Mimi and Jack stepped out of the cab and walked across the pavement. Stepping into the cool foyer of The Bank, they glanced about before heading towards the back wall. Mimi's hand went to the small security panel but Jack caught her fingers and stopped her from triggering the entry.
"We wait." He said simply as he released her hand and stood back against the wall. "You need to apologise to her." He paid little attention to Mimi's stern glare and closed his eyes. "No buts Azrael. You know that there are things more important than petty jealousy going on right now."
"I suppose." Mimi replied warily as she stood beside him, her eyes roving across the small crowd. The Van Alen half breed wasn't in sight and with any luck she wouldn't turn up. Schuyler was a strange aberration that had no business existing, much less attending a committee meeting. What did she know of their struggle? She had never stood with or against the heavenly host. What had her mother been thinking to inflict her on the world? She could never truly be comfortable, too much a blue blood for the human world and not enough of a blue blood for their world. She scuffed her toe against the floor as her thoughts ranged further and she tried to find out just what bothered her about the other girl. It wasn't Van Alen's fault for existing but, she breathed a huge sigh, Schuyler was a rogue element, dangerous and far too human. But she knew that was only part of it, her infatuation with Jack wasn't something to be taken lightly either. Yet she had promised to be at least polite to the half breed and Mimi took her promises seriously. As she watched the small crowd of red bloods cross the foyer she wondered how she could manage treating Sky with respect. The silence lengthened between them and she watched the clock slowly tick by. Two Blue Bloods walked across the room and entered the elevator, nodding as they walked past.
"What do you think Forsyth wants?" She asked as the door slid shut.
"What do any of us want?" Jack replied lightly, crossing his arms as he relaxed against the wall.
"Don't be cute." Mimi snapped, tapping her elegant fingers against her chin in agitation. "Forsyth has done nothing this cycle and now he calls a meeting." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and bit her lip. "I don't like it."
"Well what would you like?" Jack retorted without opening his eyes. "He just lost his wife, cut the man some slack."
"I guess." Mimi murmurred. "You weren't there though Jack, you didn't see how high the corruption had spread. I don't know who to trust anymore."
Jack opened his eyes and looked at her. "You can trust me." He said, taking her hand. "and I know that I can trust you. This meeting could be a good thing." Mimi said nothing, enjoying the feel of his hand against hers. "Maybe now something will get done about the croatan."
"Well we're about to find out." Mimi nodded her head towards the main doors and the figures of Schuyler and Oliver. "It's showtime."
Sky walked across the floor, her fingers clasped in Oliver's hand as Jack and Mimi Force came into view. They stood like a pair of bookends, blonde and perfect against the wall as they watched her approach. Her heart ached as she took in the clasped hands of the twins. Mimi released Jack's hand and walked forward, her perfect features bearing a slightly uncomfortable expression as she reached Sky's side. Schuyler stopped walking and stared at Mimi.
"I'm going to talk Van Alen and you are going to shut up and listen to what I have to say." Mimi hissed as she came to a halt. Sky felt her mouth open in shock but Mimi held up an imperious finger. "No.. you just listen. I don't like you Van Alen. I think you're a dangerous mistake that dresses like a bag lady.." Oliver took a step forward but Mimi glared at him. "No Hazard-Perry, she needs to hear this."
"Christ Force why are you such a bitch?" Oliver's words grated across the space between them. Mimi moved and caught hold of his wrist, exerting enough pressure to make him wince.
"I said to shut up conduit."
"Let go of him Mimi." Sky found her voice and she snarled at the other girl. "Leave him alone."
"Then you should keep a better leash on him." Mimi let go of Oliver's hand and she turned to face Schuyler. "As I was saying. I don't like you for many reasons, but I guess your half breed status is not your fault.." She glanced over her shoulder at Jack. "And neither is your affair with Jack. You did save my neck Van Alen and I am grateful." Mimi swallowed once and plunged ahead. "I'm sorry for trying to summon a croatoan on you and risking your life." Sky started, unsure if she had really just heard Mimi Force apologise. In rapid fire fashion, Mimi rushed through her small speech, inwardly wincing at every word. "We won't be friends or even casual acquaintances, but I will try to be..." Her mouth worked as though she were struggling with something unpleasant. "Nice. I won't get in your face and I hope you won't get in mine. Do we have a deal?"
"No not until you say sorry to Oliver." Sky snapped out, stunned by the way the conversation had gone, but fuming at the blonde's casual abuse of her oldest friend.
Mimi turned and glanced at Sky. "You what?" She asked, clearly stunned by what had just come out of Sky's mouth.
"You heard. I'll be willing to bury the hatchet on everything you've done to me, if you apologise to Ollie. He's not a thing to be used."
Mimi opened and closed her mouth several times, clearly struggling with the notion of apologising to a human. After several moments, the blonde finally looked straight at Oliver and in the sickliest of sweet voices she said.
"I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I will not do it again." She then glared at Schuyler. "Are we sorted?" Sky nodded, too amazed to even speak. By Mimi's standards, this conversation was practically friendly. Mimi took the nod and turned away, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation. As Oliver nursed his sore wrist, the three of them started to walk towards the entrance to the committee rooms and Jack.
Are you all friends now Jack's voice echoed sardonically in Mimi's mind as, with a face like thunder, she returned to his side.
Don't push it. Mimi sent back sourly as she pressed the panel to the elevator and they all crowded inside. The doors slid shut and they were carried down in an uncomfortable silence.