Somewhere Over The Rainbow: Chapter 7 (Patreon)

Second Chances

Despite the setbacks from the previous days, Charon made great strides in progress with his abilities as he explored them further. It felt like he was growing leaps and bounds each day. He even found a new one!

With his eyes straining, he peered at the bag of the vacuum until he made out the glow inside. "I see dead people," he snorted, as he carefully opened the bag before reaching inside and pulled out the struggling soul and stuffed them inside a bottle much to their protest.

Technically, he could already see the dead as his presence made them whole, but this "soul sight" made it so that not even walls could hide the dead and the living. "Kinda wish I couldn't see everything though," He thought to himself as he made sure not to gaze towards the bathrooms.

Much to his dismay, the aura that surrounded people made an outline, one that he could tease out details as well as what they did behind closed doors. "Never again," He shuddered as he was reminded of the mayor's nightly activity with his wife. He was never ever going to use his sight to peek around.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he turned back his attention on the souls he had to collect. Now why was he going through all this effort to bottle these ghosts one by one? He had them contained after all, so why risk having them escape.

The answer was simple: He was going to host a mediation for the towns folk and their dead. Admittedly though, it might not be his brightest idea, one that Summer was quick to question. "Are you sure about this, Charon?" the woman asked as she kicked her legs beneath while she sat up in the bleachers of the covered court, "Some of them are really angry."

Charon opened his mouth to counter, before pausing as the angry drone of all the souls in the background drowned his thoughts. Even corked up inside their bottles, he could hear their shouts of anger and frustration about everything and anything. It was as if they were angry just for the sake of being angry. Could he really blame them though?

Not only had most of them forgotten, but their homes and the things they cherished have long since been lost, or worse, destroyed or irrevocably changed by the passage of time. That was simply how things worked, but most wouldn't face it given how life was just that short.

Picking up one of the bottles, he asked himself; Was this really a good idea? Forcing people to talk to each other when emotions were running high. After giving it more thoughts, he sighed, "Honestly, no."

"All it takes is one person panicking and dropping their bottle and they'd be dealing with an unruly ghost," He noted, dreading the possibility. Things could quickly spiral out of control. "But that's why you're here." Flashing the Huntress a cheeky grin, he jested, "They can't run amok if you shoot their legs off."

This got a laugh out of the woman as she covered her mouth. "And they say I'm the bloodthirsty one," She snorted.

Shaking his head, he placed down the bottle before he replied, "Kidding aside, I still think we need to do this because we have to try." Sure there was a possibility that things could go wrong, but should that stop them from doing good? "And It's the only way I could think of which would help them let go of their grudge," He added.

Summer, however, was all too happy to point out otherwise. "We could always stuff them inside a chest," She suggested, making him grimace.

"And trap them for eternity underground with no one but their thoughts?" He fired back as a shudder ran down his spine. Just that thought alone terrified him, but to subject someone to that kind of torture? "If they're angry now, they'd be gibbering mad if they get out." That was if someone would even free them after all that time.

Still, Summer did not relent as she reminded him, "We tried to talk to them once, but they chose to be assholes." The recent repairs in the town was plenty proof enough to that end. "And even if they were angry, I don't see why that should change when they're dead." Arms crossing across her chest, she argued, "They had their chance, so why give them a third one?"

Frowning, he replied, "Everyone deserves a chance to fix things, even if they stumble several times along the way." Sure they made mistakes, but they were simply angry. People really don't think straight when they're angry and these folks were angry.

"Even if they hurt those that you love?" Summer asked back as she leveled a gaze at him, one that questioned if he meant his words

"If they realized that they're wrong in the end after I stopped them from making anymore mistakes?" He replied as he happily met her gaze with an easy going smile, "Then I'd still help them."

Snorting, she chuckled, "You're a good kid, Charon, but maybe you're a bit too good if I'm being honest." Getting up from her seat, she hopped down to join him in the court.

"But is it a bad thing?" He asked back. He was merely doing what anyone would do in his shoes. Everyone deserved a fair shake, even if some people need several more shakes than others.

"Maybe not," Summer smiled warmly before crouching down and poking at the bottle of the angry old codger that started the riots. "But just try to keep it reasonable ok?" She requested, "Some people can be unreasonable."

"Then I'd make them reasonable even if I have to punch them in the face," He replied unrepentantly. Just because he chose to forgive, doesn't mean he was just going to take an injury without a fight. Sometimes, people have to be proactive about making people realize their mistake like how he stood his ground right now.

