[SEQUEL TO GUN FOR HIRE]
Chapter 23: Real Love, A Real Good Lie
Adam digested the data provided to the division leaders at the meeting, combing over the report for additional details uncovered in recent events. He curled a finger in front of his mouth to hide his smile among his cohorts, other lead heads of the other divisions taking seat at the table with their assistants beside them. The seat beside his was empty.
For now.
"Interesting. You're more resourceful than anyone anticipated. Indeed on us, for underestimating you," Adam murmured to himself, reading up on how Piper Wright took advantage of the Christmas party to mingle with others, and ultimately was able to slip away to infiltrate one of the robotics division's wards with the aid of the synth copies of Sarah Lyons and Garrett Butler. His brow arched, interested to read of Father's biological father getting involved, and that synth had also met it's demise.
Curiosity beckoned to inquire what Ms. Wright had thought of her discovery. She now knew the truth. She now knew the thing she was sleeping with, a most cruel prospect and request for Father to order Adam to install cybernetics and enhance the thing further. He'd done the bare minimum, and sharpened the quality of the camera resolution already installed in It's eyes before It was first sent out. He had no regrets. He refused to amplify and work with the garbage from the robotics division, and was all too happy when the responsibility was taken from him so that they were charged with sorting through all the recorded footage. Let those who must watch suffer as the barbarians make love incessantly, hornier than rabbits.
There was an envy to observe the stages of shock as a brain is overwhelmed by information difficult to process and comprehend the realities of. He hoped Ms. Wright would be rational enough to provide an educational recollection of events.
Ah... Perhaps that was not wise. She would likely be under the influence of catastrophic emotions, and asking her would only be begging yet another woman to replace his tie with her hands. A paltry amount of self-preservation and tact would be required to mind his mouth and curiosities.
Moving on, one of the other synths had made contact with the Brotherhood. The chip pulled and analyzed from synth-Sarah's head showed there were Railroad spies implanted within the Institute, and promptly disposed of. The Railroad will likely retaliate somehow.
"We acted too soon on this," Adam murmured, earning a hush from nearby colleagues as they looked over at him. He met their eyes and gestured to which report he was reading up on. "The Railroad spies. We should have maintained watch over them, figure out how they were able to communicate with the Railroad from within the Institute. Loss of contact is going to tip the Railroad off and they will find a way - or ways - to retaliate."
"Father mentioned to me that robotics was going to make another copy of Ms. Lyons and we'll send her to the surface," Justin from the SRB reported. "Then she will find her own way back to the Railroad, as she'd already made contact and built rapport with them."
"Ah, I see. Do we know what will be divulged of Mr. Lyons? She may very well go on a search for him instead, otherwise."
Annoying, seeing how all these things were gravitating towards each other. What was the big deal around this love business? It made them all make foolish decisions. Unpredictable ones. It was aggravating to try and brainstorm all the plausible outcomes like this. He glanced at his other colleagues, finding more who'd been listening. They all exchanged shrugs and looks.
"Let us ask Father when he returns," the lead of robotics said, and the others hummed collectively in agreement.
Adam burned in his seat. How typical of robotics division to piggyback off of his intellect and efforts. He forced his gaze back down on the reports. The Brotherhood was making a move of some sort. Synth-Luki was currently receiving orders for their unit to lay siege to Bunker Hill. How the Brotherhood was tipped off that the Institute was seeking to reclaim from synths from there was yet another irritating unknown. There were more spies hiding amongst them, then.
Regardless, it was finally time to test 3-0's combat capabilities. The Father wanted to - and would - see evidence of how much more superior 3-0 was when he would meet the mutant on the battlefield.
That was if the robotics division was able to even replicate the mutant. Adam had his doubts. The bioscience division was dedicated to restoring life pre-war, and robotics had always been hyper-focused on manufacturing perfection, eliminating undesirable traits. They were out of their depth if they believed they could manufacture the bizarre evolutionary traits the mutant had acquired. It was upsetting to know 3-0 would not be up against the real thing, but whatever would transpire at Bunker Hill should be test-worthy enough.
