Chapter 21: Chasing Tornados

Blue Valley, Nebraska, 2004

"Max! You're up!"

It was July 1st, three days to Independence Day. I was ten, donned in my girl's soft ball little league get up at the ball diamonds in town. I remember the heat of that day vividly. Like when my mom would make me hold my head over steam from a pot of boiling water when I had a cold. Hot and humid— sticky weather, as my mom would call it. The sun was out with a vengeance, the lemonade from the gallon coolers were enough to chase the heat away. The smell of hot dogs and burgers roasting on the grill enough to feel like home. Kayley's dad was manning the barbecue, as the other parents of the little league chatted away on the benches with their sunglasses and sun hats— cold beers in their hands. Then us, the kids, delved into our game of baseball like it was an inning. In reality, it was just another practice.

When it was my time to bat, I was always a brim of excitement. The other girls would cheer and clap.

"Yeah, Max! Go Max!"

It was always full of energy. So much positivity and simple fun. Even without my dad there, my mom's unbridled bleats of joy from the bleachers were enough for me. I waved to her on my way to bat. A true up-beat tomboy as I'd like to believe I was back then. Not shying from goofing off with the other girls if I ever got the chance. Honing the title of the team clown like a badge, no different than Girl Scouts.

The pitcher was Jessie, she gave me a wave as I came up to the mat. Parents and kids behind the fence were cheering my name, an embodiment of super stardom. The crippling fear of missing that ball. Letting those cheers and hoots go to waste. I patted the bat on the dirt twice and made the posture. Bent my knees and kept my eye to the ball. There was always a split second of silence before the ball went airborne. Then I swung, and that glorious clank of metal rang. Without hesitation I dropped the bat as the cheers and screams of joy fleeted behind me. All calling my name.

"Go Max! Run! Run! Run! You can do it!"

The air whooshing on my face in the full sprint was a glimpse of relief in the 97 degree heat. I could see Stacey Dotson running up to the ball in the field as I was metres from the mat. She got in and threw to the infield. I slid and stretched my left leg out to the mat. I touched seconds before they reached me. The claps and cheers reigned again.

Stacey moaned, "Aw. Good job, Max."

"Thanks! You did good, too!"

"I was this close!"

"Yeah! I thought you had me!" I laughed.

Stacey went back to her spot, "Just you wait till next bat!"

"Bring it!"

I caught my breath and one of the coaches brought me my water bottle. A slight rumble from the east caught our attention. Fluffy blue and grey clouds were rolling in quick. We had been wrangling with thunderstorms for the week, the thick and hot moisture in the air the product of the tumultuous rain. My heart fell to see it again. Knowing it would likely cut our game short.

My coach observed, "Uh-oh. Got some storm clouds, Atkins."

"Seriously?!" I whined, "We're not calling it, right?"

"Nah, not yet. Let's see what they do."

I grumbled, "Stupid weather…"

One of the girls on my team struck the ball and went running, I took that as my shot to second. Maybe I was getting cocky, but Stacey wasn't kidding. She was on my tail like a coyote after a house pet. She got me just inches from the mat and I growled. I threw my hands in the air, "Why, Stacey?! Why!"

"I told you!" Stacey laughed.

My mom could be heard the loudest in the bleachers, "Good job, baby! You did good! You'll do better next time!"

I stuck my tongue out at her and did my usual goofy waddle back to the benches, making the other girls laugh.

Violet Henderson clapped my back, "Next time, Max. Next time."

"Stacey's gonna get it when it's her turn to bat, man. I better get infield. Her day has come!"

Then another rattle of thunder shook the earth under our feet. It didn't startle us as much as one would think. Instead, it was a wave of pre-pubescent girls howling in disappointment.

The coach called, "Alright! That's a wrap, ladies! We got thunder clouds comin'!"

I yelled back among the others, "Oh, come on!"

"You know the rules, girls! When thunder roars! First things first, I want all of y'all to help clean up the field, let's go!"

The clouds flooded the skies fast as we started to clean up. The parents put away their barbecues and coolers. When I reached down to pick up a mat, I looked up to clouds almost as black as night. The air was still and muggy, not even a wisp of wind. I looked over to my mom with the other parents. They all had their eyes on the skies, pointing up to the ripples of the dour clouds. The coach shouted impatiently, "Let's go! Let's go! Before we get lightening, please!"

I ran to the storage box and put the things away quickly. I could overhear my mom and another parent.

"You don't think it could be."

"Look at those clouds, my God. You see that? Looks like a wall cloud, very well could be."

"You got a basement just in case?"

