowled. "Pah. Learn from this. If it's before 12, I am in bed. Let me have my sleep and we'll get along fine. Hungry?" Without being able to help myself, I watched his hand move down as he uncaringly pulled out a wedgie.

"Er..." Living with guys was starting to seem like a constant uncomfortable awkwardness. "Sure. I'll just take this stuff off and come into the kitchen..." Hopefully he'll put some pants on before I get there.

I took my time taking off the gloves and boots and struggled to get out of the chair, the pillows trying to keep me sucked in. Once I'd made it into the hallway, I could smell bacon and eggs wafting from the kitchen and hear the sound of them sizzling. I opened the door and saw Garth standing in front of the stove. I also saw his firm ass encased in grey briefs. Pants! They were called pants! I whimpered inwardly. Both Garth and Larkin seemed to have zero self-consciousness. Good for them. Bad for me.

"Grab a couple of plates out." He pointed to a cupboard with his spatula. "Oh, and pour a couple of glasses of juice from the fridge. Cups are in the same cupboard."

"Yes sir." I didn't bother to mute my grumblings.

Garth turned back to face me, grinning menacingly. "Ah! Again with that attitude. You do realise that the fates of your eggs are in my hands?"

A smile came to my face before I could stop it, or hide it. His grin became triumphant and he turned back to the stove.

"Hurry up, Diz! Plates, glasses, juice! Hya!"

I, reluctantly, did as I was told. I was sitting down at the table when Luke dragged himself into the room.

"Aaah, Garth, fuckin' life saver. I'm so goddamn hungry right now." He pulled out a chair and collapsed onto it, instantly dropping his head down to the edge of the table.

Garth brought the pan over and dropped the hot food onto the two plates I'd taken out. "Make your own. Fat chance I'm gonna do anything for you after you took away three hours of my sleep."

Luke lifted his head an inch. "Wah?"

"The movie, Luke. It was so damn loud I couldn't hear myself curse the world when I woke up."

"Aw, come on. You were the one that installed the bloody roof speaker. You have to feed me! No one can cook eggs as good as you." Luke tried for a cute smile.

"Ugh, fine. But only if you organise a meal from your cook here tonight."

Luke waved his hand, agreeing flippantly. As Garth went back to the stove, Luke called out, "Also, could you brew me some coffee? I'd kill for a coffee."

Garth's glare could burn holes through steel. I'd have been wary... if he hadn't been standing there in his underwear.

** **

"So, since both of you guys are here, now's probably a good time to tell you what happened last night." Luke pushed his empty plate to the middle of the table and tilted his chair back so that it was leaning on two legs.

Garth raised his eyebrows. "What happened? I was wondering why you were sleeping here. When I came in, Larkin was drooling on the table, his eyes half open."

I slowly moved my elbows off the table and put them in my lap.

"I..." Luke hesitated. "I got a hot date."

Garth expression changed instantly into one of disgust. "Oh, dude. You didn't do it in Lark's room, did you? You know he'll kill you if you did."

Luke rubbed his hand over his face, chuckling quietly. "Nah, I'm not an idiot. You know, I'll save that kind of thing for our date." He winked at me as if we were sharing a joke. I felt like rolling my eyes.

Garth leaned forward, suddenly serious. "But that's not what you were going to say."

Luke blinked in surprise and then smirked. "You're a good reader, Garth. Yeah, something happened at the end of the night..." He glanced at me, like he was unsure I should be here.

I took a deep breath. "Something to do with me, right? Someone slip out of the shadows and hold a knife to your neck? Threaten you to throw me out? Or did you hear someone asking around for me? Just say it, Luke." I blew out my cheeks. "I don't want to be put into a corner while the big kids figure out how big their wall of defence around me should be."

Garth smiled at me proudly and Luke wrinkled his nose as if still hesitant. "I got a call," he finally said.

"From Scythe? Does he already know she's here? I wouldn't have thought he could."

"Nah," Luke shook his head. "I thought so, at first. But the guy refuted it. He, er..."

"Oh just fucking say it!" blurted out Garth, irritated. "She's not a bloody kid."

"She should be," muttered Luke, narrowing his eyes at the table. I sighed making him glance quickly towards me.

"Okay," he said. "I'll say it. He said that he wanted us to 'let Dizelde go' and when I said no... well... he said that he'd get her - you," he made eye contact with me, "He said that he'd get you and that he'd get you to slit my throat."

My eyes widened and I felt the blood drain from my face. The face of the scared boy flashed in my mind again and I fought the urge to throw up.

"What the fuck?! You couldn't MAKE someone do that. No one's gonna get to Diz anyway. Okay," Garth turned to me, "No one's gonna take you from here, alright? Don't even worry about it."

I lifted my hand to my mouth. "It's Him. Oh god, oh god." I squeezed my eyes shut. "It's my father," my voice came out in a choked whisper.