The trip back to Numbani with Genji in tow, was hell as always when flying. However, Angela left Japan in a completely different mood as she had entered. The black fog had been lifted, and Angela felt some level of control now. Flying had become easier, and while she still moaned at the turbelance and gripped the armrests, she could keep her eyes open most of the flight.
By using Genji for her own use and fighting back against injustice, she had developed a new happiness. The news of the sex slaves had been leaked, and the girls; Angela was glad to say, looked like they would get the help they needed from officials, even if Japan's Government was staying quiet the UN and INTERPOL were taking action so as to ensure they could get out off their old life and start a new one. Angela could not have been more grateful that thought and attention was being given to the mechanism of which they had been exploited, though Angela did not expect much would truly change. Sadly when organisations and people profited from cruel, illegal actions they were more likely to legalise it rather then fix the problems that caused the issue. People profited, and those profits went into the pockets of politicians, and those politicians made the law. The system is so impervious it could be fucking tank armour. Only by revealing the cruelty of the flaws in the systems could the system change, and even then people are fickle minded and quick to move on. A symptom had been cured. The illness would continue to be ignored, and most likely expanded. Angela therefore had mixed feelings as she left, pride at her small victory, but anger at the larger system in general. With that in tow, she made her mind.
Landing down in Numbani, she removed and placed her equipment in the labs, smiling at the greetings of the workers and pretended to listen to the latest gossip for as long as she could stand (2 minutes top). She congratulated Amir and Akira sincerely on their engagement and listened politely as Cherifa ranted about her new grandson, which like all babies looked like a fleshy blob with a face drawn on it too Angela. After some catching up she left, happy to be alone and looking forward to the wedding, which would have to be done in a different country. Now, finally alone she could begin her plan. To wallow in self pity had been pathetic, acting had brought happiness to Angela, so she arranged what she needed with the PR officer and explained her position. It would come out one way or another and she left him cussing her down the phone. Then she called Her uncle and aunt, Isaac, William, Aleksandra promised to tell the rest of the team while demanding that Angela distance her from what happened. Just as she finished, she left to go to the Library, to write what she needed to say. However as she left, she was caught by a Terrier.
"Wotcha love". Came a voice from behind Angela. Angela turned, slightly annoyed to be forced company but happy to see Lena, until she saw the red rimmed eyes.
"Lena, are you okay?"
Lena gave Angela a quick hug; which seemed slightly pathetic to Angela, and lowered her head. " Actually, I know you just came back, but can I talk to you? I need a mate right now"
Angela nodded and walked with Lena. Once Lena saw the back of her hair, she gasped.
"Lena, is something wrong?"
"What happened to your hair? It's so uneven! And is that burning?"
"Oh, I had to cut it after it caught fire" She touched it, slightly self conscious. "I don't think it looks so bad, but I'll get it sorted. Also the scarf got a little scorched, sorry. Anyway something is clearly-"
"Let me! I was training to be a hairstylist when I was living in Glasgow" She gave a sad little smile, and when she spoke it was with a thick faux Scottish accent. "My Grandparents lived there and were supporting me until I joined the RAF"
"Hah" Angela smiled weakly. It was clear Lena was upset, and Angela was willing to put off solitude for a little while. "Sure. I'm thinking something a little shorter, like a bob?" I guess it would be good to take your mind of what's eating you for a while.
"Oh, that will look good, but not too neat. A bit wild looking" They walked until they got too Lena's room. Sitting Angela down in a desk chair, Lena got a bed sheet and drapped Angela's shoulders. Then getting a bag of equipment out; Angela assumed she cut her own hair, she started to cut. Angela sighed.
"So, how long did you train again?" she noticed that the room was messier then usual, almost as messy as her own. Halloween was just around the corner, and Angela remembered how happy Lena had been last year, pumpkins and decorations up everywhere in preparation of a party. She saw none of that this time.
"Oh, bout a year. My grandparents are awesome"
"I never met mine, at least not that I can remember"
"Died while you were young?" She asked with sympathy in her voice.
"No, before. But I did die last mission, might have met them"
"What!" Lena shouted. "You're just going to drop that in there?"
"I got better... not even the first time"
"What did you see?"
"Nothing, I was dead" Angela laughed.
"Oh, forget it" she gave a exasperated sigh. "How did that happen?"
Angela then told Lena what happened, omitting some parts of the story involving her treatment of Hana. After she finished Lena whistled.
"That's a shocking story"
"Yep, guess me and Christ have a lot in common. She shall rise again!"
"Um, no" But Lena still laughed anyway. Hollow and small however, something big was definitely on her mind.
"What was that thing you wanted to talk to me about on my birthday"
"I would rather not say. But if you think you're impressive having come back to life, let me tell you, what I can do will put you too shame"
"Tell me!"
