Extraordinary : Never Say Goodbye
A/N: Thank you for the review. Please, if you read, don't be afraid to write a little opinion on what you thought about it. I worked really hard on this chapter, and if you have any suggestions or comments, don't hesitate to leave them. Read and Review!
I
There was fog. A thick, hot fog. Then concrete. Drifting away, there was a cigar... what he had been searching for... a cross necklace.
He woke up at four just like he did every morning. However, he skipped his morning exercises to meet with his fellow monks. There was too much that had to be done. He opened the door to the meeting hall and rang the bell.
When the first young monk came in, he cut him off.
"Quick, wake the others, I had a vision."
"Vision? What kind of vision, your Holiness?"
"An important one, my brother. Someone needs our help right away." The robed man walked quickly. "We have to go to America."
II
Pink lips pressed themselves together in concentration. The study was quiet. Hellboy, Abe, the Professor, and Manning had been gone for three days. Another mission. Elizabeth was about to read a collection of Grimm's fairytales for the sixth time when Agent Bauer peeked into the room.
"Hey." He smiled and brought in a cupcake with a candle in it. "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks."
She cut it in half and they shared it as he took a deck of cars from his jacket pocket. Without disturbing the lazy Queenie on Liz's lap, Agent Bauer dealt a hand of poker.
"Fourteen, big number." Liz laughed as she gazed at her cards. The older man withdrew a card, discarding a two of hearts. "How long have they been gone?"
"This will be day three."
Queenie purred as Liz scratched the underside of her neck. It was late, almost eleven, but it didn't matter. Agent Bauer was still in his daily suit and tie, but Liz had changed into flannel pajamas. They sat on the floor, soon forgetting about the cards.
"You should go to bed."
"Nah." Queenie stretched, yawning. "I'm going to stay up a little longer."
Agent Bauer smiled. It was the same answer he had heard for the last two nights. He cleared his throat, ready to use his usual response.
"I'll keep you company then."
Liz moved down to the floor, her back against Abe's empty tank, Agent Bauer beside her.
"Do you like your job, Agent Bauer?"
"Sure I do. It's not the secret service... but hey, I can say I know Hellboy. The confidentiality pay is very good." He let out a long breath. "It's alright." He closed his eyes. "Do you like your job?"
"What is my job?"
Before Agent Bauer could answer, the doors opened. The Professor yawned, walking through. Abe jogged, saying a quick hello before jumping into his tank. Then came Manning wiping his forehead and grumbling to himself. Liz stood, and Queenie woke, her big green eyes blinking as Hellboy lumbered in.
"Hey, Sparky." He smiled in the darkness. "Isn't it past your bedtime?" Liz followed him to his room, setting Queenie down once she got inside. She was about to say goodnight when Hellboy's gruff voice stopped her. "I, uh, got somethin' for ya. Check my coat pockets."
Elizabeth nodded, going to his jacket, She dug her hands in his pockets, finding a few bullets and lint. She continued her search when she heard Hellboy grunt, taking his shirt off. He hissed, and Liz turned, eyes wide.
"Red, what happened?"
The demon smiled, dabbing at a... scratch that traveled up his side.
"Don't worry about it, it's just a scratch. Keep lookin'."
Biting her lip, Liz obeyed and continued. Her hand touched something cold and slightly heavy in his inside pockets. She gently took it out, eyes widening when she saw it was a black necklace with a cross hanging from it.
She immediately put it on, turning.
"Red it's—" His back was to her, and he was attempting to put a damp rag on the gash that ran from his shoulders all the way down to the base of his tail. He couldn't reach. Liz frowned. "Let me."
She took the rag, wiping away the dead skin and dried blood. Hellboy hissed, his tail wrapping around her leg and squeezing tightly.
"Thanks, Sparky." He turned when she finished. "I bartered with a native for that. It will never burn or melt. Happy birthday."
Liz hugged him, forgetting about his wounds. She immediately jumped back when he jerked up, backing away.
"Oops, sorry."
