Amber, Alex, Jess; Bahir
6/2/2009
=XF= Main Street - Chemekata Military Base
The winding forest road slows and straightens here, pulling to attention for the little cluster of buildings known as 'town'. The only trees here are those planted neatly in well-kept yards and green spaces. A small outdoor park area boasts several picnic tables and a basketball court, as well as a number of benches set up under the shade of tall oak trees.
Along the sidewalked street, sunlight glints off the tall, glass-fronted administration building, which bears an unavoidable sign proclaiming 'Titan Enterprises'. The other buildings are more modest on outward glance, with none of them appearing to rise above two stories. At the far end, just before the road disappears into the forest once more, a street cuts parallel to the main road. To one direction, the vast hangars and runways take up an impressive span of space. To the other, the modest residential building sits perched on a hill, the better to take advantage of the excellent views.
(Exits : [A]dmin and [I]ntel, [R]esidences, [T]raining [F]acilities, [H]ospital and [L]abs, [H]angars, [W]ilderness, [S]hooting [R]ange, and [F]ront [G]ate )
Despite having been here for only a handful of months, there is something comfortingly familiar about the California mountain air. Natalie's making the most of it, her long strides carrying her from the direction of the reservoir in a loping jog that seems to be working off restless tension in addition to keeping her in shape. Her arms pump at her sides, her ponytail swishing behind her as she approaches town in running shorts and a work-out tank.
There's nothing familiar about the California air for Amber, which has led to much investigation. If she's going to be living here, she wants to know the area inside and out. Jeans, sneakers and a loose t-shirt are worn as she strides in a slow, careful pace along the round, moving towards the jogging Natalie. A hand is lifted in greeting towards the other woman. There is no wince thanks to Jean's fantastic pain pills.
Jess is also out and about, walking along the main street as she explores her new 'home'. She is more than nervous since arriving here, her blindfolded trip seeming like some bad movie as she enters the world of the secret agent. She glances up at the sun, her sunglasses sheilding her eyes as her booted feet clomp lightly against the concrete. She sees Amber and Natalie up ahead, and she slowly makes her way to them, her hands shoved casually in her pockets. "Uh, hi," she hesitantly greets them.
Natalie's footsteps slow to a halt as she sights Amber, and then a moment later, Jess. Her breaths are hard but even, her forehead flecked with beads of sweat. "Hey," she greets, glancing between the pair of them with a sun-produced squint.
Amber moves with continued slow steps until she reaches the area where Natalie stopped, offering a friendly smile. "It must be nice to be home. I have to admit, it's beautiful here." Amber says before glancing to her side at Jess's arrival. "Hi there."
Jess gives a slow nod and a shy smile of greeting, her eyes flicking from Amber to Natalie and back behind her dark shades. "It is a very nice place," she agrees.
Natalie laughs briefly, catching her breath and giving a shake of her head. "It's Home, but not /home/," she answers with a tilt of her head. "Not yet really, anyway. I'm from New York." She glances up, toward the mountains that show beyond the buildings. "It is pretty, though. Be sure to check out the reservoir."
"I suppose I can understand that. I've had a lot of 'homes' myself but none ever quite compared to Memphis. Regardless, it's nice to be off that damn ranch." Amber shakes her head. Here she thought they'd never get out. Glancing towards the road leading to the reservoir, Amber gives a nod. "That'll be my next stop."
"Yeah," Jess softly agrees. "One more day on that ranch..." she smirks ruefully and leaves the sentence unfinished, as she's sure both women know exactly what she is talking about. She's quiet a minute, then she gives a bit of a grin as she looks down the road, towards the reservoir. "Any good sunning rocks out that way?" she jokes.
Natalie's shoulders roll back in an uncomfortable hitch as she admits, "I was only there a week or so, and that was enough for me. It was--" She pauses, breaking off as her gaze skips away beyond the pair, and then forces it back to them. "Something in the /air/ just didn't feel right."
Amber gives Jess a look. "If not there, I'm sure you'll find one around here somewhere." Attention shifts back to Natalie as Amber nods. "Did you guys ever figure out /why/ Jeff was luring us all there? Was it just to kill us? Or what?"
Jess nods, a grin on her face. "Oh I know. I'm happy anywhere the sun is shinin'. It doesn't hurt to ask though." Her face then grows serious and she looks to Natalie, curious to know the answers to Amber's questions.
Natalie looks hesitant for a moment, glancing at Amber and then Jess, then back to the former. She jerks her head toward the small park nestled between the hospital and the stairs leading up to the residences, making her way in that direction by way of cooldown and approaching picnic tables to sprawl on. She answers as they walk, her words slowly measured. "I don't know if we know for sure," she answers. "But everyone of /you/ who was there was on a potential list. Recruits. Jeff stole the list from our boss almost six weeks ago, just before the first of you started out for the ranch, which is how /we/ ended up there. We know he had the list - Kitty found a version of it on one of his flashdrives."
Amber moves slowly behind Natalie as she leads the way towards the picnic area, listening intently. "I'd heard mention of the list before. I hadn't realized we had all been on it." Brows knit as Amber walks towards the table and reaches out to gingerly settle herself into a sit. "Do you think ya'll will be figuring out the why of it all? Or just not worried about it since everyone's safe and he's dealt with?"
Jess follows, listening carefully as Natalie begins to explain. A brow is cocked in curiosity, as she had no idea of the list. "What was he going to do with the list, do you know?" she asks quietly. She then takes a seat as well.
Natalie slides up to sit atop a table, letting her legs dangle out over the bench seat as she leans forward in a half-hearted stretch. "Well," she answers, blowing out a breath. "There was another -- well. Not list, I guess. There were files. Stuff about mutations. First impressions. Potential practical applications of mutations." Her eyes flick between Jess and Amber.
"Well damn. So he was planning on using us for something." Amber's frown deepens, head dazing out for a second. She blinks, head shaking as she glances between the two. "Sorry, I think these pain meds are driving right over me. I'm going to head back to my room and sleep it off. I'll catch up with you later." She gives a wave, pushes up and takes off back towards the building.
"Bye, Amber," Jess replied, giving a sympathetic smile. She watched the other woman go, then turned back to Natalie. "So do you guys know what he was planning on using us for? I mean, who the hell was he?"
Natalie shrugs, straightening a little and then leaning back with her arms braced behind her. "I don't know," she answers, squinting against the sun. "Who he /was/ is Jacob Hendrickson. Apparently he was in on the ground floor of X-Factor, awhile ago. Left. And now--" She lifts one hand, palm up in explanation. Or lack thereof.
Jess gives a slight shiver, the full scope of what had happened, what she had been involved in at the Colorado ranch, seeming to sink in. "Crazy stuff," she replies softly. Understatement of the year.
"Little bit," Natalie answers, her lips twisted wryly. "Welcome to X-Factor."
Jess shakes her head, sharing the smile. She then looks off towards the road as she speaks, an elbow resting on the edge of the picnic table before she brings her gaze back to Natalie. "Not to make it seem like I'm kissing your ass or anything, but I'm sorry about how I acted the last time we spoke. That...was a bit out of line."
Natalie lifts her brows slightly, gaze sharpening on Jess for a long moment. There's a spread of silence, and then she shrugs her dismissal. "Lots of stress," she allows.
Nodding, Jess gives a deep sigh. "Yeah. That and me not really knowing what the hell was goin' on, who was really who they were telling me they were..." Her face scrunches a bit as she pauses a moment. "Still, no excuse," she adds softly.
The second apology earns a faint smile, and a firmer dismissive gesture. "This shit isn't easy for anyone," Natalie answers. "Even when you flat out choose it. You guys didn't. You were just in the middle of it. No one's going to hold that against you, unless it keeps up."
Jess gives a curt nod of acknowledgement, letting the other woman know that she was grateful for the acceptance and understanding. "Well, I'll try my hardest to see that it doesn't happen again," she replies, a smile pulling at her lips.
"Firing bullets at things helps with the stress," Natalie offers, shifting from her picnic table to stand and drop into a lunged stretch. "So does hitting things. And running." There's a pause, and then she adds, "You know. If you end up staying or anything."
Jess idly runs a hand through her hair. "I've never even held a gun," she offers with a slight shrug, "though I agree with you completely about running. And I hope to stay. I really do, even if it is...bad sometimes. What I said before, about it giving me a bit of focus, that was the truth." She gives another shrug. "But I guess I can only wait and see."
