Who: Luke and Wren What: A little mortification followed by conversation. Where: The Edison. When: The day after this (and his first day at Thomas Inc.), in the evening. Warnings: None.
The Edison’s lab was crowded to overflowing. It was dark, the only visible light the red-gold one that shown on the stage. It was easy to see, the stage, despite the men and women gathered, because it was a good three feet higher than the floor itself. Visibility from the stage was easy, too, as there were no blinding spotlights in the room. It was quaintly crowded and sordidly intimate.
The girl that was singing had a voice that could only be considered passable. She was no songbird, but she sounded young and uncertain in a way that appealed to the older men in the crowd. Her hair was pale blonde, short and in perfect ringlets, and she was dressed in soft yellows and cream - or she had been at one point. By this point in her act she was slowly undoing the stays on the buttercup corset she wore, hips swaying gently, the indents against pale skin visible as she let the corset fall away, leaving only prim white bloomers and yellow stockings and garters to cover her.
She was singing something French and slow, a lullaby, but it was hard to hear over the catcalls, and she didn’t notice familiar person in the crowd until she’d undone one garter and rolled her stocking daintily down to one foot.
The past few days had been like one long nightmare for Luke, and today hadn’t been much better. He may have been Thomas Brandon’s son but the majority of the board members hadn’t been too pleased that a university student who hadn’t yet reached twenty currently held his father’s position, temporary or not, and trying to be a capable and worthy replacement was far more tiring than he’d expected. He didn’t end up leaving Thomas Inc until after dark, and instead of going back to the hospital as he had since Thomas was admitted he decided it was as good a time as any to visit Wren. Since he hadn’t changed and was still in black pants and a white dress shirt - he’d taken the jacket and the tie off in the car - he didn’t linger outside her window too long once he realized she wasn’t there, instead assuming she was working and opting to go around to the front.
Up until then he hadn’t known what, exactly, Wren’s job was. The club wasn’t the kind he usually frequented and he made his way through the crowd carefully, though his attention was drawn towards the stage simply because everyone else’s was. At first he didn’t recognize the blonde girl singing, but after a couple more glances she became more familiar and once the realization hit him he stood still, staring in surprise until she dropped her corset and a flash of embarrassed heat rushed through him.
Luke wasn’t exactly subtle as he dropped his gaze, trying to turn away and finding his path blocked by men who wanted a better look. He scowled at their catcalls but managed to resist the urge to shove past them, instead attempting to keep his eyes averted and find a way to get around the cluster of people at the same time.
If you’d asked her, Wren would have told you she had no pride left to worry about. She’d done things, seen things, participated in things that no decent girl could even imagine, she thought. She didn’t think there was anything left in the world that could make her blush or stammer, not when it came to men.
Seeing Luke in the crowd made her rethink that belief.
She didn’t even finish the song. She finished unrolling the other stocking, and then she winked at the gathered men before lowering her bare feet to the floor. She tried to make it seemed unrushed, seductive, like she’d planned the tease all along. Mary was at the edge of the stage, waiting to go on next, and Wren gave her a thankful look when she stepped in and took over the song without missing a beat.
She didn’t think to grab the discarded corset, and she just crossed her arms over her chest and tried to find him in the crowd. Once she did, she had to stop and do a double take. She’d never seen him dressed like that, not even at Thanksgiving. He looked all grown up, even as he tried to avert his eyes, and she smiled softly. He was a good man; he was nothing like the men she knew, who would have simply stared and joined in the catcalls.
Her cheeks went even more red as she approached him, both of her arms crossed now to cover what they could. She stopped in front of him, clearly embarrassed, clearly blushing, and she nodded toward the door to the back hall and her room. They looked young, standing there surrounded by men much older than they were, and oddly out of place, but she didn’t notice that, either. All she noticed was her own embarrassment - not at what he had seen, but at the realization that now he knew exactly what she was.
Even though part of him knew he’d seen Wren in less all those months ago, that was different. Luke couldn’t explain exactly how but he did know it just wasn’t the same. He didn’t intend on leaving but once he’d gotten a fair distance away from the stage and the surrounding crowd he simply stood, unsure of what to do next. A lot of things were clicking into place in that moment and he couldn’t honestly say he liked this new profession of hers. It was better than what she’d been doing before, but he still thought she was so much better than all of this. She definitely deserved better than those men and their stares.
He looked up just in time to see her approaching, and despite her attempts at covering herself up he was still positive he was turning just as red as she was. After a few moments Luke caught on to what she was implying and nodded, doing his best to not stare without making the effort too obvious. Once they were away from the strangers and the noise he cleared his throat, gesturing awkwardly to where they’d just left. “Sorry,” he managed. “I didn’t… know, or I would’ve come by later.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay,” she said, and it was, even with how red her cheeks were and how silly she felt. She’d heard what happened to Thomas, and she wouldn’t have turned him away, not for all the blushing in the world.
