Finally! Lord this has taken forever the holidays were killing me. This one is a bit longer than the others but I had a lot that I wanted to cover. Sincerely thank you for all the support once again and honest opinions. A small favour to ask though if someone could send me some more info on Beta readers it would be appreciated. It was pointed out I could benefit from one so I will certainly look into it I'm just not sure where to start.
…
It's the middle of the afternoon and probably the first time in a long while that the gym has been so full of life. The room feels like the furnace has been turned on in the middle of summer and the sun shining in through the floor to ceiling windows isn't helping. The gym is one of two in Motta towers and is on one of four floors not accessible to the general inhabitants of the building.
Sugar is sitting off to the side with the Silver Arrow their game of chess sitting abandoned as they exchange nervous glances as the scene unfolds. Hours ago Santana and Brittany walked out of the elevator giggling with their pinkies locked together and now they seemed more likely to scream at one another than laugh.
The tension raises thick in the air with the only sounds grunts of effort from Brittany and the rhythmic sound of fists and feet on a punching bag. After a while her hits become slow and soft as the energy withers from her already exhausted body. She sags heavily into the punching bag her wrapped hands shaking as she grabs onto the chains that connect it to the mounting bracket. Her chest heaves in and out as her lungs and muscles scream for oxygen and rest.
There is no rest coming however as Santana's eyes dart suddenly up from where she had been staring holes into the punching bag. "Don't stop. Start again, keep your guard up this time you're leaving yourself open for attack" She chastises firmly. She's leaning into the punching bag holding it steady with all the enthusiasm of a depressed child. She studies her nails or stares emotionless at the bag and not a word of encouragement has left her lips since they began.
Brittany forces a breath of air from her nostrils and pushes back from the punching bag her legs feeling like jelly beneath her. The sweat is pouring off of her now and soaking what little clothing she is still wearing. The loose shorts are sticking uncomfortably to her skin and the sports bra feels irritatingly wet but it's hard to think of those things while her muscles scream at her to stop. The problem is that she doesn't know how to stop anymore, something has switched on inside of her and its driving her forward.
There's a rush of adrenaline or maybe just rage that pumps through her veins and feeds her muscles enough misinformation that they allow her to continue. Her movements are precise and her strikes tight and on target but there is no sly smile of confidence on her face like there was when she first began. Now she wears a look of sheer determination and focus as she follows through with each strike and calculates the next combination before she completes it.
Her muscles can only be fooled for so long and she has to stop her last punch lands weakly against the bag. She coughs and sputters stepping backwards as her body doubles over. Her hands clasped tightly to her knees she heaves in the oxygen as fast as her lungs will take it. She's too tired to heal herself and right now she isn't even entirely sure she can stand up let alone throw another punch.
Santana's fingers drum anxiously against the punching bag as she watches Brittany struggle to stay on her feet. Her instincts are in command and they want her moving forward to catch the girl in case she falls. Her heart wants her to stop pushing Brittany to the edge but she knows better than to listen to them.
Brittany's head hangs the sweat dripping off her brow towards the ground as the staggered breaths slowly filter through her lungs. Her eyes shut for a moment revelling in the quiet of the room, it feels like everyone is holding their breath waiting for her to succeed or fail. Her body wants her to find the soft ground and cease all attempts at continuing but the rest of her doesn't want to stop until Santana says so.
…
"Is that her?" Brittany asks staring at a photograph on the wall in the dimly lit corridor. The picture is of three men and a young girl all dressed in hero costumes and all smiling brightly at the camera.
Santana leans over her shoulder to get a closer look at the girl and cracks a smile, "yeah, different costume and less cheerful but that's definitely Chaos" she answers decidedly. She extends her hand to the small plaque under the photograph tapping the name lightly. "Says here she used to be Maxine Bryce 'The Angel'…I guess a lot has changed since this was taken" she mentions with a distinct sadness to her voice.
