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Cleo remembers her 4th birthday. They’ve never had the best memory of their childhood, that was a fact. She knew her parents left her with family friends who have been raising her for a very long time, and that she was born a gorgon so she had to wear these special glasses. There were small things, the color of their baby blanket was a soft green before it got thrown away ( by accident , Tay says), and they saw a fuzzy deer once when they were at the park. But one of her most vivid memories was her 4th birthday.
It was a cold May day. For once, their birthday had fallen on a weekend, so they got to celebrate their birthday on their actual day of birth instead of waiting. She only remembers that because Tay talks to his wife, Grace about it before the party. It was princess themed, which Cleo didn’t like but they didn’t complain. Why? Because they’d hired a real fairy to come and be a princess. That was very important to her because she never got to see others like her often.
And yes, gorgons and faires were different, but they were classified as Supernaturals or Others, and they hadn’t really seen any other supernaturals before. Tay and Grace lived in a community that didn’t really have supernaturals, and she was never sure why they agreed to take care of her since she was supernatural. Maybe they owed their birth parents or something, but it didn’t matter to the fresh 4 year old.
The fairy was nice and pretty. Her hair was on the shorter side, and was a deep, chocolate type of brown, and her eyes were akin, but lighter. It had flower crowns weaved into its hair, one with white daisies, one with purple and pink roses, and one with a mix of white and blue flowers that Cleo couldn’t remember the name of. And her wings, they were beautiful . They weren’t big , but they weren’t small either, and they shimmered all kinds of colors, especially in the sun, or the harsh fluorescents in Tay and Grace’s kitchen. It wore a pink gown, a frilly thing with much too complicated designs that kinda hurt Cleo’s brain but she didn’t mind. She said her name was Stress and that she had been living a very long time. It also told them quietly, before it left, that it wasn’t actually a princess but that Cleo had to keep it a secret, for the sake of the other children.
Stress had been a wonderful guest and an even more wonderful friend, telling her things she had been dreaming of knowing ever since she was little.
The other reason they remembered that day so vividly was because it was the day they met Joe. Joe Hills was one of the newer kids in the neighborhood and, even if they didn’t look like it, his parents said that all of their family were supernatural. She didn’t know that yet though, so it was all new to her. They’re meeting was awkward, Cleo had accidentally spilled apple juice on his shirt, but they’ve been best friends ever since.
Now, as a 23 year old, Cleo’s living her life as best as she can. Having recently graduated college and moved in near Joe, they’re doing pretty well. She sells her art. They mostly do paintings and drawings, but they’re favorite type of art is sculptures. She likes doing stuff with armor stands, even if it doesn’t get her much footwork. Joe says they should follow their passion, but they do need the money. They also have a side job at a local restaurant, waiting on people was pretty easy. She has a temper, yes, but she has control of it in certain settings, meal times included.
Cleo had learned that Grace and Tay didn’t really like it when they got angry, so they had learned to control that anger, especially when eating. Because eating gave her access to sharp objects, but it also gave the opponent access to them too, and when tempers flare, shit goes down. They know that well.
“Cleo?” Joe calls through her door and she groans.
“Decent!” They call back, sitting up on where they were lounging on their bed. It’s her day off from doing anything, so she was being lazy.
Joe walks in and flops down beside Cleo on the bed.
"I'm bored," he states, looking up at her through his lashes, pouting.
Cleo laughs and shoves him slightly, flopping down.
"I can't help you there, Joe," it replies.
He sits up.
"Then it's decided! Let's go out!" He jumps up, turning to face her. "There's this new bar downtown, I told you about it the other day, remember?" He's smiling, all big and wide.
"The one you wanted to take one of your other friends to, Jeb or something?" Cleo asks, sitting back up, taking a moment to shrug.
"Jev, and yeah! We ended up going the other day and it was very fun, some of my friends work there as well and I'd think you would enjoy it!" Joe explains in his southern drawl. "You love punching things and they have one of those punching bag things to test your strength! Plus, it's a bar mainly for supes, so discrimination is a low possibility."
Joe had grown his marks when he was about 15. The first of his family to have physical traits to show him as different. They were scar like, a light pink color but noticeable, right under the eyes, like half circles, 4 under each. And then came the discrimination since it was noticeable now, that he was an 'other'.
He had already always been wary for Cleo and his other friends, but now he had to be wary for himself too.
Cleo hums in thought. "Fine, but get out so I can get dressed."
