InsaneJournal

Who: Lucas Frost & Eleanor Eckles
What: Sibling catch up
When: Early april, after the team shuffle up that put Jade & Ruby on his team.
Where: The gun range, Ellie's office
Rating: Low

His footfalls always sounded heavy in the hallways. When no one was around and you could hear the echoes along the walls -- everything sounded much deeper than it already was. Much deeper than he thought it ever would be. Or than he thought that was allowable. Since setting foot in Limbo, Lucas could tell someone exactly how it had changed if they asked him. From new paint on the windows to a small patch in the carpet that was replaced when no one was around to make it look cleaner. As if they were ever going to be able to cover things as they were. It was still a newer building, but aging just the same. Like a haunted house, almost. Sometimes there would be the cries of the newer agents. The emotions heavy and permeating the air.

He didn’t have to have powers to know that it was more of a burden than a gift to people. Some people who had spent a majority of their lives in this place, forgetting what it was like to function in actual society. It was a painful fact. They all had no way of knowing how the world had changed around them.

But he was hopeful for the people that he loved and the agents that he cared about that they would overcome. The increased presence of therapists coming in to chat with the agents was more than enough to make him feel somewhat at ease. But it wasn’t therapist for the handlers which he thought they would need at some point. Working for the Regiment sort of chipped away at their conscious slowly. Turning them all into monsters.

Lucas stepped into the firing range, rolling his shoulders as he dropped the dress jacket he was wearing and setting it on the back of a chair before reaching for his side arm and operating the target to go back. He needed a release. He needed a break. He needed…

He could hear footsteps of someone in the area as he pulled on the earmuffs before firing a couple rounds. With precision and accuracy that would remind everyone that he wasn’t just a pretty face or a teddy bear but he was there for a reason. Operating the pullies to bring it forward as he pulled the ear muffs off and smiled over his shoulder at Ellie when the smiley face could clearly be seen. “You adjusting pretty well here, El?”

----

“What are you wearing?” Ellie asked, eyes on the smiley face Lucas had shot into the target. He looked stressed and tired and whilst it was nice to see him here it was difficult all in one breath; the job of a Handler was stressful, it took a lot away from a person and Ellie was forever glad that it wasn’t her role. That she didn’t have that responsibility because honestly, she didn’t think she could handle it - no pun intended. She had done what she could on the outside; her charity was still up and running and whilst on paper, she had stepped away completely if she were to leave the base she could still walk into the offices and get whatever information she wanted. She could still google their name - privately, of course - and see that it was flourishing, still doing the work she’d set it out to do.

She leaned against the wall, arms folded across her chest, her own lips curling up into a faint, but concerned smile.

“I guess? It’s different to Dakota,” she said. “And Maine.” Because she’d been in both for a while. It had been lonelier there, though, less people hanging around the range and some of the other staff had been… distinctly unfriendly. “Nice picture. Can I have it for my refrigerator?”

All jokes aside, though, she did nod her head. “Yeah, I’m okay. Kinda feel like I should be asking you if you’re okay though, bro.”

---

Lucas glanced down at the rest of his suit, eyebrows arching up with a curious expression on his face. “Clothes? You don’t like the whole ‘New Year, New me’ get up?” He chuckled before shaking his head for a moment. “You don’t like it? It’s Armani. Most of my suits cost more than my car...it’s actually kind of disgusting now that I think about it.” It was more than disgusting in his own opinion. Dressed up just like he was some doll for Ava’s needs rather than the person he was. The one that Holly usually preferred when it came to his boyish, bachelor style.

He put his safety on before putting it away, shrugging a little as he inspected the target. “Maine was nice. Just be glad you were never in Florida. I hear that place is a shit hole. Handlers like to...do questionable things. It’s like the Guantanamo Bay of the Regiment.” He pulled it down before starting to roll it up and hand it out to her. “It is a work of art, I have to say. My best work yet.” He laughed.