The wide Oak doors swing open abruptly ending the conversation and the Silver Arrow motions for them to enter. Brittany turns and gives a nervous sideways glance to Santana before taking a few hesitant steps towards the room. Santana is quick to reach down and slide her hand into Brittany's tangling their fingers tightly together. With renewed purpose Brittany strides confidently beside Santana into the council's chambers.
Santana explained the politics of the League of Heroes to Brittany though it all still feels overwhelming. She explained that an individual hero or sometimes a group of heroes in charge of a city. That a more experienced hero like the Silver Arrow is in charge of a district of cities and is meant to act as a sort of handler or supervisor of all the heroes in that area. A council oversee a group of handlers and they report back to the Order who is in charge of everyone. All Brittany knows is she needs the council to O.K her going on patrols with Santana.
The room is massive and a group of four men and two women sit at a long table at one end of the room. The pair follows the Silver arrow to the head of the room and stand before the council neither of them entirely sure what they are supposed to say.
An older looking man stands from his chair and stares down at them with an expression of contempt. "Miss Pierce, I want you to be aware that we do not normally consider your kind to be what we call Class A agents. Your abilities thus far have proven to be defensive and thus suited for either field teams or post-mission work. Mr. Bryce however assures me that you have been developing positive offensive techniques. Also, due to some extenuating circumstances we have decided to allow you to become an agent of the League" he drones on oblivious to the look of confusion swept across Brittany's face. She's never been the best at following long winded speeches and admittedly stopped paying attention halfway through.
She turns her head towards Santana the look of confusion still swept across her delicate features, "that's a good thing right?" she asks with a hopeful smile. Santana stifles a laugh and nods her head at the girl before giving her a quick wink.
"However, I do not agree with your training being attended to by Miss Lopez. Frankly she can barely control herself let alone a protégé and as such I would recommend Miss Pierce be put under the tutelage of a more experienced member. If I am not mistaken Davis Kasich is without student at the moment," His words trail off as the other members exchange subtle sideways glances at the name.
Santana is stepping forward before anyone can say anything and she waves her arm in a precise motion dismissing the notion entirely. "No, absolutely not you are not sending her off with stranger and you are an idiot if you think I would let a damn thing happen to her" Santana rallies the anger obvious in her voice as it shakes. Brittany has said nothing her eyes are locked on the enraged Latina and her hand is fearfully holding tightly onto Santana's.
The Silver Arrow steps in laying his hand peacefully on Santana's shoulder giving her a reassuring look. He turns towards the council and raises his hands calmly to them to try and prevent the words that readily form on their lips. "Please, I do not agree with her words but I cannot send Miss Pierce away certainly not with Kasich's history. I volunteer myself, I will train her myself as well as perform my other duties it would be my pleasure, and I implore you to consider this, please." He speaks quickly and positions himself in front of the girls providing a barrier between them and the council.
One of the women on the council stands and stares at the older gentleman who has been addressing them, "I believe Daniel has a point Vincent, we should not be sending any recruits certainly not female recruits to Kasich until the investigation is clear. Daniel Bryce may have trained some rather rebellious agents in the past but I see no reason why he would not be able to guide Miss Pierce through training" she speaks kindly but firmly her eyes never wavering from the older man.
The man stands for a moment his eyes seeming to stare right through the barrier known as Daniel Bryce at Santana. The corners of his mouth twitch downward in disgust but he finally sighs and shakes his head. "As you wish, by the order of the council I, Vincent Constantine do swear in Brittany Susan Pierce to the League of Heroes. She is your responsibility now Bryce, do not disappoint us" the words hang heavy in the air as the council slowly exits the room one by one.
The three of them stand motionless in the room staring where the council had been sitting. There are more questions than answers swimming between the two girls as they exchange looks of mixed emotions.
Santana is the first to break the silence her question is directed at the Silver Arrow, "Daniel, are you going to explain what the hell that was about? Who is this Kasich guy?" She questions pointedly her gaze travelling to where the council exited.
