(Gen)
"I don't know if he can actually control lightning," Gen said, looking thoughtful, "but he seems to be able to make it happen.? And I'm sure he can target it.? He was definitely targeting me.? That was the whole reason he was there, really.? To take me down for the Russians."
"I am better now," the androgyne said, continuing to feed herself from the bag of jerky.? "My body was designed to take a lot of damage and to repair itself whenever it was damaged.? That's what it's doing right now.? See?"? She held up one of her bare arms, showing that the scorch marks were already fading to the point that they were barely visible? "You don't need to worry so much. I'll be okay."? Her mouth quirked into a sort-of smile.? "It's like I told you once before - I'm a lot tougher than I look."
"So Harrison _was_ here?" Gen said in a questioning voice.? "I wasn't sure if I'd just imagined that. I guess I didn't." Her features scrunched up as she made a face.? "Yeah, it's probably a good thing she left.? I don't know if I'll ever go back to that place, but if I do it's only going to be when I can stand on my own two feet again. I do _not_ want to end up owing those jerks anything. But I do think you should go back and let them know about this Lightning Rod guy.? He's dangerous, and if they're serious about turning u... I mean, you guys... into some kind of superhero team, then they'd better find out more about him. The sooner the better." ?
The androgyne put the bag of jerky aside, then reached up and touched Kites' face with her right hand, her hazel eyes gazing wistfully into his.? "I... I'm sorry I can't shift into male-mode for you right now.? I know you like me better as a male." She hesitated, then pulled his face close for a soft lingering kiss.? "Maybe next time, okay?"
"But right now, you should go back.? I'll be okay.? Nobody but you knows I'm here, and the Russians probably figure I'm toast. Literally," Gen added, rolling her eyes a bit.? "Oh!? And whenever you do come back, could you pick up a couple of meat-lovers pizzas with mushrooms and extra cheese somewhere? And a couple of mushroom-cheese-steak subs with extra fries and onion rings on the side?"?
She glanced around the room until her eyes fell on a beat-up looking knapsack in the corner.? Rising from the bed, she paused a moment to gain her balance, then walked a bit wobbly over to the knapsack.? There she knelt down and retrieved a roll of cash from it and peeled off two fifty-dollar bills from it.? "This should cover everything," she said, handing him the money as she stuffed the roll back into the knapsack. "Oh, and get yourself something to eat as well, okay?" she said, smirking a bit, becoming more her old self even as Kites watched.? "I'm gonna be eating everything I can get my hands on."
[Kites]
Kites was glad that Gen was getting better, he really was.? He could tell.? She was getting livelier and a bit more energetic with each bag of jerky that she consumed, showing off her skin where there were previously burns and scorch marks, most of which were now fading.? When she smiled at him, well, at least attempted to, he returned it right back, feeling a bit more relieved about her well-being.? However, when she mentioned never coming back to Chord's facility, he stiffened a bit.? It was as Chord said.? Don't disclose anything about their conversation or beg her to come back...she has to make that choice by herself, but then...how was all of this going to work out?? How were they going to see each other...will Gen even want to see him once she finds out the promise that he made with Chord, or could she sense it already?
"I know you're a lot tougher, but that doesn't make me worry about you any less.? In any case, forget about Harrison and co.? I'm just glad I didn't make the wrong decision, that's all.? As for this Lightning Rod, or whatever, I'll let Chord know...in time."? However, Gen didn't seem to want to leave any room for argument.? When she gave him that doe eyed look and then leaned into kiss him, he let his guard down, visibly relaxing as he accepted her caress.? It felt nice, very nice.? But when she apologize fro not being able to shift, he simply grabbed hold of her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers, placing little pecks of affection on each of her knuckles.? "Gen, cut it out.? That's like the second time you apologized for something like this.? I lo...lo...Yes, I for whatever reason prefer the male you more, but I adore all of you, okay?? I hope I haven't done anything to make you question that."
I...I almost said it...I almost said I loved Gen...? He found himself inadvertently hesitating, catching himself at just the right time.? There must be something wrong with him.? Maybe Chord is right...they are just so new to each other, pumped full of hormones and adrenaline that they barely had any time to process things without something happening at one point or another.? So he was going to be careful and watch himself moving forward.? Maybe, hopefully, after they've been around each other long enough, then maybe things would calm down and he could re-examine whether what he's feeling was just lust or something more than that.? Uh, change the topic, change the topic.? Focus on something else!? Getting up, he dusted himself off as he grabbed the cash that Gen handed to him.? When she mentioned sending him off though, he gave her a look, raising one eyebrow.
"I see how it is.? I'm beginning to think you just want me to leave," he retorted, stuffing the bills into his pant pocket.? Hopefully she understood his poor attempt at being funny.? When she mentioned eating everything she could get her hands on, however, he just looked back all smug, a sly look gracing his previously worried face.? "Everything, huh?? Does that include me?? You know, I am quite an expensive, rare delicacy - like Wagyu beef.? I hope you can afford that!"? Flashing her quite the foxy smile, he saluted her and then, putting his boot onto the sill of one window, readied himself to dive out.
"I'll be back as soon as possible?? Just focus on recovering, ok?? No feats of bravery and all that.? Once I talk to Chord, I'll be on my way back."? With that, he dove out, kicking the window closed as he disappeared.? Circling the lighthouse, he made sure that there was no one else around.? Not seeing a soul, he quickly gained altitude until he was but a speck in the sky and heading back towards the compound.? Looking at the watch that Raine gave him, he sincerely wished that he was able to contact Chord with it, but seeing as what the man told him...it was best to keep it under wraps, at least for now...
[Kites exit scene (for now), tag Gen, open]
Luukasama