?(NPC Macamber)
The security officer turned to Mia, her expression
professionally neutral.? "At the moment, we do not yet know if this
was an accident.? Until such time as we determine that it was, we have to
proceed with the assumption that it was the result of hostile intent.? And
that everyone is a suspect.? And a potential target.? As for the door
being locked," she went on, "we are currently conducting a security
sweep of the facility. Once that is done, the door will unlock and everyone
will be free to leave."
Turning to Brandon, she said "We are sorry for your loss,
sir, but it is premature for you to be assuming control of the Chord
organization.? There are protocols and procedures to be followed, the two
most important of which are finding Mister Chord's will and clearing you, as a
possible heir, of any suspicion in his demise.? We will be moving as
quickly as possible to carry out both of these actions, and we ask for your
patience in these matters."
?
Macamber then looked to Kites.? "As for what will
happen to the rest of you, you will, as I said, be free to leave once the
security sweep is completed.? You are all welcome to stay in the rooms you
have - or had - in the facility.? Which frankly I would recommend, given
the possibility of hostile intent.? We can protect you here.? But
elsewhere, our ability is far more limited."
?
Looking to the group as a whole, the security officer asked
"Does anyone else have any questions?"
?
(Gen)
Gen let herself be held, enclosed within the comforting cover of
Kites' wings.? She rested her head against his shoulder, willing herself
to gradually stop weeping and become something resembling calm.? As she
did so, she listened to the things being said in the room.? When the
security officer mentioned the possibility of "hostile intent,"
something stirred in her memory, but her thoughts were still too jumbled and
distracted to focus on it.? So, she pushed the niggling aside and looked
up at Kites.
?
"Can... can I stay with you?" she whispered.?
"I don't want to go back to the lighthouse just yet. And they probably
don't want me there anyway while they're investigating.? But I don't want
to be alone either.? So, can I stay with you?? Just for a
while?"? It was hard for the androgyne to keep from trembling, which
made her cling instinctively to the winged youth.? "Please?"
?
(Kites)
Though the woman's voice was calm and neutral,
matter-of-fact-like, it did nothing to alleviate Kites' anxiety which seemed to
be holding at an all-time high.? Maybe Brandon's alibi would hold, as
would the evidence of the cameras that heavily peppered the facility, wouldn't
that also make him a prime suspect?? He didn't exactly have an amicable
conversation with Chord after he flew back, having stormed out of the office in
a bit of a temper tantrum.? Neither Ireland nor Kites had really seen eye
to eye, their first meeting having been just the right amount of explosive
reciprocity, though more so from Ireland than from the winged youth who simply
stood and took it like a coward.? How long ago was that?? Gods, were
they to be in this room until all of that was soused out?? What happened
to being innocent until proven guilty?
?
"One last question, Ms. Macamber.? Are we all supposed
to tell you where we were and what we did before this happened now, or will we
be called to speak about that individually?" Kites asked, though he
suddenly regretted it.? Did this make him suspicious?? He was
thinking back to the all the investigation shows that he watched back at the
orphanage with the others.? The suspects were almost always called into a
barren room and grilled for all their worth.? Was this going to happen to
them too?? Kites looked around himself.? Everyone was a wreck.?
Mia was the most stoic of them all, trying to keep it together though even then
she couldn't hold back her tears.? Kat was simply blank and silent, though
he could feel the stress just emanating from her.? Brandon looked like an
absolute wreck, having been the closest to Chord and co.? The man must be
housing a storm of emotions churning deep inside.? But more so than
anyone, Kites was most worried about Gen who was clinging to him for dear life.
?
"What kind of a question is that?? Do you even need to
ask?? Of course, you can stay with me," Kites warmly answered,
looking back at the androgyne as his lips just even so slightly curled
up.? He pressed her closer to his chest, using the other hand to gently
caress her cheek, moving the stray hairs out of her eyes and face, bending down
to place a soft, chaste kiss upon her forehead.? "Always.? Did
you think I was going to chase you away or something?"? Right now,
more than anything they all needed comfort, Gen, Mia, Kat, Brandon.? All
of them.? So, he was going to start with Mia since he did kind of snub her
at the entrance of the room.
