Arrow

"Erm, Miss Kisses. Are you aware of why you are here?"

I resist chewing my upper lip.

"Um, because I accidentally stole your parking space that one time? I mean, I was new, I had no idea what I was doing and I was nervous because I was running late. Mornings have never really agreed with me, and I was having a serious case of bad hair and needed just a little extra ti-"

"No, Miss Kisses. That is not why you are here," he interjects, "Although, thank you for reminding me. You are much overdue for a parking ticket. Mr. Noble, if you would be so kind as to notify my friend Reginald in the Vehicles and Miscellaneous department that Miss Kisses here has not received her fee for the little incident a few decades back, I would much appreciate it."

The man in the brown suit stationed at the door nods briefly and exits the room.

I close my eyes, a spark of irritation flaring in my chest. Me and my big, fat mouth.

"Miss?"

The man's voice draws my attention back to the table. He offers me the same tight lipped smile Mr. Noble offered me earlier. His eyes are expectant, one of his eyebrows is raised.

I squirm on my seat, feeling my cheeks heat from the scrutiny of his gaze. The stares of the other board members don't help either. One of them, a lady with bright yellow pajamas and a mess of baby blue curls clears her throat.

"Arrow, you are not here because of the parking ticket. You're here because we've been informed you had an... incident with a fellow TMC employee earlier this week. Is this true?"

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling like a child for the first time in a while. I know they're not actually interested in workplace romance drama. They want to know whether or not I've tipped the scales of the universe by coming close to killing two supernaturals. Well, as close as one can get with supernaturals, given the fact they're not actually alive and therefore aren't capable of dying.

"Y-yes."

The room is silent. Expecting more. I swallow thickly, feeling heat overwhelm my face. The woman prompts me again.

"And this incident, what did it entail? What happened?"

This time, I do chew my lip. I better start making plans to sell my belongings because I'm not sure Limbo has apartments. I'm going to be homeless, penniless, and jobless. Not to mention single for all eternity because what hot guys are living in the realm between all realms?

At my silence, she sighs.

"Arrow, we cannot help you if we don't know the full details on what took place."

I look down to my hands.

"How are you going to help me?"

The man in the silky, red suit speaks for her, scooting his chair closer to the table. He doesn't look happy, but at least he doesn't angry. That's a start. I can work with that.

"If you explain to us what happened, we may be able to arrange for you to keep your job and hopefully minimize the impact on our worlds. Now, Miss Kisses, I'm interested in hearing about your version of events. What happened?"

I clear my throat, trying my best to straighten my back in my chair.

"I um, have this boyfriend."

My eyes are starting to sting all of a sudden. My voice sounds so small in the large room. I'm so insignificant compared to these people.

"His name's Desire. And I love him a lot. He's... gorgeous. And super smart, and super kind when he wants to be. He's thoughtful and considerate. If I'm sick, he cleans our place and feeds Pot and cooks for me and rubs my feet. If I'm struggling with work, he offers me advice on how to better handle the workload and manage my temper. And he's so driven, the complete opposite of me. He knows exactly what he wants and isn't afraid of speaking up for it. When he loves something —or someone— he loves them genuinely and loves hard. It's why it wasn't easy finding him wrestling tongues with that horrible girl Patience from the IT department. You know the one, the one with the awful aim and clumsy feet."

Everyone in the board room stares at me flatly, clearly unimpressed with my backstory. But I mean, if I don't explain what he was like, how can they understand why I did what I did? All the passion and history I share with Desi was turned into bitterness and anger and vindictiveness with the same intensity.

One of the members whispers to another.

"If I wanted to waste my time with useless information, I'd be home right now watching the last season of Throne Games."

I scoff, earning a sigh from red suit.

"Miss Kiss, please just tell us what happened during the incident. As riveting as your history is with the level 3 Cupid, we're more interested in the part where you nearly provoke an attack from the mirror realms."

He rubs his temples, closing his eyes. He gestures with a hand for me to continue. His shiny, perfectly coiffed red hair makes his skin shine. He's like a giant, talking embodiment of a full-on blush.

"If I don't explain to you how much I loved him how would you understand why I had to trap him in the Wailing Waters?"

My voice comes out sharp, and others in the room inhale. Although, I doubt my tone of voice had anything to do with it. Whispers and mutters suddenly erupt until red suit placates them.

"How were you even able to?" Pajama lady asks, mouth slightly agape.

I start fidgeting with my hands, unable to find a safe place to stare at. If I look at red suit, or pajamas, or tinker bell, I feel like I'll burn. It's like looking directly at the sun. Too much contact with them might result in permanent damage. Whether it's to your feelings or self-esteem, I haven't yet figured out.

"Umm, well you know the usual way. I cursed him and said I wished him and Patience all the unhappiness in the world and wished he would just die in a hole. Inside the wailing waters. Alongside his friend since she was all too happy to spend time with him."

They all stare at me flatly. I roll my eyes.

"Okay, fine. I used my abilities to read minds to see what the nymph of the wailing waters most desired and that was a body in exchange for freedom from the river. And so, um, I kind of offered two supernaturals in exchange for her help in trapping them."

Red suit stares at me, mouth slightly agape. Oh holy hexes, I'm in really deep shit.