Hellfire Odyssey: Reckoning

Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

His post-work workout session had been a particularly good one. Ash had met him at the gym, which was always a great motivator to lift. Plus it was nice to have his smoking hot fiancée be the one to spot his bench press, and he loved to watch her move in those skin tight leggings of hers. The only down side was his occasional need to glare at the men who seemed to demonstrate no shame in eyeballing his woman. Zach wasn’t above putting shame into other males if he had to.

But that wouldn’t be a problem for too much longer, since the new townhouse he and Ash were getting would have a dedicated gym room on the fifth floor. Soon, ogling gym bros would be a thing of the past. For now, Zach stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist before leaning over the sink and rubbing the fog off the mirror. He pulled his beard trimmer from the drawer and gave himself a quick maintenance cut.

“I don’t know babe, what do you think, should I shave off the beard? Or maybe you’d like me with a mustache?”

He asked, raising an eyebrow at her with a smirk. There was also the daily question of what they were going to do for dinner that he knew would be coming up soon.

“Hey, what do you say we get a pizza from that brick-oven place and take it over to the Clocktower for a movie night? Zizi’s probably getting lonely all by herself over there, with you practically moved out and Gabe gone.”

Gabe. Zach wasn’t particularly fond of the guy, but after their brawl he’d promised Zizi that he’d give the man a chance. To be fair, Gabe had helped with rescuing Jake from Nedry and Hellfire, so that helped his cause. As long as he didn’t hurt Zizi, Zach supposed the hacker wasn’t that bad. Still, they weren’t going to be buds, but Zizi was Zach’s friend and so he made the effort to accept her choice in boyfriend.
 
Alek tried to suggest that telling Helena would some how help the whole Ravena situation, but Persephone doubted that. Hell, she could be allowing it for all they knew. But it wasn't that that was bothering her as much as it was him seemingly only wanting vengeance because Ravena attacked a member of his court.

Alek: "You are a member of the court. Our court. When he attacked you, he attacked us all. I will NOT let him get away with that."

Alek took her hands causing Persephone to look down at them.

Alek: "With hurting you."

She squeezed his hands tightly as she shut her eyes, gently nodding.

"I know..."

This was her reality. She was a member of the Red Court, of his court, and she was his lover. He would always interweave the two because that was their life, until it wasn't. Alek had suggested leaving Hellfire together, but Persephone was the one that denied him that because she couldn't bare the thought of leaving Haleigh alone. She couldn't pick and choose his words now just because of a dream that felt like reality. Ravena was going to pay for making her feel like she had lost her mind.

Persephone lifted her eyes to meet with Alek's, always getting lost in the vast ocean of blue. She wanted to explain to him what had happened and why she was feeling so disconnected from this world, but as luck would have it Helena's ringtone began to go off. She wanted Persephone to go to Ahadi immediately, not leaving any room for questions. Walking to the dresser, she told Alek what was requested of her, and could immediately feel the tension in the room sky rocket.

Alek: "No, Seph, you can't."

He was by her side almost immediately.

"I have to. I have orders."

Alek: "I'll go with you then. I'm not leaving you alone with that...thing."

Persephone finished dressing, turning to Alek with a sigh.

"You know you can't..."

As much as she wanted him there, to watch him tear Ravena limb for limb in her defense, him going would raise way too many red flags.

"If Helena wanted you there she would have called you already. So if you go with me without orders...our cover is blown..."

Persephone placed her hands on Alek's chest, sliding up the contours of his muscles. She could feel the rapid beating of his heart, knowing he was trying to keep himself steady and together.

"Hey..."

Persephone's hands moved up his to his jawline, taking ahold of his face gently so his eyes wouldn't waver from hers.

"I love you. I'm coming back to you...okay?"
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

The topic of conversation moved to Archangel, and Gavin expressed how he liked kids, but didn't have any, to which Delilah replied that it was a shame. And it was - she could already tell that he was a good man. And if he wanted kids, he should have the opportunity. His life was normal enough.

Gavin: “Indeed, I’ll just need to find a suitable lady willing to get into such an epic adventure with me, I suppose.”

Delilah laughed at his self-deprication.

"You're the top financial officer at one of the largest companies in the world. And a nice guy. Somehow I don't think the field will be too thin."

He suggested appetizers, scotch eggs in particular, which had been a dish her mother had made when she was a child. Delilah herself had never even attempted it, because it looked too complicated. But it brought back memories.

Gavin: “I like her already.”

Delilah chuckled, remembering.

"She was a biochemist. She always approached cooking like it was a scientific formula."

Her mother had died when she was eight, but she still held on to the memories she had of her. She wondered if her own daughter would have any of her. Happily, Gavin brought her mind back to the task at hand, asking about how the foundation had been set up. It was a small operation, so there wasn't all that much to tell.

Gavin: “Well if you don’t mind me asking, did your accountant write off the start-up funds as a donation on your taxes? That would be one of the first things to audit, along with the actual 501(c)(3) forms. I’m sure it’s all on the up-and-up, but even a typo can come back to haunt you if the wrong vulture is circling overhead.”

She was in the middle of taking another sip of her beer when she shook her head.

"Oh I always do my own taxes. And I didn't actually, write anything off."

She looked into his face, realizing that had been a mistake.

"Which is why I'm sitting here talking to you."

She laughed self-deprecatingly. She reached for her clutch, and pulled a small flash drive out of it.

"I brought all the documents with me. Perhaps you wouldn't mind taking a look? Or one of your staff, I mean. I would pay for your time, obviously."

