Sunday, November 24, 2013
Who: Emma and Daniel What: Emma needs snuggles. When: Sunday morning Where: her apartment Rating: mild aside from some cussing Status: closed/started in gdoc, will continue via threading
Emma hadn't slept more than an hour total. She nodded off a few times, but nightmares kept waking her up. Now that she knew Alex was responsible for what happened, she was consumed by nervousness and anger. She wanted to find him. She wanted to hurt him. But she would need help. He could scramble her brain to the point she was a vegetable. As much as she worried about Colin getting hurt, she would probably need his help. Only a powerful negator could help level the playing field to make it possible for her to take on someone like Alex. But she would need additional backup. Her powers were strong, but she was a tiny thing without the physical strength needed to tackle Alex.
But these were thoughts for later. Right now, she needed sleep, and it just wasn't going to happen without a warm body to make her feel safe. She had asked Oren, but he was apparently dealing with his own shit, so Daniel was invited.
She was still in lounge around clothes, some drawstring pants and an old t-shirt, chillin' on the sofa with a big mug of decaf. She wanted regular, but that wouldn't help Emma get some much needed rest.
Well Emma had her answer about her attacker and it didn’t really surprise him. Alex Ripley was someone who caused Ben pain and therefore Daniel would love to see him suffer. Could he explain that to Emma without revealing Ben’s name? He mentioned he had his reasons for his dislike for Ripley but left it at that.
Emma wanted company and after a quick text to Ben letting him know where Daniel would be, Daniel make his way to Emma’s apartment. She indicated that she didn’t need anything and while at first Daniel considered bringing her alcohol, he didn’t need to get her into a drunken rage so he arrived empty handed and knocked softly on her door. “Emma,” he said softly but with enough volume so she would hear him. “It’s Daniel.”
Emma didn't get up from the sofa. Instead, she called out, "It's open!" She and Daniel weren't chummy enough that he would know to just walk on in. Her friends knew that knocking was unnecessary.
"I've got a pot of decaf made if you want some," she suggested, scooting over on the sofa to make room for him. Her bare feet were propped up on the coffee table, turning her knees into a nice resting spot for her hands as they cradled a huge mug. She looked tired. Worn. Sad too. Another 'friend' who turned out to be an enemy. How many times did she have to suffer betrayal before she stopped trusting people? Case in point: Daniel. Emma didn't know him all that well, yet she had sought out his help and now wanted to snuggle up next to him in an attempt to get some restful sleep.
Slowly walking in, he saw her on the couch and she looked exhausted. Probably more tired than he’d ever seen the woman. Decaf was probably a wise idea. She needed sleep not caffeine. Closing the door softly behind him, he came over to the couch, concern on his face. “When is the last time you really slept, Emma?” he asked, not wanting to add that she looked like shit.
He sat on the couch next to her but turned slightly to face her profile. “Did Charls see what happened or just help you realize that it was Alex?” he asked, resting his head on his hand, propped up on his elbow which was resting on the back of the couch.
Emma shrugged. She had slept alright the other night at Oren's place. Fact of the matter was, Emma slept better when she had someone else beside her. "I'm usually able to get by without a lot of sleep. It's normal." But lately, she hadn't slept much at all. A few hours here and there, usually interrupted by nightmares.
"He saw what happened. All of it. I didn't ask for details. I remember the what, just not the who. When he told me, I was so angry that I accidentally produced an energy shield. Fucking fried the tablet I was using as well as Charls' cell phone. I just ordered him a new one," she said, motioning toward her open laptop. The company promised to have the new phone delivered before the end of the day. It would need some modifications by the Syndicate's tech team, and she would volunteer to pay for that as well. She felt bad.
Needing little sleep was something Daniel was actually familiar with . He chalked it up to his ability to regenerate on its own. He did, however, enjoy napping and staying in bed. Especially when it was with Ben. He missed that and hoped he’d get back to that at some point.
Daniel made a sympathetic face regarding her energy shield but gave her a soft smile. “How pissed was he?” he asked. As horrible as it was for Emma to have Charls see it, at least his power flux did some good. In light of Charls’ email to him, Daniel assumed Charls’ saw something about Ben. At least that’s what he hoped it was and not something else.
Emma sipped at her coffee. It was comforting, both the heat and the taste, even if it didn't give her the pep she needed. "Pretty fucking pissed. He accidentally stumbled across some memories and thoughts, and when I realized it, I basically forced him to go deeper and figure out who was responsible." Emma strong armed him for sure. "I owe him. Big time. Best way I can make it up to him, other than the new phone, is fixing the power fluctuations."
He tried not to laugh. He could only imagine Charls’ anger over something going wrong with his electronics. Daniel normally didn’t mind his co-worker but fuck wtih his stuff, he was certain there was a price to pay. “So what’s your next step? I’ve got some inquiries out about finding him but how much time do you want to spend looking for him?” he asked softly. Sure he knew she wanted him dead but there were actions that needed to be take to have that happen. “And have you thought any more about telling Blair?”
