Nadir has been avoiding the others. Charles killed someone to protect Nadir after his girlfriend killed someone and framed Nadir. Charles and said girlfriend have been on an arson and murder spree, Sorelli chose Nadir to be their Patsy and Charles killed someone so that he would be free.
In Charles's sick mind he honestly believed that he did the right thing, did right by his Nadir. Nadir whole heartedly disagrees.
That's Nadir's life. That's what he has to deal with. Friends who murder for him as "favors," and want to be patted on the back for a job well done. Not this time.
He needs time away from the Frenchies. He declined the usually offer of drinks and vittles. He got off without questions asked with, "work thing, join tomorrow," and that was the end of it.
He's with his work buddies. Hadley's home. She's hosting a game night. Thom and Berry will join later, Hadley invited him over for some best friend time. Hadley didn't obsess over Nadir. She didn't need to call or text him every day.
She didn't put him in awkward situations or ingest so many drugs that it would kill an entire nation, the way his Frenchies did on a nightly basis.
Hadley is completely sane. She values human life, has a daughter who is her entire universe. She's from Jordan, got herself out of a bad situation, worked her way through life so she could afford college, landed a position in narcotics at their precinct, rocked the shit out of it for ten years before transferring to Homicide and thus becoming Nadir's partner and white lighter version of Erik.
If people like Hadley still exist then there is hope out for there for the rest of world and Nadir feels better when she is around, even though it's brief and he will miss her, because she will wither and die like humans do and he will curse himself at her funeral, for allowing himself to get close to someone outside his group of immortals.
That's not going to be for years, but he feels the heavy weight of it each time she laughs or they get a new case and she is infuriated that it's a child and the world know no fury like an enraged Hadley, she could give Erik lessons on how to execute an adult temper tantrum.
Nadir has several pieces of popcorn on his hoodie. He looks down. A piece of popcorn hits his eye.
"Ooh! Ten points! Woo!" Hadley throws her hands up in triumph.
He shakes the hoodie and the popcorn falls to the floor and into secret places of the couch.
"What's up, buttercup? Why the frown, Charlie Brown? Bitches need stiches? Slut got you in a rut? I'm going to keep this going like a Boeing," and she would have if Nadir didn't interrupt her.
"Recent events have me down with this . . frown."
"That means you're good at your job."
Nadir scoffs. Hadley leans forward and holds onto his hands.
"Babes, if your life isn't being threatened, that means you either are terrible, new or you're dirty. You do fucking good work. You help people, give people closure and put monsters away so they can never hurt anyone ever again. Bad people don't like that. They want you to stop it. So, they find people they can use and fuck with your shit, like this kid. They want you scared, on the run and to quit."
"So, this is a good thing?"
"Yes. Honestly, I get death threats every day. Someone tried to take my baby girl while she was at school. Shut that down quick."
"Someone tried to abduct Sloane?"
"Years ago, but it's fine. She's a bitter."
"I just didn't like that he died."
"Mentally ill. Cannot help that. People are sick. Sick people get used."
"You think someone used the kid?"
"Uh, duh. He didn't know you, you never arrested him. He's been in and out of foster homes, juvie jails. Perfect target for some big shot killer fuck, who knows you."
"So what you're saying is, change my locks, sleep with Wendy and keep your daughter on a leash so she can bite my enemies."
"People suck, you stand up to the sucky people and tell him it's not OK, they hate that and you have to be prepared to walk in the fire. I'm there, so we can share the blanket."
"Thank you."
She squeezes his hands before releasing him. She leans back and exhales.
"So, can we talk about my problems now?"
Nadir puts something invisible down on his head.
"Therapy hat activated."
"So, as you well know my baby girl,"
"Your sixteen-year-old daughter,"
"Shut your damned mouth. She's two and in pigtails."
"Anyway."
"Anyway, she's this science nerd big shot at school, and she's taking on extra classes and her chemistry teacher is offering her more intensive private lessons."
"Private lessons where?"
"His home."