His brow arched slightly when she asked how he was. But he knew, for the most part, there was no use in lying to her. Ellie always knew. Everyone always knew. The ones that knew him of course. If they didn’t, he was the most convincing liar in the Regiment by far. “Not dead yet seems like the best answer. Maybe even the only answer. People are getting restless and I’m trying to keep up.”

----

“Handlers,” Ellie said, “Do questionable things everywhere.” She thought briefly about Rusty, and the agent in Dakota that had been placed in her care while he went off and ‘handled’ things. She thought about how people in power were able to abuse that position no matter where they were or what they ended up doing. It wasn’t in everyone’s nature: Lucas was one of the softest - if not grumpiest - people she knew and that wasn’t anything to do with her personal bias because he was her brother. It was more to do with the fact that was just who he was.

She took the target from him and tucked it carefully under her arm. “Maybe I’ll sell it. Modern art and all that,” she offered. She’d seen, before she came to the Regiment, someone buy a bloodied t-shirt as an ‘expression of socialised violence’ or something like that. Rich people were weird.

She huffed out a breath. “It’s not the only answer, Luke,” knowing full well that his response was only half the truth. “And no, I don’t like this new look. I preferred it when you didn’t look like you’d just stepped out of a meeting with mom and dad because your mistress was threatening to sue you for everything you own. Literally no one else here dresses like you.”

Ellie reached out, touched his shoulder gently. “Are you okay, Lucas?”

---

“Don’t tell that to Page. She’ll say I’m a fucking teddy bear.” He laughed at the idea. He knew that...everyone who gave him the time of day was more than well aware that he wasn’t someone that could be considered evil or one of the bad handlers. With the exception of those that were caught by him, Lucas lived his life according to how he would want to leave his mark on the world. Seeking out redemption for the things he had done. Making amends for the lives he had ruined.

He laughed at the idea of someone actually purchasing it as ‘modern art’. The people they grew up around, he was sure would think it was some advant guard bullshit they can sell a story on about violence growing in the world and the nation. He would’ve just rolled his eyes and continued on with his time.

“God, who told you about my mistress?” He sighed, rather dramatically as he ruffled his own hair for a minute. “Like it better when I look like I just stepped out of a baseball game? You know, the Yankees did spring training just the other month.” Of course, it would be that he pointed out with his eyes practically shining at the thought of it. “Maybe I want to dress professionally. Be who you want to be, bullshit li--yeah, an old girlfriend thought I looked like a homeless man so she had me buy a whole new wardrobe.”

He put his hand over hers, giving it a slight squeeze. “I...I’m not entirely sure.”

----

“You are a teddy bear,” Ellie pointed out with a grin, propping the rolled up target in the corner and focusing on her brother. He instantly looked better with his hair ruffled, his eyes alight as he talked about the Yankees. The expression seemed out of place on his face, like that delight wasn’t often seen there and it made her chest hurt.

She arched her eyebrow, “Yeah, actually I- Wait- what? You changed your look for a girl? What was she, a mind controller?”

The squeeze to her hand did little to reassure her. “C’mon, Luke, I’ll refrain from teasing you about a bossy ex for half an hour while you come talk to me. Let’s go into the office. It’s quieter there?”

---

Luke shrugged at the idea of not being able to convince people that he wasn’t a ‘teddy bear’, he would never lose the title. He was too kind regardless of what he tried in this place. Most people could see through it. It was almost embarrassing but he was always...genuine when he could be. When he tried to be. “I don’t know why I have to argue the fact that I’m not a teddy bear. Over and over again.”

Maybe because he was so adamant he wasn’t.

He shrugged a little at the question. He was young and in love when Ava had taken over his world. “No, she was…very convincing about things though.” He thought about the six years of just being involved in one person. How he sort of lost himself in that relationship with her. “I...loved her. People do stupid shit when they’re in love.”

He stepped along with her, following her into her office before taking a seat and leaning back. He made himself comfortable before folding his arms in front of his chest with a bit of a smile on his face. “Making yourself right at home, I see. And here I thought you would need help.”

