Lost Boy
After Jessica Jones, his life had been different. He couldn’t control her, so he wanted her. He needed her, had to have her.
He thought that was what love was – wasn’t it? Wanting something so badly that you would do anything for it? Needed it more than air?
As he wandered the streets of New York, trying to find a new life for himself, he pondered what his life would be like if he had never met Jessica.
Jessica, Jessica, Jessica.
So beautiful.
And so cruel. He had barely gotten away with his life, promising not to cause anymore trouble for the raven haired enhanced woman.
In the blink of an eye, he had hot coffee all over the front of his shirt. It barely burned.
“Oh my- I’m so sorry! I’m such a klutz- Can I pay for dry cleaning, or, a new shirt? I’m so sorry. That looks expensive…”
Without even thinking he spat back, “You can pay me back by walking into traffic.”
He watched as her silver eyes went from wide to narrowed in rage, “Excuse me? Who the hell do you think you are, sicko?” She kicked him in shin, hard and marched away, “Jackass!”
But he had promised.
_
“And what did you find?” he asked as he sipped on a rich red.
“There wasn’t much about her available, but she lives across from the Met, Sir. Penthouse 2201.”
“Penthouse, ay?”
“Her name is Serenity Reign Richards-”
“Interesting.”
“Her birthday is June 30th, 1990. She turned 25 this year and graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in Political Science and German. She played collegiate field hockey, was President of the German club and President of the school’s chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha and then Panhellenic for two years. She lives with her best friend, Mina Aino, a film actress who she has been in school with since junior high. She was born in Central City, California to Evelyn and Nathaniel Richards, younger sister to Reed Richards. She spent her teenage years in a boarding school in Cambridge. Her favorite color is pink and she has a pet cat, named Luna.”
Kilgrave leaned back in his seat. “Excellent. Bring me pictures.”
_
She woke up at 5:30 on the dot, and then took a five mile run. She left her apartment promptly at 8:00 and headed over to Starbucks where she ordered an iced dirty chai with soy milk, and a fruit cup every morning, which he reasoned that she must consume in the Range Rover that picked her up in the morning because he never saw her leave the vehicle with her order. She always arrived at work at exactly 9:05. She was head of the New York branch of Stark Industries. She would say hi to her assistant, a redhead named Molly and usually had meetings in the morning. At 1, she would get lunch. She varied where she went, and whom she met but she usually met Mina Aino at a vegan restaurant near her office, occasionally a strawberry blonde woman named Virginia Potts at a burger place downtown or an Asian girl named Daisy Johnson at a pizza place nearby. Sometimes her sister-in-law, Susan Storm brought lunch and the two ate together.
After she finished lunch she would finish her meetings for the day. She usually left the office around 5 and arrived at her apartment around 6. She cooked her own dinner, and usually didn’t leave her apartment again after that unless she had an event for Stark Industries.
On the weekends, she usually slept in and then she and her friend Mina would go shopping. When they went shopping, they dropped thousands of dollars. Sometimes, the redhead, or Susan would join them.
That was why he was surprised when she deviated her schedule today. He was waiting in her favorite Starbucks, getting ready to introduce himself for the first time. He was a bit anxious. 8:00… 8:05… 8:10…
Where was she?
Could she have gotten hurt?
He shifted his weight and looked around. There was no sign of her.
When 9:00 came and went he left and hailed a cab to her office.
“Take me to Stark Industries. For free.”
When he got out, he was dismayed to find that she wasn’t there either.
“Looking for me?” a voice said from behind him.
Lo and behold, he was met with a beautiful, white haired angel with pale skin and red lips. Her cheekbones were chiseled and her eyes were a sharp silver, bringing out the slight blue of her veins under her skin.
“I noticed you’ve been following me,” she said, “Are you a rapist, or a serial killer?”
“I’ve never killed anybody.”
“Just a rapist then?”
“No- not that either.”
“Why are you following me?”
“I,” he began, “I wanted to apologize for what I said.”
“Sure.”
“Please,” he said, wondering if he should test his powers, “You have to forgive me.”
