ᴅᴀɴɪ ᴅᴀɴᴠᴇʀs (hhex) wrote in commandhq, @ 2018-06-11 20:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | danica danvers, holly page, p: lindsey, p: mena |
WHO Dani Danvers | Holly Page
WHAT Checking in on her agent
WHEN Post-explosion (back-dated), after this
WHERE Dani's room
RATING Low
STATUS Complete
Holly had checked on Jett, contacted Ben, checked with Dr Anderson that Clara was okay and had also gone up and surveyed the damage done to the gym. She felt like she’d done a lot in a short space of time and while she wanted to sit down and do nothing for the next few hours there were a few more stops on her tour of the base before she got to finish damage control.
Dani was next on her list. Danica Danvers was an asset to Holly’s team. She had an attitude, sure, but she’d never turned it towards Holly and as long as Holly treated both Danica and Jett well, she was pretty sure the younger woman wouldn’t ever have an issue with her.
She started by looking in the common room, then the kitchenette. She checked Jett’s room, but he was sleeping so she didn’t disturb him, and then headed to Dani’s. She had a sharing bag of potato chips and a large tub of ice-cream that she had been intending on sharing with the younger woman while she checked in, and her knuckles rapped sharply on the door to Danica’s room.
“Dani?” she called, “You in there?” Because if she wasn’t in with Jett, the hoping was that, by early evening, Dani was winding down in her own room. Holly didn’t want to have to play search-the-base for a wayward agent. The ice-cream would melt.
---
Dani was, in fact, in her room. The brunette was sitting in a pair of booty shorts, along and baggy t-shirt, and knee-socks. Her mane of brown hair was wild around her head. Despite the time of day, Dani clearly hadn’t spent much time out of her room (unless it was to sidestep over to Jett’s room). The pair of earbuds crammed into her ears meant that she almost didn’t hear the knock at her door.
She did hear Holly’s voice, however, which stopped her bopping around. “Uh, yeah, just a sec!”
There was no point in getting more dressed than she already was—besides, Dani didn’t have a whole lot of shame. She set the earbuds aside and strode over to the door to greet the Handler who was standing at her doorway with a bag of chips and some ice cream.
So clearly, Holly knew her audience already.
“Hey, Holly,” Dani smiled and stepped out of the way, giving Holly plenty of room to enter. “Come on in. I hope you brought two spoons.”
---
Holly reached into the bag, brandishing two spoons and looking more pleased with herself than she had any right to at this moment in time. “You didn’t think I’d let you get away with eating this all on your own, did you?”
Entering as she was bidden, Holly pulled out the desk chair to perch on it, ice-cream placed firmly on Dani’s bedside table, bag abandoned at her feet. Holding one spoon out to the agent, she settled where she was and waited for Dani to join her before opening the lid of the ice-cream and waiting.
It was rude to take the first bite of something you were technically bringing for someone else, after all.
“You doing okay?”
---
Dani’s wide and pleased smile deepened when Holly produced a couple of spoons. “Atta girl,” she winked. “Granted, you’re doing me a favour. I totally could eat that all on my own… but I probably shouldn’t. Not if I wanna keep fitting my ass into my pants.”
As Holly took a seat and began opening the ice cream carton, Dani walked to her bed and sat at the opposite side of the bedside table. She plucked her spoon and waited somewhat impatiently to dive in (she may have been an ice cream fiend at this point, who was to say?) and tapped the curve of the metal against her knee.
“Me? I’m all good. As long as Jett’s good – so am I.”
She dug her spoon deeply into the ice cream. “Why… you weren’t worried about me, were you? Like… freaked I was gonna do something stupid?”
---
“If you wanted to eat all of this by yourself, I can recommend some good training that would help make sure you stayed fitting into your trousers,” Holly teased as she waited for Dani to take the first spoonful. Her own was less… enthusiastically sized. Not because Holly didn’t live ice-cream - she did - but because she wanted to be able to keep talking and she had an horrendous habit of sticking the whole spoon in her mouth and then just suffering with epic brain freez for a while which rendered her unable to talk.