"Storm cellar, we'll be fine. Probably just another thunderstorm."

I walked over to my mom then, "Hey, is everything okay?"

She yammered, "Everything's fine, baby! Why wouldn't things be? You get your glove?"

"No, not yet."

"Okay, go quick before we get pissed on."

I ran through the other girls and looked for my glove. I found it under the bleachers by where my mom was sitting. Then a loud, crying noise echoed through Blue Valley. At first, I thought it was a fire truck, or a police car. Its cry was loud and wailing, different than any other siren. It was enough to alarm the others in the diamond, send them hurling things into their pickup trucks and yelling at one another. As the storm siren shrilled, my mom did, too, "Max! Max!"

"Mom!" I yelled back racing to her as my friends ran to their parents in fear. It started to rain heavily, it hit my back and stung like I was getting pelted by rocks. My arm clasped my hand in a certain terror I had only seen her make once before. The day of Celeste's disappearance. Seeing it again was enough to flood in me.

"Mommy! What's happening?!"

"We gotta go! Now!"

The winds picked up suddenly— violently. Throwing trees into a bow. I could see clouds of debris being pulled from over the hillside. My mom pulled me to the car, even against the throttling winds. The other vehicles we're pulling out to the road throwing rocks, revving their engines to speed away. I got inside the car and put on my seatbelt as my mom started it. As soon as she did there was a warning alarm on the radio. My mom sped from the diamonds just as the other parents did, I felt my head whip against the seat.

"Tornado warning in Blue Valley and Debbie County, NE. Take cover immediately. A tornado has been sighted outside Blue Valley, Nebraska and Debbie County at 3:45pm and is on route through Blue Valley east residential area. Flying debris can be dangerous without shelter. If you live in a mobile home, seek underground shelter immediately. Tornado warning in Blue Valley and…"

The transcript played over and over, coincided with the sirens outside, the rumbling and roaring of the winds, the slaps of hail on my mom's windshield. Of course, the blinding lightning that would sheet the skies— accompanied by clapping thunder. My mother heaved and hummed behind the wheel, racing through the streets definitely over residential speed limits.

"Mom! Calm down!"

"There's a damn tornado in town, Max! I ain't calming down for no one!"

We got down to our street, and I dared to look out the rear view window. When I did, I chill coursed through my whole being. Sweat accumulated in my palms as I clutched the upholstery. It was on our side of the river. Black and coned like the tip of a knife. Throwing roofs off the houses like a giant toddler, drilling into its path much as it looked. It was going through downtown, only three blocks from our house.

"Mom, it's behind us!"

"Is it going one side or the other, Maxine?!"

"It's going…"

"It's not standing still, is it?!"

I choked out, "I don't know! Maybe! No… it's going right!"

"Thank fucking Christ!"

My mom pulled into our driveway and the winds were bending all of the trees, sending debris from other yards and houses over our heads.

My mom looked back to me with fear-stricken eyes, "Okay, baby. You're gonna stay with me, you hear? We're gonna run to the storm cellar and you're not going to let go of my hand, do you understand?"

"Yes!"

My mom pushed the door open in a fight with the wind. She stumbled to my side of the door and it nearly slapped her back. She helped me from the car and the winds were enough to feel as if we'd be taken up with it. A noise so loud it could pop an ear drum. Like standing just before a train. It rippled, and whooshed and cracked, metal clanging metal and trees uprooting. A whirlwind of chaotic panic. Mom clasped my hand and pulled me to the backyard. She was screaming but I could barely hear it over the winds, "Let's go, baby! Stay with me! Max! Jesus fucking Christ!"

I was screaming too, but I could only feel it in my chest, not hear it. We ran through the backyard and my mom fumbled for the keys off her chain. We made it to the storm cellar at the edge of the yard and my mom released my hand to unlock the pad on the doors. I looked up to flutters of debris above me. Like a flock of birds soaring over a lake. Passed the bowing trees I saw it again. The beast of a vortex ripping up downtown in flurries. Memories of home pulled from the ground like weeds. The sign to Daisy's Diner, the roof of the movie store, the trees before the town hall— all spiralling and crumbling in the distance. Surrounded in black clouds coning from the sky and to our town— portraying the most brutal display of Mother Nature's power before my very eyes. The fear was slowly drowned out by awe. Intrigue. I even forced myself against the winds to step back from the trees, wanting to see more of the monstrosity before it's face hid behind our home.

"Max! Come on! Come on, get inside the cellar now!"

