The Cookie Fairy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alcesverdes) wrote2007-07-17 08:42 pm
alcesverdes) wrote2007-07-17 08:42 pm
Entry tags:
[Heroes] Status Quo Ante
Title: Status Quo Ante
Fandom: Heroes
Characters: Niki, Jessica, Mr. Bennet, Claire, D.L.
Pairings: Niki/D.L. - Niki/Mr. Bennet
Rating: PG-13
Lenght: ~3500
Summary: After the events at the end of the first season, Mr. Bennet asks Niki for a favor.
Spoilers: The whole first season.
Author's note: Written for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
rare_heroes Fic Challenge #1: Brave New Ship
The next day after the terrible chain of events at Kirby Plaza, it becomes clear that we'll have to stay in New York longer that we'd expected when we arrived. Although, were we expecting something else but getting our son back? The only thing in our minds was a simple three-step plan: go in, take Micah, go away.
Perhaps most people would think that two out of three isn't that bad—D.L. being one of them—, but I definitely can't think that way.
Yes, Micah is safe now. He's with me and, as soon as D.L. is on the ambulance, I made Jessica swear she wouldn't be back. She agreed on the condition of showing up if I'm in the middle of something I can't handle. I don't expect her to be back now that I have access to the enhanced strength. Besides, what we need in our current situation is patience and brains, not Jessica's mayhem approach.
The most important thing is that D.L.'s life isn't in danger; he'll be discharged from the hospital within the next week. These are good news in many ways, the most practical being I'd be able to focus on the fact that we're the prime suspects of Mr. Linderman's death. Fortunately, even though our fingerprints are all over his office, they still don't know how he died; the body didn't present any injures, so they need to sort out whether it was murder or not.
It's amusing, really. Even if we confessed, they wouldn't believe the truth. Who would believe D.L. literally messed up with the man's brain?
Linderman was mind-raped to death.
After all he did, I think that counts as some sort of bad-taste poetic justice. Either way, at some level, I feel sorry for him. Deep down, I believe it would've been better if we could've talked him into giving us Micah back. I hope I won't end up trying to convince myself Linderman deserved what he got at some point in the near future.
They tell me we can't leave the city until everything's cleared up. After talking with D.L. and Micah, we decide staying at the hotel would be too expensive; it'll be better if we rent a small apartment. I propose we pay it with the money Jessica got from Linderman. It's dirty money, but I feel no remorse expending it to provide Micah with food and shelter.
-
Hours and several unsuccessful interviews later, Micah and I are going to the next one.
We turn around a corner to see an old lady surrounded by a trio of good-for-nothing jerks. She's scared and they're laughing. She's given them her purse but they won't go away.
My blood is boiling when I tell Micah to hide behind a trash can so I can step forward to tell them to leave her alone.
They're surprised at first but, when they notice I'm alone, they mock me. They make lewd comments and gestures.
Without a word, I grab the crowbar from the nearest one and I bend it with my bare hands. The three of them are soon running away.
I'm still trembling with anger when the old woman thanks me for helping her. I don't think she's seen what I did, since she's not scared of me, just grateful. Terribly grateful.
It turns out she's the owner of the next apartment building in the list I copied from the newspaper. Who says karma doesn't work?
-
Once Micah and I are installed and he's been placed under the care of our landlady, I go out to find a lawyer and a job. Jessica provided us with a respectable amount of money, but it won't last forever. We don't know for how long we're going to stay in this city, and then there are the hospital bills.
I walk no more than two blocks when I run into a man with horned-rimmed glasses. I've seen him somewhere, I'm sure of it.
He nods as a greeting and I remember; he was there at Kirby Plaza, two nights ago. He looks too confident for this to be a coincidence. Thinking of that makes me cautions.
He seems to notice it because he goes straight to the point. “I need your help,” he says like he means it. “You're the only one who can understand.” Then he introduces himself as Noah Bennet and explains everything: his job, his family, his daughter, what he's done. He doesn't look like the martyr-type, but he makes it easy to read between the lines of his words that he's willing to die for his family, to kill for them.
