№8|Sunflowers
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Cruella never liked her job, but Diane made it fun. Now that she was gone, Cruella was now Catania’s head assistant, which meant she had to stay with Chistopher or she’d suffer the same wrath as Diane.

“...don't forget to pick up my dry cleaning, Cruella! Are you listening to me?!” Catania scolded. “Ye-Yes!” Cruella snapped out of her dream of Hex.

“Look, I know being with my nephew is great, Chistopher an amazing guy, but you can't daydream about him all the time.” Catania chuckled, sipping her tea.

“Yeah, Hex is an amazing guy…” Cruella sighed in delight, muttering under her breath. Catania looked up at her suspiciously, tossing her a list, “finish it by tonight.”

“There’s a hundred things on this list, you can possibly-”

“Do I hear complaining?”

Cruella sighed, “no,” Cruella clutched the notepad, “not at all…”

“Good.” Catania pointed to the door, “close it on your way out.”

Cruella closed the door, “damn her…” she grabbed her coat from the break room and headed out to start on the errins.

Maybe I should call Christopher. Cruella pulled out her phone to do just that. The phone rang and just kept on ringing, before going to voicemail.

“Must be busy.” Cruella shrugged. “Cruella, I don't understand why you’re still putting up with that idiot.” her animalistic, Alvarez, groaned.

“He’s the reason why Catania hasn't fired me yet.” Cruella reminded her. “Also the reason why you haven’t been promoted yet.” Alvarez shot back, “I know you want that office, Cruella! Just meet with the head fashionista of the department for an interview.” 

Cruella walked into the flower shop, picking up fresh lilies were one of the things on Catania’s list. They have to be for this exact shop though, which seemed tedious to Cruella.

This entire list was tedious busy work.

Speaking of work, ever wonder why Chistopher didn’t pick up? One would think he would rush for the phone by the way he loves Cruella, but this was different.

Christopher walked into his aunts office, “so, how are the Dragon and the Rebel?”

Catania turned her laptop towards Chstiopher to show him Edgar and Marmalade being held in chains. “Why can't we just kill them already, Auntie?”

“We can't kill them yet! They’re bait! Think about it Chris,” Catania got up from her chair, walking towards the window, looking down on the streets of New York, “Edgar alone has a bounty of $20,000! With that money we’ll be rich!”

“Alright,” Chris took a bite of the cookies on her desk, “but what about Marmalade?”

“Marmalade, dear, sweet, innocent, Marmalade doesn't have a bounty. No criminal records whatsoever.” Catania sipped her tea, “her family however...”

“What?”

Catania tossed him a file. Christopher opened it, his eyes widening as he read the information, “no way! You gotta be kidding me?! She’s related to that family?!”

Catania nodded, “it’s all true, her family’s been looking for her for quite some time.”

“Any ideas why?” Christopher asked, propping his feet on the desk. “No, and move your feet,” Catnia pushed his feet out of the way, walking past him as she served herself another cup of tea.

“But they’re offering $1,000,000 to anyone who can get information on them. I tried asking the family what it was all about but they said it was strictly family business.” Catania rolled her eyes.

“So, we’re not killing Marmalade?” Christopher asked. Catania sighed and smacked him upside the head, “OF COURSE WE’RE NOT!!”

“Then why keep her here? Why don't we just give her back to the family now?” Christopher shrugged. Catania rolled her eyes again.

“Look at the file under Marmalades. What does that name say?”

Christopher turned to the next page, his eyes almost bugging out of his head, “Cruella DeVille”

Cruella couldn't admit it to anyone, but knowing Marmalade was missing was killing her. She really was her little sister, she had a younger brother as well but more on that later.

She sat at a small cafe, playing with her creme brulee. “So, you choose Marmalade Diaz huh? I should have taken your advice and changed my last name as well!” Cruella hit her head on the table, punishing herself for her own stupidity.

She remembers when they were little, Cruella would take Marmalade and their little brother to cafes just like this one and order creme burelles. It was their little treat they got whenever they learned a new move, got good grades, or caught something while on hunt.

Cruella let tears fall on the patsy, “spilt up, I said. It’ll be best for all of us, I said. Why am I such an idiot!”

“You’re not an idiot.”

Cruella looked up to see Hex sitting across from her, “H-Hex?! Wh-What are you doing here?”

“It’s the Daisy Cafe, you love this cafe, you said it was one of your favorite spots in the city. Remember?” Hex reminded her, Cruella looked at him in slight shock.

“How’d you remember that? I told you that months ago.” Cruella finally took a bite out of her pastry. Hex chuckled, “you may not know this Cruella, but guys remember everything, even the small details, when it comes to girls they like.”

Cruella blushed, “y-you like m-me?”

Hex winked, not replying to her question, but he knew Cruella got the idea by the shy smile across her lips.

