VIII
Peter…, no, Henry stops flat after hearing his name.
She had not intended to call him: the word had only escaped her lips. Bur maybe, deep down, she had wanted to, and was only now realizing it.
But he said I could ask him…, Eleven tells herself, with none of the hesitation that grips her unwittingly when she speaks out loud.
"Yes, Eleven?"
He does not turn fully; only enough to smile at her to reassure her enough to get her to talk.
Eleven swallows.
A deep breath.
And…
"I… have a question."
"Go ahead."
His voice sounds like it always does: casual, gentle, calm, peaceful even.
"If… if I had," Eleven takes another deep breath and forces herself to articulate as clearly as possible. "If I had said… no…, what would… have you done?"
There. The question is out there now. Eleven lowers her gaze and focuses on smoothing the folds of her gown with her fingers to avoid looking too eager for his answer.
"Oh, Eleven."
But she fails, of course. Eleven looks up just in time to see Henry completely turning around to face her straight, his hands one over the other, the neutral posture he used to adopt when addressing her back in the lab.
"Eleven, I have told you, haven't I? You can ask me whatever you want, and I will answer you."
Silence.
"Eleven."
"Yes," she bursts out. "Yes, you said… that."
"Exactly." Henry closes his eyes for a moment.
He opens them again.
He looks at her dead in the eyes, his smile unwavering.
"Nevertheless, Eleven, it is I who must now ask you…."
Eleven's fingernails clench the gown's fabric.
"…Why do you ask a question to which you already know the answer?"
Words choke in her throat.
"Do you understand, Eleven?" Since she remains unable to speak, Henry shows a little pity for her and makes a small concession: "Nod if you understand." So she does, her movement stilted. "Fantastic."
"So, now that there are no more secret between us, I shall retire for the night. You should try and get some sleep, too."
Eleven watches him turn his back at her, the door open.
"Good night, Eleven."
As words still refuse to come out of her mouth, she's unable to wish him the same.