"Well that went well." Mimi noted drily as the loud banging of the front door ended their conversation with Schuyler. "Perhaps she'll stop mooning after you like a lost calf now." The resonant tones of Azrael had died and there was only Mimi Force, petulant and scathing, left in the sitting room.
"Mimi." Jack pulled back from her and threw himself down on the sofa, his face darkening slightly with anger. "Why do you do that? Why put her down? It's not her fault that she fell in love." He reached for the whisky and poured himself another glass, wishing that he could get drunk as easily as the red bloods. "The girl saved your life, if you can't be grateful at least be civil." Downing the whisky in one gulp, he poured another. Silence settled over the pair of them and he stared at the green eyes of his twin. "Are you even sorry that you tried to kill her?"
A long sigh escaped her perfect lips and she patted herself down, hunting for a pack of cigarettes that were no longer there. Frustrated with her search, she twined her fingers together and stared at her brother. "The truth?" She asked, dragging her fingers through her mane of golden hair as she took a breath.
"If possible." Jack confirmed, his voice sardonic and he sat back, waiting for her to speak.
"Alright.. the truth." Mimi closed her eyes and continued to speak. "though I don't know why you're asking..."
"Mimi.." A soft growl from his lips and she bent her head.
"I guess I overreacted, but I can't really say I'm sorry." She clutched the arms of the chair and waited for the bomb to fall. "I believe she's dangerous and a loose canon. There's no reason for her to exist, she shouldn't exist. Her mother should not have been able to conceive her."
"Are you trying to tell me that it had nothing to do with jealousy?" Jack's voice was mocking and Mimi opened her eyes to stare at him.
"That too." She added airily as she waved a languid hand in the air. "I made a mistake. I stepped from the path and I know I shouldn't have." She stood and reached for the pocket of her coat, dragging a slim pack of cigarettes from the pocket and lighting one up with relish. "But I still think she's a danger and not just to us, but to our community and I wonder if keeping her alive will come and bite us in the arse."
"Mimi sometimes I really don't know what to make of you." Jack pulled himself out of his chair and walked over to her. "I love you but when you talk like this, it gets me so angry. Why is it so hard for you to apologise to Schuyler and say thank you?"
Mimi tapped the ash of the cigarette into an strategically placed ashtray and leant forward. Beneath the crown of golden hair, her green eyes gleamed intelligently as she rolled them with exasperation. "It's simple really." She announced in the bright, patronising tones she usually reserved for what she considered 'absolute losers'.
"Mimi is the daughter of Charles Force, queen bee of Duchesne." She ticked off the facts as though she were reciting a list. "But Mimi is also Azrael, old, wise and possessed of multitude of qualities, including but not limited to death on a spectacular scale." She took another puff from the cigarette and continued. "You know as well as I do that the memories do not overwrite years of being one person. How do you think sixteen year old Mimi Force deals with the knowledge that she's also Azrael? Do you think she will grow up overnight and realize that her new identity is the one she should be listening to or does she keep being the one that she's been up till this point?"
"You're struggling with the transition." Jack breathed the words, finally realising just what the issue was.
"Well done, give that man a gold star." Mimi clapped her hands once; twice and took another drag. "I have been Mimi Force for sixteen years, enough time to have the personality that goes with the position of spoiled, emotionally bereft Manhatten socialite. I have also accessed my past. Imagine my confusion when I realise that me as Azrael is somewhat different. Granted we are both deeply in love with you and jealous when that love is threatened but Mimi is more immediate, viscious and immature."
"You don't have multiple personalities, they're the same person..." Jack reached forward and removed the cigarette from her fingers.
"I know, but me as Mimi is different to me as Azrael. And while parts of our personality combine, the one connected to the world of flesh is the one that's top."
"And Mimi Force doesn't apologise." Jack stubbed out the cigarette and returned his hands to hers. "In that case, could Azrael apologise?" Mimi went to pull back, but he held her fingers and pulled her closer. "Azrael should have no problems in asking for forgiveness. She has experience." His voice was low, seductive as he pulled her from the chair and into his arms.
"You're not playing fair." Mimi murmurred against his lips and she could feel him smile.
"Did you ever expect me to? Apologise to Schuyler Mimi and at least be polite. I'm not asking you to exchange friendship bracelets, but enough of the hostility. It's counterproductive."
"You're not even going to look at her birth?" Her lips brushed against his as she spoke, delicate pressure that sent waves of warmth through her body.
"Why should I? There's no evidence that she's a danger beyond your jealousy. And it that you don't have to worry anymore." She went to protest but he sealed her lips with his. Silenced and dragged into a world of bliss, Mimi decided to at least play nice with Schuyler for now, but that didn't mean she would trust her. As Jack lifted her into his arms and she wound her fingers into his hair, her thoughts focused on Schuyler Van Alen and how she could apologise to the woman she despised.