Never a good look.
She hummed as Dani said she was good and just nodded. “I’m glad. But… no, no I wasn’t worried that you were going to do something stupid, I wanted to check that you were alright on the basis that your brother just unexpectedly blew up and took the gym with him, pretty hot on the heels of him being tied to a chair by another member of this team.”
The siblings were close, she knew that, and with Dani’s comments on the network Holly just wanted to… check in.
---
Dani was already taking a second generous scoopful of ice cream when Holly clarified that she wanted to make sure Dani was doing alright—and not just keep an eye on her to make sure she didn’t do anything stupid. She didn’t immediately plough the spoon into her mouth, instead holding it close to her lips as she considered it.
“I mean… none of those things have been happening to me,” Dani shrugged. “And as long as he’s okay, that’s what really matters. I just wish that he could catch a break, you know?”
With another non-committal shrug, she opened her mouth and closed her lips over the large mountain of ice cream. The brain freeze wouldn’t be far behind—but she’d regret nothing.
After she finished melting it in her mouth and swallowing, she pointed her spoon towards Holly. “Admittedly, if this was another clone-kidnapping situation, I might be running around causing a bigger stink.”
---
“They might not have happened to you directly,” Holly pointed out, “But they do affect you. It’s your brother that’s involved, and if you weren’t feeling lingeringly paranoid about leaving him on his own already, you probably are now. And that’s not a comfortable feeling for anyone.”
Holly gave a heavy sigh and helped herself to a second spoonful. “I really wish he could catch a break too.” But she did feel like part of this was on her. She’d not wanted to push him to use an ability she knew wasn’t comfortable for him, that he’d been tested with. That was pretty brutal on his body. She hadn’t wanted to be that person, not for her team. She realised now that was probably not the best way of approaching things
Sometimes she’d have to make the harder calls.
“I appreciate you not causing a stink, I’ll be honest. I’d hate to have to handle that on top of everything else.”
--
“Well,” Dani started, by way of admission, “I do intend to stalk him around the facility now to keep an eye on him and make sure he stays out of harm or trouble. It’s gonna cut into my lying around and flirtin’ time, but a sister’s gotta do.”
And she wouldn’t mind a single second of it—even if Jett started to get fed up with the lowkey babysitting.
She poked her spoon into the ice cream and didn’t take another scoop. “Maybe this will be the start of an upswing?” God, she hoped so. Jett had had a whole lot of nothing but trouble, but he deserved more. Better. Dani might be paranoid going forward—regarding his safety—but she was more concerned with whether or not he would get paranoid. What if he became anxious, nervous, or withdrew?
Dani was just going to have to make sure that didn’t happen.
The Super chuckled. “Not gonna lie, I came pretty close to punching some people in the nose. But you seemed to have a lot on your plate already.”
---
“Not as close as I have,” Holly said with a chuckle of her own. “Honestly, Dani, sometimes I really wish that I could just hand in my resignation and get punching just before I leave.” And it wasn’t a lie. She wanted to get her hands on the people who’d hurt Jett in Texas, the people that had ruined Jay’s self confidence. The people at this Cheshire place who had tortured Vic and Danny. She wanted to be able to do more to help Dove and Raven control their abilities. She just-
She shook her head. She cared too much, but not in the same way Lucas did. She didn’t blur that line, as much as she wanted to truly be friends with her agents, she did try and keep a level of separation. It was easier that way, she told herself. Except it wasn’t. And she really did blur that line a little. Food for Jett when things went well, ice-cream for Dani to check on her. Carefully trying to rebuild Jay’s self-confidence one step at a time. Attending therapy sessions with her Cheshire boys when they needed her to.
