will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Tossing the ruined painting aside as it were just garbage – and to her it really was – Katelynn let out a laugh. “But of course it’s me silly man. All of my memories, all of my past experiences; it’s all mine. I remember how we met, what a pathetic sniveling man you were. When you proposed to me in the park under the stars and lanterns; the first time we made love on top of the hospital roof; how you left me all alone for that long month after my mother was killed in that car accident without word from you!”

Her voice was rising now, the mirth no longer apparent in her eyes. Her new, twisted self was recalling those memories with new eyes, the pain of some of those moments intensified as if she had been physically cut.

“You didn’t even bother to use a pay phone! Someone’s cell phone! Anything to check up on me while I hid away from the world, alone and confused! Nothing. You didn’t even care. Well guess what? Now I don’t care about you. So this is my goodbye.”

Her golden eyes were hard as they stared at him, cold radiating off her – which she would have if she still had those powers from months ago.

The tears came faster now as Jack crumpled under the verbal assault. Everything Katelynn (and he no longer doubted it was really her) was saying pierced right to the guilt and insecurity he’d been feeling for months. He’d left her alone, cut off from the person she needed most … and now she’d realized it, and it was coming back to rend him. 

“I-I’m sorry,” the blue man choked out, tears shining in his green eyes. “Katelynn, I’m s-so s-s-sorry. I shouldn’t have … If I could … Please, don’t go!” 

Standing there watching him break; it was both a pleasure and a pain mixed into one. She wanted to relish in it, to continue seeing him snivel but just as with Grace as she could do was stand there and watch him cry. It rooted her, a twinge in her cheeks from muscles that were taut and ready for action but a brain that wasn’t telling her what to do.

Time ticked a bit as she stared him down before she tutted and looked away from him. Why she would go into these situations, look forward to them and then realize it was no longer fun?

“Sorry blue man but you no longer amuse me. Locking yourself up here in this fucking apartment like a loser? I’m going to go look for someone who can entertain me.”

Picking up a leg she kicked over some paintings, not to destroy them but just to make a mess and then made her way past him to the door.

Jack tried to reach out for her, but she brushed past him without even a second glance. 

With a heartbroken whimper, the blue man slowly sank to his knees, hugging himself tightly as he silently cried. The wrecked paintings meant nothing. Katelynn had cut in and attacked his deepest insecurities – all the things he most hated about himself. He wanted to argue with her, to demand to know what had happened, to grab her and force her to stay so they could talk this out … but he couldn’t even move. His legs felt weak as water. His chest felt as if a giant, icy hand had squeezed his heart – it hurt to even breathe. 

“K-Katelynn,” he managed to whisper one last time, “please … you’re everything to me …" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

“Oh I don’t know..?” she mused as she tapped a finger on her chin, seemingly relaxed and like none of this was hurting her in the slightest. “How can I tell it to you so your little brain understands? You always did say you weren’t a smart man and now it seems like I can really see it.”

Walking past him and toward one of his paintings to admire it for a moment, she ran her hand along the top of it – she remembered this piece. He had painted it for her; it was her while walking Stella though they were both small to all the details around it as if someone were watching them from far away.

She punched her fist through it, destroying it. “I’m. Leaving. You. I don’t need you or love you. Is that clear enough for you?” Looking at him, her smile remained on her face.

The blue man cringed, feeling the blow just as hard as if she’d punched him instead of the painting. He felt as if he were breaking inside, crumbling, being smashed apart with every word she threw at him. Jack bit his lip, trying desperately not to cry. 

It didn’t work. Tears stung his eyes, and began to run slowly down his pale cheeks. 

Through the cold, aching fog of misery, however, Jack noticed something. Katelynn’s eyes … they were hard and glaring, a shocking change from her usual softness and warmth, but they were also different. There was a golden gleam that had never been there before. He was sure of it; after all the time he’d spent gazing into his beloved’s eyes, he couldn’t miss it. 

“… S-something is wrong with you.” His voice was a hoarse whisper. “Y-you’re not Katelynn.” 

Tossing the ruined painting aside as it were just garbage – and to her it really was – Katelynn let out a laugh. “But of course it’s me silly man. All of my memories, all of my past experiences; it’s all mine. I remember how we met, what a pathetic sniveling man you were. When you proposed to me in the park under the stars and lanterns; the first time we made love on top of the hospital roof; how you left me all alone for that long month after my mother was killed in that car accident without word from you!”

Her voice was rising now, the mirth no longer apparent in her eyes. Her new, twisted self was recalling those memories with new eyes, the pain of some of those moments intensified as if she had been physically cut.

“You didn’t even bother to use a pay phone! Someone’s cell phone! Anything to check up on me while I hid away from the world, alone and confused! Nothing. You didn’t even care. Well guess what? Now I don’t care about you. So this is my goodbye.”

Her golden eyes were hard as they stared at him, cold radiating off her – which she would have if she still had those powers from months ago.

The tears came faster now as Jack crumpled under the verbal assault. Everything Katelynn (and he no longer doubted it was really her) was saying pierced right to the guilt and insecurity he’d been feeling for months. He’d left her alone, cut off from the person she needed most … and now she’d realized it, and it was coming back to rend him. 