I could hear my mom's desperate cries, but I couldn't budge. I couldn't flick my eyes from the cyclone. I was utterly captivated, terribly amazed. Strangely exhilarated to see the phenomenon ripping through my childhood home. Despite how scared I was, I couldn't look away.

Then my mom snatched me by my waist, picking me up and into the cellar by force. She whammed the doors shut and closed the hatch. The screeching winds sullied inside. My mom thudded down the steps with me and pulled the light chain.

"The hell is wrong with you?! When I tell you to get into the cellar, you do what I tell you! Do you have any idea what could have happened, Maxine Atkins! This is not a game!"

"I'm sorry," I whimpered, biting down my tears.

My mom's rage fleeted just as quickly as the storm seemed to swell. She blew out a sigh and stumbled to me, pulling me into a trembling hug.

"Please don't do that to me again, Max. I'm just… happy you're okay. We're gonna be okay. No matter what happens, we're going to be okay. I love you so much."

"I love you too, mommy."

Yet, I wasn't relieved. For some sickly disturbed reason, I wasn't scared. My fascination only cut short leaving me wanting more. To see danger before my very eyes and I yearned to take some of that in myself. That feeling I felt only once, never again. At ten years old I wanted to feel it. To chase that feeling— the rush. The awe-inspiring doom that would horrify most, it drew me in. I've been chasing that thrill ever since. Yet, I still haven't made the crawl from the rubble unscathed.

Edward's apartment was glowing in the warmth of lamps, smells of cooking, and Max's low music in the kitchen. In separate rooms yet still the comfort of being together, Max and Edward were in the midst of December. Christmas lights glittered the city lights in red and green. Max was cooking oden stew as Edward was at his desk on Nigma. Her voice started suddenly in the kitchen.

"Hey mom."

She had picked up a face call from her mother and placed her phone upright on the counter.

"Hey honey! Whoa, wait a minute. Where are you?"

"I'm at Edward's, mom."

Yumi's voice inflated, "Oh! You're at Eddie's! First time seeing it! Where is the gentle giant, I wanna say hi!"

Edward didn't even hear his beckoning from the kitchen as his focus was drilled into a thread on Nigma. Eventually Max called, "Edward! Come here. Mom wants to see you."

He jolted, "Huh?"

"My mom is on the phone, she wants to see you," she said quieter for her mom, "He's doing work on his laptop."

Edward pushed from his desk and came into his kitchen. He crouched down into the camera to see Yumi at the dining table in her home. Her face lit up when she saw him, making him grin.

"There's my boy! Oh shit, he's a handsome devil. How are you, baby?"

Yumi's room-filling laugh was a welcoming sound— a vocal hug. Max kept cooking but would sneak a glance to his smile at seeing her mom again. She delighted to see it, quietly enjoying it.

"I'm good. It's nice to see you again. I missed you," he said as he picked up the phone.

"Aw! I miss you, too! I miss both of you so much! I'll be seeing you guys' next month for the trial, right?"

Edward glanced to Max for a certain answer, then she took her attention from the stove to ask, "I thought we were coming down for Christmas?"

Yumi sighed, "Aw, not this year, honey. I'm sorry. It's just not the mood with Cece's trial coming up. Sobo and Jiji agreed. I think we're gonna skip it this year."

Max took the phone from Edward (who had a dazed look) and asked, "I've always come down for Christmas. We're seriously not doing it this year? You love Christmas."

Edward went back to his laptop to let them sort it out. Yumi replied, "Oh, baby, I do. I really do. It's just… we don't know the outcome of the trial, yet. We're all a little on edge. I just… don't want another repeat of Thanksgiving dinner."

"Mom, we fight. That's what families do. Is it really worth cancelling a whole holiday over?"

"It's not just the fight, honey. It's the… well, Christmas is about unity and festive spirit. With Cece's case coming up… it's been kind of hard to get festive. We're just scared, Max. Doesn't mean we don't want to."

Max asked sullenly, "So, that's it. No Christmas this year?"

"Aw. Honey, I'm sorry. I know you love Christmas, too. Doesn't mean you can't go nuts with Eddie! He's not Jewish, is he?"

Max sighed, "Hanukkah exists, mom. And no, he's not but… I was looking forward to it. He enjoyed Thanksgiving with you."

"If trial goes well and that fucking prick gets death then maybe we'll do a little something."

"So, you want to celebrate Hewitt getting death?"

"Fuck yeah, I do! You should, too. You basically authorized it, didn't you?"

"Yeah. But… it's not really something I'd want to celebrate. Kinda dark."

Yumi shrugged as she got up from the dining table, "Each their own, honey. We'll revisit it if it comes down to it. For now, I need to get my ass to bed. I'll be opening tomorrow. Speaking of which, any luck on the job search?"

