Jeanette approaches Penny with a bourbon and hamburger.
Jeanette: I've been looking all over for you. Where the fuck have you been?
Penny: Burger. Give.
Jeanette sighs, hands Penny the burger.
Penny hungrily devours burger.
Jeanette: Okay, now will you tell me what the fuck is going on?
Penny: Do you know why I wanted a burger?
Jeanette: Because you were hungry?
Penny: Because I've been eating dandelion greens for five months.
Jeanette: What do you--
Penny: The thing in King's head didn't take me.
Penny: I've been in communion.
A long pause as Penny finishes the sandwich. She pats the floor next to her.
Penny: You'd better sit down. You don't want to be standing for this.
Jeanette sits next to Penny. There's another long pause.
Jeanette: So you've been with...Smiley. This entire time.
Penny says nothing.
Jeanette: Christ, Alison.
Penny: Yeah.
Jeanette can now see scars and cuts on Penny's exposed skin. She notices how Penny is rocking back and forth. How she smells like pollen and grass and blood. Penny is now holding Jeanette's hand tightly, like she expects to be dragged off at any moment. Like she needs an anchor to hold her in place.
They don't say anything for a long time. Penny continues to hold Jeanette's hand. She continues to rock back and forth.
Penny: You know, sometimes he took me along.
Penny: He made me hold them down. I couldn't see them, but they were pleading, pleading and I tried to ignore them, I tried so hard to just ignore them.
Jeanette hands Penny the bourbon.
Penny: Danke.
They're quiet for a bit longer.
Penny: ...we're going to have to kill the thing in king's head.
Jeanette: ...I was kind of figuring we would.
Penny: He wants us to. The Lovers.
Jeanette: Even if it didn't...
Penny: Yeah.
Penny is sobbing, but not crying. She can't cry.
Jeanette: Jesus, Penny. I'm sorry.
Penny: I know.
Jeanette very awkwardly hugs Penny. Penny clings to Jeanette. She's shaking.
Jeanette holds Penny for a very long time.
Penny: This is where you punch me, you know.
Jeanette: What are you talking about?
Penny: Your dream. We're here. We're talking. Ms. Punchable, remember?
Jeanette: ...Fuck. You're right.
Penny pulls away. She braces herself.
Penny: So punch me.
Jeanette: What?! No!
Penny: Punch me! Come on!
Jeanette: I am not punching you you freak.
Penny: Do it! You know you want to!
Jeanette: No! Fuck off!
Penny starts poking Jeanette repeatedly.
Penny: Come on, are you scared?! Punch me!
Jeanette: No!
Penny: Punchmepunchmepunchmepunchme
Jeanette punches Penny.
Penny recoils, blood trickling from her mouth.
Jeanette: Jesus, Penny! I'm sorry, I just...are you...
Penny: I love you.
Jeanette: ...what?
Penny: I love you. I can't love. I can't love anything else. But I love you.
Jeanette: What...what are you...
Penny: We don't all survive. Going after this thing. Some of us are going to die. And I wanted to tell you. Before...before things start to get bad.
Jeanette: Penny...I...
Penny: Just hold me. I don't care if you don't back. Just hold me.
Jeanette holds Penny for hours. Penny sobs almost the entire time.
It may be a cold comfort but at least your feelings for her give you SOMETHING to fill the void. Something better than blood and vengeance and the screams of those you hunt mixing with your screams of rage at what you lost. Damn. I'm in a hell of a mood lately, I think I need to go hunting again.
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