A/N: Sooo... about last night/this morning. See, what had happened was I totally fell asleep at like 7:30 last night and didn't wake up until 6 this morning. I was that tired. And then I had to pick my bestie up from the airport and I spent all day with her. So I just finished up the chapter now.
Hope you guys can forgive me. I hope this chapter makes up for it.
As always, I love you guys. Please R/R ... you've got no idea how happy it makes me to get little updates on my phone letting me know you have.
Jade wasn't sure what made her call out to the Latina's retreating form. She was used to being alone. She relished being alone… or so she thought. But the thought of spending the night without Tori made her anxious. She had almost lost Tori today to the Sweeper and it had terrified her; she didn't want to take her eyes off the cyborg. She was afraid that if she did she would disappear by the time she woke.
Tori turned, soft brown eyes questioning Jade's outburst. Every fiber of Jade's being protested the words that followed – "Stay? The bed's big enough for both of us." The voice didn't sound like her own.
The brunette smiled. "Sure. On one condition. We talk." She retraced her steps to Jade's bed, pausing to dig through Jade's dresser to retrieve a tank-top and a pair of shorts.
"Talk about what?" It was Jade's turn to stare as Tori changed. She couldn't help but notice she was wearing Cat's pink panties under Jade's clothes. Wait. Her clothes? She was going to have to bitch about that later… that Sweeper had definitely torn one of her favorite green tops. It took a moment of glaring and inward monologue about the Sweeper before she realized she was staring intently at Tori's ass. She felt her fingers itching as they normally did when she wanted to get her hands on something. She had felt this way about Tori when she desperately wanted to get wrist-deep into her circuitry…
This was a different kind of desire.
"Normal human emotions." Tori beamed as she pulled her hair into a loose ponytail.
"Ugh. Nevermind. Go sleep somewhere else." Jade groaned, clicking off the light and rolling to face the opposite direction.
"Nope! Too late." The bed bounced sharply as Tori apparently jumped in. The light clicked on again a moment afterwards.
"Why'd you do that? You can see just fine in the dark."
"Yeah, but you can't. It's harder to ignore me when you can see me, I'm convinced." In an effort to prove her wrong Jade remained silent. "Jade." The Latina poked her gently in the spine to illicit a response – still nothing. "Jaaaade." She whined, slipping an icy metal hand up the other girl's shirt and resting it against soft flesh.
Jade jumped as if an ice-cube had been shoved down her top. "Geez! What? Cheater." She huffed, rolling to face the cyborg and grabbing the offending hand. She squeezed it tightly and shoved it back to Tori's side of the bed. Despite the irritation in her voice her blue eyes flashed in amusement.
"Are you okay? You didn't take it very well when you found out about Beck. Fine isn't an acceptable answer." Large, determined eyes flickered across Jade's face, studying her features.
Jade didn't answer immediately; she was still trying to sort out that answer herself. "I don't know." She finally replied. "We didn't end well. I hated him for a long time after we broke up. It's like he didn't care. God knows how many times I told him to chill out on the stealing, how many times Andre and I told him to stop. We would have gotten into a shit-ton more than he would have had they traced any crimes back to him. Compass-affiliated Techies are punished worse than most. He never listened. I had to end it. I couldn't risk being sent away because of him."
Jade bit her lip as she fell silent, recalling that night; it was the worst fight they'd ever had. By that point she was tired of arguing, tired of hearing the same broken promises, tired of giving him one last chance. She didn't understand why he just couldn't keep his hands to himself, and she didn't care to. The four of them had a perfectly good life here and he was going to ruin it for all of them.
"When Cat and I left I had no intention of ever coming back. Cat got sick that winter, though, and you know our home isn't exactly the healthiest environment to recover from the flu in. I brought her back here. Beck and I hadn't spoken for months... I guess we missed each other more than we hated each other at that point."
"You made up?" Tori inquired.
"Yes? No? I don't know. We agreed to disagree. I accepted that he wasn't going to change, he accepted that I had a valid point." Understanding they would both have to tread lightly with each other, the pair had tried to rekindle and repair their friendship. It was still a work in progress. She wondered when she'd see him again, if she'd see him again.
"I'm just worried about him in there. I've heard horror stories about what they do to thieves." She mumbled as she twirled a damp curl around her finger.