"It's okay." He smiled, his yellow eyes just as tired as she was. "C'mon kid, go on to bed."
She stuck her tongue out at him as she left his room.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Red."
III
"How do we know that this is going to work?"
"Give her a chance—"
"I don't take chances, Bruttenholm."
The two human men turned their attention to the window. Elizabeth Sherman stood in a white, fireproof room with a sink in the center. She couldn't see them, only her reflection, but she knew they were there.
Manning closed his eyes, trying to gather his patience.
"She can't control her fire. Besides, because the power of it fluctuates, we'll never know how bad she can get or is. Who knows, maybe because she took out two city blocks she'll never have that kind of power again. Or, she could be a ticking bomb that could burn the entire planet from the inside out."
Professor Bruttenholm smiled with exhaustion.
"This could give us a measurement."
"But she can't control it. What makes you so sure she can even summon the flames?"
"I don't know, but at least I'm willing to try!"
Silence hummed in their ears. In all his life, Manning had never heard Bruttenholm yell before. He sighed.
"Fine." Manning pressed the button so he could speak to Elizabeth through the intercom. "Miss Sherman, try and summon the fire to boil the water."
Elizabeth turned on the water, letting it wash over hands.
"I-I don't know if I can—"
"Just try your best, Miss Sherman."
Brown eyes narrowed. She couldn't feel it. No matter how hard she tried, all she could induce was a headache. Hellboy walked into the observation room, lighting up a cigar.
"Hello, boys."
Manning rolled his eyes.
"Good day, Red."
Professor Bruttenholm's eyes never left the young girl. She held her hands under the water, but nothing was happening. The older man saw her lips quiver, bitter tears gathering behind her eyes. The temperature rose by five degrees... but it wasn't enough.
"You want Sparky to start some fires?" The smoke curled around his dark face, his yellow eyes flickering over Liz's slouched figure. "Make her mad." When Manning stared at him like he was nuts, Hellboy drawled on. "C'mon, Manning, it's what you do best."
A part of Manning knew that Hellboy was goading him into it... that he should have just let the girl stay there and try on her own... but he wasn't a patient man. He stared at Hellboy as he pressed his thumb down on the intercom button.
"Miss Sherman, stop."
She turned her head, staring at her reflection.
"I can do it, Manning. Just give me a little more—"
"You're had plenty of time, Miss Sherman. Turn off the water. It's obvious we'll get nothing from you."
The temperature rose another fifteen degrees. Hellboy took a long puff on his cigar.
"Atta boy, Manning."
Standing up a bit straighter, Manning continued.
"Looks like we're done here." He kept his finger on the button as he spoke to Professor Bruttenholm. "That's the last time I listen to you, Bruttenholm. She can't even light a spark, let alone boil water. You put too much faith into—"
"Shut up!" The thermometer whirred until it broke. Her hands shook under the water. Her eyes were dark, and she felt the static and saw the white dots swim in her vision. "Just shut up!"
The white spots grew bigger until she couldn't see anything but the blinding light. She heard a loud BOOM and was suddenly soaked. Liz fell backwards, vision returning. Mist. She rubbed her eyes, but it was still there. Her chest moved up and down, her face flushed and her body exhausted.
Hellboy and the Professor opened the door. Professor Bruttenholm's mouth fell open.
"Liz..."
"What... what did I do?"
Hellboy slid his tail into her hand, guiding her to him.
"You evaporated all of our water, Sparky." Her knees shook, and she almost crumbled to the ground. Instead she was hoisted into the air, held up by Red's right stone hand. "It's like a jungle in here."
As he walked out, she heard Manning's chuckle.
"Nice going, Red." He clapped a hand on the demon's shoulder. "I would've never known... just make her mad."
Elizabeth was stiff as she slid out of Hellboy's arms. She bit her tongue so hard that the taste of copper flooded her mouth.
"You... you used me."
She moved away, disappearing into the fog. By the time the fans kicked on, Hellboy was alone in the hallway.