Gavin: “As far as keeping it going, that’s just a matter of having the right people on board, and naturally, having a self-sustainable fundraiser network. Speaking of fundraising, if you aren’t having Clandestine vet your donor list, I’d recommend you start as soon as practical. Some organizations just give money for the tax benefits, but are quite nefarious otherwise, and if your foundation were found to be tangled up with the wrong people, you might see some collateral damage.”

"I'll do that. You never know what someone could be hiding."

Of course, she wasn't just talking about donors.

"It's still small, but growing, and I do want to do things the right way. But...I've kept this something apart from my...other job. Something just for me."
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Ashley had had to work all day. Steel said she couldn't keep not showing up or he'd have to do something. Not that she really cared if she got in trouble, but it wasn't worth the life lesson lectures she would get from him AND Zizi. But it was excruciating all the same. She didn't even get to kick anyone's ass today.

Happily, she had been able to meet Zach at his gym right after work. That let her do a little physical exertion...before they went home and did a little more physical exertion. Not that she enjoyed exercising - she didn't normally do it, either - but the opportunity to watch Zach do it could not be passed up. And what was she going to do otherwise? Sit at home and knit?

She made sure to wear tight pants and a tight sports bra to really motivate Zach. And she might have used her power a teency bit to make sure the machines they wanted were free... She found that she kept getting distracted by the ring on her finger, though, when she wasn't watching Zach's ass as he lifted heavy things. She could pretty much watch that all day long.

But now they were home. Zach's apartment was more and more home every day, and the Clocktower less so. Where she slept at night had never really mattered to her before; it was just a place. But now, even she started to get excited when Zach talked about their new house. She had never lived in a place like it, it was like something out of a movie, or a dream.

She heard the water in the shower shut off, so she stepped into the bathroom and sat down, crossing her legs at the knee. He had a towel around his waist she was thinking of pulling off. He was looking at himself in the mirror, trimming his beard..

Zach: “I don’t know babe, what do you think, should I shave off the beard? Or maybe you’d like me with a mustache?”

She got up and moved to stand behind him, letting her hands slide around him to the front so she was hugging him to her. She looked at him over his shoulder into the mirror. And pouted.

"I like your beard. I like how you react when I scratch it."

She stood on her toes to kiss his hairy cheek.

"But if you want a change, cut it. It will grow back."

She shrugged, then added brightly, "You're very manly like that."

Zach: “Hey, what do you say we get a pizza from that brick-oven place and take it over to the Clocktower for a movie night? Zizi’s probably getting lonely all by herself over there, with you practically moved out and Gabe gone.”

She released him, stepping to the side so she could talk to him face to face.

"Not a bad idea. She pretends she's okay with this long-distance thing, but I can tell she wishes she was there. I told her to just go already, but she won't leave us all here while Hellfire's still a threat."

She scoffed.

"As if that's going to change any time soon. And I know she's still feeling mopey about Sharon and Alycia. Odin knows why. Best engagement present ever."

She thought about it a second.

"Yep, I think pizza would definitely cheer her up. Let's do it."

She pushed herself away from the sink counter, reaching out and pulling the towel away and letting it drop to the floor. She slapped his ass as she moved by him to exit the bathroom.

"Nice ass, Armani."
 
The Safe House

Helena wanted Seph to come to Ahadi. To Ravena's home. Where he currently was. No way. She wasn't going anywhere near that fucker. He told her she couldn't.

Seph: "I have to. I have orders."

"I don't care. It's not safe."

He saw in her body language that she was resigned. And he knew deep down, she had to go. So he told her he would go with her.

She turned to face him.

Seph: "You know you can't..."

"That's why we have to tell Helena what he did..."

He was grasping at straws, and they both knew it.

Seph: "If Helena wanted you there she would have called you already. So if you go with me without orders...our cover is blown..."

"I can't...I can't send you there unprotected..."

Her hands touched his chest, a calming influence on him, but doing nothing for his worry. His eyes closed.

Seph: "Hey..."

His eyes opened to find her dark eyes looking into his, her soft touch on his face.

Seph: "I love you. I'm coming back to you...okay?"

He leaned down and kissed her lips gently.

"If you need me, I'll be there. Emiko will bring me if I ask. I'll take the consequences from Helena. Just call for me. I'll come."
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Gavin’s first question had been about how her account had handled the write-off. Delilah replied casually that she did her own taxes, and hadn’t written off the start-up costs at all. Gavin’s eyebrows leapt upward in surprise. It was admirable, if ill-advised. Yet, he wasn’t her accountant, so he didn’t think it appropriate to correct her. She seemed to realize on her own that he might have recommended otherwise.

Delilah: “Which is why I’m sitting here talking to you.”

She added, with an endearing little laugh. Gavin gave her a dazed smile as she produced a flash drive for him, explaining that she’d brought the documents with her.

“Oh?”

He interjected, impressed that she’d turned up prepared. She asked if he’d mind taking a look.

“No—”

He replied, even as she suggested he assign it to one of his staff, which he had no intention of doing. She offered to pay him for his time, but he gave a small chortle at the idea.

“You most certainly will not. I beg your pardon Delilah, but I’d feel like an absolute fiend sending a bill to a woman running a charity for children. You must allow me to volunteer. I insist.”

He said, reaching for the flash drive. His fingers grazed up against hers as they closed around the tiny device, and he didn’t pull it from her grasp right away. He found he didn’t want to break the contact, so he waited for her to release it, while he went on to advise her to have Clandestine check into her donor list for ghouls. She accepted his recommendation, then went on to say that she wanted to make sure it was done right, and added that this was something she kept separate from her ‘other job’, something just for her. He gave her a warm smile.

“Well, we all have our hobbies. Just now I’m thinking my own pastimes could stand to be little more selfless. Luckily, I’ve stumbled across a children’s foundation recently to donate my expertise to.”

