Part II: My baby left me!
Chapter: Future is now
The next day Margot woke up at 6pm, after sleeping for 12 hours straight.
Where the Hell am I?
Christ, I feel like shit.
There was a horrible taste in her mouth, one that she recognized all too well, the foul taste of having too much tequila the night before. Or in this case, the morning before, for they had arrived at BPRD about 6am this very morning.
Opening her eyes, she realized she was on Kat's couch, BPRD, Newark.
Great, this Hell hole again.
She groaned, and sat up with a yawn, taking a look at herself on the mirror opposite the couch in Kat's small living room. Margot frowned to her image. Yeah, not a pretty sight. She was pale as death, with dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a mess. She was still wearing the agent gear from last night's mission - the black pants and a tank top. Her gloves, boots, and the belt with the guns and stuff were scattered on the floor. And she knew she stank. Sweat, blood and you name it, had made her clothes stick to her skin.
But the world was saved again. And so was Kat's heart, apparently, for Margot realized she was alone. She had a vague memory of Red carrying sleeping Kat in his arms, towards his rooms, and no one had dared to argue.
As it should be, Margot thought to herself. Kat deserves some happiness, and if it's with him, then so be it.
But her own heart… Margot felt a hollow ache in her chest, a fierce longing that took her breath away. Seeing John yesterday, it had almost been too much to take. It had nearly made her break.
Yeah, better not think about that.
Margot shook her head to drive his image away from her mind. With an angry snort she got up from the couch and headed to bathroom.
After half an hour, all showered and changed into clean clothes, Margot stepped into Hellboy's room. She passed Red on the doorway, as he had been the one to open the door for her.
"You're still alive, then." Margot stated, taking a look of his tall, muscular gorgeousness. "That's good, I guess."
"Alive and kickin'." Hellboy replied. "Thanks to Kat."
"And to Margot." Kat's voice said, and the blue woman stepped into the room, wearing nothing but a towel around her otherwise naked form. Her moist hair told Margot, she had just showered. "So, be nice to my friend, Red. She's the one who took care of Botox."
"I'm always nice to her." Hellboy replied. "But yeah, you're right. Thanks, Margot. And not just for that."
"For what, then?" Margot asked, walking in, crouching to caress a cat that circled her legs.
"For taking care of Kat." The red demon muttered. "I owe you."
Margot made a small laugh. "You mean, letting her sleep on my couch after you broke her heart and drove her away from here?"
"Hey!" exclaimed Kat. "I'm the only one who's allowed to give Red hard time about that."
"Fine." Margot replied, and stood back up again. "Just making sure you will. But HB, really, no need to thank me. I could've been a lot better host and a friend, to be honest."
"Shut up." Kat said. "You were awesome."
"And that's why I'm saying thanks." Hellboy said. "I got'er back, in one piece."
"Ah, don't mention it." Margot gave a smile, a fake one. No matter what HB or Kat said, she knew the truth in her heart - that she had let Kat down, and that had almost cost both Hellboy's and John's life. Not something she could easily get over.
"So, Kat, you alright?" she asked then, to get something else to think about. "You passed out before we got to talk."
Kat gave a sinful grin, glancing at Hellboy. "Better than alright."
"Huh. So it would seem." Margot looked from Kat to Hellboy, whom she now noticed to be shirtless. "Did you get any rest?"
"Yes, I've only been awake for like two hours." Kat rolled her eyes. "I slept until then."
"And lot can happen in two hours, I see."
"It was bound to happen sooner or later." Kat shrugged. "You know, I missed him like crazy."
"I love hearing you say that." grunted Hellboy, and wrapped his flesh arm around Kat's slender form.
"I know you do." Kat purred. "But you missed me more."
"True."
"Eww." said Margot. "You've got to be kidding me with this ickiness. I mean, Kat, weren't you the one to tell me you'd never forgive him?"
Kat shrugged. "That was before. He apologized, so-"
"He must be pretty good at apologizing, then."
