Sonya leaned ba her chair and stared into space, pulling her knees up to her chest and tangling her fiogether. It had been a month since Vegas, a month sine really bad day. Her jaw shifted a bit in her mouth as the thoughts came bad she pushed them away with a huff, closing her eyes and trying to ter herself. She g the cold of soda that had bee for her on the desk and reached out before flig it with her finger, getting that nioise out of it.
Her lip twitched up into a small smile as the inter buzzed on her desk. She let out a breath and reed, spinning in her chair before reag out to tap the button. “You have reached the boss among bosses, Sonya ovna here,” She chirped, putting her best cheer into her voice even if it was a little forced.
A small chuckle came ba the other end, “Miss ovna, Miss Mint is here to see you.”
Sonya sat up straight, “Car’s here?” She asked, surprised. She hadn’t seen her sihe funeral and well, everything else. Their enters had bee a bit of a regur thing after that first exg evening and while she didn’t want to put a bel on it, it was kind of o have at least one sure thing she could t on in her… she paused ahe thought trail off, that face popping up again and she reached up to pinch her cheek, Stop it. “Send her in!”
The door in front of her slid open and the adorable raven haired woman stepped in, bob hair swaying a little bit as she adjusted her gsses and ined her head to Sonya, “Miss ovna, good to see you.”
Sonya got to her feet, “It’s good to see you too, Car, how are you?” She asked, walking over and taking her hand before leadio one of the chairs in front of her desk, “Please, have a seat, coffee? Soda?”
Car raised an eyebrow, “That excited to see me?”
Sonya froze, half-way turned, “Uh- I mean,” She cleared her throat, “You’re here for business, right?” She said and turned with an awkward smile, “Of- of course, it’s just been a while since you were st here and I-” She rubbed her neck.
Car let out a small ugh, “I finally got to tease you!” She said and rexed, “Sonya, it’s fine, I just came to che you. At the funeral you seemed like you needed some space,” She said and reached up and pyed with her bck hair a little, “I uh… I wao e sooner but after that things got a little busy.”
Sonya melted, just melted, that little bit of kindness just bsting all of it away, even if it was temporary, it felt good, really good. She hopped up onto the desk and snatched up the cold soda before popping it open and took a sip before passing it over tuest with a grin, her feet swinging bad forth. “You have no idea hoy I am to hear you say that.”
Car flushed at the lip of the befng up at Sonya and sighing, “I guess I deserve this,” She said with pursed lips.
“You got one in,” Sonya winked.
Car ughed and took a sip of her own before setting it down, “You seem stressed.”
“Do I?” Sonya asked, tapping her fingers oable, “Yes, a little, it’s a lot.”
Car tilted her head, “I think we’ve seen enough of one ahat you talk to me about it,” She said, “I’ve told you a lot of my problems during our… visits,” She emphasized her words with a hard blush and a gentle rub of her wrists.
Sonya smiled at her and reached up to run her fihrough her hair, she threw her head bad let out a long suffering sigh. She crossed her legs and tilted her head at Car for a while. There was so much trust there, now, after everything. What she needed more than anything was someone she could trust. Even for a moment. Even if it was taking a risk. If the rea was bad she- no, she wouldn’t do that. She’d deal with it. She smiled at Car and held out her hand and an eye appeared over it, glowing, pink, it flickered as it gazed at her.
Car stared at it for a long time before looking up at her, “Don’t say it out loud to me, uand? Just in case,” She said with a warm smile. “The less I know the better about it. Whatever the reasons, I know the real you.”
Sonya blinked and her shoulders went sck, Thank goodness. Her lip trembled a bit and she dismissed the eye, letting her hands fall into her p, “There’s a lot I ’t say, but…”
A few mier Car was on her feet with her arms ed around Sonya’s neck. Sonya rest her on the woman’s shoulder as a hand rahe back of her head. She didn’t say anything, there wasn’t much she could say. Sonya could only give an abridged version of the events anyway as there was no way she could share the truth about the past timeline and Car didn’t want to know about Ishtar. That didn’t matter, though, the hug felt nice.
Car pulled back a bit, “Sonya, I want to che you more often, if that’s okay.” She said, brown eyes searg hers, “I’m going to be in New York a lot going forward.”