“Pretty sure he’ll get frustrated with you stalking him sooner rather than later,” she pointed out, “but if we take it in shifts, maybe he won’t notice?” It was said with an impish smile, Holly did have better things to be doing than shadowing her agents, but Jett seemed to be a trouble magnet. “Vic wants to give him a gift, but has accepted that maybe he’s not gonna want to be seen by Jett. So he’ll give it to me to give to him.” That, she thought, was progress.
She stuck her spoon into the ice-cream again.
“Better be the start of an upswing, for his sake.”
---
Dani chuckled. “Sounds like what I did at the last place I gave notice.” Not that she’d given Dean any proper notice; it had been more of a fuck you, ya loon, I’m out! and a middle finger salute as she walked backwards out the door of the Viper Room. And even then, Dani was sure that Sasha had been more hurt by the exit than Dean had been.
She grinned as she crossed her leg over her knee. “Oh, if two super fabulous girls are following him around, he’ll notice, and he’ll probably get a little irate. Mostly with me.” With the clean end of her spoon, she poked the tip of her nose. “Something about me following him around and annoying the piss out of him as a kid. Cramping big brother’s style. You know, that kind of thing. But in this case that’s a sword I’m happy to fall on.”
The mention of Victor wanting to give Jett a gift caused her to crinkle her nose and scoff. “That guy wants to give Jett a gift? Is it a rag soaked in chloroform?”
Her lips pursed into a thin line as she glanced down at the floor. “I really hope that’s true.” After everything Jett had been through, he deserved a reprieve. Some happiness. Even if happiness in the Regiment was bound to be a fleeting thing.
---
Holly had never had any siblings, so she’d never understood the irritation of following or the desire to shadow, but she’d seen it with Scott’s family, and from an outsider perspective it was objectively adorable. But she could imagine that as the older sibling, never having any space grated on someone after a while.
“Even if it was a rag soaked in chloroform, I’d swap it out for something decent before I even tried to drop it off at Jett’s door,” she promised with a chuckle, helping herself to some more ice-cream. “He’s trying, at least he recognised what he did in the first place was wrong, and he’s not going to be doing anything like that again.” She had faith in that much, at least, that Vic learned from his mistakes when there was actual punishment involved. He just needed to learn that all actions - no matter how amusing they might have been - had consequences.
She sighed, feeling that creeping guilt wander through her veins again. “If I thought I’d have a good shot at wrangling you all, I’d try and arrange a team field trip.” She glanced at Dani. “Any suggestions?”
---
He’s trying, at least he recognized what he did in the first place was wrong, and he’s not going to be doing anything like it again.
Dani frowned and made a hmmm sound. She didn’t look at all convinced. A guy just casually kidnapping someone because he didn’t realize it was wrong? That seemed like the type to fuck up and fuck up again – and Dani didn’t want anything to do with him beyond his part on the team. In fact, he was very lucky that she hadn’t tripped him up with some misfortunes ever since the incident with Jett.
The minute he stepped a toe out of line, that’s exactly what she was going to do.
Hearing the term ‘field-trip’ had Dani perk up immediately. “Oh, god, so many!” She laughed as she tossed her hands in the air in excitement. “A shopping mall? Oh, oh my god, no—a theme park! Get my ass on a roller-coaster stat, please! A day of rides and games? Fuck me up, that sounds amazing. Know any carnivals that are coming through Port Angeles?”
---
Holly laughed. “Okay,” she said, holding up a hand to stop the flurry of ideas coming from Dani. They were good, but probably completely infeasible. But some kind of team field trip was needed. To stretch their legs, to get out of the base for a while. It might help simmer tensions and just generally get people back on an even keel.
She wasn’t a hundred percent sure that the entire team could go out on the field trip, but certainly most of them could.
“Cool your heels, Dani. I don’t know if the Regiment budget’ll stretch to us buying out an entire theme park for you guys, but even getting out of here for a while would do everyone wonders.” She chuckled, “I’ll make sure to check and ask for you, though, see what we can do.”
That reminded her, she needed to check in with Raven; Vance had finally got back to her about her request to sign up some of her agents to college classes. The answer had come back with a definitive ‘no’, so she’d have to think creatively to see what she could do to make sure Raven got to at least learn.