----

“Because you keep insisting on it when it’s not true?” Ellie offered, “you’re like that meme-- you know, the really cute baby bat that has ‘I am the Night’ on it? Because you think you’re scary but to the people that know you, you’re really not?” It was said with affection; Lucas had a bigger heart than he wanted to admit, and in the environment they’d grown up in that wasn’t always a trait that had been admired. Her parents loved each other dearly, but the cut-throat world that was inhabited by their parents, the rich circle that they’d moved in… that kind of softness was considered weakness. It was why they’d hardened themselves.

She was leading the way to her office when Lucas told her that he’d loved the former partner and there was something about the tone of his voice that made her chest clench a little. She wanted to hug him but refrained, instead just pushing the door open and saying, “That’s a tough break, bro. I’m sorry.”

As Lucas surveyed her domain, she was content to let the matter of the ex-girlfriend drop. For now. “I didn’t have an office in my other place,” she said. In truth the office here wasn’t too much; filing cabinets, a locker, a desk and some chairs and a window over the range but it was more than she’d had before and it was hers. That in itself was exciting. “So I know it’s not much but… it’s comfy.”

She tipped her head, “You want a drink? I’ve got some soda in the fridge…” she grinned at him, “Yeah, I got a fridge. A little one, but still.”

---

He rolled his eyes at the mention of the meme that she said. He was sure that he’d seen it somewhere but for the last six years he’d been so focused on work and getting everything squared away when it came to the wellbeing of his agents. Even before that when he just went around to random peoples homes to take them. He didn’t think he was a teddy bear because he’d ruined so many lives. He was sweet now, yes. He had seen what he was capable of when he went at something with precision and a certain coldness that he seemed to lack now. “I didn’t used to. Ask Jade.” He pointed out briefly at the thought of his…jaded agent who couldn’t stand the sight of him.

Once they stepped instead the office and he relaxed for a moment, he leaned back in his chair. Nearly seeming like it was the first he was relaxing in the last couple of months. “It is what it is. It could always be worse. At least I’m not actually getting pulled into any law offices with mom about my illicit love child.”

Lucas pretty much lived in his own office on any given day. There were plenty of times he fell asleep at the desk or even just disappeared for days before coming out and just heading to his room then right back to work. At the very least, no one could argue that he wasn’t dedicated to the work he did. “Yeah, sounds good. No one giving you a hard time yet? I can actually give you a list of those who might benefit the most from firearm training, if you want.”

----

Ellie watched the tension just drain from Lucas’ shoulders and as she leaned down to get them something out of the mini fridge she’d replaced one half of her desk drawers with she felt her mouth pressing into an unhappy line. She hated the thought that he’d been here, worked up and tense with no one to talk to and no one to pull him out of his own head. That he might not have had anyone that he could do this with, just sit and talk and be for a while.

Emerging with a full fat coca-cola, a sprite and a diet coke, she put them on the table and waited for Lucas to take his pick before she did, though she did keep the can of sprite fractionally closer to herself than the others in a not-so-subtle indicator that she wanted that one for herself.

“Not yet,” she said, “Pretty sure there’s one guy who would like to move in here. Slightly older, sorta scary looking. His name’s Sterling. He communicates in precious few words, grunts and gestures with his weapons.”

Nodding, she grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. “You can write them down before you go, but honestly, that’s not why you came to the range, is it. Nor why you accepted my subtle offer to come in here and chat.”

Fixing him with her gaze, she said, “So you wanna tell me what’s eating you?”

---

His brow arched slightly at the sprite that was pulled a little closer to her, tilting his head to the side as his hand hovered over the coca-cola for a moment before sliding over the sprite across the table to himself and tapping slightly on the top of the soda with an amused expression on his face. Even though sprite really wasn’t something he enjoyed drinking, it was just really just to tease her a little. He just sat the sprite next to him, folding his legs as he did.

