Chap 9
A graceful woman walked smoothly through the doors of Crash wearing a small black dress with a black duster. In fact her hair, boots, and sunglasses were also black; all in sharp contrast to her too white skin and wine red lips. She was beautiful, but one only noticed if they looked closely, and amongst the many more-accessible women in the club, none were inclined to look. Behind her, a man of about the same height and also dressed all in black came in. In his case the sunglasses dark cloths seemed more fitting, as if he were accustomed to darkness and shadows. The two moved to a table in one of the darkest corners of the room and neither noticed when two transgenics and Eyes Only himself walked in the door.
At their table White and Ana were both struggling to keep a straight face as they listened to the off-key drunk that was currently doing his version of 'singing'. Tonight, was Crash's annual Open Mic night and the place was far more packed then usual, which in this case, was a good thing. Ana had deliberately worn her hair back in a French twist and manipulated her makeup so that she appeared much closer to her actual age, and while Ames (and a few other men) was busy looking at her, she was busy glancing around the dance floor. After a few moments, a tall, very well built man of about thirty years of age caught her eye. Even through the sunglasses he seemed to notice her gaze and turned to look at her. He studied her closely for a few moments, almost too closely, then turned away. "Hey Ames, I want to dance."
When he heard her Ames looked at Ana as if she'd grown another nose. "Uh… I don't dance."
"So you brought me here just so I can sit at this table all evening." Ana spoke in a teasing tone, but she'd known from the start that Ames didn't dance - or rather wouldn't, which is why she wasn't surprised at his sarcastic answer.
"No, I figured you might enjoy listening to the music - " Ames was about to finish his sentence, but a louder voice interrupted.
"Excuse me miss, but I was wondering if perhaps you wanted to dance?" It was the same man who had caught Ana's eye a few moments earlier. Though he was imminently polite to Ana, he pointedly ignore White's very presence at the table, especially when he was given a withering glance that could be felt even through his dark tinted shades. In turn Ana gave White a look that seemed to say 'you lost your chance' and offered her hand to the speaker.
The two walked away from the table and once on the dance floor moved away from Ames' general direction, once they were out of hearing distance, Ana grinned cheekily. "For a moment there, I thought he'd made us Dave."
"Yeah well, it's amazing what twenty years and a little hair dye can do huh?" Ana laughed, and while Ames couldn't see what was going on from where he sat, he did see, and suddenly he was very curious to know just what this man had said that was so funny or if he'd been manipulated in more ways then he cared to acknowledge.
"Maybe, but I'd say that it has something to do with the fact that you're not a scrawny stick figure with his nose stuck in book anymore." Dave grinned back at Ana then, thinking that she was able to banter then things obviously couldn't be all that bad. "We worried about you Ana, and when you and Jon didn't show up - "
"Jon was shot… you're sure he didn't make it back?" Ana's eyes suddenly lilted with worry, afraid that her worst fear had just been confirmed.
"He didn't make it back to us Ana, that doesn't mean he isn't alive. He may've gone to one of the other X-series." It was a slim hope, but it was all she had. Jon had been both her bodyguard and her friend; in fact he was almost family. Not knowing what had become of him was painful, but for now there were other matters to handle.
"Kiera?"
"She's with Crissy." That much was at least a comfort. "What's the deal with Ames? We thought one of the government agencies had gotten you."
"They did. Apparently the conclave controls more of this government then we thought. Ames is running the agency in change of capturing the escaped transgenics, which actually worked out for us since he got me out of there the day they captured me." Dave wasn't surprised, Ana and Ames had known each other since they were children - what surprised him was that Ana wasn't under lock and key, he would've broached the subject but she kept on speaking. "I wasn't able to pinpoint the location of where they're keeping the captives since he tranqed me but I do know that Ames has a penthouse apartment in sector two. He also keeps one of those snakes in his apartment and a scrapbook with pictures of deflectors in it. I'm pretty sure there's more but he keeps his bedroom locked." Ana left out the fact that the scrapbook focused mostly on her and that it had deflectors in it because most of her friends had deflected with her.