"It's okay to worry, Jade. It makes you normal." Tori replied softly.
Jade blinked at her. "That was the most insulting thing you could have called me." She said dryly.
"You're like 2% normal and 98% weird as chiz. Better?"
"Better."
The pair smiled faintly. For the first time in years Jade felt at peace with the world. It struck her as odd that the girl that had brought complete chaos into her life could bring comfort as well. She allowed her gaze to follow the soft curve of Tori's features as her mind wandered lazily, finger still twirling the raven curl. Her eyes came to a rest on Tori's smile and she wondered if the Latina's lips were as soft as they looked...
Jade blinked in rapid succession when she realized the pattern her thoughts had taken again. She pulled her hand free from her tangled locks and pushed herself into a sitting position. No. No. No. That would be too fucking weird. She chastised herself. Tori was like 70 years old. She had babysat her father. She was a time-traveling cyborg that was probably still being hunted by the government. She was so damn positive and encouraging. She was everything Jade wasn't.
And she still invoked emotions Jade hadn't felt in years. She felt safe around Tori, a sensation she hadn't realized she'd been craving. This sense of peace, of trust, was terrifying, but not so much as the prospect of losing it.
"Jade?" Tori sat up and rested a warm, human hand tentatively on her lower back. The simple gesture sent chills crawling up her spine.
"I'm okay." Jade breathed, forcing the most sincere smile she could manage. She couldn't afford to fumble their relationship; she'd squelch this feeling with the rest of them to ensure everything could continue to run smoothly.
Tori wasn't stupid; with her enhanced senses she could hear Jade's heart beating rapidly, could hear her shaky breath. The sensors in her brain had detected the subtle changes in Jade's pheromones. Even without her super-senses she could feel a change in the pale girl. Jade West was developing an attraction. The frigid ice-queen she'd met a few days ago was beginning to melt, and Tori was becoming increasingly attached the young woman she was finding miles beneath the surface – the one with actual feelings, the one that cared a lot more than she would ever admit.
Tori flicked her tongue across her bottom lip as she thought. The Jade she was in bed with right now was not the Jade that had released her from her tomb. This was the Jade that, despite fearing imprisonment above all else, had risked her freedom to ensure Tori's safety earlier today. This was the Jade that could use all that strength and wit to help others like Patrick had instead of just toiling away selfishly and bitterly in her dungeon.
She liked this Jade. A lot. She wanted this Jade to stick around. Their banter was fluid and comfortable, their conversations easy and familiar as though they'd known each other their whole lives. It felt natural to want to touch her, to hold her. "Jade." She whispered, biting her bottom lip nervously as she cupped the pale girl's cheek with her human hand. The girl stifled a shiver at the touch and a ghost of a smile crossed Tori's face. She was suddenly concerned that if she didn't act now, if she didn't stop Jade from shoving down her feelings and replacing the mask of bitter indifference, she'd never see this Jade again.
She leaned in so that their lips were inches apart. She could feel Jade's warm breath on her skin, could smell the soft hint of vanilla. It made her heart flutter. She wasn't sure who closed the gap between them – her, Jade, or Jack Daniels – but their lips met a moment later. Tori panicked when she didn't feel Jade respond. She pulled back and removed her hand, face ablaze in humiliation. "I-I… wow. Sorry." She stammered quickly. Where was the nearest window? She'd just go throw herself out it now. She felt a warm hand grasp onto hers and panicked. Oh God. Jade was going to murder her.
Jade breathed a faint laugh and grabbed Tori's hand, squeezing it to prevent the cyborg from bolting from the bed. She pulled her in closer and kissed her again, confidently this time. Tori allowed Jade to set the pace – she worried that if she ventured too far too quickly Jade would retreat. The kisses were gentle and slow – cautious, she realized. Jade wanted to investigate these feelings before she allowed Tori in. She slid her free hand up the back of Tori's neck. The simple action caused goosebumps to break out on her olive skin and she shivered into Jade's lips. She felt Jade smile against her and couldn't help but release a faint giggle as well. The reaction spurred Jade on and the kisses deepened. Pale fingers deftly tucked a few stray locks behind Tori's ear and cupped her face, tracing a thumb across her cheek.