"You are impossible, you know that?" Summer chuckled as she shook her head in exasperation, "But I trust you know what you're doing." Pulling out her axe and slinging it over her shoulder, she winked, "If anyone tries to do something funny, I'd just shoot their legs off."

Shaking his head in turn, he returned back to stuffing souls into bottles. It would take him almost an hour, having to wrangle some from inside the bag, before he was done. "There," He nodded as he dusted his hands, "That should be the last one." Well, not all of them. Glancing over to the vacuum and the bright blue light huddled in the corner, he frowned.

As much as he wanted to free her as well, she was a stranger to this town just like him and Summer. Without any relatives, or even connection to this town, he couldn't just fix things here and leave her. She was a problem for some other time. Right now, he needed to focus as the major would soon barge into the covered court.

"Miss Summer? Charon?" The rotund man called, "The townsfolk are here." True to his words, he could hear the din of the ground that had gathered outside; Everyone was her. "Should I let them in or do you need more time to set things?" He asked as he glanced towards the bottles just sitting on the ground.

"Give us a minute!" He answered as he rushed over to drag the tables over while Summer tended to the bottles. "Just need to set up the table." Making sure everyone was comfortable with their talk was one step towards getting the two parties to an understanding… or at least as comfortable as they were given the heated glares leveled at him from behind those glass bottles.

As the mayor slipped away, Charon turned to Summer. "So, ready to help these ghosts move on from their grudge?" He asked as he helped the woman set up.

"As ready as I'd ever be," The huntress answered as she placed the last bottle on the table along with some complimentary snacks. With the tables now set, all that was left was to have people come in.

"All right, you can come in now!" He called out. It was now show time!

-x-x-x-

With the stage now set, all Charon had to do was take a step back and watch things unfold. He and Summer were merely mediators after all, there to help facilitate and foster peace rather than enforce it. It would still be up to the two parties, the living and the deceased, to make amends and it seems that their efforts would not be in vain as both laughter and cries in equal measure filled the air.

Smiling, he watched from atop the bleachers as the two parties mingled and not even the glass bottles trapping the other dampened the mood. Old ghosts met their living relatives while those whose families died out were paired with newcomers to the town. Everyone got a shot at making things right and he was glad to see things go well.

There was still some awkwardness as some groups were not clicking, but that was to be expected. They did not expect every interaction to grow smooth, but hoped such would pass in the coming days. They still have much to learn from each other, one that the Mayor encouraged as he zipped around with deceptive speed.

One such case would draw his eyes as they came upon the bottle containing the old codger. The man had been a pain, having riled up the others to riot, but now he drew in crowds as he spoke of tales long since passed, of a watering hole turned frontier town and of the heroes that defended it from both Grimm and Bandits alike.

"And with the swing of his sword, my dearest friend , Muginn slew the great beast, thus breaking the horde's will and sending scattering to the four winds!" claimed the old man as children and some of the adults cheered on.

"Well, you certainly got what you wished for," he snorted, smiling at the jovial tone that the man now spoke with, "You're no longer forgotten." It had been the root of many of the ghost problems. To be forgotten and suffer another death, that of memory.

Now given a second chance, the ghost clung on, telling those willing to listen to their stories. How they lived, how life once was, along with what they hoped for the future. People got to know each other, but there were just some people better at weaving their stories. "He certainly knows how to draw in a crowd," he snorted as the man drew upon another tale from his seemingly endless well of stories much to the delight of his captive audience.

Whether they were mere flights of fancies like those of Don Quixote or perhaps mere truths that were stretched to the edge of credulity, he would probably never know, but they still made good stories though! Maybe even movie worthy. Was there a big studio willing to adapt a story?

Shaking his head at the silly thought, he turned his attention elsewhere and found the old crazed woman he had knocked out during the ghostly riots with the family she had attacked. He had expected some shouting or maybe some pointed glares, instead he found them teary eyed as the librarian showed them what looked like a bunch of records.

"Y-you're my daughter's descendants? M-my sweet daughter?" the woman whispered in surprise, something which the family shared as well. Confusion quickly gave way to joy as he listened, enraptured at the tale of the woman's family.

Shedding a tear, he watched strangers who had been at the brink of killing one another become family. It was quite the touching sight, bringing anyone to tears and Summer would be no different. "You need more tissue, Summer?" He asked, thankful that he had packed some as he tried stemming the flow streaking down his cheeks.

Furiously rubbing at her own tears, she nodded, thanking him as she pulled some sheets and blew on them, "T-thank you."

