Fateful Crossroads

The bar was unusually empty for a Saturday night. Rupert kept his eyes on the entrance, hoping an attractive woman would enter. The ones already in there just weren't up to his standards. Of all the nights he chose to drink, it had to be this one. He was riding high, no pun intended, after stealing a train. But not just any train, an experimental diesel construction engine with a claw attached to its top. Fetched him a pretty penny on the black market, so he wanted to celebrate this momentous accomplishment with women and beer. And so far, he was only half satisfied.

Rupert was even wearing his father's old red tie and blazer, the same one he was wearing when he met Rupert's mother. He was dressed for success and still had no luck. There wasn't any point in hanging around, so once he finished his drink, he would-

The entrance door swooshed open and smacked the wall with a loud bang. Everyone in the bar, including Rupert, dropped whatever they were doing to see who caused the disruption. A woman shyly stepped through the door with a face as red as an apple. She waved to the patrons before heading straight to the bartender. This introduction of hers was not intended, which got a chuckle from Rupert before he emptied his glass. The night hadn't been a total wash after all.

She wore an odd ensemble of clothing: a yellow crop top and green harem pants. Her feet were left entirely bare despite the rough terrain outside. Just where did this woman come from?

"I don't know what I want," said the woman. "I've never had these drinks before."

"Two Shirley temples, please." Rupert sat next to her and extended his hand. "Rupert Crone."

"Lisa," she said with a warm smile. "Nice suit."

"Hehehe. Yeah, I wanted to celebrate."

"Celebrate what?"

"I stole an expensive train." 

Lisa's jaw dropped. Rupert smiled, but internally, he kicked himself for admitting his crime so casually. He was still relatively new to the criminal life, but he'd never made such a blunder. Her eyes distracted him; that had to have been it. Hopefully, the smile would play it off as a joke. 

Then she laughed. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Would you do anything for your dream?"

She smiled. "I would. I'm not afraid to break the rules, Rupert."

The way she'd said his name sent a tingle up his spine. So, throwing his remaining caution out the window, Rupert decided to be honest. "Everyone in the criminal underworld will know my name." 

The bartender presented their Shirley temples, but Lisa's gaze never left Rupert's mesmerizing eyes. The audacity of this man to flaunt his illegal desires to a total stranger out in the open. She raised her glass, with her eyes still on his. "To fulfilling our dreams?"

Rupert guided her drink back to the counter. "Not until you tell me yours," he said.

"Ah, right." She finally broke eye contact to longingly stare into her beautifully red drink. "I lost my home," she explained. Rupert was about to express his condolences, but she stopped him. "It gave me a reason to explore. See the world. Feel the grass beneath my feet. Meet new people…" Her last word hung as the pair toasted to their dreams.

"Hm. This is delicious."

Rupert's face twisted in disgust. He didn't even like Shirley Temples, so why he ordered them was anyone's guess. He set his glass aside and watched Lisa take another sip of hers. "How did a nice lady like you wind up in a place like this?"

"Do I stand out that much?" She chuckled.

"A bit," he admitted. "We don't have anyone dressed like you around here."

"I can say the same about you where I was from, Mr. Suit-and-Tie."

"Problem?" Rupert asked as he leaned closer to her.

Lisa shook her head and kissed Rupert, who was more than happy to respond in kind. When it was over, they could only stare at each other.

"You, uh, sell that train yet?"

The sun was still visible over the horizon as Rupert and Lisa left the bar. The eye-catching oranges and reds bathed Lisa's pale white skin in an amber glow. Rupert's already darker complexion was highlighted like an angel. They couldn't help but share another loving kiss.

While technically their first date, there was no doubt there'd be another in either of their minds. And Lisa resting her head on Rupert's shoulder only solidified that. They locked hands, too. This was the start of something life-fulfilling.

"Lisa!"

Rupert and Lisa spun around to a tall, bearded man of god-like proportions. "Return to me at once." A sword so prominent in his hand that no ordinary human could wield it single-handedly gleamed against the sunset. 

That didn't scare Rupert, though. "Who are you?"

"Canary," Lisa cried. "I said no!"

"The council agreed to my request," the man, Canary, said.

"Lisa, what is this guy talking about?"

Lisa pushed Rupert away. "Rupert, you have to go."

"Listen to her, human," Canary said venomously. "You have no right to be in the presence of a Guardian. Let alone two."

Guardian? Rupert's eyes met Lisa's, and he knew whatever this Canary guy was spouting was the truth. The regret in her eyes broke his heart, but not as much as the fear. She was scared of this Canary, which meant whatever power she had was nowhere near his. It could have had to do with her home being destroyed. It didn't matter. Their time together was short, but Lisa was worth fighting for. "She doesn't want to go with you, so if you want to cause trouble, I'll punch your teeth in." Rupert threw the most critical punch of his life with all the strength he could muster.

Canary wouldn't budge as Rupert's fist was mere inches from his face. Instead, Rupert's entire right arm was blown to microscopic pieces, the force of the impact throwing him back several feet. His screams cut through Lisa's heart before he finally landed with a roll. He instinctively reached for his arm, his mind having not yet come to terms with reality. Weird feeling.

"Rupert!" Lisa's shoulder was grabbed by the paw-sized hand of Canary. There was nothing she could do. Rupert, the bold and boisterous criminal, would've gifted her an excellent existence. But her fellow Guardian had other plans.

For a moment, Rupert forced his screams to stop to see that free-spirited woman one last time. No spoken goodbyes were shared, not with Canary there. The regretful and longing look in Lisa's eyes, and Rupert's anger in his was all they could leave each other.

With a snort, Canary vanished into thin air alongside a teary-eyed Lisa. 

Left alone, with his love gone forever, Rupert let another guttural scream until his lungs finally gave out.