IV
Abe had been listening to Adagio for the Strings, Opt. 11 when the study was consumed with mist. He heard the doors slam open, and for a moment he was frightened that the creatures that they searched for had found them. However, when he pressed his hand against the glass, he sighed with relief.
"Liz?" She was moving around, taking things. With a bit more concentration, he saw that she was taking her crayons, sketchbook, and select books that were her favorites. "Liz, what are you doing?"
She went up to the doors. Just as the fog was sucked up into the fans, she turned, her lips parted.
"Ask Red."
V
For two days, Liz and Hellboy didn't speak to each other. It wasn't the first time that they had fought or angered one another. Vivaldi was not enough to drown out the silence. They didn't want to admit why it hurt so much to not speak. They didn't want to face something so new and dangerous.
Agent Bauer came back from grocery shopping when he discovered the catalyst that would make this fight drastically different from the others.
"Excuse me." He stepped off of his motorcycle. "Excuse me, sirs."
There were five men dressed in red and yellow robes. He didn't recognize four, but when the fifth man turned and smiled, Agent Bauer's breath left him, making him dizzy.
"Hello. I would like to get inside these gates for the fog."
His English could use some work, but Agent Bauer wasn't about to judge him because of it.
"Y-Yeah. Come on in."
VI
Manning was nauseous. He led the four men down the hallway, the fifth and most important remained in the study. He had heard of him... he had read his books... but...
He knocked on Liz's door.
"Miss Sherman? You have visitors."
The door swung open, and Liz's eyes were wide. She looked from the monks to Manning, speechless. The one man bowed his head, his eyes locked with hers.
"His Holiness would like to speak with you." When she didn't respond, he continued. "The one who created the fog."
Liz nodded, allowing herself to go to the study, the four men opening the doors. She saw Abe in his tank, talking happily. The man who was speaking with him was laughing, completely at ease that he was talking to a sea-creature. They both turned to look at her when the doors closed behind her.
"Ah, Your Holiness, this is Elizabeth Sherman." Liz slowly descended the stairs, not knowing if she should be terrified or excited. "Liz, this is His Holiness, the Dalai Lama."
Her legs somehow carried her to him. He smiled, taking both of her small hands into his. His hands were cool, as if he had chilled them before touching her.
"Elizabeth, I have been told to help you." His eyes twinkled as they gazed at the cross around her neck. "That is the final sign. I am here to... to tell you I wish to..." He muttered in Tibetan, searching his memory for the correct word. "Assist you."
"Why?"
Confusion and disbelief ached in her voice. The Dalai Lama squeezed her hands, his eyes full of compassion and love.
"Because I can." He passed his palm over her forehead, closing his eyes. "Abraham has told me about your gift... a gift you haven't learned how to control. Liz, you have been blessed. With meditation and teaching, I know you can find inner peace and learn to love what you have been given."
Heart pounding in her chest, Liz licked her lips.
"Okay." Her brown eyes gazed into his. "What do I have to do?"
VII
Hellboy walked out of the shooting range only to collide with Agent Bauer. The human was thrown back, sprawled on the ground. In his hands, and now on the floor, were clothes. Liz's clothes. Red frowned.
"What's going on?"
Agent Bauer blinked.
"Nobody told you?"
Something dark and mean was growing in the depths of Hellboy's stomach. He didn't want bad news. Not when it came to Sparky.
"Told me what?"
Collecting the fallen garments, Agent Bauer huffed, his face getting warmer as those yellow eyes bored through him.
"Liz is leaving. She's asked to donate all her clothes to the salvation army." Hellboy felt like he had been hit in the face with a sledge hammer. He stumbled backwards, breaking out into a run down towards the study. "Red, wait! It's not what you thin—"
The doors slammed open. Abe and an older man looked up. The Professor was going through one of Liz's sketch books, smiling sadly at the pictures.
"Where is she?" No one answered him. "Where is she?"
Abe stammered.
"She's in her room, but Red—"
It didn't matter. He was already out the door. He knocked on her door, his forehead pressing against it.
