---

At seeing Eddie finally start eating Mercury started digging in fast. He downed a plate of spaghetti, then twelve chicken wings, and legs. At that point he had to leave to get more food, and came back to start chowing down again. He was gonna win that eating contest soon there were five plates stacked on top of each other that used to be stacked with food.

When he finally stopped he felt a little on the queasy side because he’d eaten so fast, and so much. But, all he did was dry heave once. Then put his hand in front of his mouth, and coughed clearing his throat. His eyes stopped their glowing, and he was back to normal again. ”Did I win?“

---

---

Eddie eased up on the pace of her consumption once Mercury started settling in. By the time she finished her third drumstick, he had already left to get more food. She grinned, mentally high-fiving herself for tricking him into consuming a lot of food.

But to be far, it wasn't like it was rather hard to achieve.

Eventually, Mercury stopped. For a moment, it looked like he was going to puke, and Eddie bit down on the corner of her mouth, hoping that it'd all stay in. It was the best cork she was able to find for the time being--and the most inexpensive one. She couldn't very easily go around and find people for him to eat. There were laws against that.

”Did I win?“

Eddie nodded, giggling a bit. With relief, she watched as his eyes went back to normal. The crisis was averted: she'd only have to repeat the experience again in four hours. "Yeah, you won, big guy."

---

Mercury lifted his arms up into the air in victory, and then let out a massive belch. Which he covered with his mouth fast, blushing in embarrassment. ”Excuse me… That sorta just came out.“ He looked at Eddie he was very happy that she was smiling, and seemed happy. Then he looked down at her plate there was still a bit of food left on it so got comfy. They weren’t going anywhere till at least half of that plate was gone. ”So… After this the phone store?“

---

---

Eddie squinted slightly, as Mercury released his belch. As disgusting as it was, at least he wasn't murdering anyone. He blushed, and Eddie chuckled a bit, amused at his embarrassment. He really was going through all of the stages of development, and as far as she was aware, he had reached high school movie boyfriend. Instantly in love; instantly and constantly starving.

Of course, it forced Eddie to ask a question of herself. Did she love Mercury? Was this infatuation and attraction already at this level? She didn't know if she felt the same way, but she knew that potentially, she could love him just as much as he loved her. It would just take time.

"I'm not that hungry," Eddie sighed, finishing her fourth drumstick. She set it down on the plate, just a little under half eaten. "Let's just go to the phone store, eh?"

---

Mercury raised an eyebrow at Eddie, but let it go nodding his understanding. He loved her, but wasn’t entirely head over heels. Eddie wasn’t perfect, and neither was he. At times she could frustrate the living hell out of him. Especially when she’d left without so much as a note. God, how he’d wanted to scream at her. But, was glad she’d realized her mistake, and come back. So wasn’t going to yell at her about that as she already felt badly.
”Yeah so I can buy myself a phone. Just a simple one with text, and picture. Nothing fancy or the like. So you can reach me, and not do anything stupid. Like thinking I’d leave you without leaving so much as a note. Or you can reach me in case you’ve run into trouble you can’t get yourself out of.“
He paid the bill when it came, and relaxed back. He actually had a lot of money in a swedish bank account. As he learned from Warlord, and Sly how to be a well paid merc. Especially for offing the people the dead wanted to join them. Especially the big fish like Tia’s brother. He was planning on getting a bounty for her head as well eventually. But, for now he needed to relax, and heal. Rushing in blindly was never a good idea, especially when you’re injured. He signed his name on the bill tipping fifty percent, and then got up rubbing the back of his head tiredly.
”Come on let’s go.“
He adjusted his leather coat’s hood, and walked out of the restaurant. Then walked to the phone store to pick up his new phone. The last phone he had ended up getting smashed by a car tire in a chase. So he usually went for cheap, yet incredibly functional. He picked it out rather fast after looking at the cheap models, and put it on his phone plan. The plan was great, and didn’t need replacing. He’d picked a hot pink flip phone, and he put it in his pocket.
”Gimme your phone. So I can put my contact into it,“ He was a little rough with his words. His hand out for Eddie’s phone he scratched the side of his mouth with a thumb. Something was bothering him, but he couldn’t place what it was.

