In the river of darkness there's a light

[chishionotenshi]

Skye was holed up in the lab with Jemma and Leo- mostly because she did not like the atmosphere that was forming in the upper levels. Coulson was busy brooding, and his bad mood was rubbing off on everyone. To top it off, Lexi had texted her super early this morning asking if she knew where little Phil was so Skye was avoiding A.C. even more than she would have been, since he did not seem likely to talk. Finally, Lexi texted her to say that she was going to barge in on Phillipa with Domino and Ren. Since Skye did not feel exactly welcomed by the others, she opted to stay on the bus.

Fitz was tinkering with some new invention, rocking out with his headphones. Somehow Skye could not work up the courage to ask what he was listening to. Considering that he turned out to have a Goth-side, it could be Death Metal for all she knew.

“Hey, have you fixed the balance on the Night-Night Pistol yet?” Ward asked, barging in as usual. He probably did not realize how aggressive his stance was, or care.

Without looking up from the cultures she had been cooing over all day, Jemma pointed to Leo. “Fitz was working on it earlier. Oh, these filament pathways they’re building are very interesting. Did you want a look Skye?”

Hands up, Skye declined. “Not my style.”

“Fitz, the pistol?” Ward said pointedly. Apparently deaf, Fitz kept on jamming. Everyone waited a long moment, and then Ward reached over to grab the cord and pop out a ear bud.

“What the hell are you listening to?” he demanded.

“Just some rocking tunes,” Fitz insisted. To his left, Jemma waved her hands wildly at Ward, but this did not stop him from taking the earphones and putting one in his ear. As Simmons made a sympathetically pained face, Ward yanked them out.

“Is this- is this Miley Cyrus?”

“Hannah Montana, actually,” Fitz corrected him. “It was all the rage back at the academy.”

Jemma shook her head sharply, but smiled painfully when Fitz glanced at her for backup. “Oh. . . yes. . . it was very. . . popular.”

“This is music for children. You do realize that you are over the age of eleven and are not a girl?”

Skye just barely stifled her giggle as she gently defended the engineer, “Come on, Ward, everybody has a guilty music pleasure. I mean, it’s not like he listens to bubblegum techno.”

“Yes, I do! Aqua was a fantastic band, you know,” Fitz vehemently told the group. “And I like Vengaboys, and Dance Dance Revolution, while an impossible physical feat, did actually have quite a lot of danceable tunes.”

He seemed finished, but then quickly took up his defense again, “And as for Miley Cyrus, yes, she’s a bit of a scamp and her target audience did indeed once include adolescent girls, but statistically, she is the most popular singer out there- I mean, yes, you could make an argument for Justin Bieber-”

“Fitz, how many time do I have to tell you statistics are not everything!” moaned Jemma.

Skye stared at him horrified, “What are you even talking about?”

“That is the craziest, stupidest thing you have ever said,” Ward decided.

“Look, not everyone is into your screaming threats of death blared over the squeal of guitar strings tortured to the point of breaking,” Fitz explained. “There is a reason it is called pop music- because it’s popular! And everyone at the academy liked it, didn’t they Jemma?”

“Er,” said Simmons. “Hey, did you want to look at this filament networks? I’m sure you would enjoy that.”

“What are you even talking about?” demanded Ward. “I listen to classic rock, not the mass produced trash put out by record companies hoping to make a quick buck off anyone with a vaguely reasonable voice.”

Skye and Jemma exchanged looks, and decided together to abandon lab. As they scurried out to the riff of, “And you would know great music how exactly? The mathematical principals-” and the surprisingly poetic, “Great music comes from the soul,” the giggles started. Up the staircase, they found release in laughter. Sliding down to the floor, the women shared hysterical chuckles.

“What the hell is so funny up there?” Ward called from the base of the stairs.

