Post by Marcus Prasad on Sept 12, 2013 17:04:30 GMT -8
{OOC} On the day of Delilah's Return from Rogue Territory {OOC}
The light of day started to break over the East as an over-tired Delilah made her way through the trap ridden streets of the Rogue's territory and to Anaheim. To Marcus and her ride back to the 'Nest.
She would hail the watchmen with a small wave, forgetting she had her blu-tooth in place. She was...so tired. Three straight days without sleep and little food had worn down the mechanic to a shell. Never mind what happened with Cain.
...she forced the thought out of her miind and pressed on, forcing her back straight and playing with the collar of her turtleneck tanktop.
[4/10/2013 11:54:44 PM] I suffer from an accute Lack of Gravitas.: Morningtime in Anahiem. Normally everyone would just be waking up while guards make thier shift rotations.
But not the wolves.
Working overtime to mask Delilahs absence, Marcus had thrown himself into the job of running the Crows while she was stuck with the Tigress and her Brother Abel. The Corpse twins.
Many had been taken aback by his seemingly unfeeling attitude, certainly his personal staff noted the almost machinelike way he grinded out his tasks. What they didn't realize was his anxiety and concern for Delilahs safety was so great he was forced to lose himself into the work ahead or risk Breaking down completely.
Meanwhile at the Checkpoint into the West side of Anaheim, a young solider who had not in fact been part of the assault party into rogue territory spotted Delilah making her shuffling way over. Not having Recognized her, the young man grabbed a spear from off the table he sat at and motioned for his comrades to follow.
"Scuse me ma'am"
He would say in his best approximation of a firm voice.
"I'm going to have to ask you to stay where you are and raise your hands while we inspect you for weapons or any contriband. Is there anything on your personage you would wish to declare at this time?"
[4/10/2013 11:58:56 PM] Megan Unrau: Delilah's eyes moved over to where the voices were as she walked towards the guard tent, blue eyes flat and bloodshot.
[12:00:02 AM] Megan Unrau: "...kid, if you even knew who you were talking to..." she sighed.
But she stopped and raised her hands to show them. "Tell Grim Prasad that First Black is here to see him.
"And don't you dare touch my knives."
[12:16:01 AM] I suffer from an accute Lack of Gravitas.: "First...Black?"
The man was obviously confused. Normally a Firsts arrival would be by vehicle and with notice in advance. This......
This was just highly irregular.
Deciding that Discretion was the better part of Valor, The guards sent a radio message along while keeping an eye on the woman with the wicked set of knives.
"I must Warn you ma'am, the Grim has been more than alittle busier as of late so we may have to detain you here until he...."
Suddenly one of the other guards approached, whispered into the young mans, lets call him Brother Howell, ear.
"Sounds like the Grim is on his way Ma'am, which means he doesent appreciate impostors or you really ARE who you say you are. And if that's the case may I apologize in advance ma'am but pocedure is procedure"
[12:17:18 AM] Megan Unrau: Delilah nodded tiredly, "I understand. Good Crow."
[12:18:22 AM] Megan Unrau: And so she would wait patiently under their watch, hands up and behind her head and no where near her knives.
...not that she even needed her knives half the time. But that was another matter.
Having taken a visit to Anahiem to smooth over a dispute between two rival families, Marcus was luckily in the city when the call came in. For a moment he stood in his office confused. Well that was a rather short trip. Mabey she had to escape? Mabey the Tigress attacked her for some slight or another? That thought got Marcus running out the door.
As Marcus rode, he quickly realized he really didn't know how to feel at the moment. The old Anger had been reduced to embers. After having slept on it, he had slowly come to the realization that really, she DIDN'T know what the fuck was going on, that the fact she seemed to know that one Red eyed man was exactly the same as how he himself knew Tah, Mace and Graf and that in all honestly, perhaps he had been alittle too hard on her, having essentialy turned his back on her.
That thought made his guts churn with guilt. Would she be relieved to see him, or would she have resented him enough to be angry instead?
Soon Delilah and the guards would hear the familiar roar of Lady's Engine long before they finally saw Marcus step into View. The look of sheer relief would be plain on the man's face the second he laid eyes on her. She looked worn out as HELL but at least she was alive and in one piece!
"Alright boys, I'll take it from here."
Marcus would tell the guards, who only passed confused looks to each other before returning back to the guard house with a shrug to continue thier vigil. Looking back at Delilah, the whirlwind of conflicting emotions churned into his gut for a few moments as he looked into her weary blue eyes. Eventually a smile would creep up on him and before he knew it, he had crossed the gap between them and had his arms around her.
"We knew you would make it back."
He whispered in her ear before slowly breaking the embrace, letting his hands rest on her shoulders as he looked her up and down.
"Wow you look like Hell just spat you up. Was it that bad down there?"
The sound of Lady roaring up the silent streets made Delilah relax somewhat, her shoulders dropping just a smidge. But she kept her guard up and the smile from her face until she could gauge how he was feeling when he saw her.
At first, as he stepped off hs bike all suave-like, she thought he still might be angry with her. He certainly was the night before....
But as the guards left to go back to the guard house and her hands dropped by her sides, staring across at him, trying to decipher the expression on his face.
It was easier to figure out when he smiled. And when he clasped her into a tight hug in his strong arms, she felt relieved.
"Was there ever any doubt?" she shot back with a light flavour of good humour, pulling away from the brawny man as he let her go. She nodded her head this way and that at his question, stifling a yawn.
"Yes and no. It was tense, but we have an alliance hammered out now. Took a while. Found out what I needed to know and everything."
Her eyes fluttered for a moment before she snapped them back open with a goodly amount of willpower. Almost four days without a decent amount of sleep was starting to wear on her, but that would wait.
"Not a one in any of our minds."
He would reply with a smirk. Yes, definatly a good sign. Still, despite her confident words Marcus could see she was running on fumes in a bad way. The fact that she wasn't missing any body parts or any real visable injury sent a spike of guilt into his stomach and further reinforced the Idea that mabey he really WAS alittle too rash in Judging the Rogues.
Well....if only alittle bit anyway.
'Wait a minute. The heck happened to her lip?'
He hadn't noticed it before and was close to dismissing it as a love bite from Stu when he noticed how ragged and painful it looked. Even Marcus himself wouldn't savage such lovely lips like that.
"An Alliance huh? Well I can't wait to hear all about it."
He said, careful to keep his tone neutral. Last thing he wanted to do was to sting her right now.
"But first you need some sleep woman. You look like a stiff wind'll knock you over."