---

---

Eddie raised an eyebrow at that last comment. Tempted to rip that entire comment to pieces with counterpoints and arguments, she held her tongue. She didn't need to point out how belittling the comment was, or how she indeed did have the logical reasoning skills superior to the child he made her out to be. There were bigger fish to fry.

"T-Mobile is pretty cheap, we can go there," Eddie suggested, holding back her irritation.

The bill arrived, and Mercury paid for it before Eddie could even get a chance to offer. He stood up and rubbed the back of his head, looking incredibly tired. ”Come on let’s go.“

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Eddie chided, chuckling a bit. They walked to the T-Mobile store, and Mercury quickly picked out a hideous pink flip phone.

”Gimme your phone. So I can put my contact into it,“ Mercury said roughly.

Edwina's annoyance flared up again. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, and placed it in Mercury's hands. The phone was dead, long since having run out of charge. Come on, I dare you to try to enter your information... Eddie thought to herself.

---

Mercury looked at the dead phone for a bit, and raised his brow at Eddie. Then asked the store manager if they could charge it. They agreed, and Mercury waited for a bit till it was able to turn on. Then put his contact info into Eddie’s phone. He wasn’t an idiot either, and he looked at Eddie again. Before buying her a new phone charger as well. Then handed both her phone, and the charger back to her. Figuring if she wasn’t charging it last night she must have lost her charger in the plane crash.
After that he left the store, and stretched out with a big tired yawn. Then looked at Eddie, and then straight ahead. ”I don’t like being called a teenager. I’m in my fucking twenties, I don’t care if for my species that is an adolescent. I was around humans my entire existence. I’m sorry I lashed out… Is there anything you want to do?“ He personally wanted to go clothes shopping as this was his last set of clothes that wasn’t torn to hell.

---

---

Mercury kept staring at her, and Eddie fidgeted a bit. He charged her phone, entered his new information in it, and handed her both the phone and the charger.

"Thanks," Eddie said curtly, pocketing the phone and putting the charger away as well. "Charger was at my place in Brazil..."

He left the store, and Eddie followed him, very much aware of his rapidly changing mood. For once, she preferred the company of the masks to his. He wasn't the person she had met a day ago--already, she watched him change rapidly. Sure, the person she had meant did inform her about how he'd one day kill her. But that person was a happy person--not this.

”I don’t like being called a teenager. I’m in my fucking twenties, I don’t care if for my species that is an adolescent. I was around humans my entire existence. I’m sorry I lashed out… Is there anything you want to do?“

What I want to do is end this stupid Twilight novel story.... She hesitated, glancing around the mall. She didn't care for shopping much. She wanted to take the Amtrak home, and forget that any of this had happened. She wanted to return to a normal life, to not have to keep track how long it'd been since she fed Mercury. Of course she had a crush on him--but already, her feelings were going under strain.

Relationships were hardly her area of expertise.

"I want to go to the comic book store," Eddie said. "But I don't really care about what we do."

...As long as you don't eat anyone, Eddie silently thought.

---

Mercury looked over at Eddie, and nodded softly. He wasn’t good with relationships either, he liked her. Maybe it wasn’t love after all. He walked to the comic book store, and smiled at her. ”Is it alright if I go clothes shopping, while you look at the comics? This is sorta my last change of clothes.“
He didn’t want to make Eddie uncomfortable, and he probably should try figuring out this relationship more. Try to be more of an adult, but it was hard when you didn’t know what you were doing. Plus the person wouldn’t tell you not to do certain things, without getting angry.
”I really am sorry Eddie. I am acting like a child, and I’ll try to do better.“
He was ashamed of himself what if Eddie decided to end things. It’d probably serve him right he guessed for being a bad, whatever he was to Eddie. Then he supposed he’d head back to Brazil alone… After figuring out how to get a new passport that is. Probably just stealing one would be easier. Though for now he’d try just being a good reliable companion, and friend.
”I can get you something too if you want. I can sorta figure out the style you like. Plus Magi knows your sizes.“

---

---

”Is it alright if I go clothes shopping, while you look at the comics? This is sorta my last change of clothes.“

She laughed, feeling some normalcy return. "Course, stinky," she winked. She relaxed a bit, her irritation largely vanishing. There were two things that frustrated her to no end in relationships: cliches and being constantly taken care of. She wanted to stand on her own feet, and of course, not want to gag when her sweetheart decided to be romantic.