"He is the Black Lance; he was part of Team Black out of Seattle until he was kicked out about six years ago. He has never had a good reputation with women, please leave it at that. The point is she is not going there," he explains slowly giving Santana a warning look.
She looks down to where her hand is meshed together with Brittany's and she nods slowly giving him this small grace, "Thank you" she says finally and gives Brittany's hand a tight squeeze.
"Don't thank me yet," he smiles in an almost childish way, more specifically the way they do when they're about to get in trouble. "I don't intend to physically train Brittany; I don't have the time to be honest. You will train her and I trained you so in a way I haven't completely lied to the council. I will supervise what I can and offer guidance" He explains as the Cheshire grin spreads across his cheeks.
"Private training sessions…" Brittany muses her eyes travelling crisply down Santana's body. It's entirely playful and she cannot help but fall into laughter an act which pulls a mirrored response from Santana.
The three of them are walking from the room chattering like old friends when Daniel stops suddenly. The smile fades from his lips as he stops at the picture Brittany and Santana had been hovering around earlier. He stares blankly at it for a moment before turning his attention to where the two girls now stand waiting for him. They are young like she was and it reminds him how easy it is to get lost.
Santana pulls away from Brittany motioning for her to wait as she walks towards where Daniels stands almost froze, "You okay Silver?" she asks gently touching his shoulder.
He stares down at her for a second and then looks past her to Brittany, "Sometimes in an effort to protect the ones we love we end up hurting them. We think that out there it doesn't matter if they're ready or not because we can protect them. No matter what we would die before letting anything happen to them. She needs to know how to protect herself, she has to be ready Santana" he warns looking down at her once again.
…
Before Brittany can push forward again Santana is there catching her biceps in a firm grip. The blonde struggles for a moment against the hold her shoulders jutting forward but the effort is futile. Santana's grip softens against the trembling muscles, "Britt, stop" she says gently.
With the adrenaline bleeding out of her now Brittany's legs shake and give way her body dropping to the ground. Santana leaves her side for a second but returns a moment later and settles down next to her sliding a bottle of water into her hands.
Brittany sits in silence for a while cradling the cold bottle of water against her chest when she isn't taking slow steady sips from it. She is looking anywhere but the space that Santana occupies next to her on the floor. "I'm not as weak as everyone thinks I am," Brittany says finally breaking the silence that had become near deafening.
Santana flinches to the words and takes a slow bite at her own lower lip holding the words back carefully turning them over before she chooses to speak. She is rarely so tactful especially when it comes to Brittany. Almost everything she says to her is off the cuff and straight from her heart but she needs to be careful. She lifts a hand to gently stroke down the side of Brittany's face feeling the heat radiating off of her skin.
"You're amazing Brittany and I never doubted that. I will always believe in you. I just needed to make sure you could keep fighting when your body doesn't want to go anymore. I love you B and I don't want anything to happen to you is all," She says finally bringing her dark eyes up to meet Brittany's.
She takes a moment to digest Santana's words before raising tired arms to pull Santana into a quick embrace before getting her legs under her and tackling her to the ground. They lay tangled on the floor for a moment laughing, Brittany has tears in her eyes because it's one of those moments when it hurts to laugh.
"Next time don't be such a jerk about it," She warns kissing Santana quickly on the end of her nose before she can react. Santana is still full of sporadic laughter and can only nod in response to the statement. "And you're going to piggyback me upstairs it will be your punishment," Brittany adds slowly rolling off Santana to lay flat on the ground once more needing time to catch her breath.
Bryce stands and stretches cracking his back while staring down at the pair, "I feel like I'm god damn babysitting. I'm not even forty yet and you two make me feel old" he chastises them.
…
The sound of knuckles banging loudly on the door is enough to rouse the two women from a deep sleep. Their bodies are tangled together in a heap of arms and legs combined with blankets and sheets. They seem to groan and detest the sound in unison and it only encourages them to pull their heads under the blankets.