Delilah waved a dismissive hand at the suggestion. "Nah, nah, I'm good. I'll rest when I get back to the 'Nest. This sort of thing is best relayed immediately.
[4/21/2013 9:18:35 PM] Megan Unrau: "I think we could use a debreif. A lot has happened in the last few hours."
She forced the tiredness out of her voice and stood a little taller, smiling slightly. "Sound good?"
Marcus hesitated, Clearly wanting to push the matter of her well being. She was right though, alot HAS happened on her end and the sooner they hash everything out, the sooner Marcus would get his answers.
"Aight."
He said reluctantly.
"I'll have Lucien and Ari, errrr, the boy you got traded for, Meet us there. Just gimme a sec and I'll bring Lady 'round. I'll take you to the Police station and have them whip a pick me up for you by the time we get there."
A Moment later and Marcus would collect Delilah and speed off towards the Station. He would be mostly silent en route, willing to converse if Delilah tried to engage him, but otherwise occupied with Radio calls Prepping the Headquarters for the Anaheim Crows for Dels Arrival and Getting ahold of Lucien, referring to the young man by his new Callsign 'Ghost Wolf'.
Delilah went along for the ride in silence, trying not to drift into sleep with the 'gentle' lull of Lady's roar attempting to put her to sleep.
At the mention of Lucien's new call sign, 'Ghost Wolf', however, Delilah cracked a small smile. It was good to see the slender, nervous man had a new place for him to call home.
It wouldn't take them too long before Marcus had Lady parked in the Stations lot, taking a moment to slip off his skullcap and goggles. If Delilah really did Fall asleep, or at least didn't move right away and thus making Marcus think she did, the man would reach back and give her a gentle but firm slap on the knee to signal that they had arrived.
"Welcome to the Chateau de Anaheim Mademoiselle. Please step this way."
Once inside Delilah would receive a rather surprising reception as the entire staff caught sight of her and immediately dropped what they were doing, crowding around her to get a good look.
"Glad to see you made it ma'am!"
"HEY EVERYONE! THE FIRST IS BACK!"
"Thank god, thought they were gonna mulch her...."
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE FIRST!"
As the cry went out, Marcus stepped back, the burning sensation of guilt in his guts cropping up. If Del looked to him, he would only smile back and jerk a thumb at the assemblage.
"Umm. Yeah. We kinda missed ya mabey alittle round here. None of us really liked the idea of leaving you behind."
Her eyes were open and alert for the whole ride, but her body was mostly running on auto-pilot and had checked out mentally, lost in a cascading whirl of thoughts. She was startled back into her mind as Marcus elbowed her ribs and quickly slipped off the bike with a grateful nod.
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"Welcome to the Chateau de Anaheim Mademoiselle. Please step this way."
Delilah gave him a weak smile and a chuckle, following him inside the base.
Needless to say, the reception was...entirely unexpected.
"Glad to see you made it ma'am!"
"HEY EVERYONE! THE FIRST IS BACK!"
"Thank god, thought they were gonna mulch her...."
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE FIRST!"
Delilah walked past, smiling a little foolishly after a few seconds of dumbfounded staring. Was...she being thanked for what she did? She didn't deserve thanks...she had just been the best candidate to be traded (not that she would have let anyone else besides her go into THAT lions den). Humbled and touched, she inclined her head to the cheering guard, accompanied by a sheepish wave of her hand.
"Umm. Yeah. We kinda missed ya mabey alittle round here. None of us really liked the idea of leaving you behind."
"I was barely gone for four hours," she replied, though certainly not with an unpleased tone in her voice. "...and it was worth it in the end. Can we go somewhere quiet so I can explain?"
Marcus nodded his head.
'Best to get this show on the road then.'
He thought to himself as he jerked a thumb towards the previous Police Chiefs office, now Marcus' own.
"My office is that-a-way. Figure it's about time I get a chance to show it off, huh."
Marcus would then lead the way, opening a door Relabeled from Police Chief to Grim Prasad. Inside would be a room surprisingly Spartan in furnishing. A Simple wood lacquered Desk would dominate the far back center of the room with filing cabinets stuffed with files along one side of the wall, and a giant white board covered in the man's scribbled notes and drawn pictures on the other. The desk itself was a disaster zone of papers and files.
Marcus would clear a spot on the desk and ease himself atop of one of the corners, allowing Delilah one of the two desk chairs that sat before the desk.
Of course he could have sat behind his desk, but to him that would send the wrong message. She was still his superior, let alone the fact that despite the events of last night, which left something of a festering wound of anger in his heart, he still retained that feeling of close friendship with the raven haired woman.
One can be angry with ones friends and still remain friends after all.
BUT! Back to business.
"Yeah, it's not much. Sorry for the mess, I'm the worst when it comes to orinization I wont lie. ANYWAY! Let's begin."
Marcus clapped his hands once and rested them on his lap, giving Delilah his undivided attention.
Sitting down in the old Police office (with a cursory glance around at her surroundings as a double check for safety), Delilah would settle into the chair on the other side of the desk...and was impressed that he had decided to sit with her rather than across from her. She would have been completely fine if he had decided to take up HIS seat from the other side of the desk, but this was...humbling.
"Yeah, it's not much. Sorry for the mess, I'm the worst when it comes to orinization I wont lie. ANYWAY! Let's begin."
So was she, to be honest. But, down to business. The mechanic heaved a tired sigh and settled back in the chair, lifting a hand up to her brow and pinching the bridge of her nose between her forefinger and thumb.
"You'll have to bear with me. I have to begin at the beginning.
"After 'Unfettered' was taken and 'Teal' rejoined us, I went looking for him. I was not told where 'Unfettered' was taken or by whom or anything, only that he was 'safe'. When I was out looking one day, I met a man, the one that the white haired woman called up from the sewers. We got into a spot with some Barker goons and had to hunker down in a safe-house for a night. He was pretty badly messed up, so once the sun rose, I helped him back to where he was supposed to meet with his brother. That's when I met the white-haired woman.
"She took off with him on a bike, and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. She looked like a man with the same hair and eye colour, similar build and facial features. He had visited the 'Nest once before, about eight months before the battle with Barker. The man I met, Cain, was also very secretive about his 'family'. I ran into him once more by chance while on recon."
Delilah lowered her hand with a sigh, gazing at Marcus with a tired, pleading look, "I wanted to tell you right when we met the woman--which I did not predict, by the way-- what was going on, but there wasn't enough time. The situation was too volatile. As soon as I saw that woman's brother-- his name starts with a 'V' I think. Victor? ...Anyway, I knew him because I'd seen him with 'Unfettered' before. And when she mentioned 'Teal' and the Zero, I knew that they knew something. I just needed to confirm. I also didn't know if they were the type of ally who would kill him at the drop of a hat if we messed around with their plans too much.
