"So who will go?" Will asked as he and Rose made their way down one of numerous corridors that led from Magnus's office. His step was lighter than before and his heart freer. There was danger and fear and this could all go so very wrong but she wasn't dead which was a start.
"Perhaps five of us," she replied. "Of course, back up will be mandatory but a visible front of five should work."
"Are you sure that isn't too many?"
"No, we need to be seen to take this seriously. Bringing the whole network would be overkill not to mention highly risky but..." She bit her lip and looked up to Will with something in her eyes that made his heart clench. Fear prickled up his spine, leaving him a little cold and a lot worried.
"There's something you didn't tell the others," he suggested as they came to a stop. Checking in on Henry could wait.
"I don't think they're after just Helen," she admitted, lowering her gaze to their feet. "The invite? They want all of us, what is left of the Five plus... well, plus me I think."
"Are you certain?"
"Why else would they lead us straight to her? Why else put on such a show? They could have just let me think she was dead and done what they wanted with her. We'd have been none the wiser. This is about more than just Helen and whatever knowledge they hope to glean from her. It's broader, bigger. With the power and knowledge of even Nikola added to what they clearly have learnt from John..." She shook her head. "They could reshape the world however they wanted. With little to no resistance."
Rose looked so small, so defeated that Will immediately pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She let out a shuddering breath and collapsed into his chest, her hands fisting in his sweater as if terrified he'd pull back.
She was tiny, he thought absently. He'd forgotten just how small Rose really was. But she was warm, warmer than any normal human. Not that it should have surprised him; she was so far from normal after all. He felt her back shudder as he smoothed circles between her shoulder blades, fingertips brushing against the thick scarring he could feel running down her back. Her top was only thin, allowing him to feel every bump that marked the solid masses of her concealed wings.. How could such huge protrusions come from someone so small?
"Helen used to wonder the same thing," Rose said softly, chuckling before she raised her head to look up at him. "They're much more delicate than they look. The bones are hollow too which helps when they crush down."
"Seriously?" he asked, eyes wide.
"From the scans Helen took a few years back, I even have these kind of... I suppose you could call them sacks. It all compresses down into these sacks."
She reached back and took his hand, trailing it around the scars until he felt a significant change in the firmness of her back. He traced the edge of the sacks with both hands as she smiled up at him, apparently pleased that he was just as fascinated by her body as she was.
"Will?"
They both turned abruptly to the source of the interruption, Will half springing back from Rose as he met Abby's wide blue eyes.
Rose cleared her throat and carefully stepped back, eyes down.
"A-Abby," Will stuttered.
"What are you doing?" she asked, voice tight and breathy.
"Uh... I-I uhm-"
"I was explaining to Will how the bones in my-."
"I didn't ask you," Abby cut in, not looking to Rose as she spoke. "Will?"
The air seemed to sizzle and crackle around Will and he felt a bead of sweat form on the back of his neck as the silence dragged on and on and on.
Finally, Rose sighed.
"I'm going to go check in with Henry," she said softly, looking to him. "I'll um... When you're ready."
And with that she turned on her heel, walking calmly down the corridor leaving Will feeling like and even bigger jerk than before.
Abby didn't speak, she just stared at him blankly until Will thought he might explode. The tension was palpable and he could feel the disappointment rolling off of her in waves. Or maybe it was coming from him.
Shaking his head, he reminded himself that he had no reason to be guilty. It was Rose. She was a friend. They were both just worried.
And then he had a rather vivid flashback to the couch, to the way he'd pulled her tiny body closer, to the way her mouth had worked greedily against his and the guilt exploded inside him once more.
"She's alive," he choked out, desperately searching for something to add. Abby blinked, the cold look in her eye disappearing for a moment. "Magnus. She's alive."
"How?" she asked, her shock written across her face.
"Ro- She wasn't very clear," he said uncomfortably. "Some group that's been lurking in the shadows for decades."
"How do we get her back?" Abby asked, swept up in the moment. Will smiled. This was why he loved her; she was so caring, so warm and loving. How could he have hurt her?
"The invite," he said, stepping that little bit closer to her. "We're going to go, Rose thinks that they'll bring Helen to tempt us into fighting."
"What?" she said, face creasing in disgust.
"Apparently they're a new level of twisted too," he agreed. "Between the fact that the note was signed in Magnus' blood and dragging us about in formal wear, I doubt we've seen anyone as messed up as whoever these guys claim to be."
"But is it even safe?" she asked, stepping closer. "I mean, this sounds just like a trap to me."
"What else can we do?" he replied. "It's not like we can go and storm the castle or anything, we don't know where she is, only that she will be at this damn party. It's not like we have a choice."
Abby frowned but remained silent.
"Are you sleeping with her?"
"What?!" Will cried. "With Magnus? No! Of course not!"
"No, not Dr. Magnus. Rose."
Will swallowed.
"Never," he answered truthfully. "I swear, we've never... been like that."
"But you want to be?"
There was so little accusation in her tone Will felt his heart throb painfully. She was too perfect.
"No, Rose is... she's complicated. We've never... I don't see her that way."
Abby watched him silently for a moment before she straightened her back and swallowed.
"Today wasn't the first time, though."
"When we met, she kissed me," he told her, shoving his hands into his pockets. "She said something about a future but... I don't think that was true."
"Because of me?"
"Because she told me last time I saw her that the future changes," he replied. "You're my future, Abby. I'm sorry about... it was... stupid and I-."
"We're not having this out now," she said, holding up a hand. "Once this is all over we can talk but..." she swallowed, "until then, Will, just... leave me be."