“A carnival sounds like a great - but also terrible idea.”
---
“Hey, they don’t need to buy us one, just let us go to one. They’ve made it impossible for us to live normally and yet want to send us on bogus missions that could endanger our lives, so I think a little Six Flags-type fun is the least they could do.”
A carnival sounds like a great – but also terrible idea.
“Ah, you say that now, but,” Dani picked up the tub of ice cream and set it in her lap. “Wait until you see all those grateful faces smiling at you for setting it up and letting them have a little fun somewhere away from these bleak-ass-walls where people keep freezing entire floors and getting kidnapped or whatever. What a miracle that would seem like, right?” She paused, considered, and smiled heavenward. “I shoulda been a fuckin’ poet.”
She shrugged, smiling, and went about scooping more ice cream. “No sweat. I know none of it’s very likely, but—don’t forget,” she swayed her shoulders and did a little dance move right in her seat. “I’m a lucky, lucky girl. You never know what I can get done.”
---
Holly couldn’t help it; she laughed at Dani’s little dance. The girl was so optimistic, and it was admirable. Under the circumstances, she made some good points and as unlikely as it was, Holly would entertain the thought for a little while.
“Lucky enough that you’d somehow manage to miraculously slip away from the eagle-eyed handler that’s trying to wrangle you all and make sure no one goes missing?” she guessed with a wink around another spoonful of ice-cream.
She shrugged. “I’ll ask, see what I can do. But if I can’t manage a carnival or a theme park, at least getting you off the base might do? At least I’d try not to take you guys to somewhere called Cape Disappointment…”
---
Dani pressed a hand to her chest, right above her heart, and bowed her head before lifting her palm towards the heaven. “Only if it was to slip away for the sake of fooling around with someone really, really hot,” Dani swore. “Otherwise, I’d be a model agent. As always.” The grin that tugged the corners of her lips bespoke of playful mischief.
She crinkled her nose. “Uh, yeah,” she laughed. “If you can’t get us to a carnival or theme park, please, for the love of God, take us somewhere better than some place called Cape Disappointment. Please.”
Dani scooped out one final spoonful of ice cream and shoved it into her mouth before she passed the carton back to Holly. “Take it away from me, please, or I’ll just eat the whole thing.”
---
Holly chuckled again, taking the offered carton but tilting it back at Dani, looking mischievous herself. “You sure I can’t tempt you with one more scoop before I take this away and finish it off myself?” she asked.
She’d, at least, been given some food for thought. “Going once… going twice…”
---
Dani shook her head vigorously and threw the spoon back into the carton. When the noise wasn’t dulled by a mountain of dairy, Dani was forced to reckon with just how much they’d actually eaten. Goddamn. “Nope, nope – get it away from me!”
Leaning back on her bed, she picked up a magazine from the bedside table and flopped onto her back. “But thanks for the treat, Holly, much appreciated. Feel free to stop by with junk food any time, even if you’re not just checking in on me after my brother had an impromptu trip to the infirmary.”
And dear god she hoped there wouldn’t be more of those any time soon.
“And, uh—,” she looked over the top of her magazine. “Thanks. For looking after him so good.”
---
Holly just nodded, struck with something that felt suspiciously like a lump crawling up her throat. She wasn’t distant like some of the other handlers, and she wasn’t up in everyone’s business but she did care about her team and she handled them the way she had handled her unit in the marines. They worked together to succeed or they all failed. That meant learning about everyone and it meant caring.
She tapped the table with two fingers, a silent ‘you’re welcome’ as she got to her feet.
“There’s potato chips in the bag,” she said, “I’ll leave them for you to have as a snack.”
Pushing the chair under the table, Holly went to leave. “You need anything, you know where I am,” she offered before she was heading out the door and going to find a quiet spot to eat the rest of the ice-cream. After all, it’d just go to waste otherwise.