Her black trench coat flapped in the wind. It was dark and cold, but that didn't bother her. She raised a hand to her ear and spoke into the microphone of her hands free head set, "Are you in position?"
"Awol here -- affirmative," she expected that they would be ready; they merely had to take position at the front door.
She turned to the men working on the bars as they cut the last one out of its place. "How's it going?" she asked as though she couldn't see they were done.
Nix very carefully pulled a rack with some beakers in it out of a duffel bag. "It should only take a few seconds," he handed her one of the beakers. She nodded. "Listen, Boss," he said after a long pause, "I don't want to question your authority or anything, but since you appointed me as your temporary second… Don't you think that you should take a cord?"
"It's only three stories, Nix," she said as though it would be like jumping off a chair. She turned and watched the four other men that were going with her. Bungee cords with quick releases were being clipped to harnesses on their backs.
Nix shook his head and went to distribute the remaining four vials. He should be used to this by now – used to her by now.
She walked on the bars that still remained on the skylight. The balance required such little effort, that she didn't even realize that she was doing it until she saw Ace throw his arms out to maintain his balance. She turned as she continued to walk; she wanted to make sure their tethers had been secured.
She reached her position and knelt to release the contents of the beaker onto the transparent pane that looked down into the main hall of the Luthor Wing of the Metropolis Museum. She heard a sizzle when the liquid made contact, followed by the smell of burning plastic.
She continued to look down. Her breath caught when she saw him. Gell was – touching him. …There would be – repercussions to that mistake.
They had fought together in battle. Despite all of the problems they had had in the past, he was one of their own. Before this moment, she had seriously considered handing him over to the authorities – not something that people like her did habitually. But now – well, he would never be safe from her if he lived. She didn't think about why, it just was the way it now was.
…Who was that woman that had stepped away from Lex? Rhone bent down farther to get an even closer look. Her heart constricted and went cold. She was – beautiful. She had – great proportions. Rhone knew who she was; she had gotten minimal information when she had the massive data file on Lex. And she had gotten some red flagged communications regarding her father's company – and since Victoria Hardwick held a high position there… God, she was gorgeous. No wonder he was with her…
Rhone's throat became tight and she swallowed hard. For the first time in a long time, she felt like nothing – a no one. And for the first time ever, she wanted to be beautiful more than anything else. That was followed closely by shame. She shook her head, that's not the life you chose. You never had a chance anyway. Even if you did, their situation wouldn't allow it.
She put on her wrap around sunglasses as she straightened. She shed her trench coat and tossed it to Nix, leaving only a black Kevlar vest over her black fitted t-shirt. He tossed her artist's tube to her and she placed it on her back, where it belonged.
She removed one of her custom guns from its position at her outer thigh, checked the clip one last time, and readied herself – bending her elbow and crossing her arm over her chest so the handle of the gun was away from her face and so the gun would be pointed at the ceiling upon impact.
Thankfully, Gell completely averted his attention to whoever it was behind him. There was a commotion and Lex turned to see who it was.
Two men with large guns brought forward a man in a tux with black hair. His head was bowed down and his hands were being held behind his back, but Lex was only a few feet from him and recognized him as the one he had identified earlier as new money.
Gell grabbed the down-turned chin of the man and pulled it up roughly. At first they did nothing, merely standing there – locking eyes with one another. The unidentified man's eyes were filled with – disgust? Gell's eyes were filled with a mixture of fury and disbelief.
Unexpectedly, the captive man spoke, "Already belittled to petty theft, Gell? She was right about you. What's next? Cutting a rap album? Vandalism? I think I have some spray paint in the trunk of my car…"
Gell let out an indecipherable roar and grabbed the man's shirt. "Why would street trash like you come here anyway? Did your little girlfriend tell you to get some culture and she'd stop holding out on you?" he said cruelly.
Lex noticed the man flinch and roll his eyes heavenward at the words "street trash" but didn't really know why. If he was poor before, he had certainly made a success of himself now. He had on a suit that was almost as fine as Lex's – almost.
"It's odd that you would put it that way. Because I think she sent me here," the man paused, "To fuck you." He smiled a smile that said "prepare to be penetrated."
Gell's face contorted in anger, then realization. He had been holding the shirt of the man; he suddenly he ripped it open.
Lex tried to see what had turned Gell's face to one of dismay, but his eyes ripped to the ceiling when he heard something shatter.
In that second, he saw some black and pieces of the skylight suspended around it. Then he felt someone hit his right side and take him to the ground, "Uh." They climbed on top of him, the top of their chest covering his head. There was something on their chest, it dug into his forehead.
She hit the ground standing and fired at two men that were away from the hostages and they went down. She figured her men had bounced once, detached their cords, and aimed at a worthy target. Then she aimed at Gell and froze.