"You have no idea." said Hellboy, lighting his cigar, and looking every bit cool and relaxed, Kat cuddling closer to his chest.
Suddenly Margot felt all too clearly, that she was the third wheel. There was so much love in this room, that the air was thick with it, and it made her sick to her bones. I made her desperately wanting to be someplace else - but just then the thought hit her - where do you go, when you have nowhere to go, no one to go to?
"Kat, I need to talk to you about something. You up for breakfast?"
"Dinner, more likely. But yeah, I'm starving. But I-" And she glanced at Red on a way that made Margot's heart twist. She knew what Kat meant, even without reading her mind.
"You don't want to leave him." She said. "I get it. It's alright, you two have dinner together. I'll just grab something and-"
"No, don't be an ass. You're staying here and we'll all eat together. We can ask pizza, or nachos. What would you like?" Kat's tone was resolute, but Margot knew it was a bad idea. No matter how much she loved Kat, she just wasn't up to witnessing their head-over-heels love and forgiveness right now.
Besides, Margot had a pretty solid hunch they'd want to have something more than food too, and she wasn't going to be the one on their way.
"No, it's alright, really. I'm not that hungry anyways. But Kat, walk with me for a while, will you? I need to ask you something."
"Sure." Kat said, with a grin. "Just let me get dressed first."
A few minutes later they were walking down the corridor, back to Kat's rooms. Kat was back in her human form, looking still a bit pale, but otherwise she seemed to have recovered from her near death experience.
"So… I was thinking-" Margot began.
"That's never a good thing."
Margot punched Kat in the arm. "You're one to talk! I wanted to ask, if you would mind, if I stayed on your couch for a couple of weeks."
"You want to stay here?" Kat was clearly surprised. "I thought you called this place a hell hole."
"Well yeah… But I can't go home either." Margot shrugged, staring at the floor. " I mean, what would I do there? Drink tequila alone under my bed? And I really can't go to Hamburg either. I can't do that to Mom. She hates to see me like this."
"Yeah, I heard something about Slipknot with Ukulele."
"Christ. You too?" Margot rolled her eyes. "Well, you'll be happy to hear that I left my Ukulele in Hamburg."
"Too bad." Kat said. "I like Slipknot."
"Well, who doesn't?" Margot asked. "But really, is it okay, if I stay? Not for long, just for a few weeks. I think it would do me good."
"Sure." Kat replied. "That would be great. And you don't need to sleep on the couch - you can have my bed, I'll be staying at HB's place most nights anyways."
"Yeah, the couch is fine, thanks."
"But tell me… Why is it really, that you want to stay?" Kat asked after a short while. "It is not for Myers, is it?"
"No." Margot snapped. "Why would it be?"
"No reason." Kat replied a bit too quickly.
"Just because you forgave HB, doesn't mean I have to forgive, John." Margot stopped walking, and turned to look her friend in the eye. "This is totally different. HB was just being an insecure ass, who dumped you by accident. What John did, was so much worse. I can never forgive him, not ever. You gave me a sister's oath, not to make me talk to him again. You remember that?"
"I do remember. But I just thought… that maybe things had changed after yesterday?"
"Well, they haven't. I still hate that bastard who broke my heart."
"Right." Kat said. "So, about you staying here… you'll probably have to talk to Manning about it?"
"Yeah, I think I must." Margot said, with a sigh. "But he's gonna be all like 'Anything for our beautiful European liaison!' anyways, so."
"We'll get to work together." Kat suddenly realized. "If you want to, I mean. But that would be nice. I think we did fine last night!"
"Yeah, so do I." Margot broke into a smile. "I mean, the mission was a disaster, but we did save the guys. And I killed that bitch. Not for John, or for Hellboy. I did it for you."
"Yeah, I know you did." Kat said. "That's why you're my best friend."
"Aww, come on. You're making me cry." Margot laughed. "Don't get emotional just because I spilled some blood for you, sis."