"Later, now's not the time"
Okay, so it's something else. Angela racked her brain, trying to remember anything of Lena's last mission. "What about your last mission though? It was back in Britain, right?"
Lena went very still, her snipping having stopped. When she spoke it was full of grief. "Guilard took off"
"What!" Angela stood up abruptly and turned "What about all the surveillance?"
"Watched her go. Days ago." She shrugged. "She just sort of disappeared. You going to sit down?"
Angela stared in disbelief for a moment and then sat back in the chair. Lena resumed the cutting.
"So I assumed you didn't hear what happened in London?" Lena asked
"What happened?"
"I... Was supposed to protect someone. Someone very important. And he died, because I was too afraid to take a bullet for him" Angela couldn't tell if she was crying, but her voice was shaky and came in gasps. Angela remained silent as the scissors continued to snip. Slowly Angela opened her hand and placed it beside her shoulder, gripped as Lena slipped her hand through.
Ah, so that's what happened.
"I am so sorry, Lena." She gently stroked Lena's fingers. "Keep talking, you said you needed a friend tonight"
"Sorry, but I need that hand to cut. Well, yeah. That's it. Someone died, a Omnic peace advocate, because I was a coward." There was no mistaking the sobs in her voice now. Angela heard a mew at her feet and naturally extended a hand for Lena's cat to rub.
"The assassin fired, but all missed me. Then the one that would have hit me hit the person I should have been protecting"
"You can't blame yourself for that. You dodged a bullet aimed at you and you were just unlucky enough for it to hit someone else" Angela paused as she thought.
Lena gave a small shout. "Don't mention her!"
"But I was"
"She was not in London! It was Widowmaker if you have too know!"
"Okay, okay"
The cat purred happily as Angela scratched his ears, having grown very comfortable in Angela's presence. Lena snorted at that and rubbed her eyes.
"You can thank Withnail for your Halloween costume this year, I bought it myself so you wouldn't wear that stupid Frankenstein suit again. Even for you that's in bad taste, and I want to be the tasteless one this time"
Angela grunted. She had been hoping to get out of the party this year, but with a costume already bought for her she knew she would have to show up. Besides, she was worried about Lena avoiding the matter.
"You'll see on the day Anyway" she smiled as her cat jumped on Angela's lap. "Every good witch needs a cat, and Withnail loves you more then Guilard" There was a pause where the snipping stopped, and Angela pricked her ears.
Angela waited, and then sighed. "I know you're crying, Lena"
"Yeah, it's nothing. Just me being stupid"
"It's okay, you know how I was when Einar died and I already told you about after what happened with Moira"
"Was that because Moira left, or because of what you both lost?"
"both. But it's better when you deal with your problems upfront. You helped teach me that"
"I went through a drunken haze for a week after my first serious girlfriend dropped me" She gave a small laugh
"Well, you're doing much better this time"
"I'm upset because someone died on me, Angela. But knowing that... Anyway"
"Yes, I know. You've had a rough few days"
"Yeah" She put her hands on Angela's shoulders. "Do you know what was strange. She had a chance to kill me, Widowmaker. I was completely at her mercy. But she didn't. She waited, allowed me to get back on my feet. Then she had another chance, she crept into my room. But she lowered her dagger. Couldn't do it" She began to snip again, slowly. However Angela's mind raced at the new information.
"That is very interesting" she muttered. "We know that Guilard had some level of control over Widowmaker, so if-"
"Stop it" Lena put her face level with Angela. "Guilard would not let her kill someone and not another. She wouldn't put me before others. Widowmaker was in full control. Guilard is no longer here!"
"In that case, the only explanation is that Widowmaker cares for you as well" Angela said that without thinking. Her sudden brain storm making her insensitive to her friends needs. After saying that she immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean too-"
"Change the subject"
"I'm sorry"
Lena was silent, continuing her snipping while Angela stayed quiet. Angela sighed
"The party still on?"
"Yeah! Absolutely. And I want you to enjoy yourself this time"
Seeing as how you're forcing me to come, that will be rather hard.
"I don't enjoy social stuff like that. It's hard to talk to people, harder to find them interesting"
"You know what other shy people do?"
"Drink? Yeah, I've seen it. It brings out the ugly side of me and so I let everyone else drink instead. I've also see them waking up the next morning with someone they can't remember the name of."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Oh, nothing provided no one gets hurt. But trust is necessary for me, and I don't get close to a lot of people. Moira and Einar were my friends first. But I never drank anyway" Guilard though, she was a interesting exception. She felt a small burn of guilt. "Actually, I should add another friend too that, back from before University"
"Oh! Tell me"
"Well, you know me. I didn't have that many friends in School. But I did hang around a transgender girl, her deadname was Luzern, her true name was Rachel. I asked her out just after Maturaball, we both decided skip to just stay at hers too watch movies instead"
"Aww, cute. So what did she say?"