Sugar is nothing if not persistent however and flings the door open and comes prancing into the apartment at an alarming rate. Daniel Bryce is close on her heels dressed in his civilian clothes still and wearing a look of deep concern.
Santana is the first to poke her head out from under the blankets and she glares at the pair of them muttering something profane in Spanish under her breath. Brittany is giggling under the blankets still in that half dream haze where few things don't make her smile and giggle. Untangling her hand from under Brittany's body she taps the sleep-drunk girl's nose. A smile tugs effortlessly at the corners of her mouth as she uncovers Brittany from the blankets as well.
Sugar promptly drops the folder she is carrying on the countertop and covers her eyes as the two scantily clad women crawl out from bed. They're not naked but somehow bra and panties do little to convince Sugar that this is something she needs to see. Daniel Bryce has chosen a far more subtle tactic in avoiding looking at the women and instead stares with great interest at the ceiling.
The women dress in whatever they can find and wander into the kitchen area where their new 'guests' have gathered. Santana folds her arms coolly across her chest while Brittany gently pulls Sugar's hands away from her face and pats her head sympathetically.
"Ass kicking time isn't for another two hours and Britt-Britt is supposed to be resting, what the hell Silver," Santana demands impatiently falling quickly into a yawn as she takes to glaring at them. The bed was warm and she was comfortable and neither of these facts meant she was even close to ready to be getting out of bed.
It's Sugar who jumps into the explanation first flipping the folder open and taking out a thin scrap book with Santana's face on it. Her hands seem to tremble inexplicably as she hands it to Santana with the prompt, "this came to your P.O box about six months ago with this creepy love letter, I threw the letter out" she admits the last part almost guiltily but Santana doesn't seem fazed.
"So it's a book of all of my magazine articles and photos what's the big deal?" She questions flipping through the book not seeing anything worth ruining her nap over. She gets to the end and snaps it closed turning it over and then tossing it onto the counter.
Brittany slides onto a stool at the counter and begins flipping through the book still feeling sore all over. Her body is periodically healing itself and the effort in doing so has most of her attention but she's still keeping an eye on Santana's reactions to things. Most of her is hoping this is Sugar overreacting to something but the presence of the Silver Arrow has her worried.
"The letter was creepy!" Sugar counters but furiously shakes her head and grabs from the folder again shoving another scrapbook into Santana's hands. "Not the point" she recovers shaking her head again, "it was sent to your mailbox downstairs and arrived this morning" she explains. Her eyes grow dark as she stares at the blank cover knowing very well what is inside.
Santana quirks a questioning brow as she opens it and her entire stance suddenly shifts. Her entire body is stiff as she stares at the first few photos on the plain black page; the new scrapbook is a far cry from the colourful enthusiastically decorated one she was first given.
The photos are of her but they are candid shots of her out for an afternoon run and then her flopped down on the grass in front of the Motta Towers. Her fingers turn the pages looking at all of them her eyes becoming wide with distinct horror. The pictures are all of her out in the city at first and she's usually alone and completely unaware.
Further into the book there are scattered shots of her standing in the window of her apartment. It is the next few pages that make the blood run cold inside her veins because the pictures include Brittany. The spaces where Brittany's face should be have been scratched out but Santana knows it's her.
Brittany has returned to her side and is wrapping her arms around Santana's one arm her hands folding tightly around her bicep. Santana glances sideways at her before snapping the book closed and throwing it onto the counter. "Anything else?" she asks darkly watching as Sugar squirms under her gaze.
"This letter," the timid girl mumbles nervously handing the note over to Santana. She takes it from Sugar and reads it quickly the look of disturbed contempt growing as her eyes travel down the page. It's angry, it sounds like the words of a betrayed lover upset that she's with someone else. Above all else the words are threatening and Santana doesn't finish reading it before crumpling it tightly in her fist throwing it uselessly into the sink.
