4Hey guys! Sorry this has taken so long to write out. I was having a bad case of writer's block and I also lost my laptop charger. I "borrowed" my little sister's charger and so now I'm writing this as fast as I can before she realizes it is gone, lol. So, right now I'm in the end of getting my GED, after that its a weekend vacation, and then it's off to find a good paying job. Once I get a job, I'll buy a new charger so I'll be able to write more. Please enjoy the story! If you like what you read, please leave a review. And if you don't like it, please tell me what you didn't like so I can learn how to fix it.
Like always, I don't own Gotham. If I did, everyone would be happy and Oswald and Ed would be together.
Also the song featured is "Fireflies" by Faith Hill. I do not own it, but I do love it. Imagine Wendy's voice as Rachel Zegler's voice.
Six Years Earlier:
Sixteen-year old Gwendlyn Killian wipes down the bartop at Fish Mooney's, brushing her brown wavy locks behind her ears. The young girl had been working for Fish since she was six. Back then, and up until three years ago, Fish would send her out to spy on her enemies or anyone who owed Fish money. Who would ever suspect a little kid was the one spying on them? For that reason, and a few more, Fish took young Gwendlyn under her wing and taught the child everything. From getting out of a sticky situation, to killing someone quickly and quietly, to getting people to trust her with ease. The last one was quite easy for the girl to manage with her kind face and soft eyes.
Even though she was practically raised by criminals, Gwendlyn had a kind heart. When she wasn't working at the club or out doing something for Mooney, she was in the Narrows helping the other children there. That's where she lived before she met Mooney and before the woman decided to let the girl sleep in her office at night. Fish tells her it's so nobody tries to snatch up her favorite spy, but they both know the older woman is soft on the child. Now that she's older and Fish pays her more, Wendy has rented herself a little apartment in the Narrows. There in addition to helping the children, she also babysits and tutors them in her free time since not off of them can go to school.
Gwendlyn finishes getting the bar ready for the evening group that will arrive at the club. Right before are getting to file in, another bartender takes over for Gwendlyn so she can start getting ready. Every other night Fish has her sing onstage as part of the entertainment. Wendy has always had a love for singing and has quite the knack for it. She goes behind the stage to quickly change and get ready to go on. After she changes into a sky-blue, knee-length dress with a darker blue sash around the middle, black kitten heels and her hair pulled up into a half ponytail with a matching blue ribbon, someone else comes backstage. Wendy can recognize that hair anywhere. Her face breaks out in a grin as she embraces the man.
"Mr. Cobblepot! I'm glad to see you, it's been ages. Where have you been?" She asks him, pulling back from the hug.
"Wendy, please call me Oswald. Mother hasn't been well and Fish gave me some time off to tend to her," He responds with a soft smile for the girl. Her kindness and positivity makes it hard for someone not to like her. Even Butch Gilzean has a soft spot for her, treating her like a little sister.
The two chat a little bit while Wendy waits for the time for her to go onstage. After a few minutes, they hear the chatter in the club go down slightly to signal Wendy that it was time for her to go up. She climbs the steps to the stage. The lace bottom of the vintage petticoat that she wears under her dress pokes out just slightly. The lights start to dim as the teen comes into view. She takes her spot in front of the microphone. From where she stands, Wendy can see Fish sitting in her normal spot in the club while said woman talks with Don Falcone. The added pressure of the Don being there does nothing for her nerves. No matter how many times she sings, she still gets a little stagefright.
The music starts playing, quieting the club patrons down. Wendy takes a calming breath, readying herself for when it was time for the vocals to come in.
Before you met me I was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
And before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world
And I slept in castles
And fell in love
Because I was taught to dream
Fish rests her head on her hand in her signature position as her and Don Falcone both stop their talking to listen to the singing.
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture Tinker Bell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But I could always tell
'Cause I believe in fairy tales
And dreamer's dreams
Like bedsheet sails
And I believe in Peter Pan
And miracles, anything I can to get by
And fireflies
Wendy starts to loosen up, losing herself in her singing and smiles as the song fills her with joy.
Now before I grew up I saw you on a cloud
And I could bless myself in your name
And pat you on your wings
And before I grew up I heard you whisper so loud
Well life is hard and so is love
Child, believe in all these things
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture Tinker Bell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But I could always tell
Out of the sight of the singer, Oswald, Mooney, Butch, and Falcone, someone lurks in the shadows of the club, their sinister eyes glued on the teenager singing lovely on the stage.
'Cause I believe in fairy tales
And dreamer's dreams
Like bedsheet sails
And I believe in Peter Pan
And miracles, anything I can to get by...
And fireflies...
Before you met me I was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
And before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world
And I slept in castles
And fell in love
Because I was taught to dream
The crowd burst into applause and Wendy bashfully curtsies a little bit before her and the live band move onto the next song. After her set is done and the next round of entertainment goes up, Wendy goes over to the, still dressed in the clothes she performed in, and the bartender makes her a Shirley Temple with extra cherries; just the way she likes it. She sips on her drink when Fish calls her name, waving her over to the woman and the mob boss.