"Oh, she said no. Nothing happened after that until Moira" Lena was quiet
"You said her name "Was" Rachel. Is She-"
"Dead. Height of the militia era, killed by some low street gang skinheads who took offense"
"I'm so sorry"
"What really pissed me off was that her parents refused to bury her with her name, insisted on her deadname. Called them their "little boy". The grave stone still shows Lozern." Angela had tensed at the memory, Lena watching her friend closely as she got worked up. "I even planned about going back and putting her name on the grave stone. But what would that have changed? It was already being desecrated left and right" She sighed. For a moment they were silent, apart for the snipping of the clippers.
"Its sounds like you really trusted her."
"I still hate them for what happened."
"Yeah, I get you"
"Sorry, I moved this onto me hadn't I?"
"It's alright, I get so little info out of you, it's nice to hear you talk a bit of yourself for one"
"What about you? I guess you don't need as long as I do to trust someone?"
"Yeah, I got the opposite end of that deal. I always jump in with both feet"
"I trust you completely though" Angela said, she hoped Lena would catch on what she meant, and Angela held her breath as the snipping stopped for a second. Then it continued at a renewed rate. Angela grimaced at her clumsy attempt.
"What's this ugly side like?" Lena prompted. Angela thought.
"You remember how I told you my dad got very shouty and aggressive and-
"okay, sorry. I won't bother you about it again"
"Oh, it's okay, I've only got drunk once, and it wasn't at a party"
"Can I say that I trust you too" Lena muttered. Almost beneath her breath. Angela smiled.
"Sure" Lena was kneeling beside her at this point cutting at her fringe. Angela put her hand on Lena's knee. "Just so you know, I'm here for you. You're always there for me, it's time I repaid the favour" Angela let her hand linger a little longer then was necessary, Lena noticed. She smiled and kissed Angela on the check.
"Shush now. I want too do the finishing touches" Lena then continued to snip while Angela considered how best too cheers up her friend, usually along the lines of dinner, candles and a massage. She almost felt guilty for thinking like that while she was upset. However, then she began to consider what it meant too have Widowmaker loose. It meant that Blackwatch had a new member, a strong member who could hide behind the visage of Guilard at any time. She barely noticed Lena put down the scissors.
"All finished" Having a quick, critical look at herself in a mirror, Angela was happy with the results. Short hair with a decent side fringe, much harder to grab and easier to keep under the helmet. She thanked Lena, who carried on. "seeing as how your hair is short now, I think I'll grow mine out, keep the lack of symmetry going, you know? Also avoid fire, idiot. It's not as good as me at making you look good"
"Heh, I feel like I should pay you for this Lena"
"Hourly? There's a discount for you" They both laughed, before Lena remembered something.
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot. You've got a late gift for your birthday" She went to the back of her apartment and brought back a small box, which she handed to Angela. "You've got a admirer I bet, no one said who it belonged too"
"Oh, thank you" Angela took the box, slightly conscious of the lateness. "You going to be okay for now?"
"Concerning what happened in London? No, and it'll be a while before I am. Being left though, I'll manage. Thank you though" She was quiet for a moment. "Want to watch some shit together?"
"Yeah, sounds good"
"Comedy. Something that makes us feel good"
Angela smiled at that. Lena had a large amount of old goofy BBC comedies and Monty Python movies, ancient stuff but good. Angela happily curled up with Lena to watch.
It was late when Angela left, having watched some old British comedies until Lena fell asleep, Withnail purring on her lap. After Lena had fallen asleep Angela wrote what she had needed. It wasn't just Guilard who had left, the tarantulas left with her, which Lena was very glad for, though Angela found them fascinating.
Bringing the gift back to her room, she opened it and was pleasantly surprised by its contents. A golden snake bracelet, light and comfortable to wear. A small scuff mark showed it's cheapness and the steel under the golden foil. Angela didn't have much care for jewelry; anything that restricted was annoying, but she liked the bracelet, not too feminine but appealing. Which raised the question; which she asked, who bought it for her? The wrapping paper was plain, blue and gave no clues. The receipt was included, which seemed pedantic to Angela.
A snake. That sounds familiar. A snake... Angela growled as she realised why that was familiar. Faheera? She called me that once didn't she? Angela had to admit that it was possible, but why would Faheera do so. Angela wondered if it was a joke, maybe it would be worth to return it or sell and give the money to charity. Before she went further she had a thought. Taking the picture Moira had given her from its hiding place, and looked at the Gaelic writing.
"Remember who you are". What had she said back on the Matterhorn? "Plenty of ambition. Stabs those she cares about?" Angela thought back to the previous mission, how she planned how to take back Genji against his will, how she attacked the Yakuza, how she saved those people in the fire and finally, how she manipulated him to help her and find who created that poison. Placing the picture down, she put the bracelet on her upper arm. Better a snake then a pin-up girl. And it fits pretty well.
I'll have to thank Faheera next time I see her.