Her temper boils quickly and the words are barely forced out through clenched teeth, "who the fuck" she snarls bearing down on Sugar. Brittany holds her arm still with one hand while the other slides across her back trying to ground her from the situation.
Sugar takes a step back grabbing the last piece of paper from the folder she brought up her eyes read it quickly as her brain refuses to remember the information on its own. "After the psycho hacked into our system I increased security and I went back and was able to find his face on some of the new cameras. I ran it through the database but he doesn't have a record but I went through some of the older fan mail and I found him…" she rambles very aware of the look Santana is currently shooting her way.
"His name is Justin Kaplan, he works night security in the warehouse district, and he's thirty two and lives in apartment 506 at 1086 North Street" She rattles off the information and then falls silent looking at the floor.
"Does he know who Santana is?" Brittany inquires suddenly her gaze shooting between Bryce and Santana both of whom seem to perk up at the question.
"No," Sugar shakes her head, "Since the upgrade Santana normally leaves from the roof and when returning the Queen of darkness pulls the shadows for a veil from about one hundred feet away from the building. Even if he was looking for her he wouldn't be able to get a clear shot even with the best camera and he makes no mention of it" she reassures firmly nodding to the Silver Arrow.
"We could just turn this information over the police" Bryce finally speaks up but even he knows this isn't an option to Santana. The look etched across her features says it all; she will deal with this on her own. "Take Brittany, scare him do not cross the line" he warns pulling his shoulders squarely up to tower over the pair of them.
Santana nods reluctantly, "I can't promise he won't need a hospital but he'll be alive" she smiles confidently back at the Silver Arrow as he stalks from the room muttering to himself.
The calm she's let wash over herself is a façade, in truth she feels more foolish than anything else having let someone get so close to her without her noticing. Sugar slinks away satisfied that the situation will be handled but Brittany is not so easy to fool. She stares with deep worry as Santana disconnects from her and walks calmly across the room.
Santana is only ever this calm when something is deeply wrong, she is a woman of emotions and she wears most of them on her sleeve. When she is happy she smiles big, when she's angry everyone in the room knows it and often she is moved to tears. But this is different she is holding everything so tight to her chest she can't feel anything at all.
Brittany gathers the evidence off of the counter and walks around into the kitchen fishing a barbecue lighter from the drawer. Long legs carry her with ease to the fireplace where she throws the scrapbooks and she crouches down lighting them ablaze. She can feel Santana's eyes on the back of her neck staring at her from across the room where she stands fiddling with her suit's GPS.
Santana does her best to dance around Brittany the rest of the early evening feigning an interest in planning and moves quickly between tasks alternating in preparation and cursing Sugar through the radios. Brittany is the quiet center of the room and she's ready in her brand new electric blue costume long before Santana is even out of her comfy napping clothes.
Any attempt at conversation is shut down or diverted away from what they should be talking about. Brittany knows what's wrong; this is the second person to figure out what Santana values and to seek to use it against her. Santana wouldn't be as perturbed if the pervert had only taken pictures of her in the park. She might have knocked him one square in the jaw but he wouldn't have gotten so deep under her skin had he not involved Brittany.
…
They abandon typical protocol for the evening and head straight from the tower to the stalker's apartment. Santana is amazed at Brittany's ability to keep up despite not being fully recovered from training. They perch on the building sitting across from Justin's apartment quietly staring down at the curtained window.
"Can you see in at all?" Santana asks as she pulls a heavy veil of darkness around them to conceal their position. "We know he's there, Sugar made sure he wasn't working tonight, I just don't want to go in blind if I don't have to" she explains.
Brittany shifts and uncomfortably leans forward trying to focus but quickly chimes in, "It's a new power San, I can't promise I will be accurate…" She warns looking now at a suddenly smiling Santana.
"It's fine, he's small time B, just give it your best shot" she reassures gently placing her hand over top of Brittany's giving it a quick squeeze.
