Alex Summers is no hero (hesnohero) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-11-17 14:13:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, alex summers (havok), lorna dane (polaris), tessa, zeus |
Who: Alex and Lorna Summers, Tessa, and Zach/Zeus
Where: Their houses and on their phones.
What: Alex calls Tessa, talks about things, and then Tessa talks to Zach . Zach makes a fateful decision.
When: Today
Warnings/Rating: PG-13 to start, warnings for depression and possible triggers involving such.
Status Complete
Alex sighed as he dialed the phone. He needed advice and someone to talk to. And right now, that someone was Tessa. She was someone he knew he could trust, and who didn’t seem at least, to have her own issues that were weighing her down. Right now, the other person he would have talked to was taking care of her baby. And that was more important than listening to him talk.
So he dialed Tessa and hoped she would listen, and just… help him think.
Tessa was enjoying an afternoon off from work, pottering about the kitchen when Alex called. Fortunately, she wasn’t in the middle of anything that needed constant stirring, so she wiped her hands and sat down at the table to take a break, and give the call her full attention.
“Alex? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.” Sure, they were still friends, and she’d gotten to know his new wife as well, but they didn’t speak on the phone all that often. It made her curious, and maybe a tiny bit worried. “What’s going on?”
“Hey, Tessa. How are you? Got a few minutes to talk?” He paused. “Just sort of one of those days and I need some advice.” She was one of those he trusted most. And he really was glad they had remained friends.
“Sure,” she said, “Is everything okay?”
“Not really, no.” He rubbed his face as he sat in the den, door closed, and sighed, then he started to talk. He told her of the six years in the past, and of Lorna’s past in the other world, and her issues with depression in both worlds, and anxiety in both.
“And lately it’s been getting worse. Her latest anxiety medicine is not working, which means she had to go off medicine, and that isn’t helping at all. She’s a good person, but I’m starting to worry something bad will happen, and I’m not sure really what to do.”
How did you save the person who meant the most in all the worlds to you from an enemy you couldn’t kill?
Tessa listened, empathy kicking into overdrive as her old friend spoke of his concern. She knew Lorna, knew that Lorna was crazy about Alex, and vice versa. She liked Lorna. If she combined that with what she knew had happened to Alex just a few months earlier…
She felt obligated to do something. But what could she do?
“If Zach still had his powers, I could maybe talk to him. Maybe there’s still something we could do, between the two of us.”
“Its okay. I understand. I mostly was just hoping you had some advice for me, on how to help her, on how to be the best I can for her. You and Zach seem very happy. Have you ever had to deal with anything like this?”
“Have I?” Tessa laughed a little. “I deal with all kinds of bizarre medical conditions on a daily basis. But yeah. Zach lives with anxiety issues. He actually passed out the first time I kissed him, and that was one of the more mild episodes. I’ll talk to him, maybe he can pass on some resources to you and Lorna?”
And if it turned out there was more they could do...it might be worth it.
“Thanks. That would be… thanks. I would like that a lot.” He smiled as he sat back. “Thanks, Tessa, even if nothing comes of it, the effort is appreciated.” He drew a long breath, then let it out.
“We should hang out again sometime.”
“We should,” she agreed, “Maybe the four of us could get together. Soon!” She really did hope there was something they could do to help. “What are you guys up to these days?”
“Sounds good to me.” Alex nodded. It really did. ”We’re both working. Her at Urdnot Ranch and me at University of Irvine. Dream skills and knowledge lead to be getting an Earth sciences job.”
“That’s great! Congratulations,” she said, smiling over the phone. “I’m going to do everything to help out, okay? We’ll figure something out.”
“Thanks, Tessa. You are amazing.” He chuckled, then. “I should go. Got to head back to work for classes. I’ll poke Lorna about that dinner.”
“Any time, Alex,” she said. “I’ll talk to Zach, and look forward to hearing from you again.”
“See you then!”Alex hung up and headed for his next class.
***
Meanwhile, Zach, taking a day off as well, to be with Tessa, was hanging out in the living room, flopped. He was wearing a robe, having just showered, and pondering dinner options.
After the phone call, Tessa checked the food, then headed back to the living room, sidling up to her hubby on the couch. “How’s it going, handsome?”
Zach smiled as he uncurled and slid his arms around her, hugging her and stealing a kiss. “Mmm, much better now. Just thinking about dessert ideas, for after food, and later food ideas.” He snuggled her. “How are you?”
