Chapter 2: Old Habits
It was a cool autumn day roughly three weeks after Genesis' initial integration into Time Force. Things were still very new and very rough for the teenage girl who up until being forced to join Time Force had, had everything go her own way. It had been a particularly long day and Genesis was in the locker room taking off her utility belt so that she could hit up the cafeteria to grab some lunch when her mentor and super visor Officer Adam Dane approached her.
Adam cleared his throat to get Genesis' attention which caught her off guard causing her to flinch before turning around "shit you scared me" she said rolling her eyes as she turned back to her locker where she hung her utility belt up on its hook. She wasn't sure what Adam wanted as she always had free range to do as she pleased during lunch hour so as long as it followed company rules.
"Come with me" Adam made the simple request hoping to easily convince the brunette to come with him on a lunch time venture away from the station for a change. He looked on at Genesis who kept her back to him for what seemed like an eternity. He just didn't understand the procrastination in teenagers. Adam wasn't far off from his teenage years himself but he thought at the age of twenty-two he had a little bit more wisdom than, not only Genesis but a lot of the incoming rookies.
Turning towards Adam, Genesis lifted her perfectly shaped eyebrow as she looked at him with curiosity and a bit of attitude "where are we going?" she asked. She really truly deep down had nothing against Adam himself. What she was having a problem with was adjusting to her new life on the force. While she was technically just a rookie in training she was still working the regular beat as any seasoned officer would be working. It was like being on a fast track that she had no control over and it made her uncomfortable. She didn't have quite as much animosity towards the whole thing as she did on the first day but she was still cautious and even a bit angry that she had to go through the whole thing just because she was screwing up in school.
Adam let out an amused breath as he watched Genesis in all of the greatness that was Genesis before answering her question "I'm taking you away form headquarters for lunch today. You deserve it" he told her waiting for the eye roll that much to his surprise he did not receive from Genesis. "You've made some vast improvements over the last three weeks. I'm proud of you so I want to show my appreciation for your cooperation however hard it may have been to do" Adam said flashing Genesis the smallest hint of a smile. "Come on let's go" he said turning part way towards the direction of the locker room door hoping that she would follow behind him.
With a sigh Genesis closed her locker which gave a distinct beeping sound to indicate that it was now locked and secure. She took a step towards Adam and paused "you know my dad won't give two shits about the progress I've made" she said looking at him in all seriousness. It was sad and it was true. The Alex that Genesis had grown up with until the age of fourteen was not the Alex that fathered her today. She wasn't sure what happened to him but part of her wanted to find out. How can a seemingly kind man, strict but kind, turn into such an abusive monster?
"It doesn't matter what he thinks as long as you're happy" Adam said as he proceeded to walk out of the locker room with Genesis not far behind him. The two walked down the long hallway to the lobby of the Time Force headquarters then out the front door where Adam's patrol car was sitting waiting for them.
"I am happy. I must admit, this is a lot better than school" Genesis said with a genuine laugh as she followed Adam out of the building into the crisp autumn air. Picking up the pace a bit so she was along side Adam, Genesis looked down for a moment. Could this possibly be true? Was she actually happy for the first time in what felt like an eternity? She was cautious to the emotion as she pressed on following Adam to his patrol car.
Speeding up ever so slightly as they came upon the patrol car Adam reached out grabbing the handle to the passenger side door which he opened for Genesis. Perking her head up Genesis looked at Adam in surprise as if someone had never opened a door for her. The action brought a flush to her cheeks that she tried to hide by turning her eyes to the ground. "Thank you" she said lifting her eyes to his briefly before climbing into the passenger seat. From her place in the passenger seat she grabbed the seatbelt which she pulled over her chest and clicked into place.
After closing the passenger side door Adam jogged around to the driver's side where he opened the door and slipped into the driver's seat. Grabbing his seatbelt he pulled it too over his chest clicking it into place then punched in the ignition code on the keypad bringing the car to life. "Are you warm enough?" Adam asked glancing in Genesis' direction as he put the car into gear and put on his signal before pulling out onto the street.
