Chapter Text
“Sissssyyy!” The door to my apartment muffled more of Olivia’s voice than the thin walls did, “Are you in there? Sissssyyy!? Come on! Answer me!”
My eyes stuck together as I raised my throbbing head from my arms. My three computer monitors mocked me with work undone. I had e-mails to answer, logos to finish, code to write, missed calls to call back, and so much more. My cramped “office” (which was technically just the second “bedroom” in my “two bedroom” apartment) looked like a mini tornado had ripped through it, and I supposed- in a way- one did. The sheer amount of work that needed to be done slammed down on my waking mind like a tidal wave.
“Sis! SISSY!?!” I could hear the frantic edge beginning to coat Olivia’s words. After saving my work, I stood up with a weary sigh and tied my dirty blonde hair back into a sweaty, oily, ink stained bun. I found some old flip flops in the narrow hallway that separated the “office” from my “bedroom”. For a moment, I looked to my left at the bathroom. I really needed to shower and brush my teeth, “Sissy! It’s Sunday! We always have lunch together on Sundays remember?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled turning to my right into the fused living room and kitchen. Unlike my “office” the rest of my apartment was rather clean, but that was more like due to my lack of items. Most of my money was placed into various savings accounts. If things go according to plan, I should be able to retire around 60 and buy a nice little cottage on a lake to die in.
“Sis-“ I opened the door and painted on a lazy grin for Olivia. My tall, willowy little sister pouted at me while crossing her arms. I could never figure out how she got mom’s platinum blonde hair and baby blue eyes while I got a dirty mix of our parents’ hair colors and grandma’s brown eyes. She looked more like a super model than an aspiring chef in all honesty. Well, I supposed I looked more like a drug addict than a web designer who dabbled in graphic design for extra cash.
“Heya.” I slurred scotching her out of the way to exit my apartment. I triple checked to make sure the door was locked. In this neighborhood, it was better to be paranoid than come home to find your expensive shit “missing” from their resting place, “Sorry about that. I was asleep.”
“It’s 12:23!” Olivia huffed looking at my ratty sweatpants and stained hoodie, “When’s the last time you left your office?”
“Err....15 hours ago….I think?” I struggled to remember what time I passed out. “JOJO!” Olivia stamped her foot. I growled at the old nickname, “UGH! Josephie Ophelia Arietta Newmore! You need to quit holing yourself up in that tiny ass office of yours!”
“SH!” I grabbed her wrist and began tugging her towards the dingy elevators, “You keep yelling and I’ll have my neighbors ready to slit my throat.”
“That didn’t seem to bother you earlier!” “Because you weren’t being a little brat!” I shoved her into the elevator right as an angry looking man exited his apartment. I hurriedly pressed the close door button before he turned around, “See what I mean? That guy’s an ex-con who went to prison for beating a guy who sneezed on him!”
That was a total lie. I didn’t even really know the bastard, but I was half certain he dealt crack downtown.
“What?” Olivia gasped, “How can you live in a place like this?”
“Because it’s cheap as fuck.” I nodded sagely just to annoy her, “Mother dearest and father don’t love me as much as they love you or Nadia, so I don’t get fancy high rise apartments or mini mansions for Christmas.”
“They’ve offered to help you many times!” Olivia protested as we exited the elevator on the ground floor, “You’ve just been a prideful butt-head!”
It was partially pride’s fault. My entire childhood my parents shoved it down my throat that they “made” me with their money. Needless to say, when I got high school I busted my ass until I got a perfect 4.0 GPA and a full ride scholarship to one of the best art schools in the states. From then to now, I made myself the self-made woman I was. I hadn’t seen a single penny from my parents in over 12 years.
“Whatever.” I really didn’t want to waste our meet up day arguing, “Where we eating at?”
“We’re eating at this cute little bistro that opened up recently!” Olivia’s face lit up and she forgot the argument immediately. Getting her to talk about food was the best way to get her off my back, “It’s so precious! I’ve eaten there with Kelly, so I know they’ll have things you like!”
I smiled as she began to babble on about the bistro’s atmosphere and food. It was true that Olivia rode my ass on a lot of things: my apartment, my appearance, my workaholic tendencies, etc. In the end though, she was still my little sister. Seeing her practically bouncing on her heels made all of the stress from my week bleed off of my shoulders. Hearing the enthusiasm and optimism untainted by the realities of adulthood warmed my chilling heart. Really. These little meet and greets were one of the only two things that kept me going most days. We went about our usual day. The bistro she found was decent. It was a little to frufru for my tastes, but she seemed to really enjoy frilly menu and attractive waiters. Afterwards, she practically dragged me by my unwashed hair into a coffee shop to get some overly complicated drink. “
I’m covering Miranda’s shift tonight, so we can’t go see a movie like usual.” Olivia explained as we began to walk towards the park. Her eyes flickered across the stores before stopping on something, “Oh. My. GOD! LOOK JOJO!”
I cringed at how loud her voice was. A dark red blush covered my face as people turned to look at me and my puppy of a little sister.
