A/N: let the sea mechanic begin!
So this is set after 4.5 but before 4.6 (so Luna and Raven haven't had their whole miracle of the sea moment yet)
"Are we done for today?"
Luna's voice intruded on the quiet of the lab, an unwelcome interruption to Raven's ever-fraying concentration. She lost the thread of one thought, sighed, closed her eyes and tried to find it again.
Nothing.
Damn it.
She raised her head to focus on the source of her problem just in time to catch Abby shifting uneasily.
The doctor hesitated - likely reluctant for the day to indeed be 'done' when they had so precious little time left to accomplish a miracle cure - but ultimately nodded.
Luna's expression remained somewhat impassive. "Then I'm going outside for a while."
Abby's eyes widened slightly and Raven gave up, abandoning her tablet. She could already tell this wasn't going to play out smoothly.
"I don't know if that's a good idea. We don't know if A.L.I.E. set up any other traps."
That was true but Raven knew it also wasn't the main reason for Abby's objection. She was worried about what Luna might do outside the confines of the lab or mansion when left to her own devices.
Worried she might not come back.
But Raven was confident that even if Luna did consider leaving again she wouldn't actually act on it. She seemed like the kind of person that put a lot of weight behind the decisions and promises they made and stuck to their word. And she'd made her choice that day on the dock, once she had finally been given the freedom to make one.
As long as they didn't go back on their end of the bargain, Luna wouldn't go back on hers. Of this, she was almost certain.
Raven didn't like the lack of surprise on her face at Abby's words, though, like this was exactly the kind of response she'd been expecting. Not when Raven had put so much effort into convincing Luna that her participation in their little humanity-saving mission was entirely at her discretion.
No way Abby was going to undo all her good work.
"Come on, Abby," Raven spoke up when she'd waited too long for Luna to respond. It unsettled her that she hadn't said anything, hadn't fought back.
She knew that Luna was more than capable of standing up for herself and speaking her mind. She'd been on the receiving end of it, after all. So Raven didn't really know what to make of the fact that she wasn't choosing to do so now.
Unsurprised and resigned was the expression she wore.
Raven hated it.
Abby turned to her, surprised at the interruption but open to whatever she had to say - whether she would listen to any of it was another matter.
Griffin women were stubborn. And tended to think they knew best.
The fact that sometimes they did only increased their conviction of this.
(it could be annoying as hell)
"She's been stuck inside for days," Raven reasoned. "She didn't grow up on the Ark, she's not used to this like us."
She'd noticed that, in between Luna's meditations - she seemed to have some sort of daily routine for them but Raven hadn't yet been able to pin down a schedule, from her perspective it seemed to be entirely random - it was becoming more and more obvious that she was growing increasingly close to all but climbing the walls. Luna hadn't said anything but Raven could tell that she didn't feel comfortable inside the stark white setting of Becca's lab where she spent most of her time.
The fact that the majority of that time involved having her blood drained - the blood that she hated - probably didn't help matters.
Raven couldn't blame her for wanting to get some fresh air.
She probably would, too, if she wasn't so used to spending her every second inside a metal cage.
Abby still looked undecided, though, which Raven thought was a waste of time. If Luna wanted to go outside, it wasn't like they had any say in it.
At least, she hoped they didn't.
She wasn't eager to see what might happen if Abby decided that they did have a say in it.
('She's not someone you want to make an enemy out of.')
Raven still thought Jasper had been talking out of his ass but that didn't mean there wasn't some wisdom to his words.
They already had enough enemies in this world, had kind of made a habit out of making them ever since hitting the ground. They didn't need to add Luna to that list, even if she was one of the few who wouldn't be willing to kill them even if she did hate their guts.
With that in mind, she made a decision.
"I'll go with her. If there's any more of those flying drones," fat chance of that, Raven knew she had discovered all of them, "I can deal with them like I dealt with the last ones."
She'd reprogrammed them, tinkering with the already inbuilt facial recognition to ensure that all of their team would be safe from getting shot at if they went wandering about.
Very important when you wanted to save the world.
Luna didn't look exactly pleased at the prospect of having company but she didn't protest.
Abby's mouth thinned with reluctance. "Fine. Just be careful. Both of you."
Good enough.
"Thankyou," Luna said, five minutes into their walk, once the entrance to the lab had disappeared behind them. "For back there. I didn't have the energy to argue with her."
Right. Raven wasn't about to tell Abby and Jackson how to do their jobs but it seemed to her that they'd been taking more blood from Luna than was entirely healthy, though not enough to be dangerous - or, at least, she hoped so.
Actually, she was pretty sure she'd heard them arguing about exactly that before she'd had her first seizure but those minutes were far too hazy for her to recall with any certainty.
Raven shrugged. "She would have let you go eventually. This was just quicker." She'd been trying not to notice how easily Luna adjusted her pace to match hers, how she hadn't even given a sign that she'd realised that they were going slower than they could have been. If Luna minded, it didn't show. She certainly didn't make a big deal out of it, or act concerned - as Abby might have. "She's right, though. We don't know enough about this island and what A.L.I.E. did to it to be sure it's not still dangerous."