"So, more bitch killing together in the future? Next time together?" Kat raised an eyebrow.
"I'm liking that plan." Margot said. "We make a superb team!"
A few days later:
It had taken Myers some time, to wrap his mind around the things he had read from the weekly report from Manning.
He held the paper in his hands, and read aloud:
"As a part of the exchange program between BPRD and Europol's Paranormal Unit, Agent Margerie Duval is posted in BPRD HQ, starting immediately. During her stay, Agent Duval will have the full juridical status of a BPRD agent, and will be working with different teams on paranormal missions."
Abe, in his tank, listened quietly, and when Myers was finished, shrugged as if there was nothing out of usual in the report.
"Abe?" Myers asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"I didn't even know we had an exchange program." Myers noted, his voice rather tense.
"We didn't." the merman replied. "Not until yesterday, or so I hear."
"Manning made it up for her?"
"I wouldn't say he made it up. It is a real thing, at least from now on."
Something in Abe's voice made Myers take a better look at his face. Yeah, it was as he'd thought - Abe looked a bit guilty, and not at all surprised.
"You knew about this already?"
"I might have." The merman replied, avoiding Myers' eyes.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"You were to find out about it, eventually."
"Yeah, but still." Myers sighed, frustrated. "I could've used the heads up."
"I am sorry, John. It is hard sometimes, to be a friend to both you and Margot. I try not to get in the middle of your argument."
"Fine." Myers replied, taking a seat. "I just-"
"You're confused."
"Yes, I am." he said. "She's staying here? For what? I do not know what to make of this."
"Then perhaps you should talk to her about it." Abe suggested. "You know you must do that, sooner or later."
Myers sighed. If only it was that easy! He had tried to reach her during these past few days, calling to Kat's room, knocking on her door… but Margot never answered. They had passed each other on the hallways a couple of times - every sight of her making Myers heart skip a beat. But she hadn't even replied when he'd greeted her.
"I tried to talk to her, multiple times. She keeps avoiding me, and telling me to shut up."
"Then you must try harder." Abe said. "And not lose hope."
After about half an hour, Myers stepped into the mess hall, immediately noticing the person he had been searching for.
Yup, there she was - Margot. It had been worth the trouble, to blackmail Kat into telling her friend's whereabouts, by promising to buy her the biggest chocolate cheesecake of the nearest Cheesecake Factory. Not a tough bargain, that one.
Margot was sitting on the furthermost table, wearing a pair of super tight blue jeans, and an over sized T-shirt with a print: "I want to believe." She held a huge coffee mug on her gloved fingers, aimlessly leafing through a fashion magazine, though her mind clearly wasn't in it.
She looked so small, so thin and pale, that Myers' heart immediately filled with worry. She looked like someone who'd been through hell, and he had a feeling, he might be the one responsible for that. It wasn't a nice thought, and it brought a bitter taste of self loathe onto his lips.
Slowly he walked closer, and stopped in front of her - making her finally look up from the magazine.
"You." she said, her eyes narrowing. "Get lost."
Right. A great start.
But he wasn't about to get this easily discouraged. He pulled a chair for himself, and took a seat opposite to her. Leaning slightly closer, he looked her straight in the eye.
"We need to talk."
"I can't see why." Margot's tone was indifferent, and she was browsing the magazine again.
"I read Manning's report." Myers said. "It said you're staying here."
"Yes." Margot replied, not looking up. She took a cool, slow sip of her coffee mug and turned a page of her magazine.
"Why?"
"None of your business. All you need to know, was in the report."
Myers was silent for a few heartbeats.
Yeah, Margot wasn't making this easy for him. But still, this was the first time they actually sat on the same table and talked, after the break up. And Margot hadn't even punched him in the face yet, which had to count for something.
"So it's really just work, then. The reason you're staying." Myers continued. He felt his cheeks blushing slightly as Margot finally looked up to meet his eyes.
"What, you thought it was because of you?" her tone was venomous.
"Not really."
"Good. Because it isn't."
