A/N: This is just a little scene that was going to be at the start of chapter four of my other story Dear Reader. I ended up removing it from the story, but couldn't bring myself to actually delete it. So, I thought I'd share. Consider it a prelude for the next chapter. Enjoy!
Scorned
The tip of her fingernail dragged along her moistened warm scalp; a wet reminder of the admonishment they had all received. Not that she needed a reminder. The heavy heat of embarrassment still sat squarely across her shoulders after having crawled its way up the back of her neck and down her spine, curving around to compress her chest. Rosie dug the nail into her skin for a moment before curling her fingers back into her palm and crossing her arms under her chest.
"We shouldn't be in that much trouble." Hank tried to assure everyone as they stepped out of the room to let the cleaning crew do their job.
The stiff agent, with the receding hairline, rotund girth and barely contained scowl, cleared his throat before turning to begin the mundane task of showing them to their rooms for the night. As a group, the seven watched the man's retreating back. Then, six turned their doubtful eyes back on Hank.
Angel was the first to follow the agent, a loud huff escaping her lips as she gripped her jacket tighter around her small frame. Slowly, Darwin and Alex began to move down the hall as well; their growing camaraderie evident in the hushed words they began to share. Darwin seemed the only one tactful enough to get Alex to let him in past the barbed remarks and cold putdowns.
Rosie caught Sean staring after the two, his jaw silently moving as he too noticed the quick companionship. When he caught her gaze, he puckered his mouth then shrugged. She glanced back at Hank and Raven once more before slowly moving forward to follow the rest. Sean easily shadowed her pace whilst maintaining his leisurely swagger with his hands tucked low in his pants' pockets.
"With the experiments run at this facility in the past, a sheet of glass is hardly going to make a dent in their budget!" Hank still tried.
"I don't think it's the wreckage they're concerned about." Raven voiced quietly. Her blue eyes wouldn't lift higher than the floor. The vibrant spark emanating from her earlier had extinguished and Hank suddenly knew she was still smarting from Charles' dismissal.
His throat closed up on him and despite everything, he felt his palms begin to sweat. She lifted her eyes to him and tried to smile. Blue suddenly became her, radiating from her eyes, her face, and voice. Sadness made her absolutely beautiful.
"He will come back."
The corners of her mouth perked. As if Charles coming back was ever a question. Instead of responding, she slipped her arm around Hank's, patting his hand and leading him along to follow the rest.