The blonde nods firmly feeling a surge of confidence and concentrates her gaze on the building. It's slow at first but she's able to break through the bricks and see inside it's hazy and only lasts a few seconds but it's enough. She blinks rapidly rubbing her eyes through the simple black mask covering her eyes.
"Two bedroom apartment, that window opens into the living room there's a lot of furniture in the room. A desk is right under the window so watch how you enter, he's in the bedroom closest to the kitchen" Brittany rambles off all the facts she can remember and then slumps down against the roof.
Santana nods and gently leans forward on the building's ledge, "That's good Britt honest, give me five minutes then come in" she can already hear the hesitation in Brittany's breathing, "B, I've got this okay? I promised Silver I wouldn't kill him and I won't" she says firmly.
Brittany is reluctant to nod in agreement it's the lack of emotion that has her watching with a careful eye as Santana stands on the ledge of the building. She hates what she is about to do next it makes her stomach to flip-flops every time.
Santana stares down at the window and rolls her head from side to side doing her best to keep the emotions tucked in the pit of her stomach. Without warning she lets her body fall from the taller building her arms stretching out. She levels out and watches the approaching window and inhales deeply before sending a pulse of energy hard enough to shatter the glass.
She sails cleanly through the window landing with a graceful roll as she finds the ground only narrowly clearing the desk. She is quick to conceal her presence pulling the darkness in a heavy veil around her as she listens to frightened footsteps scramble across the floor towards where she rests.
The man appears in the doorway holding a wooden baseball bat cradled against his chest and he looks more coward than slugger. He is barely taller than Santana herself and likely weighs about the same. His voice shakes terribly as he calls into the inexplicable darkness, "Who is there, I know you're there!"
She kicks off the ground sending her body crashing into his forcing him back into the bedroom. Her hands cover the baseball bat lifting it off his chest only to force it abruptly down pulling a painful groan to cough from his cracked lips.
Santana lifts him off of the ground with her the baseball bat falling down at their feet where it is quickly kicked away. She holds him against the wall with her arm pressed across his shoulders keeping him steady.
"I am a close and personal friend of Santana Lopez, you can call me Snixx" She muses from behind clenched teeth. The darkness has swallowed her brown eyes turning them black and there is no kindness behind the mask now.
"We're going to talk, or I am going to talk actually you're going to nod along because if you say a damn word to me I'll take your little friends," she explains pressing her knee between his legs hard enough to make her point. He nods quickly his eyes wide and frantically darting around the room looking for something, anything really to save him.
She brings her elbow up from where it presses in his shoulder to come across his jaw. His knees try to buckle beneath him but her arm returns to its position and she holds him up. "You're going to leave her alone," she says watching his head shake wildly from side to side in disagreement.
"You must not have understood. That was not a question it was an order but maybe this will make things more clear" She leans in close to his ear and inhales before unleashing a sharp shriek into his ear. The result is a blood curdling howl to fall from his lips and a smile to form on hers.
Santana lets his body crumble to the floor as he lurches forward trying desperately to hold onto the ear he will likely never hear out of again. He is holding himself off the floor with one arm while the other tries to stop the pain radiating out of his other ear.
She steps around him and brings the sharp heel of her boot down onto the back of his hand crushing it against the hardwood floor. He howls loudly as the bones crunch, his eyes grow wide as she digs the heel in a bit harder before stepping away. He hasn't a second to tend to the fresh wound before her foot swings this time bringing the toe of her boot into his ribcage.
He rolls onto his side curling his body into the fetal position with his hand tucked tightly against his chest. His eyes are wide as he watches the shadowed figure descend upon him still unable to see her clearly. She pushes his head down against the floor his throbbing ear painfully pressed to the ground he lets out a pitiful whimper in spite of himself.