He said, as the waiter delivered their appetizer before prompting them for their dinner orders.

“Huh? Oh, I haven’t even looked. Perhaps you could give us more time? Ah, thanks.”

He replied, opening his menu to peruse. Fish & Chips, hmm. Ooh, or Bangers & Mash. Braised Lamb Shepherds Pie. Gavin folded his menu at that, his decision made. He looked up, only to admire Delilah as she continued to browse her own menu, then gave a sheepish smile when he got caught staring again.

“Excuse me, please.”

He said, then looked down at his half of the scotch egg as he reached for it and brought it to his side plate.
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah hadn't mired herself in contracts and fancy fundraisers when she'd started Archangel, she'd just wanted to start working with the kids. But the more she listened to Gavin, the more she realized there was a lot more to be done. Things she probably didn't even know about. Cameron or Morgan could probably have helped her with the details, if she'd asked, but she had wanted - no, needed - something outside of the Six. So she had gone it alone.

She asked him if he would take a look at what she had done, making sure he knew she wasn't asking for a favor, that she would pay for his time.

Gavin: “You most certainly will not. I beg your pardon Delilah, but I’d feel like an absolute fiend sending a bill to a woman running a charity for children. You must allow me to volunteer. I insist.”

"I'll get you one of our nametags."

She winked at him, before giving him a small smile.

Gavin: "But thank you."

Her smiled broadened.

"Just don't forget to write it off on your taxes."

She held the flash drive out to him, watching his face as he reached for it. He really was very handsome, and clearly bordering on too nice. It really was strange that he was single. Probably all he needed was a little self-confidence. She decided she'd very much like to give this ex-wife of his a piece of her mind for how she'd clearly treated the man.

So far most of the money for running the foundation had come from Delilah's pocket, so there weren't too many donors - the ones they had were mostly the rich parents of kids she'd helped. But she hadn't dug too deep into who they were, and hadn't thought enough about how donors could be used against her. So when she got home, she was definitely making a list of all their donors so far. She must seem like a moron to him, all these things she should be doing that she wasn't. She explained that she wanted something for herself, away from the others in the Six.

Gavin: “Well, we all have our hobbies. Just now I’m thinking my own pastimes could stand to be little more selfless. Luckily, I’ve stumbled across a children’s foundation recently to donate my expertise to.”

Delilah smiled warmly.

"Just as long as you don't take the kids skydiving. A very wise man is teaching me I have to be concerned about liability."

They were interrupted by the server, and Delilah realized she hadn't even opened the menu. She figured she would just close her eyes and point, when Gavin asked for a few more minutes. They had appetizers, after all. She did open her menu then, figuring she'd better be prepared when the server returned. She glanced over to see if he'd chosen something, to find him looking at her.

Gavin: “Excuse me, please.”

She wondered if maybe she had something on her face, but then she decided he was the type of man who would tell her if she did. He dug into the scotch egg, and decided on what she would have, she set her menu down and served herself the other half. She started to cut it with her knife and fork, not looking up as he spoke.

"You must think I'm an idiot, jumping into this whole thing, without a lawyer, or an accountant... I- I was never a high powered executive like Haleigh, or the others... Even after I acquired my shares in Illustra...it's not something I focused on."

She looked up at him finally. She wasn't sure why it was so important to her that he understand.

"I spent so long as a cop... I just wanted to help."

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

"I guess it was a silly thing to do."
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Zach asked Ash what she thought about him shaving off his beard, or trimming it down to a mustache. She hugged up behind him, resting her chin on his shoulder to look at him through the mirror’s reflection, and it warmed him immensely. She pouted at his suggestion, saying she liked his beard and how he reacted when she scratched it.

“I do enjoy that...”

He admitted, while she kissed his cheek, then offered that if he wanted a change he should go for it, because it would always grow back. That made him smile at the implication that she’d be waiting for it to grow back. She also told him that he was very manly with his beard, which settled the matter altogether.

“In that case I think I’ll keep it.”

He replied, stroking his beard with one hand. He was still going to run the trimmer over it, though, because he liked it well kept. He suggested they take a pizza over to Zizi’s for dinner and a movie. She allowed that it wasn’t a bad idea, since Zizi was likely just putting on a brave face and enduring the long-distance relationship on account of the threat of Hellfire. Ash surmised that it wasn’t likely to change anytime soon, which Zach agreed with. Nothing would change until they went in there, kicked some Inner Circle ass, and rescued their friends. But he didn’t need to convince Ashley of that.

Ash also estimated that Zizi was still a little disappointed about Sharon and Alycia not joining their team. Truth be told, Zach was disappointed too. The Amazons had a lot of great qualities and plenty of skill, it was just too bad that they hadn’t been able to compromise with the rest of the group and felt at odds. Unfortunately there was nothing Zach could do about that, given his own falling out with the two. He’d tried to reconcile but didn’t think he’d succeeded.

Ashley reckoned it was a good engagement present for them to leave, but the thought gave Zach a pang of mild terror. Sharon had ruined his other engagement, in fact to say she made a massacre of it would not have been an understatement. Zach was just glad he’d already told Ash about the nature of his relationship with Sharon, because he’d learned that lesson the hard way. He just hoped the Silver Swan wouldn’t be feeling vengeful on Alycia’s behalf when she found out about Zach’s new engagement. Sharon had a record of making a disaster of things when she was angry.

Ash: “Yep, I think a pizza would definitely cheer her up. Let’s do it.”

“Alright, awesome.”

He replied, leaning over the sink to rinse the clippings out of his beard. She took that opportunity to relieve him of his towel and slap his ass. He abruptly stood back up, shaking his head as he lamented having let his guard down. Then he smirked wickedly, and strolled into the bedroom stark naked. He made sure to take his time as he strutted past her to the closet, his posture proud. He did put some effort into building a nice ass. He never skipped leg day.