I can certainly relate to that: even though through Jessica, I've done it myself.
Now that Linderman's dead, the Company, as he calls it, in a way that makes you feel the capital C, is reorganizing itself as we speak, but it's still a corporate chaos. Bennet wants use that window, which won't last long, to secure his wife and son, those who didn't have any inborn 'special' ability nor any learned ability to deal with the kind of people he's worked with.
He tells me he doesn't want to drag his daughter, Claire, along with him. What he plans to do it's dangerous in an of itself, and he'll most probably have to do things he doesn't want her to see. I understand that also. Far too well.
Then, he asks me, a stranger—though he freely admits to have watched me before and know what I can do—if I can take care of his daughter while he's away.
When he does it, he takes off his glasses to look right into my eyes. I don't know if it's conscious, rehearsed, but I hope it isn't; that'd mean he's removing a mask, that he's being honest.
I look at his clear eyes and I think of his daughter. I remember her, the girl who was reluctantly willing to kill Nathan Petrelli's brother before he exploded and killed us all. I remember how I felt her relief when Nathan showed up and she didn't have to shoot.
I say yes to him then. This man raised that brave child; he wants to keep her safe.
She deserves to be safe as Micah does, so I'll keep her safe for him until he comes back.
-
Claire moves in two hours after Bennet spoke with me. “It' won't be for long, Claire-bear,” he tells her.
I smile at the nickname. I also realize I'm jealous at the way he holds her cheek when he whispers he'll come back as soon as he can. He truly looks like a great father, the likes of which I've only dreamt about.
Claire doesn't cry; she's probably been through so much that she doesn't have any more tears. The idea breaks my heart.
Just before walking away, Bennet gives me a name and a phone number. He says it's a well-placed lawyer that owes him favors, that he'll help us maybe even free of charge if I mention Bennet's name. I thank him but I don't say it isn't necessary; I mean, Bennet doesn't have to do this, but it's something we do need.
Father and daughter hug tightly and then he's on his way. Once the door is closed I put an arm around her shoulder looking to comfort her. She doesn't flinch, but she doesn't lean on me. I wasn't expecting it either; after all, her father may trust me, but she doesn't know me.
I hope to grow up on her.
-
The next day, after telling D.L. I found a place to stay and a good lawyer, I let him know I'm taking care of a friend's child. I only tell him she's 'like us'; he understands what I mean and objects nothing. He's more worried about still being unable to be the provider of our family, though he tries to be all modern about it and not to let his embarrassment show.
I try to convince him that there is a lot of time ahead for him to do it, that on the meantime he should relax, heal, and leave everything to me. I stress out—teasingly—that I don't think he's an irresponsible ass.
Though my blunt wording makes him smile a little, he agrees reluctantly. He says he's going to make it up for me and give me the princess' live I deserve.
I smile at him and kiss his forehead. I don't tell him I now know better than to believe only one person can maintain a household in this day and age. At least not one the kind Micah deserves. I decide to wait until he's well again to tell him he's crazy to think I'm going to let him do it all by himself.
-
Four days later, Claire's proven to be a real sweet. She helps around the house in everything she can and babysits Micah while I'm out looking for the infamous job. I've yet been unable to find one that'd give me a decent paycheck. I don't feel stressed, though; Bennet was right about his friend, so Jessica's money is going to last longer than I'd thought. Knowing that helps me to show up with my best face in the interviews and helps me to avoid begging. I'd do it, though. I'd beg if I have to, but my ego's been through a very harsh time lately and I'd really rather not to.
Micah's rather thrilled about having an older sister whom to bother. He has someone outside our family who can relate to him not only about his terrible experience with Linderman, but also about his own ability.
Thanks to his father, Claire knows about what's happening to us than we do. She's been telling us all about it. I feel better knowing much more people are affected by this... mutation. I'm sure Micah also feels less alone.
Claire and Micah have spent the whole afternoon discussing what's cooler, if her being able to walk away from an autopsy table after being cut open or his skill to change all the electronic boards in town to display whatever message he wants at the moment.
