The New York air bit Gaia over and over as she played chess in Washington
Square Park. She had almost laughed when Ed challenged her, but held back
for his pride. The only person her age that could be beat her had been Sam.
When that thought entered her mind she almost cried. Sam was dead. This was
the first time she had played since he had been murdered, and it was harder
than she imagined.
"I can't believe we're blowing off school to play chess. With my luck the principal will decide to eat his lunch here." Ed's joke lifted the corners of Gaia's mouth, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Even Ed had trouble making her smile these days.
The coldness was starting to annoy her, so Gaia decided to end things quickly. In three moves she had Ed in check, the fourth was checkmate. He pouted as he wheeled himself away from the chess table, muttering incoherent mumbles.
"Want some Krispy Kremes?" Ed's expression of defeat was instantly replaced by one of immense hunger.
"I thought you'd never ask." Gaia could eat a dozen of those doughnuts herself, but she wasn't hungry. The only reason she suggested it was for Ed to stop muttering.
She had learned how to walk besides Ed's wheelchair and keep the right speed with him. He had confessed he hated when people walked slow for him, so Gaia never walked slow enough to attract his attention.
Soon wonderful smells wafted around them, mingling with the aroma of trash and gasoline. Not pleasant, but certainly interesting. Ed bought a dozen glazed doughnuts and they wandered back to the park. Benches by a fountain are a good place to eat doughnuts, so Ed and Gaia settled themselves. Within ten minutes all that was left was a glazed filled box, slowly being wiped clean by fingers.
"What do you want to do? We've got about five hours before school gets out."
Gaia pondered as she licked her fingers clean of the delicious glaze. "I could kick your ass at chess again."
Ed rolled his eyes. "My ass is still tender, but thanks for the helpful suggestion."
"What about a movie? I haven't seen the new Star Wars movie yet." Gaia really didn't want to see it, but the theater would be a hell of a lot warmer than the bench she was slowly freezing onto. Besides, she could tune out anything, including that damn surround sound.
"K."
The theater was warm, much to Gaia's relief. She and Ed sat in the handicapped space, which was the perfect height for any movie. Gaia tuned out the movie about the time "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away," popped up. Movies were a time of thought for her. Sometimes it relieved her, more often than not it made her head hurt.
Gaia had one question in her head that no one had been able to answer, or at least prove the answer to.
Who the hell was Loki?
She didn't trust her uncle, there was no way in hell she trusted her father. They were identical in appearance, but one was evil. One killed her mother.
A burning anger made bile rise in the back of her throat. She swallowed it, but was left with a bitter taste the popcorn couldn't wash away.
She had spent a week in Paris with her father, but doubts still arose. She had no proof either way. She couldn't be sure until one of them was dead. At the moment she didn't care either way. If one died and Loki was still at large, only then would she have her proof. Until then she wouldn't listen to either.
The movie seemed to fly by and soon she and Ed were back at Washington Square Park, watching all the regulars play chess. The day passed quickly, neither feeling guilt for skipping school. They both needed a break from classes and the FOHs.
Ed invited Gaia to stay at his apartment since his parents were gone. To a normal teenager this would sound suggestive, but for Gaia is was a place to watch TV and drink milkshakes. She didn't like Ed that way, and she doubted she ever would. Ed was her best and only friend. Nothing more.
Gaia took the liberty of calling Mary's parents, because they would worry if she didn't come home. It was strange having people worry over her. Ella didn't give a damn, and George had rarely been home. Now Ella was dead and George was a wreck. Things changed quickly.
Ed's apartment was a ways from the park, so it took most of the afternoon to get there. Milkshakes were made and an old movie was shoved into the VCR. They both fell asleep contently, Ed stretched out on the couch and Gaia in a recliner.
She had been extremely comfortable when a sound awoke her. Someone else was in the apartment, and they were being stealthy. Gaia waited until the person was directly over to make a move. She kicked hard and was surprised to find herself flipping onto the ground.
The noise of her crashing to the floor was enough to wake Ed up. He was smart enough not to move, and when his eyes adjusted he saw a figure sitting on Gaia's chest. He lunged for her (it was obvious of her sex by the black cat suit she was wearing) and freed Gaia. The woman was wearing a ski mask, so her identity was a mystery. Gaia belted her a kick in her chest that sent her to her knees.
Ed ripped off the mask and was surprised to find a beautiful woman in her twenties. She held out her palm and gasped. When she recovered she looked at Gaia and said, "They were right. I underestimated you." Her voice was warm, which surprised them both. The woman stayed on her knees and continued to talk.
"I was hoping to surprise you so I wouldn't have to explain, but it's my own fault. My name is Sydney Bristow. I'm an agent for the CIA and I'm here to give you a warning."