"I hope I have your attention now," Santana hesitates seeing Brittany enter the room from the corner of her eye. The pretty blonde surveys the destruction Santana has caused but makes no movements to interfere. "You will never contact her again, you will never go near her, and you will never go near her friends or her girlfriend. If you break any of these rules I will come back and you will suffer a terrible accident. I don't want to confuse you so let me rephrase that, I will kill you with my bare hands and you will suffer. Nod if you understand," she spits through clenched teeth.
His head nods weakly as Brittany approaches from behind and pulls Santana easily to her feet giving her a long and carful once over. They are gone as quickly as they came leaving him broken on the floor cradling his wounds like a scared child.
...
It's not until they're standing on top of a nearby building that Santana finally lets the veil fall away from them. Brittany lands moments after she does and shuffles her feet nervously in the silence for a while. "I didn't want to stop you," she admits finally, "I didn't think you'd kill him but I wanted bad things to happen to him" she clarifies almost scared of her own voice now.
Santana is there immediately tucking her hands under Brittany's chin, "that doesn't make you a bad person Britt, we both know if I went too far you would have stepped in" Santana reassures her trying to meet her gaze.
"You really think so?" Brittany asks almost sounding hopeful as she finally meets Santana's gaze. Santana nods easily swooping in to place a soft kiss against Brittany's cheek right below her mask.
Santana curls suddenly away however her eyes turning skyward as a figure descends from the darkness landing with a heavy thud. It's Chaos but this time she has two large wings sticking from her back. They shudder in the cold wind as she folds them back behind her.
"Suddenly the old Alias makes sense," Santana remarks calmly letting her eyes trail along the edges of the white wings. Brittany's head turns to one side looking at them as well and comments, "they're beautiful" her eyes are wide and bright with wonder.
Chaos casts a mournful look over her own shoulder watching the feathers move in the soft breeze. "I cut them off all the time but they keep growing back, escaping the past is never as easy as it seems" she comments sadly. "I was surprised to see him still alive," she changes the subject easily nodding her head towards the general direction of Justin's apartment.
"He is a pervert, sorry if don't find that a crime punishable by death," Santana says smoothly her gaze growing dark, "is he even still alive?" she questions remembering all she's learned about this woman.
"Is that what they told you about me? That I am some ruthless killer who slaughters every pickpocket and drug user?" Chaos snarks shaking her head in obvious disgust. "No it's the meta humans who prey on the innocent I kill. It's the rapists and the murderers who don't escape my grasp. The league thinks they can lock people away and they will learn their lesson. I teach the petty criminals harsh lessons but they learn to fear doing wrong and maybe that pervert will never bother you again but the next girl might not be so lucky" She challenges stepping forward her eyes burning passionately as she speaks. "He is alive, his fate is tied to you, not me" she explains seeming to calm down once again.
"He is not why I am here," she continues and slides a satchel from her shoulder and tosses it to Santana. "I wanted to let you know your dear friend Arachne has escaped transport enroute to a meta facility in Dallas," She explains watching intently for Santana's reaction.
It's Brittany who reacts however her brow furrows in agitation, "There are at least six meta human facilities between here and Dallas" she exclaims her attention turning to Santana who seems equally confused by the information.
"It was your new friend Mr. Constantine's 'suggestion'; he claimed there was a specialist there who could curb her urges," Chaos continues to explain motioning to the bag now firmly in Brittany's hands. "Files are all in there, but a little bird told me something else I thought you might find interesting" She mentions glancing warily over her shoulder before moving closer.
Santana is alert and eyes her warily as she approaches but eases slightly as Chaos shows her, her open palms letting her know she has no weapons ready. Brittany steps forward as well now holding the satchel against her chest.
"Davis Kasich, The Black Lance, was not just kicked out of Team Black, he was outcast and nearly killed by the other members. They caught him a few moments away from raping one of the female members. He did however rape and abuse Spitfire during her 'training' she was taken from his guardianship when she finally issued a formal complaint," She says mirroring the look of disgust that finds its way to both Brittany and Santana's faces.