Joe's smile is bright as he leaves with a wave. Cleo stands and heads to her closet. She puts on a jean blue crop top with short sleeves and tight black jeans. They pull on a random matching necklace and the blue flower earrings Joe got them for their 18th birthday. And then she pulls on black flats to tie it all off. More dressy than their usual attire, but still something to make them feel like them.
She walks out and finds Joe waiting at the door, scrolling on his phone.
"Ready?" Cleo asks, grabbing her purse and pulling it over her chest.
"Yep! Let's go!"
-
It goes like this. Cleo and Joe are walking to the bar, called Hermits or Crafties or something like that, when they run into Cleo's great aunt, Linda. Linda is Tay's mum's sister. She's always been the nicest to Cleo no matter what. And she's young, in her 40s, as she's the youngest of her siblings.
"Cleo!" She greets happily and Cleo accepts the hug easily.
"Hey, aunt Linda!" She pulls back to look at her aunt, smiling. "Have you met Joe?" They are instantly in introductory mode.
"Why, I don't think I have! I'm Linda Arthur," she offers a hand to Joe.
He takes it easily. "Joe Hills from Tennessee, at your service!"
“Well, it’s nice to meet you!!” She greets before turning to look at both of them. “Aren’t you a cute pair! Are you heading to your sister's birthday party? I could give you a ride, I was just heading to my car and-”
The rest of her aunt's words fall on deaf ears as Cleo’s brain processes those words.
Her sister’s birthday party .
“Avery’s having a party?” Her voice is tight and she feels a bit lightheaded.
Their 5 year old sister is having a party and they didn’t get invited. Which, with her age, would mean her parents would be in charge of the invites. Cleo’s parents. And she didn’t get invited. Of course, they wished their sister a good birthday, went over to her house and spent the day with her. But that was on her actual birthday, and it was the weekend after.
Linda’s eyebrows furrow. “Yeah? An invite was sent to everyone on the family Facebook group,” she starts to pull out her phone but Cleo is having tunnel vision with those words.
“Facebook group?” She asks, voice below a whisper.
Their aunt hears her anyway. “The family Facebook group? Grace started it, such a lovely niece in law, she said she invited the whole family,” she explains, showing off her phone to show off-
The Arthur Family , the page states proudly.
“No, I didn’t-” Cleo’s going to start crying and bawling her eyes out.
Joe’s hand is gentle on their shoulder and they appreciate it. “Cleo and I are going to go now, okay? You can wish Avery a happy birthday from us, she’ll know who it is,” he explains with a soft smile.
Linda’s eyes widen slightly before she offers a smile. “Oh, alright! Have a good night!” She turns and walks off.
Joe leads them to a bench, and sits them down. Cleo just notices that she’s crying and instantly goes to wipe her eyes.
“I don’t know what I fucking expected,” they force laughter, bitter and cold. “I don’t know why I thought they could ever think of me as family, as their kid. I’ve always been different, from my personality to my looks to my fucking species!” She’s rambling at this point, but it just hurts.
They were supposed to love them, be their family. But they weren’t and that hurt.
“Let's get you home, okay?” Joe interrupts, catching her attention and forcing her to stop rambling. “You look like you need some sleep, not to go to some bar.”
Cleo simply nods, still crying, and lets him lead them home.
-
The pictures drive her nuts within the first few minutes of seeing them. Of course, they love to see their sister happy; she deserves the world and so much more. But she hates that she didn't get to be there. They understand not being considered family, but not even a friend? For moons sake, they invited Great Aunt Margaret who they only talk to on Christmas cause she's a right twat! And she went!
It wasn't fair.
So she sits on her couch, drinking eggnog out of a wine glass in her misery. A random show plays on the TV, Community or something like that? They're not sure.
It's been 5 days since the party. Cleo hasn't left her apartment besides to get the mail or sell something. Other than that, they mope around their living room and bedroom. She thinks she deserves that right, since she had put up with her 'family' for 23 years, the people she thought loved her as much as she did them, but then obviously didn't fucking care.
Besides, eggnog is good. And one of the 3 things they've been drinking the past few days, the other 2 beverages being water and milk.
She startles at the knock on her door. They grumble, fixing their robe and moving to answer it. She's tense, and she only relaxes when she sees who it is.
"Get in 'ere," Cleo says, ushering Joe inside before closing the door behind him.
They flop down on their couch, wine glass forgotten. Joe sits down beside her and she moves to put her head in his lap.
"I'm worried, Cleo," he states, running a hand through her curls.
Cleo sighs, burying their face in Joe's stomach.