“I’m okay,” she said, nuzzling against him. Dessert with Zach was always an enjoyable experience, and one that she would look forward to. “I just got off the phone with Alex. Lorna’s been having trouble with her anxiety meds. She’s really been through the wringer, these last few months. Years, for her.”
“Yeah, sounds like it.” He snuggled her close, kissing her neck and listening. “Makes me wish I could do something. She is a good person from what little I know.” He chuckled. “Time was, I could change things like this with a snap.” He raised a hand and snapped his fingers, and the air itself shimmered for a moment.
He stared at them, and then at Tessa.
“That was odd.”
Tessa stared back at him, reaching up to press her palm against his. She didn’t really have to ask to know that his power was evolving again, though she wasn’t sure what all that might entail this time around. “How do you feel?”
“Ah, well, okay? Weirded out a little bit.” he eyed his hands and then hugged her close, one hand still pressed against one of hers. “I thought the powers were gone.” It was a murmur, almost of disbelief or complaint.
She hugged him, lacing her fingers with his, and giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay,” she murmured. She knew how much he hated carrying that much power around, and what a relief it had been when those powers had faded. “Just because they manifest doesn’t mean you have to use them. We’ll figure it out.”
“I know. Sometimes, I wish I could use them to help people, sometimes, I just want them to never come back.” He sighed and snuggled her close with his other arm. “If I do have them back, or if they are coming back, I’ll have to be careful.”
He wet his lips, then glanced at her. “Should I help Lorna? If I can?” Power brought responsibility, and a desire to help. Or was it merely a desire to justify using the power? He wasn’t sure.
“I think that’s up to you, Zach,” she said. She knew he had a desire to help people, and so did she. She also believed they had an obligation to use their power responsibly when they chose to do so. But she also trusted his judgment. “I will support you, either way. I want to help her, too, but maybe there are other ways that we could help, besides just snapping our fingers.”
Zach nodded. “Definitely something to look into.” He smiled then at her and kissed her hand, drawing it close, then her nose. “With you around, I always know where I stand.” He nodded. “And I love to just hold you.”
He didn’t know what he would do, yet, but he knew he would think about it, a lot, until he did.
For now, he concentrated on her and smiled softly. “I love you.”
Snuggling against him, Tessa nodded, letting her eyes fall closed. It was definitely something they could look into, and she had no doubt that they would do so. They would find a way to help Lorna and Alex, one way or another. But she also believed it was important to take care of themselves.
“I love you, too.”
He sighed out a soft breath and smiled, then kissed her nose and her mouth slowly. “Good.” He grinned at her and let his other hand slide down to cup her ass gently. “I think, if there is time enough before food, there should be, well, sex.” He blushed, but his eyes were bright.
“Oh, you think so, do you?” she asked, wiggling her backside against his hand. She enjoyed his ever growing confidence, and his enjoyment of their mutual exploration. “Well. I think that can be arranged. It won’t hurt if the chicken simmers in the slow-cooker for a few extra minutes. Or hours.”
“I do! I think I need to explore more of your depths.” He smirked at her, eyes dancing and groped that backside rather thoroughly. He did love how she encouraged him and gave him cues as to what she liked. “MMm, so good. We should adjourn there and enjoy ourselves then, and work up an appetite.”
And later he would think about powers and such.
Tessa groaned softly, and rolled off of the couch, pulling her husband along with her as she rose to her feet. “I think you’re right. We should definitely adjourn to the bedroom; get you out of that robe, and into something a little bit...warmer.” She walked backwards as she spoke, lifting her t-shirt overhead and tossing it aside. Once she hit the bedroom, her shorts and panties followed, leaving her nude, and flushed with anticipation.
Zach stripped away his robe as he followed her, hard as a rock, and needing her, wanting her. He smirked as he followed her one hand stroking her front and making him tingle as he leaned in to kiss her, pressing her back against the bed, then rolling them so she was on top. “I think getting warmer sounds very nice…”
Sometime later, Tessa lay with her head on Zach's shoulder, arms and legs still tangled with his, and both of them tangled in the sheets. She sighed softly, drifting in and out of that place between sleeping and waking, the aroma of balsamic chicken with stewed apples and pears drifting through the open bedroom door to tease her senses. She hoped that between the food and the lovemaking, Zach would be sufficiently distracted for a while. And she was strangely pleased at the chance to have cooked for him.
