Gathering at the clock tower

[Cypher]

It only took 7 minutes and 43 seconds to get to the clocktower. He managed to speed through traffic lights, stop signs, past an old lady with a walker, and skid to a stop without hurting a single person or causing an accident. It was damn impressive, and he would gloat if he didn't feel like he had just been hit by a fucking semi truck and strangled by Kaa from The Jungle Book.

Jumping out of his car, Gabe slammed his hand into the com panel outside The Clocktower door. He didn't need to say a word, the door immediately buzzing open. Gabe entered, shutting it tight behind him before walking with a purpose toward the main common room.

"LIZ!"

He called out, his voice horse and gruff from being strangled, but the obvious fear radiated from his tone. That's when he saw her. It felt like the world had lifted off his shoulders in that moment, seeing that she was okay. She wasn't hurt. She looked...perfect. He strode over and knelt down, grabbing her and pulling her into a hug.

"Thank God."

Holding her tightly, he feared the absolute worst after Ava left. The way she looked when threatening to cut Zizi's throat....the perverse pleasure in her eyes...the satisfaction of seeing his fear. Then she disappeared, and he thought she was coming for Zizi. Making true to her threat. The thought of Zizi dying...being killed--MURDERED....Gabe shut his eyes, his hands burring into her hair holding her close to him.

"She was there....I thought it was my prototype glitching....but it wasn't. She tripped the alarm."

Finally pulling away, Gabe pushed the hair away from Zizi's face, seeing the tears in her eyes.

"I didn't know what to do...I think she still thought I was unaware of the situation--of who she was. But she caught on after I texted you. She threatened to kill you. She fucking threaten to kill you."

He couldn't believe the words he was saying even though he had just lived through it.

"Then she disappeared....and I thought she came here...I thought she......I thought she DID. I fucking thought she DID."

Gabe pulled her back into his arms, his own eyes now glassy with tears at the thought of what COULD of happened. How he could of so easily lost her and never had the chance to see or talk or touch her again. Reality smacking him in the fucking face HARD.

"If I would have lost you...."

His horse voice trailed off, not even being able to finish the sentence. He just held her tight, in no hurry to let her go.

 

[Black Widow]

East Village

It hadn't taken her long to track her sister down. Everybody nowadays was permanently attached to their cell phones. She appeared on the scene silently. Her sister stood at newly installed windows on one of the upper floors.

The top half of the building was still under construction. Exposed beams, partially constructed walls, and unfinished wiring was all around them. Haleigh watched her step as she crossed the room to approach Persephone, but she wasn't worried about stepping on nails or loose flooring.

She was avoiding the body parts strewn everywhere. It was difficult to tell how many construction workers there had been. Her instinct was to call Mirage and get this mess erased, but she couldn't do that anymore. She'd have to make this look like a gas explosion or something when they left.

"We shouldn't be here, Seph."

She said, as she reached her sister's side, and looked out the window stoically. Across the street stood a very familiar building. From this floor they had a clear line of sight into the Clocktower. Cypher and Oracle were clutching at each other desperately. Recall was there also. The security systems of the Clocktower were already at DEFCON 1.

They could attack, sure. Haleigh would be tied up with defeating the technology, but Seph could wipe out the three that were there single handedly. The problem was that if they revealed themselves, it'd be a repeat of what Seph faced last night. The rest of the BoP would be there quickly.

Two against Ten was a suicide attempt. Maybe even some of the Six would show up. Haleigh and Seph would be lucky to escape with their lives. Haleigh had no interest in that fight to begin with, and only intended to engage her former allies if she was ordered to.

"I wanted to give you some time alone, but the Red Queen sent me to find you and bring you back."

They weren't in immediate danger where they were, until somebody showed up at the Clocktower with the ability to sense them here. Still, Haleigh felt exposed and vulnerable. She wanted to be somewhere else as soon as possible.

"Why don't we go to my safe-house in East Harlem? NOBODY will expect us to be in that neighborhood. We can talk there."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi watched the monitors, looking for any sign of Gabe or that speed demon death trap of a car of his. Her heart leapt as finally she saw him at the front door, and she buzzed him in without him having to say a word. Opening the front door for him from the control station, she raced towards the front door.

"LIZ!"

She heard him call her name, and he sounded terrible.

"I'm here! Gabriel!"

She didn't have any idea what state he would be in when she saw him, but her mind was going straight to the worst things it could imagine. But when she saw him, he still had all his limbs, and hadn't been horribly disfigured as much as she could tell from first glance. He closed the distance between them, kneeling and pulling her into a hug. Which was good, because she would have hugged him even if she had to leap out of her chair and walk on water to do it.

"Thank God."

She wrapped her arms around him, clasping him tightly, her eyes squeezed closed as tears fell freely from them.

"What took you so long?!"

And then, quickly:

"But I told you not to come."

His hands were in her hair, and he held her so close. But she gave no thought to embarassment this time - all that mattered was that he was safe, and here with her.

"She was there....I thought it was my prototype glitching....but it wasn't. She tripped the alarm."

Zizi's hand went to the back of his head, stroking his hair.