"I had to make a split second call, and I'm sorry I left you in the dark about it. Right up until that moment, I knew about as much as you did. The extra stuff, I had happened across by chance."
She wasn't done, but she wanted Marcus to have a chance to digest what she had said. Then she could give a formal debrief of the conversation with the white-haired twins.
Marcus found himself caught off guard by a twinge of jealousy as she spoke of Cain. The similarities between the circumstances of their first encounter with the little Raven Haired mechanic had not escaped him. For a moment a storm cloud briefly passed over his face as he fought to control and compose himself.
So that made the late Kyle, Tah, Mace, Graf and Cain for the list of these 'Rogues' that were encountered outside their sphere of influence.
Odd how after all these months of secrecy they would start to slip now......
Marcus was not made of stone. He wanted to keep his anger towards Delilah stoked, but found it completely snuffed out the second she got that pleading, almost desperate look in her clear blue eyes. The man let out a sigh and almost visably deflated, running a hand through his thick shaggy hair as he found something interesting on the wall to look at.
"Look."
He began sheepishly. He never did like admitting when he was wrong.
"I'll be the first to say I was a god damn pittbull straining on the leash last night. Shit got hairy and you had to yank my chain. Never a safe thing mind you, but it had to be done, fuck I would have done the same in your shoes. What was inexcusable was how I turned my back on you like that."
Somehow Marcus found the courage to look Del in the eyes. His expression was apologetic as he fidgeted with his sleeves and hair.
"I mean I still owe you my life right? The fuck kind of thanks was that? so what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry too. It was a shitty situation you and I were put into and all I could think about was getting at that white haired cunts throat."
The man shuddered slightly at the memory. It was as if something in his brain had immediatly switched to bloodlust.
His eyes suddenly hardened as he sat up straight.
"I promise it will never happen again ma'am."
She watched him start to fidget, noticing he wasn't looking at her eyes and seemed pretty damn uncomfortable. Her sleep deprived mind was confused by it.
"Look."
She blinked, realizing his demeanor had shifted considerably. Was he...did he feel guilty? But what ever for?
"I'll be the first to say I was a god damn pittbull straining on the leash last night. Shit got hairy and you had to yank my chain. Never a safe thing mind you, but it had to be done, fuck I would have done the same in your shoes. What was inexcusable was how I turned my back on you like that."
Her expression cleared slightly. Ah. That. While she was justifiably in the right, she certainly didn't blame him for reacting the way he did. It had hurt no less at the time, but she had already moved past it. She had known what the right decision was at the time, and no one got hurt. That was what mattered.
Apologetic honey-brown eyes met her gaze and her blue stare softened a little.
"I mean I still owe you my life right? The fuck kind of thanks was that? so what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry too. It was a shitty situation you and I were put into and all I could think about was getting at that white haired cunts throat.
"I promise it will never happen again ma'am."
Delilah watched him carefully for several moments before smiling gently at him. "It's alright, Marcus. No harm done. I don't expect unquestioning loyalty. I'm not a despot, and you are Grim. You have the right to question.
"I just need trust in situations like that. The other soldiers, they see us bicker and they think we're weak because we're not a team. They could choose sides, try to pit us against each other without even realizing it. If I make a call you don't agree with, by all means, tell me. Just...not when I really need you to be on my side. Same goes for me."
There. Now that that was said and done, it was time for the rest of the debreif.
"As it was, we still got something out of all this. We have a formal non-aggression treaty with them now, which is something we've had all along, apparently, but no one was aware of it other than 'Unfettered' and 'Teal'."
The dark look that bloomed on her features spoke volumes about what she was going to do once she got back to the 'Nest.
"Basically, they can enter our lands if they need to and be treated like any other citizen, as long as they don't harm anyone. Same goes for us. This is as much for them as it is for us...can you imagine the Dragon's stumbling across that wasps nest? If the Dragons wiped them out, we could have gone to war with them over it without knowing why. As 'allies', they're protected from the Dragons and the Gods. I actually think this works out better. I have no idea why 'Unfettered' wouldn't fucking TELL ME--" She took a moment to breathe, forcing her anger back down. Later.
"...what's more, I think we owe them one anyway. Remember back when we fought Barker, when Kiyoshi died? When the soldiers were retreating and we heard all that screaming?
"I think it was them. The way they came out of the sewers, how 'Unfettered' fucking vanished, where 'Teal' came from. It all makes sense now. Which means...we owe them one."
She said it with a reluctant grumble in her voice, as though it displeased her even to say it.
As Delilah explained the situation Marcus, who had been currently enjoying the relief that came from reaching an understanding between himself and the First, grew silent. Then frowned. Then began to work his jaw as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, narrowing his gaze as he stared at the spot on the floor just before Delilah's feet. He could feel it. The coiled snake of fury wrapping around his heart.
"Forget the Dragons."
Marcus finally spoke after a long moment of taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. His voice was wound tighter than a kettle drum and seemed much like a thin veil trying to hold back a massive storm.
"What If I went in alone? With just my Crew? Without any prior knowledge of the Rogues besides scant interactions with three of their members myself, not including the dead boy, it would have turned into a cluster fuck. Realistically after the dust settled The Tigress would be the last one standing unless I was able to Nuke her first. Imagine that kind of loss for both sides?"
His voice began to quiver and raise in volume, growing ever more passionate and inflamed as he hopped to his feet and started pacing back and forth in front of Delilah.
"As for us owing them? FUCK THAT! You do NOT demand favors from someone who did not Ask in the first place! Did we ASK them to kidnap Unfettered and Spirit him away to some god forsaken dungeon, leaving us pissing ourselves as to how we would continue without him? Are their Medical facilities somehow better than ours? Can they heal in ways we can't? As Far as I'm concerned, Unfettered owes them, Not us! We didn't ask for any of that! You NEVER tell someone they owe you for something they didn't ask for. That Shit does NOT Fly!"
"Funny fucking time to talk about Trust. If they really are our 'Allies' than we don't owe them shit for the help with Barker either. That's not how alliances work. We wouldn't dangle something like that over the Dragons heads if we had ever jumped in and saved their bacon! Jesus fucking christ who the HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE!?!?!??!"
Marcus roared as he finally stopped and rounded on Delilah.
