The dealers aren’t exactly attentive listeners,

It’s annoying, really. Someone’s hands keep coming to pull on his hair, no matter how many times

It’s been months. The twins are old enough that they’re trying to have conversations with him in their toddler babble way. It makes Nikki want to cry, so she takes more pills. Even Donnie is going to have another kid, it seems. So nikki takes more pills again.

Honestly, there probably isn’t a moment in the day nikki isn’t under the effects of the pills. And that should be bad. SHe should be concerned. But she needs them.

When the dealer chokes her it’s like he wakes up from a daze.

Nikki mind is screaming what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck. Her can’t voice any objections around the hand squeezing his throat. If she could, would this bastard care? They’re just keeping at it, grunting and hissing “You like that, huh?” No, nikki doesn’t.she doesn’t.

Nikki slips into an alleyway to catch her breath. A panic attack. SHe’s about to have a goddamned panic attack. Fuck, she needs help. It’s time to call for help.

Leo doesn’t answer the phone. Donnie would probably go kill the dealer, which would make things worse. Usagi answers, but he sounds so tired.

“Nikki ?” Usagi yawns. “What’s up? Thought you had a date tonight?”

Nikki tries really hard to be calm. SHe does. But she doesn’t think it works. “It, uh, d-didn’t go too well.”

“Nikki are you okay? Are you safe?”

“ I bounced when things started looking shady.” That’s a lie. A fucking lie.

“But are you okay? You sound shaken up, sweetheart .”

No,she not. She sick. She must be. And she wants to take one of those fucking dumb pills. “I… I might be freaking out a bit? Honestly, just want to shower and head to bed.”

“Leo can come get you in a minute. Get up! Our oldest needs us!” Nikki hears the thud of someone being nudged out of the bed. “Do you know where you are?”

“