"Neither had I," Natalie shares, switching legs. "Until February. If you work at it, you can pick it up okay." She does not comment on the rest - it's not a decision which rests with her.
"Pretty straight forward kinda thing, I'd think," she agrees. "I think anyone can shoot - but not everyone can aim at a living breathing person. Or kill, if the situation comes to it." She shrugs, remembering what it was like to get shot at, the sounds of the bullets seeming to echo through her mind.
"Couldn't say," Natalie admits, straightening to arch her back slightly, hands settled at the base of her spine. "I never have."
Jess looks to Natalie. "How long have you been with them?" she wonders. "If that's public knowledge," she adds with a slight smile.
"Few months," Natalie answers. "Most of us have been. Just... Remy, Pete, Will, Terry. They've been here longer. Or-- not /here/, I don't think. But-- X-Factor."
Jess nods in understanding. After a moment she asks, "You guys don't have a Taco Bell 'round here, do ya? I have been having a craving ever since I found out I was stuck on the ranch."
Natalie laughs, settling one leg up on the bench of the picnic table to lean into it in a stretch. She's dressed in running shorts and a work-out tank, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail as she cools down. The light breeze is at least good for drying sweat. "We have woods," she answers Jess. "And more woods. If you get cleared to leave base, there's-- uh." She breaks off abruptly, frowning. "Shit. Sorry, probably shouldn't say, actually."
Jess gives a little laugh, then shrugs. "Oh well. No worries. Woods are good, and I like hiking, so that's cool. Though the bush tucker isn't as good as home - and both aren't as good as Taco Bell."
Natalie straightens a little, turning to glance over at Jess. "The... bush tucker?" she echoes, a touch blankly.
Jess gives a genuine grin. "The foods the Aboriginals back home ate. The food I ate. It consists of a bunch of different things, usually roasted over a small fire. Things like...grubs. Ants. Mushrooms, reptiles, other ediable plants...that kinda thing. It's /good/. You should let me cook ya some sometime."
Alex arrives from the snaking road after what must have been a short workout session. A light, cotton T-shirt and drab shorts show the dark hint of sweat along the neck and sleeves as well as dirt along his legs; probably from some uncomfortable cardio or other manly endeavor. Now more interested in relaxing and reflecting, his glance shifts from passing tree to passing tree before he realizes Natalie and Jess are ahead. "Hey. What's up?" He asks, tucking his thumbs into his belt as he slows to a halt.
"You want me to let you cook me /grubs/?" Natalie answers, both disbelief and horror quite evident on her features. She blinks at Jess for a moment before she is /blissfully/ distracted by Alex, arriving along much the same path she took. He gets a faint flicker of a grin and a jerk of her head in acknowledgement. "Good run?" she wonders.
Jess laughs aloud at the look upon Natalie's face. "Ah, you won't know what you're missing otherwise," she replies. "Little of that cooked up nice and crunchy with a 'roo burger is the best luch you'll ever have." She then notices Alex's approach, and gives him a polite smile and nod. "Hello, Alex."
"The change of pace is welcome." Alex replies, following with a warm smile as he glances to Jess. "Hey, kid. What are you two up to?" He says, waiting to hear a little explanation. Roo burger.
"Not quite so much doom hanging in the air," Natalie agrees, her smile warming in response to his before she jerks her head toward Jess, ponytail swishing in emphasis. "She's suggesting that I let her cook me grubs and ants and other exceedingly creepy outback kinds of food."
Jess's face is innocent as she looks to the both of them. "It's a pefectly good, healthy and surprisingly tasty way to get nutrients when you're in the middle of the Outback, and the next town is 5000 miles through the Never-never -uh, the worst of the deserts where no one can survive," she explains for the non-natives. "Then you can eat honey ants, which have this liquid in their abdomen in them that tastes almost like lemonade. You got a whole meal right there."
"Grubs. /Hm./" Alex responds, nodding his head to Jess with a small amount of surprise in his eyes. "I was always a big fan of burgers, and steak. I think I might probably die in the outback." He says, tone and smile teasing.
Innocence is met with shock and no small measure of-- well, yes. That's disgust. Natalie likes her New York take out, thanks. "How on earth do you /know/ this shit?" she wonders of Jess.
Jess gives a bit of a shrug, her grin coming back. "I lived in one of the remote desert towns of the Outback, and I spent 99% of my time outside. I played with the Aboriginal kids when I was younger, and they showed me all of the food you could eat while out there. In a harsh place like that it's a good thing to know anyway. I aquired a taste for most of it, so I kept cooking it even when I 'grew up'. I haven't had it in a while though," she adds her face falling a bit.
"I can't criticize for an unorthodox childhood. Seriously." Alex muses, shaking his head and slipping his hands along his belt until he can slide them seamlessly into his pockets. "I guess that could be useful, though? If. You're. Stuck in the desert?"
"I can," Natalie answers, lifting a hand in indication as she glances at Alex. "I grew up in /Ohio/." She settles back into a lean against the picnic table, brows lifting. "You planning to get stuck in the desert sometime soon?"
"I'd rather be in the desert than almost anywhere else. And knowing about the tucker - which is Aussie slang for food - carried over to the States a bit, believe it or not. The common grub is quite similar to the Witchetty Grub, and so when I've been on the road and uh, low on money..." she leaves the sentence unfinished and looks a bit embarassed for the first time since talking about herself.
"Ohio? That's, like, barely above Iowa on the entertainment scale." Alex says, face dropping with faux sympathy. His teasing is promptly interrupted as brows lift back to Jess. "Ierm. Hm. To each their own, right?"
"Ohio? That's, like, barely above Iowa on the entertainment scale." Alex says, face dropping with faux sympathy. His teasing is promptly interrupted as brows lift back to Jess. "I...erm. Hm. To each their own, right?"
"I moved to Chicago," Natalie informs Alex. "And then New York-- I don't care /how/ low it is, it doesn't rank with eating bugs." So saying, Natalie turns wide eyes back toward Jess, her glasses glinting in the sun.
Tybalt has disconnected you from the game.
Jess gives a little grin. "No worries. Like Alex said, to each his own, yeah? But if you guys ever change you mind on tryin' some," she looks at them with a mix of curiousity and amusement, "just lemme know." She then adds, "I've never been that far East yet, so I can't say anything on the suject one way or the other."
"You will be at the top of my foraging list." Alex promises with a short, solemn nod. "New York?" Alex asks, considering the cities with a shrug. "More variation than me, I guess. I only really lived in California and New York."
"See? Four states to your one," Natalie brags, although the glint to her eye and the barely-supressed curve of her lips indicates a tease. "I've even made it to South America this year."
"I'd be honored," she grins at Alex. She then looks to Natalie. "Wow. I'm jealous," Jess grins. "I bet that was a cool trip, huh?"
"Yeah, you win. Best I got were some islands in the middle of nowhere for a couple credits." Alex concedes, nodding in agreement with Jess.
"Not... particularly, actually," Natalie answers, smile turning to a slow frown that is tinged with a hint of regret. "It was very pretty though." Alex gets a curious glance as she adds, "Islands where?"
"The airline lose your bags?" she asks Natalie with a pointed look, knowing it was more than likely something much more than that. She then glances at Alex, curious to hear his answer.
"A few volcanic islands near Madagascar. Nothing spectacular for non-geolosers." Alex admits with a resigned smile, easing a glance to Jess then back to Natalie. "Yeah. That's not a very fun face."
Natalie's lips twitch as she shakes her head at Jess. "No, just two dozen mutant kids," she answers, and then her gaze fixes on Alex with helpless amusement. "I've been /there/, too," she answers. "Actually, knowing which bugs to eat might have been useful /then/."
Jess's brows raise in surprise, Natalie's comment about mutant kids making her wonder if she was talking about what Walter was involved in. She remains silent however, simply giving an interested nod.
"Two doz--" Alex begins to ask, face shifting to concern before dispelling any questions with a clap of his hands. "You sure do have some weird trips. Um-" He halts, nearly spitting out a word as he studies Natalie's face. "Sorry. I forgot your name."