“Oh, I was just telling Skye a great joke about mono-filaments. Right?” Skye stared at Jemma’s explanation, but after a lengthy eyebrow and hand gesture exchange, she covered in a terribly false voice,

“Yeah, those mono-fils are way hysterical.” Jemma’s eyebrows drew in, and raising her shoulders in a wild shrug, Skye added, “You should totally hear this joke.”

“What?” hissed Jemma. “Skye, I don’t know any-”

“Yeah, I’ll pass,” Ward told them, and returned to arguing about music with Fitz in the lab.

Skye pounced on Jemma. “What was that? Mono-fils? Why the hell would I laugh about those?”

“Mono-filaments have great potential to be amusing,” Simmons protested. “I was pressured!”

“Right, right. I keep forgetting how bad you are under pressure. You, like, have to shoot an officer to recover equilibrium.”

Grinning sheepishly, Jemma pointed out, “Well, it was funny.”

“It was awful!” Skye reminded her firmly.

“Awfully funny?” Jemma suggested. “I mean, the look on his face-”

“His face! You should have seen your face as you were trying to flirt with him- oh, that was terrible!” And in spite of herself, Skye had to laugh.

“See? I told you it was funny!”

“All right, you got me. But what the hell was that about you all enjoying Hannah Montana at the academy? Please tell me that’s not a requirement. If it is, I quit.”

“Oh, no, no, no. No. Ahem. It’s kind of complicated. You know, it’s a social thing.”

Skye raised a brow. “Try me.”

“All right. Well. Let’s see. Oh! So, Leo and I were rather popular in the academy, but he was a little more stand-offish. You know how he can be.”

“You mean awkward, but go on.”

“Well, everyone- maybe not everyone but almost everyone, maybe even as much as nearly everyone- actually maybe everyone- no, no, there was that girl in his physics course, oh and that boy at the-”

“Simmons: the point! Get to the point!”

“Oh right.”

“Leo was popular,” Skye prompted.

“Yes, yes, he was. And so was I. But I said that already. Well, people wanted to be like Leo, or at least to be his friend because he was just so- right, right I’ll skip that bit. And it turned out he liked a lot of pop music, like that Hannah Montana creature, so they all pretended to also, you know, so he would like them more.”

“Yikes,” Skye said frankly. “I could never go that far to be friends. I mean, put up with it for a bit, sure, but pretend to like it? Yeah, no.”

“Well I couldn’t either. I haven’t got that strong a stomach,” Jemma admitted. “And here we are.”

“You didn’t try to get him to listen to other things?” Skye asked.

“Of course I did. We used to share an iPod.” Simmons shuddered. “I saved up for months to buy him his own so I didn’t have to put up with Ice Cream Freeze any time we were having dessert.”

Patting her on the shoulder, Skye said, “You’re a saint.”

“Oh, I hope not,” Jemma insisted. “I’d have to have died horribly.”

“Pretty sure putting up with Hannah Montana for months counts as a horrible death.”

Nodding thoughtfully, the biologist said, “You may have a point.”

“Cheer up. Maybe Ward will spare us all by putting him in a full Nelson and forcing him to listen to Metallica or something.”

“I’m not sure we want to channel his energy in that direction. I mean, why not a little Kelly Clarkson? You can listen to her for hours, right?”

Putting an arm around Jemma, Skye grinned, “Now you’re thinking. I say we get up to some bad girl shenanigans with Fitz’s iPod.”

“Well,” grinned Jemma in reply, “It is quite thrilling.”
***

After several hours of concentrating, Lexi had finally managed it. Considering the strength of mind it had taken, she was quite proud of herself. With great satisfaction, she hit the send key. Unfortunately, Domino chose this moment to lean over and read aloud.

“ ‘I think you’re cute, too.’ Tell me that is not to Jonathan. Of course it is. You guys are a pair of fourth graders.”

“But he is cute!” Lexi protested stubbornly. “And his talent- it’s adorable!”

“You two have made it to the point of sharing talents?” Domino asked, looking more incredulous than Lexi felt was called for. “Are you sure?”