"No. But I'm making some money with freelancing."

"To be honest, it's about time you told those fucking dicks to go shove it! They'd been screwing you around for too long. Remember what I said before, lots of opportunities in Omaha!"

Max scolded, "Mom."

"Right, right. Shit, you're a tough egg to crack. A girl can only dream! Goodnight, honey. I'll call ya tomorrow."

Max sighed a bit dejected, "You too, mom."

Max hung up and put her phone down with a groan, "Well, that sucks. Did you hear that?"

Time passed as she turned off the stove and took bowls out— but no answer from Edward.

"Edward?"

She walked from the stove to still see him drilled into his computer.

"What are you doing?" Max asked, coming over timidly to his chair.

Edward finally flinched from his computer and said, "I'm trying to get information on Gotham Mountain Security. Been looking for answers for three hours on a thread."

Max looked over his shoulder to see some the of the comments.

"That's where Thomas Wayne's body is cryogenically frozen. He's not dead! He and Amadeus Arkham and their cabal are controlling the city."

"I hear that's where they put the mind-controlling fluoride in the water."

Max couldn't help but chuckle, "Ah, Nigma. Never gets old."

Edward rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Nothing concrete. It's driving me up the wall."

"Maybe you should take a break for a bit."

"No," he moaned, rubbing his eyes under his glasses, "I can't. The worst is that it's not all digitized. The answers I need are on paper in that building. It's starting to seem pointless. Like I've reached the ceiling. Now it's all up to interpretation."

"Maybe that's all we can do," muttered Max as she sat down beside him, "Think about everything we know so far. That's definitely more than enough to shit on them."

"No, it's not, Max," he sighed, "Remember what your old boss told you? If we said anything, they'd find and kill us. Just like Mr. Joon. If we're doing this, then we've gotta dig down to the root of it all. How did it start and why, and why are they using Renewal? It doesn't make any sense."

"For appearances."

"You don't even believe that. It's more than that. Finding it is… going to break me."

Max sighed and laid her hand to his thigh, "How about… I take over the hunt for a while. You go eat and rest for a bit. I'll let you know if I find something. Just take it easy for the night."

Edward huffed, "No."

"You've been leaving me on the bench again. I told you I can help."

"Max…"

"It's not going to be like last time, okay? I'm ready this time. Besides, I'm just sitting at a computer."

Edward wanted to battle it, but Max's earnest stare had the ability to waver him more than he prepared. He grievously sighed and sat up from his chair, shuffling lazily to the kitchen.

Max said contently, "Thank you! You see, we're compromising. That's healthy relationship goals."

"Yeah, yeah…" he groaned back.

"Sheesh. Like a teenager getting his phone taken away."

"Don't push it, Max."

"I love you!"

"I love you, too. But you're annoying."

Max giggled to herself, listening to Edward grumble from the kitchen. Overall content she was able to help him peel his eyes from the computer screen. He would periodically check in on her progress, only to be shooed away. Max spent the remainder of her evening before the screen, making post after post about Gotham Mountain Security. Most of her members were either confused, intrigued or indifferent— none providing concrete answers or leads. Eventually Edward drifted to sleep and Max was still scouting for some kind of solution. A hack into the CCTVs wouldn't show the documents they needed. Breaking in would be dangerous. Half of Gotham Mountain Security documents were on paper, so hacking into their system wouldn't be viable— even if possible. Slowly Max was beginning to understand Edward's frustrations.

Then a message pinged on Edward's account. Max closed her tab of Nigma and went back to his.

"A friend. I can help you."

Max psst, "Edward. Hey."

He continued to sleep, she sat up from the chair and went to the bedside.

"Edward, wake up." She jostled him a little, and he flinched awake.

"Huh?" He moaned, still half asleep.

"Someone messaged you. They said they can help you."

"What?" He shot up from bed and kicked the blanket off. He put his glasses back on. He thudded to the chair past Max and saw the message himself. Max pulled the other chair up to the desk next to him. He was checking the credentials on the unknown messenger's page. Decent hacker, conspiracist, interests included Batman, and most importantly— he worked at Gotham Mountain Security.

Edward's breath heightened and accepted the encrypted chat.

The member messaged, "I've seen you play before. You are good."

Max whispered, "This is crazy."

"Shush," hushed Edward. He messaged them back, "I see we have similar interests."

"What do you need to know about Gotham Mountain Security?"

Edward sent, "I need to get inside."

Max interjected, "What?"

"How else will I get to those documents?"