For now? With everybody distracted by the Brotherhood's nearing presence, this presented another wonderful opportunity to seize.
x - x - x
Commotion provided a brief reprieve from the dreadful cloud that hung over Piper and Garrett's heads. They'd reluctantly relinquished the couch to head to the balcony to watch what was happening, both enraptured by bewilderment as scientists and coursers hustled about the Institute with purpose. There were a couple forklifts buzzing and setting crates near a row of coursers standing at attention as some scientist paced back and forth in front of them.
"What the hell...?" Garrett murmured. "Who the fuck are they getting ready to fight? Bloody army, looks like."
"Fight? Where do you see that?"
"Down there, look," Garrett pointed at one of the crates being unpacked. "Now I ain't an expert on science and laser shite, but there ain't no mistaking those t'be guns."
Piper scrutinized where he was pointing, and the tidal wave of coursers approached the crates to gear up. Civilians seemed to either be told not to be in the atrium, or remain in their divisions and apartments. Nobody was being stopped from watching all of this unfold. Stupid. They wouldn't do this without some kind of motive behind it, though, she wagered. She wasn't alone in her pondering.
"Good for morale, I guess," Garrett muttered as he leaned forward on the balcony railing, taking a look at the other units as some scientists had come out to watch the action.
Piper looked around herself, spotting Shaun watching from the safety of his balcony. He was too far away to really deign where he was looking himself. Suddenly, bright lights illuminated the atrium and she shielded her eyes with her forearm. When she looked back, her jaw dropped in disbelief. All the coursers were gone. Her gaze immediately snapped up to the Director's balcony, of which was now missing him.
"No doubt about it. They're fighting someone, you're right," Piper agreed quietly under her breath. She glanced over her shoulder, contemplating what to do. What she could do.
"Thinkin' of how you're gonna try to find out?" Garrett asked.
She shook her head, pulling him back inside the apartment. She couldn't bring herself to look at him as she dragged them towards the door. "No. I want to get back in that ward."
And yelped when she'd crashed into Garrett's body, before being pushed to the floor. She smelt ozone, and something burning. A necklace swung in her face with Garrett protectively cradling her, and she yelped as more shots were fired through their door. He tried to roll them off to the side, though shot up and dove as soon as the door opened, tackling one of the coursers down. Piper scrambled to her feet and went to tackle one of the other ones, though was instead plucked up as if she was light as a feather and tossed aside. Garrett had slammed against the wall beside her mere seconds later, and they groaned collectively, cradling their heads.
"Ms. Wright, Mr. Butler, you are under arrest," an awfully perky voice announced, with cheerful footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Garrett groaned as he purposefully smashed his head against the wall, before one of the coursers pulled him away. "God, I can't even kill myself!"
Somehow, there was a bubble of laughter in Piper's chest. Her mind traversed back to when they were kidnapped together, and the moldy bricks caved in on her when she'd repeatedly smashed her head in them in a desperate attempt to knock herself out, and spare herself the annoyance of Gat's vulgar lip. She was confused, trying to keep focused as she'd looked over and recognized the asshole who had tricked Garrett, and marred him with cybernetics. She leaned back and snarled when the scientist came to kneel in front of her first, a deceptively charming smile on his face.
"I have many questions for you in particular, Ms. Wright." He snapped up into standing, looking at the coursers. "Escort them to Ms. Butler's apartment. We're all about to have a nice family reunion."
"Fuck you!" Garrett screamed. "Touch Piper or my family, and I swear to fucking god I will make you wish you were never fucking born, mate!"
"Easy, easy! Are all you Butlers so distrustful? Goodness gracious..."
Before Garrett could curse more - or Piper have a chance to ask what was the meaning behind all this - the scientist made some kind of hand signal, and the two were injected something in their necks, soon at the mercy of darkness.
x - x - x
Leo waited with the coursers. He wasn't given a mission. This was his chance at freedom, to escape, whatever they were on the surface for. He watched the coursers, unsettled by how all of them were emotionless, awaiting for a go-ahead to strike the Settlement. Why were they attacking Bunker Hill? Why has Adam thrown him into the fray like this?