Forcing a grin on his face, he teased the woman, "I didn't expect you to be quite the softie. Aren't you supposed to be some big shot huntress?" It honestly came to him as shock to see her in turns. As it turns out, her weakness was not from blade or claws, but the feelings that tugged at their heart strings.

Grinning back shakily, she bit back, "Oh shut it you." This, however, was a mere facade and one which would break easily as her smile faltered. "I-It's just whenever I look at them,I can't help but think of Yang and Ruby." Tears now flowing freely, she choked out, "Oh my poor girls. What have I done?"

Covering her face, the woman sobbed, crying ugly tears as she desperately wiped at her tears. "I abandoned them a-and for what?" She cried, "Just to be a hero? What kind of mother am I!" Shoulders shaking, she asked, "W-would they ever forgive me after everything I've done or if they would even remember me?"

Such a question stung deeply, one that Charon was not equipped to answer. Still, he did his best to comfort the huntress at her most vulnerable. "I'm not really sure how to answer this, but I do know one thing," he replied as he reached for his pocket and felt the phone he had kept around, "It's that us kids, deep down, still love our family no matter what happens. It's why betrayal hurts the most-! Not that I'm telling you you betrayed your own."

Rubbing the back of his head, he grumbled, "The point I'm making is that your children would always love you." Gazing up back to the wide eyed huntress, he smiled, "You just have to trust them and love them back."

Cheeks burning, he laughed, "I-it probably sounds stupid, but it's just how I feel right now." Smiling ruefully, he shared, "I-I really miss my mom now." Having her words be the last words he had from his world made it all the more painful for him to remember. "If I ever have the chance to meet my mom again, I'd tell her that I love her and I'm sorry for being a stupid son."

Wiping away his tears, he was about to speak up when he felt strong arms wrapped around him. He froze up briefly, before the warmth made him forget that he was far away, that he had been whisked away to some foreign land, and that he was back home with his mom. "You're a good boy, Charon," whispered Summer, "Never think otherwise, ok?"

"And you're a great person as well, Summer" he replied as he wrapped his arms around her, "You girls are lucky to have you as their mom."

For a moment, they held each other, taking comfort from each other before Summer pulled away, all rosy cheeks. "S-sorry about that," She chuckled nervously, "I just thought you needed a hug right now."

"Y-your not wrong," He replied as he held back his tears. He needed that brief instance, that one moment to remind himself of his home no matter how out of reach it might seem right now. For now, however, he'd have to turn ahead, to focus on what's in front of him and he still had a woman to help.

"S-so!" He spoke up, changing the topic to something less gloomy, "How long do you think we have before we can leave?" They had only stayed in town because they had hoped to fix his little issue about raising the dead indiscriminately as well as the problem that came about due to said power. Now that the townsfolk were starting to get along, all that he needed to do was to control himself.

That was easier said than done given that all his use and experimentation with it might be making it stronger. "Hopefully, my field doesn't get wider!" The possibility, however, remains and he could never be complacent.

You wouldn't have to worry about that, Charon," replied the Huntress as she flashed him a reassuring smile, "My colleagues are going to pick up in a few days. They'll make sure you're away from danger while they teach you about your powers."

As he raised a brow, she explained, "While you were passed out, I got a chat with my mentor, Ozpin. He warned me that he was going to pick us up in a week's time and I was hoping to break this news when the airship arrived..." Pausing briefly as she glanced towards the crowd, she smiled, "But it seems that we could already pack up and leave as we are right now."

Charon opened his mouth to argue, but paused as he considered it. "They don't really need us anymore, huh?" He whispered, feeling strange that he was ready to leave this place behind and probably never return. "But it's probably for the best."

"We did what we could and things could return to normal here," he mused before pausing and staring at the bottles being carried away, "Or at least as normal as things could get."

Things would definitely be strange around here for some time given how the bottles kept ghosts around, but at least they have their loved ones around? They could always free them rather than keep them as fixtures around the house if they get tired of staying around. "I just hope nobody loses their relatives," He mumbled.

Nodding, she noted, "We could probably help a few more out before we leave, turn them into bottles in a ghost!" With her smile faltering, she admitted, "But yeah, maybe on a case per case basis. We do have time so we're not in a hurry."

"Before that, I think I still have one thing I want to do," He hummed as his ghostly sights turned to the closet where a lonely ghost was kept hidden away, "I just hope she's a bit more cooperative this time around."

