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killslumflower · 1 year ago

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HONEY PART ONE: “sweet like honey, slow like molasses.”

↝ NOW PLAYING [ green eyes by erykah badu ]

1:07 ——◦———— -10:05

↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮

“C’mon killmonger what better do you have to do?” Klaues pale body was lax against the frame of Erik’s door, his blue eyes hazy, a soft pink color around the irises tinting into red. He was tipsy, Erik knew he shouldn’t have opened the door, He expected something important. But alas, Klaue lived up to his reputation of being nothing more than a stain. The question lingered in the air for a second, before klaue slumped forward, flinging a hand at Eriks left shoulder, “Linda?” He croaked out, doubling over until his forehead touching the apex of Eriks chest His body tensed, rigid against Klaues touch

one

klaue croaked out a wheezing of laughter, and Erik’s jaw clenched

Two

Erik could feel the trickle of klaues sweat through the thin material of his grey shirt

Three

He could smell the 1800 wafting from his pores, Klaue never learned he would have thought their last job in Kabul taught him, the terror of that mission still gave Erik nightmares

Four

“I’ll come.”

The words fell from his mouth faster than he could stop them but it was enough To get Klaues hunched stature perked up, his eyes meeting Erik’s “atta boy!” He clasped his hand down on his shoulder in a pat, a snarky smile wide on his face. Erik peeled the man’s hand off of him

“give me 5.”

streaks of fluorescent violet light danced over the sepia hue of his skin, Erik was swimming through his second Hennessy on the rocks and floating with the current of quartet on stage “nice isn’t it?” the pungent smell of whiskey on klaues foresaken tongue snatched him away from relaxation, and back to the reality he exhaled sweet smoke from a 1942 Gurkha Black dragon cigar klaue’s finest collection, the smoke from bitter Tabacoo made the air in the compacted club, thick but erik didn’t care the liquor and the smooth sounds of jazz relaxed him. He wouldn’t give klaue the gratification of admitting the place was more than nice, he was expecting some grimey casino with half naked blondes and brunettes instead klaue had taken him to a local speakeasy, a small quaint black owned jazz spot. Line music, and the only pale skin in sight was Klaue’s own flushed tone. He was a stain on this place, and Erik was almost embarrassed to be seen with him.

Although Nobody else seemed to care,

“Would you like another fill sir?”

The waitress was back again, a cinnamon toned beauty with eccentric Fulani braids, her question was aimed towards klaue

“yes please amour.”

His attempt to flirt with the young lady were failing poorly, he knew that for sure. Yet she plastered a smile anyway, one that read give me a big tip. She took Klaues glass into her white stiletto acrylics placed it on her silver platter and quickly reverted her attention to Erik, she was undressing him with her eyes. She was cute, but he was in no mood for fucking.

“And how about you?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

He stated with a small half smile, she reached for his glass and placed it next to Klaues batting her mink lashes at him slowly

“Well..you let me know if you need anything.”

Her voice was sultry, she held his gaze for longer than needed

“I said I’m good sweetheart.”

He purposely added emphasis on good, so she would get the hint, she did and she quickly scurried to retrieve Klaues drink.

His eyes fell back on the stage, the quartet was nearing the a comfortable end to their set he could tell by the slow of instrumental, sure enough within the next minute the sweet sounds were at a hault, the small room was then filled with a roaring applause in which he joined gracefully he really hadn’t remembered the last time he had allowed music to take him away. The announcer entered again, q middle aged black man with slick hair and a crisp black tuxedo at the mic

“That was the smooth sounds of clarity..”

another roar from the applause

“I don’t know about y’all but my vision is all clear.”

The Corny joke actually made Erik smile

“This next act is all about the heart though..y’all please help me give a warm welcome to the flow of this here place.”

“Esscence.”

The roar seemed to amp in volume, he heard dog whistles and cheers. Whoever was next, was definitely a regular and a favorite it seemed.

