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*
"Dat aint wut ahm sayn adall an you know it."
"Yeah ah know all sorts of stuff y'alway be sayin' dat garbage. Alway were sayin' dat garbage excusin' yoself wit-out ever reckonin' de real tru-te. Y'alway forgit dat part, Remy Le Beau."
"Ya'aint de guy who done got 'imself mixed asunda with no two bit fluage neider."
"An' y'all hop in de car come and rescue ole Bella Donna."
"Well, giv'n you were ripe for needin' some rescuin'"
"Begger pardon, Miss Jones," Bella Donna pleads. "Ain't complain' bout your doin' in now way. Remy here got 'imself a hero complex."
"Dun be usin' dat word roun' here little lady."
And it goes on like this. As it has gone on since somewhere in the south. What Jessica can make out is that Remy left after Bella Donna's brother died. It is strongly implied that Remy himself killed the young man. It is also strongly implied that Bella Donna is upset that Remy didn't stay in New Orleans, even though it would have meant he was hunted by the assassins. And it goes on like this. And it goes on as New York graciously gets closer.
*
LOG NOTE: Please erase those first two abominations.
*
And the whole drive, Jessica sits in silence amongst the bickering. She doesn't interject. She just lets it be as she watches the horizon move int he distance. Her lips press together tightly at the word hero, prompting a vague frown from the woman.
"It wasn't heroics. Remy and I have long established that we're not heroes. We're just people." She's just a person. Even Jewel is just a person. There's nothing heroic about what she does, not in her opinion. "We're imperfect people doing what we can." Her throat clears. "But it does seem like it was the best thing to do." Her cheeks puff out with a breath of air. "What was with that Michael guy? I…" her teeth play at her bottom lip "…where did he come from? What do you know about him?" The cogs in her mind are working.
*
"Long 'stablished? You two fuckin''r'what?"
"W'aint."
"Shaddup Remy, I aint trustin' you to take de trash out much less discuss affai's of d'heart. Woman come all de way down to Nawlins to search for yo ex and you tellin' Bella dat y'aint even up de skirt."
"Woman, I tellin' ya w'aint."
"In any event, Michael come up to me at de festival coupla weeks ago. Can't say I wuz too 'mpressed, but sometin' made me start followin' 'im round like a lil puppy. Made me do all sorts of weird stuff, like play house a lot. Cook for 'im. He not a fan of my cookin, non. But soon as told 'im bout chez Remy he was fixin' t'move in."
*
Jessica smirks. "No. He ain't - " wait, she's not Cajun " - er, isn't up my skirt." She clears her throat, "Ours is mostly a business relationship." The mostly is probably worth note. "He hired me to help find you. I like getting paid." There's a near flatness to her tone almost too-matter-of-fact as her eyes remain trained on the scenery passing them by.
"He did something," Jessica observes quietly. "To both of you." Her lips twitch to the side. "It's almost like…" but she can't say it out loud. It's too eerie. Instead her head shakes like an etch-a-sketch trying to erase the thought.
"Where did he come from? You get any info about him?" Jess guesses not based on what she'd seen, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
*
"Business relationship?" Bella Donna laughs out loud. "Y'better make sure you get dat money up front girl. Dere aint no Business Relationship Remy Le Beau ever entered into dat was ever square from de start. Better count dat shit, too."
Remy rolls his eyes and runs his hands through his hair sitting in the front seat. There was more than one reason, it seems, that their relationship was so short. "A thank you maght be appropriate giv'n dis gal put her life on de line f'r you, Bella Donna."
"Oh, ahm very thankful to her. Not to you, you two bit slug."
Bella then turns back to Jessica from the front seat. "Never told me, and I never had de urge to ask. Just kept tryin' t'get out."
*
Remy is cast a mischievous smirk followed by a small shrug of her shoulders. Jessica had told him she wasn't a hero. She said she wasn't an investigator. He enlisted her help anyways. And now being privy to the ex-bickering, her good humour kicks in.
The Purple Creep, however, warrants further discussion, "He tells people to do things and BAM, they do them. They don't have a choice. The only reason I got you out was because he didn't tell me to do anything." Jessica turns to face Bella Donna. "Remy is still probably going to sign his house over to you because he's somehow compulsed to do so. Just wait." There's a pause in her speech and her lips twist to the side, "It was like something else had taken over. Like you were both machines rather than people." Her nose wrinkles.
*
Remy is propping his head up with his hand and as Jessica grins at him, he rolls his eyes and flashes his fingers as if to say that he wishes he'd warned her about his ex before hand. He hadn't really expected her to be coming back with them. This thing went sideways on them before a moment's notice.
"Well it /is/ a nice house when it's fixed up and it aint doin' no one no good," Bella Donna reasons. This gets a further look of disgust from Remy. "I don't know how he does what he does, I jus' know he's a freak."
*
The look of disgust wins a smile from Jessica. Seems there are limits to the Purple Creep's influence. "Well it's good to know that idea seems to have died." She sucks on the inside of her cheek and folds her hands in her lap, opting to look ahead at the road instead of at the scenery.
