Words Weigh More Than a Beer When You Have Gastritis - Pt. 3

Something catches my jacket. Am I caught on something? I stop.

«W-Wait!… I want to come in with you.»

It's Beatrice! I barely turn my face to look at her. Bea... Her face is all red. Her small hands grip my jacket tightly. Her eyes are red, still shiny. Her lips tremble. What a cute look.

Without realizing it, I smile. «Let's go then.»

She quickly joins me and we re-enter the pub. With her head down, I can't see her. I wonder what she's thinking? Eheh! The wooden floorboards creak. Tap creeack Tap crooak. I should put some wooden planks in the house too. But where could I get them? From the hardware store? No, too expensive and boring. I could go to a forest and cut down a tree by punching it. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. And I could approach the tree saying "I'll break you in two!" As long as I don't find one that answers my punches. Impossible, trees don't move. Unless I discover a new species! I would become rich and famous!

«D-Dango.» Bea's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

«Mh?»

«W-We've reached the table.»

«Sorry, I didn't realise!»

Oh... There's one beer missing, I think the waitress took it.

My eyes immediately fall on Pierrot. It doesn't say anything. What's wrong with him? Is it constipated? Do androids get constipated? If it has something, it'll tell me, don't bother it or mind my own business.

Beatrice and I sit down.

How boring, why doesn't anyone say anything? Pierrot must have fallen asleep? Beatrice sips her beer, keeping her gaze fixed on it.

I look around. I'm hungry, where are the snacks? I hear footsteps, I look towards the waitress with the tray. She stops at our table. Finally, food!

«Here are your snacks.» The waitress says, placing the order on the table.

I reach out and grab a fried mozzarella. I put it in my mouth. «Ah! Hot!»

Bea giggles, putting a hand over her mouth. Cute. But Pierrot hasn't reacted. There's definitely something wrong.

Both our gazes focus on him. I swallow the mozzarella.

«P-Pierrot? Are you ok?» asks Bea.

«Everything’s fine.» it replies in a tone that doesn't convince me at all. Its voice is flat, as if it wants to end the conversation.

I scratch the back of my head, unsure of what to do. Beatrice leans forward a little. She starts looking at him with a certain concern.

Before I can say anything myself, I hear footsteps. I notice with the corner of my eye a group of men approaching. There are five of them. They must be about thirty years old. They're laughing. I hope they're just passing by, they bother me.

The tallest one approaches us with a crooked smile, followed by the others. My gaze meets his.

«Hey, baby.» he says, addressing Bea. His voice is slimy, full of false cordiality.

Stop talking to her, you disgusting parasite of society.

«I didn't know mutants were allowed in this pub.»

Bea stiffens. She doesn't say anything, but her hands clench on her lap. She's uncomfortable. I have to say something.

«Excuse me if I interrupt. Could you please leave?» I say, keeping my voice flat. Better not cause trouble.

Rule of threes, rule of threes. Calm down, breathe, don't get hot right away, calm.

I feel the muscles in my face stiffen into a smirk.

«Sorry to disturb you. Could you leave, please?»I say, keeping my voice flat. Best not to cause trouble.

Another one intervenes, chuckling, «Don't tell me you're offended. You're just a stupid machine without a brain.»

A third one adds «Mind your own business, Abraham Lincoln.»

The group starts laughing. They have a tone of voice that's too loud, it bothers me. It bothers me! It bothers me! IT BOTHERS ME!

My leg moves non-stop under the table. And I can't get rid of this tense smile from my face. «I said, leave her alone.»

Pierrot doesn't say anything. At this point he would have definitely intervened. But all it does is lower his head.

I understand. Those guys... they have something to do with it. That's why he's so quiet. My right eye starts to twitch.

«What's wrong, can't you talk? Looks like you're shy!» The man continues, ignoring me. He leans forward, resting one hand on the table and extending the other towards Beatrice. She tries to pull away. Her eyes are downcast, her small hands clench the edges of her glass tightly.

«Come on, baby. Leave these losers and come with us. I'll get you something to drink.»

I jump to my feet. One of the guys approaches me angrily.