“I-I’m sorry,” the blue man choked out, tears shining in his green eyes. “Katelynn, I’m s-so s-s-sorry. I shouldn’t have … If I could … Please, don’t go!" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Euphoria was coursing through her veins at seeing the expressions on his face so much that she couldn’t help doubling over in laughter. This was what she had been looking forward to – breaking Grace had merely been the prelude but this was the greatest act of the play.

“Nothing is the matter with me! I’m perfectly fine. It’s you” – She proceeded to take off the sapphire engagement ring he had given her back in February; his grandmother’s heirloom – “who will not be fine in a few minutes.” And tossed the ring at his chest.

“I merely wanted to cut off loose ends – worthless ends. I have no need for you anymore,” she told him, a sadistic smile on her face.

Jack watched in silent horror as she took the ring off. He flinched when she threw it at him, as if it were a weapon – but the things she was saying cut much deeper than any blade. 

I have no need for you anymore. 

Over the months they’d been together, Jack had seen how Katelynn changed. No, that wasn’t the right word; she had blossomed, like a spring flower opening, or a bird coming into new, brighter plumage. She had grown more confident, more outgoing. She’d taken an active role in trying to help the city – yes, her methods scared him sometimes, but he still loved that she wanted to do it. And, deep inside, it had made him feel good to know that part of the reason she’d grown so much was because of him, and his love for her. 

But … now she didn’t need him anymore?

“… K-K-Katelynn, how can you say that?” he whispered. “Wh-what’s happened to you?” 

“Oh I don’t know..?” she mused as she tapped a finger on her chin, seemingly relaxed and like none of this was hurting her in the slightest. “How can I tell it to you so your little brain understands? You always did say you weren’t a smart man and now it seems like I can really see it.”

Walking past him and toward one of his paintings to admire it for a moment, she ran her hand along the top of it – she remembered this piece. He had painted it for her; it was her while walking Stella though they were both small to all the details around it as if someone were watching them from far away.

She punched her fist through it, destroying it. “I’m. Leaving. You. I don’t need you or love you. Is that clear enough for you?” Looking at him, her smile remained on her face.

The blue man cringed, feeling the blow just as hard as if she’d punched him instead of the painting. He felt as if he were breaking inside, crumbling, being smashed apart with every word she threw at him. Jack bit his lip, trying desperately not to cry. 

It didn’t work. Tears stung his eyes, and began to run slowly down his pale cheeks. 

Through the cold, aching fog of misery, however, Jack noticed something. Katelynn’s eyes … they were hard and glaring, a shocking change from her usual softness and warmth, but they were also different. There was a golden gleam that had never been there before. He was sure of it; after all the time he’d spent gazing into his beloved’s eyes, he couldn’t miss it. 

“… S-something is wrong with you.” His voice was a hoarse whisper. “Y-you’re not Katelynn." 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Golden eyes took him in as she stood there, biting down on one of her fingernails and admired the blue man before her. Still as sexy as ever despite his demeanor and clothing choice – how she had forgotten. But he was holding her back and all she wanted to do was please her master.

Sauntering over to him, she caressed his jawline with one finger and purred out, “Well aren’t you a dutiful little lap dog to me. Waiting for little ol’ me? Very sweet.”

Stella and Roxy were at her heels, sniffing at her before they began to growl, baring their teeth. Katelynn looked down at them and kicked them away softly – not enough to hurt them but to get them away. Luckily she missed as they trotted away and began barking at her. “Disgusting creatures.”

If they even tried anything to her she had her de-gun ready.

Jack gaped at her, open-mouthed, as she walked over and caressed his jaw. He normally liked it when Katelynn was confident and forward with him, but not now. He’d been scared out of his mind for her – she should be taking this seriously! And for her to call him a lap dog … Jack cringed back from her touch, hurt and angry. “Katelynn, answer me!Why didn’t you come back last night?”

And then he saw how the dogs reacted. Dear god, Roxy hardly ever growled at anyone! And Stella loved her mistress – she should have been bounding up to slobber kisses on Katelynn. 

Then he gasped as Katelynn actually tried to kick them. ”Stop that!” Jack stepped protectively between her and the dogs. “Wh-what the hell is the matter with you?!” His voice was trembling with anger and pain. 

Euphoria was coursing through her veins at seeing the expressions on his face so much that she couldn’t help doubling over in laughter. This was what she had been looking forward to – breaking Grace had merely been the prelude but this was the greatest act of the play.

“Nothing is the matter with me! I’m perfectly fine. It’s you” – She proceeded to take off the sapphire engagement ring he had given her back in February; his grandmother’s heirloom – “who will not be fine in a few minutes.” And tossed the ring at his chest.

“I merely wanted to cut off loose ends – worthless ends. I have no need for you anymore,” she told him, a sadistic smile on her face.

Jack watched in silent horror as she took the ring off. He flinched when she threw it at him, as if it were a weapon – but the things she was saying cut much deeper than any blade. 

I have no need for you anymore. 

