Reckless: Stuff - Act 1
by redmoon
Stuff - Act 1
September 3rd, 1981
Nineteen year old Niki Valtaine sulked very noticeably. She muttered something under her breath which her Watcher ignored.
“I think we need to have a talk.” He had always tried to be fair and respectful of her life goals, provided they didn’t interfere with her duties as a Slayer. Ms. Valtaine was still quite young and new to this way of life so Addison did all he could to bend the rules for her. “When you said you had an interest in music...” his brow furrowed, “I was thinking philharmonic orchestra.” The British man lifted the hand-sharpened drumsticks from the kitchen table of their small apartment. “But these...”
“They work on so many levels,” Niki said hopefully with an innocent shrug.
“I’m not so sure.” He stood and began to pace. “Ever since your parents were killed, I’ve tried to raise you the best way that I know how—”
“I’m not a potted plant,” Niki frowned, standing, “and I’m not English either. But this is the way I see it: You came to me. You told me that all of a sudden I’m some kind of Wonder-Woman and that the world needs me to give up my future to go save it. But from what I can see, beyond having told me that, you and the Council don’t serve any real purpose. I’m running the show because I am the show. I don’t do any of these little tests the council sets up because I don’t give a crap about what they think.” She lowered her tone and took on an almost apologetic look. “I’m sorry if that gets you in trouble— I appreciate all you’ve done— I do, but I need to live my life to know that the world is worth saving.” She frowned. “Can you understand that?” She began to pull on her faded denim jacket, shaking her dirty blonde hair into even more of a mess.
The old Watcher let his eyes crinkle. “Yes, I think I can— provided,” he held up a cautionary finger, “this Toe Tag City doesn’t get you into any more trouble than you seem to get into by yourself.”
Niki smiled flirtatiously. “Who, me?” She took his arm and kissed his cheek affectionately. “Thanks pops, I knew you’d understand.” Sprinting to the door she turned with a smile. “I’ll be back late, don’t wait up!”
“Hmm,” Addison grumbled. She was young and had lived a tragedy. She deserved a little fun.
Niki slid into the back seat of the Toyota, clenching her jaw to protect her eardrums from the pounding bass. Jimmy slid his hand around her waist he drew her in for a quick kiss.
“Hey baby,” he said gently, diving back for another, deeper kiss.
“Mmm, Jimmy, close the damn door,” she smiled. “If the Colonel sees me, I’m toast.”
Jesse smirked. “Why do you live with that old fossil?” the vocalist laughed. “Is he, like, your uncle or something?” The car pulled away from the curb and tore down the dark street.
“Nah, he’s not related.” She checked her pockets and realized she hadn’t picked up her drum sticks. “Shit, oh well.” She leaned in for another kiss from the lead guitarist.
“Hey, baby,” he said, pulling away and reaching into the backpack on the floor, “I want you to try something.”
Niki raised an eyebrow in amusement. “What the hell is that? Shit?” she laughed.
Jimmy shook his head. “No way. Street shit is like a death sentence. This is all natural performance enhancer.”
Jesse in the front seat laughed at this. “Yeah, and tell her where you got it, James.”
Jimmy frowned at his given name. “Shut up, fuck face.”
“His daddy works for some law firm,” Jesse explained, “and one of his freak-weirdo clients gave it to him for safe keeping. Little James stole it!”
“Try it,” Jimmy said with a gentle smile, offering the vial to Niki.
“How do I take it?” she asked with a frown. “Under the tongue, under a full moon, what?”
Becky reached over from the window seat and took a crystal bottle of scotch from Jimmy’s bag. “Here, mix it in. Fuckin’ A, it’s good.”
January 3rd, 1986
Niki awoke with a start. What time was it? 1:20 pm. The Slayer shuddered. Late, late night. Those Ajor’a demons were certainly feisty. She groaned as she sat up from the mess of covers that was her bed. She frowned. Had she been dreaming? She shook her head. She couldn’t remember. With a smile she remembered Addison’s annoyance when he realized she had been dismissing her Slayer-given visions as dreams for years before she knew what they were. That man got angry at absolutely everything.