“Everything okay?” Hex asked, holding her hand. “Worried, that’s all…” Cruella replied, looking up at the sky, “with everything going on with the kidnappings and the gang being chaotic I’m worried that if they took Edgar you might be next.”

Hex kissed her forehead, “not happening, Marshmallow. See, people don't mess with a man who can burn their skull in 10 seconds.”

Cruella laughed softly, “I guess your right.”

“Exactly,” Hex noticed the list sticking out of Cruella’s purse, “another list from the boss?”

“Yeah, gotta get it done by tonight, and I only finished,” she looked back at the list, “15 out of 49 task on this list.”

“Want some help?” Hex asked graciously. “Don't you have to get back to the mechanics?” Cruella raised her eyebrow. “Nah, it’s slow today, barely had any people come in. Plus, my team can handle themselves.” Hex assured her.

“Well in that case,” Cruella smiled at Hex, “I would love some help.”

Emmanuel sat at his desk, the lead they had on the airport lady was a bust since nobody could find a trace on her. He raked his fingers through his silky black hair, slamming his fist on the desk.

“Where the hell are you, Marmalade?!”

He buried his head in his arms, turning towards the left to see the cute little sunflower plant sitting there. He smiled, remembering the first time he ever laid eyes on his Marmalade.

Emmanuel stepped off the jet, covering his eyes from the beaming sun “why must we be here?”

“Because,” Dizzy walked out the same jet wearing a beautiful sundress, “after that last steal we both need a vacation!”

“But what about the gang? You and I both knew those dopes can't handle it alone!” Emmanuel questioned. “They’re fine, no let’s go shopping!” Dizzy cheered, pulling Emmanuel towards the shopping district.

After hours of shopping, Dizzy and Emmanuel headed towards their hotel, passing by a small flower shop. “Oooh! Let’s get some orchids for Summer!” Dizzy opened the door to the flower shop.

“Hello?” Emmanuel called out “anyone here?!”

“I’ll be right out to help you!” a voice from the back of the store called out. Emmanuel noticed the small sunflower pot on the counter, “awe, cute.”

“Since when do you like sunflowers?”

“I don't know…”

Marmalade came out of the back room, fixing her hair, “I’m sorry, I was asleep.” she yawned.

Emmanuel smiled, “nice hair, uh...what did you say your name was?”

“Marmalade.” she smiled, shaking his head “and who are you?”

“Emmanuel,” he smiled, looking into her fiery amber red eyes.

“Hey, Emmanuel, ready to go?” Dizzy broke him out of a trance.

“Yeah, just a sec…” Emmanuel responded haphazardly, his attention was focused on Marmalade. “So you said you're from New York?” Marmalade sat on the counter, kicking her legs back and forth, “I have a sibling there. She says the city lights are pretty.”

“Well yeah but it’s so noisy, here in Florida it’s so quiet.” Emmanuel smiled, sitting next to her, “it’s nice.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I mean, here things go slow, it’s so peaceful.” Emmanuel looked into her red eyes, a warm feeling filling his body as he watched him giggle. “What are you staring at?” Marmalade asked, blushing slightly.

“O-Oh! Um...nothing never mind…” Emmanuel looked away from him. Marmalade turned his head towards her, “Emmanuel,” he loved the way it rolled off her lips. She surprised him by putting her hand on his heart, “you’re soul...it’s beautiful.”

“My soul isn't beautiful,” Emmanuel jumped down from the counter, “after all the shit I’ve done it’s anything but that.’

She took his hands in her’s, “we all do bad things, even me, but even if the people you hurt do forgive you, you have to find it in you to forgive yourself.”

“As beautiful as that was, I’m going to go to the hotel, meet me there when your done.” Dizzy said, waving goodbye to Emmanuel and Marmalade before leaving.

“I don't think I can forgive myself.” Emmanuel sighed, his voice growing heavy. “Why is that?” Marmalade laid on the counter, turning sideways to look at him.

“Huh?”

“Why can't you forgive yourself?” Marmalade asked again. “I hurt a lot of innocent people…all who had rich lives that should not have been ended by my hands.” Emmanuel pulled up a stool, playing with his fingers.

“I understand,” Marmalade intertwined her hands with his. “No you don't…” Emmanuel chuckled sadly. “I do,” Marmalade sat up, still holding his hand, “I don't want to bore you with all the details but I was in a dark place for a while. Some complications happened that caused me and my siblings to split. I haven’t seen my big brother and sister in 17 years.”

Marmalade sighed deeply, “but,” she jumped down, walking towards the back to get her purse, “I knew she made us split up to protect our safety.”

Marmalade clutched his shoulder, “I know it’s dark now, Manny,” Marmalade kissed his cheek, “but it’ll get better. I promise.”

She walked towards the door but Emmanuel caught her wrist, “will we see each other again?”

Marmalade picked up the sunflower pot, handing it to Emmanuel, “if we don't see each other, take this to remind you of me.” she kissed his lips softly, letting him experience the enchanting mango taste of her lips.