-x-x-x-

With the town busy making amends with their ghostly companions, with the towns folk even celebrating the "return of the dead", something which we all to happily suggested they called "All Hallow's Eve", Charon could turn his attention to the one ghost out of place; Jinx. She wandered far away from her homeland, having hailed to what was this world's North Pole, which left him stumped.

While ghosts had all the time in their hands to wander around, this girl had gone further than most people would have in their lifetime. Heck, she'd beat most of his neighbors given how they already traveled to a neighboring state or the other one over. This would give him quite the problem to deal with, one which he now faces head one.

The other ghosts were easy enough, but her? He wasn't even sure he could let her out given how she went insane, but she was now the only one left in the much lighter vacuum. He needed to figure out what to do with her and what better way than freeing her?

"Ok," he whispered as he slapped his own cheeks, "You can do this." All he had to do was just open up the vacuum and free the hardened criminal whose legend had been etched in the history books of a town far in the boonies. How hard can it be?

"At least we're far away from town," He noted as he glanced around the glade they were in. Out here, he could mess up a bit even if that meant getting shot by a minigun. "This is going to suck, isn't it?" He grimaced.

Then again, it's not like she could shoot him in her tiny form right? But what if she could? How would that even work? These questions along with many others plagued his mind as he hesitated. Was he really going to do this?

"If you're not sure, we could always just carry her around and deal with her later," Summer reminded him as she pulled up a lantern, a far more portable and convenient container and one would actually take advantage of the light of the souls of the dead.

"Cause if she gets out and things go south," Summer grimaced, "You will get hurt." It was not a question of if she'd hurt him if she regained her form, but rather a question of how she'd hurt him. The ghost carried the things they had on their person when they died and this girl was armed to the teeth.

Staring at the vacuum, he sighed, "I know, but I'd rather do it now rather than later." If he puts it off now, he has a feeling he'd keep kicking it down the road until he effectively becomes a jailor for a soul. "She also needed someone has to talk to her," He whispered

Even now, he could remember how badly she reacted to someone merely wearing white all because that was the colors of this place called Atlas. "Whatever that place is doesn't sound like a nice place."

Turning back to Summer, he insisted, "I need to know if I could talk to her before I make any discussions on her." He'd rather have a bit of pain if things go badly rather than having to stew on it for the entire time he was here.

Glaring at him, Summer huffed before letting out a sigh, "Fine, you can free her." Hooking the lantern on her belt and pulling out her axe, she muttered, "But I still think this is a terrible idea."

"It honestly is, but she has no one else," he admitted. She had no one to talk to because she was a stranger around these parts just like him. Perhaps it came from some twisted sense of kinship, but he had to try. Flashing her a grin, he jested, "But if she's just then I'd stuff her in a rock."

He probably wouldn't go that far, but there was the possibility. If there was nothing he could talk to, then it would be a mercy to just isolate her. Hopefully, he didn't have to go so far as he ran his hands across the hard shell of the bag turned pack. "Well, here goes nothing."

Opening the pack, he braced himself for a barrage of expletives, but all he heard was silence. For a moment, he thought Jinx had slipped away, but he would quickly find her huddled in the corner. Even in her tiny form, he could feel the loathing and anger from her as she refused to even acknowledge his presence.

Faced with such, he faltered, unsure on how to speak to the girl. It would take him sometime before he finally found his words. "H-hey, I know you're mad because of the vacuum, but can we talk?" He called out, hoping to at least have some words from her, but he would receive none as she remained silent.

"Please" he begged, "We could let you out a bit. Get you some fresh air?" Still, the offer would be rebuffed as she snubbed him. Try as he might, he was simply not getting through her as she stonewalled him. She didn't even give him a chance.

Shoulders sagging, he relented and admitted defeat. His only consolation was Summer's comforting hands on his shoulders. "Maybe it's probably best to leave her for now," said the woman.

"You're probably right," He replied, frustrated but unable to do anything about it. Forcing things would only make things worse. "But, first let's get you out of there." It would be inhumane to keep her there any longer.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Summer asked apprehensively as he crouched down before the back vacuum. Thankfully, he wouldn't be met with further hostility, just mere indifference as he reached out and gingerly scooped her out, holding her tiny form in his hands.

"She can't really do much in this form," He replied as motioned for the lantern that Summer carried. "If she could return to her form, she would have done so already." Yet here she was, still stuck in her tiny form. "She's not really any freer, is she?" he thought wryly as Summer handed over the lantern. "Let's talk another time ok?" Hopefully, she will open up soon.

