James was made to volunteer first. He, Kara, Oliver, Max, and Felicity stood transfixed in front of the door leading to Pj. They knew they had to talk to her, get her to come to her real senses not the ones controlled by Amanda. But where were they to start. She had been hiding her thoughts from them. Other than what they had read in the journal they stole, they didn't know what exactly was going on in her head. So, James was pushed forward to try to talk to her first. It'd be better if only one of them approached her; all of them at once would overwhelm her, forcing her to shut down. Besides, out of everyone, she was bound to listen to him the most. She'd be contentious with Max and Oliver, and sarcastic with Kara and Felicity. But he was great at helping her be serious. Somehow, he got through to her when no one else could.
However, when James entered the room Pj was held in for her own good, it was empty- save for a discarded sling on the floor. Immediately, he shut the door behind him. A panic couldn't rise. She couldn't have been gone. She had to be somewhere. If he could find her, then the team wouldn't have to worry. They were stressed enough as it was. Her escaping wouldn't help anyone. Though, there weren't any doors or windows for her to have slipped through. She must've found another way to escape. Glancing up, he discovered what it was.
Of course she had to use an air vent. They had escaped through one at the fighting ring not that long ago. After dragging a chair to the opening, Pj would have no trouble climbing in. She was probably scrambling for an exit right then. James followed her path. The smartest move was to alert the team, despite any alarm that'd flare. But he was tired of sitting around, planning and thinking. They had to act. It was the only way to help Pj. He doubted he would've been able to catch up to her on the roof if he had stopped to inform the others, anyway. She was already peering over the edge, calculating something. He had to pull her back in, "No way to go?"
"Stay out of this, Jamie," She didn't have to turn around to know it was him. In fact, she didn't even react when she heard him climb out of the air vent. It was as though Pj knew James was going to follow her. He was going to take that as a positive. Maybe some part of her wanted to get caught; she didn't want to be doing what she was doing either. And if anyone was going to talk to her, she was glad it was him. She felt calmer around him. There wasn't anger at her parents, or hurt for her brother knowing he had experienced the same things she had. Her head was quiet for once.
"Why? Doesn't this involve me too? I'm hurt and angry too," Voice quieting, James slowly approached Pj. As much as he wanted to snap at all the frustrations around the team, he wouldn't allow himself to succumb to the anger. He couldn't bite and shove like her words had attempted to do. He needed to be calm and collected- show her that they could fight through the pain. She had done it countless times before. She was the strongest person he knew, always bouncing back after a strong blow. Nothing could keep her down for long. No matter what, she always got back up. She had to be able to do it again. Amanda didn't get to take that away.
"You have a funny way of showing it," Pj wouldn't look at him. She let James draw nearer, but her determined green eyes never stopped searching for a way off the roof. God, he desperately wanted to know what she was thinking. Obviously, she felt the need to run away from the team again. But it was more than that; it was more than some twisted conditioning Amanda put her through. Her comment sounded like it came from somewhere real. He knew he was terrible at expressing himself. It was about time he learned to do so. His dad advised that it could be done with a grand gesture. He was fairly certain he had one in mind.
"Well, I may not be biting people's heads off. But I am pissed," Fortunately, James didn't have to lie to enact his plan. He could actually acknowledge his own feelings. That whole war with Amanda and the Shop was beyond maddening. It had gone on too long. It tore their family a part, and took one of their own. Why couldn't it all be over. Shouldn't it have been over by then. Pj's angry thoughts in her journal were making a lot more sense as he let the anger overwhelm him. But at least he was able to pull himself back from the brink. He wasn't falling over the edge into darkness. He knew the blame wasn't on their parents.
It wasn't completely off of them either. Yet, James knew better than to hold onto his anger about that. They could talk it all out, find some sort of understanding. The team- the family- would survive if they all healed together. It was possible Pj was trying to think the same. Confusion marred her bronze features, as though there was a battle raging in her head. The expression only lasted for a second, however. She quickly reverted to her deadset, calculating stare and bitter anger, "They deserve it. Michael and Nikita left."
"I know. My parents left too. Just because they're back now, doesn't mean it stopped hurting. There's a chance they'll leave again and never come back," Instead of defending her parents, he dragged his through the mud as well. Pj finally looked at James. She had expected him to fight her. Yet he understood her. Their parents leaving had hurt. She pushed it aside for ten long years, focusing more on how to get them back than processing the pain. Look where that ended her, though. At least her friend felt the same terror she did. There was a chance they could lose everyone they loved over and over again.
"When'd you learn to share your thoughts?" Pj wasn't sure why sarcasm and acidity flew past her tongue. She was grateful for what James had shared. The sentiment made her not feel as alone in her lividity. Honestly, she was starting to think something was wrong with her. But if he agreed, then maybe she was okay. Everything would work out, and she could be safe and sound with her family. That need to fix it all began to burn brighter within her. If she had a partner, things would be so much easier. They could save the world together, like they always wanted.
"I can be selfish sometimes," James just didn't want to save the world with Pj, though. He wanted to be together with her no matter what. He was there on that roof wasn't he. He was being selfish for her. The others had no idea he had followed her. They probably thought the two of them were simply talking in that room; her thoughts of escape and his consideration of joining her were dangerously unknown. No doubt a massive fallout would ensue once the team realized they were missing. But he was willing to risk it for her. The chance to get his Pj back, not the one influenced by Amanda, was far too great.
"Then be selfish. Let it be all about Jamie for just one second," Missing his absolute devotion to her, Pj attempted to argue. She and James had had that argument before. It felt like a lifetime ago, before the shock of mind control and doubles had overcome them. They were hurting after her first rogue stint. He had hated that she left, and she had hated that he wouldn't admit how much her actions had hurt him. It was a stretch to say they had grown since then. The two were no better at discussing what was on their minds or in their hearts. All that pent up rage in Pj had been easily tapped by Amanda, after all.