The A.I. had a knack for unpleasant surprises.
Really unpleasant.
But Luna shook her head.
"Everywhere is dangerous." Well, Raven couldn't argue with that. "She's worried that I'll try to run again."
Okay, so she had picked up on that. Raven had been hoping otherwise.
She didn't really know what to say. There was little point in denying it, nor could she excuse it. Even acknowledging it, at this point, seemed superfluous. "She's. . . Abby. She's worried about a lot." Including Raven's new and exciting expiration date. "I wouldn't pay it much mind."
Luna had a way of looking at you that was altogether too knowing.
Raven hated it.
She broke the stare.
"So, any plans for where we're going or are we just walking around? I don't mind, either way."
Luna returned her gaze to the crowd of trees in front of them. "The water. Doesn't matter which part of the island, as long as the sea is there."
She probably should have guessed that. "Sure. Is the dock okay? It's just, we already know the way there so less chance of getting lost or running into any of A.L.I.E.'s trigger-happy minions." And less distance to travel on her leg but she'd grin and bear it if she had to.
Abby would probably have a coronary if she knew they were going to the dock, though. Which was stupid because there wasn't even a boat there anymore.
Luna's expression flickered and Raven wondered whether, like her, she was remembering what had taken place the last time they'd been there.
"Not afraid I'll run?"
Okay, so she was definitely remembering it.
Raven kept her voice and expression carefully casual. "Like I said, you're not a prisoner. If you change your mind and want to leave, I'll get you a boat myself."
She meant it. That was the line she'd drawn in the sand for herself now and, no matter what, she wasn't going to cross it.
The corner of Luna's lips lifted slightly. It was simple but real and the first smile Raven had ever gotten to see from her. She wondered whether she'd smiled more before. Before they'd met, before her world had gone to hell.
Raven was sorry she hadn't gotten to see it.
"Thankyou," Luna murmured.
Uncomfortable with the level of gratitude Raven could see in her eyes, especially for something as small as this, she looked away.
No-one should be grateful for receiving basic human decency. It wasn't like Raven had volunteered to sacrifice a limb or something. She just didn't think anyone should have their bodily autonomy taken away, even if it was to save humanity.
Mount Weather had drained her bone marrow in order to save their people - but that had been little comfort to her as she'd laid there, strapped to a gurney, screaming in agony. It was even less comfort to her now, living with the echoes of that pain every day.
Some means couldn't be justified by their ends.
That was something she'd almost forgotten.
Raven was determined that she wouldn't lose sight of it again.
"Well, I mean, if you wanted to run that badly, you'd find a way. Boat or no boat. Hell, I'd say you're a better swimmer than all of us and could probably just swim your way off this stupid island."
It would be a lie to say that a part of Raven hadn't woken up their first morning here expecting to find Luna had done exactly that.
Silence met her remark and curious she turned her head to take Luna in, just in time to see an odd look pass over her face. It was a sudden flash of vulnerability that fled Raven's scrutiny when Luna looked away. She couldn't trace the cause of it or decipher its meaning. Her words had been pretty tame, an offhanded observation and, as she ran them back through her memory, nothing stood out to her. Raven had been known to have a bit of mouth and her snark was legendary but a little comment about going for a swim didn't live up to any of that.
It had definitely unsettled something in Luna, though, that much was clear as she cleared her throat and refused to meet her eyes when she responded. "The dock is fine."
Maybe she had been thinking about swimming away.
But something about that assumption didn't sit quite right.
Raven watched her a moment longer with confusion but decided not to probe. Let's be real, it was none of her business. She out of everyone knew a person had a right to their personal shit without someone coming along to try and dissect it to pieces or get you to open up. "Okay, then."
They spent the rest of the walk in silence.
Now, she watched as Luna took a seat on the edge of the dock, her legs coming to dangle centimetres above the water. If Raven wasn't ninety-nine percent certain that Luna knew how to swim she might have said something. Not having mastered, or even attempted, that skill herself, though, she couldn't help but be edgy around water - especially bodies as large as this. If Luna fell in, what the fuck was she supposed to do?
Even without her leg being a bitch, that was a sure recipe to see them both drowned.
But Luna had been living on an oil rig surrounded by the ocean for however many years so Raven had to trust that she at least knew how to swim otherwise what the fuck was she doing out there?
She certainly didn't seem as fearful of the waves under her feet as Raven was.
Still . . . "You can swim, right?"
That strange look from before lingered in her memory. It would be remiss not to follow it up.
"Yes."
Okay, then.
She felt kind of stupid for asking. Looked away. "Just checkin'."
"Mm." The lack of emotion agitated something inside her.
"Cos I can't. Just in case you were imagining me making some daring rescue. If you fall in, you're on your own."
Unless there were some good branches around. Maybe she could hold one out to Luna?
She thought she'd seen a dog do that once for a half-drowned cat in a movie. Though, Luna was significantly bigger - and heavier - than a cat.
Raven wasn't eager to test the theory.
"I figured. You're very skittish." Luna's face gave nothing away but Raven suspected she was teasing her.
She scowled. "I prefer 'appropriately cautious'."
