A/N: I'd like to thank you guys, once again, for reviewing. I hope you're enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it. Well that said, I thought I'd treat you all to this chapter today, fresh and finished. It's quite tame for the most part, but I hope you like anyway.
There was something about this French 'agent' she did not like nor trust, but from the look on his face, Tom Sawyer was completely smitten, and blind to her caution. He was talking openly with this Delacroix person, laughing and smiling more than Mina had seen out of him in a long time.
She tried to listen, but her conscience had other ideas. She found herself shutting out their conversation, and letting her thoughts run away with her.
Before she even knew where the time had gone, the Nautilus had crept into view, or rather exploded into it. The submarine was so vast it was hard to miss. Mina was surprised they hadn't drawn a crowd. She suspected the presence of several Indian sailors had something to do with that.
They came up to Captain Nemo and his men, and Hyde stomped off into the ship to -as Mina expected at least- become Jekyll once again. For what he was, he was surprisingly fond of his privacy.
Tom and Delacroix came up beside Mina, the latter letting her brown eyes wander awestruck over the outside of the Nautilus. She let out a quiet breath of amazement, and smiled at Tom, who grinned mischievously.
Out of nowhere, a voice called, "Hey, Sawyer, I think you dropped something!"
That was when a hat mysteriously thrust out in front of Tom, and the young man raised an eyebrow. The young woman beside him gave a little gasp and started visibly.
Some agent, scoffed Mina internally, rolling her eyes at the display.
Tom took the hat, and said, "Thanks, Skinner. I forgot all about it."
"No worries, mate," replied the dismembered voice, "just remember that's twice I've returned it. Might not be so lucky next time."
"What..." began Delacroix in wonder, "how..."
"Oh," Tom realised with a smile, waving at the spot where his hat had come from, which he now held loosely in his other hand, "this is Rodney Skinner. He's... well, he's invisible."
"So I see," Delacroix breathed, her eyes wide.
"Or not, as the case may be," Skinner quipped proudly, and chuckled. "Would someone mind passing me a coat? It's quite nippy out here."
Mina snatched one from the sailor standing next to her, who had been patiently holding Skinner's, and threw it at him. "There. Is that better?"
Tom threw a quizzical look to Mina, and raised an eyebrow, his smile lost.
Mina sighed to herself, and gazed to the coat Skinner was putting on. "Perhaps you should make yourself an invisible suit, Mr Skinner, that way we could all do without your constant reminders of your nudity."
Tom widened his eyes in surprise now; as she was sure Skinner did too. Delacroix looked very confused, but Mina shrugged it all off, and made her way into the Nautilus.
Anise Delacroix felt very content inside for the first time in months as the handsome young man called Tom Sawyer showed her around. He was very sweet, had the most enthralling green eyes, and a certain mischief to his cheeky smile that made her heart flutter ever so slightly when she saw it aimed at her.
He pointed out random things, checking over his shoulder here and there in case they were being watched. The strange ominous woman had done nothing but suspect her since her arrival, and Anise felt more than a little unwelcome. The man they had introduced as Captain Nemo had been most reluctant to share the secrets of his vessel, and now she could understand why. It was truly a magnificent submarine.
As Tom talked away, mostly it seemed to himself as though he were uncertain, Anise listened, and her mind raced. Why did he have to look so appealing in his casual attire? She knew he had intended to look somewhat like a gentleman in the way he dressed, but to her, he seemed to have accomplished a look that was utterly unique... not that she considered this an entirely bad thing.
He still wore his twin pistols at his waist, as she did beneath her coat. She was unwilling to remove it as of yet, and she wasn't sure why.
But one thing ate at her more than anything... she had never quite met anyone like Tom Sawyer, and she had come to a tough fork in her mind. She knew she had only just met him, and that she shouldn't be feeling anything concrete so soon, but the question that ate at her was this; should she, French government agent, allow herself to fall for this charming and brave American counterpart? Or, should she, as her subconscious chattered, just do what she had been sent out to do?
"And I think that's everything," cut Tom's voice through her thoughts, and her eyes darted into his gaze. He was smiling again. Was he always so happy?
Anise let her eyes wander the space around her, even as the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them, "And where do you sleep, Agent Sawyer?"
His green eyes stared, and his smile fell as though she had stunned him into silence. She giggled despite herself, immediately embarrassed. She was acting like nothing more than a love-struck schoolgirl.
"Where do I..." he began, stammering slightly, "where do I sleep?"
"Yes," she agreed, nodding with a smile, "I take it you do sleep?"
He nodded, a little too vigorously. He winced ever so slightly, and tentatively touched the back of his head with his right hand, the left hooked in his holster.
"Oh my," she mumbled, filled with guilt all of a sudden, "I am so sorry."