Huffing, Lexi folded her arms and protested to Ren, “Ren, Domino is being rude.”

“Tell her that, not me,” Ren grumped. “Why would I care?”

“Oh, don’t be grouchy because Stark is not currently hip deep in you,” Lexi scolded. “I mean, he can’t be every minute of every day- ow!”

“No murders in my car,” scolded Domino. “Even at the red lights.”

“It could be a good way to get into little Phil’s apartment, though,” Lexi said.

“In that case, I volunteer you.”

“Now you’re being rude.”

Stomping on the brakes harder than was necessary, Domino turned in her seat to snap, “Look, we are going to check on her, not harass her with the grumps, or annoy her with childishness. So, if you can’t handle it, take the advice from Bambi and don’t say anything at all.”

That settled everything, Lexi hoped. Of course, Domino was a bit of a pot calling a kettle black, accusing Ren of the grumps. Since last night the elder mutant had been a real bear to just about everyone with her only proper social behavior directed toward Phillipa. Ren was a little hungover, so what was Domino’s excuse?

Brushing that aside mentally, Lexi focused on the very interesting fact that had brought them here: Phillipa had snuck out last night without telling anyone. Phillipa- the poster child of obedience- had slipped past the notice of two spies who worked for a company that was synonymous with espionage for no known reason. Whatever her thinking, it ought to be good. Besides, Lexi was naturally nosy. She simply wanted to know.

After the hassle of parking- Lexi was sure they ought to use what was technically Phillipa’s spot, but there were some silly rules in the way- Domino turned to her and asked, “Did you even tell her we were coming?”

“I called,” Lexi said, settling for strict truth.

“Which is not the same as telling her we’re coming,” Ren pointed out. Trust her to catch Lexi out.

Sighing, Domino shut the door of her car. “Well, let’s find out if she’s even in.”

She was in, and handing out strange looks for free. “Why the invasion?”

“Oh, you know-” Lexi started out innocently, but Ren cut in to say bluntly,

“We want to know where you were last night and why you didn’t tell anyone where you were going.”

“Ah, I should have guessed.” Sighing, Phillipa waved them on in.

Looking around, Lexi noticed that Phillipa had not moved her father’s picture. Considering how betrayed she had felt, Lexi would have expected her to relegate it elsewhere. Also, the room was very tidy. Now, Phillipa was also a model of cleanliness, but this looked like she had spent some time with serious polish. It certainly smelled of Pinesol.

“So where were you?” Ren demanded as the door closed behind Domino.

“Out,” Phillipa said evasively. “Do you want some tea? I got some of that chocolate flavor.”

“Where were you?” Domino asked.

“I said I was out.”

As Phillipa busied herself with her kettle, Lexi watched Domino and Ren share eye rolls. Yes, the girl was dodging, but who would answer that question? There were so many more interesting ones that presented themselves. For example, who was Phillipa cleaning for if she had not expected them? And why was she humming?

“Did you catch the new kid’s movie?” Lexi guessed, throwing it out as a wildcard.

“What new movie?” asked Phillipa, her mind obviously elsewhere.

Tapping the breakfast bar, Lexi said, “You know, the one with the spies in it?”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” the girl decided.

“How about you dodging some serious spies in the middle of the night to go out,” Lexi suggested brightly.

Grimacing, Phillipa asked without real hope, “We can’t drop the subject?”

“Nope.”

“All right, fine, I was out seeing someone.”

Putting the humming and the cleaning and the late hour together, Lexi’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious. ‘Walter?’”

Ren dropped the book she had been examining with a slap to the floor. “What?”

“Oh, Phillipa,” Domino said in serious disappointment. “How could you?”

“Okay, for one thing,” little Phil began, coloring up angrily, “I get to make my decisions, good or bad. And for another, I was way too hasty with him last time.”

“Hasty?” repeated Lexi dumbly.

