June 25, 1966
"I have something of an unusual request."
Emma looked up at Namor, her head cocking to the side. Instead of going to the local SHIELD base they had had their meeting in the Genoshan Embassy. Now that the Hellions were close to arriving on American soil negotiations had taken on a more pleasant tone.
Fury and Thirteen had already left the room. Emma had expected that Namor would follow them. Then again, she noted that she had always been the one to walk out of the room before. The way he lingered made her remember her assessment about him enjoying their arguments. She tried to forget the information that she did as well, more than she should.
She searched his face for a moment, but Namor had one of the best poker faces she had ever come across. Emma leaned back in her chair and glanced at the door.
"Oh, Fury knows," he said, making a dismissive gesture, "Now, as to what I have to say-"
"You can say it," she said, "Doesn't mean I'll grant it."
He took a seat, this time next to her.
"I wonder just how much of my history you're aware of," he said.
She raised her eyebrows.
"I suppose I know enough," she said.
Namor shrugged, leaning back in his chair.
"You are familiar with the fact that I am older then I look then?" he asked.
"You're supposed to be around sixty, aren't you?" she asked.
He smirked.
"Closer to fifty, in human years," he said, "My species live quite a bit longer than the average human."
"So do mine," Emma said.
Namor nodded, although she knew the official assessment was that mutants were technically still humans. She didn't know if she believed that.
"Now then," he said, "I believe that means you're acquainted with my war record."
Emma nodded.
"Yes," she said, "you were with the Invaders alongside the Human Torches, Spitfire, Bucky, Union Jack, and Captain America. Correct?"
She went over the names in her mind. No, she hadn't left anyone out. Emma could see that Namor smirked as she spoke, almost as if in a challenge.
"Correct," he said, "but I wonder if you're familiar with the branch of the Armed Services that we worked with?"
She returned his smirk.
"Of course I know about the Howling Commandos," she said, "Their record is, I believe, sealed for another five years. However, most of its members went on to have high ranking jobs in the military command. I think that says something."
Namor nodded and Emma increased her smirk.
"See," she said, "I do my homework."
He rested his chin on his fist.
"And I do not?" he asked.
"No, I don't think you do," Emma said.
"Give me credit," he said, "I know more about you than you think."
"Oh, I doubt that," she said.
He smirked.
"Try me," he said.
She fought the urge to squirm. Emma was used to the look that Namor was giving her. Kayla had always said that she was the pretty one in the family, although Emma hadn't believed that. She had always admired her sister's dark looks more than her own Midwest prettiness. Harsh conditions had taken most of her looks away when she was fourteen and fifteen, resurfacing again when she was removed from the MRD's facilities.
After that she had been given those looks in abundance. At first her reputation had warned most people in the same circles as her away. She was the insane telepath. Anyone who would have been brave enough to try were scared away by Azazel and Clarice, who both knew that any attempts would only end poorly. They would have been right.
However, the years had mellowed everything out. The public had never really known about her insanity and, as she stabilized, her peers forgot about it too. Having a niece was a good buffer, but it didn't work for everyone. Emma had used those looks to her advantage, manipulating people in debate and catching others off guard.
Emma was used to those looks. They had made her uncomfortable, of course they had, but in the end she had just dealt with them and moved on. The look Namor had on his face was related to those looks, but it wasn't the same. There was something different about it, something Emma was unsure about.
She leaned back and tilted her head.
"You seem to think I'm made of time," she said, "And I thought you were leading up to something with all those things you were talking about. Or were you just looking for an ego boost? You certainly don't need one."
The smirk disappeared, his expression neutral. He dug inside his coat and pulled out a battered picture.
"The Howling Commandos worked with us quite a bit," he said, "The Special Forces team was used on countless missions. However, they had some marvels of their own."
He tossed the picture towards her. Emma picked it up, scanning it. She could see that the Invaders were in it, as well as a group of about fifteen soldiers. She saw Director Fury amongst them, but that hadn't come as a surprise. What did come as a surprise were the two figures standing off in the corner.
Logan stood next to his brother, leaning against the wall of some building she couldn't identify. Emma knew that she wasn't supposed to show shock, but she couldn't help it.
"Howlett and Creed," Namor said, "We always called Creed by his last name, but we sunk into the habit of calling Howlett Logan. Most of the other soldiers were afraid of them, even some of the Invaders. Captain America was one of the few who could hold eye contact with Creed; he said that he was a bully and that he'd faced enough of those in the past."
She heard Namor shift in his chair.
"I can say that I was never very comfortable around Creed."
"You and the rest of Genosha," Emma said.
Namor paused Emma continued looking at the picture.