Luna's mouth twitched. "I'm sure you do."
She was laughing at her, Raven was sure of it. Well, technically not laughing cos her expression was pretty blank, but it was all in the eyes.
She had stupid eyes.
"I'm not gonna save you, that's all I'm saying."
Those eyes crinkled. "I don't need you to save me, Raven."
"Good. Cos I'm not going to."
"Okay."
"Okay."
She shifted somewhat uncomfortably, her embarrassment made only more pronounced by the clear mark of amusement she could see on Luna's face.
Well, at least Abby wasn't going to get all judgy because she let their miracle cure drown. She'd never hear the end of it.
Plus, Murphy would probably laugh his ass off - which might just be the worst possible outcome of all.
Raven glanced awkwardly around her, searching for some indication of what she was supposed to do now. She hadn't really thought this far ahead when she volunteered herself as an unwanted babysitter.
Luna looked back at her, clearly wondering why she had neglected to take a seat herself, but didn't voice her confusion. Raven was glad for that.
The dangers of water aside, the last thing she wanted to do right now while her leg was aching after nearly an hour's walk was sit down. The sitting itself would take some of the pressure off - which would be a relief - but getting down and back up again was always a special kind of torture. If there had been a seat or something more comfortable to plonk herself down on she wouldn't have hesitated.
But Raven's leg hurt just looking at the hardwood of the dock as she imagined the sequence of movements she would have to go through in order to get her ass down on it.
And then having to stand back up again?
Yeah, no thanks.
Pain aside, that was likely to be a humiliating performance and she and Luna weren't that close yet.
Hell, she would've been self-conscious about the people she was close with seeing something like that.
Maybe she would just go over and lean against one of those oh-so-convenient trees and hope Luna didn't mention anything.
For the most part, she seemed content to ignore Raven anyway, which made sense. It had been clear from the get-go that she hadn't wanted an escort on this little excursion but had resigned herself to one nonetheless.
After a moment, Luna pulled off her shoes - which really looked like they could use a clean - and shifted a little closer to the dock's edge so her toes could touch the water when she allowed them to hang down.
You better not fall in.
Luna spent the next few minutes staring out at the sea which was. . .
Honestly, boring as hell.
Raven was kind of regretting tagging along but she wasn't about to interrupt. She wasn't that much of an ass.
Most days.
However, it didn't take her long to find out that there was another purpose for this outing. When Raven realized what it was, she felt even worse about the obvious reluctance Abby had shown in letting Luna leave.
Luna reached into her pocket, retrieving a long, thin braid. The one that had been stowed away again that day on the boat. The one Raven was almost a hundred percent sure she knew the owner of.
Shit.
No wonder Luna hadn't looked pleased about her coming along.
She was not supposed to be here for this.
Grief was a private thing and she'd had too much experience having to suffer through it whilst on full display to everyone else to want to inflict that same torturous spectacle on Luna.
Raven glanced back the way they'd come, wondering if it was too late to high tail it out of here, or at least depart a good ten meters or so to give Luna some space.
She took an undecided step-
"It's okay." Luna's voice betrayed no emotion and she didn't spare her a glance as she spoke. Woman must have eyes in the back of her head. "You can stay. I don't mind."
Raven found it really hard to believe that was true. Suspected it probably wasn't but she was trying to put her at ease, anyway. That seemed to be something Luna enjoyed doing with people - when they hadn't pissed her off.
She bit her lip. "You sure?"
Luna's nod was without hesitation but it still didn't go a long way in making her feel better.
"I'm just gonna stroll along the dock for a bit," Raven decided.
It wouldn't be much of a stroll, considering it was short as hell but oh well. She didn't wait for Luna to respond - and, okay, maybe this was also for Raven's sake because she'd had enough of watching people in their misery - and walked away.
Luna's voice trailed after her.
"Don't fall in."
Her head whipped back around just in time to see a faint smile teasing Luna's lips before it faded away.
So she had a sense of humor. That was good to know. Not exactly important in terms of world-saving but vital information nonetheless considering they were trapped on an island together for the foreseeable future. Possibly for the entire length of humanity's future, if all went to hell.
She wasn't looking to make any more friends but at least Luna looked like she would be more amicable company than some of the other people here (namely, Murphy). Raven wouldn't be opposed to them becoming friendly acquaintances and, given that Luna was the only person on earth right now who wasn't about to kick the bucket, she wouldn't have to worry about watching yet another person she cared about die.
That would be a nice change of pace.
A/N: it's likely that Raven's pain/disability will be mentioned quite a bit throughout this fic and that's because I've had chronic pain for the majority of my life (funnily enough, it started in the same leg as Raven's and was isolated there for a few years when I was a child but now it's all over my body) so I know how much space it takes up. I know that it's constantly on your mind and that it can impact every choice you make. I constantly have to think three steps ahead to accommodate my pain and limitations, I can never just do something - even if it's as simple as sitting down, standing or going to sleep.
So it's not realistic to me that Raven wouldn't be thinking about it a lot, too.
Obviously, I'm not going to keep things completely realistic because that would mean mentioning her pain every two seconds and that would get tedious. But it will come up.
