The Dance, page 20
….
“I’ll be distracting Caroline. The bitch was going to pump and dump the girl after using her for the cosplay competition. No one’s first time should be that.”
….
I know we let it happen with Elaine. That’s my point. Maybe, with a little luck, we can keep Caroline from killing anyone else.”
….
“I miss Elaine too. She was a sweet kid. Let’s not have another suicide on our watch.”
….
“I’ll keep her busy. She is hot. In that way, she’s a big step up from the men I work for.”
….
Selina laughed. “I’m not as flexible as you. Thanks, Deb. Maybe, in a way, this will make up for us dropping the ball with Elaine.”
Caroline met with Selina outside the bathroom. With a concerned glance towards Nat, Selina followed Caroline out of the room.
Nat downed her wine and went for another glass.
Tom shook his head and sighed. Chance had given him a front-row seat for how bad things can happen when his sister had dated the wrong guy and paid the price for it.
Oh hell, the con suite isn’t that bad and there aren’t any good voice acting panels on till tomorrow. In that moment, he chose to keep an eye on the sad young woman from a distance, respecting her privacy and independence while being on hand if she really needed help. He went to chat up a voice actor he recognised.
On the far side of the universe from the first black hole event, another star collapses, and where once there was one universe, there are three. The sentient pattern’s reaction is delight. So many permutations, so much to learn as the universe doubling played out in millions of cosmoses replicating since the dawn of time. Choice and chance and all the shadings in between.
World B – Equilibrium
Minutes passed before Tom saw a man in a Question costume enter the room. He scanned the mix of people milling around, then seemed to focus on Nat. Moving to the wine tasting, he retrieved two glasses. Something in Tom made him suspicious, so he chose to watch. The Question, whoever he was, slipped a tablet into one of the glasses of wine, then moved to Nat.
Tom chose to act as the drunk girl accepted the glass blushing shyly and stammering.
“Don’t drink that.” Tom snatched the wine out of Nat’s hand.
“Hey!” She slurred and lurched to her feet, only to fall back into her chair from the wine she’d already consumed.
“What do you think you’re doing?” demanded the Question.
“Stopping a sick pervert who can’t get a girl, so he resorts to roofieing them!” Tom spoke loudly enough for the room to hear. “Someone call nine-one-one.”
“How dare you slander me? I’ll have you kicked out of the con.” The Question shifted nervously.
“When the cops check this drink, you won’t be in a position to do anything.” Tom scowled at his opponent’s covered face.
The Question lunged and knocked the drink out of Tom’s hand, spilling it on the carpet.
“Has anybody called the cops yet?” demanded Tom.
“What would be the point? The drink is spilt!” snapped the Batman at the bar as he gestured for the Question to leave.
“I know what I saw,” countered Tom.
“I don’t have to put up with this!” The Question stormed from the room while the congoers looked confused.
“I want you two out of here now!” stated the Batman. “We don’t want a scene like this.”
Tom glowered at the Batman, then turned to Nat. “Are you alright?”
“I… I… ” Nat pitched forward and emptied her guts onto herself and the carpet.
“That’s it. Both of you, out!” The Batman came around the bar.
Tom scowled, then took Nat’s arm. “Come on. We’ll get you cleaned up.” He guided her from the room.
“I… I don’t know you,” slurred Nat once they were in the standard hotel hallway outside the con suite.
“I’m Tom, a friend.” Tom half supported Nat, so she didn’t fall to the floor.
“No, you’re not. You’re a stranger. I… I don’t feel good. Where’s Caroline?” Nat looked around blurrily.
“What’s your name?” asked Tom.
“Natasha. Caroline thinks I’m too dumb to see, but she’s with that blond. I mean, who can blame her? That woman is smoking. Why would she ever want me with her around?” Natasha looked blurrily at Tom.
“You’re pretty. It’s all a matter of taste. Where’s your room?” Tom fought to keep his guts down from the vomit smell.
“It’s on the fifth floor. I think. Everything’s blurry.” Natasha focused on Tom. “You’re cute. Too bad I’m a lesbian. Caroline’s my girlfriend, at least she was…”
World C – Mercy
“Do you need a hand?” asked a slightly plump, dark-haired, mid-twenties woman in the top hat, one-piece swimsuit, mock tuxedo, and fishnet stockings of the comic book character known as Zatanna.
“Debby, am I glad to see you.” Tom looked to Bill’s cousin, who’d driven him to the con, with relief. “Please, she’s drunk, and some jerk just tried to roofie her.”
“And you stepped in to stop it.” The woman looked over Tom with an appraising eye.
“Some things are just wrong.” Tom shrugged as he continued to support Natasha. Congoers who walked by gave the trio odd looks.
“You struck me as a good one. Glad to know some men get it. We should take her someplace to sleep it off.”
“Caroline knows where our room is, but she’s with Selina. She got tired of waiting for me. I should have.”
Natasha began to sob then she looked at Debby. “I know you?”
“We met at a party once. Caroline dumped you in a corner there, too. You might like to notice the pattern.” Debby tentatively patted the girl’s shoulder where it wasn’t covered in vomit.