"He is Constantine's nephew and has never been formally charged for anything he's ever done. The files are in there as well, I just thought you should be aware of the kind of people who are handling you," She says finally with a shrug of her shoulders. She pauses glancing over her shoulder into the darkness, "I've overstayed my welcome" she mumbles. Without warning her wings spread wide and in seconds she's gone into the darkness.
…
It's at Brittany's suggestion that they find themselves quietly sneaking into Daniel Bryce's apartment. He hears them before they've gotten themselves through the window and is jogging quickly into the room shutting a number of doors behind himself as he approaches.
"I've asked you call first Miss Lopez," he mentions before heaving himself into a heavy chair lacking his usual enthusiasm for lecturing. He seems more tired than he usually does and on edge.
"Maxine gave these to me are they true?" Santana asks bluntly throwing a set of file folders onto the coffee table in front of him. He stares at her for a long moment before he begins flipping through the papers.
Brittany seems suddenly distracted as she pulls herself from Santana's side her gaze focused on the closed doors. Santana watches her for a moment before taking the chair opposite of Daniel as he leafs through the pages his face growing grim as he reads.
"Maxie always was a good detective but she never did know when not to tell the truth" He comments mildly closing the folders. "Yes it's true. But do not let her spin this into some conspiracy theory…" he warns giving Santana a grave look.
"Yes this stupid prick tries to send Britt to a rapist and then sends a psycho, who for probably good reasons wants me dead, on a nice long road trip where she magically escapes into the wild. How could I ever think this guy is out to get me!" She shouts standing up again her arms waving wildly around in violent gestures as she argues.
"Yes, Vincent is a fool but he is not a monster out to get you Santana! Even suggesting these things are enough to get you arrested" He hollers back at her glaring pointedly across the table.
Santana's mouth opens to yell back but she's stopped by the sudden cries from the other room. All three adults turn towards the door where Brittany has been staring and listen to the sound of a child crying. They all seem to freeze at the sound of a small thump and then tiny feet padding across the floor towards the room.
Daniel finally catches up to his thoughts and gets to his feet quickly but is waved off by Brittany. She opens the door and crouches down finding herself face to face with a small girl. She looks no more than two years old with blonde ringlets falling around a doll like face.
Brittany has already removed her mask and the child finds herself staring into those blue eyes that seem to easily win people over. The look of confusion turns into a bright smile as the tears seem to stop. Brittany extends a hand gently touching the stuffed bunny in the girl's hand, "what's his name?" she asks gently. The girl cuddles the bunny close to her chest and answers shyly, "Maxie…superhero!" She rallies enthusiasm in the end holding the bunny excitedly out to Brittany.
"Harley, it's bedtime come on I'll take you back" Daniel stands finally approaching the young girl but she instantly finds the tears and pouts again, "Story!" she shouts clearly dissatisfied with the idea of sleeping.
"I can read to her while you two…talk" Brittany says giving Santana a warning look at the last word. Santana nods more stunned than anything as she watches Brittany walk hand in hand with the child out of the room.
"Kids are always so quick to trust," Daniel notes watching the two of them walk down the hall together towards Harley's bedroom.
"People always trust Brittany and she always trusts people…" Santana responds darkly shaking it off and returning to her seat. She looks tired as she takes the mask off and rubs her eyes, "Daniel, you're my guardian. Tell me I have nothing to worry about, that this guy isn't dangerous and I'll let this go" she says finally seeming to have finally begun to feel how long the night has become.
He watches Santana for a while and then comes back to sit down and glares at the folders. "I don't know," he says finally and rubs the back of his neck visibly disquieted by what he has read. "Just please don't do anything until we know more, Constantine has a lot of friends and it would be foolish to go after him without knowing more" he pleads.
"Alright, when were you planning on telling me you had a kid?" Santana complies and redirects their conversation mercifully.
"I wasn't," he smiles easily, "I will find out more" he assures her leaning forward to collect the folders up.