"I'll play along with this If I must, fine but if they come to me looking for favors I'll tell em where they can fucking find em! And if Unfettered pulls another stunt like this again then I'm gone! Immediately! Trust works both ways and if he's really that Pussy whipped by that fucking CUNT that he dare not tell us about them 'For our safety' then I wont be able to trust another damn word from his kraut fucking mouth! As it stands my confidence in him has taken a major fucking hit already. I shook hands with the devil once before and got Burned, I learned pretty damn fast not to be a pawn if the game don't make sense!"
Finally spent, Face red and chest heaving, Marcus grew silent as he slowly sat back down on the desk and began to run his hands through his hair in frustration.
He would then speak in a quite voice.
"When you go talk to him, Give him and that Teil guy a punch in the throat for me please."
Delilah quietly watched Marcus stomp about in his fury, yelling vehemently and cursing with a small smile on her face. Ah, Marcus. Some things never changed.
She held up a hand as he finished speaking, too tired to laugh (though she was in the same mind as he was as far as punching people in the throat went). "Sorry, I don't think I said it properly; I feel as if I owe them. As far as Crows go, they did something out of what I can --and WILL-- only assume as kindness. I don't know WHY they took him, but what I do know is that they're keeping him safe. I owe them for that.
"It just comes down to personal honour for me. I only helped them as far as 'Unfettered' would have, had our roles been reversed. It was an unasked favour for us, but who's to say their presence wasn't requested? They ask for no credit for what they did. They ask for no favours. But we know. I'm not the kind of person who takes credit for things we didn't do. Even if the citizens or other Crows never learn of it, I do, and I will return the favour one day. No one else has to."
Delilah let out another tired sigh and closed her eyes again. "Anyway, it's all over with now. No point in getting upset over it." she opened her eyes again, slowly. "Where's the one that got sent to us?"
With the pent up aggression that had been bioling in his guts finally spent, Marcus' shoulders slumped as the fog in his mind began to clear. He continued to massage his face with both hands, grateful beyond words to Delilah for allowing him to vent like this. True to her word, she would let him express his opinion without censor. It definitly bumped up his respect meter for her another 10 points or more.
For Delilah he would swallow his massive pride. She had proven herself to be not only increadibly tough, but resourseful and intelligent as well. He could only hope that those holding HER leash had the same level of foresight and appreciation for her skills.
Marcus began to feel his mood lighten. Finally he could think clearly.
"You and Unfettered. You value him a great deal huh?"
Marcus let out a deflating sigh as he slid his hands off of his face, folding them together atop of his knee. Not because of any lingering bitterness, but because of the realization of understanding that came from a clear and calm mind.
"I forget I'm the outsider here. To me he's just the boss. To you? Family? Closest of friends? If someone saved Silk or Leon or.....Well anyway, I getcha. I see where your coming from."
Marcus would have felt the exact same way about it as Del did.
"About Ari the pipsqueak? I had him metaphoricaly tied to Luciens waist. I sent a call out to reel them in so they should be here soon."
"You and Unfettered. You value him a great deal huh?"
She closed and opened her eyes once, slowly, almost in confusion of her over-tired mind...or it would have been if her brain had not halfway through decided to kick in. The corners of her lips turned up slightly. Yes. She did value him a great deal, she supposed.
"Good. I'm glad. And yeah... He was there from the beginning for me. He's saved my life numerous times. But make no mistake, Marcus,"
Delilah leaned forward a bit, pressing her elbows into her knees as she looked Marcus in the eye.
"If it were you, or any one of our men in his place, I would have done the same thing."
There were a lot of reasons for that. Not only because she was sure 'Unfettered' would do the same, but because as First, as a leader, she carried a heavy responsibility for all the lives at her disposal. A great and terrible fear that the loss of even one would be an immense tragedy.
As to the bit about...Ari and Lucien, Delilah nodded, her shoulders sagging with relief. She leaned back into the chair, closing her eyes.
"Ah, good then. I knew I could count on you."
In the face of Delilah's praise, Marcus back straightened noticeably as he beamed despite himself. He tried to cover it up by turning back and reaching for a pitcher and two glasses that were hidden behind a pile of papers and plates. Without a word the man poured himself and her a glass of fresh cool water, offering it to her.
"I do have my moments huh."
He commented with a self depreciating smirk.
As Marcus turned back around, he would find the raven haired mechanic's head slumped against her chest, her breath coming in slow and quiet, just barely enough to indicate she had fallen asleep as was not, in fact, dead.
Turning to regard the young First, the man had to promptly shove his knuckles into his mouth to stifle the fit of giggles the sight of Delilah dozing off in the chair had brought. Well he DID tell her that she looked dead on her feet....
Gulping down his own cup, the man poured hers back into the pitcher before rising carefully to his feet lest he awaken her and with all due care stripped off his Bomber Jacket and draped it over her sleeping form, Sneaking out of the room and closing the door. Giving the entire crew Very specific instructions to work quietly and ensure that NOTHING was to disturb the Young woman sleeping in his office under pain of death.
"And what about you sir?"
Asked a rather brave member of the Crows. Which Marcus responded with a tired smile.
"Nothing a pot of coffee can't cure buddy. Now hup back to it. I'm gonna nab some chow and wait for The Ghostwolf and the Rogue to show up."
Sleep may have come easily to the exhausted body of the mechanic, but her mind refused to stop spinning. Nightmares of the last few hours raged in her mind. Cain ripping out her neck with his teeth, disfiguring her face as horns spiraled out of his head, leaking magma down his face from the unnatural protrusions. She got away, naked, bleeding, running for the site where the Crows would be searching for Kyle's group.
Crows battled against the band of fiendish people, snarling, fierce. She was locked in combat, fighting the white haired woman as she jeered "The king is dead, the king is dead" at her over and over. She was knocked to the ground, pinned beneath the blades of the grinning woman with violet eyes. Something just behind her head caught her gaze and she looked up. "Unfettered"'s body swayed from a tree limb. She screamed--
--And woke with a start.
It took her a moment to remember her bearings and to catch her breath. Sweat glistened on her forehead and she felt more tired than she had when she had, apparently, dozed off. How long ago? Blue eyes turned to the dirty window, noting the brightness of the sun. Less than five hours, probably closer to four. She groaned at herself, lifting a hand to her brow to pinch the bridge of her nose.
Something heavy rolled off her shoulder as she did so, and she looked down in confusion. Draped over her shoulders was a jacket, Marcus' jacket or so she deduced. It smelled like him, at any rate.
Smiling to herself, she wrapped the lapels a little more closely around her, feeling strangely comforted though she was alone. Sitting there a few moments more, she finally decided it was time to go home.
She rose quietly and swung the jacket off her shoulders to hang it on the back of his chair. As an after thought, she jotted a quick note that he should come and visit her some time.