The Latina jerked back with a hiss, leaving Jade wide-eyed and bewildered in the middle of the bed. Tori cringed and smiled apologetically, turning her head to remind Jade of her wound. "It stung. I'm sorry." She explained, blotting it gently with the back of her hand to see if it was oozing again. She pulled away to reveal a watery pink splotch and grimaced. "Ew." Her face flushed again, embarrassed to have ruined the moment.
"No, it's fine. I'm sorry … I forgot about it." Jade breathed, composing herself. She grabbed a corner of the blanket and lightly dabbed Tori's cheek to dry it. "I think it'll be okay by morning."
Tori nodded and the pair fell silent. She studied Jade's face and tried to decipher exactly what the younger girl was feeling. It was nigh impossible – she had an excellent poker face. "So… Jade?" She didn't want to bombard her with a million questions, a million different reasons to bolt. Despite what Tori wanted, Jade would decide what the kiss meant. Decide what would happen next. She would set the pace and Tori would follow.
Jade's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the girl before her. Tori detected no anger; she felt more like she was being studied. Picked apart. Examined. "Tori." She replied, scooting back towards the head of the bed and sliding under the covers. The Latina frowned; to say she was disappointed was an understatement. Before she could rise to her feet and sulk from the room, Jade lifted the corner of the blankets, inviting her in. Tori perked a brow and hesitated, finally encouraged by a soft "Come on," from her companion.
Tori slipped under the covers and rested her head on Jade's shoulder, breathing in the smell of vanilla body wash and laundry detergent. She felt a pale arm wrap around her midsection, a thumb tracing circles along her ribs. Tori followed suit and slipped her arm across Jade's torso and pulled her closer, nuzzling into the crook of Jade's neck. "We'll see where it goes." Jade whispered, kissing the top of Tori's head before reaching to click off the lamp.
Though not the answer Tori was hoping for, she knew it would have to be the one she accepted for the time being. She had made it past Jade's barbed defenses and managed to slip her foot in the door; there was no need to start pushing. This was good enough for now.
Jade stared at the dark ceiling as her thoughts raced. What am I doing? She chastised herself. She knew better than to get emotionally attached to anyone in her world – people never stuck around very long. They didn't have a choice, not with the Sweepers hounding them at every turn. That was one reason she had let Beck go, she didn't want to fall hard for him only to have him ripped away from her. When she had heard news of his arrest part of her had been glad that she jumped ship when she did, as selfish as that made her sad.
Small twitches alerted Jade that Tori was starting to nod off. She glanced down at the older girl and she dozed, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. And what are you going to do if something happens to her? A niggling voice reminded. Tori was public enemy number one; her wanted poster still floated around in some precincts. Falling for her practically guaranteed heartbreak.
But falling for her felt so right. So worth it.
She pulled the cyborg closer as a faint murmur escaped her lips. With renewed conviction she swore to keep Tori safe from the people in this world who would hunt her and tear her apart. They'd solve the mystery of this letter and hopefully find some way to disappear; they'd find some way to give her the life her grandfather had wanted for her.
Maybe somewhere along the way they could iron out exactly what this was.
Telling Tori to just see where it goes was not a way to dismiss her or her feelings… Their feelings. It was her effort to protect them both. She didn't know what the future held for either of them and she didn't want Tori to be hurt if she, for whatever reason, couldn't reciprocate in a way she desired. Jade exhaled heavily, knowing this mystery concerning Tori had just taken a very complicated turn. Part of her was anxious, knowing that any number of things could compromise them now.
Another part of her, a bigger part, was excited to see what would come of it. She had no idea what would become of them, of this, but she was determined to enjoy the ride as long as she could.
Jade awoke to a stirring on her chest. Blue eyes fluttered open to chocolate ones staring back at her. She groaned softly and glanced out the draped window – the sun seemed to have just risen. Not only was Tori awake, she was happy about it. The cyborg beamed at her as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "Oh God. You're a morning person." Jade grumbled, rolling to face the back wall. The simple movement sent waves of pain through her body. "Oh God. Did I get his by a bus?"