"I didn't know what to do...I think she still thought I was unaware of the situation--of who she was. But she caught on after I texted you. She threatened to kill you. She fucking threatened to kill you."

Tears welled in her eyes again. She reached up and touched his cheek, and saw the bruises on his neck. She had been strangling him. Because of her.

"She could have killed you. I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry...I should never have brought you into all this."

Her bottom lip began to tremble.

"Then she disappeared....and I thought she came here...I thought she......I thought she DID. I fucking thought she DID."

He wrapped his arms around her again. She melted into his arms, finally starting to calm. He was alive. She made soothing noises as he held her.

"Shh...shh now. She didn't. I'm fine."

"If I would have lost you...."

She stroked his hair.

"All that matters is that you're okay. Chewie's not ready to fly the Falcon alone, General Solo. Not yet."

They held each other for a long time, but when they finally parted, she took both his hands in hers, sniffling.

"My goodNESS!"

His hands were cut and bloody.

"Are you sure you're alright? Maybe we should take you to the hospital?"

She looked over her shoulder.

"Viv, get the first aid kit, please - it's in the guest bathroom in the cabinet."

She looked back up at Gabe.

"Come, sit down, let me have a look."

She ushered him to the dining table that they rarely used and wouldn't take no for an answer. When Viv returned with the box, she warned him that it would sting, then wiped his hands with alcohol. She then removed the sterile forceps and began picking out any leftover shards of glass. Satisfied they were all out, she rubbed antibiotic into the cuts.

"Do you want to tell us what happened?"

 

[Persephone]

She watched Gabe pull up with cold, emotionless eyes. He ran to the door, buzzed his way in, and was soon reunited with Zizi. Persephone stood watching, her hand hanging down by her side, clutching her mystic dagger by the handle, the blade cocooned in blood which dripped to the floor. She kept her eyes trained on Gabe, watching him run his hands back through Zizi's hair before hugging her again; the look of panic in his eyes apparent from even there. Her hand squeezed the handle of her blade, her eyes remaining fixed.

That was when she heard foot steps behind her--cautious steps--but ones with a purpose. Good, Haleigh had come like she had hoped. Persephone could of made it harder--gotten rid of her cell phone. Gone to some other place that didn't have security cameras. But she wanted Haleigh there. It was her way into The Clocktower.

Haleigh: "We shouldn't be here, Seph."

Haleigh stood next to her looking out the window.

"Three seconds."

She said evenly--icy.

"That's all I need."

And they were ALL dead. She would kill Vivica first, get rid of the one that could actually put up a decent fight and call for backup. Then she cut Zizi's throat, cover her mouth and nose, and make Gabe watch as she suffocated on her own blood. THEN she would kill him. Hang all of their bodies outside The Clocktower. Display them for EVERYONE to see in all their glory. The imagery made her almost want to smile....almost.

But Haleigh didn't budge. She knew why. Attacking The Clocktower would bring in not only the rest of the Birds of Prey, but the entire Six as well. It was practically a suicide mission. The two of them against 10? Maybe 12 people if Rose and her friends got involved? Persephone knew it was a risk, but it didn't make it any less appealing of a thought. So she just stood there watching as Zizi brought Gabe over to the table and sat him down, Vivica bringing a first aid kit over to help clean his wounds.

Haleigh: "I wanted to give you some time alone, but the Red Queen sent me to find you and bring you back."

Persephone resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Helena could suck on her double edged blade right now.

"I'm not going back."

She responded flatly, the thought of having Helena relish in her win and rub it in Persephone's face made her sick. She needed more time to prepare for the Queen's gloating otherwise Persephone would most definitely rip the bitches head off.

Haleigh: "Why don't we go to my safe-house in East Harlem? NOBODY will expect us to be in that neighborhood. We can talk there."

She didn't want to talk. She wanted to kill. She wanted to make someone else feel the pain she was feeling. But she knew this would prolong going back to Hellfire, at least long enough to bottle up the rest of her emotions and seal that shit shut.

"Fine."

She relented softly, sliding the bloody blade of her mystic dagger into it's sheath. Her eyes were still fixed on Zizi and Vivica tending to Gabe's wounds. The world outside of The Clocktower so normal and beautiful--blue skies, sunny, and perfect. Not a worry in the world. It was then a massive CRASH of thunder SHOOK The Clocktower and all the buildings surrounding a ten block radius of where they were. Windows reverberating and foundations shaking from the sheer power of it. She would let them know how LUCKY they were, that she WAS there, and that they WEREN'T safe anywhere. NONE OF THEM. She would be back. And they would all die.

Persephone felt Haleigh's hand grasp hers before they both disappeared to Haleigh's safe house across town.

 

[Orion]

EOS Nomad -- Zach's Apartment

Zach could sense her sudden anxiety even before their eyes met and it became evident on her expression. He wanted immediately to do something, anything to alleviate her concerns. He asked if they were needed at the Clocktower.

She was shaking her head and rising from her seat, reaching for him. He wrapped her up in his arms tightly, draining away her apprehension, kissing her forehead gently.

Ashley: She says it's safer for us to stay away. Viv is there.