"You want to break in?"

Edward replied, "Maybe I won't have to."

The friend replied, "Why?"

Edward rubbed his mouth with his palm. He stayed scowling at the screen for sometime deep in thought. Max mumbled, "Babe?"

He started to type an assortment of symbols suddenly. Max curved her brows at it.

"What the hell?"

He said, "Trust me."

There was some time before the person responded. Then they said, "I see. I lost my brother to drops. It's how they keep the lower class down."

"How can I trust you?" Edward typed back.

The messenger simply typed the icon of a bat. Edward sent it back. Like some kind of underground sign against the system. Max was without words, opting to silence. The person replied, "I can get you in. Graveyard shift starts at midnight. Smoke break around 2am. Door will be left open. I'll loop cameras then. Take your first left. Go down the stairs. Ahead on your right will be a locker room. Locker 8. Change there. Take key card. Take elevator down to sub level 3. Memorize map of floor in advance. KTMJ has the whole floor."

Edward typed back, "KTMJ has the whole floor? Floor for what?"

"Documents. You'll see for yourself."

"Are you there now?"

"Soon. I'll be waiting."

Edward checked the time. It was 11pm at night. Edward looked to Max, who was already staring back nervously.

"I should go." He said, "His shift starts in thirty minutes, I can get in by 2, then I can find the answer."

He shot up from the desk chair and went to his dresser to change. Max finally struggled for words, "Like now?! You want to go now? How are you going to get there?"

"I'll take the train and walk the rest of the way. You need to stay home, this could be dangerous."

"Fuck that!"

"Max!" Edward snapped.

"Have you been listening to a damn thing I've been saying? I'm not letting you do this alone. I'm sick of being left out." She stood to him angrily.

Edward pulled off his shirt and grumbled, "There's nothing you can do. He's expecting one person, there's only one change of uniform. Two of us will attract too much attention. It's dangerous for you. Not for me."

Max hissed, "That's such bullshit!"

"Don't," he stated, looking back to her sternly, "Don't you dare. You said things would be different this time. You want to get justice for Joon, then you have to let me go."

"Yeah, of course, I do! But… I don't like you going alone. At least let me drive you. I'll wait outside the compound for you in case you need to make an escape."

Edward chuckled as he pulled a fresh shirt on, "This isn't a heist, Max."

"You're sneaking into a security facility so yeah, it kind of is."

"We still have those listening devices. We each get one, we can talk to each other. I'll wait outside and take you back if it gets too dangerous. If you get caught."

Edward grabbed his coat, "I won't get caught."

Max followed, "You don't know that!"

Edward turned back around quick and clasped her shoulders, "You can't help here. The safest thing for you is to stay home and I'll go. I'll text you when I'm out."

"Edward, please!" Max pulled his hand back, "I can't let you go into this alone. Please let me help. Even if it's just waiting outside, I don't care. You need to stop acting like you're all alone, because you're not. I'm right here."

Edward sighed; her pleading was enough to cool his heated spirit. She pulled him back to the bed and the two sat down together. Edward breathed into his palms again, taking his glasses off to rub his eyes. She started to pet his hands, and he opened his palm to take her hand. He muttered, "If someone saw you parked outside, they could call it in. You can't come in with me. The only benefit of having a mic to speak to each other is comfort. I'm not trying to leave you out; I'm just trying to be rational here."

"What's wrong with comfort?" Max asked, "It may seem redundant to you, but to me, it's everything to know you're okay. Especially in there."

"You're only involved in this because of me. You're taking all of this stress and making it yours. I don't want to scare you again."

Max scoffed, "You think I'm doing this just because of you? I'm involved for Joon, too. And there's… something about all of this that's… kind of exciting. I know it sounds crazy, but I've been having hardcore FOMO because you've been purposely leaving me out. You're scared of losing me, I'm scared of missing out. I can promise you that you're not going to lose me this time. I'm committed. All I want to do is help."

"Max…"

She squinted her eyes and lifted her shoulders, trying to think of something to add. Max then asked, "Have you ever seen a tornado?"

Edward was taken back by the random question, "What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Have you ever seen one? Ever?"

"No," scoffed Edward, "I've lived in Gotham my whole life. We don't have tornados here."

"Well, I grew up in Nebraska. Tornados are kind of the norm. We're in tornado alley, we surmount about fifty tornados a year. I've seen five. Most were out of Blue Valley in the farmland, you could just see the supercell and funnel passing through over the hillside. But when I was ten, there was one that I'll never forget. It was the middle of July, one of the hottest days of the year. We had a series of thunderstorms that week and loads of rain, so the air was hot and sticky, you know… like a bathroom after a hot shower. I was at baseball practice and there was another storm coming in, so we were getting ready to leave."