"I believe you called him a gorilla." Tori replied sympathetically, squeezing her shoulder gently. "And I'm only a morning person when I've had a good evening." She chimed, pecking Jade on the cheek before sliding out of bed. "I'm going to shower – it'll be the first hot one I've had in decades." Tori informed, grabbing Jade's towel from the night before off the floor before heading towards the door, pausing only when she heard Jade snicker behind her. "What?"
"Nothing." She had forgotten that she had yet to tell Tori about the hot water at the butcher's shop. "Just a funny dream. Go on." The cyborg lingered in doorway for a moment, as if contemplating whether it was worth it or not to pursue the issue. Apparently deciding against it she slipped from the room, leaving Jade in peace to doze. She tossed around and tangled herself up in the sheets, unable to get comfortable. Despite her best efforts, sleep wouldn't return to her.
With a frustrated huff she sat up in bed and ran her hand through her tangled hair. She freed herself from her sheets and stood before the mirror, deciding it was well worth the effort to dig for a brush this morning. Her eyeliner was smudged beyond any repair and, to her dismay, she hadn't left any floating around the apartment. She considered leaving it on but couldn't justify looking like a raccoon all day. Begrudgingly she rubbed it off with her sleeve, huffing; she didn't like not having access to her makeup. "Oh whatever." She muttered, tossing the brush down in defeat and pulling her hair into a messy bun. She threw open her bedroom door to find Andre perched on a stool by the window, strumming a few bars on the guitar.
"Did you have a good night, Jade? Surprised that your bed was still made? Can I interest you in some lemonade?" He sang, earning a chuckle from the usually dour girl.
"I did. I'll pass on the lemonade but if you've got some orange juice I'll take you up on it." She took a seat on the couch in front of the stack of files she abandoned last night, leafing through them once again. "I don't even know what I'm looking for." Jade sighed, pulling out the pictures of Tori to examine them in better light.
"What'cha got there, chick?" Andre inquired as he placed a glass of juice on the table before her. "Oh, that's disgusting!"
"Files from Compass. It's Tori after her accident." Jade replied, flipping to the next photo. "Paperwork says her arm was literally torn from her body when she was thrown from the car." She continued, holding one in particular up to Andre's face. He protested loudly and shoved it away, taking a seat across from her to avoid anymore assault on his eyes. "A piece of scrap metal impaled her sternum… nicked her heart. They list every injury she sustained and my grandpa devised a list of prototypes designed to fix her. Most of her technology was custom made." She explained, spreading the bloody images out on the table to match each of them up to the report she was reading. "I can't tell what this one is though."
"It's the part of my eye that connected to what was left of my optic nerve." Tori answered softly, causing Jade to nearly jump out of her skin. She hadn't heard the cyborg approach. She leaned over the back of the couch, and Jade noticed she clutched the towel so tightly that her knuckles paled. Her eyes were hard, dark. Jade immediately regretted pulling them out; she should have known this would have been a sensitive issue for her. "Patrick showed these to me once. I'm guessing he stored them downstairs?" She wasn't questioning Jade, she was speaking to herself.
"There was a lot more that I couldn't carry. I tried to grab what I thought was important. All your schematics are here." Jade said, patting a hefty stack of papers with her left hand. Tori hummed in response, eyes wandering over the photos before leaning back. She didn't say another word before retreating to the bedroom, presumably to get dressed. "Smooth, Jade." The inventor chastised herself, shoving the upsetting images back in the folder and tossing it on the floor.
"She'll be okay. I'm sure she wants to get to the bottom of this just like you do." Andre assured
"Yeah, but I doubt she wanted to do a show and tell of her insides." Jade countered.
Tori returned a few minutes later in yesterday's jeans and a tank-top she'd managed to dig out of Jade's closet. She eased herself onto the couch and slipped easily up against Jade, their hands brushing as she reached grab a packet of information. Her skin was warm and inconceivably soft from her shower; Jade glanced at her sideways and flashed the most imperceptible of smiles, trying to gauge Tori's mood. The cyborg reciprocated the small action before her countenance hardened in concentration. "So we're still kind of stumbling around blind, aren't we?"
"Unfortunately. I figured we could start at the beginning though. Your designs. See what Compass did different. You said granddad was going to try and throw them off your trail. Give them different blueprints? If you could go back through their archives you can find what plans they first started selling." Jade suggested, tapping the files in Tori's hands.