-x-x-x

He had hoped that giving her some time would mellow her out, but as he stared at her open lantern, he sighed; Nothing. "Still haven't spoken a peep, huh?" said Summer as she came over with a cup of coffee in hand, "Coffee?"

"Yeah," he nodded as he accepted the hot drink. Nestling it in his hands, he sighed, "I even tried bribing her with a cupcake, but I think that might have pissed her off." Seeing the remains of the cake splattered across the table, he shuddered. Who knew that a soul could be so vicious.

Patting him on the shoulder, Summer assured her, "You'll get through her eventually." That eventually, however, might as well be forever with the way things are.

"I just can't seem to get through to her," He complained, "Like no matter what I say, she just ignores them as she mopes around." No promise nor any sweet words could turn her head. In fact, it might have only hardened her resolve.

"You can't really blame her," Summer replied as she leaned against the wall and glanced towards Jinx's bright blue soul, "In her eyes, we're probably her jailor who's just there to try and get to her good side."

That was how things simply were. No matter how he reframed it, he was her jailor, one who effectively kept her under lock and key. Oh sure she could move around now, but she remained in a limited state and only he could free her. How was he supposed to convince her that he meant well when she's like this?

"If only I could show her otherwise," he whispered before he paused as a realization hit him. "Wait, that's it!" He exclaimed as he grabbed Summer, making the huntress yelp as he planted a kiss on her cheeks, "Summer, you're a genius!"

Stunned, the woman could only stutter out, "C-Charon? What has gotten into you!"

"I just realized what I should have done earlier," He answered as he grabbed Jinx's lantern much to the tiny soul's surprise. "I'm going to free her so be right in a bit!" Without any second to waste, he made a run for it.

"Charon, hey wait!" Summer shouted, but at that point, he was out of the mayor's house. If words couldn't convince her, then the best thing he could do was act. Ignoring the panicked squeaks of Jinx, he ran towards the forest, heedless of the dangers.

Through thick bramble and the dark underbrush he ran until finally, he came to a clearing. Skidding to a halt, he nodded, "Ok, it should be far enough!"

As he pulled out the lantern from under his arm, he paused. This was definitely one of the stupidest things he was going to do, but what was life without a little risk. Eye's clenched, he held out the lantern as he felt his soul run hot.

With light dancing across his skin, he focused on Jinx until a loud pop echoed out of the clearing and out came Jinx who stumbled down on the ground. "Sorry about that," He apologized, "Just needed to talk to you somewhere private-!"

SMACK!

Clutching his cheeks, he looked up to her before shouting, "What was that for!?" He freed her and the first thing she did was punch him on the face. "Oh god, that stings," He groaned. It felt like he had just been smacked by a brick. Where was she packing all that muscle?!

As massaged his aching jaw, she screamed back, "Are you stupid or something?!" This quickly snapped him out of his thoughts as he stared up at the utterly apoplectic bluenette as glared at him in equal parts bewilderment and anger. This was the most emotions he had seen her express in days.

"You guys are supposed to catch me and rough me up, before I escape," She exclaimed as she jabbed a finger at his chest, "That's how things are for law breakers like me, but you just freed me? Why?!"

Seeing her so angry and confused was bewildering to Charon, but at the same time, he felt his doubts melt away. Smiling back, he answered, "Because I wanted to talk to you." He must have sounded insane as the girl gave her a look. "What? Is it really that hard to believe?" He simply wanted to talk.

Still, Jinx remained unconvinced as her face took a bright shade before she let out a cry of utter frustration. ""You know what, I'm not dealing with this crap," she exclaimed as she stomped off towrads a tree, "If you want something then fuck of and leave me alone…"

Standing there, he watched as the girl sat down under the shade of the lone tree at the center of the clearing before plopping herself down. "You know you could just walk away," He noted as he walked over, "It's not like I could stop you."

He neither had his vacuum or weapon. She was free to do as she pleased. His words, however, only infuriated her as she turned away with a huff. "I'm not talking."

Deny her words all she wanted, her actions spoke louder than her words. Was this really the girl that nearly killed them just a few days ago? He had read nothing but terrible things about her, but all he saw here was a scared girl, one his age, struggling to even meet his gaze. "What happened out there in Atlas…"

Shaking his head, he looked around and found flowers growing in the clearing; Perfect. Grabbing a few, he hummed as he started to weave them together. His choice of tune, however, might have been better as the girl exploded, "Will you stop that!"

"Sorry," He apologized, "It's just I remember things better when I have a tune and this was my sister when she's making a flower crown for me." Flower after flower would quickly link up in the crown as the chain grew.