Edward interrupted, "What does this have to do with anything, Max?"

"Just listen. It was a sunny day. Then all of a sudden, almost instantly, the sky went dark. Like black, almost. It was 1 in the afternoon and looked like it was 11 at night. It was eerily still. Hardly any wind. There was lightning but it wasn't even rumbling, it was like static in the clouds, going off like silent fireworks. Then it started to hail, huge hail the size of golf balls. We didn't care about the hail, though. We all knew what it was even before the siren started. My mom drove me home in a panic. On the way home the winds started picking up and there was this terrible sound all over. Like a freight train. I looked back out the rear window and I saw it not even a mile away. It at first looked like a descending black cloud, but the more I looked I started to see all the swirling debris. It was a monster, and it was ripping through Blue Valley. I saw full houses being shredded, the tops of buildings soaring off like Lego pieces. I remember my mom being so scared. When we got home, she rushed me into the storm cellar in the backyard. But… I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay out in the yard, climb the tree and watch. I wanted to see it because… it was terrifying, but it was so amazing. It was beautiful and terrible. The adrenaline that I felt… I didn't want it to end. Don't get me wrong, I was shit scared. But I was endlessly fascinated in the danger. That tornado was an EF4, which is one of the strongest tornadoes recorded in Nebraska. It totalled the east of Blue Valley, over 10 million dollars in damage and even killed four people. But even then… I had this sick obsession with it for the longest time. Anytime there was a tornado warning after that, I was excited. I would sit outside for hours during thunderstorms trying to find the signs of a funnel cloud. I wanted to be part of that peril because it made me feel alive! Even against something as destructive and conquering as a tornado, I wasn't thwarted. I was just… obsessed. Just like you."

Edward stayed quiet for a while before muttering, "This… isn't a tornado. You're not chasing storms here, Max. You're chasing people's secrets. Dangerous people who would kill you if you tried to hide."

"They're not that different. Just like a tornado, these people are unpredictable. That's what makes it… so exciting. This time I'm not alone obsessing over something awful. You're with me. That adrenaline is kindred to that day in July. Almost identical. This time I get to share that excitement with you. Trust me when I say I'm not tagging along to be the worried girlfriend. I'm doing this because it makes me feel alive. Doesn't it do the same for you?"

Edward asked her in worry, "Are you saying you find this fun?"

Max smirked and asked, "You saying you don't?"

He looked down to his feet, wanting to disagree but he couldn't. Despite how much he hated to admit it, she was right. He was chasing a thrill underneath it all. A thrill that Max was able to bring to words. Something he was far too ashamed to admit, but she wasn't.

Max asked, "How would you feel if I wanted to do this and leave you home?"

"I wouldn't listen," scoffed Edward.

"Exactly," laughed Max, "So, let me decide when I'm scared, okay?"

Edward got up from the bed suddenly and back to the computer. He sent another encrypted chat to the individual.

"You have another uniform?"

"No. But I can set another in there before 2am. Who is it for?"

"A friend."

"You trust them?"

Edward typed back, "Absolutely."

1 am in December's winter was frigid and empty, like the vast hollows of space. Max and Edward parked a mile from Gotham Mountain Security along a dirt road and proceeded to walk the rest of the way. They both had their face's shawled by bandanas and hooded over the bundles of clothing to keep warm.

When they reached the facility, it was looming in light under the mist. Max could feel her heart thump in her throat, not truly believing the gravity of their task until the building was in their sights. She kept this fear bottled in, knowing Edward was already sceptical. She wouldn't further his suspicions. She was determined to prove she was ready, and everything she said was true.

"What time is it?" She asked in heavy breath.

"1:50am. We gotta walk faster."

They came up to the staff entrance and crouched down by a pillar. Lights from Gotham city was over the bay, and the two tried to stay out of the dim. Edward held her firm to himself by her waist when two people came out of the doors. Surely enough, the light of a cigarette was in one of their mouths. The two waited for the staff to go back inside. Ten minutes drifted by, and finally they went back in.

Edward took her hand, "Let's go." He pulled her into a sprint to the front doors. Max tried to keep up and silence the whimpering breath through her lips. He pulled the door and just as the anonymous messenger on Nigma said, it was unlocked.

The two staff were ahead of the hall when they walked into the facility. They turned the corner and Max and Edward looked along the infrastructure. There were cameras, but they stayed hopeful they were looped as said.

