A Good One

by Leki

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Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Tess/Edgar Vargas. Rated K+ for certain...words. Genre - Romance/Tragedy.

There are so few good people, in the city, your lucky to find one in a lifetime.

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Disclaimer - No, Leki doesn't own Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, or any of these characters! Jhonen Vasquez does! I only made a background for Tess and Edgar.

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Thank you ShadeHimuora (also my idea bouncer and nick-picker), tasty cheez, desdemona and otakurose16 for the first reviews! And yes, there WILL be more characters besides these two, I promise. Just be patient while I lay the groundwork.

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Part II: Closer And Closer

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"Hmmm..." Tess continued to pace back and forth, anxiety rising up in her chest. But it was a good feeling, once she hadn't felt in a good, long while. Since before she had came to this city, "What the fuck, huh? The hard-assed Tess, struck to being a giddy girl, scared out of her pretty little head." She scoffed half at the irony of her being scared to follow someone, and half at her 'pretty' little head. She leaned back against the wall of her small bedroom in her apartment, right leg bent so her socked foot could press against the wall to. With crossed arms, Tess blew her short dangling bangs out of her eyes. For minutes, she stared down at her striped stockings and the hem of her dark purple and green shirt, "Screw it, I'm no fuckin' wuss." Tess crossed to her black cat phone, and picked up the paw receiver, twirling the cat's eyes until the number was input.

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"Hello, Edgar here."

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"Heya, Vargas."

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"Tess, hm? I was wondering when you would call." At first, his voice had sounded distracted, but when he heard her voice, it was instantly cleared.

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"...How'd you know it was me?"

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"Your voice is purely unique." Tess was struck silent and blushing by that simple comment. Hmph, some tough-ass I am, can't even think of a comeback... "So, Tess, what gives me the pleasure of talking to you?"

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"I'm cravin' some Ham Brain Freezy. How about...taking me?" She waited with bated breath for his answer.

-/-/-

That first call started a series of small dates, such as snack runs, the movies, cafe lounging. They soon made daily plans to spend time together, usually at least an hour. And slowly, Tess grew steady in her want to have him close. She introduced him to the few acquaintances she was friendly with. The number was sparse, as he came to find out. When he was gone because of work, he would always find one message for each hour gone on his phone. She seemed so relieved when he called her back, or met her, in a voice akin to immense relief. Yet strangely, she sometimes wouldn't call for days and not leave a single message, other times leaving a hushed message that she was sorry, she was busy. In each of these hushed messages, he could hear her holding something back before she simply hung up the phone.

-/-/-

Tess slowly forced out her breath, which was beginning to be held in so long, her chest hurt in that way she had come to expect. Her shaking hand put down the phone, another thing which had to be forced. Shivering and chilled, she slid weakly to the floor, her hands trailing down the wall from the wooden counter on which her phone stood. To her knees, and bowed over, her arms wrapped around her stomach. She had to gulp to keep her gagging reflex from bringing her late lunch back up. Cold sweat poured from her pores, down her skin and first dampening, then drenching her clothes. Her eyes darted around the small apartment, to the couch and small television, to the open doors of the small bathroom and bedroom. Shadows flickered and formed, aided by her imagination, and formed figures of the past, taunting her. Quickly, she closed her eyes, knowing fully that it was just her imagination and remorse acting vindictively together.

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For a long time, she waited until her body slowed down, and only then did she open her eyes. Dully, sweat making her hair slide down into her face, she sat up, shoulders down in defeat.

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She had already made a call this hour. She had to fight the urge to call more. As always, that feeling of being out of the loop came, that she didn't know what was going on, settled in to stay until the next talk. And those people that said 'What she doesn't know can't hurt her!' where damn liars. What she didn't know could very well hurt her. What she didn't know could be plotting. What she didn't know is if Edgar was saying bad things about her, and spilling all that she'd told him to be dissected by his friends, and laughed at. Tess sobbed against her forearm. It wouldn't be the first time someone had done so. She was just some damned amusement, to be thrown away and lost when the new fad came in.

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Weakly, she dragged herself up, having to hold onto the counter above her to do so. That's when the phone rang, and the day really began.

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When she was done with the call and dressed, reaching for her ankh pendant, she let her hand drop away from it. The ankh was a symbol of life. She just didn't deserve life.

-/-/-

The Vargas Residence. What a grand name for a small apartment. Still, it was his own. Edgar was currently sitting calmly on the right side of the couch, his favorite spot to sit, especially to read. The black velvet flecked with dark dashes of purple and silver couch, stood in the corner to the right as you came in. It fit to the corner, making the most of the area. The only window stood slightly to the right of his seat, hence the reason why he liked to sit there to read; the light. A small TV that he hardly used except for news, weather or boredom stood in the corner beside the other end of the couch, and not much else besides a table and bookshelf packed with books. Starting from the door and going around to him was the bathroom, a bedroom that was neat for a bachelor, and then the kitchen, well stocked seeing as he hated greasy fast food and loved a good cooked meal.