“I hope you didn’t hurt your hand.”

He smirked before reaching the closet and beginning to get dressed. He made sure she could still see him, because he knew it would drive her to distraction.

“Hey babe, will you call the pizza place?”
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Zach decided to keep his beard, which made Ashley smile, because she quite liked his beard. Especially when it was touching various parts of her body. He ran the trimmer over it, while suggesting that they take pizza over to Zizi's to cheer her up. Ashley decided that that was a good idea, especially as she knew Zach worried about Zizi, the way he worried about everyone.

She made sure to smack his ass on her way out of the bathroom, it making a satisfying cracking noise that made her grin. She leaned back against the bed, crossing her arms over her chest as he positively paraded himself past her when he came out of the bathroom.

Zach: “I hope you didn’t hurt your hand.”

"You're just lucky it wasn't the hand with the huge ring on it."

He started to get dressed, but was still naked enough to make watching interesting.

Zach: “Hey babe, will you call the pizza place?”

She smirked.

"Sure. If I call, that means you have to go in and pick it up."

She pushed herself off the bed, and crossed to pick up her phone from the table.

"Leaving me all alone. In the car."

She let that hang in the air for a moment while she let him contemplate what she might be planning to do in there. She looked up the pizza place's number and pressed the link to dial them, her eyes still watching Zach.

"You know, I'm really in the mood to have sausage tonight."

The restaurant picked up, and she in fact did order a meat lover's, as well as a supreme.

"And give me one of those white ones with the cauliflower."

She stuck out her tongue in a "yuck" face, but she knew Zizi would like it, strange bird that she was.

"And a large order of the wings with the chili sauce, and cheesy breadsticks."

He told her how long it would be, and she hung up.

"20 minutes."
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Gavin insisted on volunteering his assistance to Delilah’s foundation, and she teased him with the promise of getting him a name tag, but he matched her smile as she thanked him. The thought crossed his mind that he’d wear a name tag that said ‘hello, my name is Stupid’, if it made her smile. She recommended that he adjust his taxes accordingly to his volunteering, and he nodded sincerely.

“Sage advice.”

He deadpanned, and then he listened as he tucked the flash drive into his briefcase and she told him that she wanted to make sure that things were done right, and that this was something she’d always kept separate from her work with the Six, a hobby of sorts. He joked that in comparison, his own hobbies seemed rather selfish, and then he remarked on his luck that he’d found a more selfless way to spend his time. It wasn’t entirely selfless, though, if he was being brutally honest with himself. Helping her meant getting to see her again, and that was something he very much wanted.

The waiter came round for their dinner order, but Gavin had been so distracted by Delilah that he hadn’t even browsed the menu so he asked for more time. They both went to their menus for their decision making, and Gavin got himself caught staring again, but she didn’t exactly discourage him. She didn’t encourage him either, so he kept his eyes on his scotch egg as he dissected it. She started the discussion up again, observing that he must think she was an idiot, and he looked up from his appetizer in utter surprise.

“I must wot??”

He interjected, and she went on to explain that she wasn’t the executive type — which only made him smile, because it was something he rather liked about her.

Delilah: “I spent so long as a cop, I just wanted to help. I guess it was a silly thing to do.”

“On the contrary, I consider it impressively brave. A bit like jumping out of an airplane for the first time, I suppose. Despite the risk, it’s just something you have to do.”

He admired, and their waiter swung back by now that they’d turned down their menus. Gavin waiter as Delilah said what she wanted, and then placed his order for the Shepherds pie. He finished off his half of the appetizer and washed it down with some Guinness. The business talk mostly taken care of, he searched for some other topic to discuss.

“So.... how are you doing, with.... all of it?”

He ventured gently. He wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about her recent breakup, or the stuff with Haleigh, but he figured he’d give her the vague opportunity, and he did want to know how she was doing.
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah was feeling more stupid by the minute, at all the things she'd neglected to do up to this point. Things that it had taken Gavin all of 5 minutes to point out. She admitted to him that she had been rather silly to do things in this haphazard way.

Gavin: “On the contrary, I consider it impressively brave. A bit like jumping out of an airplane for the first time, I suppose. Despite the risk, it’s just something you have to do.”

He was incredibly gracious, and something about the way he spoke put her at ease. Except for his choice of simile. She cocked a skeptical eyebrow at him.

"Was that your sly way of reminding me of our little wager from the other night?"

And if he thought she was jumping out of a plane...

Their server returned, and Gavin indicated for her to order first.

"I'll have the full English breakfast, with my eggs scrambled."

Gavin ordered shepherd's pie.

"Ooh, good choice."

Gavin: “So.... how are you doing, with.... all of it?”

Delilah swallowed the bite of appetizer she was chewing, which went down like a lump of cold mush. She set her fork down.

"Well, I'm..."

She let out a nervous chuckle, then looked over the table at him.

"I'm...better to be drinking with friends than alone."

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug, then her pint glass in salute to him and took a small drink.

"And I'm doing much better than I did the last time he betrayed me, so there's that."

She shook her head.

"I know that he care's for me, but I'm just so tired of having to go through this with him. Round and round again."

She sighed.

"In a way, it's oddly freeing, for it to be over, for good this time. Instead of waiting for the next time I'm going to be hurt. And as for Haleigh..."

She took another drink.

"I know somewhere in that thick skull of her's she has a plan, but...she threatened my child. Her goddaughter. That she promised me she would look after and protect. There are some lines you don't cross, even if you think you're doing the right thing. She intentionally hurt me in the way she knew would be the most painful for me."