I'm about to intervene when Micah confesses having them to draw a man mooning from up there once when I wasn't looking when the phone rings.
It's Bennet; he sounds quite agitated. “Don't tell Claire I called,” is the first thing he says. Then he gives me an address I recognize; it's the dream school I longed for Micah the other day. Bennet asks me to go meet him alone. He says it's important.
I know maybe I should think about this. With this man's past, it may very well be a trap. But suddenly the memory of his eyes comes to me and the sound of his voice makes want see him again.
He's honest, I tell myself. He has to be.
Besides, I need to confirm he's in one piece because Claire needs her father to be in one piece.
While I take my keys, I tell the children I'll come back in a couple of hours, that there is a small, albeit not important, emergency going on. But they really shouldn't worry about it.
Of course, they worry, but I just have time tell them to stay in the apartment, after which I lock the door and go. I know that will only worsen things.
I really hope not to remain away for long.
-
As soon as I get to the school, someone calls my name.
Bennet is behind some bushes, right next to a big backpack. Also, he has a bullet wound in the right shoulder covered with improvised bandages. Scared, I scold him for not telling me about it before; I could've brought a first-aid kit at the very least.
“I didn't have time,” he says. “I've a friend who can intercept their communications, but I didn't want to press my luck.”
If this is what he calls luck, I think I don't want to run into him in a bad day.
He says his friend has deactivated the school's alarm, so we can go into the infirmary if I break the door. I'm uncomfortable with the idea but, despite having his charming smile on, it's obvious he's in pain. And in need of real medical assistance.
“I think you need a doctor,” I say.
He shakes his head and focuses his eyes on mines again. “I can't go to a hospital. Not when they've just lost my trail.”
I sigh. I tell myself any girl would be lost if confronted with puppy eyes like those. The man just knows how to be persuasive. Besides, it's his family what's at risk. And, if they discover we're together in this, mine too.
Besides, I've been helping him all along, why stop now?
I stand up and, literally, break into the school. The alarm doesn't go off, as promised; his friend knows his business.
I hold Bennet like if he's a small child and I carry him and his backpack inside. Despite my awareness of my enhanced strength, I marvel at how little he weights. I also wonder how we'd look to an innocent passerby, who'd be certainly expecting the opposite.
-
Soon, I have him all cleaned up and properly bandaged. At least more properly than he was before. I did my best, but I'm not nurse nor doctor, and I keep telling him so.
“You've done a great job, regardless,” he says, proudly.
I feel my cheeks warm up. “Thanks,” I mumble, hating myself because I'm suddenly feeling like a schoolgirl praised by his favorite teacher. “What happened to you?”
He shrugs as much as he can without hurting himself. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I was on my way back when I noticed two of them were right behind me. They... were a threat I couldn't risk.” His voice becomes deeper when he says that last phrase and that unsettles me.
Right this moment, he reeks of danger and recklessness in a way that reminds me of D.L. when we were younger.
I swallow and direct my eyes to the flask of cough medicine on the counter at the other side of the room.
With the corner of my eye I notice him raising and eyebrow. “Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. The man has a family, I tell to myself. I have a family. I must keep that in mind.
Still, it doesn't hurt to look at the menu, a voice too familiar whispers in my ear. Startled, I turn my head to look at the nearest cabinet's glass and I find Jessica smiling smugly at me.
“What—” I mouth, incredulous and scared. “I—I thought—You promised!”
Yes, I promised not to come out if you didn't need me, Jessica purrs. But right now you do.
“I don't need you,” I growl under my breath, casting glances at Bennet. He looks slightly confused, but I'm quite sure he knows about Jessica. Hopefully, he's making the connexion and he's not going to end up thinking I'm crazy.
Yes, yes, you do. If only because there are things you want, but you don't have the spine to take them for yourself.
“Don't be ridiculous!”
“Excuse me?” Bennet asks. Now he looks amused, and that's even worse.
I smile at him the best I can, which I'm sure it's rather pathetic. “No, there's nothing wrong.”
Go for it! Jessica urges. How was that phrase from that silly movie you like? Carpe diem, isn't it?