"Why can't they love me?" She asks, slightly muffled.
"I don't know," he replies honestly, frowning slightly. "But-" he's cut off by the doorbell buzzing.
Cleo groans and gets up. They fix their hair in the mirror by the door and opens it to find-
"Grace! Tay!" She greets with a strained smile. "I wasn't expecting a visit! Come in!" They move aside to let the pair in before closing the door and moving back to the couch.
She sits up this time, sticking close to Joe. Their parents sit on the loveseat in their living room, both looking a bit uncomfortable.
"So, Cleo, we wanted to talk to you about last weekend," Grace starts.
She stiffens and Joe's arm goes to wrap around her shoulders.
"Yeah? What happened?" They ask, faking a placating smile.
"Well, aunt Linda came to the party and started accusing us of being bad parents," Tay starts, his Jersey accent shining as he tries to hide his anger. "And we want you to fix whatever you told her."
Cleo blinks in shock at the pair. And then she starts laughing. They can tell that makes the other 2 angrier but she couldn't care less.
"Fix it? I didn't tell her a bloody thing!" She exclaims, still laughing.
"You will not raise your voice at us, young lady!" Grace exclaims, anger clear by the way her cheeks flush red. "You will go talk to your great aunt Linda and tell her it was all a misunderstanding."
"I'm not a lady, nor am I young anymore," Cleo spits back, laughter gone, face hard as stone. "And I'm not lying to great aunt Linda. You never added me to the family Facebook group and you didn't invite me to my sister's birthday and-"
"She isn't your fucking sister, Cleo!" Tay exclaims, face red with anger. "You share no blood with her! She is not related to you whatsoever! And we don't want a, a freak like you near her!" He's standing now, hand running through his hair.
"Tay-" Grace starts, standing, hand on his shoulder.
"Get out," Joe states firmly, eyes burning, glowing a deep blue.
The pair of adults turn to face him and Tay scowls.
"You can't force us out of our daughter's house-" Tay starts but Joe cuts him off.
"If Cleo isn't your daughter's sister because they share no blood, then you aren't her parent. Now get out ." His voice is ice cold and the temperature seems to drop slightly.
The 2 scramble to get out. And Cleo? She's stiff, frozen, sitting there. There's the confirmation they've been looking for; they aren't an Arthur and never will be.
Joe sits back down and pulls Cleo into a hug. She accepts it easily. There's nothing left in them to cry though, not after the past 5 days of torment. Still, they stay like for a while, just hugging out the pain and sorrow.
Cleo ends up pulling back first.
"Will you take me to that bar finally?" She asks with a small smile.
Joe beams as he replies, "Yes absolutely."
"And you know what?" Their smile widens. "Invite your friends, I think it's finally time I meet your family."
His smile could rival the sun with how bright it is.
-
The bar is loud, but not too loud. That's the first thing Cleo notices when she enters, Joe's arm hooked in hers.
"Do you want a booth or to sit at the counter?" Joe asks, leaning closer so they can hear him over the chatter.
"Counter, you said your friends work here, yeah?" She replies easily, flashing a grin.
He nods. "They do, yeah! C'mon!" He starts to lead her to the counter, sitting them down in seats smack dab in the middle.
"Joe!" A voice behind the counter greets and Cleo looks up to see who it is.
They have dark brown hair cut military style and a yellow mask on. They're tan as well, and the mask has a smile on it. Their most prominent feature, though, is their eyes, which are completely white besides black pupils.
"Keralis, hey!" Joe greets, flashing a dazzling smile. "This is Cleo!" He introduces the gorgon zombie hybrid.
"Ah, Cleo! Dats your best friend, no?" They turn to look at them, taking off their mask and offering a smile. "I'm Keralis, dey/dem!"
She offers a smile in return. "Cleo, she/they! It's nice to meet you!"
"What can I get for you 2 today?" Keralis asks with a hum, and Cleo notices sharp canines in their mouth.
That makes their smile widen, happy. This is going to be fun.
"2 beers please," Joe speaks up.
Cleo raises an eyebrow at him. "Since when do you drink beer?" She asks, the smile easy to hear in her voice.
He simply shrugs. "Everyday is a learning experience!"
They laugh and accept the beer thankfully when Keralis comes back with it, a smile on their face.
"Have dey met Shashwam yet?" Keralis asks Joe, mask back in place, but it's easy to hear their smile.
"Nope! Not yet! She hasn't met any of the other Hermits, but that changes tonight!" Joe explains, grin wide as he takes a sip of the beer.