“I didn’t give him a chance to talk, or myself a chance to listen,” Phillipa said firmly. “I just laid into him and practically put my fingers in my ears and chanted ‘La, la, la, I can’t hear you!’ It wasn’t fair.”

“Fair is not what you were going for,” Ren pointed out. “Remember?”

Phillipa crossed her arms, a sure sign of belligerence. “And what about me? Shouldn’t I be fair to myself?”

“Is it fair to you to be involved with someone who-”

Arms still crossed, Phillipa interrupted Domino. “Someone who went out of his way to apologize and explain? Someone who loves me? Gosh, I don’t know what I was thinking!”

Seeing that this was going south quickly, Lexi butted in. “I think they’re just worried about, you know, the things he didn’t tell you. And because we don’t really know him.”

Sharply, Phillipa said, “So that means you can make all those judgments about him and about me?”

“Well, no,” Lexi admitted, ignoring the black looks she was getting from the other mutants. “I’m just wondering when we’ll get all the facts you have.”

“I don’t know,” was all Phillipa would give them. Lexi could respect that answer. With the others bungling things, a serious miracle would be needed to thaw Phillipa out.

“Was he good?” Lexi dared to ask in a deliciously oily voice.

Making a face, Phillipa said, “I should have known that was all you wanted to know.”

“Information is everything,” chirped Lexi. “So, was he?”

“You are disgusting,” Ren muttered.

The kettle began to whistle and Phillipa went to pour herself a hot cup of tea. Judging by the cups in the dish strainer, it was her fourth today. Like Lexi had said to Stark, Phillipa really liked her tea. It certainly put her in a better mood most of the time.

Sipping at her tea, Phillipa asked in a tone of genuine curiosity, “What about the boy you met last night?”

Feeling a ridiculous blush sweeping up from her feet, Lexi found her toes very interesting. “Oh, well, you know-”

“What was his name?” Phillipa continued, looking up over the rim of her mug with a smile in her blue eyes.

“Um,” Lexi began, as the blush made it well past her waist, but with her usual charm, Ren growled,

“His name is Jonathan and she is about as clever as a nerd talking to a cute girl.”

“Don’t be mean,” Phillipa scolded about as harshly as she could. “Go on, Lexi, I want to hear all about him.”

“Well,” Lexi shot a look at Ren and Domino and leaned in close to whisper, “He calls me ‘sexy Lexi’ and I didn’t even ask him to.”

“No!” Phillipa laughed and then she grinned at Lexi. “He sounds wonderful.”

“Oh, he is,” Lexi sighed. “And his bum is perfection.”

Ren threw up her hands, but Phillipa giggled. “And a perfect bum is very important.”

“It is,” said Lexi solemnly, and Domino snorted.

“It would be important to you if you ever get your hands on it, which I sincerely doubt. Phillipa, she is sending him texts saying that she thinks he is cute too.”

“He is!”

Smiling, Phillipa said gently, “But he makes you feel shy and tingly and like at any moment you are going to do something incredibly embarrassing because you like him that much, right?”

“Exactly!”

“You’re supposed to get over that,” Domino pointed out. “This isn’t middle school.”

“No, we get better food,” quipped Phillipa and then told Lexi. “I think that is a very good sign, by the way. If you care enough to get nervous about him, he has to be special.”

“Special is right,” muttered Ren.

“Okay, you can get over the fact that Stark is not jumping your bones right this very minute,” Phillipa pointed out lightly. “Or, you could have a drink.”

“As if you have any-” Ren stopped as Phillipa reached under her sink and produced two bottles. “Since when do you have any?”

“I’m of age,” protested Phillipa, wagging the bottle in her right hand. “Also, means. Now, do you want this brandy or not?”

“Any port in a storm, right?” Lexi punned horribly.

As Ren groaned, she hauled herself from the rug toward the breakfast bar. “Shut up!”

“But why do you have liquor?” Domino wanted to know. “It’s not like you drink.”

