Day 43: Game Room, Third Shift

[piggy_king]

Peh. "Graduates." Who were they trying to fool? It's not like anyone here believed them, and no one ever visited the institute. What was the point in keeping up this sad little charade? To add to the realism of it? Well, whatever. If they wanted to continue this exercise in futility, that was fine with Porky. All it meant was that they spent more

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[deadlyjuliet]

The final pawn had just been set onto the board when he felt that tug at the back of his mind. Someone who wasn't quite human had just showed up - and lo and behold, a beautiful smile slid into the seat across from him. Grell returned the gesture, picking up the pawn he'd just set down and rolling it between his fingers. "Not long at all, love. I was just setting up."

Now came the fun part, wasn't that it? Grell played with the smooth black chess piece, letting it roll from finger to finger back and forth across his hand. This wasn't just a friendly chat and he knew it. While he was more than capable of deceiving himself into many things, Grell knew to be aware when the noose was tightening. He had practice while working for his lovely angel, and while avoiding the notice of the higher ups. Small infractions of the rules here and there - makeup at work, a change in footgear, his chainsaw of all things - had to be done so as to not gain a demerit and thus Grell had learned well to watch for the signs.

And he wasn't stupid. He knew that as an officer of the law, even a science-minded one, his darling Wally West would eventually start barking like the Queen's dog. He'd expected it, and yet he was a little disappointed that it had come so soon. Thus, it was time to draw this charade out a little more, until Wally forced the curtain call. "Besides," he continued, not missing a beat. "You're worth the wait, aren't you?"

[scarletspeedstr]

"Just setting up?" Wally glanced down, finally noticing the chess board, and his smile wavered and was replaced by a slightly panicked look. "Uh, I'm, uh, really not good at this game," he said, sounding slightly desperate. "I mean, I don't really remember what some of the pieces do and I'm not so good at the planning thing--"

Which was painfully true. He just didn't have the attention span to play chess. It was bad enough sometimes having to wait for someone to make a decision on something normal, let alone waiting however long it could take for someone to figure out a chess move. And trying to hold a conversation on top of that would just be a nightmare, specially a conversation where he was trying to find out if what Bats had said was true.

He shot a pleading look at Grell, hoping that might have an effect. "Can't we just talk instead? I mean, I don't think I could concentrate on a game like this while you're sitting across from me."

[deadlyjuliet]

Not good at planning? Grell raised an eyebrow and then pulled the black chesspiece back so he could hold it in both hands - fingertips balanced lightly on either end to keep it suspended between them. For someone who was so good at romance, Grell would have thought a bit of planning was necessary. Then again, perhaps the future didn't care so much for a good romantic evening. Wally sounded desperate to avoid a game with Grell and the death god grinned, turning the chesspiece around in his hands until the pawn's rounded tip was balanced on his pointer finger.

"Now that's not like you at all, darling," he chided, raising the pawn ever so slightly before letting it slip off to fall toward his lap. He caught it midway and then set it on the board, the grin turning a little more amiable as he did so. "But if you insist. I didn't think a little game between friends would have you so upset." With the pawn replaced on the now useless board, he picked up the black queen and rolled her idly in his hands. "So? Let's talk. You first. You owe me that much for standing me up and nearly getting me killed."

[scarletspeedstr]

"It's not that," Wally answered, feeling a little guilty. "It's just that... I'm not kidding when I say I'm no good at this game. You'd have to tell me how to move all the pieces and then I'd probably lose in no time, which wouldn't be much fun for you, right?" He smiled hopefully, but relaxed as Grell finished toying with the black piece and set it back on the board.

...Only to pick up another and start playing around with that. At least he didn't seem to want to actually play the game anymore. ...right?

He winced at the reminder of the other night. "I really didn't want to do that," he said apologetically. "Some friends of mine were dragged upstairs for the... you know. I wanted to make sure they were going to be okay and things kinda got out of hand. Next thing I know I was waking up back in my room."