His nose wrinkles slightly, but then he smiles wide. "This is actually not that bad!" He says.
Cleo laughs again, taking a sip of her own beer.
"You would say that, Joe!"
Keralis laughs. "I'll bring out Shashwammy!" They walk off, a pep in their step.
“When is Jev getting here?” Their voice isn’t shouting, but nearly is, it’s hard to hear in the bar and Cleo knows that.
“Soon, don’t worry! They’ll all probably arrive at the same time, honestly,” Joe explains in reply, taking another sip of his beer.
“How many friends do you have that wanna meet me?” She asks, raising an impressed eyebrow.
“All of them,” he replies earnestly. “Seriously Cleo, you’re one of my favorite people and they know that.”
“He’s right, you know?” A new voice speaks up, interrupting them and making Cleo jump slightly.
She looks up to see someone new. They wear a mask to filter their breathing, and their hair is a chocolate brown color, a bit messy, as if they’ve been running their hands through it. Their eyes are a lavender color and they’re skin is pale.
“I’m Xisuma, voi/voids,” voi introduces voidself at Cleo’s confusion.
They smile. “Oh, it's nice to meet you!” She offers a hand to shake.
Voi takes it with voids own smile hidden by voids mask. “Joe talks about you often, Cleo, so it’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too!” They reply easily. “Joe has mentioned you all before. I think."
"I have!" Joe insists.
“There’s a lot of us, don’t fault him,” Xisuma says with a chuckle. “That being said, Xb will kill me if I’m gone for too long, have fun!” Voi walks off with a wave, which Cleo returns before turning to Joe.
She pokes him. "Where's the bathroom?" They ask, head tilted.
Joe gives her instructions and then she's off. It's not that hard to find the bathroom once they notice the signs and they laugh in triumph when they find exactly what they're looking for.
Everything goes smoothly until she's halfway back to the counter. They feel a hand slip onto their shoulder and they stop. She turns, scowling at the stranger that stands there.
"Can I help you?" Cleo asks, tone snappish and just done with the world today.
The person has an easy grin on their face and is laid back a bit, chill. Their hand is still on Cleo's shoulder, grip tightening when they notice their tone.
"Chill doll," they say, voice smooth like butter. "Just wanted to see if I could buy you a drink, is all," they put up their free hand in a surrender-like motion.
"Not interested," she snaps, attempting to free her shoulder and failing.
"Oh come on," they roll their eyes, smile never failing, face almost hypnotic to any normal person. "Just one drink, maybe a little something after?" Their eyes flash and they're voice is practically a purr.
"Excuse me!" A voice cuts in, feminine and anger clear as day in their tone.
Cleo turns and their eyes widen.
"Stress?" She asks, a grin splitting across her face.
The fairy offers a smile to Cleo and then scowls at the person still holding her shoulder.
"Who are you?" The stranger asks, eyebrows furrowed.
"A friend, and we were just going to meet with our friends. Say, have you met X? Voi is in charge of the place, it would be a shame if we had to bother void for something trivial like this, yeah?" Stress' voice is sweet like saccharine but laced with venom.
The stranger is quick to let go of Cleo's shoulder, akin to if it had burned them.
"N-No need, have a nice night ladies!" They turn and walk off.
Cleo turns to face Stress and easily accepts the hug that comes with it.
"Last time I saw you, you were so much smaller!" Stress says excitedly after she pulls back, starting to walk them towards the counter.
“I was like, 4!” Cleo insists, arms crossed, slipping back into their seat.
“Heya Stress!” Joe greets happily, and then glances at Cleo. “Did something happen?” He asks, head tilted.
“A wanker tried hitting on Cleo, so I scared 'em off,” Stress explains, waving at Keralis who places a drink in front of it before it even says anything.
It gives a smile and takes a sip. “Thanks K.”
They nod, wave and then walk off to do more bartender stuff.
“Jev and them are here, by the way,” Stress informs the other 2, drinking more of her drink. “They’ll be here soon, they were looking for you in the crowd when I wandered off and found Cleo,” it kicks its feet happily.
Before anyone else can say anything, a voice cuts in.
“We’re here, we’re here,” a new voice cuts in with a huff.
Cleo turns and sees blue slime formed into the shape of a person. She could vaguely see their bones through the parts of themselves not hidden by clothes.
“Are you Jev?” They ask, head tilted, smiling, taking another swig of their beer.
They nod. “I am, are you Cleo?”
She nods, grin wide and bright. “We’re going to have much fun.”