“I can't—”
“Are you sure you're all right?” Bennet asks as he comes forward.
He's right next to me now and I can feel his warmth and smell the iodine I put on him minutes ago and he sounds like he genuinely cares.
I become aware that if he touches me, I'm going to melt.
Hell, Niki! Am I going to have to seize the day for you?
“Don't you dare!” I say, or so I try.
Effortlessly, Jessica shoves me away, but only for long enough for her to reach out and kiss Bennet. She lets me take control again once he's taken me by the elbows and is kissing back.
The bitch knows I'm not going to be able to push him away now.
His hands trail down my back and my body chooses that moment to remind me that it's been really long since I've had any.
No, whatever Jessica did doesn't count for me.
I move my hand up tracing his chest to reach his neck. When I pass over the bandages, I press over his wound without noticing. The sudden pain makes him jump.
The kiss is broken and I'm brought back to reality. I think of D.L. and the face I've put in Bennet's wife fills my mind.
I begin to apologize, but he doesn't let me. He doesn't apologize either. “This things happen,” that's all he says.
He takes clean clothes from his backpack. I turn around while he changes. I try to think something not-too-awkward to say to break the uncomfortable silence. “Are you going to pick up Claire now?” it's the first thing that comes to me and seems to be good enough.
“Yes. Right now is as safe as it can be.”
I nod. “I'm going to miss her. She's a very sweet kid.”
“I know,” he states as proud as anyone can be.
“It'd be a bad idea to ask where are you going, right?”
“Yes. For the time being it'd be dangerous for all involved.”
I hear he opens the door. That means he's ready. When I turn around again I see he looks far better than he must be feeling. It's really obvious he's used to pretend everything is fine and normal when it's not.
He gestures towards the door, waiting for me to go out. I know it's silly to feel so moved by something so small, but out of Micah, I don't remember the last time someone did something like that for me.
I know I'm blushing when I pass right next to him.
I'm dying to know what he's thinking right now, but his face is unreadable.
-
Claire is happy to see his father and Micah is sad because she's leaving.
“Don't worry, honey,” I tell him. “You'll be seeing each other soon enough.”
Micah resigns himself reluctantly to the idea, though he smiles a little when Claire tells him she'll write to him as soon as he can.
Bennet kneels down. “You know your way around computers, don't you?” he asks to Micah.
“Of course I do.”
Bennet winks. “Then ask for Wireless in the net. She'll keep us in touch.”
Micah smiles broadly now. “Yeah, I already know her.”
I raise and eyebrow and make a point not only to ask Micah who's Wireless later, but to make a list of his friends on the Internet. The kind of people you find out there is unsettling.
Bennet picks up Claire's suitcase and says goodbye. Clare hugs Micah and me and kisses us on the cheek.
Then, they're both gone.
“Dad's being released from the hospital tomorrow in the afternoon,” Micah says suddenly.
“How do you know? They called while I was away?”
“Nope. They'll call you first thing in the morning. I checked with the hospital's computer. By the way, I got you a fifty-percent discount.”
Now I'm scandalized. “Micah! What have I told you about being responsible with your powers, young man? Haven't you learned anything from the comic books you read?”
“I didn't know you read them,” he replies, blinking innocently.
“Of course I do! Otherwise I wouldn't let you do it.” I fold my arms. “But that's not the point.”
Micah's eyes broaden.“D'you want me to make them charge you full again?”
I rub my face with my hands. When he puts it like that, it is a difficult choice. “Isn't it past your bedtime?” I tell him instead.
“For about one hour and a half, yeah,” he says. “Good night, mom!”
“Good night, Micah.”
“You know?” he says right before he closes his room's door. “I'm going to miss Claire, but it's good to see things are going back to what they were.”
I smile at him, but when I'm finally left alone, my lips begin to burn at the memory of events recently past, and I know that for me it'll be a long time before things go back to what they were. If ever.
I close my eyes asking myself how am I going to be able to look at D.L.'s face, but all that comes to me is a pair of clear eyes framed by glasses.