«Hey! What do you think you're doing?! She's just a freak of nature, we can do whatever we want with her.»

Pierrot raises its head. I see it tense up slightly, as if the words had hit him too. It remains motionless.

As soon as I'm within reach, I grab his head, slam it against the beer glass, shattering it again and again, and drop him to the floor, his face covered in glass. I notice the bartenders talking, I can discreetly hear what they're saying, they've understood what's happened and what's going to happen. Another man approaches to punch me, I dodge him, grab his wrist, bend it backwards, making him kneel, scream in pain, I notice a beer mug thrown towards my face, I throw myself on the man I'm holding to dodge the mug, the beer hits another person. The man turns around and approaches us angrily.

«What the hell are you doing, you assholes?!»

The group of the man joins the fight, starting to hit one of the first group, the latter ends up falling on another table and the fight spreads to involve the whole pub. Suddenly, I feel someone about to attack me from behind, but, unexpectedly, Pierrot stands up, tackles him, ends up in front of Beatrice, she grabs a tray, screams, and hits the person Pierrot is tackling on the head, but I don't have time to look at her, glasses and trays are flying, some agents come in to see what's happening, they get involved in the dispute, two are not enough, after a few blows they leave the pub. I don't know how long we go on, but in the end, reinforcements from the police arrive, Bea clings to my arm, «Dango, we have to go!» I can't answer, too much confusion, too many voices, too many noises, I look for Pierrot, I see it throw another man in the air before looking at me, I point to the counter, I grab Bea by the wrist, I drag her to the counter, we sneak between the tables and the people fighting, when we arrive, there's Pierrot crouching waiting for us, one of the bartenders, secretly, leads us to a back door.

Before leaving I turn to them to say goodbye. «Thank you again for your help!»

«See you next time Dango! It was nice seeing you again!»

«Me too!»

Pierrot closes the door behind us and turns to me. «Are you crazy?!»

Bea, still clinging to my arm, looks at me with wide eyes.

What? I made a mistake! I shouldn't have attacked those useless bastards... Now they hate me. They're afraid of me. I should have stayed still... I feel my heart racing. I feel hot, I can't feel the air around me, only the light and cool air that enters my lungs. «I'm sorry...» I mumble softly, lowering my gaze.

Why am I like this?

«Don't apologize. It wasn't the most elegant solution, but it was effective. And besides, considering what could have happened, those idiots deserved to be put in their place.»

Beatrice clings to me even tighter. Her scent calms me and the warmth of her body comforts me. «I... I'm not afraid of you, Dango.» Her voice is calm and sweet. «You did what you felt was right. It was... scary, yes. But I understand that you did it to protect us.»

I look down at her. There's not a single tear in her eyes. I feel my face and every muscle in my body relax.

Pierrot sighs softly, crossing his arms. «Now I understand why all the tables and chairs were nailed to the floor, and why the bartenders were so calm in that situation. It probably happens often here.»Pierrot says in a light tone.

Beatrice lets out a small laugh. «Yeah, but usually the fight starts in a more fun way.»

«Even if the beginning wasn't nice, we had fun in the end.»

«Mh!» Bea agrees with Pierrot, nodding with a smile.

The tension slowly dissolves. I find myself smiling too, without realizing it.

I rest a hand on Bea's head and gently stroke it. Her hair is soft, it feels like I'm petting a cat.

«Let's go home. Tomorrow we have to go to Vincent's.»

They both nod.

We walk down the street, the sound of footsteps echoing in the alley. The cool night air mixes with the light scent of recent rain. Bea does not let go of my arm the whole way, while Pierrot walks beside us.

When we reach the vehicle, Bea immediately gets into the back seat, settling in by the window. Pierrot sits beside her, composed as always.

I stand there, still for a moment, one hand on the door. I look up at the pub, now shrouded in calm. The lights are off and there is no one around, the police must have resolved the situation.

I close the door and start the vehicle. I feel Bea's hands clinging to my seat. I move the rear-view mirror to look at them for a moment. Bea leans towards me, she doesn't seem to want to let go even as I drive. Pierrot crosses his gaze with mine and gives a barely perceptible nod.

I start the car, turn on the music and we drive home.