Genesis folded her hands together in her lap staying quiet for a moment before answering "yes". Her words were so simple. She wasn't used to people doing nice things for her or caring for her in anyway that wasn't abusive. Sure her mother would be kind to her but Genesis had to admit to herself she was a bit of a bitch and she got the harsh treatment she deserved from her parents. Although, Jen, her mother was much more easy going on her than Alex was. Genesis knew that if she said one wrong thing in front of this person she called a father that she would surely feel and hear the wrath of his uncontrollable anger.
Adam fell silent now knowing what to say so he kept his eyes on the road as he drove them away from the Time Force headquarters towards a smaller part of town that held some amazing restaurants. While most restaurants in 3019 were operated by machines there were a few that were still owned by humans and one of those was where Adam had intentions of taking Genesis. He always felt that he was an old soul because he enjoyed human interaction so much. So much was now controlled by machine and robot that the personal touches of most things had gone by the wayside.
After driving a short distance Adam pulled the cruiser up to the restaurant he had chosen for them to dine at and hit the kill switch to shut down the cars engine. "I hope this is okay" Adam prompted as he unbuckled his seatbelt letting it retract behind him as he turned his face to Genesis gauging her reaction to where he had brought her. It was far from an upscale restaurant but it was a nice diner.
"It's fine" Genesis said giving a half smile as she unbuckled her seatbelt letting it retract behind her. She glanced at Adam then grabbed the door handle giving it a pull as she pushed the door open and climbed out closing the door behind her. Adam wasn't far behind as he too climbed out of the patrol unit closing the door softly behind him before walking around the car. With a motion of his head towards the establishment he smiled and began to walk up the sidewalk to the restaurant. Genesis gave a slight roll of her eyes with a smirk and followed Adam up the pathway to the doors that opened automatically for the pair.
Adam ushered Genesis in ahead of him trying to be a gentleman which only prompted another eye roll from Genesis who reluctantly walked in ahead of him. Following behind Genesis Adam looked around the relatively empty restaurant "where do you want to sit?" he asked giving Genesis the option of where they sat in case she wanted to sit somewhere private. He knew she was still embarrassed about being a part of Time Force and maybe even about being seen with him as he was a well known and well respected officer.
"It doesn't matter" Genesis responded looking around at all of the other people that were sitting happily eating and conversing with one another. She felt oddly out of place even though they were just at a restaurant. It wasn't like they were on a date or anything and that didn't make her nervous. It had to be the uniforms she thought to herself. Everyone would be able to tell that they were Time Force officers and it would be even more obvious that she was a rookie as she was not allowed to take her utility belt out with her unless she was on duty.
"Over here" Adam said leading Genesis to a small two person table that was placed by one of the windows. It wasn't totally private so they didn't raise suspicion. Yes they were in uniform but it was very obviously that Genesis was young, maybe even underage and she was; she was only seventeen. At the table Adam pulled out the chair for Genesis then took a seat opposite of her.
Genesis shook her head with the hint of a smile as she sat down "so what's good here?" she asked as she picked up one of the digital menus that were placed in a clear Plexiglas holder in the center of the table.
"Just about anything" Adam stated as he too took a menu and began to scroll through it with his finger, "personally I recommend the chicken Cesar salad" he said his eyes glued to the menu as he tried to decide what he wanted to eat. He wasn't really that hungry if he had to be completely honest. He just wanted to get Genesis away from the station for a little while. He knew how overwhelming it could be to be a rookie and couldn't even imagine what it was like to be an officer in training while being on active duty as a rookie. With his eyes turned down he heard what sounded to be metal dragging across an unknown surface. Raising his eyes he furrowed his brow his attention turning to Genesis, "what was that?" he asked.
Genesis looked up from her menu wide eyed with a sheepish smile "I…I don't know" she lied pressing her lips together hoping Adam didn't press the matter even further. She knew he would though. Even though she'd only known him a mere three weeks she was really getting to know the man that was Officer Adam Dane.