Sonya titled her head, “I don’t mind, I like having you around, but what ged? I thought the Chairman had you running all over the pce the past month.”
Car smirked, “Well, apparently that was his way of introdug me to everyone I’d be barking orders at iure,” Car said with a raised eyebrow, “I’m overseeing the North Ameri Branch as administrator, my predecessor is stepping dow week.”
Sonya brightened, “From New York administrator to North America, Car! gratutions, you should have opened with that!”
“I wao che you first,” Car said, flushing a little and stepping back.
Sonya raised an eyebrow, “Well aren’t you a good girl?”
Car squi her, “Sonya, we’re having a moment here.”
Sonya chuckled and rubbed her neck, “Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”
Car reached out, “Look,” She said and took Sonya’s hand. Sonya looked down at her fingers and up at Car, “I don’t know what we are doing here, or what’s happening, or any of it, but I’d like to be around more to help you when I . We see where things go, alright?”
Sonya squeezed Car’s fingers and pyed with them, “I met a girl here in town and took her with me on my Florerip,” She said thoughtfully, tilting her head and runnihumb over Car’s nail, “I rojeg on her, it was unfair” She said hesitantly, “I don’t want to do that to you. I don’t want to make that mistake again. You’re you and-”
Car tilted her head down a bit to catch Sonya’s eyes, “Clearly you’re already doing a better job, aren’t you?” She said, “Thank you for tellihat.”
Sonya shifted a bit in her seat and scratched her nose, “Quit it.”
“Quit what?” Car asked, smiling a bit wider.
“I know what you’re doing,” Sonya grumbled, trying to hide her smile.
“No idea what you’re talking about, Mistress,” Car quipped.
“Oh now you’re not even trying!” Sonya ughed, “Did Marta call you? You really came all this way after running around the US just to see me? All I do is tie you up for stress relief,” She babbled, “e on, I-”
Car looked Sonya dead in the eyes, “She didn’t call me, I’m not here for a quick y, I just wao make sure you’re okay and cheer you up if I could. I promise.”
Sonya groaned and slid off the desk, “That’s it! We’re leaving!” She decred, marg towards the door and tapping the button to open it, “Marta, cel all my bullshit for the evening and call that french pce I like, table for two,” She barked, poking her head out of the door. Marta looked up from her desk with raised eyebrows and smiled before nodding aing to work.
Car hustled up behind her, “Sonya? What oh are you up to?”
Sonya turned on her heel and reached out to grab the woman by the , “You go this far to cheer me up and are surprised when I decide to take you out to dinner? Silly thing,” She said and tugged the woman closer with a grin and a raised eyebrow, “I am going to spoil you rotten tonight, uood? Dinner, a nice dinner, for a nice first date.”
Car melted in her grip and her eyes went just the right amount of gzed, “Yes ma’am.”
—
Amos shifted a bit on his feet. The shoes were unbelievably unfortable. Sonya kept insisting that they were the most fortable dress shoes of their brand but it still felt like his feet were in a vice. That wasn’t even to begin to talk about the rest of it. He could hear the distant sound of Sonya talking, giving her speech, he groaned. Sure, this was exg, but for heaven’s sake did it have to be so formal? He shifted again and a hand grabbed him by the tie, tugging him forward to hold him still and straighten it.
“You are worse than a kid before a school py,” said with a huff, pulling a strand of hair behind his ear as he fussed with Amos’ tie. “Stop wiggling around.”
Amos gnced down at ’s expression of tration a still, rexing as his boyfrieo work straightening him up a bit more. He stared for a bit, lost in the smell of his perfume. gnced up at him as he pat his chest and smiled coyly, Amos’ heart did a flip, “Now now, none of that,” He said softly, “I’m wearing lipstick today,” He said and reached up to touch Amos’ , “Rex. Yoing to be fine.”
“Why’d you have to wear lipstick?” Amos pined in a low whisper.
“Because I wao look good for you,” hissed.
“It worked,” Amos muttered, “I ’t take my eyes off you.”