Nothing added up. That Adam did not even give any orders of his own didn't make sense. Was Adam done playing - torturing - him? He seemed to be pre-occupied with the Butler daughter.
Anger shot through Leo, a sickly feeling gripping his guts. He cast his thoughts out and paid no mind to it. He couldn't afford to feel sorry for some little girl, no matter what that Garnet chick asked of him. A promise didn't really count if she was drunk off her arse, grinding her damn arse on him. He didn't seriously have any obligations to protect Rose. Right?
Fucking hell, moral shit like this was up Luki's alley, not his.
Another look around. He wasn't even given any weapons. What the hell was he supposed to assault Bunker Hill with? Rocks? Maybe Adam tossed him here to be disposed of here. Wouldn't put it past that heartless fucking asshole.
"Get ready to move out," one of the coursers ordered as he took point. "One of our units will fire a blue flare. That is our signal to go in. Find the synths, relay out."
Synths? What synths? Jesus, Adam fucked this up if he thought Leo was going to be even remotely useful like this.
Distant gunfire alarmed them. The smell of ozone filled the air - laser weaponry. A rallying cry of sorts rang out. Leo's blood froze when the shouts thundered like a chorus, nearby, echoing from further down the alleyway where they hid.
"For the Brotherhood!"
Something overtook Leo. A bloodlust that he could almost taste, a seething rage consuming him within a blink. Instinct kicked in as his cybernetic arm disassembled itself to unsheathe a hidden blade, and he took off running towards the source of the cries.
Even when his mind screamed to run away instead.
x - x - x
"Oi." Garnet was not impressed. She held Rose close to her as she narrowed her eyes at Adam, before casting a concern look over at the two unconscious folk the coursers unceremoniously dumped on her bed. She lost the war as Rose wrestled free to rush to Garrett's side, and Garnet sighed as she carefully strode - with the infuriating aid of a stupid cane - towards her brother, keeping a close watch on Adam after the man dismissed his coursers.
Ballsy. He didn't think he was in any real threat here.
"What's the meanin' of this now, Adam? What games are you tryin' to play?" She accused.
"No games," Adam stated seriously. He worked his lab coat off and tossed it over the dressing chair. His gaze snapped to Garnet. "The situation is rapidly evolving into something dangerous. Mr. Butler completed his objective. Father has not honored that all of you should have been released by now."
Garnet scoffed, laughter snorting with it. "You think any of us thought we were actually going to leave here, alive? No strings attached? You played a part in all this. Ain't no honor in this bloody place."
"Contrary, we do honor our word and our contracts. Well... We're supposed to. At least, I have, no?" Adam crossed his arms, frowning when Garnet scoffed. "I fixed your knee. I've been teaching Rose things. I've done it all without cost, even with more crucial projects I need to attend to. The future of my division rests entirely on me, yet I am here." He knew he was victorious in their little debate when her gunmetal orbs flicked away, stubbornly soldering back on her brother.
"As I said," Adam continued, "the situation is evolving into something dangerous. The Institute is now in open war with the Brotherhood of Steel and the Railroad. We're preparing and currently expecting to make contact with the Brotherhood at Bunker Hill - how they know what we want in there, nobody knows. Yet. So we've Railroad and Brotherhood spies within our network. It's only a matter of time before they're able to infiltrate the Institute."
"So, what, you are gonna help us leave?" Garnet balked in disbelief, her brow pinching with confusion as she looked over at him. "You ain't makin' sense, Adam. What's in this for you? Why the bloody hell are ya stickin' your neck out for us? Y'never cared before."
"That is none of your business."
More like: even he didn't know why he bothered caring about these barbarians, but they didn't belong in this place. They've all served their purpose. They all know how to survive out in the wasteland, so out there will be safer than being trapped in here.
His eyes glossed over Rose for a second, and Garnet sighed. She hobbled over and rested a hand on his shoulder, eliciting a surprised look from him as he rose his gaze to meet hers. She squeezed his shoulder, and had a strange kind of smile he'd not seen before. It baffled him. This savage sooner would be squeezing his throat instead, for all their differences and arguments before.