He held up his left hand after removing it from the edge of the holster, and smiled lopsidedly. "Nah, it's fine. Don't worry about it." He lowered both hands, and then added, "I've had worse."
Anise realised how much concern must have filled her expression when Tom suddenly blurted, "But it's fine, you know? I'm used to it."
She laughed as he tried to fix this further error; "I mean, it's not like I'm accident prone or anything, it's just-"
"Tom," she interrupted, "I understand. I know just how you feel." She smiled earnestly, "When I was a child, I always managed to get into trouble."
Tom's face lit up. He looked so innocent, even as he replied, "Me too." He grinned with childish enthusiasm.
Anise laughed softly. Everything went quiet after that, and certain awkwardness filled the air around the two. Tom's attention wandered, before suddenly he said, "Oh, right... where I sleep."
Anise followed him as he walked, reminding herself that staring was unladylike, and she should desist at once. She was being rude, but it was very hard to stop.
After a short walk, and a passing of a group of sailors, Tom and Anise completed their additional journey. Tom opened a door, and stepped inside, activating a table lamp at once, before crossing the room to light another one, and then another. Before long, the room was revealed in a glowing of wan light collected from several lamps, and a gentle, warm atmosphere filled the area. Anise smiled.
"Sorry about the mess," Tom suddenly apologised, "I wasn't expecting company."
Anise wouldn't exactly have called it mess... more like unorganised clutter. There was a large table, or desk, over against the far wall, where papers had been strewn at all angles. Displayed on the papers were all sorts of items, some just writing, other diagrams of guns, horseless carriages and other magnificent weapons. An assortment of books -some open- lay here and there, on chairs, the floor and the desk, even the bed. His bed itself was unmade, two soft pillows laying askew at the head, and the blankets in a ruffled heap at the foot. Clothing lay on various surfaces. Everything from socks to discarded shirts could be seen... even underpants
"Um... I guess I should try and clean this up," Tom muttered, scratching his head, tousling his already dishevelled hair, snatching up the most embarrassing item that conveniently lay near to him, and placing it behind his back. "Would you mind if I..."
Anise shook her head with a smile that threatened to break into a laugh. "Not at all. I will return soon, if that is okay with you?"
Tom nodded.
"Very well," Anise said quietly, eyeing him once again, unable to prevent herself from doing so, "I will see you soon, Agent Sawyer. Have fun cleaning." She winked at him, and departed.
Jekyll wasn't entirely sure what to make of this Miss Delacroix, but it wasn't in him to be so sceptical as Hyde. Edward was quite wary, as always, but Henry was warming to her. He had just had a run in with her in the corridor, and it had been quite pleasant.
They had chatted with one another, and Jekyll had informed her of his identity after she had inquired as to the whereabouts of the monstrous creature. She had seemed quite intrigued, but not frightened as some had in the past, which was possibly what made Henry think she was genuinely a lovely young woman.
One whom Tom seemed to enjoy the company of in addition. Henry hadn't seen Sawyer so happy in months. It was wonderful to see him smiling, really smiling, once again. Henry couldn't remember the last time he had seen one that hadn't been forced or only half-earnest.
Henry had divulged himself once again, quite contently, in his studies of the language. He had a feeling it would come in useful with Miss Delacroix aboard, that was if she stayed at least. Henry had an accompanying feeling that this would be the case as well.
Everyone seemed to have taken quite a shine to her, other than Mina Harker that was. But Mina seemed to have problems mostly with no longer being the only female aboard. Perhaps she felt threatened... jealous even?
No... how could she be jealous of Anise? She had never shown any real attraction to Sawyer. That couldn't be the case. She was just defensive that was all. She was probably worried about Delacroix's loyalties and where they lay. They had barely known the young woman more than two hours.
To Henry, at least, this was a potential addition, which was a delightful prospect. All they needed was to see her potential. Only Sawyer had seen her with a gun, and that wasn't firing one anyway. Merely aiming.
Quite the partner for Tom, Henry thought with a smile as he perused nouns.
Charles Evans turned his head to the doorway as Jacques Beauvais entered, and smiled at the corner of his mouth. From the expression on his acquaintance's face, it seemed that everything was going well.
So what if they were being tracked? That mattered very little to Charles. He had everything planned so flawlessly that it couldn't have bothered him less what that silly League did with their time and useless efforts.
On two separate occassions they had tried to capture and thwart him, and on two separate occassions they had failed. Despite all their advances and 'skills', the so-called League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was quite a disappointment. At least that was his impression so far. They had no idea.
"Everything is set into motion," Jacques grumbled to Charles, and the latter breathed in a sigh of satisfaction, even as the crashing and snarling from the floor above erupted once again.
As dust floated down from the ceiling as it shook, Charles laughed quietly to himself.
"Marvellous," he hissed in delight, "simply marvellous."