"Previous mission," Natalie says briefly, before giving Alex a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, well. The islands weren't planned. I was going to Sydney. Plane crashed-- Natalie." She offers her name as she turns, angling toward the apartments. "Hate to run out," she offers, "But I smell and I'm desperate for a shower. I'll see you guys around, I imagine."
Jess gives a friendly smile. "No worries. It was nice talking to you, Natalie. See ya later."
Sharing stories.
It's rather late at night when the rapping comes at Bahir's door - well past 11 and on its way toward midnight. She's clad in pajama pants and a tee, hair drawn back in a low ponytail at the base of her neck as she pads barefoot up the stairs, down the hall, and to the door. She knocks with her left hand, knuckles rapping against the doorframe. This is because her right is busy holding a saran-wrapped plate.
Bahir answers promptly enough, indicating that he was probably somewhere in the kitchen or living room. He has Duha already under his arm. She stretches to peek out the doorway, but doesn't attempt to run down the hall. He has a black shirt on which is now ridiculously covered in cat hair. "Hey," he says, stepping back.
Natalie wrinkles her nose at the cat, a half-hearted scowl that settles in place as she extends her arm to shove the plate at him. Beneath the saran wrap, chocolate chip cookies, warm. "Here," she says, stepping her way past Bahir without bothering with invitation. "Don't worry, I didn't bake. I just threw the dough on the pan and didn't burn it. They're not very good when they get cold though."
"Well. I'd offer you milk, but the half-gallon we had in the fridge went bad while we were gone." Closing the door behind Natalie, Bahir drops Duha and then heads for the counter. "I wonder how whiskey does with cookies."
"I was hoping you'd make coffee," Natalie admits, sliding the plate to the kitchen counter. "I don't know if the caffiene would be a good idea this late, though."
"Alcohol is a depressant." Steering past the kitchen, Bahir heads into the spare room. "You want to come pick something to drink?"
"Yeah, I've noticed," Natalie answers, lifting a hand to rub at her forehead before she bends to pluck the wrapping away, freeing the delicious smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. "I'm trying to-- you know. Not so much. It kind of hit me when they had to /order/ us not to be drunk on the job, you know?"
Bahir pauses in the doorway, turning back to look at Natalie and then following the lure of his stomach to snatch a cookie. "Uhm."
Natalie glances over at Bahir as he grabs at a cookie, blinking at him. "Uhm?" she says.
"I hadn't really thought of that," Bahir says, taking his cookie and going to get /water/ instead. "Or, well -- not like that. In those terms. Kind of...."
Natalie smiles faintly, trailing after him. "I don't care if you do," she answers, peering over his shoulder obnoxiously. "I'm just trying to cut back until I don't feel like-- I don't know. Like I freaking need to drink myself silly every time I have a crappy night. You know?"
"But I thought it was worse if you drink by yourself." Smile flashed quick over his shoulder to show he is teasing, Bahir waggles a spare glass and asks, "Water for you too, then?"
"No coffee?" Natalie asks, brown eyes made big behind her glasses in something like a pout.
"I can do coffee." Bahir turns to face Natalie, opening mouth and then closing it as he squints. "Are you /pouting/? --It's just I thought you said it was too late."
"No," Natalie says instantly, and moves away with the flicker of a triumph smile on her features to snatch a cookie. "Do I look like the pouting type?"
"Yes." Bahir has never learned what questions not to answer. He goes to start the coffee.
"Asshole." Natalie has never learned to care all that much. She goes to flop on the couch.
Duha follows Natalie. Bahir remains in the kitchen, chained to the stove. He is barefoot, but he is not in the /family way/. He makes the coffee. "So therapy cookies, instead?"
"Pretty much," Natalie answers, gnawing on one of the two she's stolen. Duha gets ignored, although Natalie drapes her legs over the arm of the couch, making her toes very tempting targets. "Also, I thought you might need the sugar. How're you doing? Do you want to get me done tonight, or would you rather wait?"
"I can do you quick, if you want," Bahir mumbles around a mouthful of cookie. "They stuck me with a different shrink for my post-mission eval. Total bitch, by the way."
"If I weren't tired, I'd make a really bad dirty joke off that," Natalie answers in a mumble as she waits for coffee. "I thought I might be easy to knock out. It's not like you've never been in there before." Speaking of dirty jokes. Natalie gnaws for a second, disappearing one cookie before she twists her head in a (failed) effort to look at Bahir in the kitchen. "Yeah? Why? What'd she do?"
"She's all 'Tell me about the mission' and I was like 'It was rough, but we got through it' and she's all 'tell me more' and I'm like 'No' so she got all shirty about it." As coffee brews, Bahir turns to face Natalie over the counter, rolling his eyes. "Never before have I been more tempted to do a quick mental adjust on someone."
Natalie snickers quietly, lifting herself up on her elbows just enough to catch his gaze. "Here's to our mental health," she answers, lifting her second cookie in toast. "I'm pretty sure I'm getting shoved in there to be sure I'm /coping/ with my /mutation/." She grumbles the words, irritation laced tight through them, and flops back down again. "I mean, what do they want me to say? No, I /don't/ enjoy watching women being shoved off cliffs. Yes, it sucks!"
Bahir winces a little. "Yeah. Have fun with that. I kind of told her to fuck off at one point since I had people that I trusted that I did talk to, and then she just brushed right past it to be all 'Tell me about the mission.'" Stepping back to get coffee mugs, he pulls the pot off the heat to pour quickly, and then put it back on with only a few drops wasted. "It degenerated from there. Short, though." That's a good thing!
Natalie makes a noise that's close to "Mrmph," as she swings her legs down, pushing herself up to sit as he pours coffee. "I don't care about-- I mean. I don't want to tell them every deep dark feeling, but I don't mind the checkups. I just don't get how it's supposed to /help/. I mean, how exactly do you make watching that video tape over and over again /less/ disturbing? And-- shit. I'm not sure I even want it to be, you know? To be the kind of person who can watch that happen and not care?"
"The thing I hate about the checkups is that when you go 'Yeah, it was rough, but I handled it' they always want to know /more/." Bahir brings the coffee over to Natalie, along with the cookies. He settles in next to Natalie and gives her knee a squeeze. "Yeah. You have to be -- you have to broken in the head for that to not bother you."
"Right?" Natalie says, turning to look at Bahir as she reaches for her coffee (and a cookie). She tucks a leg up under her, leaning slightly in his direction. "I think being able to /do/ it, and get useful information out of it, ought to be good enough. You know?"
"/Exactly/." Bahir points a cookie at Natalie in Emphasis with a few crumbs falling at her. "I think being able to /do/ the job, professionally, without breaking down or going crazy or fucking the bad guys, ought to be good enough."
Natalie breaks into a snorting laugh at the last, and she shakes her head slightly as she sips. "Fuck," she breathes out, sinking back into the couch.
Bahir chews in slightly crabby silence, then nudges Natalie's leg with his thigh. "Good cookies."
Natalie makes a sound of acknowledgement, not quite a grunt, and sips. After some span of silence, she leans into him shamelessly and says, "You know who I was thinking about today?"
Bahir lifts his hand to wrap his arm around Natalie's shoulder. He looks at the cookie way on the far end of his arm and rethinks the arrangement. "Who?"
Natalie watches this rethinking with amusement that rings in her voice as she admits, "Ben. Isn't that crazy? I was talking to Alex and Jess about places I've been, and he mentioned islands..."
Bahir very carefully sets the mug of coffee down and then, because she is laughing at him, reaches across Natalie to take the cookie back. "And how did that make you feel?" he asks with an elaborately prim obnoxiousness undercut by honest concern and curiosity in his eyes.
"Oh, fuck you," Natalie says, digging her elbow at his side as he reaches across.
Bahir crumbles part of the cookie down Natalie's chest as he tries to evade the elbow, not spill the coffee, and keep the cookie. Rather than scald his manbits, he suffers the elbow with an "Ow, fuck. Okay. Right. Islands. Like, say, tropical ones?"
"Madagascarish," Natalie answers, scowling as she glances at Bahir and then begins the process of picking cookie out of her exceedingly generous cleavage. She breathes out and then lifts her shoulders in a tired shrug. "I was thinking about coming home, having him to come home to. You know." She munches on a cookie crumb, then sips at her coffee, careful and appreciative. "I think I've -- I don't know. You know? I swear, I fucking /hate/ him. And then I don't. It's like I've sliced it in half. The time before he went missing, and the time after. I mean, it's not like we never fought or anything before, you know, but he was just so---" She exhales, her tone annoyed as she slumps back down into the couch and adds, "Shit. I don't know why I'm even thinking about it. It's been... ages. Years."