Logan would be at the park soon. They had a great deal to talk about. Niki stripped off her night shirt and picked a random pair of pants and one of her many white shirts. She wasn’t interested in looking good for Logan Kilpatrick any more. She winced as she pulled the shirt on and touched the scar on her shoulder. It had been almost a month since Pearce had played the berserk samurai and sliced her open. He had been avoiding Logan and her since that night and they had checked and found he had abandoned his condo.
Otherwise, things were back to normal. Not normal in the sense that they had returned to the way they had always been: they had always been crappy. They had become normal in the sense that this was the way normal people acted. Normal people lived.
Logan was driving his daughter to school most days, meaning he was up early and home even earlier. In fact the Slayer hadn’t even seen him in more than three weeks. She allowed herself a small laugh. Those brief and chaotic months that had been Valtaine and Associates had drawn to a close, she mused. Everyone was going their separate ways, it seemed. And all the happier for it.
Niki nodded. The creepy vampire in black had been right about that. Everyone was happier without her. And she wasn’t bitter. Not even at Logan any more. The vampires had settled down in the city somewhat, though the demons had taken that as an invitation – but those demons had generic weaknesses that didn’t require more than the most preliminary research.
Even the Council was silent. No replacement sent for the second Watcher who had abandoned her– she grinned. Vampire as a Watcher: what a project to cover up! Especially since it failed. The Slayer massaged her shoulder ache away and slipped on her boots, her digital watch and her earings. After a brief discussion with herself, she also clipped the thin silver around her neck. Just because she wasn’t trying to impress Logan, didn’t mean she had to look like shit.
Minutes later she was sipping on black coffee and slipping on her black leather jacket. With a frown she realized she had neglected to get it repaired since its encounter with the wrong end of a katana. With a shrug she locked the apartment door behind her and started for the park.
Logan sat on the bench in his warm winter coat. His breath made a white cloud before his face, his hands rubbed each other, trying to keep warm. If the Jacobson affair worked out like it was supposed to, Kilpatrick thought with considerable anticipation, then he might be in line for a promotion at the firm. That would mean a pay raise and then he and Rachel could splurge on a new car. If this whole year worked out the way he hoped, they would have enough for Hana to go to the school of her choice after she got out of highschool. Thank God she didn’t have any intention of going to law school.
“Hello, Logan,” Niki said quietly, sitting down beside him. He had been so distracted he hadn’t heard her approach.
“Hi,” he said just as quietly. They said nothing for a long time. A couple of joggers plodded by in pink track suits. Niki licked her lips.
“Thanks for seeing me,” she said at last, her heart sinking.
He nodded without looking at her. They both continued to stare ahead at the snow covered trees and the white ground. The pink joggers plodded back in the other direction.
“Logan—” Niki shifted on the cold bench, her breath dissipating before it reached him. He kept looking forward. He looked so much older than he had when she had met him. So much more mature. She exhaled. “I’m... infected with the plague.” Logan looked at her with a frown and his breath quickened. “It’s the only thing that explains it all.”
Logan slowly turned back to the winter beauty. He sighed heavily. “What are you going to do?”
The Slayer was silent for a moment. “I’m going to go home. I’m going to sleep. Then I’m going to get up and kill some vampires.”
“Niki–”
“The Nosphorus is dead, Logan. The only people this affects is Pearce and me. He’s been scarce, so there’s no problem that I can see.”
Logan sighed. Finally he stood. “I’m glad you told me.” Once she stood, he awkwardly pulled her into a hug. “It was good to see you.” And he turned and left, leaving her alone in the cold but beautiful life.
Niki slowly sat back down on the cold bench. As the crunching of Logan's footsteps faded, the blonde girl held her head in her hands and cried.
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