Her head turns to study Remy for several beats and she manages a more reassuring smile. It's fine. Exes are exes for reasons. Normally. Unless you're the problem.
"Did you see him do it to anyone else?" she asks towards Bella Donna. "Like… did other people just do things for him when he asked them to?"
*
"Well, I dun really know," Bella Donna says as she tries to put a finger on it. "I mean, we saw a ton of people. Took me to the nicest restaurants in town. Best seats in de house. No one ever told him no, come to think of it."
*
Jessica hmmms quietly. "How does a person stop someone like that?" she mutters to herself more than her companions. "He's dangerous. Like, maybe he's just a selfish son of a bitch, but — " her teeth clench. "Someone like that? Someone that no one can say no to? That's power."
*
"How do y'even get close enough?" Remy boggles. "Unless you get close enough without him noticin'. Like sometin' a t'ief could do, non?" LeBeau looks to Jessica with a raised eyebrow. He's not a killer, but this guy sounds like bad news.
"S'prolly not a problem for us anymore," Bella Donna reasons. "I mean, he way down in Nawlins. Ahm more worried bout the Assassins when dey come after Remy for kidnappin' me."
*
Jessica hmmms. "A thief might be able to do it," she concedes. "But it would have to be some wicked sleight of hand." And then she asides, "Depends on how it works, I guess? I mean, what if he says something to someone and they don't hear it? Does that mean it still works?" Her lips press together tightly. "Maybe something that can cancel the sound is a better idea? If you can't hear it, then you can't do whatever he asks. Maybe." Not that she knows how this works. A nod is given to Remy, "Maybe some combination of sneaking and noise cancellation. There has to be some good earplugs somewhere."
She turns to face Bella Donna. "Remy didn't kidnap you. His companion did. That was all on me. And I stand by that decision." She frowns a bit about the assassins, "Well, since it's such a point of concern, we could pull over and drop you here - "
*
"Not a bad idea," Remy reasons, though Bella Donna quickly interjects. "Y'aint gonna do dat. Y'can't just kidnap me and leave me. I know yer names, and I'll call de cops. Face it, sister, one of you two is stuck wit me."
"And I take breakfast no later than 10."
The turnoff for Manhattan is in less than one mile. Remy still isn't sure where Bella is going to stay or who is going to look after her. Inwardly he's hoping that Jessica steps up out of some form of feminine chivalry.
*
Feminine chivalry died with Jessica Jones. She does not want to make that sacrifice. Instead, she reasons, "Then we'll turn around and take you back to New Orleans. You said you were grateful. It'd be good if you acted that way." She shoots the other woman a deadpan look. If Jones isn't serious, she's a freakishly good actress.
"I need a whiskey," she murmurs. "And a way to stop that creep."
*
"Second that," Remy says, holding his hand permanently to his temple.
"I ahm grateful. To you. Not to this lug ahead of me," Bella Donna says. Nevertheless, she sits back and goes quiet.
*
"Smarten up. Remy Le Beau gave enough of a shit about you to enter into a danger zone to find you, face a terrifying madman to rescue you, and endure a car ride where you've done nothing but berate him from the start to get you to safety. You'd do well to pass your thanks along," Jessica states evenly. And then with a deep breath, her head shakes, "You can sleep on my couch. It's acceptable. There is no food in my fridge, and nothing but whiskey in my cupboards." Pause. "And instant coffee." She nods at that.
*
There is a God and he sent Jessica Jones to Gambit to give him rest. "Just as soon get dropped off in Mutant Town if y'don't mind. Can keep the car at your place so Bella Donna and you have sometin' to drive. Unless dats a bother."
*
"That's fine," Jessica states. "I can drive after that." Her tongue rolls over her lips. "Wait. Is someone going to arrest me for this car? Because I really don't need to be arrested right now."
*
Remy shakes his head, "Nah, I've had dis car from de time I was 16. Runs like a bull, purrs like a kitten.
ONE HOUR LATER
OUTSIDE JESSICA JONES' HOUSE AFTER REMY IS DROPPED OFF
The car is smoking heavily from under the hood as it barely makes it to park on the side street. It's late, and it's been a long drive. "Ahl call Remy in de mornin' and have him come by and fix it up," Bella Donna says helpfully. She's been an absolute dream since Remy got out."
*
The smoking car is met with Jessica arms fanning it. Jessica coughs loudly at the mess under the hood, and she shakes her head. "Thanks," she offers back with another cough. "What a mess," she murmurs quietly under her breath. "I guess it's to be expected. It's Remy. If he insists something is fine, something goes inevitably wrong," this actually merits a smirk, perhaps of admiration. She ticks her head towards her apartment building. She gives a glance around the street before leading the way, "This way."
*
Bella Donna skips along behind Jessica, barely able to contain herself. "Your place is amazin'! I've never been to New York b'fore. Remy and I used to talk about travelin'. He never wanted to come here, but it was always mah dream."