"Well," Garnet beamed, "if y'can make it happen, I'm game. I'm pretty sure Garrett would be too. Can't talk for his la..." Garnet's eyes flicked over at Rose, muttering something incoherent to cut herself off.
"Yes, well, there is still a complication." Adam fixed his tie and cleared his throat with a cough, slightly rolling his shoulder to evict her hand when it began to unsettle him.
And she hadn't sanitized her hands, for goodness' sake.
"I don't wanna leave," Rose stated suddenly. She looked pleadingly over at Adam. "Why are you kicking us out? I like it here. I get to learn things, and I have friends."
"Rose, hon," Garnet softened, lumbering over to her daughter as she affectionately ruffled the girl's hair. "Didn't you hear him? It won't be safe for us here."
"Then what about you?" Rose gave Adam a pointed look. "You're comin' with us, right?"
"What?" Adam laughed a little at this, shaking his head at the preposterous notion. "Ridiculous. No. My place is here. I'll die up there."
"You'll die here too, by the sounds of it," Garnet muttered under her breath.
"I'm quite crafty. I'll be safe should a fight break out here." Adam smirked a little as he glanced over at Garnet. "Are you concerned for me, Ms. Butler?"
"In your dreams, mate." Garnet crossed her arms and scowled at him as if she dared him to try her. It was tempting. "So y'don't really know if you will get attacked here, then, is that it? So if you don't...?"
"Well, if you and Rose are interested to stay here, then I could certainly arrange that and make accommodations for the both of you. However, I suspect an all-clear like that won't be given until at least the threat the Brotherhood poses to us has been dealt with and settled somehow - whether they're eliminated or we reach an understanding of sorts. But from what I understand of them, there will be no chance of negotiations. Raiders in power armor is all that they are."
Garnet had a thoughtful look, quietly digesting information and weighing her options, it seemed. Good. At least someone here was still reasonable and mature enough to move on from past events. Adam honestly thought there would be more resistance, but that seemed to have slipped away the moment Rose shared she wanted to stay here. It was easy to anticipate their motives, then.
Now what about Ms. Wright?
"I'll need your aid convincing these two as well," Adam gestured, careful not to reveal the true nature of Garrett and his supposed fatherhood to Rose. That was even less true than ever before. He couldn't deny the curiosity that dwelled in his thoughts as to how Ms. Wright was going to deal with the matter and life of synth-Garrett.
"Don't think they'd need convincing," Garnet shrugged, "unless there's somethin' you ain't tellin' me. Wager you won't."
"I will not."
"Great. Makes me trust ya so much more."
"It is their information to share," Adam waved his hand dismissively, leaving momentarily to grab a glass of water from the kitchen as he rose his voice to be heard. "Ask them, when they awaken."
"Why th'hell did ya knock 'em out anyways? Shoulda just told 'em they was comin' here."
"Have you met your brother?" Adam groaned exasperatedly, then froze. He turned with an apologetic smile as a furious head popped around the corner of the doorway.
This lie was... What need was there for it? They didn't truly think they could get away with Rose not finding out the truth forever, did they? It over-complicated matters. How would they broach the topic of Mr. Butler going off and playing with another woman, rather than remain the loyal 'father'?
Well...
That was if the synth was going to stick around.
x - x - x
Luki took cover and remained with his unit, following Gallows' every hand signal and order as they slithered around the action and crept towards Bunker Hill. Of course. Gallows was the shadiest in the Lyons' Pride, but there was no mistaking his results when it came to scouting and finding a way in quietly. They eschewed their power armors so as not to make noise, their orders to fire and dispatch coursers only when absolutely necessary to advance.
What would the Institute think of Luki disposing of these synths? They'd never given him any rules of engagement themselves, so it should be fair game... But he didn't rely on them to be the reasonable sort, after those they murdered in cold-blood, even if they were synths. They still felt fear, didn't they? They still did not want to die.