“Yoing to have to,” teased and stepped back, putting his hands on his hips. He was wearing a suit jacket, tie, skirt, and bck hose. He pursed his lips and gave Amos a once over from afar before nodding, “Okay, yood to go.”
“I dunno if I do this, babe,” Amos said, “That’s a lot of people out there.”
tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, his pretty lips doing that tilted thing again that made Amos feel weak. He walked forward and reached up to cup Amos’ fa his hands. They were so fug soft. “Amos, listen to me, carefully,” He said putting some firmness in his voice, “You got yree back, you’re Doos Carter, celebrated post-pandora stist and the guy who probably saved billions of lives with your work. If there is anyone on the fug p who deserves whats ing out there, it’s you. Yoing to be fine. Fuck those guys, just talk about what you did, accept, ahe fuck outta there.”
“I-” He opened his mouth but it was cut off by a finger.
“Get through it, and you’ll get that kiss, mm?” put a bit of that husk in and Amos melted, his shoulders slumping as pulled back with a wink, “Okay?”
“Yeah,” He breathed, feeling signifitly more motivated to get out there ahrough it. He gowards the curtain to the stage again, he could hear the words. Time . He didn’t have a hell at this point.
“...and so with that said,” Sonya said to the audience, “I am honored beyond words to introduce my dear friend and fellow Nobel ureate, without whom, nothing I aplished would have been possible. The father of the post-pandora era, Doos Carter. Doctor Carter, the floor is yours.”
Trumpets bred and Amos felt push him towards the stage, he did his best not to stumble before stepping out through the curtains. The light beat down on him, the appuse of the crowd was deafening, the trumpets were a lot, and the stage was bigger than he remembered. He focused on Sonya who was standing on the podium with her arm outstretched and a smile on her face. She wore a sheer white gown that sparkled as much as her skin and her hair was done up with crystals. She beamed at him and he felt his chest tighten, You say that, but aren’t you the one who pulled me out of the gutter? He thought as he marched forward and took her hand. She pulled him gently towards the podium.
“I’m so proud of you,” She whispered befiving him a kiss on the cheek and stepping back, g with the audience.
He cleared his throat, a little bit of pressure behind his eyes, and looked towards all of the people gathered. Physicists, stists, historians, authors, amazing people. He looked down at the podium for a moment, his hands shaking and caught his breath.
He took another deep breath and blinked a few times before brandishing his best smile. Just ha like Sonya would, he thought, using his usual mantra. “We all remember the time before the fsh,” He began, “Before our world irrevocably ged and life as we k took on a whole new dynamic. The touch of pandora’s light brought out the best and the worst in us, it ged us, and with it came a force that shook the foundations of our knowledge and uanding of the universe,” He looked across the audience, “A veil lifted, our eyes were opeo just how little we uood.”
He rest his hand on the podium, “We as a species have fought our way tooth and nail throughout history to survive, to thrive, to adapt to an ever ging world and to learn more so that ush that progress to the level. Mana, that force that now swirls around our world, has added a whole other level to this challenge. Yet it is the very tool we o push through the boundaries that we once saw as insurmountable for the foreseeable future.”
“My fellow ureates, excellencies, majesties, nobility and leaders, it is up to us to responsibly harhis power and turn it in the right dire. I believe in humanity’s capacity to do good, to aplish good, and tle and thrive even in the direst of ditions. I have seen what it looks like for someoo fight against all odds, eve feels like the world itself is their enemy, and step forward to make a difference. I have seen heroes rise, I have met them,” He lowered his eyes, “I made Firestorm’s armor. The same armor he wore when he walked into Vegas with his head held high.”
He looked up and smiled, “And I will keep supp heroes, just like him. I hope you will too. Because that is our role in this post-pandora world. Strive for better, Earth. Thank you.”
He bowed and the appuse took his breath away. He stood up straight and gnced back over his shoulder. Sonya was gone, back behind the curtain. It was all him. He blinked a few times and looked up and out at the crowd as the representative of the nobel ittee stepped onto the stage and handed him his prize and shook his hand. The representative had tears in their eyes as they kept the handshake going for a few more moments before stepping back. “It was an honor to hear you speak, Doctor Carter, thank you.”