“My room is one floor up. I have an extra bed.” Making a choice, Tom grimaced and swept Natasha up in his arms. “Will you watch me as I get her settled? I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”
“I’ll keep an eye on the big bad male.” Debby smiled as she chose to escort Tom and Natasha to his room for a variety of reasons.
World B – Equilibrium
Debby rushed for the elevator, but as chance would have it, it was full, and she had to wait for the next one.
“Con elevators—always a back-up.” She sighed and hoped the Gabrielle look-alike would be alright until she got there.
Tom picked up Natasha, feeling the vomit smear over his t-shirt, and carried her to the elevator. He chose to take the risk of false accusations so that he could help the girl. Minutes later, they were in his hotel room, a standard twin bed affair with an attached bath.
“We can’t let you sleep like that,” observed Tom.
“Like what?” Natasha threw her arms around Tom’s neck. “This is nice. Strong arms. You’re muscley.”
“Umm, thanks.” Tom put Natasha in the room’s armchair. He considered, then reached around and undid the clasp on her padded bra top.
“What you doing?” Natasha looked drunkenly at Tom.
“You need a shower. You’re covered in barf.” Tom tried not to look at her petite breasts, with partial success. No matter his motives, chance had steered his life to an appreciation of small-busted women. His choice was not to take advantage of the current situation. After undoing the ties and clips on the rest of her costume, he pulled off his vomit-soaked t-shirt.
“Okey dokey. I thought that Caroline and I might shower together. I read a story about that once. It was hot.” Natasha sniffled, then sobbed. “She’s probably in the shower with Selina right now.”
Manoeuvring the drunk girl into the shower and washing the vomit from her took several minutes, then Tom tucked her into one of the beds. After showering, he set their clothes to soak in the tub and took the empty bed for himself.
World C – Mercy
Debby helped Tom strip Natasha. “You two are so nice. Caroline can have Selina. She was going to be my first. I’ve never gone all the way. A twofer might be nice.”
“Not tonight,” commented Tom.
“I like you, Tom,” said Debby who smiled at the younger man as she helped Natasha to her feet and got her in the shower.
If Natasha wasn’t drunk off her ass, this could be a night to remember, thought Debby as the water rained down. Chance decided her flexible sexuality, but choice governed the woman she was. She glanced at where Tom waited at the door to help if needed. He’s a little young, but what the Hell, for a body like that, I’ll flip sides for the night. Minutes later, Natasha was in bed. Tom came out of the shower wearing a towel.
“I’ve put the clothes in the tub to soak. I’ll get dressed and try to get some sleep in the con suite. If you can stay here and look after her...” Tom moved towards his suitcase.
Debby smiled. “What are you, nineteen?”
“Twenty,” Tom blushed.
“Tom. I was going to hit a party tonight, but by now it’s winding down. And she’s passed out. It’s almost like having the room to ourselves. You’re a little young for me, but what do you say. Want to save my evening?” Debby walked over and kissed Tom, pulling away his towel.
Tom chose not to object.
World A – Severity
Natasha woke up and vomited on the strange bed. She was alone in the room, naked and sore. Her costume was tossed carelessly onto the other bed. She tried to think, but could only get flashes of the previous night. Feeling awful, she lurched to the shower. It wasn’t until she saw the coagulated blood washing into the drain from her legs that she suspected what had happened.
“No, please, no.” She burst into tears and collapsed in the tub with water raining down on her. Disjointed images surfaced in her mind as she wept. The Question was a rapist.
World B – Equilibrium
Natasha woke up. Her head was muzzy. The strange room disorientated her. She looked to the other bed. A man lay there, asleep, wearing a blue swimsuit. He was muscular, with dark brown hair.
She lay back in the bed and tried to think. She remembered Caroline abandoning her, then drinking. Batman had been more than willing to over-serve her. Then a fight. Someone tried to roofie her. She looked at the man in the next bed. The thought, He wouldn’t have had to, went through her mind.
Not really something a lesbian should be thinking. Why does nothing make sense? Silently she slipped from the bed, noticing she was naked, and crept to the washroom. Her costume was soaking in the tub with men’s clothes. She used the facilities and wrapped herself in a hotel towel before exiting into the main room.
“Good, you’re done.” The man pushed past her and closed the bathroom door behind himself. Minutes later, he emerged.
“I. Who are you, and what happened?” asked Natasha.
Tom blushed. “I’m Tom. Maybe I can lend you a t-shirt. It should be long enough to serve as a short dress.”
“I. That would be nice, but I guess you saw it all last night.” Natasha met his gaze as her cheeks turned scarlet.
“You were covered in barf. I had to get you clean.” Tom blushed as he pulled a dark blue X-man t-shirt from his suitcase and passed it to her.
“I’m sorry. My girlfriend dumped me to take up with some hotty she used to date. I don’t normally drink, but it seemed the thing to do, and I hadn’t eaten all day so my abs would show for the cosplay competition, and...” Natasha’s embarrassed babble evaporated under the bemused smile of her rescuer. “You must think I’m a twit.”
“Your girlfriend should never have done that to you. I’m here for the weekend. You can use the second bed if you like. No strings.”