Delilah looked at her lap.

"It's not that I want her dead, but I also don't ever want to see her again as long as I live."

She looked up.

"And I will protect the people I love if she forces me to."

She smiled, releasing the fist she'd unconsciously made and wiping her hand on the napkin in her lap.

"And there I go, wasting your time, prattling on like a psycho..."
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Zach asked Ash if she’d call the pizza place, while he got dressed. She agreed, mentioning that it would mean he had to go in and get the pizza, while she sat in the car — alone. Zach stopped to look at her, his eyes narrowed.

“Suh-spicious.”

He replied slowly, his mind rampant with thoughts of what she might be planning to do. He wouldn’t put any of it past her, he knew better by now than to egg her on. The woman needed no help being naughty. She casually mentioned being in the mood for sausage tonight, as he pulled a sweater on. He smirked at her then, emerging from the closet to slide himself behind her and wrap her in his arms while the phone rang to the pizza place. He knew she had meant that as a double entendre.

“You little minx...”

He started affectionately, his voice low and husky near her ear as he pulled her back against his body.

“You are the perfect woman for me, you know that?”

He asked, kissing her neck. Someone answered at the pizza place, and Ash placed their order. She asked for a meat lovers and a supreme, as Zach continued to nuzzle her neck, his hands roaming her body. He paused to look at her when she asked for the one with the cauliflower, but her expression made it clear it was for Zizi.

He chuckled and returned his attention to her body, but then she told him that the food would be ready in 20 minutes. Damn. I was hoping for at least 45. He thought, peeling himself off her to reach for his keys. He’d have to save the heavy petting for later, he told himself, before dangling the car keys in her reach.

“You wanna drive, then?”
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Mentioning that making her call the pizza place would result in him having to leave her alone in his car while he went inside to get them had the desired effect.

Zach: “Suh-spicious.”

She grinned mischievously as he narrowed his eyes in thought - she could tell he was trying to work out what she was thinking. Which is why she hadn't decided yet - made it more fun. He was strutting around, putting on a show of his nakedness on his way to the closet, so she made sure to make a few innocent comments dripping with lascivious meaning.

She dialed the pizza place, then smiled as she felt him come up behind her, his arms enveloping her.

Zach: “You little minx...”

It was still ringing, so she turned her head to give him a raised eyebrow and an innocent expression.

"Oh, have I been naughty?"

She laughed

Zach: “You are the perfect woman for me, you know that?”

"I'd better be the only woman for you, Mr. Romantic."

She rubbed his forearm with her free hand while she ordered, now that someone had FINALLY answered the phone. Not that she minded standing there while Zach kissed her neck, but she would have liked to be able to use both hands...

She pouted a little as he pulled away, but then he was dangling the car keys in front of her like a toy. Fair enough.

Zach: “You wanna drive, then?”

"Your car? Of course. I am an excellent driver."

She snatched the keys before he could change his mind and headed for the elevator. She made sure to accidentally brush against him multiple times on the ride down to the garage, but when the doors dinged and opened she was off like a shot to Zach's parking space. Slipping into the driver's seat, she adjusted the rear view and slipped the key into the ignition. In a flash they were zooming out of the garage at a high rate of speed and onto Sixth Ave. It wasn't far, and she slid easily into a tight space right out front of the pizza joint. She leaned across his lap (probably lower than she really needed to) and opened his door for him. Then she sat upright and smiled.

"I'll be right here. Waiting."
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah judged herself a little too harshly, for jumping into running the foundation without consulting any professionals, but Gavin kindly disagreed, as he found it a considerably brave thing to do. He supposed it was a bit like jumping out of an airplane the first time. She raised an eyebrow at him, accusing him of trying to remind her of their little wager.

“Oh, you mean that game of darts that you miserably lost?”

He asked with a smile of feigned innocence.

“Something tells me you wont have forgotten. And yes, I am planning to hold you to your side of the bargain, but all in due time.”

It was something he was very much looking forward to, and extensively planning. First, though, he wanted to get her on a proper date or two, none of this business dinner pretense nonsense. The server came round for their dinner order, and she wanted the full English breakfast, while he selected the shepherds pie, which she complimented as a good choice.

“Well thank you, and I’d be delighted to share some with you.”

He offered, before broaching the subject of how she was doing, but vaguely, in case she wanted to dodge it. At first it seemed she did, as she only admitted to be better drinking with friends than alone, and he raised his mug in answer, prepared to let the subject drop. Then she hit the question head-on, stating that she was faring much better than the last time she was betrayed. She deserved better treatment than what she got, in his opinion. She lamented going through the same ordeal again and again, but added that it was freeing to know it was over for good this time.

Then she went on to the topic of Haleigh, which could could be considered almost equally complex. Gavin’s mouth tightened when he heard Haleigh had threatened Delilah’s daughter. It was as disturbing and incomprehensible as everything else that Haleigh had done since defecting to Hellfire. Delilah added that she didn’t want Haleigh dead, but that she didn’t want to ever see her again either, which was understandable, given the circumstances. Also, she was determined to protect the ones she loved, if pushed that far. Gavin gave her a look of commiseration.

“Gotta do what you gotta do, I’m afraid.”

Delilah: “And there I go, wasting your time, prattling on like a psycho.”

“Rubbish! I asked for it, anyways.”

He replied, with a smile to ease the matter, one that fell after a moment.