And quietly slip away she would, stumbling back home for a much needed shower and cuddle with her son.
The light of day started to break over the East as an over-tired Delilah made her way through the trap ridden streets of the Rogue's territory and to Anaheim. To Marcus and her ride back to the 'Nest.
She would hail the watchmen with a small wave, forgetting she had her blu-tooth in place. She was...so tired. Three straight days without sleep and little food had worn down the mechanic to a shell. Never mind what happened with Cain.
...she forced the thought out of her miind and pressed on, forcing her back straight and playing with the collar of her turtleneck tanktop.
[4/10/2013 11:54:44 PM] I suffer from an accute Lack of Gravitas.: Morningtime in Anahiem. Normally everyone would just be waking up while guards make thier shift rotations.
But not the wolves.
Working overtime to mask Delilahs absence, Marcus had thrown himself into the job of running the Crows while she was stuck with the Tigress and her Brother Abel. The Corpse twins.
Many had been taken aback by his seemingly unfeeling attitude, certainly his personal staff noted the almost machinelike way he grinded out his tasks. What they didn't realize was his anxiety and concern for Delilahs safety was so great he was forced to lose himself into the work ahead or risk Breaking down completely.
Meanwhile at the Checkpoint into the West side of Anaheim, a young solider who had not in fact been part of the assault party into rogue territory spotted Delilah making her shuffling way over. Not having Recognized her, the young man grabbed a spear from off the table he sat at and motioned for his comrades to follow.
"Scuse me ma'am"
He would say in his best approximation of a firm voice.
"I'm going to have to ask you to stay where you are and raise your hands while we inspect you for weapons or any contriband. Is there anything on your personage you would wish to declare at this time?"
[4/10/2013 11:58:56 PM] Megan Unrau: Delilah's eyes moved over to where the voices were as she walked towards the guard tent, blue eyes flat and bloodshot.
[12:00:02 AM] Megan Unrau: "...kid, if you even knew who you were talking to..." she sighed.
But she stopped and raised her hands to show them. "Tell Grim Prasad that First Black is here to see him.
"And don't you dare touch my knives."
[12:16:01 AM] I suffer from an accute Lack of Gravitas.: "First...Black?"
The man was obviously confused. Normally a Firsts arrival would be by vehicle and with notice in advance. This......
This was just highly irregular.
Deciding that Discretion was the better part of Valor, The guards sent a radio message along while keeping an eye on the woman with the wicked set of knives.
"I must Warn you ma'am, the Grim has been more than alittle busier as of late so we may have to detain you here until he...."
Suddenly one of the other guards approached, whispered into the young mans, lets call him Brother Howell, ear.
"Sounds like the Grim is on his way Ma'am, which means he doesent appreciate impostors or you really ARE who you say you are. And if that's the case may I apologize in advance ma'am but pocedure is procedure"
[12:17:18 AM] Megan Unrau: Delilah nodded tiredly, "I understand. Good Crow."
[12:18:22 AM] Megan Unrau: And so she would wait patiently under their watch, hands up and behind her head and no where near her knives.
...not that she even needed her knives half the time. But that was another matter.
Having taken a visit to Anahiem to smooth over a dispute between two rival families, Marcus was luckily in the city when the call came in. For a moment he stood in his office confused. Well that was a rather short trip. Mabey she had to escape? Mabey the Tigress attacked her for some slight or another? That thought got Marcus running out the door.
As Marcus rode, he quickly realized he really didn't know how to feel at the moment. The old Anger had been reduced to embers. After having slept on it, he had slowly come to the realization that really, she DIDN'T know what the fuck was going on, that the fact she seemed to know that one Red eyed man was exactly the same as how he himself knew Tah, Mace and Graf and that in all honestly, perhaps he had been alittle too hard on her, having essentialy turned his back on her.
That thought made his guts churn with guilt. Would she be relieved to see him, or would she have resented him enough to be angry instead?
Soon Delilah and the guards would hear the familiar roar of Lady's Engine long before they finally saw Marcus step into View. The look of sheer relief would be plain on the man's face the second he laid eyes on her. She looked worn out as HELL but at least she was alive and in one piece!
"Alright boys, I'll take it from here."
Marcus would tell the guards, who only passed confused looks to each other before returning back to the guard house with a shrug to continue thier vigil. Looking back at Delilah, the whirlwind of conflicting emotions churned into his gut for a few moments as he looked into her weary blue eyes. Eventually a smile would creep up on him and before he knew it, he had crossed the gap between them and had his arms around her.
"We knew you would make it back."
He whispered in her ear before slowly breaking the embrace, letting his hands rest on her shoulders as he looked her up and down.
"Wow you look like Hell just spat you up. Was it that bad down there?"
The sound of Lady roaring up the silent streets made Delilah relax somewhat, her shoulders dropping just a smidge. But she kept her guard up and the smile from her face until she could gauge how he was feeling when he saw her.
At first, as he stepped off hs bike all suave-like, she thought he still might be angry with her. He certainly was the night before....
But as the guards left to go back to the guard house and her hands dropped by her sides, staring across at him, trying to decipher the expression on his face.
It was easier to figure out when he smiled. And when he clasped her into a tight hug in his strong arms, she felt relieved.
"Was there ever any doubt?" she shot back with a light flavour of good humour, pulling away from the brawny man as he let her go. She nodded her head this way and that at his question, stifling a yawn.
"Yes and no. It was tense, but we have an alliance hammered out now. Took a while. Found out what I needed to know and everything."
Her eyes fluttered for a moment before she snapped them back open with a goodly amount of willpower. Almost four days without a decent amount of sleep was starting to wear on her, but that would wait.
"Not a one in any of our minds."
He would reply with a smirk. Yes, definatly a good sign. Still, despite her confident words Marcus could see she was running on fumes in a bad way. The fact that she wasn't missing any body parts or any real visable injury sent a spike of guilt into his stomach and further reinforced the Idea that mabey he really WAS alittle too rash in Judging the Rogues.
Well....if only alittle bit anyway.
'Wait a minute. The heck happened to her lip?'
He hadn't noticed it before and was close to dismissing it as a love bite from Stu when he noticed how ragged and painful it looked. Even Marcus himself wouldn't savage such lovely lips like that.
"An Alliance huh? Well I can't wait to hear all about it."
He said, careful to keep his tone neutral. Last thing he wanted to do was to sting her right now.
"But first you need some sleep woman. You look like a stiff wind'll knock you over."
Delilah waved a dismissive hand at the suggestion. "Nah, nah, I'm good. I'll rest when I get back to the 'Nest. This sort of thing is best relayed immediately.