She ducked her head, indicating he should follow, and she slipped into the dimly lit back hall and away from Mary’s singing voice and the whistles that followed their departure. She led the way to her room, not looking back and not even turning around until she had crossed to her dresser and found a thin, white Henley to slip on, her back to him as she slipped it over her head. The bloomers were loose and long, and she didn’t bother changing out of those, too eager to make everything okay again. She walked passed him, and she closed the door, just in case anyone wandered by.
She looked at him, then, trying to see beyond the blushing and discomfort to see how he was. The clothes, the dress pants and the shirt, made her realize that Thomas’ injury had changed something for him, though she didn’t understand how. And after a moment, she just hugged him, warm and soft and with no pressure. “I heard what happened,” she said, stepping back a little. “How is he? How are you?”
Luke wasn’t so sure it was okay, but he followed Wren into her room in silence and kept his gaze on his shoes until she had the shirt on. At least then he could look at her without turning red and feeling like his face was on fire. Instinct made him stiffen when she hugged him but after a moment he relaxed, comforted by the familiarity and reassurance she offered. With Quinn gone Wren was his closest friend, the only one he could tell everything to without needing to worry about being strong or stoic.
“He’s okay,” Luke said with a shrug, sliding his hands into his pockets. “The bullet only got his shoulder and he had a concussion, but the doctors are pretty sure there won’t be any lasting effects.” He looked down at himself and gave a tired laugh. “Me? I’m... filling in for Thomas on the Board of Directors. When I said I wanted to be more involved with the company I guess I should’ve specified.”
She watched him shrug, and she watched him slip his hands into his pockets. She knew him well enough to know that meant he wasn’t okay, and she just took his hand and tugged him to the chaise and sat down. She hugged her knees to her chest, letting go of her fingers and looking at him for a minute before talking. “I’m glad he’s going to be okay,” she said honestly, before saying what was really on her mind. “Is that something you want to do?” she asked, adding softly. “I know you’re going to do it, no matter what, because he needs you. But do you want to? And is this going to make things safer somehow?”
She was worried about him, and it showed in her features. Worried about him, and a little angry that he kept having to take everything on. She knew he would, knew he would never tell them no, no matter what. But she worried about how much of him it was eating away at. She unwound one of her hands from her legs, and she reached out and squeezed his fingers reassuringly.
He sat down heavily, and after a day of trying to be Thomas it was a relief to let his shoulders relax and his posture unwind. “He wanted to turn himself in, you know. We were going to... we were going to stop him, but he was shot before he could get to Bathos.” Luke frowned down at his hands. “I don’t want to replace Thomas, no. I’m not ready for that much responsibility and I don’t know enough about the company. I thought... someday, maybe, I’d take over from him. But not right now.” He shrugged again. “But it’s just temporary. I have to do it or Thomas might not have a company to go back to.”
Luke could read her expression well enough to know she was worried, and that was what made him so reluctant to unload on someone else in general. He still felt guilty from time to time for relying on Wren so much. He knew he was taking on a lot of weight on his shoulders, and while it occurred to him that he could say ‘no’ he knew he never would. He did what needed to be done because if he didn’t, then who would? Besides, better him than someone else who might not be able to handle the strain. “I really am okay,” he said in an attempt at reassurance, squeezing her fingers in return.
She slipped her fingers from his, and her hand moved to rest on his shoulder. Wren was tactile, and comfort was touch, and she rubbed with her fingers at the knots she could feel beneath that designer dress shirt he wore. It wasn’t a caress or anything seductive; it was tension melting away, and she looked at his face as she did it. “I wish I could help,” she said honestly.
When he said he was really okay, she smiled. “No, you’re not,” she said softly, quiet and non-argumentative for all the certainty in the words. “You will be, but you aren’t right now, and that’s okay. What did we say about being honest with each other?” she asked, knowing she hadn’t exactly followed up on that herself in the months since the warehouse. “I like being here for you. It makes me feel stronger, like I’m worth something,” she admitted. “Do you know how long it’ll be? You being at Thomas, Inc.?” She smiled. “I can come answer your phones and give you back-rubs when it gets too hard,” she offered with a touch of playfulness.
“You’re helping just by listening, Wren.” The only physical comfort he was accustomed to had come from Quinn, since neither Thomas nor Max were very affectionate people. They offered support in their own way, of course, but sometimes all he needed was this. It made him feel connected to people rather than the opposite.