"I feel you overestimate my abilities. I don't know how things have changed over the past 40 years as far as hacking goes. I may be able to find something… but I don't know." Tori chewed on her bottom lip as she flipped past the pages without reading them. "And I'm not entirely sure I know what I'm looking at anyway."
Jade glanced hesitantly at Andre; the last thing they needed right now was a super-computer with insecurities. "It won't hurt to try, Tori. Right? It's at least a start." She put a hand on her knee and squeezed it to reassure her. "Even if you can't get in, at least we'll have ruled that out as an option." Tori looked at her with sad eyes and nodded. "Okay. Give me a bit. I'll need to review these first." She agreed quietly, rising and retreating to the kitchen area. She placed the folder gently on the counter, as if she was afraid it might break, and dragged a stool over. With a heavy sigh she sat down, opened it and began scanning the first page. She hunched over the paperwork, shoulder sagged and hair falling in curtains in her face, effectively blocking out the rest of the world with a shield chestnut locks.
"So what does that leave for us?" Andre inquired. Jade looked at him curiously. "Yeah, I said us. You think I'm going to pass up a chance to solve this mystery?"
Jade rolled her eyes. "I don't know, honestly. Sparky over there has the schematics. I've got a list of personnel involved with the project that may have some inkling Tori would still be alive, but I can't check their status without internet. I don't suppose…?" She trailed off hopefully.
"Not a chance. When they picked up Beck they swept the apartment. Didn't even leave me with my keyboard… I had just finished writing the chords for a new song, too." Andre shook his head, reaching across the table to take a sip of Jade's juice. She swatted his hand away and clutched it to her body, chewing her lip as she thought.
"I've got nothing. We're just going to have to wait for Tori." She sighed.
"To the roof, then? So we can give her some peace? And you look like you need some sun. How often are you getting out of your cave?" He joked, offering his hand as he rose to his feet. Jade scowled behind him as she allowed him to lead her towards the roof.
The pair passed an hour in idle conversation, catching up on the past few weeks since they'd last seen each other. Andre basked in a lounge chair under the noon-day sun as Jade hid herself under a shaded trellis, picking at the vines that dangled within reach. She had hated the sun since she was young – as a child she had always pinked and blistered outdoors, never tanned. Every time she wanted to venture outdoors it required a slathering on of sunblock; it was sticky and slimy and difficult to wash off. After years of fighting with both sunburn and sunscreen it she gave up on playing outside altogether… to this day she held a great disdain for the scent of coconut.
"I should probably go check on Tori. We've been up here a while." Concern for Tori was only one reason (and mostly a minor one). The sun was giving her a headache, she was boiling, and she had run out of reachable leaves to pick at and destroy. She squinted up through the vines at the sun, trying to judge the time. All she succeeded in doing was blinding herself. Andre hummed in response, a small smile spreading across his face.
Jade's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Don't try and kid me. We've known each other for 15 years."
"Yeah… and you won't live to see our 16th anniversary if you don't explain." She threatened, propping her elbows up on the armrest and steepling her fingers.
"I can tell when you have a crush on someone, Jade. I've predicted 3 out of the 3 last boyfriends… And your last girlfriend." He raised his sunglasses and propped them on the top of his head, smile widening in triumph.
Jade felt warmth spread across her face and hoped that it wouldn't be noticeable due to the already present flush. She knew it was no use to try and lie to her best friend – he could see right through her. "I don't have a crush on anyone."
That didn't mean it'd stop her from trying.
"If it's any consolation she's definitely the coolest of your crushes… Part robot? Bitchin'." He continued, rolling off the lounge chair and stretching before offering Jade a hand. She brushed it away with a huff, pushing herself to her feet with a grunt; she was still sore from yesterday. "And her hair is much more luxurious than Beck's." He trotted along behind her, chuckling as she flicked him off. "And those cheekbones? Perfect!"
The teasing continued down the stairs until Jade spun suddenly, blocking the door to the apartment. She jabbed him in the chest with her finger and glared. "Stop it." She hissed dangerously.
Andre stopped laughing but his smile didn't fade. "Alright, alright. But seriously, Jade, I like what I know of her. You oughta pursue this. You deserve to be happy."