Thoughts were muddling with him, messing with his own feelings about where he stood in the midst of all this. The Brotherhood of Steel took a hard position against the Institute. Could there ever be an opportunity to talk things out instead? The Institute had valuable technology that would greatly assist the Brotherhood in serving America and helping them rebuild the era pre-war. The Brotherhood had the bodies and code of tenets to uphold and serve in honor, rather than be deduced to a common raider or gunner.
Perhaps the most sane group left in the Commonwealth were the Minutemen, but they were only civilians. They just wanted to survive, thrive, and live, something everybody else threatened. They wouldn't care much for the whole of America, nor do they have the training or morals, nor technology and resources.
Gallows rose a fist over his shoulder for their unit to come to a stop. He looked around, then motioned for them to climb up the debris of an apartment building to get to higher ground. They slithered without sound, and used the chaos of battle nearby to shroud themselves as they stuck to the shadows. Luki was the first to be able to climb up to the top, before dropping on the ground and extending a hand over the ledge to help pull Gallows and the others up with him.
Bloodcurdling screams made the hair on Luki's nape rise, and he hesitantly looked over to survey the carnage sweeping over Bunker Hill. Innocent folk were caught in the middle, some trying to escape, caught in the crossfire between the Brotherhood and the Institute. This wasn't right. Soldiers were supposed to identify their targets, check their fire. It didn't even seem like there was any effort made to do so.
Gallows set up the tripod of his sniper rifle, eliciting the others to do the same. Luki knelt by and awaited his order, being the elected heavy bruiser if the fight snuck up on them. He looked away when the hand cut the air and the unit began to fire.
Ideals were at war with loyalty... But this wasn't the Brotherhood he served. He saw no merit in this slaughter. What was the big deal if the Institute reclaimed their synths? He saw it for himself: they could always make more. This wouldn't make a dent in their operations. This was only harming the innocent more than anything else. He couldn't be a part of this.
"Sentinel Gallows, I see civilians trapped in one of the buildings-"
"Forget them."
"Permission to make contact and get them out of this battlefield, sir?"
"Permission denied. Stay focused on the mission, Paladin."
Luki clenched his teeth. Gallows didn't even look away from his scope for a second, the rhythm of him finding a mark and firing only picking up the pace. One of the other Paladins poked her head up and looked over at Luki with a conflicted look on her face too, before she seemed to catch something of interest below.
"Sentinel, something's approaching us. Fast!"
"Get down there and deal with it, Paladin Lyons," Gallows ordered.
Without a second wasted, Luki made the climb down as quickly as he could, his gear jostling viciously. He tossed his rifle down to the ground before he'd scaled far enough to jump down to it, pain shooting up his shins. He wasn't given time to mind it when he was suddenly thrown and pinned to the wall, cold metal digging into his neck as something snarled in his face. He retaliated by breaking the chokehold and twisted to deliver an uppercut to the ribs, grimacing when his fist was caught in a metal hand. He howled with pain when his fist was crushed in, fragmented bones floating. Another attempt at an uppercut, and he was pinned to the wall again with the metal forearm closing in in his throat.
"You fucker," Luki seethed, struggling to break free. His gaze met his attacker's, and confusion swum with panic as he tried to fight back. This man who attacked him was more machine than man, but there was something familiar about him - and it seemed he was recognized too. "Who are you?" He strained, saliva pooling and dripping as each second tightened to crush his throat next. He glanced down at his broken hand, bewildered why it wasn't...
Why wasn't he regenerating?
"Who are you?!" Luki demanded again, groaning when a fist slammed into his ribs over and over again until cartilage cracked and snapped. He was suddenly thrown down the alleyway as if he weighed as light as a feather, a series of shots ringing out and missing their mark. He watched as the cybernetic man scaled the building with ease, coughing and scrambling to his feet to chase after him to protect his unit.
Horror descended upon them all. He froze in fear, helplessly watching as screams filled the air, and limbs were torn right off with ease. The last thing he'd seen was Gallows' head dropping down to his feet. When he looked up, the cybernetic man was there again. Luki's hand was still broken, agony wracking every breath - his ribs weren't regenerating either.
