Author's note - Hello! I have yet another chapter for you beautiful people! Please note that I use Henry's monologue introducing the audience to his condition.
Shout outs -
ShatteredSoul37 - Thank you for following and adding as a favourite!
As always please enjoy, read, and review!
They exited the vehicle and entered the shop. All eyes were on Liya when they walked in. Javier and Henry both wearing extremely remorseful looks on their faces, like puppies that knew they had misbehaved.
Liya let out a bitter laugh, "Hey Clint ever walk into a room and know that people have been talking about you?"
"Only with you and Nat," Barton told her with a huge Cheshire cat grin, "Hey Espo wanna test that arrow versus bullet theory?"
Javi laughed moving out of the Princess' way, "We'll be talking later Detective," she said quietly.
"Understood," Espo told her pulling her in for an embrace kissing her forehead.
"Why are you so damn charming?"
Esposito smirked, "DNA," he told her making her laugh before making his way to the archer, he wouldn't be outshot again.
"Find out anything interesting Henry," she asked sweetly looking at her arrest report in his hand. Amaliya moved closer to the Welsh doctor, "Not the only time I've been in trouble with the law. My boss told me something intriguing about you," Abraham handed her a cup of coffee, "thank you," she smiled.
"You're welcome Liya," he told her kindly, "Henry, take her downstairs."
Henry nodded; there was more in that statement than just much needed privacy. Abe wanted Henry to show Liya everything, she was possibly one of the only people that could understand his unique condition. Dr. Morgan took her hand leading her downstairs away from the crowd upstairs. Liya smiled at his soft grip and warm hand, he was indeed a gentle soul and that was hard to find nowadays. She lightly gripped his hand while he led her down the stairs. The slight increase in pressure on his hand made Henry smile.
"I have something to confess to you," he told her softly as he turned on the lights of his basement lab.
"You're immortal," she told him taking a sip her coffee. Henry looked at her stunned, his beautiful brown eyes got wide as he stammered. Liya smiled, "I'm a telepath Henry and Guam was a big clue," she told him taking another sip looking around at her surroundings.
There were several tables cluttered with medical and scientific instruments. Antiques were piled in a far corner and there were old photographs one that caught her eye. It was of a woman, her light hair cascading in curls to her shoulders, an almost effortless and effervescent smile, her skin was nearly flawless and lighter than her hair. She was stunning, Liya threw her eyes back to Henry still looking a bit confused about her confession.
"Guam," he questioned but the uncertainty cleared, "ah, yes my medical training." He looked at her with more questions, "how did you know?"
"I work for a secret government agency whose specialty is finding out and keeping secrets. When Phil said he couldn't find anything on you but Guam, your partner, and this antique shop coupled with the kerfuffle upstairs it kinda broadcasted," she told him cautiously. Henry smiled, which was an unexpected reaction, usually when Liya gleaned something off someone she was only met with hatred or misunderstanding or cruelty. "So," she said setting down her mug on an empty table and taking a seat in a high-back chair next to it, "tell me your life story Dr. Morgan."
Henry took the seat across from her on the matching sofa to the chair she sat in, his grin was infectious, never had he been able just to speak so freely about his condition without worrying those that hear it might think he was insane or lying. "My story is a long one," he started but chuckled realizing he was speaking to someone that was possibly infinitely older than he was, "but perhaps not as long as yours," he told her softly.
"Perhaps not Dr. Morgan," she told him with a smile sipping her coffee, "however it's been a long story for you and I'm certain that it's more than interesting."
"Thank you Amaliya," he smiled at her gracious nature, a curious thing. With all that he had found out about her, all the irrational and inexplicable hate and ignorance that she faced on a daily basis would give her more than enough reason to be hard and shut off.
"You misjudge them Dr. Morgan," she told him and he looked at her awestruck. Liya smiled, "I normally don't intrude on others, my mind has been scrambled more than enough times," he opened his mouth, "another time Henry," she smiled and he nodded letting her finish, "however, I will say this, it's people like Clint and Javier that keep me grounded, without them I probably would be hard and just as cruel."