She snorted, “I don’t have to do anything.”
Remarkable.
“Let me buy you dinner.”
The girl frowned at him, “You told me to play in traffic.”
“I was having a bad day.”
She rolled her eyes, “The answer is still no. Thanks for the apology, but no thanks. And stop following me. Or else.”
She spun on her heels and strutted away without a second glance.
Time for Plan B.
_
“Miss Richards, there’s a delivery for you,” Molly said, “This time it’s a bouquet of lilies.”
Serenity sighed, “Why can’t this guy just take no for an answer?”
“Who’s sending them, anyway?” Molly asked, “There must be a thousand dollars worth of flowers in your office by now.”
“Yeah,” came a masculine voice, “Who’s sending them?”
“Reed!” cried Serenity, jumping on him in excitement, “What’re you doing here?”
“I had to stop in to visit Pepper. I figured I would come see my baby sister while I was here too.”
“Hey!” exclaimed Serenity, “I’m only 5 years younger than you.”
“Is that all?” he teased, “It seems like more.”
“Jerk,” she mumbled, “Want to take me and Mina to dinner?”
“Is that a question or a demand?”
Serenity glared at him, “I want to go to-”
“Not the vegan place.”
“Why?” Serenity whined, “Tofu is good for you, fart face.”
“Hey, I’m not a fart face!”
“Are so,” said Serenity.
“If I’m a fart face, you’re a moon face, meatball head.”
“Excuse me?” asked Serenity in mock offense, “I prefer tofu head.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go eat some stinking vegetables.”
They decided to walk to the restaurant, since it was close by and Mina met them on the way.
“Reed,” she sang.
“Why?” he whispered to himself.
“How’s my favorite cousin?” Mina continued.
“I thought I was your favorite,” Serenity said.
“Reed’s credit card limit is higher,” Mina deadpanned.
“In that case,” Serenity continued, “Reed… How’s my favorite brother?”
“I’m your only brother, twerp.”
As they sat down, Reed took a more serious look to his face, and excused himself momentarily.
“What was that about?” Mina asked.
Serenity looked up and from across the street she could see-
“I’ll be right back.”
“What the-”
“I’ll explain later.”
_
“Why are you following my sister?” Reed questioned sternly to the dark haired man.
“What?”
“My. Sister. You’re following her. I’ve seen you three times already.”
“Believe me; I’m not following your sister.”
“You’re not following my sister.”
“Answer my questions truthfully. What is Serenity’s favorite flower?”
Reed ground his teeth before spitting out, “Red roses.”
“How romantic,” Kilgrave continued, “What’s the password to her security panel at her apartment?”
“Luna.”
“Named after her cat?”
“Named after the moon.”
Kilgrave stepped back, “Is she seeing anyone?”
Reed paused, “No.”
“Why did you hesitate?”
“I don’t think she’s ready to date. Her fiancé died.”
“Tell me more.”
“Serenity’s fiancé Darien Shields died five years ago.”
“How?”
“He was murdered.”
“Forget you talked to me. Forget you saw me. Go back to your sister.”
_
“It was good seeing you,” Reed said sincerely, “I miss you. Are you sure you don’t want to come move back into the Baxter building?”
Serenity laughed, “I have obligations here. But I’ll miss you too. Besides every time I go there Johnny tries to convince me that we should keep it in the family.”
Reed smiled a little and then got a more serious look on his face, “Sere… maybe it’s time for you to start dating.”
Serenity averted her eyes, “I couldn’t do that to Darien.”
Mina gave the two a watery smile, “Love doesn’t end with Darien, Serenity.”
Serenity shrugged and smiled sadly, “It does for me.”
Mina and Reed both gave her a hug.
_
As she turned around the corner she spotted the guy – her stalker again she let out a frustrated groan.
“What do you want? If I see you outside of my building again I’m going to call the police.”
“I wanted to see you – maybe convince you to go on that date.”
Serenity pinched the bridge of her nose. “If I say yes, will you leave me alone?”
“If it goes badly, sure.”
“It will.”
“It most certainly will not.”