Wally paused, and picked up one of the chess pieces himself. The little horsey ones; he never could remember what they were called or how they were supposed to move. "So what happened, you weren't badly hurt or anything, were you?"

[deadlyjuliet]

He did love it when they looked like someone had just kicked their puppy under a carriage. It was cute, in that slightly pathetic sort of way. Grell hid his smile behind a carefully timed hand brushing up to chase a few loose strands of hair out of his face and then turned his attention back to Wally. He did seem nervous about the game itself, but it was just as well. Grell wasn't all that great at it either. He just wanted something to play with while they were talking and pawns? How could he miss the irony in that?

Tapping the queen against his cheek, he shrugged and conceded. "Then it's for the best, I suppose." He made no move to replace the queen, but for now he was content in letting the chess game remain as nothing more than a centerpiece to their little drama. Made all the more interesting when Wally explained himself and then picked up a knight of all things. His daring knight - would Wally come to take the queen, or would he fumble and die on the battlefield? "How unfortunate for them. I heard those were rather...unsightly affairs."

Full of torture and blood and pain. Sort of like...normal life for him. Perhaps one night he'd venture up and see if they let him place audience. For now, however, he had to play innocent and when Wally asked about his night, he sighed, running the tip of the queen across the faint outlines of the bruises on his neck. "A man attacked me from behind and tried to snap my neck. Probably one of those vigilantes who so desperately wish to pin unfounded crimes on me simply because I try to fulfill the wishes of the annoying nurses. They prefer me when I'm my 'old' self as to the person I really am and they harp on me so when I disobey them." He palmed the queen and touched the tips of his fingers to his forehead, sighing dramatically. "It's so hard to please everyone. I try to be what the nurses want and someone tries to kill me. If I'm myself, the nurses chide me day and...well, not night, but you get the picture."

Leaning back in his seat, Grell let the queen roll out into his lap and crossed his legs. "Luckily a stranger fell from above and hit my attacker, allowing me to escape. Otherwise, I shudder to think what may have happened."

[scarletspeedstr]

Wally's grip around the little horse tightened, his knuckles whitening from the pressure. "Yeah," he said darkly. "They are. Not really the kinda thing I could wish on anyone, no matter what they'd done."

He realised that was getting a little too close to what was also bothering him and the whole reason behind this conversation, and quickly added, "I mean, after all those notes before, asking people to vote on who gets it, and then this happens? It's just really upsetting."

And speaking of upsetting, what Grell related about his night was pretty up there as well. "Someone tried to kill you? Just because of something they heard?" he repeated incredulously. Suspicions about Grell or no, Wally wasn't okay with people trying to kill each other, no matter what the reason.

"Seems like you got lucky with that rescue though. Any idea who it was who attacked you? Or why? I mean, just because you play along doesn't seem like much of a reason. You can't be the only person in the whole institute who does that, right?"

[deadlyjuliet]

The color draining from Wally's knuckles didn't escape Grell's attention. He seemed extremely invested in the whole torture thing, so perhaps it was another of his little loves who had gone through the process? How dreadful for them. Too bad they hadn't just died though. Grell had heard those sessions left some nasty side effects. Quirking an eyebrow at Wally as he quickly added in something about that anonymous poster asking for nominations, Grell shrugged his shoulders and took to playing with his chess piece again. "Whoever it is, they're merely looking for a rise, darling. No need to play along with them. Now, if the suggestions put up began coming true? Then you'd have reason to be upset." And Grell would have a reason to start name-dropping. "But I understand. It must be terrible, after going through all that, to see someone make...light of the situation."

Honestly, Grell had just laughed. So many people had so many vendettas here. He wished they'd actually act on them so he could see a little more bloodshed, but sadly, the people here were a bit restrained. Perhaps if he started handing out knives at night? No, that wouldn't do. No flair to simply throwing weapons about.