At least it should be easy to find the cookie, given how much broad, flat space there is. Bahir regards Natalie with half a smile, expression somewhat ... tight. "Yeah. And that shit with Zenith--."
"I'm not thinking about that," Natalie says, chin lifted steadfastly. There's a pause, a sigh, and then she admits, "It's worse - I'm thinking about /before/. That's the part that's dangerous."
"Miss him?" Bahir asks, taking a cautious sip of his coffee and a nibble off the edge of his cookie.
"Miss him," Natalie admits. "Miss /it/. Miss New York. Miss my research and my apartment and being able to pretend I didn't have this weird gene inside me."
"Oh." Bahir lowers his coffee, cookie balanced on the edge with his thumb, and squeezes Natalie's shoulder again. He is quieter now, finally saying, "Yeah."
Natalie, having gratituiously indulged in an emo walk down memory lane, turns to look over at Bahir, her fingers wrapped around the coffee mug balanced on her knee. "What about you?" she wonders quietly.
"I fucking /miss/ my /research/," Bahir says, words FIERCE. "My /work/. I left things -- I mean, I left when they were in a really important stage. And there's a lot of work being done. That's what I'm worried about: the field advancing without me, when I could've left a real mark."
"Shit," Natalie says, her expression suddenly, abruptly, /horribly/ filled with realization. "We're never going to get a Nobel, are we?"
Natalie's words are too depressing to be greeted with anything but silence.
Natalie remains still for a long moment, staring down at her coffee. Wow. Downer.
Bahir eats another cookie. Therapy cookie.
"I can shoot a gun straight now, and mostly throw people to the ground," Natalie finally says, with slow-dawning realization. "But I'm going to forget how to tweak an algorithim into perfection or adjust the parameters of my scans. And I'm never going to get to touch the math at Tompkin's Square."
"Fuck." Bahir tips his head back, eyes closed, and rests it on the back of the couch. "/Fuck/. What are we doing here?"
"Shit," Natalie says, fingers latching hard on the coffee as she looks away. "I'm going to cry." The quiver in her voice makes it clear that she's not actually joking.
Bahir shifts, leaning forward to set his coffee down and take Natalie's from her. He keeps her hands, curled in his own, supporting her with his ~inside strength~.
Bahir shifts, leaning forward to set his coffee down and take Natalie's from her. He keeps her hands, curled in his own.
Fuck that. Natalie lets him take the coffee so that she can tuck herself against his side, curling tight with one hand wrapped in his. Silence stretches, comfortable if not /happy/.
Bahir wraps his arm around her again, leaning his head over the top of hers. He takes a deep breath, and releases it very slowly.
There is something intensely comforting in the familiar curve of Bahir's arms, and Natalie makes no move to change their situation. Her head finds his shoulder for awhile, and her breathing adjusts to match his. After some time she ventures, quietly, "How are you, otherwise? This-- was kind of big for you."
"I think I might take a week, go home." Bahir reaches up to play with the low-slung ponytail, unable to resist fiddling with Natalie's hair. "It's frustrating, having had him there, /right there/, and being unable to end it."
"Home home?" Natalie wonders, shifting her cheek against his shoulder to give him better access for fiddling. "Bahrain?"
"Yeah." Bahir fiddles happily. Rome does not burn. "Bahrain. See how things are going. Lots of work being done on the land."
Natalie nods, a very faint motion against him. "It seems like a good idea," she answers. "I know you miss it. Take Percy with you?"
"Yeah." Bahir leans back slightly, the better to see her. "Did you want to come, maybe?"
Natalie lifts her head at that, her eyes widening in surprise. "What-- really?" she asks, tilting her head back as she looks up at him. "I mean-- yeah. I would."
Bahir's smile slightly crooked, he says, "We can make a real vacation of it. Have a wild time. Pick sand out of our teeth."
"Oh, absolutely," Natalie returns, her smile matching his. "Every time I wish for a wild vacation, I think of Bahrain."
Smile widening, Bahir says, "I can probably arrange for a steady diet of tropical fruits and fish." After all, it is an island.
Natalie's elbow digs into Bahir's side as she drops her head back down to his shoulder. "Don't make me hurt you," she mutters lazily. "But if you wanted to arrange for a hot Bahraini boy to fan me with palm branches and feed me grapes-- They /do/ make hot Bahraini boys, right?"
"Bitch." Bahir collects another bruise, snorting. "/Now/ I'm not."
"Liar," Natalie answers, smugly comfortable.
"No, seriously. No hot Bahraini men to fan you and feed you grapes." Bahir slashes his hand, underscoring his point. "None."
"Liaaaar," Natalie draws out, smiling now. She gives a heavy pause, then allows, "I suppose if I have to, I'd settle for you fanning me."
Bahir scoffs: "Dream on."
"I dream about it eveeery night," Natalie draws out, teasing.
"That I'd believe," Bahir says, teasing back, smugly.
"Hey, I followed you across the country, did I?" Natalie returns.
Bahir's smug fades. The half-curve of his lips becomes fixed, but he teases anyway: "You'd think I could at least put out."
Natalie does not notice - or perhaps she chooses not to. Instead, she retorts, "I know, right? You're going to force me to go sleep with--" She breaks off, frowning for a moment at the thought of finishing that sentence with basically any potential name.
Bahir finishes with the most outrageously improbable suggestion possible: "--Amadeus, Walter, and Tom at the same time in vain attempt to add them up to my greatness."
"Wow," Natalie answers, wrinkling her nose unpleasantly. "/Wow/. Thanks, Bahir."
Bahir grins a naughty boy's grin. "You're welcome."
Natalie gives an exagerated sigh and pushes herself away enough to sit straight, looking over at him. "Okay," she says, rubbing her hands against her thighs. "Do me fast and dirty."
"You're disgusting." Bahir leans forward to pick up another cookie and bite it between his teeth. His expression goes a little distant. He does it slow and clean.
Natalie can't help a snicker as Bahir slips in, nice and easy and familiar. She remains relaxed, easy with his presence, and after awhile looks over at him with brows that rise expectantly.
"Taking my time," Bahir murmurs as Natalie looks over at him, giving her a Look. "Patience."
"I'm patient!" Natalie answers, lifting both hands palm up. There is only the briefest of pauses before she adds, "Can I take a nap?"
"/No/, I'm almost done," Bahir says, kicking her ankle.
Natalie's ankle retreats, too slow. "Ow!" she objects, and scowls. "If I fall asleep, you can just tuck me in on your couch and I can stay here!" she suggests.
"Fine, but when Duha vomits on you in the morning to get your attention, don't blame me."
Natalie frowns, her expression pulling sad. "She wouldn't really," she objects. "I've slept on your couch before!"
"Probably she wouldn't. But she's been neglected for a while." Bahir opens his hands as his telepathy withdraws, giving Natalie a quick smile. "You're fine."
Natalie releases a held breath, relief creasing her features. "Good," she says. "Thanks."
Bahir reaches as if to take another cookie with the excuse of low blood sugar, and then reconsiders. He picks up his coffee instead. "You're welcome."
Natalie fiddles for a moment, drinking the last of her coffee and shifting on the couch. Eventually she sighs and allows, "I should let you sleep. Now that you're all caffeinated. I'm sure tomorrow will be long, too."
Light and airy, Bahir says, "I'm sure I'll find some way to wear myself out again." Maybe he will just take a long walk. Still, he sets his coffee back down. "I'm about ready to be done with poking around in everyone's heads. Seriously. Too much information about too many people."
"Yeah, no kidding," Natalie answers dryly, pushing herself up to stand. The coffee gets left there! "I don't have any need to see what's inside half the base's heads." She leans in to give his shoulder a squeeze as she intones seriously, "Stay strong."
"You too. Terrorize that therapist," Bahir encourages, reaching up to catch Natalie's hand and give it a squeeze.
Natalie laughs quietly and leans in, squeezing his hand in return as she plants a kiss on his forehead. "Don't let Percy eat your cookies," she instructs, and then disappears in the direction of the door.
Buzzkill. At least she brought cookies, too?