Over the months they’d been together, Jack had seen how Katelynn changed. No, that wasn’t the right word; she had blossomed, like a spring flower opening, or a bird coming into new, brighter plumage. She had grown more confident, more outgoing. She’d taken an active role in trying to help the city – yes, her methods scared him sometimes, but he still loved that she wanted to do it. And, deep inside, it had made him feel good to know that part of the reason she’d grown so much was because of him, and his love for her. 

But … now she didn’t need him anymore?

“… K-K-Katelynn, how can you say that?” he whispered. “Wh-what’s happened to you?" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Walking down along the streets of Metro City and strutting in her black, skin tight outfit, Katelynn hummed as a few men gave her cat whistles, her eyes scanning for whom. Oh she was soaking up the attention, giving them a few winks and a good view of what her suit was showing off but it was merely a distraction.

She had a mission and another to deny.

Taking a stop outside the apartment complex, Katelynn gazed up at the building and shielded her eyes from the sun. Oh what fun this was going to be. She just wasn’t sure if she should pretend like she had with Grace or just get it all over with.

Having good presentation seemed best. As she unlocked the door and tossed the keys, she kicked the door open with a flourish and cried out, “Honey I’m hooooome~”

A heartbeat later, a wide-eyed and frantic Jack was racing into the front room. “Katelynn?! Katelynn are you all right? Where were you?!”

Yesterday, his fiancee had told him she would be going out for an hour or so after work, to see if she could find any clues about what might have happened to Gracelyn. Jack had been okay with that; he wanted to find their friend too, and Katelynn had promised that if she turned up anything dangerous, she would leave and get help.

So when she hadn’t come back in an hour, hadn’t come back at all that evening, and hadn’t even called to say what was happening, he had been badly frightened. A dark, suspicious part of his mind had wondered if she was lying to him again, the way she used to before he left for New York, when she would sneak out on dangerous missions and end up just getting herself in trouble. She’d been so good since he came back, more careful and open and honest – surely she wouldn’t hurt him like that again? 

He blinked as he saw the tight black outfit. While he didn’t deny that she looked very nice in it, it raised all kinds of questions. “L-love, what’s going on? Where were you last night?” 

Golden eyes took him in as she stood there, biting down on one of her fingernails and admired the blue man before her. Still as sexy as ever despite his demeanor and clothing choice – how she had forgotten. But he was holding her back and all she wanted to do was please her master.

Sauntering over to him, she caressed his jawline with one finger and purred out, “Well aren’t you a dutiful little lap dog to me. Waiting for little ol’ me? Very sweet.”

Stella and Roxy were at her heels, sniffing at her before they began to growl, baring their teeth. Katelynn looked down at them and kicked them away softly – not enough to hurt them but to get them away. Luckily she missed as they trotted away and began barking at her. “Disgusting creatures.”

If they even tried anything to her she had her de-gun ready.

Jack gaped at her, open-mouthed, as she walked over and caressed his jaw. He normally liked it when Katelynn was confident and forward with him, but not now. He’d been scared out of his mind for her – she should be taking this seriously! And for her to call him a lap dog … Jack cringed back from her touch, hurt and angry. “Katelynn, answer me!Why didn’t you come back last night?”

And then he saw how the dogs reacted. Dear god, Roxy hardly ever growled at anyone! And Stella loved her mistress – she should have been bounding up to slobber kisses on Katelynn. 

Then he gasped as Katelynn actually tried to kick them. "Stop that!“ Jack stepped protectively between her and the dogs. "Wh-what the hell is the matter with you?!” His voice was trembling with anger and pain. 

will-never-be-a-swan:

Walking down along the streets of Metro City and strutting in her black, skin tight outfit, Katelynn hummed as a few men gave her cat whistles, her eyes scanning for whom. Oh she was soaking up the attention, giving them a few winks and a good view of what her suit was showing off but it was merely a distraction.

She had a mission and another to deny.

Taking a stop outside the apartment complex, Katelynn gazed up at the building and shielded her eyes from the sun. Oh what fun this was going to be. She just wasn’t sure if she should pretend like she had with Grace or just get it all over with.

Having good presentation seemed best. As she unlocked the door and tossed the keys, she kicked the door open with a flourish and cried out, “Honey I’m hooooome~”

A heartbeat later, a wide-eyed and frantic Jack was racing into the front room. “Katelynn?! Katelynn are you all right? Where were you?!”

Yesterday, his fiancee had told him she would be going out for an hour or so after work, to see if she could find any clues about what might have happened to Gracelyn. Jack had been okay with that; he wanted to find their friend too, and Katelynn had promised that if she turned up anything dangerous, she would leave and get help.

So when she hadn’t come back in an hour, hadn’t come back at all that evening, and hadn’t even called to say what was happening, he had been badly frightened. A dark, suspicious part of his mind had wondered if she was lying to him again, the way she used to before he left for New York, when she would sneak out on dangerous missions and end up just getting herself in trouble. She’d been so good since he came back, more careful and open and honest – surely she wouldn’t hurt him like that again? 

He blinked as he saw the tight black outfit. While he didn’t deny that she looked very nice in it, it raised all kinds of questions. “L-love, what’s going on? Where were you last night?"