"That information could be useful, now that we know they're trying to not only capture the escapees but find us as well we'll have to act a little more discreetly. When do you want us to extract you?" Dave saw extracting Ana as the next most logical step; in fact he saw the current time as the most probably opportunity.
"Not until I give the signal." Dave raised an eyebrow at that - waiting for a signal meant she intended to stay on this for at least another day. "Look, Ames said that if I stayed he wouldn't tell the conclave I was in Seattle, so far he's managed to make good on his word. That means that we have more time. I need to build up his trust, getting him out here tonight means that I'm succeeding." Dave shook his head and attempted to interrupt Ana however, she didn't let him. "We need a substantial inside source. Right now, I'm in the best position to provide that."
"Yeah - if it were any other target, I'd believe that Ana, but with him? I don't trust your judgement on this one… not with him involved." Ana turned a puzzled glance on Dave - why would he doubt her judgement?
"I know were friends Dave… heck, you were his roommate, but that was twenty years ago, and he's a familiar now. If I had to kill him I might see why you'd be concerned… but all I'm doing is gathering information and then getting my ass the hell out of there." Dave looked confused then - they were friends? Very suddenly, it dawned on him that Ana probably didn't remember Ames very well. Unfortunately that didn't mean it worked the other way around as well.
"Don't you wonder why he didn't turn you over to the conclave?" Dave talked softly and Ana was again, confused. In truth, the question had crossed her mind, but she assumed that it'd been because they were friends. That friendship mattered to him, what was Dave trying to say? Suddenly a thought struck her head, and she immediately turned red when she related it to the behavior she'd displayed over the last few days.
"Are we related?" When he heard that, Dave wanted to hit her and ask if she was being dumb on purpose. After a second of contemplation however he realized that Ana probably had no real clue and that to her at least, being family was probably the most logical explanation.
"No." Ana breathed a sigh of relief - glad that she hadn't been using her sexuality to keep a half brother or a cousin in check. The question that remained however was just who were they? "You were lovers." The air suddenly left Ana's lungs and her heart seem to stop. We've broken all the rules. Suddenly the words from that morning came back to her mind, and unfortunately they made all too much sense.
***
Asha and some of her SD-6 friends had spotted Logan the moment he came in, in fact they had grabbed him so quickly that Max hadn't even had time to blink before he had disappeared into their midst. Now, sitting besides an equally depressed Alec she wondered why she had even bothered to come here. "You're still in love with him aren't you?" Knowing that her emotions were being worn so openly didn't make Max feel any better about herself and the need to hit something hard had not abetted since Logan had decided to ditch her for Asha and her friends.
"Fuck off." Alec put his mug raised his hands in a defensive gesture, surprised that he'd managed to annoy her.
"Hey, just trying to provide a little insight." He was genuinely trying to be nice and offer Max an outlet; unfortunately, he didn't fit the bill of anyone she wanted to open up to. Slamming her mug down on the table, Max almost broke it as she yelled at him.
"Well Dr. Ruth, I don't know. You're the one they fucking stuck in Phys-ops aren't you? And for your information Logan can hang with whoever the hell he wants." Max's explosion of temper didn't go over too well with Alec, who instead of keeping his usual calm bit back with malice of his own.
"Whatever. At least screwing Asha won't kill him." At that point Max tried to backhand Alec - who caught her arm almost as fast as she made the move. They might've fought things out - cooled down that way, unfortunately Manticore training was deeply embedded in both of them. When you're on a mission, you never fight one of your own.
"Why don't you go find some dumb ass Barbie to go play with." Max pulled her arm out of Alec's and turned back to nursing her drink, ignoring him complete.
"Fine." Seeing that any further conversation wasn't going to happen Alec chose to do just that. On the dance floor he noted a pretty girl dressed all in black, he also noticed that she was heading back to a table where a man stood waiting. He dismissed her for a second, however a moment later his mind made a connection and when he looked again he still didn't recognize her, the man at the table though was most definitely Ames White. "Shit." Abandoning his earlier plan he quickly moved into the group of SD-6ers and made an attempt at grabbing Logan's attention.