The quartet didn’t move an inch, they must be an accompaniment

Suddenly a sight of glimmer broke into his sight as a gorgeous woman entered stage left, her dark brown tone seemed to shine under the lights of the stage. She wore a big white head wrap erykah badu style, and a crocheted earth tone skirt with a matching brown top. As she turned to face the stage, damn She was stunning, her skin was dark as fresh soil and her sleek features resembled the women of his fathers home country, that beauty he never thought he’d witness up close, with a set of piercing hazel eyes. She held a small smile as the cheers never seemed to end, he joined. Giving a whistle of his own, and it made her smile grow showing all her bright white teeth.

She closed her eyes, standing completely still for a moment as to gain her composure, the noise seemed to quiet down. And as she opened her eyes, her body began to sway slowly, to her own rhythm as she hummed lowly.

The quartet started again, but only the keys with a skipping beat

He knew the melody all too well, the song was a classic from Erykah badu’s sophomore album, one his mother played on repeat in their home all the time. And this track..”green eyes.” never ceased from their walls after his father was taken away from them..it brought back a feeling he couldn’t describe.

[play track here]

She began

“my eyes are green..”

she released the sweetest sound by far, a smooth alto tone, a drastic difference from Erykah’s mezzo soprano tone on the track, but it blended so nicely with the set, it instantly had him hooked.

“Cuz I eats a lot of vegetables..It don’t have nothin’ to do with your new Friend.”

She swayed again pointing to someone in the crowd who blew her back a kiss,

“My

eyes

are

green..”

The saxophone peaked, joining in with the melody

“Cuz I Eats a lot of vegetables.”

“It don’t

have nothing to do

with your new friend..”

“I don’t care..I swear.”

“I’m too through with you I am.”

“You don’t mean nothing, to me..

So go ahead and be with your friend.”

A pause in the keys as they slowed,

“My eyes are green..”

A peak in saxophone

“Cuz I eats a lot of vegetables.”

“It

don’t

have

nothin’

with

your

new..”

the saxophone faded out and the keys began to play a slower melody, then a break a pause small enough you wouldn’t even catch if it wasn’t for her voice halting, was it over? God he hoped not..

Her head fell slowly forward, until her forehead touched the mic, she cradled it in her hand smooth black stilettos grasping the base of it. As nothing but her slow deliberate breaths were to be heard, his attention was hanging on to each note she made with her voice. He felt like he was on the edge of his seat,

“Friend.”

She held the note, she carried it letting it ride, amping in volume from a soft tone to a louder one as The keys came back smoother than before, as the other instruments began to join in a key change

her head raised ever so slightly until her face was visible to the crowd,

“Im insecure..”

Her eyes peeled opened, and he exhaled not even realizing he was holding his breath.

“But I can’t help it..”

With every word she sang, a spell seemed to be casting over him. It was like a trance he couldn’t explain, and he felt the same energy throughout the quaint space. But his vision was tunneled, all he could focus on was the performance she put on before him.

“My mind..says move on,

my heart lags behind.”

Her head fell to the right

“But I don’t love you anymore..

I’m so insecure

Never knew that love did this..”

A flute began to join, over the chorus then to the left, as her body began to move with the sounds of the quartet her eyes closed again as she lost herself in the rhythm

“Ouuuu..ouuu..ouuu..”

The way she carried the sound, made it drift even when she dropped out, the way she made it dance in the minds of who listened. It was like a spark,

“Ouuu..ouuu..ouuu..”

Each time she held it, it was like a strike from a match to its box

“I can’t remember,

The last time I

Felt this way about somebody..”

Her eyes opened, her eyes holding his and the flame started, engulfing him in a blaze of passion, he could feel his slacks grow tighter around his groin,

damn the Hennessy, he always got the same reaction when he drunk it. But he didn’t move an inch to adjust himself, her voice keeping him frozen, illuminating the fire to burn in his chest he was stuck in her groove,

“You’ve done something to my mind

And I can’t control it..”