Zach smiled, contentedly snuggling with her, loving her and her ways. She felt so good, so right, in his arms. He kissed her hair, and her ears. And despite all of it, his mind drifted elsewhere. During the sex, he had felt a surge of power, and had managed to make her come, once, by will alone. His powers were coming back, or maybe were already back, and that meant he had to think about things.
And he would, he knew. He kissed Tessa’s eyebrows and grinned. “Mmm, one hunger down. One to go.” He snuggled close, enjoying himself. “I feel good.” Really good.
“Good,” she murmured, nestling against him, in no hurry to disentangle herself. She liked being close to him, physically, emotionally, and in every way imaginable. “I feel amazing.” She could feel his powers awakening, but she accepted them, and she hoped that she could help him adjust as well.
“Do you want me to dish up a couple plates, and bring them back here?”
“Sounds like a good idea. That way we can cuddle, eat, and talk here. I like our bed.” He nodded. Being there with her made everything feel better. Even if all they did was talk there.
"Mm," she agreed, "me too." She liked sharing her space with him in more ways than one. It still took her a moment to untangle herself from the warm blankets, but once she managed to coax herself out of bed, she promised she would be right back.
Zach smiled and kissed her, then swatted her very attractive rear as she went. His mind’s eye turned, then and he hmmed, before tentatively casting his mental vision outward, finding the power there, right away. He sighed, outward and inwardly, and let his vision find Lorna Dane, and see her, in all of herself, her anxieties, her problems, her need, and her pain, and he closed his eyes as he withdrew again. Damn. She really was in bad shape. He encapsulated the things he had seen and saved them to share with Tessa when she returned. She could help him make up his mind about this.
Tessa returned, balancing two plates on one arm, and carrying a couple bottles of sparkling water in her other hand. Once she got there, she set the bottles down, then handed Zach one of the plates. She could tell he was wrestling things again, but she knew he’d speak up when he was ready. “Bon appetit.”
He took the plate and smiled. “Thank you, love.” He snuggled close to her to eat, and to sample the sparkling water, which made him sneeze once, and he grinned. “You are amazing.” She was so kind and warm and sexy and he sometimes didn’t know how he had survived without her.
He snuggled closer and smiled. “Your food is awesome.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she said, smiling back at him. “I borrowed the recipe from one of my sisters-in-law. Figured we could use a few simple meals that don’t require a lot of attention, for those days when we’d both rather stay in bed.”
Zach started in on it, making appreciative noises at her and wiggling a little. “Thish is really goodmmm.” He nodded, and smiled at her.after clearing his throat, he spoke again. “I do like spending time like this with you.”
Being with her, talking about things, hanging out, was nice. Speaking of things… he sighed. “So, ah, what do you think about this whole Lorna thing?” He was not sure what he should do.
He nibbled on the food some more.
Tessa answered with an echoing sigh, sucking chicken broth from a fingertip as she thought about the options presented to them. Lorna had tried prescription meds, she’d tried self-medicating, and no doubt she had tried other kinds of therapy as well. “What do you think we can do, and what sort of repercussions might we need to be prepared for?”
“We could… I think my powers are back, for all intents and purposes. And the least invasive way to do it is to, for lack of a better term, change her mind and body and erase the physical and mental stressors that cause the intense anxiety. It would not erase her memories, nor change how she reacts to normal things, but it would mean her mind and body would not panic and go into anxiety mode when she receives absolute stressors.” He had considered doing that for himself, and decided not to, not wanting to turn the power on himself.
He hesitated to do it even for another person, though. for it was a huge change. ”It means changing her fate, and giving her a chance at a normal life. My only real worry is that I could get used to doing this, and want to use the power more often, and more often.”
He shuddered. “I don’t want to become Zeus.”
Tessa put her plate aside, and her arms around Zach, brushing the back of her knuckles across his cheek. “You won’t become Zeus,” she said softly. “You have me.” She didn’t know what else to say, or what power she might have against Zeus, but she had to believe it would make a difference.
He snuggled close and inhaled her scent, mingled with his own. Good, he loved her. "You are the most amazing person I know. I wish I knew what to do. " But Zach had a growing suspicion that he knew exactly what he was going to do.