***
When Ana walked back to their table, Ames noted that she seemed almost dazed and immediately commented on it.
"He wasn't much of a dancer." As she spoke the mood he'd previously seen around her evaporated. Her teasing tone softened by a mocking smile. As she sat down closer to him then she had been before the words 'it didn't look like that mattered' died on his lips. She could tell he was confused, she was too, Ana didn't like manipulating him like this any better then she did not quite knowing just where they stood. Years of training and fieldwork however had taught her to press her every advantage. "I guess you'll just have to make that up to me." Ana leaned in to him conspireustually (sp?), and Ames automatically raised an eyebrow and backed away. When she saw this, Ana immediately drew back and hissed into her glass. "God this was pointless." She drained her drink, then rose to leave. "I'm sorry I put you to the trouble of attempting to have a good time. I'm sorry I put myself to the trouble of trying to lighten your mood."
"As if she'd drawn a dagger to her own throat, Ames grasped her arm and stopped her from moving. "Ana I'm sorry." By this point they were standing face to face, almost too close for comfort. "I'll make it up to you." A smile touched her lips then, but it wasn't a pleased smile, it was the smile a predator smiled when the trap had closed around its pray. Ames saw it and for a second he felt as if trapped in a black widows web.
"Then sing for me?" She had released him lightly, shown him that she possessed the ability to manipulate and take what she wanted but hadn't. He was suddenly sick, nauseated by all the lies and mind games they were forced to play. He stepped away from her so quickly that Ana hadn't expected it. When he neared the stage Ana suddenly realized that in her own confusion she had perhaps pushed too far. When the music started and his voice came to her over the crowd she knew that the line she'd crossed could not be stepped back over.
I can't stand to fly,
I'm not that naïve.
I'm just out to find
The better part of me
Ames White allowed his voice to build in volume as he sang, in Ana's mind it also built in accusations and double meanings she could neither comprehend nor remember. The situation was familiar in her memory the underlying emotions and confusing unsaid words all felt as if they'd been thrown around before. In her mind however, it wasn't him on stage but her, the memory was unclear and foggy at best but she remembered standing on a stage staring across the room straight at him. The room grew suddenly too blurry to her, the volume much too loud, but she heard his voice through it all and like an anchor it drew her back in.
I'm more than a bird
I'm more than a plane
More then some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me.
Max had never heard this song before, but the music felt soothing to her and the voice was certainly pleasant enough. Definitely one of the better singers of the evening. In fact, she liked the music so much she turned around to see just who it was that sang. When she saw that the man in front of the microphone was Ames White however, not choking on her drink - which all things considered would have made a rather ungraceful death - became her main priority. With a morbid sort of fascination, Max looked again at White. In his black turtleneck and leather jacket he really didn't cut a bad figure. Then she realized that if he saw her, she was dead.
Ducking behind a tall young couple, Max shrunk back into the shadows, fairly certain that they would hide her from his line of sight. When she checked to see if he was scanning the room however, what she realized was that his eyes were trained on one spot. Suddenly afraid he had spotted Logan or Alec, Max followed his line of vision to a woman with sunglasses and hair pinned up in a French twist sitting alone at a table. Focusing her vision in more, Max realized that beneath the makeup this was a very young woman, not to mention a very pretty one. Suddenly grinning she decided to stay and watch White's attempt to woo the pretty girl. She'd seen him in the part of killer, psychopath, and killer. Now she'd like to see just how well he could play the suitor. Not once did it cross her mind that 'the pretty girl' was Anastasia; it may have been the alcohol, or it may have been just plain carelessness, but not for a moment did she stop to think what might happen if Alec or Logan spotted him.
Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I'll never see.
Ames never had cried, not when Ana deflected, not when Ray'd been taken. Like many of his more 'human' traits it had been breed out of him, the ability to give in to moments of grief and pain had been trained out of him. Or so it had been at first, but training became habit, and habit became the only thing which kept him feeling the loathing he so completely directed at what he had become.