She sung of a broken heart, that he hadn’t caused yet

“But I don’t love you anymore.”

Her eyes flickered away, and onto the rest of the crowd,

“Yes I do I think..”

“Loving you is wrong.”

“Ouu ouuu ouuu,

ouuu ouuu ouuu..”

“La di da..”

She began to scat

skipping like the

beat of his heart

“dum di..da da..

dum di da..di da..

Dum di da di da…”

She slowed, An unwritten part of the song breaking as the quartet picked up behind her, Until each instrument broke away,

Off until it was only keys, a slow harmony that she joined in a hum until They slowed into a stop.

It was over

And before anything else could be said,

Erik jumped to his feet, and began to clap loudly, he didn’t know if it was the liquor, the memory of his mother weeping silently to the chords of this track back home, or her performance but a tear that he couldn’t stop streaked down his face,

Behind him A loud chorus from the crowd amped like never before, as they gave her a much deserved ovation She smiled, all teeth her eyes on his again, she blew a kiss his way and bowed

As the velvet tattered curtains began to draw, until her and the quarter were out of site, the applause didn’t stop though. They slowed until Erik was the last one left clapping, he didn’t really give a damn that people were looking at him crazy. He wanted her to hear how good she was, he didn’t stop until klaue began to pull on his shoulder to sit him down. He was so entranced, he didn’t pay attention to the touch belonging to the man. He allowed it to seat him.

“The smooth sounds never stop..we’ll be playing all night. Enjoy our intermission. Next up we have the black odyssey..”

The voice of the announcer played through the speakers, as a bustle of conversations started at the surrounding tables

“Well..you certainly enjoyed that performance huh lad?” Klaue chucked, Erik didn’t entertain the man one bit, he took a sip of water like it was the last drop on earth, it had grown Luke warm from sitting but he didn’t mind. Anything to snuff the fire that still held his chest,

He felt klaue move beside him his, body moving towards the bar probably to flag the waitress for his bottomless drinks even though he was well into a stupor, but surprisingly in the next moment he was in his ear like an annoying gnat waiting to be squashed “I have someone I’d like you to meet.” Erik couldn’t contain his annoyance, he was in no mood to meet one of klaues acquaintances, and he could tell. His hand was at his shoulder again shaking him lightly “Aw c’mon killmonger..you won’t regret it.” He urged, Erik placed his glass back on the table, shook off Klaues hand. And prepared himself

“Whatever man.”

He knew the next act was nothing he wanted to see, so after this meet and greet he would lug himself back to his room and dream about the woman with the voice of velvet. Klaue was up first, fixing his tie as if that would hide his drunk was, he stumbled away from his seat, and Erik joined him standing up, allowing him to lead the way. Klaue unsurprisingly made his way to the bar, and Erik joined behind him sluggishly.

“Essence!”

His ears perked up to that..it was her, he watched Klaue make a few steps ahead and hault at the seat before him, there she was perched on a stool supporting her frame with the bar.

He felt like his heart had stopped, even though he could feel it beating rapidly in his chest, he began to walk closer taking his stance in respectable distance behind Klaue. His eyes never leaving the beauty of her face.

“Klaue..”

She didn’t like him, he could tell by the sharpness of her voice, it was bitter to his ears. Subtle enough for klaue to miss, but still cutting through the air. He didn’t know the correlation but the excitement in Klaues voice was far more exuberant, she was pulled from her drink an interesting dark substance her glass, too light to be Hennessy but too dark to be dusse, he wasn’t sure what it was but she was dangerous for sure drinking cognac with no chaser.

He didn’t have to see klaues face to know the man held a snarky smile. He leaned foward placing a small greasy peck on her smooth delicate brown skin, Erik felt his jaw clench. A flash of klaues dead body on the ground in his mind. She said nothing in response, swallowing but he could see her crawling on the inside. Her eyes fluttered past the stain of a man, and onto him, he could feel that spell casting again. Noticing the twinkle in her hazel irises her glass clinched against the wood of the bar “whose this?” His stomach tightened, the sweetness returning to her voice klaue turned his head over his shoulder to look at erik, his icy blue eyes skimming over him, another snarky smile growing on his face “this is my bunkmate killmonger!” She hid her expression well on her face but her eyes didn’t lie, he caught her do a once over. She thought he was attractive, good. Weirdly, that made him nervous.