“Trust yourself,” she said. “I believe in you.” She knew he would make the right decision. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Zach sighed and kissed her. "You make this world so much better." He hugged her then reached out with his peers taking Tessa with him as his power touched the mind and life off Lorna Dane.
"Lorna. I don't mean to startle you, but this is Zach. Do you have a moment to talk?" His voice sounded as if from open air near her.
Lorna was at home (luckily), and painting her fingernails. She gasped at the voice, but managed not to mess up her nails. She shook her head and laughed a little. “Uh, yeah, disembodied voice. What’s up? You and Tessa aren’t in trouble, are you?”
Zach smiled and an image of his face formed then the rest of him, and Tessa, garbed in comfy clothing. They shimmered like holograms as he nodded to her. "You've always been kind. And I want to help you. How would you like to be released from the darkness of your torment of anxiety." Zach glanced aside at Tessa as if.drawing strength from her as he did.
“Uh?” Lorna said, blowing on her nails. “How? What will you do?” She wanted that quite a bit, but she wasn’t making any deals without knowing all the costs. She liked Zach and Tessa, but taking an interaction with a god lightly was a dumb idea.
"Rewrite your fate. Remove your anxiety condition as if it never existed, erasing its effects from your mind and body from this day forward. You would face only normal anxieties in the future." Zach's voice was gentle but sure as he explained it.
“Okay, so what do you get in return? That’s how this works, right?” She wanted it to be as good as it sounded, but she wasn’t going to agree until she knew it was what she wanted.
“Me? I get nothing. I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it because I hate seeing people in pain, and once I know people are in pain, its hard for me to ever un-know it.” He sat in mid-air, his holographic self, and sighed. “This is why me being Zeus is silly. I have this power and when people are hurting I want to help, but I have to be careful how I help, and when.” He made a face. Then he sighed and looked back at her.
“I want to help you. In the stories, help from Gods usually had a price. What sort of price do you think is right in this situation?”
“I don’t know. It’s a big deal, so something important.” She rested her chin on her knee, looking at Zach’s hologram. “I’m new to all this.”
Zach nodded, then sighed and hmmed. “I know of one thing, but it will definitely have an impact. I’ll make sure there are no harmful consequences, but… one price could be… a complete inability to smoke or smell marijuana ever again, essentially an allergenicity to it.”
“Are we talking about anaphylactic shock? Because I’d rather not have that strong an allergy to anything.” She pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment. “But if it won’t kill me if someone smokes a doobie next door, I accept.”
“No. I am talking about… not being able to smoke it, like having a literal inability to doing so and a dislike for the smell and sense of it.” He nodded. “I would never create a price that would be lethal. That would… suck.” Zach nodded, then smiled softly to her. “Very well then. When you go to sleep, it will happen, that way it will cause the least amount of stress to you and your mind and body.”
"Great." Lorna said, trying to temper her reaction. It was best not to hope too hard. "Guess I need to smoke my stash before then." She said with a giggle.
Zach chuckled. “Yes. and just because, not as a god, but as a friend, no unfriendlies will notice if you do.” He nodded to her, and bowed, gently smiling to her, then glanced at Tessa. “Am I forgetting anything?” He relied on Tessa for his mind really.
"It would suck, and he'd be in the doghouse for making me work overtime," Tessa put in, her tone light, but her words in earnest. If Zach ever started messing with the balance of life and death in a capricious way, she had no bones about giving his soul a good shake,Zeus or not. She smiled softly, wanting to reassure both Zach and Lorna. "If any of this is too out here, we can keep looking into other alternatives."
Lorna shook her head. “You wouldn’t think this is too out there if you knew what I dream.” She took a deep breath and uncurled, sitting up straight. “One more thing. I don’t know if I can have children, but if I can I don’t want them to have this. I want it gone, erased from my brain and my DNA.”
“Done. That would have been part of it anyway. Removing it entirely is the only way to make sure it never re-emerges. When this is done, you will never feel its pull again, for as long as you live.” Zach nodded and reached out gently to touch her forehead, a gentle stroke of warmth and power. “Done and done.” And the words echoed like a shimmer from them, that washed away making the colors of everything ripple for a moment.
“Have a good day, Lorna. And may your days only get better.” Zach grinned, delighted with how it had gone, and then was gone.
“My people come and go so quickly here.” She muttered, before standing up. “I guess I better ask Alex to get a box of Ho Hos.”
~fin~