He had chosen this song for a reason, he didn't usually like prepulse music, but something in it ran true for him, as he hoped that it would for Ana.
The home that he'd never see was the home in which Ana had never deflected, the one in which Sandeman had never offered her his influence or made his ill fated prophecy. The home he'd once promised her.
It may sound absurd
But don't be naïve
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed
But won't you concede
Even Hero's have the right to dream
It's not easy to be me
As she listened to him sing Max not only found it scary how well he described himself, but how easily she identified to the song herself. She herself often seemed 'disturbed' it was a product of the years she'd spent in Manticore. Quite suddenly, and against her will, she began to wonder how much of White's disturbance had to do with the familiars. When that thought entered her mind, it brought with it a deep and abiding empathy, and uncomfortably she realized that she was able to relate to him far too well.
Snapping out of her moment of pity, Max realized that if White caught sight of Alec or ever her things would escalate fare too fast. Quickly she walked towards Asha and her friends, grinding her teeth together and praying for patience.
Up, Up and away
Away from me
It's all right
You can all sleep sound tonight
I'm not crazy… or anything…
Her friends and classmates cheered as Ana walked onto the stage of the kareoke bar. From where he sat Ames tried to hide a smile that bordered on jealous, the others had never heard Ana sing before, that was one talent of hers he'd kept himself - like the emperor and the nightingale. Only, he knew how that story ended so instead of locking the cage around her he chose to let her fly free. Although in this case he didn't feel like the people here - normal humans - deserved to hear her sing. This was however a field trip, one in which they were to learn how to interact with normal people in a normal way. What was more normal then singing at a kareoke bar?
"She's got a pretty voice doesn't she Ames?" Surprised, Ames whipped around to see the teacher who'd brought them on this field trip standing behind him.
"Sure does Professor Sandeman." Much to his discomfort Ana's favorite teacher sat down at the table with him, and for a few moments they shared an uncomfortable silence, filled with Ana's voice.
"You care about her don't you Ames?" He opened his mouth to protest, but Sandeman waved his denial away. " Look - that you care about her more then you're supposed to is obvious. Hell - you're more protective of her then Dave is of Crissy. But so long as you don't answer that - I can't say that I know for sure and I won't have to report it to the others. " Ames gave him a gratified look, but Sandeman wasn't finished. " However I suggest you keep something in mind. If anyone finds out about this they won't hurt you - but they'll hang her."
I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naïve
Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees
I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for Kryptonite on this one way street
"I'd never let them hurt her." How valiant the words sounded coming out of his head - unfortunately in the air they seemed hollow.
"No, but I'm afraid you'll betray her, and I'm warning you Ames if you ever do she'll not only die in every way but her soul will shatter into a million pieces."
Betrayal - at the time he'd thought Sandeman meant that he shouldn't 'play her'. What a fool he was, because it wasn't very long after that when he'd betray Ana in the worst possible way.
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
It's not easy to be me.
Where she sat Ana seemed to have begun crying, her shoulders shaking gently with her sobs. As White came off stage he spotted this and went immediately to her side. She buried her head in his shoulder then and along her sobs came the words "I'm sorry." They say that music moved people in strange ways, but White couldn't for the life of him see what had made her cry. "I didn't know… how could I have known…"
"Known what?" Ana didn't finish her sentence but she didn't quite regain her composure either, ever so gently he led her towards the exit and out the door. As they drove home through the streets of Seattle she finished what she began saying her mind. How could I have known that they'd destroy you? How could the conclave kill a man and still leave the barest part of his soul alive?… How could I have known that you had a soul? A soul that I'm meant to destroy.
AN - Ok, I know that the last chapter was short - and that not much happened - but really when the review begin to match the ratings it usually isn't a good sign (at least not when the ratings are barely averaging four.) Come on people, I know that we're all busy campaigning and studding for finals and whatnot, but think of it this way, if reading put a smile your face reviewing will put one on mine. And if it's really that bad, tell me why so I can work with it.
J BTW the song is Superman by five for fighting, if you get a chance you should really listen to it.