"Ring, Ring, Errrrrrrr-skrrrrrr."
"The school signed off on this. Said it was official and appropriate."
"In my experience young girls taking private lessons end up having a different kind of private lesson."
"I know! I do not trust him."
"What are we thinking?"
"Her next lesson is tomorrow. I suggest that you accompany me to a stakeout and we can monitor this situation."
"I accept."
"That's your stakeout outfit?"
Nadir is wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. Hadley is wearing all black and a knitted black beanie. She scoffs and then gets into the passenger side of the side.
"Don't you spend a lot of time with your Frenchies? They couldn't let you borrow something?"
"They tend to wear a lot of tuxedoes. It's this thing, after 3 your wear your, uh, who designs suits? The fancy ones that cost a house?"
Hadley shrugs.
"My ex wore a tracksuit to our wedding."
Hadley fiddles with the radio and stereo system.
"It's my turn to pick the music, so of course I brought an epic mix of music. Today's theme is, "Yes," and you are not prepared."
She turns up the volume. Daft Punk, Robot Rock is the first single that plays. Nadir smiles, and he looks over at the house, lights are on, blinds open. He can see the tutor, their target, walking around.
Hadley shakes her feet to the music, she is one with the sick beats and percussions.
"So far he's just walking around. Sloane is alone with her books." He has mini binoculars.
"Good. Wish I had a good excuse to just show up. I really want to be able to arrest him without looking crazy."
"Or maybe it turns out he's not the creepy pedophile we think he is."
Frozen, Let it Go plays
Hadley starts pointing and moving her body madly.
"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! I can't take this heat anymore!"
"Don't remember those lyrics." Nadir is amused.
"Here I am, in the middle of December, snow never bother me anyway!" Her singing voice is like broken glass in a garbage disposal. Nadir loves it. It gives him great comfort to be able to enjoy music without a foreboding or sinister feeling. There is no evil here. He can just relax and enjoy the display guilt free.
The next song, For Good, Wicked.
"Oh! We have to do this one together, no exceptions! It's our song!"
"I did not know we had a song."
"Well, we have two actually. It's this and I want it that way, by BSB."
"Don't I get a say in "our song,"
"Shut up and sing your part! You're Elsaphaba."
"That's too much pressure and my voice can't do that. How about I just whistle her part and jazz hands?"
Hadley ignores him and does her best Kristin Chenoweth vocals. She sounds like a slaughtered pig in a funhouse. The night goes on and Nadir forgot how good it can be to just be with your best friend and doesn't want the night to end.
Hadley stops dancing and grooving. She points to the house. The tutor has moved back to Sloane some time ago. He's leaned into her, looking down at her work. Hadley holds her breath. She is ready to run.
Sloane closes her books and her tutor retreats to a different part of the room. A few seconds later, Hadley phone dings. Her daughter is ready to be picked up.
"Maybe he knows we're watching, waiting." Hadley has no trust in the man.
"Maybe he isn't a creeper."
"I do not trust him. There's something about him. Who wants to tutor young underage girls at odd hours, alone? In the dark. Pedophiles."
"We'll keep vigilant watch over her, but I think maybe you're just being overprotective."
"I'd rather be overprotective and have a pissed off daughter than be naïve and trusting and have a daughter who is raped by her creeper teacher. I promised her, the day she was born that I would protect her, that no monster would hurt her. I'll die before I fail her."
"Get down! She's outside now!"
They both slide down their seats as humanly possible. After a minute Nadir sits up and drives off.
"Did she see you?!"
"I don't know!"
Nadir has not been home more than five minutes when he answers a pounding on the door. He opens, and his Frenchies are there, none wait for the invitation and push him out of the way as they enter.
"Why do you live like this?" Charles asks as he opens the fridge and looks for alcohol.
"My chateau is being fumigated."
"Where's your wine?" Charles moves several items out of his way and throws some behind him. The others have to casually dodge to avoid being hit.
"I don't drink wine."