Emma shrugged. "I honestly don't know what the fuck to do. He's an asset in Blair's mind. If I go after Alex, Blair may decide Alex is more valuable to him than I am, and send me packing...or worse." She wanted Alex dead. Badly. And while it might be worth getting herself killed in the process, or after, she would need help. Emma couldn't ask her friends to put their asses on the line as well.
She looked up at Daniel, because he was stupid tall even when sitting. "What do you think? I'm too damn tired and angry to come up with a good plan. I'm open to suggestions."
”That’s why we don’t tell Blair,” Daniel said leaning against the back of the couch. “But we need to find out where Alex went. He’s clever so he probably covered up his tracks but there are people who can find mutants. They found you right? It’s just a matter of finding the right person to look. He’s powerful sure but he’s also cocky. He can be found. And we will.” Daniel was firm in his conviction that Alex Ripley would die, not only for what he did to Emma, that alone was horrible enough. But for what he did to Ben.
Daniel's determination surprised Emma. And, to be honest, made her a bit suspicious. Was he just really motivated to help women by punishing men who took advantage of them? Or was something else at work here?
"Why are you helping me with this? I mean, we've never been close. Yeah, we work well together on missions, but I wouldn't have thought you'd be so dedicated to helping me. This is dangerous. Alex is dangerous. It doesn't matter that you have invulnerability. Alex could convince you to kill yourself. Or even kill me. Why would you put yourself at risk like this...without anything to gain from it?" Emma had been lied to a lot lately. No one could blame her for being weary of help from someone she didn't know all that well. What was in it for Daniel?
He let out a slow breath. If he wasn’t honest with her, he might lose his chance to pay Alex back for what he did to Ben. For that reason alone, he hated Alex. Alex used what he got from Ben for his enjoyment. It made Daniel sick to think about. “You’re not the only person here that Alex has,” he paused thinking of the right words to use. Emma had taken the brunt of it all physically and mentally, could he really compare her pain to Bens? It didn’t matter. It was the same in his mind. “Hurt. I can’t let that go.” It was the most honest thing he’d said in a while.
Emma looked at Daniel carefully, cautiously. Was he being truthful? There was hesitation in his response, and it was vague. But it seemed honest. "I'm too tired for this. And, clearly, I'm a shitty judge of character. Maybe you're lying to me too. I have no fucking clue anymore. I just know I want Alex dead. And if you fuck me over too, I'll come after you next. I'm sick of the lies. I'm sick of being hurt. I'm sick of trusting people only to have them betray me. Consider this your warning. If you hurt me. If you lie to me. I will END you. Understood? Back out now if your intentions are less than honest." Emma was done playing nice, and she knew she couldn't trust her instincts, so she was just going to start issuing warnings. The next person to cross her would face her wrath.
She had a fair point but he wasn’t afraid. He was being as truthful as he could be without outing Ben and he wouldn’t do that. If Emma had issue with that then he invited her to give him her worst. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said evenly. He was in this as much as he could. If it put him on Blair’s radar so be it. He would defend his actions without hesitation. “I haven't lied to you but you will be the judge of that in the long run. So believe me or not. I’ll go after him without you if need be.”
"Only time will tell," she offered with a shrug of resignation. Emma didn't know if he was being truthful. Maybe this would come back to bite her in the ass. But at this point, it didn't much matter. She'd reached rock bottom. She needed help getting up again, and Daniel was her best option at the moment. Not only because he was physically close and knew Alex, but because he wasn't an emotional wreck over her being hurt. Colin would be. And he'd get himself killed if he joined her crusade. She couldn't allow that. Yeah, he'd betrayed her, but now that she knew he wasn't the one to assault her, she cared for him again. Or still. It was confusing. Emma just knew she didn't want him getting into a dangerous situation.
"So we find a mutant who can track Alex. Then what? He can still cripple us mentally or make us do shit we don't want to do."
They needed an element of surprise that was for sure. Alex could be flippant but he was so attuned with his abilities, he could debilitate someone with a whisper or destroy a team with a sentence. “We need a negator. Someone who can protect the rest of us. That or someone who can take him out from a distance,” Daniel said, somewhat thinking out loud. “That or gag Alex.” Would ear plugs work?
“If we can knock him out….” Alex was a user. Could they set up some unwitting bimbo for his amusement and keep him busy? They had to get and keep Alex Ripley quiet.
Emma had been dreading such a response. She sighed and slumped low into the couch cushions. "I know a negator," she grumbled. "But I'd rather not ask for his help. There's got to be another one we can use." But could they trust another one? She knew that in this instance, she could absolutely trust Colin to get the job done. He wouldn't fail her where Alex was concerned. But he wasn't a class one mutant, was he? She was fairly sure he was a two like her, and that made Alex stronger.