Also, Natalie is pronounced freeeeee!
=XF= Main Street - Chemekata Military Base
The winding forest road slows and straightens here, pulling to attention for the little cluster of buildings known as 'town'. The only trees here are those planted neatly in well-kept yards and green spaces. A small outdoor park area boasts several picnic tables and a basketball court, as well as a number of benches set up under the shade of tall oak trees.
Along the sidewalked street, sunlight glints off the tall, glass-fronted administration building, which bears an unavoidable sign proclaiming 'Titan Enterprises'. The other buildings are more modest on outward glance, with none of them appearing to rise above two stories. At the far end, just before the road disappears into the forest once more, a street cuts parallel to the main road. To one direction, the vast hangars and runways take up an impressive span of space. To the other, the modest residential building sits perched on a hill, the better to take advantage of the excellent views.
(Exits : [A]dmin and [I]ntel, [R]esidences, [T]raining [F]acilities, [H]ospital and [L]abs, [H]angars, [W]ilderness, [S]hooting [R]ange, and [F]ront [G]ate )
Despite having been here for only a handful of months, there is something comfortingly familiar about the California mountain air. Natalie's making the most of it, her long strides carrying her from the direction of the reservoir in a loping jog that seems to be working off restless tension in addition to keeping her in shape. Her arms pump at her sides, her ponytail swishing behind her as she approaches town in running shorts and a work-out tank.
There's nothing familiar about the California air for Amber, which has led to much investigation. If she's going to be living here, she wants to know the area inside and out. Jeans, sneakers and a loose t-shirt are worn as she strides in a slow, careful pace along the round, moving towards the jogging Natalie. A hand is lifted in greeting towards the other woman. There is no wince thanks to Jean's fantastic pain pills.
Jess is also out and about, walking along the main street as she explores her new 'home'. She is more than nervous since arriving here, her blindfolded trip seeming like some bad movie as she enters the world of the secret agent. She glances up at the sun, her sunglasses sheilding her eyes as her booted feet clomp lightly against the concrete. She sees Amber and Natalie up ahead, and she slowly makes her way to them, her hands shoved casually in her pockets. "Uh, hi," she hesitantly greets them.
Natalie's footsteps slow to a halt as she sights Amber, and then a moment later, Jess. Her breaths are hard but even, her forehead flecked with beads of sweat. "Hey," she greets, glancing between the pair of them with a sun-produced squint.
Amber moves with continued slow steps until she reaches the area where Natalie stopped, offering a friendly smile. "It must be nice to be home. I have to admit, it's beautiful here." Amber says before glancing to her side at Jess's arrival. "Hi there."
Jess gives a slow nod and a shy smile of greeting, her eyes flicking from Amber to Natalie and back behind her dark shades. "It is a very nice place," she agrees.
Natalie laughs briefly, catching her breath and giving a shake of her head. "It's Home, but not /home/," she answers with a tilt of her head. "Not yet really, anyway. I'm from New York." She glances up, toward the mountains that show beyond the buildings. "It is pretty, though. Be sure to check out the reservoir."
"I suppose I can understand that. I've had a lot of 'homes' myself but none ever quite compared to Memphis. Regardless, it's nice to be off that damn ranch." Amber shakes her head. Here she thought they'd never get out. Glancing towards the road leading to the reservoir, Amber gives a nod. "That'll be my next stop."
"Yeah," Jess softly agrees. "One more day on that ranch..." she smirks ruefully and leaves the sentence unfinished, as she's sure both women know exactly what she is talking about. She's quiet a minute, then she gives a bit of a grin as she looks down the road, towards the reservoir. "Any good sunning rocks out that way?" she jokes.
Natalie's shoulders roll back in an uncomfortable hitch as she admits, "I was only there a week or so, and that was enough for me. It was--" She pauses, breaking off as her gaze skips away beyond the pair, and then forces it back to them. "Something in the /air/ just didn't feel right."
Amber gives Jess a look. "If not there, I'm sure you'll find one around here somewhere." Attention shifts back to Natalie as Amber nods. "Did you guys ever figure out /why/ Jeff was luring us all there? Was it just to kill us? Or what?"
Jess nods, a grin on her face. "Oh I know. I'm happy anywhere the sun is shinin'. It doesn't hurt to ask though." Her face then grows serious and she looks to Natalie, curious to know the answers to Amber's questions.
Natalie looks hesitant for a moment, glancing at Amber and then Jess, then back to the former. She jerks her head toward the small park nestled between the hospital and the stairs leading up to the residences, making her way in that direction by way of cooldown and approaching picnic tables to sprawl on. She answers as they walk, her words slowly measured. "I don't know if we know for sure," she answers. "But everyone of /you/ who was there was on a potential list. Recruits. Jeff stole the list from our boss almost six weeks ago, just before the first of you started out for the ranch, which is how /we/ ended up there. We know he had the list - Kitty found a version of it on one of his flashdrives."
Amber moves slowly behind Natalie as she leads the way towards the picnic area, listening intently. "I'd heard mention of the list before. I hadn't realized we had all been on it." Brows knit as Amber walks towards the table and reaches out to gingerly settle herself into a sit. "Do you think ya'll will be figuring out the why of it all? Or just not worried about it since everyone's safe and he's dealt with?"
Jess follows, listening carefully as Natalie begins to explain. A brow is cocked in curiosity, as she had no idea of the list. "What was he going to do with the list, do you know?" she asks quietly. She then takes a seat as well.
Natalie slides up to sit atop a table, letting her legs dangle out over the bench seat as she leans forward in a half-hearted stretch. "Well," she answers, blowing out a breath. "There was another -- well. Not list, I guess. There were files. Stuff about mutations. First impressions. Potential practical applications of mutations." Her eyes flick between Jess and Amber.
"Well damn. So he was planning on using us for something." Amber's frown deepens, head dazing out for a second. She blinks, head shaking as she glances between the two. "Sorry, I think these pain meds are driving right over me. I'm going to head back to my room and sleep it off. I'll catch up with you later." She gives a wave, pushes up and takes off back towards the building.
"Bye, Amber," Jess replied, giving a sympathetic smile. She watched the other woman go, then turned back to Natalie. "So do you guys know what he was planning on using us for? I mean, who the hell was he?"
Natalie shrugs, straightening a little and then leaning back with her arms braced behind her. "I don't know," she answers, squinting against the sun. "Who he /was/ is Jacob Hendrickson. Apparently he was in on the ground floor of X-Factor, awhile ago. Left. And now--" She lifts one hand, palm up in explanation. Or lack thereof.
Jess gives a slight shiver, the full scope of what had happened, what she had been involved in at the Colorado ranch, seeming to sink in. "Crazy stuff," she replies softly. Understatement of the year.
"Little bit," Natalie answers, her lips twisted wryly. "Welcome to X-Factor."
Jess shakes her head, sharing the smile. She then looks off towards the road as she speaks, an elbow resting on the edge of the picnic table before she brings her gaze back to Natalie. "Not to make it seem like I'm kissing your ass or anything, but I'm sorry about how I acted the last time we spoke. That...was a bit out of line."
Natalie lifts her brows slightly, gaze sharpening on Jess for a long moment. There's a spread of silence, and then she shrugs her dismissal. "Lots of stress," she allows.
Nodding, Jess gives a deep sigh. "Yeah. That and me not really knowing what the hell was goin' on, who was really who they were telling me they were..." Her face scrunches a bit as she pauses a moment. "Still, no excuse," she adds softly.
The second apology earns a faint smile, and a firmer dismissive gesture. "This shit isn't easy for anyone," Natalie answers. "Even when you flat out choose it. You guys didn't. You were just in the middle of it. No one's going to hold that against you, unless it keeps up."
Jess gives a curt nod of acknowledgement, letting the other woman know that she was grateful for the acceptance and understanding. "Well, I'll try my hardest to see that it doesn't happen again," she replies, a smile pulling at her lips.
"Firing bullets at things helps with the stress," Natalie offers, shifting from her picnic table to stand and drop into a lunged stretch. "So does hitting things. And running." There's a pause, and then she adds, "You know. If you end up staying or anything."
Jess idly runs a hand through her hair. "I've never even held a gun," she offers with a slight shrug, "though I agree with you completely about running. And I hope to stay. I really do, even if it is...bad sometimes. What I said before, about it giving me a bit of focus, that was the truth." She gives another shrug. "But I guess I can only wait and see."