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Hm. Kitchen. Home cooked meal. If only he could get Tess over here, he could try and win her heart over with some good food. Maybe try and help her calm down since she'd be out of the eyes of those trash talking people in the city. Looking over to his right, through the rectangular hole in the wall, with the thin counter on the bottom part, that separated him from the kitchen, he thought of what was in there. Pans, pots. Lots of ingredients ready to be cooked, a few lazy microwave meals in case he was just to tired to cook. He could find her favorite stuff he searched for a minute.

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He turned back to his book, shifting in his seat, and began to read. The only problem being was that the words didn't seem to make sense. With a sigh, he closed the book over his thumb.

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His thoughts just kept going back to Tess. He was disciplined enough to keep his thoughts off of her when he worked, or did something important, but when he had time to himself and was relaxing, his guard down... that was another matter entirely. The girl just seemed so anxious and unconfident lately. Edgar could think of several scenarios of why she was down, but unfortunately, he still couldn't get close enough to narrow them down. He couldn't see if her home life was bad, seeing as she never invited him. He had invited her to his own small home a few times, but she had refused gently until finally caving in, coming over a few times. She seemed to prefer public places, but she gave him a chance. But when he inquired about her own home, her answer was snappy. No, he could not come over. Perhaps she was nervous about what he thought? Perhaps. He'd just have to wait and see.

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And oh, he could very well wait for this girl that had lit up his boring existence. When he saw her, he saw beauty, intelligence and creativity. And best, she was kind, even if she hid it behind her apathetic looks. Whenever he gave her a compliment on any of her features, she'd just deny it though. Edgar shook his head. It confounded him on how she denied everything with a sure look of sadness, as if she didn't believe a single thing.

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With a small smile, he reopened his book, and to his pleasure, found the words making sense again. He would help her find the good things about herself.

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"God... Let her find the goodness in this life... in this blasted city. Protect her. And if my will matches Yours, let me have her." Gently he rubbed a thumb over the print of the Bible in his hands, and went back to reading, a new reassurance in his heart, "I put my heart solely into your hands... for You led us together in the first place."

-/-/-

That night out on the town, they were walking together. It was supposed to be a happy scene, as normal, with laughter and nudging. Maybe a little bit of that clinging to his hand or arm he was slowly starting to get used to. She always seemed to hold his hand, or touch it, for reassurance, in no way suggestive, but always seemed afraid to get any closer than his hand.

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Maybe they would have gone off for a quiet talk in a musty cafe of books and philosophical things that no other citizen tried to join into. But Tess walked beside him, not touching him, keeping her distance from that little close-up, personal space area. Not really seeming to head to any one spot. She was dressed normally, besides her ankh, and nothing seemed amiss, but her spirit. She wasn't smiling, and was looking forward, dull eyed, as if her real eyes were trained on some misery. That night, he had to call her, unusual, to get her out of her apartment. And now, he had to prompt her to speak, when before, she would have spilled her words bare to his judgment. Almost as if she wanted to see what he thought of them, and such things as casual talk.

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They walked down a long stretched of sidewalk, side by side, non speaking. Cars passed close by without a heed for the speed limit or thought to how lives could be put in danger by reckless driving, their bright lights flashing over them as they zoomed past. Dull buildings with unfitting neon signs flared above them. People walked past them, but did not talk, weary from their days, going out only because of social requirements. Everything seemed half dead, hanging on by a thread.

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Edgar usually refrained from close physical contact, seeing as he had been raised alone, basically, and not grown on affection. But he couldn't stand the silence, and he couldn't stand to see her looking so desolate. He wanted to raise her up to happiness. He calmly let her take a step ahead of him, and edged behind her. Before she realized he had even moved, so caught up in her problems she was, he wrapped his arms around her loosely from behind, making her stop with him.

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"Tess. What ever is bothering you, don't let it. It's not worth letting your spirit falling flat." She stiffened against him, and she became breathless before her breathing quickened to a panic.

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"You don't know my problems. And I sure as Hell deserve 'em. I got no right to throw them off my shoulders, and neither do you." Depression was written in her very posture, if only one would take the time to see it. Edgar had seen it there several times, and had managed to help her lift the weight of the world from her before. But now her shoulders, her head and heart, on which the weight was perched, now seemed to be crumbling.

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"Tess, why do you deserve such things?"