Gaia's eyes narrowed. "Warn me about what?"
"Your life is in serious danger."
***AN: How is the crossover working? Feedback is greatly appreciated!
"I can't believe we're blowing off school to play chess. With my luck the principal will decide to eat his lunch here." Ed's joke lifted the corners of Gaia's mouth, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Even Ed had trouble making her smile these days.
The coldness was starting to annoy her, so Gaia decided to end things quickly. In three moves she had Ed in check, the fourth was checkmate. He pouted as he wheeled himself away from the chess table, muttering incoherent mumbles.
"Want some Krispy Kremes?" Ed's expression of defeat was instantly replaced by one of immense hunger.
"I thought you'd never ask." Gaia could eat a dozen of those doughnuts herself, but she wasn't hungry. The only reason she suggested it was for Ed to stop muttering.
She had learned how to walk besides Ed's wheelchair and keep the right speed with him. He had confessed he hated when people walked slow for him, so Gaia never walked slow enough to attract his attention.
Soon wonderful smells wafted around them, mingling with the aroma of trash and gasoline. Not pleasant, but certainly interesting. Ed bought a dozen glazed doughnuts and they wandered back to the park. Benches by a fountain are a good place to eat doughnuts, so Ed and Gaia settled themselves. Within ten minutes all that was left was a glazed filled box, slowly being wiped clean by fingers.
"What do you want to do? We've got about five hours before school gets out."
Gaia pondered as she licked her fingers clean of the delicious glaze. "I could kick your ass at chess again."
Ed rolled his eyes. "My ass is still tender, but thanks for the helpful suggestion."
"What about a movie? I haven't seen the new Star Wars movie yet." Gaia really didn't want to see it, but the theater would be a hell of a lot warmer than the bench she was slowly freezing onto. Besides, she could tune out anything, including that damn surround sound.
"K."
The theater was warm, much to Gaia's relief. She and Ed sat in the handicapped space, which was the perfect height for any movie. Gaia tuned out the movie about the time "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away," popped up. Movies were a time of thought for her. Sometimes it relieved her, more often than not it made her head hurt.
Gaia had one question in her head that no one had been able to answer, or at least prove the answer to.
Who the hell was Loki?
She didn't trust her uncle, there was no way in hell she trusted her father. They were identical in appearance, but one was evil. One killed her mother.
A burning anger made bile rise in the back of her throat. She swallowed it, but was left with a bitter taste the popcorn couldn't wash away.
She had spent a week in Paris with her father, but doubts still arose. She had no proof either way. She couldn't be sure until one of them was dead. At the moment she didn't care either way. If one died and Loki was still at large, only then would she have her proof. Until then she wouldn't listen to either.
The movie seemed to fly by and soon she and Ed were back at Washington Square Park, watching all the regulars play chess. The day passed quickly, neither feeling guilt for skipping school. They both needed a break from classes and the FOHs.
Ed invited Gaia to stay at his apartment since his parents were gone. To a normal teenager this would sound suggestive, but for Gaia is was a place to watch TV and drink milkshakes. She didn't like Ed that way, and she doubted she ever would. Ed was her best and only friend. Nothing more.
Gaia took the liberty of calling Mary's parents, because they would worry if she didn't come home. It was strange having people worry over her. Ella didn't give a damn, and George had rarely been home. Now Ella was dead and George was a wreck. Things changed quickly.
Ed's apartment was a ways from the park, so it took most of the afternoon to get there. Milkshakes were made and an old movie was shoved into the VCR. They both fell asleep contently, Ed stretched out on the couch and Gaia in a recliner.
She had been extremely comfortable when a sound awoke her. Someone else was in the apartment, and they were being stealthy. Gaia waited until the person was directly over to make a move. She kicked hard and was surprised to find herself flipping onto the ground.
The noise of her crashing to the floor was enough to wake Ed up. He was smart enough not to move, and when his eyes adjusted he saw a figure sitting on Gaia's chest. He lunged for her (it was obvious of her sex by the black cat suit she was wearing) and freed Gaia. The woman was wearing a ski mask, so her identity was a mystery. Gaia belted her a kick in her chest that sent her to her knees.
Ed ripped off the mask and was surprised to find a beautiful woman in her twenties. She held out her palm and gasped. When she recovered she looked at Gaia and said, "They were right. I underestimated you." Her voice was warm, which surprised them both. The woman stayed on her knees and continued to talk.
"I was hoping to surprise you so I wouldn't have to explain, but it's my own fault. My name is Sydney Bristow. I'm an agent for the CIA and I'm here to give you a warning."
Gaia's eyes narrowed. "Warn me about what?"
"Your life is in serious danger."
***AN: How is the crossover working? Feedback is greatly appreciated!