“Goodbye, Manny.”

Cruella closed the trunk, sighing in relief as they finished all the tasks on Catania’s list. “Thank you for all your help, Hex.” Cruella kissed his cheek. “An-Anytime, Cruella,” he looked at his watch, “hey, it’s 9:00 pm wanna get some dinner?”

“Sure why-” her phone ringing interrupted her, she looked at the caller ID to see it was Christopher, “oh joy, the idiot’s calling me.”

“You should answer, I’ll wait in the car.” Hex smiled as she entered the car. Cruella answered the call, holding it to her ear with her shoulder “hi Chris, how's everything?”

“Where are you?” Christopher asked, opening the door to the prison cell that held Edgar and Marmalade.

“Me and Hex were just doing some errands for Catnina.” Cruella simply explained. “I don't like you hanging out with that guy.” Christopher growled slightly. “Why? He’s one of my closest friends.” Cruella cringed at the word ‘friend’ they both knew they were more than that.

“Cruella, baby, he’s a gang leader. For all we know he might be stringing you along to get info out of you.” Emmanuel grabbed the barely cooked meat and shoved it into Marmalade’s mouth, “there ya go princess.”

Cruella raised her eyebrow, looking at the phone suspiciously, “princes? Since when do you call me that?”

“Nothing dear, it’s just work, I’m interviewing a princess from...uh...London! Yeah!”

Cruella rolled her eyes, “yeah whatever,” she didn’t have time to untangle the lie, “but Hex isn't using me for information, he wouldn't do that.”

“How do you know that?”

Cruella scrunched up her fist, “because I know him! Over the past months, I’ve learned to appreciate Hex and his family for all they’ve done for me! Me and Hex actually have meaningful talk, unlike you and me.”

“Are you saying that filth is better than me?”

“1) don't call him filth, and 2) yes, in some areas, Hex is better than you! He knows what I like, he can tell if there’s something wrong with me in an instant, unlike you where it takes days for you to notice. He makes me laugh, smile, feel wanted, feel accepted! I haven’t felt like that in a long time!”

“Well if you like Hex so much, why don't you be with him?!”

“That has nothing to do with it, Chrstipher.” Cruella sighed in annoyance, “I’m just saying that Hex knows me a lot more than you do, he actually cares about me and my opinions, feelings, and health.”

“So do I!”

“Not in the way Hex does,” Cruella shook her head, “with us it feels like you’re only doing this because you want something.”

If only she knew how right she was. Christopher chuckled slightly, stuffing the meat into Edgar’s mouth. “Look, I got work to do. We’ll discuss this later.”

“Wait-” before Cruella could get on last word in, Christopher hung up. “AGH!” she roared, slamming her phone on the trunk, “I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!” she hit her phone repaedlily with her purse.

“Woah! Woah! Cruella!” Hex grabbed her wrist, Cruella looked into his brown eyes. “Hex…” Cruella whimpered slightly. Hex sighed, pulling her in for a warm hug, “I know you hate Christopher, I do too, but you shouldn’t take your anger out on your phone. Save it for when you see him.”

Cruella laughed softly, “I guess your right, it’s just, sometimes I get so angry at him...I just wanna…” Cruella growled as her eyes turned neon pink, panther ears and a tail made of pink energy sprouted.

She caught the phone in her now fanged teeth, shaking it around as she threw it into another car. She got down on all fours, clawing at the phone. “Hey! Calm down kitty,” Hex crouched down, scratching behind her new panther ears.

Cruella purred and leaned into his touch, “warm~” she soon realized what she was doing and shook her head, the panther adornments fading away as her eyes turned back to amber.

“Sorry,” Cruella got up, rubbing the back of her neck as she looked down, her cheeks too flushed to face him “normally I have Alvarez and my Animalia more in check.”

“Alvarez?”

Her eyes turned pink again, “that would be me, I’m Alvarez, her animalistic.”

“Ooh! That makes more sense, sometimes I hear her muttering things about you! I thought Alvarez was her imaginary friend.” Hex laughed, shaking her hand.

“Uh-huh.” Alvarez sweatdropped, “anyways! It was nice to meet you but I must go, Cruella’s body can only handle takeover for mimnal periods right now.”

Alvarez released control, Cruella blinked a few times, holding her head. “You alright?” asked Hex.

“Yeah, just small headaches when she takes over that’s all.” Cruella held his hand as they entered the car, “we just gotta drop these off at Catania’s and then I’m all yours.”

Hex kissed her check. You were all mines to begin with, Marshmallow…

~A\N~

Hey everyone! Its July 1rst which means its only 2 more days till Hamilton comes to Disney+!! I'm so excited and can't wait to see it! Also, the anime Fice Force gets its second season that day as well so I'm super excited!

So what did you think of the chapter? Post it in the comments!