Amos swallowed, “Thank you,” He said before turning and f himself to walk naturally back to the curtain. He dipped through it and immediately felt a thin pair of arms around his neck. Before he could react soft lips pressed against his own aaggered forward and to the right. He felt the st bits of tension wash away as his shoulders sagged and he ed his arms around ’s waist. He held the kiss for a while, not wanting to ever let the moment eually though the two had to e up for air and they parted.
“You are amazing,” breathed.
“Thanks to you,” He chuckled, resting his head against ’s befng up at Sonya, “And you too.”
Sonya was standing off to the side, leaning against the wall with a red face. She crossed her arms and looked away, “You’re a jerk,” She said quietly. “You know I ’t cry, right?”
He chuckled and while still holding onto , walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. She rest her head against his shoulder and reached up to hold the back of his head. She sighed into his shoulder, “So proud of you, so happy for you,” She croaked. “This is where you should be.”
He squeezed her tight, “You deserve it too, no matter what anyone says,” He said and pulled back, squeezing her arm, “Thank you, for saving me. You are my hero, Sonya. Don’t ever fet it,” He said and gri her as she stared at him, wide eyed, her lips trembling. He chuckled and spped her arm, “, let’s go home, get out of these horrible clothes, and py some games or something. Yeah? We don’t have to go to an after party or anything, right?”
Sonya and winced and exged looks.
“...right?”
—
Beyol was troubled.
The streets of Moscow were beautiful, as always, it was a sunny day despite the chill that came with the first touches of winter. He didn’t mind it, his shadows were colder. The coat that the mistress had insisted he wear helped, of course. The scks too, and the designer shirt, and the new shoes. He was a bit fused about why she was so insistent he wear something different. T-shirts and jeans were cheap and practical, for someone who got blood on himself often, it seemed more sensible just to wear something disposable.
It wasn’t a bad thing though and it helped him blend in a bit better with all the other people who were walking around the streets of the Russian capital. Few looked his way though a few smiled at him with amusement for some reason. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why. He rounded a er and spotted his destination, it was a cafe. He liked coffee. That put him in a good mood. Yes, the sun was out, the air was crisp, and he had coffee to look forward to. Still, though, he was troubled.
Something soft pressed against his arm again and he looked down at the mess of off-gray hair attached to the head rubbing against his arm. He felt that softness again as well as the narrow arms of the troubling woman who was gripping onto him like a vice. He raised an eyebrow and once more wondered what oh was wrong with this woman. He had spent a short time dealing with some gnolls on her behalf and all of a sudden she was glued to him every time they were assigogether.
He sighed and gnced around as Veloce, she still hadn’t picked her new vilin , mumbled something about fruits.
“Date, date, date, date, it’s a date.” Veloce sing-songed against his arm, barely audible since her face seemed to be attached to his coat.
He scratched his nose, he didn’t hate the attention but it fused him a great deal. He hadn’t been prepared for this kind of thing back during his training so he had no real frame of refereo work with. Why is she so ied in fruit? He thought to himself, Does she like dates? Should I get her some? Would that make her happy? He gnced down at her again, She seems happy already, he sighed again, I don’t uand.
He walked into the cafe and up to the ter and a young womaed them with a small smile, “Hi! Wele! I make anything for you?”
“Two coffees, please,” He said, pulling out some cash from his wallet that he unfortunately had to move from its usual pocket because of his new ‘attat’.
“Sure! Would your dy friend like anything sweet to go with it?” The woman asked brightly.
Beyol sidered the question before leaning in and holding his hand up to whisper, “You wouldn’t happen to have any dates? She apparently likes them quite a bit.”
The woman blinked and then gave him a deadpan look, it was the same look mistress gave him all the time these days. Why did women look at him like that when he was with Veloce? The woman looked down at Veloce with a pitying look before taking out a tart from a dispy aing it dowo the two coffees she prepared and ha to them. He paid quickly and led Veloce over to a table.
“We o sit, Veloce,” He grunted.
Veloce looked up at him with bright yellow eyes, a big grin on her face befng over at the table and the small tray with a treat and coffee in his free hand. Her eyes sparkled and she darted off his arm to sit in the chair, swaying merrily as he set the two coffees down and the tart that he assumed had dates in it in front of her. She looked down at the treat and brightened even more, if that ossible, before looking up at him with a big smile, “You’re so sweet.”