Daniel thought for a moment listening to what Emma said. Did he know a negator? He thought there might be on in the Syndicate but could he bring yet another person in? He was already looking at Asher and probably Colin for the job. Ben maybe though if Daniel had his way, Ben would be home safe. Not likely to keep him out. So the two Willowbrook agents, Emma, Daniel and Ben. Daniel didn’t know much about Colin as they never really moved in the same circles. “If there is one here it could raise more flags, Emma. Who is your negator? We might have to ask,” he said with less intensity in his voice. “All we need is someone to get one of us close to take him down. Or again, long range shooter. I’m better at close range.”
It just kept getting better. Not only was Colin a negator, but he definitely had sniper capabilities. He could fire on Alex at long range. She leaned forward to set her now empty mug on the coffee table, then flopped back to rest against the arm of the couch, stretching her legs out over the top of Daniel’s lap. Hey, if they were going to plot her ex-boyfriend’s death, she may as well get comfortable.
“Colin. On both accounts. He’s a negator, and he’s a damn good shot from a distance. But I don’t want him involved in this. He’s too close...emotionally.” Colin might take unnecessary risks on a mission like this. If Emma lost him...she couldn’t even consider it. What would be the point in eliminating Alex from the world if she lost Colin in the process? “I still love him,” she admitted, “And I can’t lose him.”
Colin, the man that Alex had Emma convinced was her attacker. This wasn’t good news. She loved him so she might not want him there for the wrong reasons. If he was who they needed, she might have to bite the bullet. “People are going to be emotionally charged in this situation, Emma,” he reminded her. They had to think of this as a mission. They’d killed before, at least Daniel had so this would be no different. At least that’s what he told himself, figuring he’d have to to keep his own emotions in check. After what happened to Ben.. Not now… this was about Emma right now.
"I know that. But I can't put him in danger." It was her fault they were in this situation at all. She had talked to Alex about Colin. Maybe she'd even told him her true feelings. Hard saying what she did or said in his presence, because the bastard could have tweaked her memories of it all. One thing was for certain, Alex had wanted Emma to see Colin differently. To view him as a hateful rapist. And it had worked until Colin started to make her doubt her own memories. Alex wanted to hurt her beyond the physical abuse. He'd wanted her to feel emotionally crippled over the idea of being violated by someone she loved. He'd picked Colin's face because of Emma's feelings. Who else might use Colin to get to her? Emma wished for the millionth time that she didn't care. Nothing good came from loving him.
"If it was someone you loved, wouldn't you want to protect them?" She asked Daniel. "Every single time I go on a mission, I tell myself that if Colin is there, I'll take a bullet before I watch him die. I know that makes me a shitty agent. That it makes me disloyal. I don't care."
”It doesn’t make you a shitty agent,” he said softly. Before Ben it would have been a horrible choice for Daniel to make facing off against the Centurians. But now, he’d do just about anything to protect Ben at all cost. Daniel understood where Emma was coming from. “So we think of someone else. Someone you can trust not to betray you.” That was going to be harder than anything. Colin, if he could be trusted to work with them, might be their best choice. Daniel still had it in his mind to reach out to Asher - he was alive and he knew Emma well. They arrived within days of each other and after Asher left, a few whispers floated around questioning Emma’s loyalty. “I know you are in a tough spot. But if he’s got what you need… you may have to ask him if he can help.” They’d need the best they could get.
"Maybe I should just let it go," she said softly, her head falling back to allow her to stare up at the ceiling. "I'm still alive, and so are the people I care about. Chasing after him could change that. And for what? Revenge?" She sighed and rubbed her face with both hands. "I got myself into this situation. Maybe I got what I deserved."
Her simple statement made Daniel’s heart hurt. No one deserved what happened to her. Tentatively, he reached out and gently touched her shoulder. “It’s your call, Emma. Some people would call it justice; it doesn’t have to be revenge,” he said quietly. Maybe she needed to hear that it was ok not to want Alex to pay for what he did. maybe she was better than he was.
Emma flinched at first when Daniel touched her. A reaction she had a lot these days. She hoped it would go away in time. But she took a deep breath and relaxed. “I’m not sure there’s a difference between the two. Semantics if you ask me.” Either way, she worried that it was selfish to go after Alex. She would be putting others in danger. And what if a day came that the Syndicate really needed Alex’s skill set? Was she risking the organization’s future if she managed to eliminate a top agent?
He expected the wince and should have known better so he pulled his hand away. “There are levels of justice or revenge,” he said once again propping his head up on his hand. But if you want to take a few days, think this over… I’ll help you in anyway I can, no matter what your decision is, Emma.” He was a Syndicate agent now. They looked after one another in times like this. Or should, at least, in his mind. It wouldn’t matter to Daniel how powerful or ‘important’ Alex might be to the organization. There were limits to abusing power and he crossed the line.
“Your reason for being pissed at Alex… is it worth getting killed over?” She needed to know. Daniel was putting himself in great danger. “If it’s not, then I don’t want your help any more than I want Colin’s. This is my problem. And..while I don’t think I can do it alone, I will if necessary.” He had his own reasons for wanting Alex dead. Emma understood that. She just didn’t know how committed he was to the idea.