"Okay." Myers sighed. "But Margot, if you've decided to stay here, we're going to have to work together. How do you see that working out? You hate my guts."
There was a flash of anger in her pretty, green eyes, and it made Myers nervous.
"I do. But I can be a professional."
"Can you?"
"Yes." Margot stated. "Besides, I've asked Manning to assign us on separate missions, if possible."
Okay, Margot was angry, but she still wasn't running away or hitting his face. Myers felt somewhat encouraged by those notions.
"That's impossible, and you know it." He stated, trying to keep his voice calm and smooth. "I work with Red, he works with Kat and I bet you want to work with Kat too. So, there we are, in the same team. And I'm not prepared to give up my job, not for this."
After all, he had already given up everything else for her - his sanity, his heart and his self respect. The job was all he had left, and he wasn't going to lose that too. Not even for Margot.
Margot didn't say a thing, just stared at her coffee mug, her pale face not revealing any emotion.
"Margot?"
"Yeah." She looked up to meet his eyes, and shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I can be civilized, if I want to. Was that all?"
"No."
He hesitated for a moment.
There was one thing he needed to say to her. The only thing that mattered. The thought that kept him awake at night, that made it impossible for him to sleep, and which dominated his every waking hour as well.
"I'm still in love with you, Margot." he confessed, his voice almost failing him. "Just thought you should know."
"You don't get to talk to me about love, you motherfucker." Margot's words were like cold steel that cut through his heart. "Never say that to me again, or I'll show you just how uncivilized I can be."
"Fine." he said. "Understood."
"That's the deal." Margot breathed, through her teeth. Her hands, holding her coffee mug, were shaking slightly now. "We talk about work only, nothing else. No exceptions."
"Okay."
"So, anything else you needed to say?"
"Just that it's good to have you back." he said. "Even if it's just for work. I missed you."
"Hey, didn't you get what I just said?" Margot's voice was stretched with anger. "Work only, no chit chat."
"Right." Myers replied. "I get it. But just so that you know, I really-"
"God, were you always this slow?! Just get lost already!" Margot snapped. "Leave me be! If it's not work, I don't want to hear it."
"Yeah, I'll get lost in a second. But I'f we're going to work together, you need to know, that I realize I owe you. You've saved my life, twice now, and I haven't forgotten. I'm in your debt. Whatever you need, just tell me."
He'd spoken from his heart, and he saw now how his words cut through her defenses.
There was a short moment of silence, no more than a few heartbeats. But it was just enough for him to see something in her eyes - a flash of the old Margot, a short glimpse of her soft, vulnerable soul, the one he'd touched with his mind so many times. But it was gone in a second, replaced by her hardened cover, by hate and scorn.
"What I need, is for you to shut up, and leave me in peace." Margot breathed. "Can you just do that, before I lose my temper?"
"I don't mind you losing your temper. I never did." Myers said, but stood up nevertheless. "I love it. I love you, all of you. And your bad temper is the thing, that saved my life."
Margot blinked a few times, her cheeks blushing - with rage or something else, he couldn't tell. But when she spoke, her words were sharp and cold as dagger blades.
"Go to Hell."
"Been through it already." Myers stated, turning his back to her, starting to walk away. "Nothing new there."
"Go fuck yourself!" Margot cried out. "I hate you!"
Yeah, better not to answer that.
He walked out of the mess hall, all the time waiting for Margot to throw a magazine, or a coffee mug at him, or aim a fierce telekinetic blow at him. But none of those things happened, and he was able to leave, physically unharmed.
That went alright, I guess. He thought to himself when heading towards his room. At least she was talking to him again, even if half or it had been cursing and telling for him to get lost. But still, it was better than nothing.
Actually, it was quite alright.
For he suddenly remebered something Kat had said. That Margot did hate him, but didn't loathe him. The difference being - according to Kat - that hate was the opposite pole of love, and therefore could switch back just as easily, at any given moment.
All he had to do, was to not lose hope.