"Sparky... come on—"
The door opened and he almost fell right on her. Little skinny Liz. Her room was... empty. All the bed sheets, the posters, and drawings were gone. She didn't meet his eyes as she crossed her arms.
"Hey."
Red growled, closing the door behind him.
"You're leaving... you don't even tell me, and all you're gonna say is 'hey'?" She was shaking. He lowered his voice. "You don't have to leave. Don't you like it here?"
He sat on her bed, the springs whining under his weight. Liz followed him, quiet. She sat next to him, leaning her head on his stone shoulder. In that action... the tension broke and they knew that they were forgiven.
"I do like it here, Red." She closed her eyes, tears leaking out. "It's just... I'm dangerous. He said that he'll teach me how to control it. I might be able to be... normal."
"Liz, I'll teach ya—"
"Red... it's best if... I leave. Manning said—"
"Aw, Manning can—"
"He said that I should go."
Silence. Hellboy moved so that his stone arm rose and drew her towards him, and she scooted closer, her body warm and sad.
"Do you want to leave?"
She closed her eyes.
"It's for the best, HB. It's not about what I want or don't want. It's about what needs to be done." She reached into her pocket, pulling out two white ribbons. He recognized them as the ribbons she wore on his birthday. "I'm not allowed to take anything... so... I want you to have these."
Her small fingers opened his left palm and slipped the satin strips inside. He wrapped his arms around her tiny figure, trapping her.
"I can take care of you, Sparky."
She smiled despite the agonizing pain that twisted deep within her heart.
"I know you can, Red... but I think I should learn to take care of myself, you know?"
"Yeah, I know." She broke and began to openly cry, wiping her eyes. Hellboy released her, taking her chin into his fingers. "Aw, don't cry, Sparky." She shook her head, her tears sliding down her face. "Give me a smile." He crossed his eyes, sticking out his tongue. Liz giggled, still wiping her face. "There we go."
His thumb drew circles in the back of her neck. She breathed deeply, her forehead touching his chest. The sensation of her breath whispering against his skin was dizzying. He wasn't sure why... but it felt so familiar... like she was... like they were...
No. No... he had to stop thinking. Now.
"I'm going to miss you, Red."
"Likewise, Sparky." He picked her up, setting her on her feet. "But this won't be the last time we'll see each other. When you're done, drop on by, kiddo."
She smiled.
"You mean it?"
"Of course I do, Sparky!" He felt his lips twitch. He wrapped his tail around her waist. "You won't forget about me, will ya?"
"Never." She ran her fingers over his tail, those sad, sad eyes gazing into his soul. "Will you remember me? What if you don't recognize me? What if—"
"Hey." He held her chin once more. "I'll never forget you."
They rested their foreheads together.
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
VIII
Elizabeth Sherman left the B.P.R.D on a Saturday evening. Professor Bruttenholm kissed both of her cheeks, saying that his door was open and that she would always be welcome back. Abe was quiet, promising that he would take care of Red while she was gone. Even Manning showed up, stiff and uptight as usual. Still, Liz hugged him tightly, causing his arms to raise up, unsure of how to react.
Agent Bauer shook her hand, wishing her the best of luck and health.
When she reached Hellboy, she didn't cry. She saw the ribbons laced around his belt. He saw the necklace around her neck. He kissed her forehead, his tail slipping into her hand.
"No goodbyes, Sparky." He grumbled against her skin, making sure to remember how her hand felt when it held his tail. "I won't give up on you."
"Neither will I."
She climbed onto the jet, swallowed up by the red and yellow robes. Hellboy watched the vehicle fly away until all he saw were colored spots from staring at the sun for too long. He turned, pulling on his coat gruffly, not noticing the tears that escaped from his eyes.
IX
A/N: Wow, ten pages. I worked hard on this, and I hope you like it. Please let me know if you were unsatisfied. Constructive critics will be awarded with delicious cake! Thank you. Read and Review!
-mia
p.s. Oh, and Liz is fourteen in this chapter just in case you didn't catch that.