Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.
Chapter 14
"Another demonstration?" Neo frowned while exiting the dock.
Link laughed a bit as he slung the duffel over his shoulder. "What, not the welcome home you were hoping for?"
"Never is." Trinity and Nysa came up behind carrying various belongings and pieces of equipment. Both men turned to help them with their load, bracing themselves for the long walk through the lines of protestors. Those who came out to demonstrate where never violent as one might expect, nor were they foul mouthed or for that matter particularly disagreeable. They were merely people who sat in silence, at times doing nothing but observing the actions taking place around them, at times listening intently to whomever may have been speechifying at the time. But their animosity was unmistakable none the less. While no one yelled disparaging remarks or called anyone vicious names, the looks given to any military personnel who went through those dock doors was akin to a slap in the face.
"You should be used to it by now," Nysa said as she took the lead, the crowd parting hesitantly to let her through. She seemed to have developed a rather thick skin regarding the disgust many had for what they did. When all of the protests began nearly ten years ago she was confused, even frightened. Why would anyone be upset that they were helping people, rescuing them? Shouldn't they be received as the heroes they were instead of the criminals these bitter individuals were making them out to be? By now though, the throngs of demonstrators no longer phased her.
The others moved to catch up, Neo bringing up the tail. He tried to avert all their gazes, tried to look at the floor, his shoes, the back of Trinity's legs, anything but their faces. Some of them had been absolute believers in his power, his ability to change things. They had asked for his help in protecting their loved ones. They had lain offerings outside his door. But that was a long time ago, and though some still did seek him out for assistance and offer him baskets filled with foods and treats, these people did not. These people hated him.
He held his breath for some time, not allowing himself to truly take in any air until it was free of the thick stench of bitterness. Even as the elevator doors shut shielding him from view, he could still feel the angry stares, the eyes burning holes in his flesh.
"Dad? Hello, daddy?" His awful reverie was broken when he heard his daughter's voice. She waved her hand in front of his face and snapped harshly. He grabbed a hold of her fingers, gave a look that clearly said that's enough, and glanced up over her shoulder to notice Link holding the elevator door open. "So can I?" she asked for the fourth time, though it was the first that Neo heard.
"What?" he asked confused.
"Go ahead," Trinity said, grabbing Nysa's duffel as she scooted off with Link, throwing a smile and a thank you over her shoulder.
The doors closed again leaving the couple alone. Trinity leaned into Neo and whispered, "Alone at last."
"Where…" he began, still somewhat perplexed.
Trinity knew him well enough to recognize each of his moods, knew him well enough in fact to tell which one was coming on when. It was no surprise to her that he had zoned out completely for the past ten minutes, hadn't paid any attention at all to the conversation going on around him. "She wanted to see Olivia. Link said he didn't mind."
"Right," Neo sighed. They gathered their things and headed for their apartment.
"We're supposed to go over for dinner in a couple of hours," Trinity said, dropping the bags on the floor and falling into a chair.
"Think Zee'll mind? She'd probably like it to be just family."
"We are family," she replied reaching up to grab Neo's hand. He leaned down and she pulled him close. "Quit making excuses, we don't have a lot of time and you're wasting it all."
"So sorry," he said before kissing her deeply, passionately.
"Ehhem." The intruder stood in the open doorway shaking her head, an amused expression on her face.
"Niobe," greeted Neo as he turned and stood.
"Leave your door open like that and anyone can just walk in," she said, stepping forward and closing the door behind her.
"Apparently."
"Shouldn't you be with Morpheus?" Trinity asked as she rose and began to unpack.
"He's with Lock, giving his official report. Thought I'd just stop by and say hi while I waited. Hi."
"Hi," Neo responded.
Trinity breezed past her into Nysa's room where she dumped some of her clothes onto the still unmade bed. "How long are you here?" she asked from the other room. "I thought the Logos was scheduled to leave before we got back."
"It was. Lock grounded us when some threats were made a couple of days ago."
"Threats?"
"You know, typical terrorist communication. The ship'll blow up during take off or something will happen mid-flight. I think it's all crap, but Lock doesn't want to risk it."
"He doesn't want to risk you."
"Probably. But I'm not gonna complain. I haven't seen Morpheus in months."
"How have things been here lately?" Neo asked while filling the kettle with water and putting it on the stove.
"Hard to say. It's tense, that's for sure. Most of what's happening is off the grid, so those of us not directly involved just hear rumors and speculation."
"What sort of rumors?"
"That the New Resistance is building strength, increasing numbers, planning more than just rallies and demonstrations."
"Planning on using force? Attacking?"
"They're rumors, Neo. They're not so stupid as to try and start a war with the military. They'd have no defense."
"But you're saying they're planning something," Trinity said as she sat down across from Niobe.
"Maybe. There's really no way to tell. I'm not too worried about it though. The stuff going on inside the Matrix, now that worries me."
"Starting to look like before, agents on every corner, one step ahead." Neo got out some cups and placed them on the table just as the kettle began to howl. "Maybe if everyone knew what we did they'd stop causing trouble with each other and start preparing for the worst."
"The machines attacking? It is possible. They know it too. Problem is they're all so busy blaming each other for that fact that they can't see the big picture."
"We're destroying ourselves," Trinity commented solemnly.
"Why not," Neo said. "It's not like we haven't done it before."
The subject of their talk gradually changed, as it always seemed to. Niobe went on to fill them in on her crew, how everyone was, their families, etc. And Neo and Trinity did the same for those on board the Neb. They discussed particular missions, problems they had, mistakes they made, fortuitous situations. Eventually Niobe left to go be with Morpheus, who by that time was surely at home awaiting her arrival, and the couple headed over to Link and Zee's as they were expected to do.