“I’ve seen him around. Hunter. He seems…different than the usual agent. I have two that I’m really proud of, Ash might get something beneficial from firearms training. Other than becoming more lethal than she already is. Theo’s sort of perfect the way he is.” He looked a bit smug for for a moment before shrugging a little.

“I just need a break. Shit’s...rough. It’s been sort of a terror to work here lately.”

---

“Different’s one word for it,” Ellie agreed quietly, scowling a little as Lucas helped himself to the sprite. She leaned over her desk and took it back, replacing it with the coca-cola he’d been hovering over a moment before, keeping the cool can in her hand and cracking it open so he couldn’t steal it back. The smug look on his face made her want to flick something at him but she refrained; it was good that he had pride in his agents, though she was under the impression that he had ten, so only being proud of two of them… that wasn’t a very high rate. “Only two of them?” she asked. “Eighty percent of your team aren’t ‘really proud’ material?”

She sighed, it wasn’t good that he felt that way. Dakota had been challenging in its own way but she’d been there long enough that she got to make a few friends with some of the agents and with the handlers - Rusty was one of them that she’d become close with. She’d been happy when she saw him introduce himself on the network.

“Yeah?” she asked, taking a sip of her soda and keeping it clutched close to herself like a gargoyle so he didn’t just lean over like the asshole big brother he could be sometimes and take it for himself anyway. “Tell your little sister all about it,” she offered. “I promise no sarcastic comments, judging or anything that’s unhelpful in any way. Only useful stuff will come outta my mouth.”

---

He narrowed his eyes for a minute before setting the sprite down and grabbing the diet coke with a somewhat still smug expression on his face as he did. “I’ve read his file, it’s like something out of a spy novel. Or...assassin.” He seemed a little amused at the thought, though he probably would have no interaction with the other man. The truth was even though he was concerned about all the supers in the facility, he had to show more concern for his agents or they would never make it. Bleeding hearts only got people so far. “Only two of them are people I would logically put out on the field. The others…” He trailed off for a moment as he opened the soda and took a sip. “I do what I can to make sure they aren’t put out there. I’m proud of my agents in the fields they excel at. That’s the thing about this place. They automatically believed agents are here to be trained to be killing machines, but I know that they’re worth more.”

A bleeding heart.

Those never survived very long in the Regiment but he had done a good enough job thus far proving that he was just as cut-throat when he needed to be. To the people who were watching them. The people who ran this place because he was just another cog in the machine just as anyone else.

“One of my agents is one of the people I brought in. I’ve never been face-to-face with any of the supers I caught when I was out. It’s...it could be better.”

----

Ellie leaned back in her chair. “The others?” she asked, burningly curious about the people that were on his team. She was curious about everyone, everything to do with this place, the Regiment. The mysterious place where supers were sent instead of rotting in jail or a ‘detention facility’. “How come they aren’t field ready? Just because of their powers?”

She sipped at her drink and tilted her head. They might only have been half siblings but they took strongly after their mother in looks, even before she’d been officially ‘outed’ as his sister, people used to ask them all the time if they were siblings.

As he talked about one of the people he brought it now being part of his team, she pressed her lips together and winced a bit. “That… wow, awkward. So you’re not exactly their favourite person in the world.”

---

Lucas cleared his throat for a moment as he thought about it. There really wasn’t so much to be done. One day, he was sure Vance would catch on that the bulk of his agents rarely saw field duty. He knew it wasn’t doing them any good -- they would have another handler. That handler wouldn’t see things the way that Lucas did. People wouldn’t be protected the way that they were and when he trained them, it was more because he was worried about them.

“I just don’t think they have it in them to be out on the field. They’re all good people. But that’s what they are. Good people.” Who just had a bit of rotten luck when it came to ending up in the Regiment. People who could’ve done some good in the world but they were stuck there. Lucas never really put too much thought into it. Because it caused him a great deal of pain that he wasn’t willing to admit to just yet.