“Well, you all do, and I thought it would be hospitable. Especially now that I have money. Some money. So, I put some away, and I bought these. Oh, and-” Phillipa looked furtive. Handing the bottles to Ren, who eyed them speculatively, and dashed into her bedroom.

“She bought us two bottles. That’s what I call hospitable.” Ren approved of this, apparently. Lexi had to grin.

“Phillipa never spends money,” Domino hissed. “Do neither of you find this odd?”

“She’s never had money to spend,” Lexi noted. “It makes sense she’d buy a few things.”

Coming back from her bedroom, Phillipa held a flat white box in her hands. “And I got these.”

“Before or after ‘Walter’ came back?” inquire Lexi, lifting out a brown with gold brocade underbust corset clasped shut by a zipper and three faux belts that suggested all kinds of naughty bedroom ideas at a glance.

“Before! What, you don’t think they’re pretty?”

“I know somebody will,” Lexi said, dripping all kinds of insinuations cheerfully. Behind the breakfast bar, Ren muttered various things about people who kept their glasses in cabinets to the right of the sink.

“Good grief,” Domino said when Phillipa lifted out a brown corset, a green corset, and another ivory underbust corset. “How may did you buy?”

“Um, don’t yell, but five.”

By dint of standing on her toes, Lexi managed to cover Domino’s mouth. “She said don’t yell. Gosh, that’s a lot, though, little Phil.”

“Well, they were having a sale,” Phillipa explained. “I mean, not a very big sale, but- well, they are so pretty.”

“How much did you pay for them?” Domino asked grimly.

Looking terribly guilty, Phillipa admitted, “I don’t know. I didn’t exactly understand the payment page, so Mr. Stark said he would do it for me.”

There was a terrible silence as, Lexi was sure, Domino tried to avoid shouting Phillipa down for trusting the billionaire with her bank account. Not that, Lexi thought, there was anyone safer to give the information to. After all, what did he need with her money?

“This explains why he insists there is a package waiting for me at his place,” Ren noted. “Why do you not own a shaker?”

“Oh, he must like cross-dressing,” Lexi said.

“A what? No, not you,” Phillipa told Lexi firmly. “I mean, what is a shaker?”

“I thought you said you bought five corsets,” Lexi called to Phillipa, rummaging through the white box.

“I did,” Phillipa insisted. “Two brown ones, an ivory with brown, an ivory with gold and a green one.”

“But there are two ivory ones with gold,” Lexi noted, lifting them both: one an underbust with beautiful gold toggles and faux laces, and the other an overbust with delicate gold and silver stitching.

“I didn’t order that one,” Phillipa said, coming over to touch it. “It was very pretty, but way too much to consider.”

Reaching into the box for the shipping receipt, Lexi quickly skimmed the order. Then she grinned. Shaking the paper at Phillipa, she said,

“Well, it wasn’t too much for Tony Stark to consider. He left you a note.”

Unlike Lexi, Phillipa groaned- as the recipient of one too many gifts well might. “Oh, no. He bought it all. That jerk!”

“Oh, can I be the one to tell him what she said about it?” Lexi asked of Ren, bouncing up and down excitedly.

“Only if you text Jonathan and tell him what you really want is to jump his bones,” Domino said, crushing her hopes.

“You are totally unfair.”

“I told him to stop buying me things!” Phillipa said in a voice that bordered on a wail.

Ren handed her a glass of tequila, and suggested, “Next time, carve it into his forehead backwards with a knife.”

“Violence does not become our little Phil,” Lexi reminded her. “I say you do it.”

“I may just,” Ren muttered.

As they settled in to admire Phillipa’s new corsets and discuss proper pairing with her existing wardrobe, Lexi smiled to herself. They had gotten right past the whole ‘Walter’ business, and little Phil seemed happy enough, between threats to Stark’s manhood. So far, so good. And just lately, that was the best they were going to get.