Grell lowered his gaze and seemed to deflate as Wally kept talking about the attack. It had been exciting though, hadn't it? Sebastian's hands clutching at his neck, the feeling that he might actually die? Oh~ If only he could experience that thrill again! Only, he couldn't let those feelings go free. He had to seem morose, scared, perhaps a little...vulnerable? Yes, that was it. "Frankly with the lies people have been spreading about, I'm surprised more of those 'do right' types haven't tried it. They certainly don't care about real justice, merely about satisfying their need to 'destroy evil.' Whether or not I was truly involved? Matters very little to them."

Grell rolled the queen between his fingers again, letting it swing up to rest on top of his knuckles before moving it back and forth over the back of his hand. How deep could he twist this knife before the truth came out of old Wally West? Or was there any truth to begin with? He wasn't sure, but he knew that the man's attitude toward him had changed once the Kent boy's murder had been unveiled. "They came at me from behind. I don't know who did it, merely that they could overpower me - not saying much, I mean, a girl like me against some of the men here? Preposterous. As much as I am loathe to admit it." Lies again. "I, unfortunately, made the mistake of showing some people the side the nurses wish to see and some people the real me. Now they have it in their head that I'm...changeable. And that does little to help me with the accusations flying about. Worse, it's gone and affected an acquaintance of mine."

Grell sighed and watched the queen dance over his knuckles, wondering just how much Wally was believing. He seemed to take the murder attempt at face value at any rate. Letting the black piece fall to his lap again, he turned his gaze to Wally, almost pleadingly. "But you believe me, don't you? I have so few here who would put faith in me, I'd hate to think you, too, have turned against me."

[scarletspeedstr]

Wally sighed, loosening his grip on the horse piece and switching it to his other hand so he could rub absently at where the little ears had dug into his palm. "I guess you're right there. I mean, it was pretty annoying before too, I don't like it when people make jokes about hurting others or anything, but now it's just..." He shrugged, trying to communicate without words how the whole thing made him feel.

He leaned forward as Grell seemed to withdraw into himself almost, but with the chess set in the way, he couldn't exactly reach across and touch the other's hand like he might have normally. "Hey, not everyone's going to be like that, I promise. I mean, I don't know what they're saying you did, but if they're just attacking you because they think you might have done something, then they're really not the good guys here."

Wally watched the black chess piece move across Grell's knuckles and just listened for a bit. This whole mess was more confusing than he would have liked. Grell didn't act like anyone who might just go and kill someone for whatever reason, not to mention that he had a hard time figuring out how someone like Grell could have possibly hurt Clark to begin with, but... Bats seemed to think he had, and Bats didn't tend to be wrong about stuff like this. But all the same... Wally needed to be sure. The hard part was figuring out how.

"I haven't turned against you," he said, which was true for the most part. "It's just-" he sighed "-one person says one thing, another person says something else... It's confusing. So I thought it'd be better to just ask you about it, right?" He smiled hopefully, then blinked as something caught up to him. "An acquaintance?"

[deadlyjuliet]

Just infuriating. Sickening. Depressing. So many words could fill the space Wally left behind, but Grell didn't throw in his favorite: amusing. Both the people who posted to it and the people who protested it were so very amusing. The one who started it all was doing it to rile the patients, and the ones who actually nominated? It was a nice scare tactic, but in the end, it took the eliminate of surprise away. There was nothing better than seeing the face of the betrayed as the knife sunk into them. He'd seen it when Brainiac 5 had turned around to face his blade. No greater satisfaction in the world. "I know..." Grell said softly. "It's in terrible taste."

There was something in Wally's eyes. Grell could see the wheels turning, ever so quick, ever so smart. He liked being chased, even if it was like this. It was like watching Sebastian's burning gaze on him, following his every step while his little master had his back turned. And just like he had in front of Sebastian, Grell played his part, and did it brilliantly if he did say so himself.