Fandom: Heroes
Characters: Niki, Jessica, Mr. Bennet, Claire, D.L.
Pairings: Niki/D.L. - Niki/Mr. Bennet
Rating: PG-13
Lenght: ~3500
Summary: After the events at the end of the first season, Mr. Bennet asks Niki for a favor.
Spoilers: The whole first season.
Author's note: Written for the
rare_heroes Fic Challenge #1: Brave New ShipThe next day after the terrible chain of events at Kirby Plaza, it becomes clear that we'll have to stay in New York longer that we'd expected when we arrived. Although, were we expecting something else but getting our son back? The only thing in our minds was a simple three-step plan: go in, take Micah, go away.
Perhaps most people would think that two out of three isn't that bad—D.L. being one of them—, but I definitely can't think that way.
Yes, Micah is safe now. He's with me and, as soon as D.L. is on the ambulance, I made Jessica swear she wouldn't be back. She agreed on the condition of showing up if I'm in the middle of something I can't handle. I don't expect her to be back now that I have access to the enhanced strength. Besides, what we need in our current situation is patience and brains, not Jessica's mayhem approach.
The most important thing is that D.L.'s life isn't in danger; he'll be discharged from the hospital within the next week. These are good news in many ways, the most practical being I'd be able to focus on the fact that we're the prime suspects of Mr. Linderman's death. Fortunately, even though our fingerprints are all over his office, they still don't know how he died; the body didn't present any injures, so they need to sort out whether it was murder or not.
It's amusing, really. Even if we confessed, they wouldn't believe the truth. Who would believe D.L. literally messed up with the man's brain?
Linderman was mind-raped to death.
After all he did, I think that counts as some sort of bad-taste poetic justice. Either way, at some level, I feel sorry for him. Deep down, I believe it would've been better if we could've talked him into giving us Micah back. I hope I won't end up trying to convince myself Linderman deserved what he got at some point in the near future.
They tell me we can't leave the city until everything's cleared up. After talking with D.L. and Micah, we decide staying at the hotel would be too expensive; it'll be better if we rent a small apartment. I propose we pay it with the money Jessica got from Linderman. It's dirty money, but I feel no remorse expending it to provide Micah with food and shelter.
-
Hours and several unsuccessful interviews later, Micah and I are going to the next one.
We turn around a corner to see an old lady surrounded by a trio of good-for-nothing jerks. She's scared and they're laughing. She's given them her purse but they won't go away.
My blood is boiling when I tell Micah to hide behind a trash can so I can step forward to tell them to leave her alone.
They're surprised at first but, when they notice I'm alone, they mock me. They make lewd comments and gestures.
Without a word, I grab the crowbar from the nearest one and I bend it with my bare hands. The three of them are soon running away.
I'm still trembling with anger when the old woman thanks me for helping her. I don't think she's seen what I did, since she's not scared of me, just grateful. Terribly grateful.
It turns out she's the owner of the next apartment building in the list I copied from the newspaper. Who says karma doesn't work?
-
Once Micah and I are installed and he's been placed under the care of our landlady, I go out to find a lawyer and a job. Jessica provided us with a respectable amount of money, but it won't last forever. We don't know for how long we're going to stay in this city, and then there are the hospital bills.
I walk no more than two blocks when I run into a man with horned-rimmed glasses. I've seen him somewhere, I'm sure of it.
He nods as a greeting and I remember; he was there at Kirby Plaza, two nights ago. He looks too confident for this to be a coincidence. Thinking of that makes me cautions.
He seems to notice it because he goes straight to the point. “I need your help,” he says like he means it. “You're the only one who can understand.” Then he introduces himself as Noah Bennet and explains everything: his job, his family, his daughter, what he's done. He doesn't look like the martyr-type, but he makes it easy to read between the lines of his words that he's willing to die for his family, to kill for them.
I can certainly relate to that: even though through Jessica, I've done it myself.
Now that Linderman's dead, the Company, as he calls it, in a way that makes you feel the capital C, is reorganizing itself as we speak, but it's still a corporate chaos. Bennet wants use that window, which won't last long, to secure his wife and son, those who didn't have any inborn 'special' ability nor any learned ability to deal with the kind of people he's worked with.
