Present Day
Fairy hair.
It was an accurate assessment, aside from the fact that as far as the general population was concerned faeries weren't real. And even though she couldn't not think that she'd made herself an even more obvious target as Tess twirled a strand of her now lavender locks she couldn't bring herself to care. Not when anytime she caught a glimpse of herself she was reminded of the way Jay's eyes had lit up the first time he'd seen it. How his mouth had dropped open in time with his forgotten gym bag as he'd mutely made his way over, looking exactly like the excited little boy she'd seen in his childhood photos as he'd run his fingers through it. The reverence in his voice when he'd finally found it still unnerved her a little but she'd do anything for that look, and had in fact dyed her hair just in the hopes she'd get to see it. That she would make him smile, the boy who might not have gone to the end of the world for her but who would have if she'd asked him to. Who would do anything for her, and who was no longer asking for permission.
We're going to win.
For our beginning.
With a slow breath she reminded herself they weren't there yet, were at the start of the fight that would hopefully take them there, a sentiment she didn't conceal very well based on Liam's eyebrow raise. "What?"
"How's your stomach?" He asked wryly, not outright commenting on her line of thinking but making it clear in his own way that he thought she was being too hard on herself.
And it was hard to dismiss him when her gut twinged in response.
No more twisting but since a section of her gut had been removed just over a month ago she was being very careful to not let that particular habit pick back up. As careful as she could be when someone unknown agent was targeting her. So she just stuck her tongue out, taking comfort in his snort before she returned her attention back to the men in the cage. "How's Elliot getting on?"
"He's good- gets along with everyone though he still keeps to himself more often than not. He's also a better bartender than I would have expected."
"Is he staying out of trouble?"
Liam was quiet for long enough that she turned back to him, her heart sinking at his knowing look; she and Jay had agreed that Elliot was his responsibility but that didn't mean she wasn't going to care about him. Or get nervous when told he was doing his best to dredge up any connection he thought would be useful for them in taking down Malcolm. Or his boss. But Liam's next pointed look had her sucking in another breath, taking one last look at Drew and Jay sparring before she returned to the couch and the papers spread across the table in front of it.
Her responsibility.
The thought gave her another small twinge and she ducked just in time to avoid her friends swat at her head. "Hitting someone who is injured is unkind."
"And throwing yourself a pity party is annoying." He clapped back, somehow both stern and indifferent as he shook his head at her. "Woe is me, I'm so rich I get to build a second apartment building for people in need. It's so cruel of me to potentially put them in harm's way while I'm saving their lives-"
"Because you handle it so well when your own people get hurt."
"I don't give myself numerous health issues."
No, he didn't.
That was just her.
To be fair Ben had given himself a mild panic attack when it came out that his proposal was what had pushed her over the edge but the multiple reassurances he'd received had calmed him, though none more than her promise that it was a good plan. And it was. And while no one was going to make her believe it wasn't her responsibility to help when she had the ability to she was starting to accept that it wasn't her fault when things went wrong. Dr. Charles would be so proud.
"How many of your guys are going to want a place in this new building? Cause I may need to get Ben to start planning a third."
"Oh, it won't come to that for at least another two years." Liam quipped, looking very satisfied that he'd won their little spat, at least until his office door opened and Jay and Drew, and Elliot all came in looking somber.
"A Bratva safehouse was hit." Drew said by way of explanation, more worried than she usually saw him and he was a particularly serious guy. "Scoop says it's… bad."
And given that his men didn't exaggerate it must be.
With a short glance at Liam both stood, he'd examine the scene with them before they brought the police in, and after another quick look at Jay she gave Elliot a smile. "You don't look like a stick anymore."
Her boyfriend's smothered laugh combined with the ex soldier's flat face told her he must've made a similar comment and though it felt strange, that odd mixture of new and old their conversation was light as they drove to the safehouse. Comforting, another reminder that what was broken could be mended.
But the dead couldn't be brought to life.
And the flesh that had been carefully, meticulously skinned off the bodies, all the markings that tied them to the organization, couldn't be replaced.
And could not go unanswered.