Natasha looked at her rescuer. Some inner voice told her she could trust him. No tights, no costume, but somehow she suspected that he understood better than most what heroes were supposed to be. She smiled as she made a choice. “Thanks. Let’s see how things go with Caroline.”
World C – Mercy
Tom spooned Debby as light streamed in past the curtains.
“You have to let me up before I pee the bed,” observed Debby.
Tom let her rise, then moved to his suitcase and pulled out his swimming trunks, which he put on.
“Hello,” said a small voice from the far bed.
“Hi.” Tom blushed as he adjusted his trunks and turned around.
“Who are you?” Natasha squinted against the dappled light that made it past the curtains.
“I’m Tom. How do you feel?”
“My tongue is wearing a fur coat, and someone turned the volume to eleven. You and your girlfriend helped me when that creep dressed like The Question tried to roofie me, didn’t you?” Natasha checked under the sheets. “I’m naked.”
“You threw up all over yourself. We had to clean you off.” Tom pulled an Ironman t-shirt out of his suitcase and tossed it to her. “You can wear this.”
“And I’m not his girlfriend.” Debby came out of the bathroom wearing a towel. “Sorry if you thought more, Tom, but men are an itch I like to scratch once in a while.”
“Thanks for the clarity, and happy to help.” Tom smiled and winked. “I’m twenty and have been to college.”
Debby walked over and kissed him. “Some men are men at twenty.” She turned to Natasha. “There’s no easy way to say this. Caroline is a conniving bitch who uses people to get what she wants and throws them away. She’s using you. Last year she pulled a stunt like she’s doing now.” Debby looked at the floor. “Elaine was a nice girl. Lots of us in the community liked her. She was just trying to figure herself out. Caroline got her hooks in her, messed her around, then dumped her. Elaine killed herself. I… I wish I’d made different choices back then.”
Natasha hung her head. “I knew no one as beautiful as Caroline could ever be interested in me.”
“What?” Tom blurted the word. “You’re hot! Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?”
“Nobody likes me in that way. I just don’t give off that kind of vibe. I’m not exactly Playboy material.” Nat hung her head.
Tom shook his head in disbelief. “Who needs Playboy? You have a rocking bod and a lovely face!”
“It’s more likely you don’t pick up on the signs,” Debby added. “I agree with Tom. You’re cute. A little too young for me. Twenty was pushing it, but other than that. I’d take the time to get to know you.”
Natasha looked at her rescuers and didn’t see any signs that they were lying. Her blush deepened. “Thanks. No one ever said things like that to me before. Even Caroline kept on about how flat I was and that I was chubby.”
Debby rolled her eyes. “Healthy.”
“Despite the popular lie, not all men like D cups. A girl in proportion to herself is the most beautiful, and you are definitely that.” Tom turned back to his suitcase and extracted a Spiderman t-shirt and jeans.
Natasha felt a warm glow in her chest. Two strangers were validating her. It was like food for a starving man. It made the choices she had to make easier.
World A – Severity
Natasha pulled on her costume and left the hotel room. She found the elevator and went to the con suite. The smell of the breakfast they were serving made her mouth water. She filled a plate with scrambled eggs and sausage.
“There you are. I thought we agreed, no eating until after the competition.” Caroline loomed over Natasha where she sat in a lounger.
“I… Something happened. I… ” Natasha started to cry.
A red flush of anger crossed Caroline’s face, then she forced herself to be calm. “It’s okay, sweetie. Whatever it was, I forgive you. I know things can be confusing when you’re working out your sexuality.”
“You forgive me?” Natasha looked up at her girlfriend.
“Of course. Now, why don’t we clean you up, and I’ll tweak your costume before the competition. It looks like you slept in it.”
Natasha felt numb as she set her food aside, took Caroline’s proffered hand and was led to her hotel room. She noticed neither of the beds had been slept in.
World B – Equilibrium
Natasha sat on the couch in the con suite with Tom. They balanced plates of toast, jam and peanut butter over their laps. She wore his oversized t-shirt and the skirt from her costume.
“There you are. I was worried.” Caroline, in her Xena outfit, her hair a little worse for wear, loomed over Natasha, glowering.
Natasha looked from her girlfriend to Tom and back. “Were you really? How’s Selina?”
A smug, self-satisfied expression crossed Caroline’s features before they were schooled into an expression of hurt concern. “Honey, she needed to talk. That’s all.”
Tom silently took Natasha’s hand, lending his support.
“Maybe I needed someone’s support. You didn’t think of that, did you?” Natasha looked at Caroline with a hurt expression.
“Oh, I see. Well, I forgive you. I know it can be confusing sometimes. You shouldn’t be eating before the competition. We need your abs to pop. Get the rest of your costume, and we can start doing prep.” Caroline reached to take Natasha’s hand.
Natasha glanced at Tom, who met her gaze.
“I’ll come to the room when I finish breakfast to collect my real clothes. I want to see some of the writing panels this afternoon. You can do what needs doing with the costume. I’ll be back an hour before signup.”
“We need to be seen as Xena and Gabrielle around the con to gain followers,” blurted Caroline.
