A Second Chance (Blake/Squad Assignment)

[Blake Oleander]

"Yes."

He folded his arms over his chest. He could tell he wasn't going to like this.

[Bailey Oleander]

She felt smaller by the second, though she continued speaking, quiet but firm.

"It was to test for those who may have a bloodline qi - a type of qi use that imprints itself in a family line and pops up in future generations for reasons people can't really pin down. I have one." She looked away for a minute, after all, frowning again. Hers made her uncomfortable, to say the least.

"And it involves Chaos." She took a deep breath and looked at him again, refusing to back away on this one. She couldn't run from her heritage, though she could try and change what it did to her. "It has the ability to do a lot of damage...to myself, and to others. I'm also looking for a way to control it, or get rid of it if I need to. While I'm still myself."

[Blake Oleander]

"Okay."

That didn't both him too much. He already knew she was a freak... A qi user. So that wasn't anything new.

[Bailey Oleander]

Again her hands tightened until her knuckles turned white and the pressure around her fingers did, too.

"So, after we found out what that meant and my powers began to develop, I was given a choice: be collared like the Commanders were, or find my own way to control it. I chose the latter." It was a far cry from who she was when she came to Cabal. Back then, she would have chosen the collar and tried to find a way to deal after she knew she couldn't accidentally hurt someone along the way.

"Because I refused the collar..." She nodded to the distance, where Blake would see empty air.

"Commander Sudeki has been following me." She bit the inside of her cheek and shuddered.

"That's the compromise. If I don't take it, I get monitored. Just in case."

[Blake Oleander]

He took a deep breath to try and calm himself. Mostly so he didn't monster arm her throat out like the Beast inside was growling at him. It was like a dagger to his heart. Bringing an invisible monitor from Cabal, and one of the Dragons no less. He felt betrayed.

"So you bought a spy into my home. And my home."

[Bailey Oleander]

This was the part she was dreading, but she saw no reason to hold it in secret any further.

"Yes. And no." She shook her head. "He...stayed away, but yes, he is here. I don't get the luxury of saying no to him being here." She took a deep breath and stilled herself.

"It also means that my Commander watched me, other Cabal members, and everyone involved die on that field. But we also had Storm Troops to aid in teh battle along with your other allies." She swallowed, her throat suddenly like sandpaper as she looked away. She didn't feel like she could look at him, but she couldn't not while she was talking to him. He deserved that much at least. She took a deep breath.

"I had no intention of staying or coming back until after i had it under control enough to simply be by myself again. But i care about my people and yours enough that I wanted to see it through and see how the negations went, first." She had to force the words out, telling herself to stop shaking. She knew she'd hurt him, that it wasn't the first time.

She deserved what was coming.

[Blake Oleander]

"We are not part of the accords. We are a sovereign nation and you brought a Dragon here. Invisible. Uninvited. "

He was so angry he could spit.

"You didn't tell me because you didn't want to. Don't spin this as some kindness to me or anyone else. You did it because it makes your life easier to do it this way." He rolled his eyes and sighed, his fist clenching as he fought back the rumbling in his arm. It would be so easy to unleash the beast.

"You are so selfish."

[Bailey Oleander]

"I didn't tell you because I literally went from that tournament, to being attacked because of my power, to not knowing how intensive Mr. Sudeki's monitoring would be until we were already on our way out to the battle to keep this land from being invaded." She had messed up, every word pointed out ever aspect her mistake. But even as she knew he was right, it galled her. She hadn't done this maliciously or on purpose, but not because it was easier for her, either.

"Easier would have been taking that collar and letting them turn me into a docile doll for whatever they want out of my time there. Easier would have been coming here if your people fought with us instead of joining instead of after I found out they wouldn't be so I wouldn't' hurt them. Easier would have been giving in on that battle field the first time instead of nearly crashing on death's door more than once and saying to hell with the risks I'd kept guarded on so we could fight to protect the land that you love and care about. That I care about." She swallowed, dimly aware she was shaking, her voice soft as she struggled to find the strength she'd had not so long ago.

"But you're right. I guess I am selfish." It wouldn't have been the first time she failed him because of it. "I should have told you. Before I even joined you, I should have said something. And for that, I am sorry. For whatever it's worth."

[Blake Oleander]

He stared at her, eyeing her up and down like he was weighing her soul in his gaze. Virgil would somewhat mimic what Blake was doing, leaning in so his body formed a right angle at the hips as he held a hand up against his forehead to shield his eyes. So that he too could stare at Bailey. For whatever reason, they were staring at her for.

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey held his gaze as long as she could, fingers interlacing with the fabric of...well, his tunic. But between the intensity of his stare and Virgil's on the side, she couldn't do it. She looked away, face and gaze lowering to the ground. She hasn't sure if he'd attack or tell her to go at this point.

[Blake Oleander]

"Leon. If Bailey is going to become one of my people then her wellbeing is my responsibility. Not yours."

His lips pressed together tightly as he tried to continue to contain his anger. Reminding himself over and over again that he needed to be calm. That he could not lash out anymore. As much as he may want to. That more than his own feelings were at stake with this. His people counted on him to lead them, and to lead them with foresight and restraint. And yet the beast howled and bubbled within him. He felt his chest heating up as it slammed against his heart, trying to wrestle control and blast them both with a chest cannon.

But he resisted. For now.

"I will find accommodations for you, Bailey. But it will be for the best that we do not stay together for the time being. Nor should I be discussing my plans for this territories military and diplomatic actions with you in the future until such a time that I can trust you again."

He'd turn his back to her.

"You are welcome to remain in the village as an honored sister that helped to defend us. And as a potential citizen. Sudeki may stay too if he wishes to stop hiding." Though that invitation sounded bitter on his tongue.

"Now if you will excuse me, I need time to reflect."

And he'd make his way to leave. Shifting his arm in front of him as his nails began to elongate. Snarling to himself as he forced it back to human form.

[Bailey Oleander]

The first thing he said shocked her and shook her to the core to the point she looked up at Blake with blatant surprise. His stating that she was his responsibility, that she still even had the option to be one of his people.

"I understand." She bowed her head, receiving more than she would ask for. It hurt, but she understood. She had hurt him, someone she cared about, someone she wanted to lift up, even if she didn't know how. Instead, she'd stabbed him in the back out of her own selfishness. Foolishness. It didn't matter what you called it when the damage was already done.

"Thank you." She swallowed at the sight of his retreating back, but didn't push, instead leaving in a different direction entirely for some reflections of her own.

/end

[Leon]

Leon can be found sleeping at the border of 63 in a hammock made of people from the attacking force. He was no where near Bailey to be a part of this conversation. But he did sneeze and it woke him up for a second.

Mumbling something about people still tasting weird.

Assignment Complete!

Achievement! +Lots of secrets! +1 exp

Bonus achieved!

Bailey and Blake gain +5 Energy when trying to save each other.