"Neither had I," Natalie shares, switching legs. "Until February. If you work at it, you can pick it up okay." She does not comment on the rest - it's not a decision which rests with her.
"Pretty straight forward kinda thing, I'd think," she agrees. "I think anyone can shoot - but not everyone can aim at a living breathing person. Or kill, if the situation comes to it." She shrugs, remembering what it was like to get shot at, the sounds of the bullets seeming to echo through her mind.
"Couldn't say," Natalie admits, straightening to arch her back slightly, hands settled at the base of her spine. "I never have."
Jess looks to Natalie. "How long have you been with them?" she wonders. "If that's public knowledge," she adds with a slight smile.
"Few months," Natalie answers. "Most of us have been. Just... Remy, Pete, Will, Terry. They've been here longer. Or-- not /here/, I don't think. But-- X-Factor."
Jess nods in understanding. After a moment she asks, "You guys don't have a Taco Bell 'round here, do ya? I have been having a craving ever since I found out I was stuck on the ranch."
Natalie laughs, settling one leg up on the bench of the picnic table to lean into it in a stretch. She's dressed in running shorts and a work-out tank, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail as she cools down. The light breeze is at least good for drying sweat. "We have woods," she answers Jess. "And more woods. If you get cleared to leave base, there's-- uh." She breaks off abruptly, frowning. "Shit. Sorry, probably shouldn't say, actually."
Jess gives a little laugh, then shrugs. "Oh well. No worries. Woods are good, and I like hiking, so that's cool. Though the bush tucker isn't as good as home - and both aren't as good as Taco Bell."
Natalie straightens a little, turning to glance over at Jess. "The... bush tucker?" she echoes, a touch blankly.
Jess gives a genuine grin. "The foods the Aboriginals back home ate. The food I ate. It consists of a bunch of different things, usually roasted over a small fire. Things like...grubs. Ants. Mushrooms, reptiles, other ediable plants...that kinda thing. It's /good/. You should let me cook ya some sometime."
Alex arrives from the snaking road after what must have been a short workout session. A light, cotton T-shirt and drab shorts show the dark hint of sweat along the neck and sleeves as well as dirt along his legs; probably from some uncomfortable cardio or other manly endeavor. Now more interested in relaxing and reflecting, his glance shifts from passing tree to passing tree before he realizes Natalie and Jess are ahead. "Hey. What's up?" He asks, tucking his thumbs into his belt as he slows to a halt.
"You want me to let you cook me /grubs/?" Natalie answers, both disbelief and horror quite evident on her features. She blinks at Jess for a moment before she is /blissfully/ distracted by Alex, arriving along much the same path she took. He gets a faint flicker of a grin and a jerk of her head in acknowledgement. "Good run?" she wonders.
Jess laughs aloud at the look upon Natalie's face. "Ah, you won't know what you're missing otherwise," she replies. "Little of that cooked up nice and crunchy with a 'roo burger is the best luch you'll ever have." She then notices Alex's approach, and gives him a polite smile and nod. "Hello, Alex."
"The change of pace is welcome." Alex replies, following with a warm smile as he glances to Jess. "Hey, kid. What are you two up to?" He says, waiting to hear a little explanation. Roo burger.
"Not quite so much doom hanging in the air," Natalie agrees, her smile warming in response to his before she jerks her head toward Jess, ponytail swishing in emphasis. "She's suggesting that I let her cook me grubs and ants and other exceedingly creepy outback kinds of food."
Jess's face is innocent as she looks to the both of them. "It's a pefectly good, healthy and surprisingly tasty way to get nutrients when you're in the middle of the Outback, and the next town is 5000 miles through the Never-never -uh, the worst of the deserts where no one can survive," she explains for the non-natives. "Then you can eat honey ants, which have this liquid in their abdomen in them that tastes almost like lemonade. You got a whole meal right there."
"Grubs. /Hm./" Alex responds, nodding his head to Jess with a small amount of surprise in his eyes. "I was always a big fan of burgers, and steak. I think I might probably die in the outback." He says, tone and smile teasing.
Innocence is met with shock and no small measure of-- well, yes. That's disgust. Natalie likes her New York take out, thanks. "How on earth do you /know/ this shit?" she wonders of Jess.
Jess gives a bit of a shrug, her grin coming back. "I lived in one of the remote desert towns of the Outback, and I spent 99% of my time outside. I played with the Aboriginal kids when I was younger, and they showed me all of the food you could eat while out there. In a harsh place like that it's a good thing to know anyway. I aquired a taste for most of it, so I kept cooking it even when I 'grew up'. I haven't had it in a while though," she adds her face falling a bit.
"I can't criticize for an unorthodox childhood. Seriously." Alex muses, shaking his head and slipping his hands along his belt until he can slide them seamlessly into his pockets. "I guess that could be useful, though? If. You're. Stuck in the desert?"
"I can," Natalie answers, lifting a hand in indication as she glances at Alex. "I grew up in /Ohio/." She settles back into a lean against the picnic table, brows lifting. "You planning to get stuck in the desert sometime soon?"
"I'd rather be in the desert than almost anywhere else. And knowing about the tucker - which is Aussie slang for food - carried over to the States a bit, believe it or not. The common grub is quite similar to the Witchetty Grub, and so when I've been on the road and uh, low on money..." she leaves the sentence unfinished and looks a bit embarassed for the first time since talking about herself.
"Ohio? That's, like, barely above Iowa on the entertainment scale." Alex says, face dropping with faux sympathy. His teasing is promptly interrupted as brows lift back to Jess. "Ierm. Hm. To each their own, right?"
"Ohio? That's, like, barely above Iowa on the entertainment scale." Alex says, face dropping with faux sympathy. His teasing is promptly interrupted as brows lift back to Jess. "I...erm. Hm. To each their own, right?"
"I moved to Chicago," Natalie informs Alex. "And then New York-- I don't care /how/ low it is, it doesn't rank with eating bugs." So saying, Natalie turns wide eyes back toward Jess, her glasses glinting in the sun.
Tybalt has disconnected you from the game.
Jess gives a little grin. "No worries. Like Alex said, to each his own, yeah? But if you guys ever change you mind on tryin' some," she looks at them with a mix of curiousity and amusement, "just lemme know." She then adds, "I've never been that far East yet, so I can't say anything on the suject one way or the other."
"You will be at the top of my foraging list." Alex promises with a short, solemn nod. "New York?" Alex asks, considering the cities with a shrug. "More variation than me, I guess. I only really lived in California and New York."
"See? Four states to your one," Natalie brags, although the glint to her eye and the barely-supressed curve of her lips indicates a tease. "I've even made it to South America this year."
"I'd be honored," she grins at Alex. She then looks to Natalie. "Wow. I'm jealous," Jess grins. "I bet that was a cool trip, huh?"
"Yeah, you win. Best I got were some islands in the middle of nowhere for a couple credits." Alex concedes, nodding in agreement with Jess.
"Not... particularly, actually," Natalie answers, smile turning to a slow frown that is tinged with a hint of regret. "It was very pretty though." Alex gets a curious glance as she adds, "Islands where?"
"The airline lose your bags?" she asks Natalie with a pointed look, knowing it was more than likely something much more than that. She then glances at Alex, curious to hear his answer.
"A few volcanic islands near Madagascar. Nothing spectacular for non-geolosers." Alex admits with a resigned smile, easing a glance to Jess then back to Natalie. "Yeah. That's not a very fun face."
Natalie's lips twitch as she shakes her head at Jess. "No, just two dozen mutant kids," she answers, and then her gaze fixes on Alex with helpless amusement. "I've been /there/, too," she answers. "Actually, knowing which bugs to eat might have been useful /then/."
Jess's brows raise in surprise, Natalie's comment about mutant kids making her wonder if she was talking about what Walter was involved in. She remains silent however, simply giving an interested nod.
"Two doz--" Alex begins to ask, face shifting to concern before dispelling any questions with a clap of his hands. "You sure do have some weird trips. Um-" He halts, nearly spitting out a word as he studies Natalie's face. "Sorry. I forgot your name."
"Previous mission," Natalie says briefly, before giving Alex a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, well. The islands weren't planned. I was going to Sydney. Plane crashed-- Natalie." She offers her name as she turns, angling toward the apartments. "Hate to run out," she offers, "But I smell and I'm desperate for a shower. I'll see you guys around, I imagine."