“Yeah Liv?” I followed her finger.
“A Bitty Care Center!”
Bitty Care Centers were places where tiny creatures called “bitties” were treated for illnesses/injuries and held until they were adopted. Bitties had surfaced with their few larger monster caretakers after the Mt. Ebbot excavation crew finally broke the barrier separating the long forgotten kingdom from the human world. The little monsters were quickly becoming the new cat or dog in most households. It was easy to see why. Why have a cat or dog when you could look after a creature that could actually talk back? I knew our city was moderately sized, but I never expected to see one pop up here. It seemed…odd.
“Huh. Cool.” I shrugged, “Is that really something to get so worked up about?”
“ ‘Is it really’- Jojo!” Olivia stamped her foot reminding me of when she was nine, “Bitties are so cute and adorable! I think it’d be really nice to have one!”
“Didn’t you kill 10 goldfish when we were younger?” I asked tugging her towards and empty bench to get out of the bustling crowd’s way.
“That’s not fair,” Olivia protested taking a quick sip of her drink, “A goldfish can’t tell me if they’re hungry or sick. A bitty can! That’s why they’re so amazing.”
“Uh huh.” I raised a brow.
“You just don’t have any faith in me do you!?”
“None at all.” I dodged her manicured fist when it swung towards my face, “No need for violence now.”
“You’re so mean. I don’t know why I even drag you out of that little hell hole sometimes.” Olivia looked away from me.
“Hey now. I’m just being honest.” I patted her shoulder, “Maybe do some research and make sure you can actually handle the responsibility first…then….you could think about getting one. ONE.”
“You think I could?” The hope brimming in those eyes stung.
“Yeah. You could. You’ve got a big enough heart.” That was the honest truth.
“Thanks sissy.” Olivia hugged me, “I need to get going though. Miranda’s shift starts in twenty.”
“Okay. Do you need me to walk you to work?”
“No. I’m fine. That creepy guy was arrested a couple of weeks ago.” Olivia smiled and put on her best ‘I’m brave’ face.
“If you’re certain…” I didn’t want my baby sister to be strolling the streets alone even if it was midday….
“I’m sure.”
….but I also didn’t want to hover over her too much if I could avoid it. The last thing she needed was me looking over her shoulder as well.
“Text me when you get there okay?” I stood up stretching slightly.
“Yes mother.” Olivia glowered at me.
“Please don’t compare me to that harpy if you can avoid it.” I patted her hair.
“HEY! You say I look like her all the time!”
I ran like hell laughing my ass off. Luckily, she was wearing stilettos. I ran like the wind stumbling over my flip flops every once in a while. The crowd around me shoved me back sometimes, but I didn’t really care. It was fun to act younger again. I was taking a short cut through the mostly brown “park” near my apartment complex. The building was set right where the gang turfs began, so the entire neighborhood looked…well…like shit. Some of the graffiti was breath taking though. A couple of kids played on worn down play sets in old mulch with a stray parent or two watching over them. Everything was fine.
With one exception.
An arguing couple was tugging back and forth on a jar in one of the darker, secluded areas of the park.
Normally, I’d have said they were fighting over moonshine and be done with it. The jar didn’t have booze in it though.
It had something tiny being tossed back and forth.
I edged closer and eventually saw it was a disoriented tiny little skeleton creature wearing a faded hoodie, black track shorts, and black and red sneakers. He was panting against the glass as the momentum from each pull sent him flying back and forth. Unbridled rage seeped into my veins. Fury guiding my footsteps I approached the couple with my head held high.
“I won’t just let you leave my cherry behind!”
“Did you not see that vet’s price bitch? It’s bad enough this thing is so clingy and whiny, but I draw the line at it draining my bank account.”
“We are not giving him to some stranger! Do you know how that would like make me look? We have to kill it if you want to get rid of it!”
My hand shot out like a bullet and ripped the jar away from the bickering duo. They gawked at me for a few seconds while I hurriedly spun the top off of the lid. The bitty gasped as air flooded the suffocating jar. I quickly titled the jar over my palm and caught the little guy. He was so small he fit easily onto my hand. He had to only be around 2 ¾ an inch tall. He was a ball of fire in my palm though, and fat tears began to spill from the corner of his eyes.
“I’ll be taking this.” I shoved the jar in between the woman’s fake tits. They actually managed to hold the jar, “Have a pleasant evening.”
I turned on one heel and bolted away. I ignored the faint protests from the couple and hurried on. The bitty in my palm desperately needed medical attention. After realizing he had been removed from the couple, the bitty began to whimper and cry in earnest.
“w-w-why….” His voice was paper thin.
“Little guy?” I asked bringing him closer to my chest as I forced my way through the after lunch crowd.
“m-ma-mama…she…doesn’t l-l-love me….” He looked up at me with wet, red eyes. Misery glowed across his pale, drawn face. He trembled in my warm hands. An arrow might as well have ripped through my heart. I pulled the tiny guy up under my chip and gently began to rub circles on his back.