He tells me he doesn't want to drag his daughter, Claire, along with him. What he plans to do it's dangerous in an of itself, and he'll most probably have to do things he doesn't want her to see. I understand that also. Far too well.
Then, he asks me, a stranger—though he freely admits to have watched me before and know what I can do—if I can take care of his daughter while he's away.
When he does it, he takes off his glasses to look right into my eyes. I don't know if it's conscious, rehearsed, but I hope it isn't; that'd mean he's removing a mask, that he's being honest.
I look at his clear eyes and I think of his daughter. I remember her, the girl who was reluctantly willing to kill Nathan Petrelli's brother before he exploded and killed us all. I remember how I felt her relief when Nathan showed up and she didn't have to shoot.
I say yes to him then. This man raised that brave child; he wants to keep her safe.
She deserves to be safe as Micah does, so I'll keep her safe for him until he comes back.
-
Claire moves in two hours after Bennet spoke with me. “It' won't be for long, Claire-bear,” he tells her.
I smile at the nickname. I also realize I'm jealous at the way he holds her cheek when he whispers he'll come back as soon as he can. He truly looks like a great father, the likes of which I've only dreamt about.
Claire doesn't cry; she's probably been through so much that she doesn't have any more tears. The idea breaks my heart.
Just before walking away, Bennet gives me a name and a phone number. He says it's a well-placed lawyer that owes him favors, that he'll help us maybe even free of charge if I mention Bennet's name. I thank him but I don't say it isn't necessary; I mean, Bennet doesn't have to do this, but it's something we do need.
Father and daughter hug tightly and then he's on his way. Once the door is closed I put an arm around her shoulder looking to comfort her. She doesn't flinch, but she doesn't lean on me. I wasn't expecting it either; after all, her father may trust me, but she doesn't know me.
I hope to grow up on her.
-
The next day, after telling D.L. I found a place to stay and a good lawyer, I let him know I'm taking care of a friend's child. I only tell him she's 'like us'; he understands what I mean and objects nothing. He's more worried about still being unable to be the provider of our family, though he tries to be all modern about it and not to let his embarrassment show.
I try to convince him that there is a lot of time ahead for him to do it, that on the meantime he should relax, heal, and leave everything to me. I stress out—teasingly—that I don't think he's an irresponsible ass.
Though my blunt wording makes him smile a little, he agrees reluctantly. He says he's going to make it up for me and give me the princess' live I deserve.
I smile at him and kiss his forehead. I don't tell him I now know better than to believe only one person can maintain a household in this day and age. At least not one the kind Micah deserves. I decide to wait until he's well again to tell him he's crazy to think I'm going to let him do it all by himself.
-
Four days later, Claire's proven to be a real sweet. She helps around the house in everything she can and babysits Micah while I'm out looking for the infamous job. I've yet been unable to find one that'd give me a decent paycheck. I don't feel stressed, though; Bennet was right about his friend, so Jessica's money is going to last longer than I'd thought. Knowing that helps me to show up with my best face in the interviews and helps me to avoid begging. I'd do it, though. I'd beg if I have to, but my ego's been through a very harsh time lately and I'd really rather not to.
Micah's rather thrilled about having an older sister whom to bother. He has someone outside our family who can relate to him not only about his terrible experience with Linderman, but also about his own ability.
Thanks to his father, Claire knows about what's happening to us than we do. She's been telling us all about it. I feel better knowing much more people are affected by this... mutation. I'm sure Micah also feels less alone.
Claire and Micah have spent the whole afternoon discussing what's cooler, if her being able to walk away from an autopsy table after being cut open or his skill to change all the electronic boards in town to display whatever message he wants at the moment.
I'm about to intervene when Micah confesses having them to draw a man mooning from up there once when I wasn't looking when the phone rings.
It's Bennet; he sounds quite agitated. “Don't tell Claire I called,” is the first thing he says. Then he gives me an address I recognize; it's the dream school I longed for Micah the other day. Bennet asks me to go meet him alone. He says it's important.