For a moment, the cybernetic man seemed to pause. His expression screaming something - like he didn't want to be here, like he was remorseful. He seemed to struggle for control as he tried to have a panel flip up on his synthetic arm, only to slap it shut.
Exhausted, Luki collapsed on a knee, bracing his ribs as he groaned. He was supposed to be healing. He glanced over, and weakly crawled over to a bucket that was filled with dirty water. He cupped his quivering hands and sipped at the water, grimacing at the awful taste. He waited and waited, but that relief never came. His brain wracked for answers - and consequently screamed in denial of them. The lurking suspicion was true. The paranoia wasn't just paranoia.
His gaze snapped to the feet that came up in his peripheral vision, wondering why this man hadn't torn him apart like the rest of his unit. The panel was up again, the arm held out in front of Luki for a second before control warred to tear away. He saw something written in reverse - and pinpointed instantly why. His heart sank as he looked up at the cybernetic man.
"Leo?" He coughed as pain laced his ribs, licking his dry lips as he tried to push past it. "What did they do to you...?"
A metal hand snapped over his throat, but it shook. He summoned what little strength he had left as he rose his arm, holding onto the wrist. He wasn't regenerating.
And he figured he wouldn't be any time soon.
That remorseful look slashed all over Leo's face. He was struggling against whatever seemed to be programming him to be like this. Luki closed his eyes, smiling pitifully. "It's alright, Leo. The Lord will forgive you. I forgive you." The fingers tightened on his throat, then relaxed, then tightened, then relaxed. "I know this ain't you, man. And know that even if you kill me..."
He sighed, his body twitching to fight back as his airway slowly crushed in.
"This ain't me. I'm not real."
Agony exploded in his cut as a blade plunged deep into it, and that fear slammed him as a silent scream ached to break free, but his throat was crushed like his fist. His intestines were ripped out.
The last he'd seen was his head falling away from his mangled body.
x - x - x
"Ngh..." Piper blindly grabbed and pulled a pillow over her face to block out the light, groaning as a headache pounded her awake. She swore she'd just heard voices a second ago, and everything suddenly hushed. She felt whatever she was lying on cave to weight as someone seemed to sit beside her.
"Wakey-wakey eggs and bakey," Garrett's low voice sang, an amusement subdued by something that shook and already called out to empathy, making tears well up behind her eyes.
"I would kill to have some bacon right now," Piper jested back, though muffled by the pillow. She fought a valiant war against Garrett who tried to pull it away from her. She couldn't. It hurt just knowing what state she was about to find him in, if his voice was any indication. She giggled - against her will - when fingers came up and tickled under her armpit, flinching down to pinch them. The pillow was ripped away in that moment, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Garrett sighed, then chuckled. "S'just me and Garnet, luv. Ain't nothin' much scarier than her."
"Oi." The sister deadpanned.
Piper reluctantly opened her eyes, looking over at the two. Garnet sat in a chair beside the bed, and Garrett scooted over to the edge of it. Both their eyes were red and puffy, still glossy with unshed tears. Piper turned her head to look away, trying to ignore the sting behind her eyes. "So uh... What happened? Why are we here? Where's..." She pushed herself up on her elbows, looking around the room. "Where's Adam?" She looked over at Garnet. "And your, uh, your daughter?"
"Rose is with Adam in the living room, playing," Garnet explained quietly. "So she wouldn't hear all this."
Piper's brow furrowed. "You trust that guy with her?"
"Same thing I asked," Garrett grumbled, "barmy, she is."
"I do," Garnet answered Piper first, a soft smile whisking the corner of her lips as she glanced over at Garrett. "I am, yeah. But Adam seems to have taken to her and has been helping us a lot. And it gives us all a chance to breathe without wanting to punch that bloke in the kisser."
"Amen to that," Piper chuckled. She straightened into sitting and observed the two as she tried to read the atmosphere. There was a most dreadful feeling in her stomach. Instinct scooted her closer to Garrett, reaching for his hand. Her heart sank when he'd kept his distance. "So..."