He sighed and didn’t bother arguing. There was no point, and Luke figured there had to be at least one person he didn’t put on a brave face for. “I know, I know. I’m trying.” He glanced up with a slight frown at her words, realizing he’d never really asked how she’d been since he last saw her. “You are worth something,” he said firmly. “Don’t forget that.” A moment later the frown vanished and was replaced by a small smile. “I don’t know, honestly. As long as I need to be until Thomas can go back. I wouldn’t mind having you there - a friendly face would be nice.”
She climbed onto the back of the chaise, and she sat behind him so she could reach both of his shoulders. She listened as she rubbed, and she smiled at his firm assertion that she was worth something. “You think everyone is worth something, I bet. I don’t think that so very much about myself,” she admitted. “I mean, I know I’m worth something to some people,” she clarified, “but that’s only physical.” She went quiet a few seconds, the only movement her fingers slipping just beneath his collar as she rubbed. When she spoke again, it was with a smile, having shaken her head to chase the other thoughts away. “Can you hire me?” she teased. It was a heady thought; a real job was something she’d never considered. She had no experience, and she didn’t even have papers that were passable.
She let the joking question linger a moment, and then she leaned forward a little. “Do you miss her very much?” she asked softly.
Luke opened his mouth to protest but ended up letting out a long sigh instead. He had no idea how Thomas went to work every day and put on the Batsuit at night. Though he’d never thought to ask before, now he was starting to think being able to handle all that with little sleep had something to do with whatever his ability was. “I try. It’s hard with some people, really hard, but... I don’t want to be the kind of person who looks at someone else and thinks they’re worthless.” He turned his head as much as he could in an attempt to look back at her. “You’re not like that, though. When I look at you I don’t even have to try to see the good. I wish you could look at yourself and feel the same.” He looked back down at his hands and considered her question as if it were serious and not just a joke. Part of him knew that Thomas would never approve because of Wren’s background, but Luke didn’t care about that kind of thing. “I’d hire you if you wanted a job,” he said decisively, because he would. He trusted Wren more than anyone on the stupid Board and she was probably more competent then half of them anyway.
He frowned again, even though she couldn’t see it. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “It still hurts. I don’t know if it’ll ever stop. Do you?”
She nodded. She did miss Quinn. Before Quinn, she’d never had a friend, not a girl, and she’d never thought she would. “I love her,” she said honestly, “like a sister. Like you love someone you’d do anything for,” she admitted. “I’m mad at her for leaving you, especially when you need her, but I want her to be happy, too.” She sighed, fingers moving to the nape of his neck and massaging there. “I understand leaving because it gets to be too much, or too hard, and I can’t hold that against her, though. Because I understand.”
She shook her head again, blonde ringlets going everywhere. “When I look at myself I see someone who isn’t good enough to be around you,” she said with candor, purely honest, but then she stopped and considered, really considered the option of the job. “If it would help, I’d do it,” she said, finally. “I’ve never been arrested, so I don’t have a record. I didn’t even start using my name until recently.” She bit her lip, and she slid off the back of the chaise and sat beside him in a spill of long legs and innocent hope, which wasn’t an expression she wore often. “Do you mean it?”
For a moment Luke thought about admitting that he’d loved her too, though in a different way, but he decided to keep that to himself. No one ever needed to know just how much he’d cared. Quinn was gone and it was very likely that she wasn’t coming back. “I wouldn’t have expected her to stay just for me,” he said, voice still quiet, even if he’d wanted her to stay anyway. “I guess I kind of understand too, even if I wouldn’t actually do it. Maybe that’s not a good thing if I ever get to the point where I’m not staying for myself anymore.”
That made him pause, and he twisted his head back around to look at her again, the movement sharp enough to cause a small sting of pain. “What?” It was clear from his tone that he didn’t understand why she’d think that. “I’m just a person, Wren. You don’t ever have to feel like you’re not good enough to be around me.” Luke rolled his shoulders back with a thoughtful hum, half surprised that she was taking the job offer seriously. It was Thomas’ company, so he’d have to ask him first, but he didn’t see why not. Maybe there wouldn’t even be any problems now that she wasn’t going by her old name anymore. If Orin Monarch could hire Audrey, who didn’t have any experience either, then why couldn’t he hire Wren? On a slightly more selfish note he hoped that maybe she’d stop working here if she had a job elsewhere, a better one. “Yeah, I mean it. I’d have to check with Thomas but I don’t think he’ll have a problem with it. You’d do it?”
She touched his cheek. “You would never leave the people that needed you,” she said knowingly. “That’s what makes you better than me, better than Quinn. It makes you special,” she said, sitting back a little, her knee bent up and against his side. She’d noticed the shadow of pain on his face when he turned, and she went back to rubbing the spot where his neck met his shoulders, where all that tension was, and she nodded. “You are just a person,” she admitted, because she didn’t think he was anything more than that, even if he was a better person than almost anyone she knew. “I feel like that with a lot of people, like I’m too dirty to be around them. You, Quinn, Jackson.” She shrugged a little, a helpless little thing of a movement. “I’ve done all kinds of things that you couldn’t imagine, ever since my mother was ki- died. It doesn’t bother me with everyone, but it does with you.”