”I really am sorry Eddie. I am acting like a child, and I’ll try to do better.“

Eddie shook her head. She appreciated the gesture, but she knew that Mercury was inexperienced. He didn't need to apologize for that. "I'm just supremely stubborn and a bit stressed," Eddie explained. She gave him a hug, and a delicate kiss on the cheek.

”I can get you something too if you want. I can sorta figure out the style you like. Plus Magi knows your sizes.“

She raised an eyebrow, and snorted. Of course the masks knew what size she was. However, the prospect of Mercury attempting to buy clothes for her was amusing. "Alright, but if I don't like it, you have to wear it," Eddie wagered, her tongue poking out slightly in her grin. "Choose wisely~"

Putting a hand on Mercury's arm and squeezing gently, Edwina parted and went into the comic book store. It was a way for her to destress, to escape. Quickly, she went over to the DC comic section, and looked for the L's. There, on the shelf, was the comic about her favorite superhero: Lucifer.

Quickly paying for it, Eddie took the book and waited outside of the clothing store, relaxing as she read about the problems and worries of someone else. In a way, she felt like Lucifer was her brother, another version of herself. They shared the same name, after all. Misunderstood--that's what bonded her with him. He was rebelling against a predetermined fate, something she strived to do as well.

Pulling out her phone, she scrolled to the new contact--Mercury. She sent off a little text:

Are we boyfriend-girlfriend?

She put her phone away, only to notice it begin to ring. And ring and ring and ring. She grimaced: it was her mother. Answering the phone, she listened to a lecture about leaving Brazil with no note, about failing to show up at the train station, and a thousand other things Eddie supposedly had done.

Finally, her mother ordered her to come home.

"I've...I've gone out with my boyfriend," Eddie murmured.

Her mother didn't care. She wanted Eddie to come home immediately--and if she would, bring the young man with her. It was time for some good old fashioned motherly intervention.

---

Mercury went to a large clothing store on the shopping strip. He was glad it seemed more rustic gothic. As it was easier to find the coats he liked, and leather belts that hooked together. So he can use those to hold his masks. He was trying some things on just to make sure he liked them alright. It was during this time he got a text from Eddie.
Are we boyfriend-girlfriend?
It took him a long time to sorta figure out how to answer. The text he sent back was a simple question in appearance, but was deeper.
Do you want to be boyfriend-girlfriend?
He already knew his answer, but he wanted to make sure Eddie made the same decision on her own. He didn’t want to presume, and come on too strongly. Figuring that’s what must have upset her in the first place.

He exited the fitting room, and proceeded to look at the shirts, and jeans. Something simple, and comfy. Mercury looked at the clothes closely making sure it’d fit Eddie’s style perfectly. Seeing as he wasn’t wanting to wear women’s clothing. He grabbed some distressed skinny jeans, grey and green plaid button up shirt, and a t-shirt he found funny so wouldn’t mind wearing it. Then paid for everything before coming outside to meet Eddie. He’d had her clothes put into a smaller bag for her.
”Here this is yours. I figured a full change of clothes would be good… Well except for undergarments that’s all you.“
He then laughed gently handing her the bag.

---

---

Eddie glanced away from her comic. A moment ago, in the story, Lucifer had found himself trapped in a world, thrice removed from reality. He had used blood in order to escape, along with a girl named Rachel. Eddie knew what happened next by heart, but the artwork and story telling never ceased to amaze her.

Do you want to be boyfriend-girlfriend?

Eddie chuckled. "If we're answering questions with questions, so be it," she muttered to herself, typing out a reply.

Do you?

She put her phone away, and continued reading the comic until Mercury returned. ”Here this is yours. I figured a full change of clothes would be good… Well except for undergarments that’s all you.“

She glanced up, seeing Mercury, and took the bag. Glancing inside, she couldn't help but snicker at the shirt. It was indeed something she would wear--though she was a bit disappointed Mercury didn't try to put her in a dress. She would have loved to see him in one.

"Thanks," Eddie chuckled. "Listen, my parents want me to come home for a few days...And they said you could come."