Klaue did nothing but take up space, talking about how they needed to catch up over dinner, raved about her performance and sent his condolences for her father, he noticed her posture freeze at the mention of her father. She took a big gulp of her drink.

“Thank you..”

it wasn’t warm, it was stale she looked away from him, her eyes back on his own as it to say..save me.

That’s all he needed, he put a hand on klaues right shoulder “aye Klaue Linda just paged me..said she need you back at the hotel.” He whispered

“Awh! That sneaky sonofabitch! I was just starting to catch up.”

“Yeah well it could be serious you should go.”

Klaue sighed, but Erik watched as he brought up the dial to his personal driver to Bring his car around

“Well I apologize Esscence but duty calls..we’ll have to catch up over that dinner.”

He didn’t like the animation in his tone, he was much too happy to talk to her and her expression being such a difference rubbed him the wrong way.

Klaue turned to him “how are you getting back lad?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Klaues expression was a little taken aback, but he said nothing. Turned on his heels, and was out of their presence within seconds

Finally

Erik’s eyes was back on her, she was somewhere else looking off into the distance taking the contents of her drink greatly, he took a seat at the stool next to her.

“Your performance was the best I’ve ever seen.”

He commented, taking her out of her thoughts she looked at him warmly a small smile “thank you so much, that really means a lot to me.” She said that with pure gratitude, they sat in a comfortable silence for a moment taking in each others glare. “My mother she loved that album, and absolutely loved that song, I was waking up every Sunday to those jams.” That made her chuckle “she’s got good taste, it was my daddy’s favorite too.” He saw the drop in her gaze, it was one he knew all too well. It was one of pain..one of loss. she looked away again, sipping at her drink “what’s a Brotha like you doing hanging around the likes of Klaue?” She changed the subject He was slightly disappointed they weren’t talking about something of importance “we work together.” He simply stated her gaze was back on him, curious a furrowed brow her eyes told him she knew exactly what his occupation was but he didn’t want to talk about it it was his turn to change the subject

“What’s a singer like you doing in a spot like this?”

“What’s wrong with this spot?”

She quipped a slight playful attitude in her manner

“Nothing, but you should be at the Grammys with that voice Girl.”

She had nothing to say to that just a slight giggle, and that sound made him never want to hear anything else. He wanted to hear her laugh all the time, make her forget about that hole he know her father left. The same one he know he’ll never fill, until his final mission that is. she took another sip of her drink, and the same bartender from before came over to ask about her tab. She closed it, put a crisp twenty down “thanks shawna.” And looked back him, he could feel Shawna looking between them and he knew, she could feel the energy growing between them by the second. They didn’t have to conversate much, the tone was already set.

“So..You staying for the next show?” She asked taking her glass away from her lips, her eyes back on him “nah.” He ran his tongue across his bottom one, watching her eyes flicker at the sight of his gold caines. “I’ve seen all this place got to offer.” she smiled, her acrylics tapping her glass as she set it back to its place on the mahogany stained wood “oh forreal?” He didn’t have to answer she knew what he said. “the nights still young-“ she broke contact, he could tell she was nervous too nervous to read his own “my homeboys having a get together if you want to fall through.” He tried to hide the smirk growing on his face but she caught the sight of his dimples as her gaze came back to his face, her eyes danced over him, drinking in his attire as she awaited his answer

“Well..what we still doin’ here?”

AN: Hi beauties wanted to finish what I started, I always had big plans for this story and I’ve been trying for years to believe in my writing enough to finish!! So happy new years :3 and happy new me part two coming tmmrw!

-G

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