Pulling his hands back, Grell held them to his chest, closing his eyes as if his heart hurt at the very thought of this conversation. "And yet everyone believes them! I try my best to stay out of the way and then a man tries to kill me! It isn't..." He sighed and lowered his hands, turning his face to the side. "It's like a witch hunt. He said, she said, no evidence, just someone's 'feelings' that of course, the redhead has to be the guilty party. I know I'm not quite right in the head, but that doesn't mean I--" Grell stopped and blinked when the other question caught up to him and he nodded. "...a fellow who helped me out a few days back. He was going to take me out, but something caught us on the stairs and we had a bit of a tumble. And now because I was out with him that night, people think he's part of it all. As if it isn't bad enough that they accuse me, but to turn to him? He was simply protecting me from that creature in the stairwell."

Oh, Luxord. Beautiful Luxord. If he could see how well Grell was acting to save his heartless hide, perhaps he'd stop flirting with the Ice Giant and give his nonexistent heart to Grell and Grell alone! Or, not. It wasn't like the Nobody cared. "He's been threatened as well, but I don't know if anyone's come for him."

[scarletspeedstr]

Grell might run a little towards the side of over the top sometimes, but that didn't mean he was automatically dangerous or that he deserved anything that had happened to him. Or that his feelings were any less genuine than someone like Bats, who didn't show as much when something was bothering him. Or any other time, really.

So when Grell pulled back and seemed actually upset about all the accusations, Wally half rose out of his chair and reached out to just put a hand on his shoulder lightly. Or at least, that was his intention. Unfortunately the action made him fumble the chess piece he'd been fiddling with and it slipped through his fingers and landed on the board, laying waste to his side of the field.

"Oops," he said, wincing at the mess and the noise. "Sorry about that." He started retrieving what pieces he could find and replacing them where he thought they might have been on the board. There were a few quiet clicks as they were set into place before Wally spoke again.

"Being in the middle of something like that isn't much fun, and it's worse when no one gives you the chance to explain your side of things. I guess that was why I wanted to talk to you, to hear your side of the story. I like to think everyone has the chance to explain what really happened, and that the truth might be more important than punishing people." He smiled sadly. "Even if it doesn't always work out that way.

"And to be honest, I don't even know why people would think you'd do something like that to someone. I mean, did you even know the guy?"

[deadlyjuliet]

There was a sudden clatter and Grell jumped, the black queen rolling off his lap to disappear into the chair cushion. Apparently Wally had stood up and knocked the silly chess pieces over. How adorably clumsy of him. Grell rose and helped move the pieces back into place, careful to make sure his fingers brushed Wally's hand as he did so. His hair fell in a curtain over his shoulder and he glanced up as Wally started talking again.

So that was his game? To give Grell a chance to explain himself? What a silly man, thinking that a death god would ever give up information about him killing someone. Although, he had to admit - Wally was good. He was so casual about the whole thing, if he'd been paying any less attention? He might have fallen into that pretty little trap. Just like he'd fallen for those pretty eyes. "Whoever could you be talking about? What 'guy'?"

[scarletspeedstr]

Wally made a noise of protest as Grell moved to help him, since it was his fault and all, but fell silent as long fingers brushed over the back of his hand. He had no complaints about that kind of contact normally, and even if he wasn't just having this conversation for purely innocent reasons, it still brought a smile to his face.

Unfortunately he was going to have to watch it if he wanted to find out anything Grell might have been keeping to himself. He wasn't so good at this part at the best of times - most of his bad guys were perfectly happy with wearing bright colours and using wholesale property damage to make an impression, so they weren't easy to miss - and if Grell was like Bats had said, then he could be really dangerous.

"Huh?" he said, blinking up into Grell's green eyes. "Oh, I thought you would have seen the notes about it, sorry. It was something about you hurting some kid, I think?" He bit his lip. "I mean I'm not sure. It doesn't seem like the type of thing you'd do."