Max whispered, "Okay… first left."

There was a doorway to their left and they fled down it. They proceeded down the stairs to the locker rooms. When they reached the red lockers, Edward went straight to number 8. It was unlocked and inside were two sets of uniforms and a keycard hanging behind the locker door. He handed her the other set and he started to put his on. The two were a cloud of silence, too scared to speak in fear someone would over hear.

Max slipped on the black coat with Gotham Mountain Security's emblem on the right shoulder. She put her hair in a bun and the security cap. Edward was already donned in the uniform and ready to go by the time she was done.

He whispered, "You ready?"

"Yeah."

They retreated down the empty hallway to the elevator. Max kept some distance from him, seeing the two together closely would undoubtedly look suspicious. However, the place was basically dead. The only life forms to walk the halls were Max and Edward, themselves. They took the elevator down to sub level three. Inside was the map of the floor. Both of them looked it over, seeing the routes to leave if discovered and the way to the file room. It opened to another clinically white hallway. They walked straight down to the last door and Edward used the key card. It chimed and went green, then he pushed the door open leading Max inside first.

She stopped in her tracks, nearly stumbling over her feet when she saw the room. He closed the door behind them and huffed, "Holy shit."

The room was a gym of knowledge. With shelves going almost to the ceilings all stacked in paperwork, booklets, files and ledgers. Filing units were hoarded together in droves. The air from their mouths echoed in the room like they were in the mountains. Astute for the Gotham Mountain Security. A place of landscaping knowledge.

Max mumbled, "How are we… supposed to know what we're looking for in this?"

"We don't," he sighed as he stepped closer, "We just have to start from somewhere."

"It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

"Not the adrenaline rush you were hoping for?" He grumbled, pulling the bandana off his mouth.

Max did the same and snapped, "Hey. You have another set of eyes to help you, smart ass. Plus, my eyes are little geniuses, I once finished a five-hundred-page book in three days. I'm a fast reader."

"Let's hope you absorb what you read. Every little detail we read in here needs to be remembered and studied. Okay?"

Max huffed and walked past him to the first file cabinet she saw. She started looking through the folders for something related. However, Edward was pushing folder after folder into his grip, then sat on the floor and started reading each one, not leaving anything out. She followed his lead and pulled out a pile of folders and joined him on the floor.

The two were in opaque silence, only the occasional rustling of paper when they'd flip a page. Hours went by, and Max and Edward would crane their necks back and rub their eyes against the flurry of letters and numbers singing into their brains. At 4am, Max was laying on her side, reading the folders as she laid down. Her eyes were blinking slowly, she was yawning heavier. However, Edward was basically unmoving from the position he took when he first sat down. He would remove his glasses to rub his eyes or crack his neck, but not much else.

Max's papers fell over her face suddenly and she shot up, collecting them back together flush.

Edward mumbled, "You okay?" It was the first time either of them spoke in hours.

"Yeah," she moaned.

"You're tired," he observed, "You were dozing off."

Max assured, "I'm fine, Edward."

"I knew this would be too much for you. You should have stayed home."

Max suddenly sat up and snapped, "Oh, my God. Will you shut up?! Stop doubting me. Stop… worrying about me! I told you I would decide when it's too much. And yeah, I didn't realize our tornado was actually a pile of steaming hot boredom in a fluorescent library. But I'm still here. I'm helping."

Edward muttered, "Have you found anything?"

"No! Have you?"

"No," he said dejectedly, "I haven't found anything. Just… cycles repeating. More fronts sending money to Renewal but nothing new. Nothing that explains anything."

Max said more calmly, "Yeah, me too. Found new companies sending money to Renewal and I went through every one of them I had but… there's no connections."

"Nothing's clicking." He replied, rubbing his hair back, "We haven't even put a dent in this room." Edward glanced sadly to Max, who had her head rested in her hands in anguish. He said, "I'm sorry."

She looked up wearily, "Huh?"

"I'm sorry. I've been pretty short with you in all of this. I think it's because… I'm the one who's getting tired. I'm frustrated with myself I haven't figured this out yet. Like I'm… failing myself. Failing you. With you involved, I thought you'd be a distraction. A scapegoat. Really… I'm just terrified to admit I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I'm not doubting you. I know how smart you are. You're incredibly brave and strong, I wish I was, too. Maybe I wouldn't feel this weight like I'm to blame."

Max was quiet, mournfully silent in his own loathing. She tilted her head lazily and asked, "Why Renewal? Why are you so focused on Renewal? We should be… spying on Falcone or something. Or at least Stone. Why is Renewal so damn important to you?"