He shared the wince on her face with one of his own. “I know.” And he knew it only made matters worse that he had slept with her sister. But that wasn’t something he was fitting to discuss with his sister. “Honestly, even if I was the person who breaks her out at this point. I still wouldn’t be her favorite person. It comes with the terrority, I guess.” He finally opened the soda in his hand before taking a sip. “What about you? Settling in alright?”

----

“I guess catching someone and bringing them to a place like this might be considered, by the injured party, to be irredeemable.” Ellie wrinkled her nose and dipped at her drink, rolling the can between her palms and listening to how her rings clinked gently against the metal.

She didn’t know how he’d done it, but he had and whatever the consequences were he was stuck with them. She wasn’t about to judge. Lucas was her brother and no matter how guilty he might feel there were worse things he could have done.

“You know you asked me that already,” she teased. “But yeah, I’m okay? I mean- yeah, the range here is bigger and I’m getting used to the sheer number of people who keep trying to nope out of training…”

—-

“Catching someone and bringing them to this place is irredeemable.” He pointed out darkly, taking a sip from his drink. “I don’t blame her for it. I’d throw around blame if I was in the same position. Especially when it came to the same person who is the reason I was here in the first place. No one deserves this.” When he was younger...and more eager to make a name for himself, it was easy to justify his actions. Now that he looked at the damage, there was an echo of pain in every name that he saw fly off the page. He checked in on some of the people he’d brought in. Morbid fascination if anything. There were people that were quickly becoming legends within the Regiment and there were others who didn’t quite make it.

Lucas held that up as monument of his own personal failure. He carried that with himself. Even when people told him that he was just doing his job. It was...more than likely the reason why Holly said he was a teddy bear more than a hardened agent.

“This conversation can’t be all about me. I’d ask about your stay in South Dakota or...anything.” He leaned back where he was with an amused expression on his face. “I mean, did you expect anything differently. People aren’t usually gung ho about it. And then there’s the people who just dedicate their lives to it.” It was borderline craziness in his opinion.

----

Ellie didn’t have any magical words to fix how Lucas felt. She wished that she did, she wished she could say something that would make it better but she couldn’t. But what she could do was listen like a good little sister and not give him too much grief - right now - anyway, about his clothing choices and apparently very persuasive ex girlfriend.

“It can,” she told him, pointing at him as she took another sip of her own drink before she fiddled with the ring pull. “I get the feeling that there’s not really enough conversation that’s ever focused on just you. Sometimes, Lucas, it doesn’t have to be give and take. Sometimes it just has to be give.” She looked at him with a shrug, “Besides, I’m pretty boring. Just… working here and trying to make other friends. Not that interesting. No crisis here.”

----

He knew it wasn’t much of an argument that he could defend himself when it came to his ex-girlfriend. Ava had a certain aesthetic. Lucas was more like an accessory than a lifelong partner. He understood that to some degree. They weren’t going to have any happily ever afters when it came to this. He didn’t think anyone would when they managed to get out of the regiment.

Lucas was slightly tempted to kick his feet up on his sister’s desk but he voted to just lean back in his chair. “Who wants to talk about themselves?” All he did was focus on his agents -- even though if you asked any of them, they wouldn’t say that he was looking out for their best interests. “I’m the same way. Just working. Not really trying to make friends. I don’t really see the point in it. There’s a slight difference between my work and the work you do.” He always saw handlers as someone for people to blame for the agents; they don’t get time to think, they train, they enforce the rules.

That was there job. To be the face of the devil that people saw. “I used to think working as a handler could mean that I could make a difference, you know. I could save someone and redeem myself in someway for the things I have done.”

----

Ellie just blew out a breath and shrugged her shoulder. “Only time will tell,” she told him with a sad smile. “You can only do what you’re doing now and take care of the agents in your care. And if I can help at all, just let me know?”

For now, though, she would do what little she could, and that was to listen when Lucas needed to talk, and just do whatever she could as a sister to support her brother in a job that he was, objectively, way too soft for.