“Am I?” He grunted and sat down, taking his blessedly strong bck coffee in his hand and sipping.
“Mhm,” She mumbled, already a full piece of the tart in her mouth.
“We have work to do after this,” He said stiffly.
“I know, I know, boss dy wants us to go poke around a bit,” Veloce said waving her hand, “No worries, I got it.”
He raised an eyebrow, “Have you given your name any thought?” He asked in a low voice.
She pursed her lips and looked away, “Always busy talk with you, good thing you’re cute,” She said and tilted her head left and right, “Yeah, I got a few books from her that have some great ideas in it. I’ll e up with something soon.”
“You said that a month ago,” He pointed out.
“Yeah well I get distracted,” She shrugged, pig at her bck fingernails. She wore a heavy coat but the rest of her ensemble was decidedly not for cold weather. A punk outfit with a torn shirt and ripped jeans that exposed enough skin to make him flush a little if he looked too hard. For some reason that seemed to make her ugh when it happened. She was messing with him somehow, he k.
She took a sip of her coffee and gnced out the window, “Wish we could just, you know, deal with the problem instead of being all stealthy.”
“Only if it’s as bad as she suspects,” He reminded her, “We’re not here to make a mess.”
She puffed out a breath, “No fun! No fun!” She whined and threw her head back, slumping against the chair, “Fine, I’ll be good, but only if you buy me dier, somewhere nice.”
He gnced down at his attire, he figured it was suitable for a nice restaurant ter, “Alright, I suppose that isn’t a bad deal. I will buy you di a reputable restaurant this evening after we’re done.”
“Two dates in one day,” She sighed, leaning forward on her elbow and cupping her with her hand, “You know how to take care of a girl, Beyol,” She said, waggling her eyebrows at him.
Again with the fruits. Is it addictive?
“You have plenty of fruit tarts or whatever you like when we go,” He said ftly and sipped at his coffee, turning to look out the window as well. Across the street was their target, an innocuous building that was home to several shops but had a rge warehouse in the rear that they all shared. Apparently a group of criminals were active in the area colleg mohat appeared iy in order to sell them as pets on the open market. It was a bit distasteful and bound to cause unnecessary trouble for the mistress’ wider goals. Acc to the mistress, monsters were bad for business.
That was good enough for him.
Beyol finished his coffee a down as Veloce finished her oopped the st piece of tart into her mouth. She beamed at him and got to her feet, stretg a little and arg her ba his face befetting to her feet and brushing her hands off. He cleared his throat and looked away, it was a little embarrassing how much she did that around him. He got to his feet and they walked past the ter where the young woman gave Veloce a look and patient smile. Veloce gri her before ing her arms around his left arm aurning to being attached to his side.
Once again, Beyol was troubled.
The two of them crossed the street through the cold and walked straight into a butcher’s shop. They walked towards the side of the ter and the owner looked up and frow them, “You ’t-” He was cut off by a small spark of electricity that jumped from the gy Veloce’s finger and struck him, knog him to the ground, unscious. She gnced up at Beyol and blew across her finger like it was a smoking gun as they stepped up to the door leading to the back. He pinched his thumb and a violet knife appeared in his free hand. One swing and the deadbolt was cut ly. He reached forward and ope.
The two of them stepped inside of the rge space beyond, there were people shouting and going bad forth as they worked. He frowned and looked around while Veloce skipped away to peer with a hand over her eyes like a visor, “Oho! Looks like we found the right pce!” She said merrily and gnced back at him, grinning. She paused and pouted, “Wait, do we still get to go to dinner?” She asked.
He frow the cages with hounds in them and then g her. He met her gaze, big yellow eyes pleading, and sighed, “Very well, go have fun,” He said.
She turned on her heel and cheered while pumping her fist, “Yes!” She shouted and hopped onto the rail before deg to the entire warehouse; as bolts of lethal electricity began dang across her skin, jumping from her body to strike anything around her and immediately starting small fires, “Y’all gotta die please! I have a date tonight!”
He frowned, What is it with this woman and fruit?