?
"Sorry, Mia.? I uh...was a bit of an asshole
there.? Hug?" the winged youth called out to the elementalist,
opening one wing and smiling at her invitingly.? "Kat, Brandon??
I mean, I'm no mother hen, but my wings are warm."
?
(Mia)
Mia had spent the afternoon at the local pier with Ireland and
her other brother, Raine she things was his name.? Then they were back
here and then everyone was gone.? She was trying to remember where she
was, but she had been here, in the facility all night.? First, she
responded to Brandon and Ms. Macamber, ¡°I have been here since Ireland and I
returned after learning about Gen¡¯s attack.? I am sorry for your loss,
Brandon.¡±? Then she looked at Kites when he spoke to her, ¡°you were
distracted, I wouldn¡¯t call you an asshole.¡±? She let out a sigh and let
her guard down.? She crossed the room and accepted the hug from him.?
She even returned her own genuine one.? As she stepped out of the embrace
she said, ¡°thank you.¡± And then sat next to him and Gen.
??
(Brandon)
This
was his worse nightmare¡Nothing in his father¡Chord¡¯s training could prepare
him for this¡He just wasn¡¯t prepared. It hurt he ached, the last time he spoke
with his fa¡with Chord they had words¡harsh words¡He accused him of not loving
him of now having faith or trust in him and the man tried to assure him of his
faith in him¡and yet¡No!? None of
that!?? He had words with Harrison and she
told him he had failed his baby girl, his first true love¡He longed to be with
his sister growing up because she was the most beautiful woman he knew growing
up and she loved his Stanky drawers¡?
Till the end, in the end, he had pushed too far and he was a selfish
bastard that wanted to not see how weak he was. He let his libido lead him
rather than the head on his shoulders.?
He had let her down¡even then. It hurt as he looked at those in the
room.? There was no time for tears!? He had to rise to the occasion and he had to
be the leader.? It wasn¡¯t a choice, they
needed him.? In truth, he had to focus on
getting everything clear and taken care of.
?He looked at the group and he watched each of
them.? He felt Mia close to him.? ¡°Thank I am good.¡±? He knew she was trying, he was ok with Mia
being there but he knew what was possibly taken from her.? He touched her shoulder,? it was more out of reflex as if he had been
trained to do it the smile was rather mechanical.? He was all but dead inside, the only family
he had left was his brother who was at times his archnemesis.? He wasn¡¯t sure how he was going to tell
him¡how to tell him that he had remained and still had not been there to
protect them and now¡all of them were gone¡he was unsure what to do.? He needed to run the team and put them together
to defend the city.? It was what he would
have wanted, he wasn¡¯t sure what to do after they were all trained.? Right now he was fully focused on trying to
do what was best for others.
He
needed to put in the work.? He breathed
realizing¡it was hard because there was now a hole in his chest where his heart
should have been.? He was wanting to
breakdown but it wasn¡¯t the time or the place.
?¡°Thank you?
Kites, I am good!¡±? He said with a
smile that was not him.? It was as fake
as a four dollar bill, but no one knew him not even the woman that was his
lover so they wouldn¡¯t know the life he was facing now was nothing like he
would have ever expected the person that he was supposed to be and needed to be
was to be.? Was with those that were
gone.? He breathed as he looked at those
before him.? ?¡°Ms. Macamber, I need an ETA on being in this
room, the PR person?? Where are we with
that?¡±? He asked his tone was focused but
devoid of warmth as he did his best to hold himself together.? ¡°The will should be in the wall safe or on
his laptop .¡±? He said as he looked out
the window, he was calm¡he was the center of the hurricane.? He didn¡¯t have to stay¡he could have just
ignored protocol and just left, but that would have proved what, that he wasn¡¯t
worthy of being the leader.? They needed
him to be that person right now he was that person even though it was killing
him.? He wanted to destroy and wreck
everything and everyone's insight, his family was gone and his own selfishness
was the cause.? Had he been there they
might have sent him instead and they might still be here.? He can¡¯t get that time back with them.
Tag: ??Gen, NPC Macamber, Kites, Mia, Brandon,
(Kat-skip)
?