Gell was looking down the sight of his pistol at her. "How did you know?" he asked curiously and calmly.
"I always told you, you aren't that good," she said plainly.
Lex heard her voice and he began to stir. The body got off of him and he looked at them. It was – the new money? "You OK?" the black haired man asked him.
Lex nodded and began to sit up. There were some pieces of the skylight around him and he had heard some gunshots, so he was thankful that this patron had done what he did. He looked up – it was her…
Rhone and Gell were in a stalemate, standing about fifteen feet apart – guns aimed at one another. All eyes were on them, as though time in this great hall had stopped for a battle of epic proportions.
"Ten against five, Rhone," Gell said tauntingly.
"Have you forgotten how to count as well as how to execute a proper break-in?" she corrected, "Eight against Six. Not to mention half the Metropolis P.D. and ten more of us outside."
He glared at her.
"You're not getting out of here – alive," she didn't move or change facial expression.
After a moment of considering what she had pointed out, he looked her up and down, "You know I always forget how hot you are. It's a shame you're such a bitch, otherwise, we might have gotten together."
Lex started to grind his teeth. He didn't know if he was angrier about him calling her hot, calling her a bitch, or implying that she was the one not good enough for him.
"I always thought it had something to do with me rejecting you," then she added in triumph and distaste, "Repeatedly."
Lex stopped grinding and was – proud? …Happy? Both? Definitely… A smile tugged at the right side of his mouth. …Before, he thought that she would be strong in a situation like this. No, he knew it… He liked to be right, especially about her.
"Charming," Gell said through gritted teeth.
After a long moment, she said, "Just so I know, how long do you intend on keeping this up?" They had had their guns trained on one another for sometime – in terms of having a gun pointed at you.
"You got somewhere to be – a hot date?" He asked in a mocking voice.
"TNG comes on at eleven," she offered.
"Then we better figure out a way to wrap this up," he said lightly.
She allowed herself a sneer, "Are you implying…?"
"You know me too well," he sneered back.
"It was -- forbidden," she pointed out.
"He's dead. …You killed him," he countered.
"I know," she said it so softly that only the two of them could hear it.
None of the men Rhone had come in with moved from their readied position, but Lex could see the very slight shift in place. Something very – taboo had just been mentioned. "You – fucker," the man that had pushed Lex down hissed from beside him.
No one saw her eyes move behind the dark tinted lenses, but for just a moment she took her eyes off Gell. She looked from Lex to Victoria and back to Lex. …Lex. Rhone's voice returned to its stoic state, "Let them all go, and I'll give you what you want."
Gell raised an eyebrow, "Despite the – outstanding orders?"
"Everyone goes," she ignored his last question.
"Some things never change," he laughed. "You read too many fuckin' comic books," he added as an afterthought.
"As you wish," she said. She may be predictable when it came certain things, but so was he. His ego was his weakness, and she had managed to bruise it on more than one occasion. He would give up this whole thing, just for one fight – no one to pull them apart – with her.
"Everyone outside," Gell said loudly, still not taking his eyes off the woman in front of him.
Lex saw that she was slowly moving her free hand to her ear and to the headset that she was wearing, her lips were moving but he couldn't hear. The others that came through the skylight put up their guns.
"But, Gell, there are cops outside!" one of the men that tried to break into the cases began to protest.
"Then you better hope you trained as well and as hard as I told you to. You know the rendezvous," he yelled.
Everyone began to move to the main exit. Lex felt a hand grab him beneath his arm and pull up. "Come on," the new money shook his head miserably.
"No," Lex stood but refused to move.
"Lex, surely overexposure to that – little hamlet has made you lose your mind," a female voice said from behind him. Lex turned, he had forgotten about Victoria.
The new money leaned in very closely to Lex's ear, so no one else could hear what he said, "If you stay, you are a weakness. He'll see that, and use it against her. You could inadvertently kill her." Lex's eyes narrowed at him. "There's no time for this," the new money made an unknown gesture over Lex's shoulder and turned to walk out.
Lex felt a thick arm close around his waist and then he was being lifted. He looked up at one of the guys that dropped from the skylight with Rhone, he was -- huge. He picked Lex up with little to no effort and was now carrying him, on his side, under his arm like he was a sack of potatoes. "Put me down," Lex hissed through clenched teeth. A Luthor, being carried – it was preposterous. It was unheard of. It was… He heard a chuckle. He looked to his side; Victoria was walking beside them – laughing. Lex reached a new level of rage.
A thought hit Lex, he maneuvered so he could see behind him – so he could see the receding figures of Gell and Rhone. Both were very slowly putting their guns to the floor. He was going to yell to her, but he didn't. He didn't know what they were going to do, but the new money's words were still in his ears. …What would that guy know anyway? It was too late; he was going through the door – being carried outside.