[4/21/2013 9:18:35 PM] Megan Unrau: "I think we could use a debreif. A lot has happened in the last few hours."
She forced the tiredness out of her voice and stood a little taller, smiling slightly. "Sound good?"
Marcus hesitated, Clearly wanting to push the matter of her well being. She was right though, alot HAS happened on her end and the sooner they hash everything out, the sooner Marcus would get his answers.
"Aight."
He said reluctantly.
"I'll have Lucien and Ari, errrr, the boy you got traded for, Meet us there. Just gimme a sec and I'll bring Lady 'round. I'll take you to the Police station and have them whip a pick me up for you by the time we get there."
A Moment later and Marcus would collect Delilah and speed off towards the Station. He would be mostly silent en route, willing to converse if Delilah tried to engage him, but otherwise occupied with Radio calls Prepping the Headquarters for the Anaheim Crows for Dels Arrival and Getting ahold of Lucien, referring to the young man by his new Callsign 'Ghost Wolf'.
Delilah went along for the ride in silence, trying not to drift into sleep with the 'gentle' lull of Lady's roar attempting to put her to sleep.
At the mention of Lucien's new call sign, 'Ghost Wolf', however, Delilah cracked a small smile. It was good to see the slender, nervous man had a new place for him to call home.
It wouldn't take them too long before Marcus had Lady parked in the Stations lot, taking a moment to slip off his skullcap and goggles. If Delilah really did Fall asleep, or at least didn't move right away and thus making Marcus think she did, the man would reach back and give her a gentle but firm slap on the knee to signal that they had arrived.
"Welcome to the Chateau de Anaheim Mademoiselle. Please step this way."
Once inside Delilah would receive a rather surprising reception as the entire staff caught sight of her and immediately dropped what they were doing, crowding around her to get a good look.
"Glad to see you made it ma'am!"
"HEY EVERYONE! THE FIRST IS BACK!"
"Thank god, thought they were gonna mulch her...."
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE FIRST!"
As the cry went out, Marcus stepped back, the burning sensation of guilt in his guts cropping up. If Del looked to him, he would only smile back and jerk a thumb at the assemblage.
"Umm. Yeah. We kinda missed ya mabey alittle round here. None of us really liked the idea of leaving you behind."
Her eyes were open and alert for the whole ride, but her body was mostly running on auto-pilot and had checked out mentally, lost in a cascading whirl of thoughts. She was startled back into her mind as Marcus elbowed her ribs and quickly slipped off the bike with a grateful nod.
[/size]
"Welcome to the Chateau de Anaheim Mademoiselle. Please step this way."
Delilah gave him a weak smile and a chuckle, following him inside the base.
Needless to say, the reception was...entirely unexpected.
"Glad to see you made it ma'am!"
"HEY EVERYONE! THE FIRST IS BACK!"
"Thank god, thought they were gonna mulch her...."
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE FIRST!"
Delilah walked past, smiling a little foolishly after a few seconds of dumbfounded staring. Was...she being thanked for what she did? She didn't deserve thanks...she had just been the best candidate to be traded (not that she would have let anyone else besides her go into THAT lions den). Humbled and touched, she inclined her head to the cheering guard, accompanied by a sheepish wave of her hand.
"Umm. Yeah. We kinda missed ya mabey alittle round here. None of us really liked the idea of leaving you behind."
"I was barely gone for four hours," she replied, though certainly not with an unpleased tone in her voice. "...and it was worth it in the end. Can we go somewhere quiet so I can explain?"
Marcus nodded his head.
'Best to get this show on the road then.'
He thought to himself as he jerked a thumb towards the previous Police Chiefs office, now Marcus' own.
"My office is that-a-way. Figure it's about time I get a chance to show it off, huh."
Marcus would then lead the way, opening a door Relabeled from Police Chief to Grim Prasad. Inside would be a room surprisingly Spartan in furnishing. A Simple wood lacquered Desk would dominate the far back center of the room with filing cabinets stuffed with files along one side of the wall, and a giant white board covered in the man's scribbled notes and drawn pictures on the other. The desk itself was a disaster zone of papers and files.
Marcus would clear a spot on the desk and ease himself atop of one of the corners, allowing Delilah one of the two desk chairs that sat before the desk.
Of course he could have sat behind his desk, but to him that would send the wrong message. She was still his superior, let alone the fact that despite the events of last night, which left something of a festering wound of anger in his heart, he still retained that feeling of close friendship with the raven haired woman.
One can be angry with ones friends and still remain friends after all.
BUT! Back to business.
"Yeah, it's not much. Sorry for the mess, I'm the worst when it comes to orinization I wont lie. ANYWAY! Let's begin."
Marcus clapped his hands once and rested them on his lap, giving Delilah his undivided attention.
Sitting down in the old Police office (with a cursory glance around at her surroundings as a double check for safety), Delilah would settle into the chair on the other side of the desk...and was impressed that he had decided to sit with her rather than across from her. She would have been completely fine if he had decided to take up HIS seat from the other side of the desk, but this was...humbling.
"Yeah, it's not much. Sorry for the mess, I'm the worst when it comes to orinization I wont lie. ANYWAY! Let's begin."
So was she, to be honest. But, down to business. The mechanic heaved a tired sigh and settled back in the chair, lifting a hand up to her brow and pinching the bridge of her nose between her forefinger and thumb.
"You'll have to bear with me. I have to begin at the beginning.
"After 'Unfettered' was taken and 'Teal' rejoined us, I went looking for him. I was not told where 'Unfettered' was taken or by whom or anything, only that he was 'safe'. When I was out looking one day, I met a man, the one that the white haired woman called up from the sewers. We got into a spot with some Barker goons and had to hunker down in a safe-house for a night. He was pretty badly messed up, so once the sun rose, I helped him back to where he was supposed to meet with his brother. That's when I met the white-haired woman.
"She took off with him on a bike, and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. She looked like a man with the same hair and eye colour, similar build and facial features. He had visited the 'Nest once before, about eight months before the battle with Barker. The man I met, Cain, was also very secretive about his 'family'. I ran into him once more by chance while on recon."
Delilah lowered her hand with a sigh, gazing at Marcus with a tired, pleading look, "I wanted to tell you right when we met the woman--which I did not predict, by the way-- what was going on, but there wasn't enough time. The situation was too volatile. As soon as I saw that woman's brother-- his name starts with a 'V' I think. Victor? ...Anyway, I knew him because I'd seen him with 'Unfettered' before. And when she mentioned 'Teal' and the Zero, I knew that they knew something. I just needed to confirm. I also didn't know if they were the type of ally who would kill him at the drop of a hat if we messed around with their plans too much.