Adam smirked as it dawned on him exactly what it was; it was a tongue ring running across teeth. While they weren't nearly as popular now as they were a century ago they were still seen among a certain crowd. A crowd that Genesis probably would be running with in school, "I thought we got all of them" he stated referring to the removal of all of Genesis' piercings at her intake into Time Force.
"Come on Adam. I mean sir. I mean Officer Dane" Genesis stuttered a look of desperation on her face as if it was a prized possession. As if it was the one thing that kept her grounded to the person she used to be and she was. It was a part of who she used to a part of her she didn't want to let go of yet as she was still finding her new identity.
Adam let out a sigh of defeat shaking his head "just don't let Logan see it" he told her as he put his menu down. "I don't think I've ever seen one of those before. I mean not on any incoming recruits anyway" he said his eyes falling upon her and lingering longer than he intended. He didn't know what it was about this girl, this teenage girl with the worldly experience of a fly. There was something about Genesis that captivated Adam; he just couldn't put his finger on exactly what that was however.
Genesis put her menu down as well and glanced up catching Adam's eyes on her, watching her ever so intently. Shrugging it off her eyes moved to the badge pinned to Adam's chest causing her to furrow her brow. It was the first time she'd actually looked at the name on it. "What does the 'K' stand for?" she asked snapped Adam from his stare.
"What?" Adam asked slightly confused by Genesis' question and because he had been shaken from his unintentional gaze in her direction. His eyes met with hers as he watched her curious as to what exactly she was talking about. It didn't dawn on him that she was questioning the name on his badge because he was so used to it that he didn't give it a second thought anymore.
"Your badge" Genesis replied with great curiosity, "Dane, K. Adam" she stated looking Adam directly in the eyes as if she was trying to uncover some deep seeded secret. He looked back at her with cautious eyes. Maybe what she had asked him was a deep seeded secret. She patiently waited for an answer to her question.
"Oh…it's nothing" Adam came back at her as he picked his menu up once again turning his eyes to the digital display on the screen. He really didn't want to let the cat out of the bag. It was a curse that had followed him around since childhood and for some reason he felt vulnerable to Genesis for the first time since they'd met as it was a touchy subject.
"Come on, what is it?" Genesis pushed. She could tell that the topic was making him uncomfortable but her unwavering curiosity was getting the best of her and she had no intention of letting up on the topic until Adam finally caved and told her the story behind the unique name on his badge.
"Okay…" Adam sighed putting the menu back down; however he did not make eye contact with Genesis as he finally answered her question. "Adam is my middle name" he told her feeling as though he was baring his soul to a complete stranger, "my first name is Kelly, it's a bit of a curse. Logan let me use my middle name just as I have been doing since I was about fourteen" Adam stated only to be met by an eruption of laughter coming from the young woman who sat across the table from him.
"I'm sorry" Genesis said pressing her lips together to stifle her laughter. This was definitely a first for her. Sure there were other people from school that she knew that had unisex names but she'd never actually met a fully grown man named Kelly. Not one that would openly admit it to a closed minded teenager.
Adam became angry shaking his head as he stood pushing back his chair causing it to screech across the floor "and yet here you are proving me wrong. I really thought you were making progress but you've just proved that you are the same immature teenage girl that I met three weeks ago" he spat at her defensively.
"Sit down Adam, I mean Kelly!" Genesis laughed seeming to have reverted back to her immature ways by teasing Adam about his name. She would soon come to regret it but in the moment that old side of her was rearing its ugly head as she laughed taunting him for his sincerity towards her.
"You're walking back to the station" Adam said starting towards the door, "and you better hope that you get there before I do or you can kiss that tongue ring goodbye" he said pausing to see if Genesis had the audacity to come back at him with more taunting or her signature attitude.
"That's not fair!" Genesis yelled standing up from the table quickly, staring at the back of Adam's head waiting for him to say that he was kidding. Surely he wouldn't make her walk all the way back to the station. It wasn't' that far but she didn't really didn't want to walk back.
"Life isn't fair" Adam clapped back at her before making a quick exit from the diner. Outside he walked with anger tinted haste to his waiting patrol car where he grabbed the driver's side door handle pulling the door open. Glancing up at the doors he saw Genesis heading through the automatic sliding glass doors. Shaking his head he slid into the driver's seat before pulling the door closed behind him. He then grabbed his seatbelt jerking it over his chest and clicking into place followed by aggressively punching in the ignition code bringing the engine to life. By the time he glanced out the side window Genesis was headed towards the car but he just shook his head as he put it into gear and pulled away from the curb making a u-turn to head back to Time Force headquarters.
"Adam!" Genesis yelled as Adam drove out of sight. Folding her arms over her chest in a huff she let out an angry groan and stomped her feet as she began walking down the sidewalk in the direction of the station. She couldn't believe he was taking this whole thing so seriously. There was no way that she was going to beat him back to headquarters so she could only hope that he wasn't really going to rat her out for concealing her tongue ring during her body search.
Genesis walked with resolve all the way back to Time Force headquarters where she saw Adam leaning against the side of his patrol unit waiting for her. Just the mere sight of him ignited a whole new fit of rage from deep within her soul. As she finally came upon him she threw her hands up in the air with exasperation "how could you make me walk all the way back?!" she spat at him, "how did you even know I'd come back and not just take off? Did you think of that?!" she yelled. Genesis was walking about ten feet of the ground she was so furious with Adam but he just seemed completely at ease as he watched her with what appeared to be amusement playing at his features.
Adam shook his head letting out a scoff. How could he make her walk all the way back to the station? It was a pretty damn easy decision in all honesty "how could you been so insensitive?" he quipped, "oh wait, I think it runs in the family!" he shot at her immediately regretting it as he felt the sharp stink of Genesis' palm crossing his cheek with a resounding smack.
"You are a jackass!" Genesis shouted at him shaking her hand slightly. She'd been in fights before but those were fist fights, she'd never actually bitch slapped someone before and she had to admit it stung a little bit.
Grabbing his cheek Adam ran his hand over the reddening skin "okay I deserved that" he said feeling guilty about lashing out at Genesis the way that he did. He was doing exactly what he had witnessed, Alex, her father doing only just not to the same degree but it was still a form of verbal abuse. "I'm sorry" Adam apologized his features softening as he brought his arms to cross over his chest.
"Yes you did" Genesis snapped as she crossed her arms over her chest her blue eyes narrowing at Adam as she stared him down. She was so used to people talking down to her it was really no surprise that it was only a matter of time until Adam did it too. Everybody always did it, why should he be any different?
"You just lost any privileges you thought you had" Adam told her sternly his eyes narrowing in return as he exchanged gazes with her. It was a Mexican stand off between the two, a battle of wills and Adam had no intentions of breaking before Genesis did. She needed to some kind of punishment for her behavior because it certainly wasn't acceptable.
"Listen," Genesis said copping an attitude, her signature attitude, "I don't like you. I can't stand you" she said with a threatening tone in her voice. She was just waiting for the challenge to be extended to her. Everybody that ever tested her came to regret it with the exception of her father. He was the only person that Genesis truly feared more than anyone in the entire world.
Adam's features softened and he shook his head still looking at Genesis "but I like you" he told her, "which is why I'm not giving up so easily. Tonight we stay after our shift ends. I'm going to run you on the course until you feel like you're dying" he stated. It wasn't meant to be a threat to her, he just wanted her to know that he wasn't giving up on her that easily and by pushing her physically he figured that he would be able to get rid of some of her built up animosity.
Genesis rolled her eyes scoffing at Adam "you don't scare me" she informed him with an amused look crossing her face. She really didn't think that he was going to run her ragged; he was too much of a softy for that.
"Yet" Adam challenged her. He had every intention of making Genesis earn his respect and not just his respect but respect for herself, no matter what it took he was going to do it and today was just day one.
To Be Continued…