"Logan was different," Namor said, "He had his brother's strength but none of his insanity. Logan was the reason why Fury didn't have Creed put down. It's...doubtful that we would have been successful."
She heard Namor shift again.
"He was a good friend," he said, "We often wondered what happened to him when the war was over."
Emma looked up. She understood now.
"You know," Emma said.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You've met his daughter," Emma said, "And you've known since then."
Her words were flat, surprising her. Namor nodded.
"I had suspicions," he said, "She looks almost exactly like him. When I saw that one Laura Howlett had come from Genosha to the states with the ambassadors, well."
He shrugged.
"So," he said, "Logan moved on. He settled down."
Emma nodded, a lump forming in her throat.
"I always thought that's what he wanted to do, to leave all the killing behind," he said, "But I doubted that there would be someone who was able to stay with him."
She tilted her head up, feeling both defiant and depressed at the same time.
"My sister could," she said.
Namor nodded, waiting. She could tell that he wanted a story, something to tell the surviving members of the Invaders and Howling Commandos. She looked down, trying to keep herself calm. He was asking for her to dredge up bad memories, things she hadn't discussed in a long time. Emma had only ever discussed Logan and Kayla with Laura in the past few years.
Still, the option of not telling him didn't seem like a viable one. Emma didn't know why that was. She supposed that she wanted it to be told from someone who actually knew it. However, it also felt like she wanted to tell him. She didn't know what to do with that feeling, just like she didn't know what to do with so many others.
"Her name was Kayla," Emma said, "She was my half-sister, but she basically raised me. Her and my older brother."
"I was unaware that you had any siblings before the embassy ball," he said.
"I don't have any siblings, not for years," Emma said, her voice flat, "Christian died when I was thirteen and we were running from the MRD. I was separated from my sister shortly after and believed her dead."
Namor tilted his head and Emma swallowed.
"But she managed to make it to Virginia," she said, "While I ended up on Genosha she settled there. Met a woman named Moira MacTaggert. Please tell me you know who she is."
Her words were scathing, but for some reason Namor didn't seem to take offense.
"I know," he said.
"Well, when Moira was working with Genosha she came under attack," Emma said, "She was scared for her daughter, so she sent her to Genosha under the guardianship of my sister."
Emma resisted the urge to close her eyes.
"Logan was working as an X-man," she said, "He was assigned to protect Moira's daughter, but that brought him into contact with Kayla."
"Strange circumstances," Namor said.
"You haven't heard the half of it," Emma said, her voice choked, "Creed tried to kill her when he found out that they were getting married."
Namor's eyes narrowed.
"Why?" he asked.
"Who knows what goes on in his mind?" asked Emma, "But he was put down, imprisoned, and I was reunited with my sister. They got married in a small ceremony and Logan got a job working the Acolyte program training the next generation of Genoshan soldiers. They had Laura together after about a year of marriage."
He nodded and Emma closed her eyes for a moment.
"They both died on the Night of Fire," she said, "Kayla was in a safe house that collapsed and Logan was taken down by eight Sentinels."
Namor blinked. For a moment she wondered if he knew what a Sentinel was. She supposed so when he rubbed his chin.
"I thought nothing could kill him," he said.
"There was nothing left," Emma said.
He removed his hand from her chin.
"And you've been taking care of Laura," Namor said.
She nodded, feeling terrible. He looked at her, his gaze speculative.
"I half expected you to throw me out when I asked," he said.
Emma drew herself up.
"I'm not in the habit of making political enemies," she said, "Not if I don't have to."
"You didn't have to," Namor said, "I don't enjoy speaking about myself, and I have the feeling that we share this attribute. Slamming the book shut is often easier, isn't it?"
She put her hand up.
"Don't start this," Emma said, "I'm not in the mood for some more acidic banter."
"It was a compliment," he said.
Emma folded her arms. She was suddenly aware of just how close they were. She resisted the urge to get up and leave her chair.
"Then aren't we quite the pair if that's a compliment?" she asked.
He cocked his head.
"I suppose so," he said.
The look was back in his eyes. Before Emma could say anything she felt his lips on hers, cold and stiff, yet at the same time welcoming. She parted her lips in surprise, and he deepened the kiss. Emma closed her eyes for a moment as his hand went behind her neck, cradling her head. A sigh escaped her lips as she let one of her hands fist in his shirt.
Then her mind took control of the situation. She released his shirt and used her hand to push him away. He looked at her in surprise and Emma looked down.
"Stop," she said.
He continued to look at her, as though trying to figure out what had just happened. She couldn't have that.
"Go," she said.
"Emma-" he began.
"No," Emma said.
She closed her eyes before putting her mouth into a firm line.
"I can't," she said, "Please go."
He nodded slowly, getting up. Emma didn't turn around as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. She couldn't.