"I already told her," Garrett confessed quietly, his gaze locked on the floor. "I ain't real."
"Garrett..."
"I ain't. It's fact. I'm a copy after the real thing. I'm not her brother, and Rose ain't... Mine. These memories ain't mine. I wasn't the one there for 'em, growin' up."
Piper chewed the inside of her lip, glancing over at Garnet - whom also found the floor just as interesting as her eyes glowed brighter with tears. She cleared her throat with a rough cough and raked a hand through her hair, quickly swiping her forearm across her eyes before mustering the courage to look up and lock eyes with Piper.
"Adam says the Institute might not be a safe place anymore. There's a war between them and the Brotherhood and the Railroad. He wants to set us all free and get us back on the surface, away from all this."
Surprised, Piper leaned back, glancing over at Garrett when his eyes came to meet hers. And he chuckled. "Same look I made. Barmy, she is."
"Oi!" Garnet leaned over and gave a swift punch across his shoulder, a brief moment of levity lifting their spirits before it fell under the weight of the situation.
"So he thinks the Institute might be under attack here?" Piper asked to clarify, her brow pinching. "How would either the Brotherhood or Railroad find out?"
"Maybe the Institute's been gettin' more bold and crazy, like kidnapping in broad daylight, by a city," Garrett said, pointing at her. "Musta been someone in Goodneighbor that saw all the shite that went down between us when we were there, yeah? Or maybe Cowboy or them others left a trail for someone. Who knows."
"Nobody does, or at least - Adam hasn't given that information," Garnet supplied. "Now, I still won't trust that bloke as far as I can throw him, but I ain't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. If we can get outta here, I'm game. All this crap goin' down ain't none of our business and I don't plan for 'em to drag Rose into it. We can go back to the way life was, and we ain't gotta worry no more 'bout the debts either."
"The way life was..." Piper mumbled, looking over at Garrett. He was back to staring at the floor again. Her heart wavered when he buried his head in his hands. "And... What do you want, Garrett?"
Both women exchanged hesitant looks before it fell on him. Piper wasn't surprised that Garnet didn't seem to be as empathetic or affectionate - it was true, after all. Garrett wasn't really her brother. She'd grown up with the real one, bonded with that one, all those experiences between those two were real. But what did that have to say for what Piper experienced with this one? She had fallen in love, and all those experiences...
Tears burned hotter and the world began to grow misty when Garrett sucked in a sharp, raw breath. His body quivered as much as his voice. "I want to do the right thing, luv."
"Ga-"
"What we got is real good, but it's a real good lie too. Y'deserve the truth. You've been fightin' for it all your life. It ain't right for me to take that away from you - from anyone."
"Garrett, please..."
"I know it's hard. The right thing's never easy. Heh, you taught me that... I don't wanna do it either, selfish prick as I am. But that selfishness ain't mine either." His head swung up, his face torn even though he forced a sloppy charming grin. "Look on the bright side, angel. The real thing's much better. Y'get to fall in love with this charming mug all over again." He slapped his knees and snapped up into standing with an exaggerated clear of his throat, forcing mirth where none could be found as he shakily walked to the door. He opened it quickly before Piper or Garnet could say anything else on the matter, and his laughs quaked in the air as Rose came charging over to embrace him, her innocence and excitement to see him so revered and cherished as Garrett knelt to her level.
When he drew her in a fierce hug and gave an exaggerated kiss on her cheek, Piper had to look away as she fell apart.
"Rose, hon, you're a strong lass. You take care of yer mum, alright? Pa has to..." His voice cracked, warbling, hugging the girl tighter as he'd tucked her face against his neck so she wouldn't see him. "Pa has to go for a bit."
"I would like to take your family to the surface now while there is still opportunity to, Mr. Butler," Adam stoically replied as he'd walked over. "The battle will not go on forever. We don't have much time."
"What, we gotta go now then?" Garnet asked, exchanging a panicked look with Piper.
She steeled herself as she rose and approached Adam. "I need to get in that ward again. I'm not leaving this place until I do."
She wasn't sure how she felt about Adam's slippery smile.
"Of course."