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"I'm an idiot, if you haven't grasped that concept. I have nothing for me, brains, looks, money, nothing." Such self-degrading made Edgar want to flinch, "I don't deserve some stupid, happy break, or some hug to make it better. Now get OFF." She shrugged at his arms, shivering, a vice starting to clench around her chest, it seemed, "G-get off." Anxiety started, and panic flushed from that, all from being held like that, in arms of comfort. Edgar was doing something none of her other asshole boyfriends had done; he was taking an interest in her heart. Such close observation scared her. She put on a facade for a reason, so they couldn't see her real wants and pains. She wanted them to be happy so they could like her. She didn't want them to notice her, because pain made people uncomfortable.

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"Tess. Whatever has been bothering you, keeping you from me... Let it go."

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"Keeping me from you, huh?" She shrugged at him, trying to pull on her usual tough, apathetic attitude. Without looking at him, she pushed at his arms weakly, her arms shaking as he could see. He watched her struggle for a moment, and had to thread his fingers together so she couldn't get free. She wasn't clinging, she was running away, and he didn't want her to. She wanted her to cling, to him. She sighed, and stopped struggling, her head down, to weak and timid now to fight, her anger quickly drained away. She didn't have the spirit to actually fight for herself. He could feel her breath in, as if holding back tears. He loosened his hand, and ran a hand over hers.

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Her hard mask was melted and now she was weakening to the point of crying, something had never done. Even though he had seen the want to cry in her eyes many times before. Something had happened to go past that internal limet of her, to make her cry. Something bad. What would help her, what did she need, want? Edgar's eyes half closed.

-/-/-

"Edgar!" Tess running at him from behind, hooking an arm around his as she pulled him towards gas station for a Brain Freezy, "I want a Ham Freezy!" He looked at her with mingled affection and disgust.

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"I'll stick to Cherry."

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Stale popcorn and candy smells drifted along with the sickly sweet smells of Brain Freezy and soda, over the movie chairs. From opening advertisements to end credits, the soft pressure of her leg against his.

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Edgar sitting calmly on the sofa of his home, a book in his right hand, the left arm thrown back over the couch. Tess lay curled up on the couch, her head in his lap, half asleep. It had taken months for her to feel comfortable enough to fall asleep in his presence.

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Staring at the sunset from atop a building, far up so lights would not bother. Silently, timidly, she reached for his hand. Her grip was weak, until he squeezed. She smiled, and she squeezed back as they watched.

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Touch. Reassurance of being there.

-/-/-

Slowly, Edgar's arms tightened around her, and he inched his feet forward until her back was pressed against him. Her voice was breathless as she addressed him.

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"What are you doing...?!" Without answering, he calmly pulled her tightly to him, enveloping her in his firm and carefully placed arms, the right around her waist, the left crossed so the hand rested on he right shoulder.. He put his chin upon her left shoulder, his head against her ear. He held her physically, without any perverted actions as, undoubtfully what those eyes watching them saw. He heard snickers, but paid no heed to them, unlike Tess.

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"Let go, people are staring." She fidgeted in his arms, moving her head away from his, and straining frantically against his arms. Her heart was beating strongly against his arm.

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"I don't care." His eyes were downcast, "I just want to hold you." She stopped straining.

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"You want... to hold me?"

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"Yes. You deserve this. You deserve love. Whatever is bogging you down, you don't deserve. You a smart, beautiful woman, and all I've seen you do is serve others. Now, I want to serve you."

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"Edgar, stop-" Edgar felt tears drip off her cheeks and onto his arm. But he didn't stop.

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"I don't want to stop, I want to hold you. I want you to tell me what's bothering you." Slowly, he loosened his arms. Tess drew in breath and squeezed his arms with her hands, feeling as if she would break if he let her go to stand on her own.

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"Tess..." Gently, he stroked her fingers with his own, "I'm not letting you go." Slowly, he turned her in his arms, and with his arms still around her, looked at her. She was looking down, sobbing as quietly as she could to keep from being noticed, biting her quivering lower lip. Even now, she was trying to keep the spotlight off herself, keeping a reason for people's thoughts to turn bad against her away. "Come on, tough girl." She laughed weakly, tears flooding her eyes freshly as relief blew through her.

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He was seeing her weak side, her tears, puffy eyes, weak shaking. Her sadness, her loneliness. He saw her weakness, and he didn't turn away. He literally embraced it.

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Slowly, he leaned his head down, his nose rubbing against hers, and brushing at her cheeks. Gently, oh so gently and smoothly, he put his mouth over hers, letting their breaths mingle. His eyes stared at her calmly, until she looked up. When her down turned eyes turned up and saw his, they grew clearer. He felt her shaking hands come to the back of his shirt, and clench at the fabric. She pushed forward through the tears, and pressed her lips to his.

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He gave her just what she wanted, to be seen and held wholly as she was, without being pushed away.

-/-/-

'Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.' -George Eliot

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This long part was generally for the Tess/Edgar fans to squee over, but there's definitely more to come (not all romancy). And oh, is that last line abit of foreshadowing again?