She didn’t think of the job offer as charity, and she didn’t think of it as a way to get her to stop stripping. Luke had never taken issue with what she did, and she didn’t think he’d started now. No, she thought she was doing him a favor by possibly helping him get through the day with a familiar face in a building that she could only imagine as big and frightening. She nodded. “I would,” she said honestly. “But I don’t think Thomas likes me very much. He might not say yes.”
“Not better,” he said, shaking his head. “Just... different. You still cared even though you left, and I have to believe Quinn did too.” It hurt a little less that way, because if she hadn’t cared then there was more betrayal in that. It was worse for Gwen, though, and he kept forgetting to check on her. Luke caught the start of what she’d meant to say instead of ‘died’, but he didn’t ask how or what happened. He could connect the dots well enough on his own. “I can’t judge you, Wren, and I wouldn’t anyway. My life before I came here was easy and I haven’t been through half of the things most other people have.” Maybe that was why it was so much harder, though he doubted it ever became easy. “Besides, I don’t care what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Luke didn’t really know what Thomas did or didn’t think of Wren, but he doubted that he would say no simply because he didn’t like her. “I’ll talk to him, don’t worry. He’ll say yes.” He might have been slightly overconfident in his ability to convince Thomas otherwise if he did initially refuse, but he’d deal with that if and when it happened.
She nodded when he said that Quinn, wherever she was just then, cared. “Quinn does,” she said surely. “Wherever she is, she does care,” she assured him.
She ducked her head when he said he didn’t care what she’d done, and she didn’t explain that she cared, at least when she was around him. When she looked up it was through her lashes and with a smile at his confidence. She wasn’t so sure he could convince Thomas to say yes, but it was a nice dream for one night, having a different job and a different life, and she kissed his cheek quickly and thankfully.
“Do you have somewhere to go?” she asked, knowing Aubade was a mess, and wondering if he was still staying with friends, or if he was sleeping at the hospital.
He looked at her for a long moment and forced a smile. Even if Quinn did care, it didn’t really matter anymore. She was gone. All Luke could do now was hope she found her own happiness wherever she was and try to go on himself. “Yeah,” he said with a small shrug. “I guess... I just hope she finds what she’s looking for.”
Whether it would be easy or not, Luke was determined to give Wren a chance at something that wasn’t this place or what she’d been doing before. The company wasn’t just about cold-hearted businessmen making money at any cost; Thomas wanted the opposite of that, and she was nothing like the Board members. It might be a good thing to have more like-minded people working there. “Not really,” he said carefully. “I think I kind of got Bly in trouble for being in Sparke’s lab, and I thought of going back to Aubade but it’s still crazy out there. I’ll probably just go back to the hospital. I need to make sure I’m there when they release Thomas.”
She didn’t say that she couldn’t understand how Quinn could want anything that she couldn’t find right here, with him.
Instead, she stood, and she tugged on his fingers and then nudged him toward the bed. “Lie down and get some sleep, at least,” she said, “before going back. Just an hour or two. I’ll make sure no one comes in,” she promised him. He looked tired, and she didn’t want him wearing himself out; she knew him well enough to know he would. “I’ll wake you,” she promised, and she smiled. “I’m working on a suit, sewing it, and I won’t make much noise.” She motioned toward the corner, where a brown swath of fabric was partially stitched, some kevlar strips stacked on the floor beside it. She nudged again, a little harder.
“I can sleep at the hospital,” he protested, but it was weak and there was no real effort behind it. There were no beds for visitors at Virginia Mason, and all Thomas’ room had was a fairly uncomfortable chair. If anything happened the doctors had promised to call, so maybe it couldn’t hurt to rest for a couple of hours. “Okay. Just for an hour or two.” Once he gave in Luke was too tired to rethink his decision, allowing himself to be nudged towards the bed until he sat down. “You’re working on a suit?” Without thinking he slid off his shoes, already past the point of discomfort, and stretched himself out on the bed. This was way better than a chair. “You’ll have to show it to me once it’s done,” he added with a yawn.
She just smiled and nodded, watching him stretch out. She would have stretched out beside him; she wanted to, but she didn’t want to scare him, and she didn’t want him to leave; he needed the sleep too much. She sat on the edge of the bed for just a minute. “I promise,” she said. She touched a hand to his wrist, and she left it there for just a second, before she went to the table she’d motioned to and curled up in the chair with the thick needle and thread. She hummed softly as she worked, and she glanced up at him every few minutes. She’d wake him once the sky lightened.