---

Mercury saw the text back when he was in the store, but would wait to tell her in person. As he was at check out when he’d gotten it.
He was glad that Eddie seemed to like the clothes he’d picked out for her. Then he heard her talking about heading home, and her folks wanting to meet him. Which must’ve meant one of two things either he was introduced as her boyfriend, or was her lab assistant.
”By the way, to answer that text. Do I want to be your boyfriend? Yes, I do. But, it’s ultimately your decision in the end if that’s a reality or not.“
He stretched slightly, and yawned. He was going to need a new bag for his stuff, and saw a store that sold that. ”I’d also love to meet your folks. I want to see the idiots that thought taking their young daughter to a haunted house was a good idea. I mean any kid would be traumatized after that sorta shit.“ He looked down at her as she sat then towards the bag store again. ”If I’m gonna travel I’ll be needing a new bag to carry all my clothes in. Rather not make a bad first impression by looking homeless by carrying this shopping bag around… Do you need one? Can’t remember if you lost your bag on the plane or not. “

---

---

Eddie nodded, uncertain as to whether or not she could continue to interaction otherwise. The entire process of forming a relationship was...messy. It was filled with questions and emotions, with uncertainty and illusion. Every relationship had a better chance of failing than lasting.

Would this sink also ship? If she swam out to it, would she drown among the waves?

"Cool," Eddie said. "I mean, not cool, but like cool, you know? Like...It would be a cool thing erm...In other words.... Cool means yes."

She laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.

”I’d also love to meet your folks. I want to see the idiots that thought taking their young daughter to a haunted house was a good idea. I mean any kid would be traumatized after that sorta shit.“

Snickering a bit, Eddie bit her lip, mostly due to habit than actual nervousness at this point. "I mean, there supposedly isn't anything wrong with the house...My parents don't believe in that sort of thing."

”If I’m gonna travel I’ll be needing a new bag to carry all my clothes in. Rather not make a bad first impression by looking homeless by carrying this shopping bag around… Do you need one? Can’t remember if you lost your bag on the plane or not. “

Eddie nodded a bit. "What I have is what you see," she explained. Her luggage was still back in Brazil, the very few items she had with her being what she walked around in that day. She didn't particularly care, however, if her parents thought she looked homeless. After all, the other scientists at her lab had reported her missing.

They mostly cared that their daughter came home in one piece.

---

Mercury nodded smiling softly at Eddie. ”We’ll take it slow, one day at a time. Till we’re both comfortable saying what our relationship is.“ He then looked at her, and rubbed his chin. ”I’m really sorry we didn’t stop by your place to pick up your stuff. I feel like a jerk. I’ll try to replace everything you lost and needed. That is if you want me to.“ He frowned a little shaking his head then looked at Eddie. He felt really bad about forgetting to get Eddie’s stuff. But, then again it most likely would’ve been lost like his duffle bag was. ”Well anything you immediately need like a change of undergarments in order to take a shower. Because I’m not the only one that reeks of salt water, and vomit.“ He burst into a teasing laughter.

---

---

Eddie shook her head, laughing a bit. "Pedro is shipping my things home," Edwina explained. "My parents called him about it, it'll all be fine. Besides, I didn't bring anything I cared about to Brazil."

”Well anything you immediately need like a change of undergarments in order to take a shower. Because I’m not the only one that reeks of salt water, and vomit.“

She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not going bra shopping, I've got a bunch of stuff at my parent's house." She chuckled a bit, amused at the variety of emotions Mercury seemed to be bouncing too. Had he not seemed to be annoyed at being teased about going through puberty, she would have compared him to a woman on her period.

Which, according to her earlier lie, Eddie was supposedly suffering from.

"I'll go get train tickets, you get a bag," Eddie offered. "It's a long train ride, though, I have to warn you..."

---

”Well alright then if I don’t need to worry. I won’t, or well at least try not to.“ He laughed blushing a bit at Eddie talking about bra shopping. The thought of her breasts of course made him blush. She was a very pleasing on the eyes type of girl. "I'll go get train tickets, you get a bag," Nodding liking that plan he was about to set off when she warned him about how long the train ride was going to be. Well, he’d just have to pick up some magazines to keep busy then. He figured Eddie would talk if she wanted to. He walked to the bag store, and bought a simple bag that was easy to carry, and relatively inexpensive.
He walked towards the train station after moving his stuff into his new bag. He was passing through, and stopped at a concessions stand. He was buying a couple sandwiches for him, and Eddie. He was about to check out when he stopped, seeing a science magazine with Tia’s face on it. His eyes glowed with outrage, but he forcefully calmed himself. Then bought that magazine not only to read the articles, but to cut Tia’s face out so he could throw darts at it later. He’d always seen it on the television, and always thought it looked fun. But, never really had a nemesis worthy of such hate until now. He got over to Eddie, and smiled at her though that didn’t last very long. As he thought about Tia, and what she’d done to him. After meeting with Eddie’s parents he would need to talk to her about him going after Tia. He opened one of his sandwiches, and started tearing into it. He was so upset he'd become exceedingly hungry. ”So... When's the train coming in?“