[deadlyjuliet]

Another soft click as a chess piece - the bishop - regained his rightful place and Grell settled back on his heels, moving the pawns into place. So small, so restricted in their movements, and yet they could be useful, given the right strategy. This game had belonged to Will. He was all thought and foresight and planning, but Grell had tried to hang off his shoulders while he was playing enough times that he'd picked up a thing or two - and had even started learning, just a little. He preferred the dance though, the fast movements, the spinning round and round each other, trying to get closer without ever touching. That was the most thrilling sort of game.

Putting a hand to his chest, Grell made sure to look taken aback at the accusation, maybe even a little hurt. The pawn he'd been about to upright was left forgotten on the board, lying pathetically on its side. "...You don't mean Brainy? Is he still accusing me? I thought..." Grell lowered his gaze, pondering whether or not he should bite his lip and deciding in the end that revealing his teeth right now would probably break the image. "...I thought we were past that."

[scarletspeedstr]

"Brainy?" Wally said, brow furrowing slightly. Then it clicked with what else Bruce had mentioned the other day over breakfast. "Oh, you mean that Brainiac guy? Yeah, I think he was the one saying some things around the place, and something about another guy too. Clark, I think?"

It wasn't hard to sound apologetic about bringing the whole topic up, because Wally really did feel bad about it. It felt too much like pointing the finger at Grell, and even if he did have reasons to suspect him, he just didn't like doing that to people. Because if, somehow, Bruce was wrong and Grell really was like he seemed? Then they were just making someone who'd already had a difficult time here have an even worse one.

"Sorry," he said again. "I don't like having to ask you stuff like this, but," he managed a slight laugh that only sounded a little forced, "I guess it kinda would be my job in a way? At least close enough to it. And if we can clear your name, it'd be good, right?"

Wally smiled encouragingly and reached over the board (carefully this time) to lift Grell's chin in order to meet his gaze. "So do you mind me asking you a few things?"

[deadlyjuliet]

So the little rust bucket had spilled on him? Perhaps Grell had taken away his precious friend too soon. The boy should have felt the fear longer, should have realized just how powerful Grell could be so he never dreamed of even breathing the death god's name again. The terror should have frozen him, to keep that irritating mouth shut. And yet, what was behind him was behind; and Grell had a policy of not looking to the past. It was too far a road with too many bodies that he never saw the need. It was the same scenery, after all, behind and before him. On reflection, it was a good thing he liked his job, or the constant monotony of it would probably get to him.

Sighing, Grell shook his head. He had to sound disappointed, hurt, almost betrayed, and he was certain he did. "I...he was... I thought we could be friends, but my cowardice after getting attacked my first night here, I left that boy in the open and now he blames me for the misfortunes that befell him." He paused when Wally mentioned Clark - that wonderful boy with that peculiar power, but only to tilt his head as is confused. Just as Wally reached out and lifted his chin. He could melt. Really. He wasn't one for a man who tried so hard to impress him normally, but every once in awhile... It was nice to feel 'appreciated' for being the lady he was. "I...suppose. But who is Clark?"

[scarletspeedstr]

To be honest, Wally wasn't sure how much the other Brainiac (who apparently wasn't evil, and was a kid or something? Bats seemed to know more about it than he did) had said, so he wasn't game to mention much more on the subject. The whole point was to try and find out something that would either prove that Grell really had been there that night and done what Bruce had implied, or that he couldn't have possibly done something like that. Mentioning something that he couldn't have gotten from just general sources would kinda undermine his whole goal.

Still, he couldn't help but wish he had something like Diana's lasso right now, it made getting the truth out of someone so much easier than trying to dance around the subject.

"He blames you for that?" he asked. "But, he knows it's not your fault, right? I mean, it's not like you made whatever it was come after him..." But then again, some people didn't really need much of a reason to blame others for their problems. ...assuming Grell wasn't lying.

Yeah, that lasso would really come in handy right about now.

"Clark is someone else he mentioned, something about you hurting him?" Wally said carefully. "It was about two or three nights ago, I think. Do you remember what you were doing then?"