There was a long way to go before anything could be fixed. Talking might've been the clearest solution to solve some of their problems. But it wasn't easy. And how far would it go if someone couldn't listen. James decided to simply cease attempting that tactic. Pj was all about action, so why shouldn't he be as well. He matched her tone, forcing her to become riled up and answer some of his questions. She only wanted her family safe, yet wasn't running away and being angry hurting them. She was contradicting herself, "Like how it's all about Pj?"
"I'm ending the war for all of us. No more pain, no more hurt, no more death," The last point threw James for a loop. No one had died. Pj could've been referring to Owen. but just because he was Sam again didn't mean he was dead; he was only lost. Her argument must be driven by the conditioning. The initial motivation to end the war had to still be her. Yet the added pain, that had to be Amanda. What exactly had to bitch told her to brainwash her full of anger and fear. Or did she not have to speak at all. She simply played with her anxieties.
"We end this, and our parents won't leave again. We'll fix our family," James just played along. He fought the confusion and hurt on his face, afraid Pj was going to read him and call his bluff. The way her eyes bore into him was unnerving. She could usually understand his tone and meaning, but there seemed to be some kind of misconnect happening in her brain. She latched onto his word 'fix' and nothing else. It was the word she kept repeating. It was like some sort of trigger for whatever she was supposed to do. She stepped closer to the edge of the roof, and returned to scanning for escape routes. For a moment, he thought he lost her. But she surprised him with an insecure question.
"So, what? You're gonna come with me? Save our family and be pissed together?" Although he didn't like that she didn't believe him, he realized she had no reason to. Running off wasn't like James. Sure, he chased after her on his own the first time. But he was still in contact with the team; he was working with them, just solo. That was different. He was going to step out of his comfort zone. Hesitatingly, he tucked a strand of Pj's wild, dark hair behind her ear. She shot him a startled look that he tried to calm with gentle hazel eyes. He was more than likely assuring himself more than her. Either way, it worked.
"That's the plan. I'm not gonna let you run off alone again," That was the most serious James had ever been. Pj was aware of that, and slowly closed the gap between them. His dedication had her in awe. And it appeared to snap her out of something. For the first time, Piper Mears-Bishop finally saw James Peirce standing in front of her. She flashed a crooked smile he couldn't help but return. The dangers, stupidity, selfishness, and puzzlement of their actions faded away. The two of them decided to run off together. What was more important than that.
"The boy scout's going full rogue? Not just working solo with the team at his back, actually dipping into the black. I'm that worth it?" Pj might have played into her normal sarcasm and quips, yet genuine adoration shone in her gaze. James had kept trying to tell her something earlier. Could that have been it. Could how strongly he felt been the thing he had been dying to share with her. If so, what was a better way to say it than running off on a mission together. Forget their team, forget everything else. It was only them. She had thought she wanted to pursue that crusade alone. But having him as a partner was so much better.
"Always. You're stuck with me forever," His declaration confirmed all of that, even if he had intended to match her sarcasm. His full lips broke into a smirk to match her taunting one. However, it was wiped off in an instant. Pj surged towards James. Her lips were on his without warning. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her waist. All thought left his mind. He could only focus on the feel of her against him. He hardly noticed when she pulled away. The kiss was seared on his lips and in his mind. His heart was soaring, and his surroundings melted away. He felt as though he was dreaming.
"Help me find a way down."
Pj's command brought James back to Earth, however. She was refocused on her mission, walking around the roof. Though, that time, he was going to be involved. When he was finally able to reorient himself, she didn't appear like the livid robot he caught on the roof; she seemed like herself again. She was all smirks, sarcasm, and drive. And he was so hopelessly wrapped in her spell. Yet, he had to snap out of it. He would help her clear the safehouse, but where were they going after that. They couldn't simply wander the city. She had to have a goal in mind, "Um. Uh. What's your plan after that?"
"Go back to the Shop facility. No doubt they abandoned it. We gotta search for clues," Shrugging, Pj stated as though it was obvious. It kind of was. James was a bit surprised at how thought out and solid the idea was. He had expected more rambling and uncertainty. But her head was clear when it came to planning. Sneaking out of a full safehouse was a spectacular feat, after all. It was just her emotions that were insane. A part of him thought that her kiss wasn't real because of that. She wasn't feeling right. He made himself shake it off. It wouldn't do anyone any good to dwell on that.
"Is there a fire escape?" James wondered. The metal would possibly make a lot of noise, and alert their team to their presence. Yet they could risk it. It wasn't like there were any other options. Pj had scanned the entire side of the building and the building next door. The two could maybe take the air ducts back down, but there was a chance they could get stuck. They needed alternate solutions. Sort of like what he was doing to snap her out of her mind control.
"Starts three floors down. Could jump for it," Pj mused. James almost started to laugh. He had missed that sort of craziness from her. She glanced at him oddly, and he tried to refocus her on finding a rope. It was too late, however. She marched over to him, that lividity resurfacing. They were going rogue, he had to take it seriously. It wasn't some game, where he could lead her on only to call in the team to grab her, "I need you one hundred percent. If you back out, if you leave…"
He kissed her. The affection wasn't meant to shut her up. James simply had to let Pj know of his love. She was already aware of his devotion. But it was his love that was going to bind him to her. He wasn't going to doublecross her, or stab her in the back; he meant it when he said 'forever'. She relaxed into the kiss. She clung to him tightly as he wrapped his arms gently around her. They weren't sure how much time had passed by the time they separated. But when they did, he brushed his nose against hers and breathed, "I told you. Always."
She beamed at him. Her green eyes sparkled in mischief and joy, "Cool. Let's end this."