"I doubt that sincerely Amaliya, from what I've gathered in all my research and what those detectives told me, I don't think you could be hard or cruel, even if you wanted to."
Liya let out a sad laugh, "That's where you're wrong Henry, but I digress," she looked at him and frowned a bit, "I have a report to fill out on you."
Henry laughed, "Is that so?"
Liya nodded, "The unfortunate side effect of being outside the government circle that is my life. Just ask Espo."
"Javier had to go through this," the ME questioned.
"And a lot more, but Javi is retired Special Forces he almost broke my boss," she laughed and Henry joined her. "As you were saying Dr. Morgan," she smiled.
"You are a curious one aren't you," he remarked and Liya nodded. "Very well then," he sat up straighter pulling down his vest before checking his pocket watch then looking at the Princess, "Something happened nearly two centuries ago and I was transformed. Every time I die, I always return in water, and," he looked at her a slight flush on his cheeks, "I'm always naked." Liya stopped him for a moment pulling out her phone with a cheeky grin on her face. "What are you doing?"
"Oh," she said casually not looking up from her phone, "just looking for the nearest body of water," her smirk got wider as she ever so slightly looked up from her phone to see a rather pleased but amused look on his handsome face.
"There are easier ways to get me naked Miss Alexander," he said with a slight husk to his smooth voice.
"Why Henry," she said turning off the phone, "are you insinuating that I am trying to get you undressed?" Henry smirked giving a small chuckle, "rest assured my dear Dr. Morgan, I do not need to try, continue."
"You're trouble," he observed.
"You have no idea," she told him with a grin leaning forward waiting for more of his story.
"I'd like to find out," he told her softly before leaning back admiring her smile, "Now you know as much about my condition as I do. Over the years, you could say I've become a student of death. You see, I need to find a key to unlock my curse."
"Curse," Liya questioned, stopping him once again.
"Best way I can describe it," he admitted.
Liya thought for a moment sitting back in the chair taking a few sips of coffee thinking carefully about her next words, "I can see why you call it a curse, not everyone has or can be as lucky as I am when it comes to my friends and loved ones. For someone such as yourself, I'm assuming you haven't revealed your secret to very many people, Abraham obviously," she turned picking up the picture frame that had caught her eye earlier of the lovely woman, "your wife," she asked.
Henry nodded, "Abigail, and yes she knew. Abe also knows he's my adopted son."
"Oh," she said, "I see. Please continue Dr. Morgan."
Henry nodded, "So, I currently work for the New York City Medical Examiner's office. It holds the largest collection of slightly-chilled corpses in the world. If your game is death, you go where the action is," he finished his story.
"Your game is death? Interesting," she said with a smile, "would it interest you to know that I've died a few times?"
"Have you," he asked leaning forward.
"Well, technically, not really perished," she smiled and he returned it. "What was the incident 200 years ago, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Not at all," he told her, "it's actually a weight off my shoulders that I don't have to hide from someone else. I was on a ship called the Empress of Africa as the ship's doctor. It was a slave ship that my father owned. I was trying to prevent the crew from throwing an ill man overboard, part of the cargo you see," he told her and Liya nodded. "The crew took objection to this along with the captain and I was shot," he said unbuttoning his vest and then his shirt.
"I told you Dr. Morgan," she smirked, "I don't need to try."
Henry laughed showing her the scarred his chest. Liya got up to inspect the scar closer; it was almost as big as her hand, this arch of destruction on his flesh. He was shot point blank. She gently ran her fingers over the scar causing a flood of goosebumps to wash over Henry. He held her hand on the mark on his left pectoral and Liya felt his heartbeat get faster and heard him catch and hold his breath. Amaliya turned her eyes to him, his pupils were dilated and his heartbeat was faster and stronger. His hand gently caressed hers while his other arm snaked around her waist pulling her closer and he leaned down to taste her lips.
Author's note - I know, I'm kind of sorry, next week I will pick up where this left off. I would love to hear from you all, drop me a line!