“I wish I could help in some way, but I almost feel I’m going mad myself. It’s all gone to pot, on any road you try to take really. Zach swears she’s under duress, even still, and Griff —who took over company operations when we voted her out — he has operatives under cover in Hellfire and a whole division on standby to extract her the first opportunity he can, and I respect those guys, I trust them but I.... I just can’t wrap my head around her targeting children. I mean, how could that possibly be justified? I do agree with you that there are some lines that aren’t to be crossed. Yet, It’s been proposed that she’s being coerced or just out-right mind controlled, which, given who her mother turned out to be, is as likely as anything I suppose. If that’s the case, are we supposed to just forgive her all this, act like it didn’t happen or it’s fine it did? How, after everything? I just don’t know what to think anymore.”

He paused to shake his head, and then smiled sheepishly.

“I guess I was in need of a little prattling myself. Two psycho peas in a pod, you and I.”
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Gavin kept mentioning skydiving, and Delilah accused him good-naturedly of trying to bring up their wager from that night in the pub.

Gavin: “Oh, you mean that game of darts that you miserably lost?”

"Oh I'm sure you cheated. With your...English dart rules."

She gave him a look, but then laughed, not able to keep a straight face after that terrible quip.

Gavin: “Something tells me you wont have forgotten. And yes, I am planning to hold you to your side of the bargain, but all in due time.”

"A stay of execution, then."

She took a sip of her beer with a smile.

The waiter took their orders, and she complimented his choice.

Gavin: “Well thank you, and I’d be delighted to share some with you.”

She smiled at him again.

"You might be sorry you offered."

She cocked an eyebrow.

"I don't suppose I could buy my way out of skydiving with black pudding?"

He asked her how she was doing, and suddenly and inexplicably all her feelings on the topic of Bishop and Haleigh came pouring out. She apologized for running on like a psycho.

Gavin: “I wish I could help in some way, but I almost feel I’m going mad myself. It’s all gone to pot, on any road you try to take really. Zach swears she’s under duress, even still, and Griff —who took over company operations when we voted her out — he has operatives under cover in Hellfire and a whole division on standby to extract her the first opportunity he can, and I respect those guys, I trust them but I.... I just can’t wrap my head around her targeting children. I mean, how could that possibly be justified? I do agree with you that there are some lines that aren’t to be crossed. Yet, It’s been proposed that she’s being coerced or just out-right mind controlled, which, given who her mother turned out to be, is as likely as anything I suppose. If that’s the case, are we supposed to just forgive her all this, act like it didn’t happen or it’s fine it did? How, after everything? I just don’t know what to think anymore.”

Delilah shook her head.

"I believed her once when she said she was mind controlled. I don't think I can do it again."

The information about Clandestine was interesting, though. She wondered if they had any real chance of success. Clandestine were good, but she wasn't sure they would be enough about Hellfire.

Gavin: “I guess I was in need of a little prattling myself. Two psycho peas in a pod, you and I.”

She raised her glass.

"Well here's to our future in the looney bin."

She took a drink, keeping her eyes locked with his.

"Maybe we could get adjoining rooms."

She chuckled, setting her glass down.

"Back to a more pleasant topic - do you think I should be investing a portion of our donations? For the future?"

She popped the last bite of Scotch egg into her mouth, looking at Gavin inquisitively. He was smart, and she found herself trusting his advice. It was odd, that after everything, she wasn't more skeptical. But she found it very easy to talk to him. Even if she could kick herself for some of the things she had already said tonight.
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Ash feigned innocence, asking if she’d been naughty after making the sausage remark. The question alone riled him. He told her she was the perfect woman for him, sincerely, as he pulled her close and kissed her neck. She replied that she’d better be the only woman for him, but it had the tone of a jest, as she rubbed his arm with her free hand. He took that hand and lifted it up so they cold both admire the ring there.

“That’s what this means, my love.”

He whispered before kissing her hand. He continued his amorous petting of her while she ordered dinner, only releasing her when she told him how little time they had available to pick up the pizza. He offered her the keys to his car, a gesture his buddies might have considered insane. She declared herself an excellent driver, and he only smiled in debate. They remained close as they descended to the garage, and every time she brushed against him it was like being electrified.

When the elevator doors opened, Ash practically leapt towards the car, as if she wanted to reach it before Zach changed his mind. He ambled with amusement to the passenger side as she fired up the engine, thinking that she seemed to have the same affect on the car as she did on him. He buckled up securely on his side, as she put it in drive. The massive 6.3 liter V12 engine rumbled at idle and gave a spine-tingling roar when the gas pedal was depressed.

Zach gripped the leather wrapped handle on the door as the sports car squatted into its acceleration and prowled through its turns. Zach glanced over at Ashley with a smile of exhilaration. He understood why she pushed the envelope. The car had a way of tempting its driver and thrilling its occupants. A more cautious man would be disconcerted by her handling of such an expensive automobile, but it was only a car, and Zach was used to replacing such things. He wondered if she might like a car of her own. It would make a good wedding gift for his wife, unless there was something else she might enjoy more, but he couldn’t think of anything.

She pulled up to the pizza place, and leaned over him to open the door. He almost forgot why they were here, as his gaze got trapped in her neckline. She told him she’d be right here, waiting, and it took Zach a second or two to redirect his thoughts. He nodded slowly, stuck on her smile. It struck him for the umpteenth time that he was the luckiest man alive.

“Right. Don’t do anything to get yourself arrested while I’m gone. Gods know just looking as gorgeous as you do ought to be a crime.”

He released his seat belt buckle, and leaned over to give her a parting kiss. Before they could get too carried away he broke it off and hopped out of the car. He ducked under the awning and gave the name for the order, his eyes on the bottles of wine behind the counter. There was always beer at the Clocktower, but tonight felt like a Cabernet kind of night. He picked out two bottles and paid for dinner, balancing the pizza boxes on steepled fingers and taking the wine in the other.

He nestled the wine between his feet on the floorboard of the car, the stack of pizza boxes and other food hot on his lap. The smells filled the car and made his stomach growl as they left and headed towards the Clocktower. He watched the city blur by for a few moments, contemplative.