And with that she walked straight past him, head held high.
After, Will told himself. After.
If they were all still alive, that is.
Abby was breathing deeply, in through her nose, out through her mouth in steady puffs. She couldn't stop walking, well aware she'd crumble if it wasn't for the continuous click of her heels on the floor.
She didn't feel overly betrayed and nor was her anger really directed at this Rose character. It was just a deep sense of disappointment. She'd watched Will work alongside such beautiful women as Dr. Magnus and even Kate but never had he showed even a single sign that he might stray.
But here she was, unable to stop thinking about the way Will had been holding another woman as they made out like horny teens on a couch. Foolishly, it seemed, she had believed that only she could elicit such a reaction from him. They'd spent enough time on couches and desks, groping and making out that she'd thought he lusted after her body as well as adoring her mind.
Even worse, she'd given up her life, everything she'd ever held dear to move down here. She was one of those women she'd abhorred. What would happen if she couldn't move past this? Would she stay down here, working within the same network that housed the man she loved like no other? Sure, it was large enough that they could probably go months without having to see each other but she'd know he was out there, somewhere, working as she was.
"Oh, gosh," she suddenly exclaimed, coming to a dead stop. Henry and Erika were straight ahead of her, locked in a rather tender embrace as they grinned at each other like fools. His hand was gently resting on her growing bump with such care that it made Abby's heart swell. They really were such a beautiful couple.
"Sorry," they both mumbled, pulling apart but still wearing their goofy grins. Erika took Henry's hand discreetly, smiling prettily at Abby. In the past few weeks the two had become decidedly close and while Abby was immensely happy for her friends, their obvious happiness made her own predicament even more pronounced.
She smiled tightly at them, prepared to make her excuses but Henry cut her off.
"The baby moved," he said excitedly. "When Rose came to tell us about Magnus being alive... It moved. I just..."
"How wonderful!" she chirped, her voice sounding flat even to her own ears. "That's just... wonderful. Really. Wonderful."
The couple gave her a peculiar look but Abby kept smiling brightly until her cheeks began to hurt.
"Is something the matter, Abigail?" Erika asked, stepping away from Henry with a frown.
"No, no, nothing at all!"
"Henry?" a smooth voice cut in and Abby breathed a sigh of relief as their eyes slid from her and to the newcomer. The bald man. Druitt. The one Will had told her to stay away from.
"Uh, hey," the younger man said, uneasy in the strangers presence. Even Erika seemed to shy away from him, ducking behind Henry though her height made such a move futile.
"I've been sent to summon you," Druitt drawled. "Rose wants you to explain the system reboot you're attempting to the entire network. They won't take her word for it."
"What about Tesla?" Henry whined. "Can't they get him to explain it."
"You know as well as I that no one in their right mind would trust Tesla," Druitt said, his eyes flicking to Abby quickly.
Henry sighed softly but seemed resigned to his fate and with Erika in tow, headed towards the nearest elevator with one last uncertain look to Druitt.
The man in question turned slowly and regarded Abby with curious eyes.
She cleared her throat and tried something of a scowl to dissuade his perusal of her but he merely blinked at her in surprise.
"Ms. Corrigan, yes?" he asked softly, voice strangely kind to her ears. Despite the fear that he managed to draw from her, she felt at ease in his presence too. It was a curious sensation.
"I really should be off, Mr. Druitt," she said tightly. "I have work to complete."
"I'm sorry to have kept you," he said, offering her a small bow. He stepped aside, allowing her passage down the corridor but, as Abby began to move, he followed closely.
"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Druitt?" she asked irritably as they headed down one of the many winding corridors.
"Please," he drawled, "call me John, Ms. Corrigan."
She pursed her lips but said nothing until they came to another transport pod.
"Where are you off to?" he asked politely, holding the doors open for her with one long, muscled arm.
"I-uh, I don't..." she stammered, clambering in.
He followed her and hit the button for the main floor silently. They both lurched when the carriage sprung to life but he grabbed her before she could fall into the wall. His warm hands spanned her waist easily, holding her steady for several moments too long but Abby didn't pull away. Again that feeling of being safe flooded back and she was barely able to breath for it.
Slowly, his hands dragged away from her waist, lingering for just a moment before he cleared his throat and stepped back.
The doors to the transport pod opened smoothly and Druitt stepped around Abby, holding a hand to her to alight the carriage. She glanced at his palm uneasily for a second before something stronger than common sense kicked in and she took up his offer.
Once she was safely out of the elevator (what a completely unperilous journey, her mind supplied), he let go of her hand swiftly, stepping back and drawing himself up to his full height.
"Thanks," she choked out, feeling a blush rise in her cheeks for a reason she couldn't quite pinpoint.
He studied her again for one long heartstopping moment before his face creased into a warm smile.
"You are a peculiar woman," he muttered fondly but, before she could respond, he turned on his heel and strolled carelessly down the corridor.
Abby waited until he turned the corner before sagging against the wall with a sigh. For some reason it had been the most draining elevator ride of her life. She felt so hot and yet her fingertips were ice cold.
"Abby!" a voice suddenly cried and she turned her head, not yet able to stand of her own accord.
It was Declan, rushing towards her with a friendly smile.
"Quick," he continued, holding out a hand. "We're about to start the briefing and you might as well hear it now."
She nodded and swallowed, hurrying to his side with only one quick look back over her shoulder to the corner John had disappeared around.
I WILL MAKE ABBY AND DRUITT A THING BECAUSE BY GOD IT SHOULD BE.
xx