"I had to make a split second call, and I'm sorry I left you in the dark about it. Right up until that moment, I knew about as much as you did. The extra stuff, I had happened across by chance."
She wasn't done, but she wanted Marcus to have a chance to digest what she had said. Then she could give a formal debrief of the conversation with the white-haired twins.
Marcus found himself caught off guard by a twinge of jealousy as she spoke of Cain. The similarities between the circumstances of their first encounter with the little Raven Haired mechanic had not escaped him. For a moment a storm cloud briefly passed over his face as he fought to control and compose himself.
So that made the late Kyle, Tah, Mace, Graf and Cain for the list of these 'Rogues' that were encountered outside their sphere of influence.
Odd how after all these months of secrecy they would start to slip now......
Marcus was not made of stone. He wanted to keep his anger towards Delilah stoked, but found it completely snuffed out the second she got that pleading, almost desperate look in her clear blue eyes. The man let out a sigh and almost visably deflated, running a hand through his thick shaggy hair as he found something interesting on the wall to look at.
"Look."
He began sheepishly. He never did like admitting when he was wrong.
"I'll be the first to say I was a god damn pittbull straining on the leash last night. Shit got hairy and you had to yank my chain. Never a safe thing mind you, but it had to be done, fuck I would have done the same in your shoes. What was inexcusable was how I turned my back on you like that."
Somehow Marcus found the courage to look Del in the eyes. His expression was apologetic as he fidgeted with his sleeves and hair.
"I mean I still owe you my life right? The fuck kind of thanks was that? so what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry too. It was a shitty situation you and I were put into and all I could think about was getting at that white haired cunts throat."
The man shuddered slightly at the memory. It was as if something in his brain had immediatly switched to bloodlust.
His eyes suddenly hardened as he sat up straight.
"I promise it will never happen again ma'am."
She watched him start to fidget, noticing he wasn't looking at her eyes and seemed pretty damn uncomfortable. Her sleep deprived mind was confused by it.
"Look."
She blinked, realizing his demeanor had shifted considerably. Was he...did he feel guilty? But what ever for?
"I'll be the first to say I was a god damn pittbull straining on the leash last night. Shit got hairy and you had to yank my chain. Never a safe thing mind you, but it had to be done, fuck I would have done the same in your shoes. What was inexcusable was how I turned my back on you like that."
Her expression cleared slightly. Ah. That. While she was justifiably in the right, she certainly didn't blame him for reacting the way he did. It had hurt no less at the time, but she had already moved past it. She had known what the right decision was at the time, and no one got hurt. That was what mattered.
Apologetic honey-brown eyes met her gaze and her blue stare softened a little.
"I mean I still owe you my life right? The fuck kind of thanks was that? so what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry too. It was a shitty situation you and I were put into and all I could think about was getting at that white haired cunts throat.
"I promise it will never happen again ma'am."
Delilah watched him carefully for several moments before smiling gently at him. "It's alright, Marcus. No harm done. I don't expect unquestioning loyalty. I'm not a despot, and you are Grim. You have the right to question.
"I just need trust in situations like that. The other soldiers, they see us bicker and they think we're weak because we're not a team. They could choose sides, try to pit us against each other without even realizing it. If I make a call you don't agree with, by all means, tell me. Just...not when I really need you to be on my side. Same goes for me."
There. Now that that was said and done, it was time for the rest of the debreif.
"As it was, we still got something out of all this. We have a formal non-aggression treaty with them now, which is something we've had all along, apparently, but no one was aware of it other than 'Unfettered' and 'Teal'."
The dark look that bloomed on her features spoke volumes about what she was going to do once she got back to the 'Nest.
"Basically, they can enter our lands if they need to and be treated like any other citizen, as long as they don't harm anyone. Same goes for us. This is as much for them as it is for us...can you imagine the Dragon's stumbling across that wasps nest? If the Dragons wiped them out, we could have gone to war with them over it without knowing why. As 'allies', they're protected from the Dragons and the Gods. I actually think this works out better. I have no idea why 'Unfettered' wouldn't fucking TELL ME--" She took a moment to breathe, forcing her anger back down. Later.
"...what's more, I think we owe them one anyway. Remember back when we fought Barker, when Kiyoshi died? When the soldiers were retreating and we heard all that screaming?
"I think it was them. The way they came out of the sewers, how 'Unfettered' fucking vanished, where 'Teal' came from. It all makes sense now. Which means...we owe them one."
She said it with a reluctant grumble in her voice, as though it displeased her even to say it.
As Delilah explained the situation Marcus, who had been currently enjoying the relief that came from reaching an understanding between himself and the First, grew silent. Then frowned. Then began to work his jaw as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, narrowing his gaze as he stared at the spot on the floor just before Delilah's feet. He could feel it. The coiled snake of fury wrapping around his heart.
"Forget the Dragons."
Marcus finally spoke after a long moment of taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. His voice was wound tighter than a kettle drum and seemed much like a thin veil trying to hold back a massive storm.
"What If I went in alone? With just my Crew? Without any prior knowledge of the Rogues besides scant interactions with three of their members myself, not including the dead boy, it would have turned into a cluster fuck. Realistically after the dust settled The Tigress would be the last one standing unless I was able to Nuke her first. Imagine that kind of loss for both sides?"
His voice began to quiver and raise in volume, growing ever more passionate and inflamed as he hopped to his feet and started pacing back and forth in front of Delilah.
"As for us owing them? FUCK THAT! You do NOT demand favors from someone who did not Ask in the first place! Did we ASK them to kidnap Unfettered and Spirit him away to some god forsaken dungeon, leaving us pissing ourselves as to how we would continue without him? Are their Medical facilities somehow better than ours? Can they heal in ways we can't? As Far as I'm concerned, Unfettered owes them, Not us! We didn't ask for any of that! You NEVER tell someone they owe you for something they didn't ask for. That Shit does NOT Fly!"
"Funny fucking time to talk about Trust. If they really are our 'Allies' than we don't owe them shit for the help with Barker either. That's not how alliances work. We wouldn't dangle something like that over the Dragons heads if we had ever jumped in and saved their bacon! Jesus fucking christ who the HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE!?!?!??!"
Marcus roared as he finally stopped and rounded on Delilah.
"I'll play along with this If I must, fine but if they come to me looking for favors I'll tell em where they can fucking find em! And if Unfettered pulls another stunt like this again then I'm gone! Immediately! Trust works both ways and if he's really that Pussy whipped by that fucking CUNT that he dare not tell us about them 'For our safety' then I wont be able to trust another damn word from his kraut fucking mouth! As it stands my confidence in him has taken a major fucking hit already. I shook hands with the devil once before and got Burned, I learned pretty damn fast not to be a pawn if the game don't make sense!"