“I can clear my schedule whenever you need me to, Ash. For meetings with the wedding planners or caterers or whatever.”
 
Midtown — Nomad, Zach’s Apartment

Ashley made the most of the drive to pick up the pizzas, not letting up on the gas and weaving between lanes. She deftly cut into an open space in front of the place, then was sure to lean over Zach temptingly to open his door. Give him something to think about while he was inside.

Zach: “Right. Don’t do anything to get yourself arrested while I’m gone. Gods know just looking as gorgeous as you do ought to be a crime.”

She waved a hand loftily in the air.

"Arrested? Pfft - I have a badge and they wouldn't dare."

Then her eyes narrowed at Zach, and she shook her head.

"And that flowery language stuff again..."

She clicked her tongue, her hands going back on the bottom of the steering wheel. But she smiled when Zach leaned over to kiss her before getting out of the car. She drummed her fingers on the wheel, bored already. She turned her head and blew on the driver's side window, fogging the glass. She wrote "ZASH" in the condensation, then drew a heart around the letters. Once it faded, her eyes slid to the door, watching for Zach to return. When he did he had two bottles in one hand while he carried the pizzas in the other.

"Wine?"

She raised an eyebrow, sliding the car into first and pulling out before darting into a right turn so she could pick up the FDR to head back downtown to the Clocktower.

"Now we can stretch this baby's legs."

She heard Zach's stomach growl, and reached over to give it a little rub.

Zach: “I can clear my schedule whenever you need me to, Ash. For meetings with the wedding planners or caterers or whatever.”

She blinked, and it took her a moment to register what he was talking about. First the decorator for the town house, now wedding planners and caterers. She wondered if he just hired people to do everything that he needed doing. Which sounded awesome, actually. But she wasn't sure they needed all those things, just for Zizi, Steel and Vivica to watch them get married. They could just head to a restaurant after.

"You know, we can just go to the courthouse, like they do on tv, if that's easier. Bing, bam, boom, you're married."

She gave him a grin, because he obviously was going to be impressed with her no-nonsense approach.

Then she had a thought.

"Hey! Maybe Elvis could marry us!"

Maybe they should go to Vegas.

"We'd just need someplace to keep the boar..."

She didn't think he understood that part.

"You know, for the sacrifice. Do you think John would be able to do it? I can see him as an animal lover..."
 
Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah: Oh I'm sure you cheated. With your...English dart rules.

He was going to pretend to be offended by her accusation of cheating, but when she laughed it melted his composure and he laughed too. He told her he suspected that she hadn’t forgotten, and that he did indeed plan to hold her to the wager, but not immediately. She called it a stay of execution, and he shared her smile.

He wondered if he should have mercy on her, let her off the hook so to speak. What if she was terrified of heights? He didn’t want to make her do something she truly didn’t want to. The only way he’d know for sure was to get to know her better first. The thought of spending more time with her sent a shot of adrenaline through him. He tried to remember how long it had been since he’d felt this way about a woman. Too long to quantify, probably.

The waiter reappeared to get their dinner requests, and Delilah complimented his choice. He offered to share, and the smile she gave him piqued his interest. She warned him that he might be sorry he offered, and he chuckled, but behind his beer he wondered if she had been flirting with him, or if that was just his wishful thinking making a mountain out of a molehill. She tried to bribe him with black pudding, and he made a theatrically thoughtful face.

“Well.... I’m nothing if not a reasonable man.”

He posed a question vague enough that she could have gotten away with dodging it, but she opened up about her ex-boyfriend and her ex-best-friend. Her candor was oddly comforting, despite the subject matter. The fact that she was being honest had a way of reassuring him that he could be also. He didn’t have much to say about her break-up, just an instinct to console her, tempered by a wariness to overstep a boundary of some kind.

But when it came to Haleigh, he felt comfortable expressing his opinion. He gave voice to things he hadn’t told anyone else, things he’d thought but not been comfortable sharing with the board. At work he felt pressure to keep up a professional facade, and he was careful with the interpersonal politics. He often withheld his own thoughts, or only expressed them in carefully chosen terms. With Delilah, it all just tumbled out, and it felt natural— and cathartic.

He caught himself at the end and gave an abashed smile, admitting that he needed a bit of prattling himself, and joking that they were both psycho. She raised her glass and toasted to their future in the looney bin, and he replied with a conspiring cheers. Her gaze trapped his and robbed him of intellectual thought. She suggested they could get adjoining rooms, and he grinned widely.

“I’d like that.”

He said, before he could stop himself. Now he really sounded like a lunatic, implying he’d enjoy being committed to a mental institution. Still, if she was there... he tried to come up with a clever addition, something to save the response, make it less strange. All he could do was laugh at himself quietly. She rescued him by changing the subject back to her work, asking him if she should be investing. He nodded in agreement.

“It’s definitely a good idea. I could draw up a list of a few options for you to consider, stocks that aren’t too risky, bonds with respectable returns, commodities that will always be dependable.”

He started thoughtfully. Mutual funds and IPOs were also suitable options if she was willing to go those routes, but he didn’t want to overwhelm her —or worse— bore her. Thankfully the food was delivered before he could make her eyes glaze over.

“No doubt we’ll find something that works for you.”

He wasn’t sure who’s dinner looked more appealing, hers or his, but as he started in on his own plate, he found a certain realization was suppressing his appetite despite the excellence of the cooking. The meal was served, and that meant their date business dinner was already half over. It was all downhill from here, and he was not looking forward to the end of it.