Zee didn't seem to mind at all that her husband had invited them over; it was never an intrusion so far as she could see. She greeted them both and offered a drink. "Dinner should be ready soon," she said as she poured their glasses and sat down.
"Where are the girls," Trinity asked, noticing the obvious absence of giggling.
"Oh, they went for a walk."
"Yeah," Lysander interjected from the corner of the room where he and Link were playing chess, a game he had wanted to share with his father since he learned how to play some six months ago. "Livi wanted to show Nysa her new boyfriend," he went on in a mocking manner.
"Her what?" Link asked as Zee gave her son a hush up look.
"He's not her boyfriend," she said simply. "He's just a boy who's also a friend."
"Who is he?" Link rose from his position on the floor and came over to the table where everyone sat with sly smiles on their faces, trying not to laugh at his obvious agitation. "What's his name?"
"Michael." The answer came from behind him where Olivia and Nysa stood in the open doorway. "And he is my boyfriend," she said matter-of-factly. Nysa's mouth rounded over a silent uh oh and Neo nearly choked on his now overwhelming desire to laugh. He was sure it wouldn't have seemed so funny if it were his 15-year-old daughter telling him she was seeing someone he had never met, had never even heard of. But it wasn't.
Zee tried to quell the situation by taking over. "He's a good kid, comes over for dinner once and awhile. He gets good grades, plays with Sander. He's very polite, excellent manners."
"He's polite?" Link asked caustically, his head looking as though it was going to explode.
"Very polite," Nysa said closing the door and moving to take a seat at the table.
He fumed, positively livid it seemed with this revelation. Zee rose and nuzzled his neck while whispering in his ear not to worry. He calmed a bit; she simply had that effect on him, especially when he hadn't seen her in over a month. She pulled him by the arm over to the table where they sat down next to each other. "You'll see, he's a good kid."
"Yeah, you can meet him tomorrow at the gathering," Olivia said with faux excitement.
"Oh right," Nysa quickly turned to her parents, "can I go to the Temple Gathering tomorrow?"
Neo and Trinity looked at one another for the answer, but neither seemed to know what to say. Link responded before they could regardless. "Absolutely not. And you're not going either," he said to Olivia.
"But mom said I could. She said I was old enough now."
"Like hell."
"Link, she'd be fine."
"All it is is dancing, if that's what you're worried about."
"No that's not… I just think you're too young to go."
"Well mom already said I could and since she's the full-time parent, I'm going to have to take her word over yours."
"Full-time parent? Let me tell you something honey…" He was interrupted by his wife dropping a plate of food in front of him, the fork clattering to the table. It was true, Zee was the real caregiver and knew their kids better than he could even hope to. If she said Livi was old enough, mature enough, you could bet she likely was. He knew better than to question her judgement regarding the children, but the thought of his little girl's body pressed up against some, some…Michael, bouncing and bumping, dancing 'til the dirt turned to mud with their sweat… that was just too much.
"I don't understand," Olivia continued. "You don't trust me?"
"I don't trust him."
"Who? Michael? You don't even know him." She pushed the food around her plate angrily as everyone else began to eat meekly, one small bite at a time, trying not to make too much noise or be noticed in any way.
"I know boys. And what's more, I know what happens at the gatherings. Once the prayers and speeches are over it's all party time, and that's no place for a kid."
Olivia scraped her fork loudly, shrilly against her plate before saying, "I'm not a kid."
"I told her she could go, so she can go," Zee finally said in an attempt to put an end to it all.
"Baby," he said softly turning to her in his chair. "You remember what they're like. You remember how that dancing was, and the things it can lead to. I know you remember what it can lead to." Zee knew exactly what he meant, she remembered their first time like it was yesterday. They were so young then, not too much older than Olivia was now. The music had gotten to them, the rhythm of the drums, the rhythm of their bodies, and they managed to sneak away to be alone, to be with each other.
"Come on Link," Nysa interrupted, breaking the silence that pervaded the rest of the table. "It's a gathering, not an orgy."
Neo coughed violently, the bite of food he had just taken lodged firmly in his throat. Trinity ignored him and turned instead to her daughter. "Where did you learn that?" she asked, a hint of scolding in her voice.
Nysa simply shrugged as Link broke into a fit of laughter. "Yeah, not so funny now is it?" he asked Neo who was just beginning to catch his breath.
"The point," Nysa began loudly, trying to drown out both her father's labored breathing and Link's incessant laughing, "is that it's not a big deal, so don't make it into one."
"She's right," agreed Zee.
Trinity continued to stare at her daughter suspiciously. "Why do you want to go?" she asked.
"I just want to hear Commander Lock give his speech, see if he mentions anything about the raid last week, maybe takes responsibility for the bystanders who were injured. I know he won't, but I'd still like to hear his insights into the matter," she added sarcastically. "Oh, and I'd also like to be there just in case an orgy does break out."
"Use that word one more time and you're not leaving the apartment for the next two months," Neo shot out as Link disintegrated into laughter once more.
"Yes sir," she said to her father, adding on a salute for extra flippancy.
"So we can go then?" Olivia asked, completely ignoring her father who by now was nearly sobbing.
The two mothers looked at each other, realizing that it would have to be up to them to make the final logical decision. Something passed between them, a sort of understanding, and it was quickly settled. "Just behave yourselves," Zee said with a wink.