I know maybe I should think about this. With this man's past, it may very well be a trap. But suddenly the memory of his eyes comes to me and the sound of his voice makes want see him again.
He's honest, I tell myself. He has to be.
Besides, I need to confirm he's in one piece because Claire needs her father to be in one piece.
While I take my keys, I tell the children I'll come back in a couple of hours, that there is a small, albeit not important, emergency going on. But they really shouldn't worry about it.
Of course, they worry, but I just have time tell them to stay in the apartment, after which I lock the door and go. I know that will only worsen things.
I really hope not to remain away for long.
-
As soon as I get to the school, someone calls my name.
Bennet is behind some bushes, right next to a big backpack. Also, he has a bullet wound in the right shoulder covered with improvised bandages. Scared, I scold him for not telling me about it before; I could've brought a first-aid kit at the very least.
“I didn't have time,” he says. “I've a friend who can intercept their communications, but I didn't want to press my luck.”
If this is what he calls luck, I think I don't want to run into him in a bad day.
He says his friend has deactivated the school's alarm, so we can go into the infirmary if I break the door. I'm uncomfortable with the idea but, despite having his charming smile on, it's obvious he's in pain. And in need of real medical assistance.
“I think you need a doctor,” I say.
He shakes his head and focuses his eyes on mines again. “I can't go to a hospital. Not when they've just lost my trail.”
I sigh. I tell myself any girl would be lost if confronted with puppy eyes like those. The man just knows how to be persuasive. Besides, it's his family what's at risk. And, if they discover we're together in this, mine too.
Besides, I've been helping him all along, why stop now?
I stand up and, literally, break into the school. The alarm doesn't go off, as promised; his friend knows his business.
I hold Bennet like if he's a small child and I carry him and his backpack inside. Despite my awareness of my enhanced strength, I marvel at how little he weights. I also wonder how we'd look to an innocent passerby, who'd be certainly expecting the opposite.
-
Soon, I have him all cleaned up and properly bandaged. At least more properly than he was before. I did my best, but I'm not nurse nor doctor, and I keep telling him so.
“You've done a great job, regardless,” he says, proudly.
I feel my cheeks warm up. “Thanks,” I mumble, hating myself because I'm suddenly feeling like a schoolgirl praised by his favorite teacher. “What happened to you?”
He shrugs as much as he can without hurting himself. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I was on my way back when I noticed two of them were right behind me. They... were a threat I couldn't risk.” His voice becomes deeper when he says that last phrase and that unsettles me.
Right this moment, he reeks of danger and recklessness in a way that reminds me of D.L. when we were younger.
I swallow and direct my eyes to the flask of cough medicine on the counter at the other side of the room.
With the corner of my eye I notice him raising and eyebrow. “Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. The man has a family, I tell to myself. I have a family. I must keep that in mind.
Still, it doesn't hurt to look at the menu, a voice too familiar whispers in my ear. Startled, I turn my head to look at the nearest cabinet's glass and I find Jessica smiling smugly at me.
“What—” I mouth, incredulous and scared. “I—I thought—You promised!”
Yes, I promised not to come out if you didn't need me, Jessica purrs. But right now you do.
“I don't need you,” I growl under my breath, casting glances at Bennet. He looks slightly confused, but I'm quite sure he knows about Jessica. Hopefully, he's making the connexion and he's not going to end up thinking I'm crazy.
Yes, yes, you do. If only because there are things you want, but you don't have the spine to take them for yourself.
“Don't be ridiculous!”
“Excuse me?” Bennet asks. Now he looks amused, and that's even worse.
I smile at him the best I can, which I'm sure it's rather pathetic. “No, there's nothing wrong.”
Go for it! Jessica urges. How was that phrase from that silly movie you like? Carpe diem, isn't it?
“I can't—”
“Are you sure you're all right?” Bennet asks as he comes forward.
He's right next to me now and I can feel his warmth and smell the iodine I put on him minutes ago and he sounds like he genuinely cares.
I become aware that if he touches me, I'm going to melt.