Edward explained, "Remember when I told you how I applied for the Renewal program? When I was a kid?"

"Yeah."

"I… don't know why it was rejected. I was hoping that maybe doing this I'd find a reason as to why. Like it wasn't my fault and that I never had a chance. To know I did have a chance and it was snuffed out like any hope I've ever had, is far worse than knowing I didn't. At least there would be some kind of reason. Something to blame. Someone. I'm starting to think that I just wasn't good enough. That the life I had before I met you was deserved. I thought I was owed the answers but maybe I'm not. Because… I'm too fucking worthless to figure it out."

Max affirmed, "That's bullshit. You are not worthless. Not at all. Whatever… idiot at Wayne Enterprises saw your application and rejected it isn't good enough. You are good enough. You need to stop thinking you didn't have a chance or not, because you still have a chance. Right now. We always have a chance. You are doing what's right. Exposing these… privileged douchebags. These people think they can take life away and get away with it. You see that and you're trying to put an end to it. You're worth more than any of them. Anyone."

Edward sniffled and rubbed the tears under his eyes, he whimpered, "Then why wasn't I good enough?"

"Because it's not you. Its them." Max leaned over and rested her hand to his thigh, waiting for him to look up to her. When he did, he froze to the sureness in her eyes. "Don't give up. Don't break, yet. You're stronger than you think you are. Definitely stronger than Stone or Zach or any of the other assholes. You've been through so much and survived worse. You can do this."

Edward tried to hold it back, but the flush of emotion crumbled his composure. He rasped and huffed, squinting his eyes and gasping before clasping his face. Max crawled over to him and wove her arms around him. He wept and pulled her in tight— suddenly and firm, crying into her shoulder. Max welcomed the desperation in his hold, certain what was happening was sorely needed on his part. She clasped the back of his head and wove him into her tighter, kissing his cheek and petting his hair. Any attempt to console and provide comfort. She fondly whispered, "I don't want you feeling like this."

"I'm sorry," he quavered.

"Don't be sorry, ever. I'm sorry. You deserved closure. You will get it. I know you will."

Max held onto Edward for what felt like minutes. The bobbing of his shoulder started to die down as he calmed. His silent weeps turned to soothing breath, in and out long and low. She whispered again, "Just breathe."

Edward petted his hand down her back and his grip eased. They started to release each other, and cheeks grazed before their eyes met again. Max's breath hit his lips for only a second before he took hers into them. He cradled her head, burying his tongue into her mouth as if a spell had taken over. Max was alarmed at first, but welcomed it just as passionately as him. She clutched onto his collar, and he pulled her up by her thighs onto his lap. The papers were rustling and sliding over the floor carelessly as they indulged. Edward's tears wetted her cheeks, and dry away as they kissed heavier. Max's soft moans were returned kindred by him, so slight in his light gasps for air in the break of their lips. In a matter of seconds, they forgot where they were. They forgot the task at hand. Or the petty fighting they had been falling into for the last few hours. All that mattered was a potion the two fell into too often to count. Only conjured when they touched. Now explosive and overpowering in the aftermath of Edward's tears and Max's comfort. Especially after the small bickering.

Max whispered on his lips, "Would it be so crazy if you fucked me in Gotham Mountain Security's basement?"

They lightly giggled together. He replied, "You were looking for an adrenaline rush, right?"

Max's voice fleeted, "Yeah."

"Then let's do something crazy." He had a slight growl at the end of his sentence, pulling her into him by her hips. Max clutched onto him and leaned her head back, letting him kiss down her neck.

Suddenly the alarm in Max's pocket went off. The time was five in the morning, an hour before shift change. She had set the alarm to leave as soon as it rang. She pulled out her phone and silenced it, both ceasing their activities before she did. She set it back and glanced back to Edward, both sharing the same worried stare.

They didn't waste much time as they earnestly started to put the documents away in their appropriate folders. Arranging everything as they found it without a speck of suspicion left. They left the key card back in the locker, but took the uniforms with them from the compound. On their way back down the dirt road that was not illuminated in the approaching dawn, Edward said huskily, "I'll need to go back every night. Go through every folder. I understand if you don't want to go with me."

Max inflated, "What?"

"It's going to take forever. Without any assurance we'll find anything."

"Don't you have work?" Max asked in worry.

"I'll need to juggle both for a while."

Max sighed, "Then there's no fucking way you're doing this alone. I'm the one without a job, I can sleep during the day. Least I can do is help you cover that floor."

"It'll be exhausting, Max," he warned.

She said back surely, "Then at least I'll have you with me."