"Why the hell would she give you a crown?" Jinx asked with a frown.

"To cheer me up off course," He laughed as memories of his family came to him. "I used to hate it, but it brought a smile to me no matter what," He sighed wistfully as he tied the two ends together. Offering her the crown, he smiled. "I think you need it now more than I do."

Jinx, however, would only slap his hands away as she shouted, "I don't want your help!" Teeth barred, she bristled before pausing as she stared at the flower. Frowning, she turned away, tucking herself tightly. "I'm fine on my own…I'm fine." As heated as her glare was, her words remained unsure.

Picking up the broken crown, he replied, "You don't sound like it." Fixing it the best he could, he added, "I don't really mean to pry, but it seems like you've been through a lot." He probably shouldn't be poking on her history, but he simply got him curious.

Fortunately, she was willing to humor him as she fixed the crown atop her head so it wasn't crooked, "Far more than you think, but that's just the story of my life… or was my story."

As her anger gave way to a look of melancholy, he placed his crown upon her head before plopping down beside her. Ignoring her heated glare, he pointed, "Well, your story is not over yet. You're still here, right?" She was dead, but that doesn't mean her story was done. "There's still more out there for you to experience so why come with us?"

"We're going to a place that this guy called Ozpin owns and it's not like they can't say no if I told them I needed more "test subjects"." He explained as Jinx sat there in silence. It wasn't even much of a stretch. If they're going to stick him in some place safe, it was definitely going to be some place without many ghosts so having her around would help."

"Weren't you planning on keeping me in that stupid lantern anyways?" Jinx snapped back as she scowled, "Why even bother asking?"
"Cause it's the nice thing to do," He replied, "And besides, do you really want to stay in your tiny form inside the lantern?"

Staring at him with an unreadable expression, she pointed, "... You know I could shoot you right? Like this." Feeling the cold barrel of the gun up against her head as lightning crackled inside its glass length, she grinned, "Do you still think you should trust me?"

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes before asking, "Are you going to shoot me?"

Seconds turned to minutes as he sat there, unsure on what would happen next. Was she going to splatter his brains or did he guess right on who she truly was? It seems that his bet would pay off as the girl sighed out, "...Nope."

"Besides, you'd probably infect me with your stupid if I had your blood splatter all over me," She replied with a low chuckle, "Man, you really look so stupid right now."

"I really do, don't I?" He replied as he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. Laughing, he admitted, "For a second there, I thought you were really going to call my bluff and kill me!"

"Nah," Jinx replied, "You're too pretty for that." Her smile would be short lived, however as she scowled once more, "Why are you even bothering to help me anyways? I'm just a nobody. Plus didn't I shoot you? Or was that the other one." Shrugging, she muttered, "Shouldn't you be a bit angrier?"

"I was angry, but that's in the past now," He replied before flashing her a grin,, "But right now, all I want to do is understand a pretty girl and help her." He almost bursted out laughing as the girl took an interesting shade of red.

"S-shut up," The girl hissed as she crossed her arms across her chest.

He was about to open his mouth, when a voice suddenly cut through the clearing, "Cute." This had him jolting in surprise while Jinx scrambled up to her feet, gun already drawn. He was about to throw the lantern when he saw who it was. Waving at them with a lazy smile, Summer grinned, "Nice little meeting place you got here."

"Oum damn it woman!" Jinx shouted as she angrily shoved her gun inside her holster, "Do you want to get shot!?"

"I'd say it's worth it," Summer laughed, "Because you two were being disgustingly adorable." As his cheeks turned red and Jinx fumed at her teasing laugh, she added, "You can't really blame me from eavesdropping when you two are like that."

This had Jinx sputtering as she pointed at him, "You think I like him and his stupid annoying face?!" Charon could only wish to be swallowed by the earth there and then as her words only served to pour fuel on the proverbial fire.

With a catty smile on her lips, Summer teased back, "I didn't say anything. That's all on you." Nodding to herself while Jinx stomped her feet, she hummed, "But it'll be your loss if you don't go for him~"

"I don't like him!" Jinx screamed, only to be met by Summer's shit eating grin. Unable to hold herself any longer, she let out an in articulate scream of rage as she launched herself at Summer who all too easily slipped away.

While the Jinx gave chase and Summer laughed, Charon despaired. "This is going to be my life now, isn't it?" He just hoped that he wouldn't have more drama in his already complicated life.

A/N:

Going to write a brief Mew Chapter before I go start the winner of this month. Speaking off, I'll post results tomorrow. For now, I sleep