Hell, Niki! Am I going to have to seize the day for you?
“Don't you dare!” I say, or so I try.
Effortlessly, Jessica shoves me away, but only for long enough for her to reach out and kiss Bennet. She lets me take control again once he's taken me by the elbows and is kissing back.
The bitch knows I'm not going to be able to push him away now.
His hands trail down my back and my body chooses that moment to remind me that it's been really long since I've had any.
No, whatever Jessica did doesn't count for me.
I move my hand up tracing his chest to reach his neck. When I pass over the bandages, I press over his wound without noticing. The sudden pain makes him jump.
The kiss is broken and I'm brought back to reality. I think of D.L. and the face I've put in Bennet's wife fills my mind.
I begin to apologize, but he doesn't let me. He doesn't apologize either. “This things happen,” that's all he says.
He takes clean clothes from his backpack. I turn around while he changes. I try to think something not-too-awkward to say to break the uncomfortable silence. “Are you going to pick up Claire now?” it's the first thing that comes to me and seems to be good enough.
“Yes. Right now is as safe as it can be.”
I nod. “I'm going to miss her. She's a very sweet kid.”
“I know,” he states as proud as anyone can be.
“It'd be a bad idea to ask where are you going, right?”
“Yes. For the time being it'd be dangerous for all involved.”
I hear he opens the door. That means he's ready. When I turn around again I see he looks far better than he must be feeling. It's really obvious he's used to pretend everything is fine and normal when it's not.
He gestures towards the door, waiting for me to go out. I know it's silly to feel so moved by something so small, but out of Micah, I don't remember the last time someone did something like that for me.
I know I'm blushing when I pass right next to him.
I'm dying to know what he's thinking right now, but his face is unreadable.
-
Claire is happy to see his father and Micah is sad because she's leaving.
“Don't worry, honey,” I tell him. “You'll be seeing each other soon enough.”
Micah resigns himself reluctantly to the idea, though he smiles a little when Claire tells him she'll write to him as soon as he can.
Bennet kneels down. “You know your way around computers, don't you?” he asks to Micah.
“Of course I do.”
Bennet winks. “Then ask for Wireless in the net. She'll keep us in touch.”
Micah smiles broadly now. “Yeah, I already know her.”
I raise and eyebrow and make a point not only to ask Micah who's Wireless later, but to make a list of his friends on the Internet. The kind of people you find out there is unsettling.
Bennet picks up Claire's suitcase and says goodbye. Clare hugs Micah and me and kisses us on the cheek.
Then, they're both gone.
“Dad's being released from the hospital tomorrow in the afternoon,” Micah says suddenly.
“How do you know? They called while I was away?”
“Nope. They'll call you first thing in the morning. I checked with the hospital's computer. By the way, I got you a fifty-percent discount.”
Now I'm scandalized. “Micah! What have I told you about being responsible with your powers, young man? Haven't you learned anything from the comic books you read?”
“I didn't know you read them,” he replies, blinking innocently.
“Of course I do! Otherwise I wouldn't let you do it.” I fold my arms. “But that's not the point.”
Micah's eyes broaden.“D'you want me to make them charge you full again?”
I rub my face with my hands. When he puts it like that, it is a difficult choice. “Isn't it past your bedtime?” I tell him instead.
“For about one hour and a half, yeah,” he says. “Good night, mom!”
“Good night, Micah.”
“You know?” he says right before he closes his room's door. “I'm going to miss Claire, but it's good to see things are going back to what they were.”
I smile at him, but when I'm finally left alone, my lips begin to burn at the memory of events recently past, and I know that for me it'll be a long time before things go back to what they were. If ever.
I close my eyes asking myself how am I going to be able to look at D.L.'s face, but all that comes to me is a pair of clear eyes framed by glasses.
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Me gustó. Mucho. ♥ Y Micah es adorable~.
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Por eso no me funcionó la otra idea. x.xno subject
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Curiously enough, I didn't start writing with that pairing on my head but, he, at least it worked.
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As an aside note, when I began to write this, the idea was for femmeslash, but the fic had other ideas. ^^'
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