Each bite seemed like a countdown, and before long he found himself scooping up smaller and smaller portions. He stole looks at her when he could, attracted more and more with every glance. Everything about her ensnared him. She was amusing, intelligent, courageous, kind. And gorgeous, just gorgeous. When he caught himself with only a single pea on the end of his fork, he had to stop.

He looked across the table at her, drawing in a deep breath through his nostrils that filled his chest and made him sit up taller. His pulse raced, and he felt as though the restaurant had gotten ten degrees warmer quite suddenly. However, he had to make the proposition, because he couldn’t ignore the thoughts otherwise. It was risky, but if he let himself shy away from it, he’d scold himself for eternity.

“Delilah, I want to take you on a real date, as opposed to a strictly professional engagement.”

He blurted out. Smooth, real bloody smooth, his inner critic quipped. He cleared his throat and tried to recover.

“We could go to a concert, or perhaps you’d prefer a broadway show. Or we could ride out to Coney Island. I’ve never been, but I imagine as a proper New Yorker, you’d be able to show an old Brit about.”

He added, and then his resolve began to wane, as his more rational side took over.

“I realize it might be a little too soon after your recent breakup, if that’s the case I’d be happy to wait until you’re ready. I suppose I’d also understand if you didn’t want to jeopardize our professional arrangement.”

He continued, his last statement deflating him a bit. He was starting to feel like a moron, now that he was giving it more thought. Worse than making a fool of himself, he realized he put her on the spot. He looked down at his plate and pushed his food around a bit.

“You’re under no obligation to accept, of course. Please forgive my directness, I simply enjoy spending time with you. I confess I’m finding it impossible to think of you as just another client.”
 
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Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah found herself surprised how easy it was being with Gavin. There was no pressure, no stress, unlike when she was around the members of the Six. Even talking about Haleigh and Bishop was more cathartic than anything else, like a weight being lifted from her chest. She could talk freely here, and it felt good.

And she trusted him with the Foundation as well. Accepting his help didn't feel like losing control of it; it was more like building it up. It was exciting. She asked him about investing part of their donations.

Gavin: “It’s definitely a good idea. I could draw up a list of a few options for you to consider, stocks that aren’t too risky, bonds with respectable returns, commodities that will always be dependable.”

"That would be great, thank you."

Gavin: “No doubt we’ll find something that works for you.”

"I don't know how I ever got along without you."

She smiled, and then the food arrived, and she looked down at her overloaded plate hungrily. She plowed through the sausages, but as she was scooping baked beans onto a piece of toast with her fork, she noticed he didn't seem to be enjoying his own dinner.

"What's wrong? Shepherd's Pie not good?"

She looked at him quizzically, concerned that maybe he didn't feel well.

Gavin: “Delilah, I want to take you on a real date, as opposed to a strictly professional engagement.”

She was taken aback - and a little shocked - by that.

Gavin: “We could go to a concert, or perhaps you’d prefer a broadway show. Or we could ride out to Coney Island. I’ve never been, but I imagine as a proper New Yorker, you’d be able to show an old Brit about.”

Her lips started to move but no sound was coming out as she gaped.

Gavin: “I realize it might be a little too soon after your recent breakup, if that’s the case I’d be happy to wait until you’re ready. I suppose I’d also understand if you didn’t want to jeopardize our professional arrangement. You’re under no obligation to accept, of course. Please forgive my directness, I simply enjoy spending time with you. I confess I’m finding it impossible to think of you as just another client.”

She looked at him silently for a second more as her mind processed what he had said. He was handsome, and she did enjoy talking with him. And she didn't feel as bound to Bishop as she might have in the past. She took a drink of beer, then set the glass down slowly, her eyes downcast.

"I'm flattered, Gavin, really."

She raised her eyes to look into his face.

"I was going to try being a lesbian but..."

A smile played at the corners of her mouth.

"I would really like it if we went out sometime."

She blushed, and then cleared her throat before continuing.

"I want you to know that I approached you for help because I respect your abilities, not because I had ulterior motives."

She paused.

"But I do enjoy your company."

Tentatively, she reached out across the table to take his hand and give it a small squeeze.

"And if we're going to be neighbors at the asylum, I suppose we'd better get to know each other better."
 
Midtown — City streets

Ash raised an eyebrow at the bottles of wine he’d picked up, and Zach gave her a congenial smile as he slid back into his seat, balancing the food on his lap.

“Well, I know we usually drink beer, but this is a good vintage, and wine goes better with pizza than you might expect.”

He replied as he buckled up and she headed for the freeway. She declared that now they could stretch the car’s legs, but Zach was thinking and didn’t respond directly. When he did speak, it was to tell her that he could clear his schedule if she needed him to, for whatever planning purposes. They hadn’t talked about the wedding plans since the proposal. He didn’t want her to think she had to make all the decisions herself, unless she wanted to.

Ash suggested they could just go down to the courthouse and do it the quick and easy way. Bing, bang, boom? Zach glanced over at her to see if she was joking, and found her grinning ear to ear. He smiled and shook his head softly. She would say something like that. The most amusing thing was that he still couldn’t tell if she was serious. Her next idea involved Elvis.

“What, you mean like run off to Vegas and elope? Honestly, I can’t tell if you’re being serious, babe.”

He replied apologetically, and she mentioned needing some place to keep the boar. Apparently she could read the confusion on his face, because she explained that it was needed for the sacrifice. Then she asked him if he thought John would be able to kill it.

“Ah, I’m not sure. But it sounds like there are some traditions you want to uphold after all.”

He answered, as she weaved through traffic on the way to the Clocktower.

“Listen, sweetheart. I don’t want to make it sound like I don’t care, but we can do the wedding however you like. I want my bride to be happy. And don’t you worry about the expense. We’re only going to do this once.”
 
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