"Wendy, darling, this here is Carmine Falcone. He would like to have a word with you about something," Fish drawls, taking a drink of her cocktail. Wendy's eyes widen slightly before she turns her attention to the Don
"Yes Mr. Falcone?" She says poilety and sweetly at him. The Don rises to his feet with a slight smile and leads the girl away from the table, putting a hand on the small of her back.
"Fish Mooney has told me a great deal about you and the things you have done for her. I must say it is quite impressive for someone your age. Infact, I would like to employ you myself," He tells her once they get to Fish's office that she leant to him for privacy, "My top bodyguard and assassin, Victor Zsazs will finish the training that Miss Mooney herself has not done," he says to her in a tone of voice that is easy to tell that it isn't really up for negotiation. He says a few more words before leaving. Wendy goes back down to the rest of the club and finishes her drink, Fish meeting her eyes with a knowing look.
Several hours later patrons file out of the club as it starts shutting down. Upon seeing the slight drizzle outside, Wendy dones a white hooded sweater over her dress. She bides Butch a goodnight, Fish having retired to her office to do something and Oswald having gone home to his mother.
"Be safe out there tonight, kiddo. Don't forget someone has been out there scooping up people of the Narrows left and right. Especially young girls." Butch tells her in a soft tone he only reserves for herself and Fish. Wendy gives him a smile and gives him a hug,
"Don't worry Mr. Gilzean, I'll be fine. You taught me how to protect myself, remember?" Butch scoffs but smiles back her as she leaves the club, pulling her bag, woven from twine and vines and leaves, up her shoulder more. Some of the children she tutors, including a little girl named Selina that she took in after her mother abandoned her, wove it for her. The kids used whatever they could get their hands on to make it for her. In addition to the bag, they also gave her a little necklace that is made of an acorn. Maybe its because the story that she reads to the kids the most, Peter Pan, talks about said things. The younger kids without parents or with bad parents call her "mother" and occasionally "Wendy Lady". She doesn't mind it. Infact, it warms her heart and she in turn calls them her little Lost Boys and Lost Girls.
Wendy walks on. Pulling her sweater tighter as the cold Gotham air bites at her skin. Unknown to her a dark figure is silently following after her. The rain starts falling harder as she gets closer to her apartment. As she gets closer, someone steps out of the alleyway next to the apartment building. Wendy stops in her tracks and looks over her shoulder, seeing the other figure. She darts to right, going around the first follower as she tries to hurry back to Fish's club, the heavy footsteps splashing in the rain behind her as she's chased. As she runs, Wendy digs through her bag, trying to find her green pocket knife with leaf designs on it. It's not there. Someone must've taken it from her bag while she was onstage at the club. She sees Butch helping Fish into her car, holding the umbrella for Fish since Oswald is gone. Wendy calls out to the pair three times before they can hear her voice over the pounding rain. The duo turn their heads at the sound of the young girl just in time to see a car speed by, the door flinging open as Wendy's chasers catch up with her and she gets knocked out and thrown into the car, said car speeding away in a flash. The ordeal that happened right in front of their eyes didn't even take thirty seconds and just like that she was gone. They sped after the car but lost it after ten minutes. They put out the description of the car and of Wendy to their connections, most of them already knowing the sweet teenage girl. Nobody had seen the car or Wendy.
After over a month went by with no signs of the girl, people just stopped searching. She was just another poor soul eaten up by Gotham City. All of Wendy's Lost Boys and Lost Girls drew pictures of her and made a makeshift memorial for her, surrounding the pictures with flowers, leaves, acorns and other little things they could get their hands on in honor of their Wendy Lady. Without someone there to guide them on a good path, most of the children started living mini lives of crime, including little Selina who saw Wendy as just another mother who left her. Oswald and his mother were very saddened by the loss of the kind-hearted soul. Mrs. Kappleput adored Wendy like she was the daughter she never had. Fish and Butch would never admit it to anyone else, but both of their hearts broke some for the young girl they watched grow up. Right before their eyes Wendy went from a tiny six-year old with her front teeth missing to a beautiful teenager who was strong yet kind to all those she met; apart from the bad people that is. Although Fish would meet more young people in the future who she'd care about, none of them would hold a spot in Fish's heart like Wendy did.
Elsewhere
Wendy awakes with a groan inside a greyish-white cell. She looks around in fear a confusion, her messy waves having fallen out of her half-ponytail, looking down she also realizes someone has changed her out of her blue dress and black shoes and into a white gown. It doesn't look like a hospital gown, but more like a Victorian nightgown. Wendy rises up from the ground trying to find a window or a door. As she searches, a door opens behind her with a whoosh of air. She whips around, hair flying in her face, and she makes eye contact with a short bald man with round glasses on his nose.
"Welcome, my dear, to Indian Hill. My name is Doctor Strange and I have so much in plan for you…."
Yes I know I changed up some stuff from the first chapter but I kinda wanted to tweak it some to give her more of a backstory. Thank you so much for reading and please tell me what you think. Love all y'all . Peace out my lovelies 3