𝐄𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 ° ° ° 𝑚. 𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑦

Chapter 4; Grocery Store

Previously on "Enlightenment"

Mick left the dining room, going towards the microwave in the kitchen. Hesitantly he opened it, to see just what Natalya promised. Three beautifully made pancakes stacked on top of each other. Steam flooding out of the microwave. Mick couldn't help but let a tiny smirk tug on the corners of his lips.

This woman, this Russian woman is something else. Even he can see that, he just hopes she doesn't attract unwanted attention.

_________

THE WEEKEND HAS PASSED, Monday coming to soon for the children. School has started back up again, meaning the chilly winter would soon follow. Mick sat in his apartment, watching as the fireplace burned ferociously. He is not required to come into the orphanage until later that day when the children got home.

As Mick stared into the roaring fire, a sadistic smirk came across his tan face. The tank top he wore showing off the burns on his arm. The heat from the fire making him enjoy it even more. Still, every once in a while his mind drifted back to the small brunette woman. She seemed to invade his mind, as if she was taking control of him.

When Mick realized what he was thinking, he snapped out of it. This happened a few times already, and he has so far blocked those thoughts out. He's an insane pyromaniac, he couldn't become weak. Not to a girl at least. To his old partner Leonard Snart, he became soft for him. They knew each other since they were children. It is only natural to become soft for a friend. Especially a best friend.

Deep down, Mick knew that he wasn't truly insane. He knew he is just a child seeking attention. A child born in the wrong place, at the wrong time. This is one of the many reasons he and Leonard bonded as much as they did. Because of their past, their family. Sadly, the let their pasts define then, turning both of them into successful criminals. Thieves, kidnappers, murderers, they are villains. At heart, they are not, there is a sliver of good. Leonard always has that sliver of good showing. Mick is a different story.

Mick keeps the sliver of goodness and hope in the pit of his soul, the depths of his mind. No one knew about it, saw it, or cared for it. He keeps it well-ly hidden behind his insane facade. To the point, we're he has became unpredictable himself. You will never know what he will do next. Natalya has not seen this part of Mick because he is 'Mike' around her and everyone else. He pretends to be good and love his job. Pretending always came easy to the pyro Criminal.

When you make being a criminal your full time job, you come to realize that acting is thrown into the mix. You have to act like a normal civilian. When you are in hiding and can't steal without bringing action to yourself. Acting is always thrown into the mix while being a criminal. 'Mike' is just an act, a well, thought out character in his maze of games.

While Mick stared at the fair place, Natalya is at her seconded job. She works at a Grocery Store half of the week, while the other half is spent at the orphanage. It is exhausting for the young woman, but she skims through it. As long as she can pay the bills, it's alright, right?

Natalya wears her back dress pants and heels, a red button up shirt neatly tucked into her pants. Her short brown hair is let wild, to tired to put it up that morning. She also sported a name tag near her shoulder on the left. What she wears to the Grocery Store is the uniform. She has to contact her boss in advance if she cannot wear her uniform the day coming into work.

Natalya's eyes drifted back to the customer she is serves. She plastered a fake smile on her face, "Have a good day!" With that, the customer disappeared with their grocery bags. Natalya is a very social person, but working this job is stressful. Normally, she becomes anti-social at this job, to the point where she believes she will be fired soon.

If the workers at the store are not happy and delightful to the customers, the customers send in a bad review. Bad reviews mean bad business. Automatically that leads to being fired and hopefully getting a new job somewhere else in the area.

At these times, Natalya thinks that just moving to Central City will be easier. More job options, close to home, more friends there. The only thing that is stopping her is the kids. She loves the kids at the orphanage dearly. They are a second family to the woman. Without the children, Natalya doesn't know what she would do with her life.

Having a husband and children of her own to take care of is at the back of her mind. Going through the hassle of finding the right man is tiring. Nine long months of pregnancy and giving birth... That's even harder. Thus leading to her conclusion of not wanting to be married or have kids. Natalya prefers to stick with the loving children at the Orphanage.

Most people, in the area, would call Natalya selfish for thinking that. To her, she thinks that she is being completely honest with herself. If she told herself that she wanted a husband and kids. In the long run, she would most likely be unhappy.

Natalya flinched when someone snapped in her face. Quickly, she averted her attention from her thoughts, to her boss standing in front of her. He was a younger man, mid thirties at most. "Miss. Roman, to my office. Now," his demanding voice made Natalya know that she is in trouble.

Big trouble.

¥¥¥

Natalya walked down the street, bag in hand. The rain drops hitting her face and wetting everything on her. Luckily it was only sprinkling today. Today is also the day that Natalya decided not to drive her car to work. Well, her former job at a Grocery Store.

Sadly, Natalya got fired today, her boss calling her out on daydreaming for the past couple of weeks. She knew that was going to happen sometime soon, and it finally did. On the bright side, she can finally go full-time at the orphanage. Natalya will get payed better if she does. Let's just hope she doesn't screw this job up too.

Natalya looked to her left, at the road, to see a yellow school bus pass by. Smiling, Natalya knew that her kids were on that bus. On their way home from school, back to the orphanage once again. She looks down at her heels, a thought ringing in her head. A stupid idea, but an idea alas, an idea that has the probability to breaking her ankle.

Shaking her head, Natalya continued to walk, not going through with her idiotic idea. Now, the only thoughts in her head are of the kids, and sometimes, even Mike. She can't seem to shake him from her head, possibly because it's impossible! He's a good, hard worker. Loves the children, and is a great guy. It's not like he will just randomly start murdering innocent civilians. Right?

Natalya stopped, starring down at a puddle of water. Light raindrops hitting the crystal beauty. She could see her distorted reflection. Bringing a hand to her cheek, Natalya let out a sigh. She will never be as pretty as the cover girls all over billboards and magazines. That didn't bother her though, as long as she could be herself, she is fine.

Completely, and utterly fine. Being as pretty, tall or adored as models would be exhausting. Physically, and mentally, she doesn't believe that her mental stability would be able to handle it. Plus, at the moment her makeup is washed off and hair sticking to her skin.

Natalya let out a snort of a laugh, walking around the puddle and holding her head high. She took long strides, feeling like she could go anywhere and be anyone with her confidence. She's not going to let her appearance and personality define her. Natalya Roman, is going to let herself be royalty tonight.

Who doesn't need to treat themselves every once in a while?

Meep, meeeeeeeeeeeep.

How are you? Did you miss me? I missed you my beloved... Fans? Is that the word? When I get a high enough fan base I need to find a word for you people... At first I though Trash, like a good trash, recycling trash, but that seemed to rude...

You figure it out yourself! Comment a name you would like to be called as a group of fans. Leave a star to support the chapters and make sure you share this book to your friends!

PLEASE EXCUSE ALL SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES!