Lucy had mopped in moderate silence for hours, Michelle occassionally leaving to change the water in their bucket or get Lucy more water. Michelle talked constantly, but Lucy didn't seem to mind. Maybe she just liked having someone with her. Clay heard her too, of course, but didn't really listen. He tried to read Lucy's face, and figure out what was on her mind. Whatever thoughts she had were locked up tighter than Alcatraz, though, and Clay couldn't get a read on her. He could tell she was upset, but little else.
They worked well together, never getting in each other's way. The walls were all clear, and most of the floors had been cleaned as well. The remaining symbols were watery and came off easily with a quick sweep of Lucy's mop. Much to Michelle's delight, they were finished shortly after the sun had risen. And much to Clay's, he didn't feel tired. Even Lucy let a smile out when she stood upright and looked over the room. Both women had blood on their hands and forearms, as well as some on their clothing, hair, and faces, where their hands had touched. Considering the state it was in initially, however, they were surprisingly clean.
He hated being so idile, he was used to keeping himself busy. Even as a child he would be out helping his father paint the porch, or build a bird house. He had been alone to think for too long. Just sitting here, waiting. He supposed he could try to learn more about the Templars, or something. But it seemed a mute point now. What could he find that he didn't already know? Who would he tell? Even if he could leave this place, he didn't know where to find Bill or Rebecca, and he didn't know many other Assassins. On the off-chance he could find them, they wouldn't be able to hear him.
It was very crippling. He couldn't do anything. No matter what he heard or saw, he couldn't stop it or tell anyone. He could only watch events unfold in front of him.
Clay was still sitting casually in the same chair when the two picked up their things and turned to leave, wondering if they'd have time to shower before they started work. Lucy turned to Clay's room for a moment and hesitated.
"Hey, 'Chelle, thanks for staying up and helping me. I never could have finished all that alone. Really appreciate it. But, uh, listen. I'll catch you in a few, okay? I have to get somethings from his room. Get it ready, you know." Her voice was strong and clear. But Clay knew her well enough to know she wasn't alright, her smile was weary and staged. Michelle opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Lucy's eyes stopped her. She stood there a moment, not sure if she should talk. Her mouth opened and closed again, making her look a little like a confused guppy. Eventually, she nodded.
"Alright. If you need anything. Anything at all." And with that, she took the mop, bucket, and sponge out with her. Lucy waited a moment before going to Clay's room. He, of course, followed her there.
She checked under his pillow and mattress before retrieving clean sheets from the closet and replacing the bloody ones. Once the bed was made, she began to rummage through the drawers in his nightstand. All three were empty. Clay knew what she was looking for, though. And she would never find it, not without his help. Of course he wanted her to find them, they were hers, really.
"Luce, the mirror is loose. Take it down, there's a crack in the wall behind it." He said it mostly to himself, not expecting her to hear. But then something crazy happened. Crazy by his standards. She got a confused expression, and curiously walked to the bathroom. She went straight to the mirror and pulled on the edges. Could it be a coincidence? Clay didn't know. "Try pulling it upwards." But she just kept tugging at it, before sighing and resting her hands on the sink. She shook her head and looked up at her reflection.
"You're loosing it." The image was disturbingly familiar to Clay, only with Lucy in his place. She fixed her hair and splashed her face, and left the room. As usual, Clay was on her heels. She stopped to pick up a few things from her work area. Her pen, an empty glass, and a clipboard. Her pen... Christ, she didn't know that's what he had used? He felt a little sick when she held it in her teeth to collect her papers. Lucy waved the pen in front of the door and it opened, a green light on the keypad inviting her through. But Clay wasn't just going to wait for her to come back again.
If he could only watch, he would watch where he saw fit. Right now, he saw it fit to keep with Lucy. He slipped out the door beside her. The guards were gone, with nothing left in the room to watch over. But he still checked over his shoulder wearily every few steps. He had been caught out here one too many times to forget. Lucy's pace was difficult to keep, as always. She didn't look up from her clipboard, miraculasly making every turn and stop without crashing into anyone.
The number of people in the hallways was shocking to Clay. Everyone had somewhere to be, something to do and someone to meet. He had only been out here late at night or during alerts, so he supposed it made sense there was no one in the halls then. The croud made him a little uneasy, and though he did his best to keep Lucy in sight, he lost her twice before she stopped at a door. He almost walked right into her she stopped so suddenly. She must know this place better than her own house.
She didn't linger, though. She dropped a few papers off through a slit in the door and resumed her brisk pace. Clay was completely lost by the time she stopped again at an elevator. Clay barely slipped in behind her before the door shut. He glanced over at the buttons, half expecting to be on floor 16. He scoffed at the actual number, 4. Square root of 16. Everything seemed to somehow add up to 16 in his life, now. Some joke by fate.
Lucy pressed the button for the main floor. There were two others in the elevator, also going to the main floor. Clay didn't recognise them. A man and a woman, both in labcoats. One busying herself with notes, the other checking over her math. Lucy just nodded at them and gave a polite smile. He suspected she didn't know them well, either.
Clay followed closely behind her when she left.