---

---

Edwina took off towards the train station, waiting in one of the irritatingly long lines. Her phone continued to buzz constantly as late texts were delivered, and as her sister, Eleanora, heard that Eddie would be bringing home a boyfriend. A few of the texts were fairly typical, such as:

I thought you were GAY?!

For the most part, Edwina just sent gifs of her favorite shows back to Eleanora, and occasionally berated her to go back to focusing on her homework. By the time she reached the front of the line, Eddie finally managed to get her sister to go back to writing her report on the European Union. Purchasing two tickets for Fall River, Eddie pocketed them, and left the line, waiting for Mercury.

”So... When's the train coming in?“

"In ten minutes," Eddie replied, chuckling a bit at the sandwich in Mercury's mouth. "Do you ever feel...full?" she teased him, putting her comic book in the bag with her clothes, and handing him his train ticket.

Glancing up at his eyes, Eddie checked them carefully, ensuring that he wasn't about to flip out and start eating people any time soon. She noticed, however, the magazine in his hands--one with Tia on the cover. She grimaced a bit, guessing at Mercury's intentions in purchasing it.

"You're going to go after her," Eddie said. It was hardly a question.

---

”I was full until I saw Tia. I got so mad that I got hungry again.“ He looked at the magazine as he chomped away on his sandwich. Pretty soon it was gone, and he opened another one to start eating. He looked over at Eddie, and slowed down a little. He waited for the train to come into the station holding his ticket in his off hand after putting his magazine away.
"You're going to go after her," He looked at Eddie then straight ahead, and let out a sigh. ”Eventually, but for now I need more time to lick my wounds. Not only that, but I need to wait for a chance to attack her. She’s an important figurehead in the scientific community. People are going to end up noticing her death, and I’d rather not be caught with my pants down.“
He felt more natural when talking about killing. It is what he did, and what he was good at. Interacting with people was most certainly not a strong area for him. Especially since he had no real face or personality to call his own. All of it cobbled together, and borrowed from his masks. One of which was a girl.
”For now though I’m all yours… Damn that sounded weird coming out of my mouth.“ He stuck the new sandwich into his mouth grumbling a little as he sighed.

---

---

"So you're like the Hulk...Only you eat instead of smashing things?" Eddie joked, though she knew it was hardly the truth. She'd have to find someway to steal the magazine from him, maybe even accidentally toss it out. She really didn't want to have to explain to the authorities why Mercury started eating some of the passengers.

He kept on eating sandwich after sandwich, behaving just like a black hole.

”Eventually, but for now I need more time to lick my wounds. Not only that, but I need to wait for a chance to attack her. She’s an important figurehead in the scientific community. People are going to end up noticing her death, and I’d rather not be caught with my pants down.“

"People are going to notice her death regardless of how you plan it," Eddie pointed out. "Killing people isn't the solution to every problem, man."

She could see how...comfortable...he was talking like this. It would have terrified her, had she not always been excited by the more morbid people. Villains were some of her favorite characters--for example, her own alias was Lucifer! Evil mentalities and ways were delicious.

But now, in real life? They were terrifying.

”For now though I’m all yours… Damn that sounded weird coming out of my mouth.“

He ate another sandwich, and Eddie rolled her eyes slightly. However, things about him did start to make a little more sense. He was normal when he was on the run, putting bullets in people, and the works. When he was placed in a domestic situation...he didn't know what to do with himself.

"Well, we've got a four hour train ride," Eddie grimaced, her eyebrows raising a bit. The train doors slid aside, allowing each and every passenger to board. Eddie showed her ticket and climbed on, finding a secluded seat, and positioning herself next to a window. She loved to look out at the scenery, but also enjoyed the isolation of a window seat--there were no obligations to interact with every person.

Pulling out her comic book, she settled in for the long trip. Hopefully, nothing would crash this time.