Jess gives a friendly smile. "No worries. It was nice talking to you, Natalie. See ya later."
Sharing stories.
It's rather late at night when the rapping comes at Bahir's door - well past 11 and on its way toward midnight. She's clad in pajama pants and a tee, hair drawn back in a low ponytail at the base of her neck as she pads barefoot up the stairs, down the hall, and to the door. She knocks with her left hand, knuckles rapping against the doorframe. This is because her right is busy holding a saran-wrapped plate.
Bahir answers promptly enough, indicating that he was probably somewhere in the kitchen or living room. He has Duha already under his arm. She stretches to peek out the doorway, but doesn't attempt to run down the hall. He has a black shirt on which is now ridiculously covered in cat hair. "Hey," he says, stepping back.
Natalie wrinkles her nose at the cat, a half-hearted scowl that settles in place as she extends her arm to shove the plate at him. Beneath the saran wrap, chocolate chip cookies, warm. "Here," she says, stepping her way past Bahir without bothering with invitation. "Don't worry, I didn't bake. I just threw the dough on the pan and didn't burn it. They're not very good when they get cold though."
"Well. I'd offer you milk, but the half-gallon we had in the fridge went bad while we were gone." Closing the door behind Natalie, Bahir drops Duha and then heads for the counter. "I wonder how whiskey does with cookies."
"I was hoping you'd make coffee," Natalie admits, sliding the plate to the kitchen counter. "I don't know if the caffiene would be a good idea this late, though."
"Alcohol is a depressant." Steering past the kitchen, Bahir heads into the spare room. "You want to come pick something to drink?"
"Yeah, I've noticed," Natalie answers, lifting a hand to rub at her forehead before she bends to pluck the wrapping away, freeing the delicious smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. "I'm trying to-- you know. Not so much. It kind of hit me when they had to /order/ us not to be drunk on the job, you know?"
Bahir pauses in the doorway, turning back to look at Natalie and then following the lure of his stomach to snatch a cookie. "Uhm."
Natalie glances over at Bahir as he grabs at a cookie, blinking at him. "Uhm?" she says.
"I hadn't really thought of that," Bahir says, taking his cookie and going to get /water/ instead. "Or, well -- not like that. In those terms. Kind of...."
Natalie smiles faintly, trailing after him. "I don't care if you do," she answers, peering over his shoulder obnoxiously. "I'm just trying to cut back until I don't feel like-- I don't know. Like I freaking need to drink myself silly every time I have a crappy night. You know?"
"But I thought it was worse if you drink by yourself." Smile flashed quick over his shoulder to show he is teasing, Bahir waggles a spare glass and asks, "Water for you too, then?"
"No coffee?" Natalie asks, brown eyes made big behind her glasses in something like a pout.
"I can do coffee." Bahir turns to face Natalie, opening mouth and then closing it as he squints. "Are you /pouting/? --It's just I thought you said it was too late."
"No," Natalie says instantly, and moves away with the flicker of a triumph smile on her features to snatch a cookie. "Do I look like the pouting type?"
"Yes." Bahir has never learned what questions not to answer. He goes to start the coffee.
"Asshole." Natalie has never learned to care all that much. She goes to flop on the couch.
Duha follows Natalie. Bahir remains in the kitchen, chained to the stove. He is barefoot, but he is not in the /family way/. He makes the coffee. "So therapy cookies, instead?"
"Pretty much," Natalie answers, gnawing on one of the two she's stolen. Duha gets ignored, although Natalie drapes her legs over the arm of the couch, making her toes very tempting targets. "Also, I thought you might need the sugar. How're you doing? Do you want to get me done tonight, or would you rather wait?"
"I can do you quick, if you want," Bahir mumbles around a mouthful of cookie. "They stuck me with a different shrink for my post-mission eval. Total bitch, by the way."
"If I weren't tired, I'd make a really bad dirty joke off that," Natalie answers in a mumble as she waits for coffee. "I thought I might be easy to knock out. It's not like you've never been in there before." Speaking of dirty jokes. Natalie gnaws for a second, disappearing one cookie before she twists her head in a (failed) effort to look at Bahir in the kitchen. "Yeah? Why? What'd she do?"
"She's all 'Tell me about the mission' and I was like 'It was rough, but we got through it' and she's all 'tell me more' and I'm like 'No' so she got all shirty about it." As coffee brews, Bahir turns to face Natalie over the counter, rolling his eyes. "Never before have I been more tempted to do a quick mental adjust on someone."
Natalie snickers quietly, lifting herself up on her elbows just enough to catch his gaze. "Here's to our mental health," she answers, lifting her second cookie in toast. "I'm pretty sure I'm getting shoved in there to be sure I'm /coping/ with my /mutation/." She grumbles the words, irritation laced tight through them, and flops back down again. "I mean, what do they want me to say? No, I /don't/ enjoy watching women being shoved off cliffs. Yes, it sucks!"
Bahir winces a little. "Yeah. Have fun with that. I kind of told her to fuck off at one point since I had people that I trusted that I did talk to, and then she just brushed right past it to be all 'Tell me about the mission.'" Stepping back to get coffee mugs, he pulls the pot off the heat to pour quickly, and then put it back on with only a few drops wasted. "It degenerated from there. Short, though." That's a good thing!
Natalie makes a noise that's close to "Mrmph," as she swings her legs down, pushing herself up to sit as he pours coffee. "I don't care about-- I mean. I don't want to tell them every deep dark feeling, but I don't mind the checkups. I just don't get how it's supposed to /help/. I mean, how exactly do you make watching that video tape over and over again /less/ disturbing? And-- shit. I'm not sure I even want it to be, you know? To be the kind of person who can watch that happen and not care?"
"The thing I hate about the checkups is that when you go 'Yeah, it was rough, but I handled it' they always want to know /more/." Bahir brings the coffee over to Natalie, along with the cookies. He settles in next to Natalie and gives her knee a squeeze. "Yeah. You have to be -- you have to broken in the head for that to not bother you."
"Right?" Natalie says, turning to look at Bahir as she reaches for her coffee (and a cookie). She tucks a leg up under her, leaning slightly in his direction. "I think being able to /do/ it, and get useful information out of it, ought to be good enough. You know?"
"/Exactly/." Bahir points a cookie at Natalie in Emphasis with a few crumbs falling at her. "I think being able to /do/ the job, professionally, without breaking down or going crazy or fucking the bad guys, ought to be good enough."
Natalie breaks into a snorting laugh at the last, and she shakes her head slightly as she sips. "Fuck," she breathes out, sinking back into the couch.
Bahir chews in slightly crabby silence, then nudges Natalie's leg with his thigh. "Good cookies."
Natalie makes a sound of acknowledgement, not quite a grunt, and sips. After some span of silence, she leans into him shamelessly and says, "You know who I was thinking about today?"
Bahir lifts his hand to wrap his arm around Natalie's shoulder. He looks at the cookie way on the far end of his arm and rethinks the arrangement. "Who?"
Natalie watches this rethinking with amusement that rings in her voice as she admits, "Ben. Isn't that crazy? I was talking to Alex and Jess about places I've been, and he mentioned islands..."
Bahir very carefully sets the mug of coffee down and then, because she is laughing at him, reaches across Natalie to take the cookie back. "And how did that make you feel?" he asks with an elaborately prim obnoxiousness undercut by honest concern and curiosity in his eyes.
"Oh, fuck you," Natalie says, digging her elbow at his side as he reaches across.
Bahir crumbles part of the cookie down Natalie's chest as he tries to evade the elbow, not spill the coffee, and keep the cookie. Rather than scald his manbits, he suffers the elbow with an "Ow, fuck. Okay. Right. Islands. Like, say, tropical ones?"
"Madagascarish," Natalie answers, scowling as she glances at Bahir and then begins the process of picking cookie out of her exceedingly generous cleavage. She breathes out and then lifts her shoulders in a tired shrug. "I was thinking about coming home, having him to come home to. You know." She munches on a cookie crumb, then sips at her coffee, careful and appreciative. "I think I've -- I don't know. You know? I swear, I fucking /hate/ him. And then I don't. It's like I've sliced it in half. The time before he went missing, and the time after. I mean, it's not like we never fought or anything before, you know, but he was just so---" She exhales, her tone annoyed as she slumps back down into the couch and adds, "Shit. I don't know why I'm even thinking about it. It's been... ages. Years."