“I’m sorry little guy.” I murmured, “I’m sorry.”
“..a….” He mumbled something against my neck through his tears. There was nothing else I could say to the heartbroken monster sobbing against my neck. He shook with fever and pain alike as I navigated my way back to the Bitty CC. The pastel green building was a bit off putting to those who weren’t comfortable with monsters, but I held to hatred for anyone. I also had a mission.
“This bitty needs some help.” I told the short rabbit monster behind the counter after rushing inside, “He’s sick, and his owners had him in a sealed jar for who knows how long.”
“Oh my goodness.” The rabbit monster stood up and took the little guy from me, “This poor thing. I’ll get him back right away, but…oh dear….we…we can’t do anymore free work.”
I could feel the anxiety rolling off of her. I knew business had to be hard on monsters. The bitties were the only market they had, so the price tag was rather lofty. I took out the roll of $100 bills I was supposed to be taking to my bank. I laid them on the counter.
“I’ll cover it.” The relief in her eyes made the expensive wad of cash I just handed over seem insignificant. She asked me to wait in the lobby before whisking the tiny creature into back. I sat quietly in the lobby because it was asked of me. I didn’t know why she wanted me to stay. True I had paid the bill, but the bitty wasn’t mine.
“Are you the woman who came in with this little guy?” A taller, female rabbit monster approached cradling a sobbing bitty in his palm. I glanced over his fingers and saw it was indeed the little bitty I had brought in. The instant those little eyes locked on me, tiny hands shot towards me.
“m-mama.” His voice was pleading. His color looked better, and he didn’t seem to be as lightheaded as earlier.
“Uhh…no,” The rabbit monster frowned and new tears welled up in the bitty’s eyes, “Er…Jojo. Jojo. That’s what we’ll go with. M’Kay?”
“j-jo…j-jojo.” The cherry tried it out before reaching for me again, “Jojo!”
“He’s been rather frantic.” The rabbit monster explained as I carefully took the bitty into my hands, “We managed to treat him though. He’s quite lucky. He had ‘speck’. It’s a bitty disease that can completely dust a bitty if they aren’t treated in time. He…was pretty bad off. Thank you for bringing him in.”
“Y-Yeah. It’s no problem, but um…he’s not mine.” I explained awkwardly letting the cherry cry into my hoodie, “I just grabbed him from some shitty owners.”
“Well…he seems quite attached to you.” The rabbit monster observed, “Have you thought of owning a bitty before?”
“Uh…Not really...um...I'm not exactly certain I like where you're going with this...”
“Listen,” The rabbit monster crouched down to my height, “We’ve had more than a few bitties returned. Normally that’s fine, but lately poor owners are coming out of the woodwork to abandon bitties on our doorstep. I usually wouldn’t try to press someone into adopting a bitty. This little guy seems quite attached however, and I don’t know how he’d respond to returning to the adoption agency.”
“Umm…” Uncertainty coiled in my chest. I knew monsters were having a hard time. I knew having a Bitty CC in town wouldn’t be good. I knew a lot of things about this situation. What I didn’t know was how to counter her logic. I worked from home, so I couldn’t say I wasn’t home enough. I had tons of cash saved up, so I couldn’t use money as an excuse.
“j-jojo?” That quiet, gentle stammer from my hands made me look down. The cherry looked up at me with hope in his eyes, “p-please…? i…d-don’t wa-want another bad h-h-human…”
“Well shit.” I groaned curling around the bitty, “Fine ya little idjit. Why don’t you just bury yourself in my heart while you’re at it?”
“Oh thank goodness.” The rabbit monster sighed in relief, “I’ll go collect the paperwork.”
“You’re seriously okay with letting some random person walk out of here with him?” I asked one final time.
“Someone who rescues a bitty and pays the expensive hospital bill isn’t random.” The rabbit monster seemed to smile at me, “I’m certain he’ll be in good hands.”
With that, she practically pranced to the back to gather the paperwork.
"...m..." The bitty shifted in my hands slightly.
"Yes?" I raised a brow.
“m-my..ma…n-no..” The little bitty shook his head before looking up at me, “My Jojo?”
“Yes.” I sighed reluctantly trying not to blush, “Your Jojo, and you’re my little Idjit. I think that’s a good little name for a tiny guy like you.”
“i-idjit?” New tears welled up in his eyes.
“Oh shit. Do you not like that?” Panic flooded my chest.
“i…i…h-have a n-na-name?”
“Oh my god.” I gently squeezed the guy close, “Yes, you have a name. You’re important to me.”
It wasn’t exactly a truth…yet anyways. I held Idjit as he cried again. Motherly concern and affection born from years of looking after my little sister guided my hands and fingers to his back and skull. I never realized how much having a name could really mean to someone. All I could hope in that moment was one thing: I hope to whatever deity or karmic force is listening that this little guy will be happy from now on.
And I damn well made it my personal vow to see to it if a higher power couldn’t.