Finally spent, Face red and chest heaving, Marcus grew silent as he slowly sat back down on the desk and began to run his hands through his hair in frustration.
He would then speak in a quite voice.
"When you go talk to him, Give him and that Teil guy a punch in the throat for me please."
Delilah quietly watched Marcus stomp about in his fury, yelling vehemently and cursing with a small smile on her face. Ah, Marcus. Some things never changed.
She held up a hand as he finished speaking, too tired to laugh (though she was in the same mind as he was as far as punching people in the throat went). "Sorry, I don't think I said it properly; I feel as if I owe them. As far as Crows go, they did something out of what I can --and WILL-- only assume as kindness. I don't know WHY they took him, but what I do know is that they're keeping him safe. I owe them for that.
"It just comes down to personal honour for me. I only helped them as far as 'Unfettered' would have, had our roles been reversed. It was an unasked favour for us, but who's to say their presence wasn't requested? They ask for no credit for what they did. They ask for no favours. But we know. I'm not the kind of person who takes credit for things we didn't do. Even if the citizens or other Crows never learn of it, I do, and I will return the favour one day. No one else has to."
Delilah let out another tired sigh and closed her eyes again. "Anyway, it's all over with now. No point in getting upset over it." she opened her eyes again, slowly. "Where's the one that got sent to us?"
With the pent up aggression that had been bioling in his guts finally spent, Marcus' shoulders slumped as the fog in his mind began to clear. He continued to massage his face with both hands, grateful beyond words to Delilah for allowing him to vent like this. True to her word, she would let him express his opinion without censor. It definitly bumped up his respect meter for her another 10 points or more.
For Delilah he would swallow his massive pride. She had proven herself to be not only increadibly tough, but resourseful and intelligent as well. He could only hope that those holding HER leash had the same level of foresight and appreciation for her skills.
Marcus began to feel his mood lighten. Finally he could think clearly.
"You and Unfettered. You value him a great deal huh?"
Marcus let out a deflating sigh as he slid his hands off of his face, folding them together atop of his knee. Not because of any lingering bitterness, but because of the realization of understanding that came from a clear and calm mind.
"I forget I'm the outsider here. To me he's just the boss. To you? Family? Closest of friends? If someone saved Silk or Leon or.....Well anyway, I getcha. I see where your coming from."
Marcus would have felt the exact same way about it as Del did.
"About Ari the pipsqueak? I had him metaphoricaly tied to Luciens waist. I sent a call out to reel them in so they should be here soon."
"You and Unfettered. You value him a great deal huh?"
She closed and opened her eyes once, slowly, almost in confusion of her over-tired mind...or it would have been if her brain had not halfway through decided to kick in. The corners of her lips turned up slightly. Yes. She did value him a great deal, she supposed.
"Good. I'm glad. And yeah... He was there from the beginning for me. He's saved my life numerous times. But make no mistake, Marcus,"
Delilah leaned forward a bit, pressing her elbows into her knees as she looked Marcus in the eye.
"If it were you, or any one of our men in his place, I would have done the same thing."
There were a lot of reasons for that. Not only because she was sure 'Unfettered' would do the same, but because as First, as a leader, she carried a heavy responsibility for all the lives at her disposal. A great and terrible fear that the loss of even one would be an immense tragedy.
As to the bit about...Ari and Lucien, Delilah nodded, her shoulders sagging with relief. She leaned back into the chair, closing her eyes.
"Ah, good then. I knew I could count on you."
In the face of Delilah's praise, Marcus back straightened noticeably as he beamed despite himself. He tried to cover it up by turning back and reaching for a pitcher and two glasses that were hidden behind a pile of papers and plates. Without a word the man poured himself and her a glass of fresh cool water, offering it to her.
"I do have my moments huh."
He commented with a self depreciating smirk.
As Marcus turned back around, he would find the raven haired mechanic's head slumped against her chest, her breath coming in slow and quiet, just barely enough to indicate she had fallen asleep as was not, in fact, dead.
Turning to regard the young First, the man had to promptly shove his knuckles into his mouth to stifle the fit of giggles the sight of Delilah dozing off in the chair had brought. Well he DID tell her that she looked dead on her feet....
Gulping down his own cup, the man poured hers back into the pitcher before rising carefully to his feet lest he awaken her and with all due care stripped off his Bomber Jacket and draped it over her sleeping form, Sneaking out of the room and closing the door. Giving the entire crew Very specific instructions to work quietly and ensure that NOTHING was to disturb the Young woman sleeping in his office under pain of death.
"And what about you sir?"
Asked a rather brave member of the Crows. Which Marcus responded with a tired smile.
"Nothing a pot of coffee can't cure buddy. Now hup back to it. I'm gonna nab some chow and wait for The Ghostwolf and the Rogue to show up."
Sleep may have come easily to the exhausted body of the mechanic, but her mind refused to stop spinning. Nightmares of the last few hours raged in her mind. Cain ripping out her neck with his teeth, disfiguring her face as horns spiraled out of his head, leaking magma down his face from the unnatural protrusions. She got away, naked, bleeding, running for the site where the Crows would be searching for Kyle's group.
Crows battled against the band of fiendish people, snarling, fierce. She was locked in combat, fighting the white haired woman as she jeered "The king is dead, the king is dead" at her over and over. She was knocked to the ground, pinned beneath the blades of the grinning woman with violet eyes. Something just behind her head caught her gaze and she looked up. "Unfettered"'s body swayed from a tree limb. She screamed--
--And woke with a start.
It took her a moment to remember her bearings and to catch her breath. Sweat glistened on her forehead and she felt more tired than she had when she had, apparently, dozed off. How long ago? Blue eyes turned to the dirty window, noting the brightness of the sun. Less than five hours, probably closer to four. She groaned at herself, lifting a hand to her brow to pinch the bridge of her nose.
Something heavy rolled off her shoulder as she did so, and she looked down in confusion. Draped over her shoulders was a jacket, Marcus' jacket or so she deduced. It smelled like him, at any rate.
Smiling to herself, she wrapped the lapels a little more closely around her, feeling strangely comforted though she was alone. Sitting there a few moments more, she finally decided it was time to go home.
She rose quietly and swung the jacket off her shoulders to hang it on the back of his chair. As an after thought, she jotted a quick note that he should come and visit her some time.
And quietly slip away she would, stumbling back home for a much needed shower and cuddle with her son.