At least it should be easy to find the cookie, given how much broad, flat space there is. Bahir regards Natalie with half a smile, expression somewhat ... tight. "Yeah. And that shit with Zenith--."
"I'm not thinking about that," Natalie says, chin lifted steadfastly. There's a pause, a sigh, and then she admits, "It's worse - I'm thinking about /before/. That's the part that's dangerous."
"Miss him?" Bahir asks, taking a cautious sip of his coffee and a nibble off the edge of his cookie.
"Miss him," Natalie admits. "Miss /it/. Miss New York. Miss my research and my apartment and being able to pretend I didn't have this weird gene inside me."
"Oh." Bahir lowers his coffee, cookie balanced on the edge with his thumb, and squeezes Natalie's shoulder again. He is quieter now, finally saying, "Yeah."
Natalie, having gratituiously indulged in an emo walk down memory lane, turns to look over at Bahir, her fingers wrapped around the coffee mug balanced on her knee. "What about you?" she wonders quietly.
"I fucking /miss/ my /research/," Bahir says, words FIERCE. "My /work/. I left things -- I mean, I left when they were in a really important stage. And there's a lot of work being done. That's what I'm worried about: the field advancing without me, when I could've left a real mark."
"Shit," Natalie says, her expression suddenly, abruptly, /horribly/ filled with realization. "We're never going to get a Nobel, are we?"
Natalie's words are too depressing to be greeted with anything but silence.
Natalie remains still for a long moment, staring down at her coffee. Wow. Downer.
Bahir eats another cookie. Therapy cookie.
"I can shoot a gun straight now, and mostly throw people to the ground," Natalie finally says, with slow-dawning realization. "But I'm going to forget how to tweak an algorithim into perfection or adjust the parameters of my scans. And I'm never going to get to touch the math at Tompkin's Square."
"Fuck." Bahir tips his head back, eyes closed, and rests it on the back of the couch. "/Fuck/. What are we doing here?"
"Shit," Natalie says, fingers latching hard on the coffee as she looks away. "I'm going to cry." The quiver in her voice makes it clear that she's not actually joking.
Bahir shifts, leaning forward to set his coffee down and take Natalie's from her. He keeps her hands, curled in his own, supporting her with his ~inside strength~.
Bahir shifts, leaning forward to set his coffee down and take Natalie's from her. He keeps her hands, curled in his own.
Fuck that. Natalie lets him take the coffee so that she can tuck herself against his side, curling tight with one hand wrapped in his. Silence stretches, comfortable if not /happy/.
Bahir wraps his arm around her again, leaning his head over the top of hers. He takes a deep breath, and releases it very slowly.
There is something intensely comforting in the familiar curve of Bahir's arms, and Natalie makes no move to change their situation. Her head finds his shoulder for awhile, and her breathing adjusts to match his. After some time she ventures, quietly, "How are you, otherwise? This-- was kind of big for you."
"I think I might take a week, go home." Bahir reaches up to play with the low-slung ponytail, unable to resist fiddling with Natalie's hair. "It's frustrating, having had him there, /right there/, and being unable to end it."
"Home home?" Natalie wonders, shifting her cheek against his shoulder to give him better access for fiddling. "Bahrain?"
"Yeah." Bahir fiddles happily. Rome does not burn. "Bahrain. See how things are going. Lots of work being done on the land."
Natalie nods, a very faint motion against him. "It seems like a good idea," she answers. "I know you miss it. Take Percy with you?"
"Yeah." Bahir leans back slightly, the better to see her. "Did you want to come, maybe?"
Natalie lifts her head at that, her eyes widening in surprise. "What-- really?" she asks, tilting her head back as she looks up at him. "I mean-- yeah. I would."
Bahir's smile slightly crooked, he says, "We can make a real vacation of it. Have a wild time. Pick sand out of our teeth."
"Oh, absolutely," Natalie returns, her smile matching his. "Every time I wish for a wild vacation, I think of Bahrain."
Smile widening, Bahir says, "I can probably arrange for a steady diet of tropical fruits and fish." After all, it is an island.
Natalie's elbow digs into Bahir's side as she drops her head back down to his shoulder. "Don't make me hurt you," she mutters lazily. "But if you wanted to arrange for a hot Bahraini boy to fan me with palm branches and feed me grapes-- They /do/ make hot Bahraini boys, right?"
"Bitch." Bahir collects another bruise, snorting. "/Now/ I'm not."
"Liar," Natalie answers, smugly comfortable.
"No, seriously. No hot Bahraini men to fan you and feed you grapes." Bahir slashes his hand, underscoring his point. "None."
"Liaaaar," Natalie draws out, smiling now. She gives a heavy pause, then allows, "I suppose if I have to, I'd settle for you fanning me."
Bahir scoffs: "Dream on."
"I dream about it eveeery night," Natalie draws out, teasing.
"That I'd believe," Bahir says, teasing back, smugly.
"Hey, I followed you across the country, did I?" Natalie returns.
Bahir's smug fades. The half-curve of his lips becomes fixed, but he teases anyway: "You'd think I could at least put out."
Natalie does not notice - or perhaps she chooses not to. Instead, she retorts, "I know, right? You're going to force me to go sleep with--" She breaks off, frowning for a moment at the thought of finishing that sentence with basically any potential name.
Bahir finishes with the most outrageously improbable suggestion possible: "--Amadeus, Walter, and Tom at the same time in vain attempt to add them up to my greatness."
"Wow," Natalie answers, wrinkling her nose unpleasantly. "/Wow/. Thanks, Bahir."
Bahir grins a naughty boy's grin. "You're welcome."
Natalie gives an exagerated sigh and pushes herself away enough to sit straight, looking over at him. "Okay," she says, rubbing her hands against her thighs. "Do me fast and dirty."
"You're disgusting." Bahir leans forward to pick up another cookie and bite it between his teeth. His expression goes a little distant. He does it slow and clean.
Natalie can't help a snicker as Bahir slips in, nice and easy and familiar. She remains relaxed, easy with his presence, and after awhile looks over at him with brows that rise expectantly.
"Taking my time," Bahir murmurs as Natalie looks over at him, giving her a Look. "Patience."
"I'm patient!" Natalie answers, lifting both hands palm up. There is only the briefest of pauses before she adds, "Can I take a nap?"
"/No/, I'm almost done," Bahir says, kicking her ankle.
Natalie's ankle retreats, too slow. "Ow!" she objects, and scowls. "If I fall asleep, you can just tuck me in on your couch and I can stay here!" she suggests.
"Fine, but when Duha vomits on you in the morning to get your attention, don't blame me."
Natalie frowns, her expression pulling sad. "She wouldn't really," she objects. "I've slept on your couch before!"
"Probably she wouldn't. But she's been neglected for a while." Bahir opens his hands as his telepathy withdraws, giving Natalie a quick smile. "You're fine."
Natalie releases a held breath, relief creasing her features. "Good," she says. "Thanks."
Bahir reaches as if to take another cookie with the excuse of low blood sugar, and then reconsiders. He picks up his coffee instead. "You're welcome."
Natalie fiddles for a moment, drinking the last of her coffee and shifting on the couch. Eventually she sighs and allows, "I should let you sleep. Now that you're all caffeinated. I'm sure tomorrow will be long, too."
Light and airy, Bahir says, "I'm sure I'll find some way to wear myself out again." Maybe he will just take a long walk. Still, he sets his coffee back down. "I'm about ready to be done with poking around in everyone's heads. Seriously. Too much information about too many people."
"Yeah, no kidding," Natalie answers dryly, pushing herself up to stand. The coffee gets left there! "I don't have any need to see what's inside half the base's heads." She leans in to give his shoulder a squeeze as she intones seriously, "Stay strong."
"You too. Terrorize that therapist," Bahir encourages, reaching up to catch Natalie's hand and give it a squeeze.
Natalie laughs quietly and leans in, squeezing his hand in return as she plants a kiss on his forehead. "Don't let Percy eat your cookies," she instructs, and then disappears in the direction of the door.
Buzzkill. At least she brought cookies, too?
Also, Natalie is pronounced freeeeee!