"Thanks. I really appreciate your input on that. Mind sharing that opinion with the government and the people trying to kill Vega?" She replied dryly, disappearing through the door. She found Tori where she left her, hunched over that stack of files. Jade noticed that they had all been sifted through and, when she leaned over the counter, she realized Tori wasn't reacting to her presence. "Vega?" She ventured, rounding the island to get a better view of her. The cyborg stared blankly at the surface before her. The pale girl whistled and waved a hand in front of her face, earning no response. The lights were on but nobody appeared to be home. "Tori." Jade said again, beginning to worry. She knitted her brows and flicked her companion square on the nose, finally earning a reaction. Tori squeaked and jerked backwards, blinking rapidly and rubbing her nose.
"What was that for?" She whined, frowning.
"I thought you might have shorted out." Jade explained with an agitated huff. "You weren't responding."
"I was trying to hack some very sensitive systems. I was concentrating." She replied, rubbing her eyes.
"It looked like an out of body experience." Jade grabbed a stool of her own and took a seat opposite the Latina.
"It kind of was at that point. I was focusing all of my energy." She yawned and rested her head on her hand, flipping idly through the loose papers. "It's exhausting."
"Any payout?"
"Not really. Too many firewalls. Too many ways to be traced. Too many counter-measures… Sorry, Jade." She apologized.
"It's okay," Jade sighed. "We knew it was a long shot." Understanding as she was on the matter she was still disappointed. She was worried her excursion to Compass might have been for naught. Travelling back was too dangerous for them now. "The only other option I know would be to investigate the people involved when you were … built? Rebuilt? Whatever. Do you think Patrick would have told them about hiding you?"
Tori was shaking her head before Jade even finished her sentence. "He didn't trust any of them enough. The only person he told was Trina… and she died a few years ago. Killed in the riots, according to the news reports." She said softly. Her chocolate eyes welled with tears at the mention of her.
"Trina?" Jade repeated, glancing up from the cyborg's designs.
"My sister? She was a few years older than - "
"No, I know. Trina – brown hair, brown eyes, had an attitude that kind of made you want to slap her?"
Tori bristled at the negative comments about her sister. "You could say that, yes." She replied, the tone in her voice suggesting that Jade mind her next comments.
"She's not dead." Jade stated plainly.
"What? Yes she is. It was confirmed by a lot of people. Her death made headlines – she was the first one to be killed for even being associated with someone in the cyborg program." Tori closed her eyes and scanned the saved articles.
"No, that was fake. Compass forged the crime scene. They put her into hiding to protect her from that… It was a little over a year before Armageddon happened." Jade was on her feet again, pacing in a small path in the kitchen.
"How do you know all this?" Tori desperately wanted to believe her, but didn't think she could handle having her hopes dashed.
"Dad told me. She told dad when Compass approached her. He told me he encouraged to accept the offer, that Compass would be sure to protect her." She explained.
"What? Why would Compass offer to protect her? Are you sure you're thinking of Trina? My Trina?"
"Dad called her aunt Trina, told me that she was your sister. She came to every Christmas that I can remember until Compass made that offer. She always drove me a little nuts… so yeah. I'm sure I'm talking about your Trina." Jade huffed, running a hand through her tangled locks. "I can't believe I forgot about that woman. It's been almost a decade since I've seen her." Every Christmas was plagued with horrible renditions of once favorite carols.
"Do you think she's still alive?" Jade could see a light beginning to glow in Tori's eyes and desperately hoped so for the girl's sake. She needed something good to happen in her life, and soon. She didn't want to imagine what would happen to her if this turned out to be a wild goose chase.
"She has to be. If she's the only one Patrick told about you she had to be the one that sent the letter." The inventor reasoned. "Tori, I need you to do one last search. Try and find where they could have hidden her. She has to be close." The Latina nodded and closed her eyes, launching into an intense search. Excitement bubbled under Jade's calm countenance and she forced herself back into the living room to give Tori peace to work. She leaned up against the window frame and crossed her arms, staring at the street below, impatiently drumming her fingers against her bicep. Andre attempted to coax her onto the couch and offered her a book to read. With an icy stare she declined him and resumed pacing.
After nearly an hour Jade was ready to pull her hair out. As she opened her mouth to call out to Tori the cyborg spun in her seat, smile spreading across her face. "I found her."