"I don't drink beer, but I have it for you." Charles snaps.
"I didn't know you were coming over."
"Doesn't matter."
"Do you have gin or brandy?" Raoul asks as he settles in standing next to Nadir.
"I do not."
Raoul pulls out a flask and drinks from it.
"We're still cool," he says flatly.
"Do you have any," Jules looks like he's about to start tweaking.
"I don't have any illicit substances. I have beer."
"Ah." He curses in several languages that Nadir does not speak and opens random cabinets.
"I don't have drugs, Jules."
"You don't even have sherry?" Charles is still holding out hope for something.
"I have mouthwash. You are welcome to that."
"You don't have any opium."
"Jules, I haven't had opium for like two hundred years. I was never that into it."
"Not even the other?"
"No. Never had that. Tried it once and thought I was dying."
"Bennies?"
"I do not have any drugs." Nadir says very slowly.
"Who's 'Work E?'" A voice asks, dangerously close to his ear.
Nadir jumps. Erik has not said a word since he arrived. Erik is holding Nadir's mobile. Nadir tries to grab but Erik moves in a circle and Nadir misses. He tries again but is foiled at each attempt.
"That's my friend."
"What does it mean? 'Work E.'" He scrolls through messages.
"Well you know." Nadir finally manages to take it.
"I do not."
Nadir is not sure why this is making him feel so uncomfortable and nervous.
"She's my work version of you. Kind of."
"Meaning?"
"My work best friend." He tries to keep his voice low, so Jules does not hear, he is not in the mood for that.
"Work best friend." Nadir doesn't need to see his friend's face to know that beyond the mask he is annoyed. Or about to enter a rage. Nadir must play his next move very carefully.
"She reminds me of you, which is why I'm letting her get close. I can't spend all day with you, so it's nice to have someone like you around, when you are not."
Erik says nothing, but the temperature of the room is not rising or lowering, so that's a good sign, maybe.
"It's a compliment. I compare all my human friends to you. If they worthy of me, I let them in."
Still no response.
"Erik, if something is wrong,"
"Why didn't you- "
"Jules you do not make yage! It's a plant!" Charles shouts, cutting Erik off.
"He's trying to make, what!?" Nadir forgets his conversation and tries to stop Jules from doing whatever the hell he is doing.
After handling that particular annoying Jules situation, the Frenchies finally settled for the living room and whatever Nadir put on the TV. He's in the kitchen cleaning up the mess they created.
Erik leans against the sink counter.
"You avoided me."
"I didn't. Jules broke my spare phone." Nadir throws broken dishes into the trash and turns to Erik.
"Why did you go to him in the first place?"
"I thought you were busy."
"Not if you needed something."
"Noted."
"I don't like having distance between us."
"There's no distance. We're cool."
"Hm."
"Out of everyone, we're good. You, and me. No distance, no issues, no problems. You, me, Khan, Your Last name, always."
"Always." Erik says, he sounds far away.
"Always, always."
Erik still seems unconvinced.
"You're the only person I've ever shared my opium with. Willingly."
"I don't use opium anymore. I don't want to risk my voice."
"You missed the point."
"I didn't. And yes, that helps."
A pause.
"You're not going to hug me now, are you?"
Erik scoffs and pushes away from the sink and walks by.
"Should you ever be lucky I'd embrace you."
Nadir feels an odd heat and then shakes it off. He never wanted Erik like that, but he did feel the tug of his sexual magnetism from time to time, it is like being caught in waves or a rift. Erik has a gravitational pull.
Nadir enters the living room where the others are. Charles signals him over; he pulls at Nadir hoodie sleeve.
"We're good right?"
"We're good."
"Promise?"
"Charles, we're friends today and will be friends tomorrow."
Charles is satisfied with that and lets go of his sleeve. Raoul signals him next.
"Nadir." His voice serious and showing a rare case of emotion.
"Raoul?"
"I have no follow up. Just saying your name to feel involved."
Nadir sighs. Maybe the Frenchies weren't so bad.