*
"So why didn't things work out with you two? The way I understand it, it was all very… family based?" Jessica quirks an eyebrow. "I mean, he did end up coming this way, eventually. Obviously New York had some draw." She unlocks the apartment door and leads the way up the stairs to her small corner of paradise. "My place isn't that amazing," she reassures evenly. "It's… affordable." Which is more than most of New York.
*
"It's pretty complicated. Our marriage was arranged. Ah tink he loved me more at first, and when I caught up he was willin' to break up. Remy killed my brother on de day of our weddin'. Our families decided that banishment gun be better den hanging."
*
Bella Donna hops along behind in a chipper way.
*
"Uh-huh," Jessica has decided bitches be crazy. She unlocks the door to her apartment and flicks on the light. Once getting inside, she pads over the cupboard and tugs out a bottle of cheap whiskey and two glasses. It would be rude not to offer some to her guest. And maybe her guest is a cheap drunk. Who knows?
She pours two large tumblers of whiskey and sets one in front of Bella Donna, "Sounds complicated." She brings the fluid to her lips and takes a long swig. "What's his deal? You said he has a hero complex — in what way?"
*
"Thank ya kindly, Jessica. I love your place. It has that classic New York feel t'it. Erryday must feel like an adventure in dis town." She takes the tumbler and sips on it. "His deal? Remy a biggole softy. I mean, don't get me wrong, he rob anyone blind he can. But deep down he's got a good heart. He talks a tough game, but he does de right ting way too often to be a good member of his family."
*
"Do you think he's likely to rob me," Jessica sips her own drink again before smirking and looking around her sad-state-apartment. "I met him because he stole something from someone," she offers as her eyebrows arch expectantly. "And maybe," she saw him destroy that wall in New Orleans, "I could've brought him in but," her head shakes. "What exactly can he do anyways? I've seen him crumble a wall. Maybe. Or someone else did. I was kind of busy focused on not getting shots."
*
"Maybe. I dunno. I mean, if you had sometin he wanted, maybe. But it's not as likely given that he knows you. I mean any of his brothers for his daddy? You'd be in some real trouble. But, like I said. Remy is a softy." She tilts her head, ready to give away his powers. "He can do sometin pretty nifty. Any-ting not livin' he can charge it and turn it into an explosive. Big ones, small ones. He can do it all."
*
There's a flicker of a smile that follows the answer about Remy's ability, and Jessica lifts her glass to clink with Bella Donna's. "He still cares about you, you know. When he heard about the Purple Creep, he enlisted me to help find you. Thought you'd disappeared or something." Her lips purse slightly. "I don't believe much of what he tells me anymore," especially after the near-arrest on the road, the fighting gangs and his mounting enemies, and the blown up car, "but I can believe he's a softy." She finishes her whiskey and pours herself another before offering to top up Bella Donna's. "And what about you? Why you so critical of him?"
*
"Because he broke my heart. He used to care for me, but in a different way. Quite the charmer back in the day, of course. Fleetin." Bella Donna says the last word with a bit of regret. "Now dat he's gettin' mixed up wit' dis Mutant Revolution business, who knows how long he's lible to live. Get shot by some cop or some mutant. Ain't wort' de time lovin' him no more. He won't be round long."
*
There's a vague nod of Jessica's head and she takes another sip of her whiskey. "I've never experienced anything like that," the honesty wins Bella Donna charming smile. "Maybe one day." Her eyes lid lightly, "And besides, he's resourceful. I'm sure he'll be around much longer than you think."
*
"Love, dat boy has Assassins, mutants, cops, feds and a bunch of people in France and South America dat want him dead. How long till you tink one of dem gets lucky?" Bella Donna raises her eyebrows and lowers her chin while keeping her eyes fixed on Jessica. "You will. Just a matter of time yet."
*
Jessica shrugs as she takes another swallow of her whiskey. "He's got friends as well," not that she knows any of them besides herself. She takes the bottle and returns it to the cupboard, and then polishes off her glass of whiskey. She sets the glass down in her sink. "Remy will be fine," she insists evenly. "And he seems to have this whole c'est la vie thing down." Pause. "Wait. That's not the one. Seize the day," her eyebrows draw together, "what is that in French?"
*
"Profiter du present. But you tinkin' of carpe diem, hun. Dat's Latin." Bella Donna finishes off the rest of her whiskey in one gulp and looks at the glass sadly. "Hope you're right, princess." She lets out one gigantic yawn and starts to inspect the couch.
*
"Thanks," and with that, Jessica treads back towards the door and engages each of the locks before turning back to the bedroom. "Night. Take it easy. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I have.. water. Instant coffee. Whiskey." And with that Jessica Jones disappears into the bedroom.
*
"Good night!" Bella Donna says as she bemoans the lack of a toothbrush inwardly. Guess that's something she'll get tomorrow. She lays down and is asleep almost as soon as she closes her eyes.
Meanwhile, an hour after Jessica has fallen asleep, there's a movement inside her closet. It opens slowly as someone slowly steps out, shrouded in the darkness.
"Hello, Jessica…"
TO BE CONTINUED…