She said, and Zach was slightly relieved. Viv would be safe at the Clocktower, and SHE could call for Clandestine backup too. Maybe he should go ahead and have a security crew sent to her location.

Ashley: Ava attacked Gabe, but Zizi thinks he's okay. She's worried that...that Ava might target you again. She was crying, Zach."

<<FLASH>>

Ava: Say hello to your mama for me....

She whispered in his ear, and he pulled back, aghast. She struck him, and he realized, much too late, that he'd rushed right into a trap. He staggered away, turning from her, hot tears spilling, as he tried to stop feeling the grief and start feeling something more powerful, like rage. He had plenty to be angry about. What had Hellfire DONE to Ava?!

As he tried to retreat, she leaped onto his back. He saw the glint of a blade as she brought it down in an arc towards his abdomen. He did the only thing he could, grabbed the blade itself and tried to redirect it to one side. He felt the dagger get slippery, as it sliced his hand, but he only gripped it tighter, gritting his teeth through the pain. She stuck him in the left hip, but with his fist wrapped around the knife, he kept her from cutting any deeper than a couple of inches. She raked him with the tip of the dagger, from his hip up across his torso diagonally, all the way to his right shoulder.

"Aaaaaaggggghhhh!"

His pained roar scattered a murder of crows from the rooftop. He careened away after she yanked the dagger out of his grip, and collapsed a step later, half on his side, half on his stomach. He was bleeding so badly, the front of his shirt was soaked already and his blood was beginning to collect in a pool underneath him. He couldn't crawl away, he was so dizzy from blood loss that he could barely lift his head. As he looked forward, he saw a single crow hopping across the patio, only a few inches from his face.

"Help me..... Silver Swan...."

He rasped quietly, and the bird took flight as Ava started talking.

Ava: Aww Zach......always trying to rescue the damsels in distress. You should of learned the moment your mother took a SWAN DIVE off the top of a building that you were no hero.

She touched his face gently, and he stared up into dark eyes, trying not to move except to hunch over so the slice across his chest wouldn't gape open. He was in a great deal of pain, physically and emotionally.

"Ava, stop..... why..... are you..... doing this?"

Ava: Silver lining? Ava didn't need saving. She was already long gone.

She yanked away the necklace his mother had given him, the pendant of the staff of Hermes that he always wore under his shirt. This was not the Ava he knew and loved.

"Per.......Seph.......Oneeeeee......."

Ava: Nice to formally meet you Zach......I'll see you in hell.

He gripped her wrist tightly with his cut and bloodied hand, and BOMBARDED her with his grief and the rising fear of his imminent death. He charged up his other hand with pure rage and slammed it into her sternum, an open palm strike bolstered by his powers, and released his grip on her as she went flying backwards into some abandoned patio chairs. It took everything he had left, and he slumped over afterwards, praying silently to the old gods for help.

The memory struck him like lightning, and left him burning with indignation. Another flash assaulted him. Ava, in this very apartment, a tight bundle of conflicting emotions as she shed her coat, telling him he was going to regret what they were about to do.

And in his foolishness he still rushed in, thinking he could save her then. Had she already started targeting him then? Had that been her first attempt to kill him, with the poison that had knocked him out for hours, and left him feeling so awful? Why hadn't he heeded that warning?

The scariest part was that he knew the reason why. He felt it still. He couldn't ignore the nagging desire to save Ava. He still loved her, in spite of himself. And yet, he was outraged at Persephone, SHE was the one doing all this. She was the one attacking with cold indifference.

But Zach knew he could change that. He'd used his powers to inflict pain in retribution once before. He'd forced his own father to feel so much agony that the man had experienced a heart attack and died. Zach wasn't entirely certain it would be quite so fatal to Persephone, but he was pretty sure it would be severely debilitating, especially if he was at full strength when he did it, and not of the verge of dying like he'd been before, trying desperately just to fend her off.

Ashley: If she comes for you, I'll kill her, Zach. I swear I will.

"If Persephone comes for me again, I'll BREAK her cruel, apathetic heart. Then she'll BEG you to put her out of her misery."

It pained him to say it out loud, to acknowledge the thought and make that desire real, but he didn't want to die, and he knew if he didn't fight back with everything he had, Persephone would slaughter him and enjoy it.

 

[Cypher]

He heard her voice call out to him, saw her coming toward him. And in that minute, he knew he was home. She was safe, alive--SO ALIVE, it was beautiful. She was beautiful. The world was fucking beautiful. He just hugged her and held her tightly. The fear so encompassing that he could barely breathe. It could of also been his crushed windpipe, but he didn't pay any attention to that.

Zizi: "What took you so long?! But I told you not to come."

"She would have to kill me to keep me away."

His voice unwavering, because it was true. The only way he would have not come there was if Persephone had knocked him out cold or killed him. Gabe stroked Zizi's hair, hearing her voice tremble as she spoke. He didn't need to see her to know she was crying.

Zizi: "She could have killed you. I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry...I should never have brought you into all this."

He pulled away, looking into her teary eyes. Her lips trembled, her face was filled with pain and fear. He gently ran his thumb along her cheek wiping the freshly spilled tears away.

"No...No, none of this is your fault."

He said softly, trying to talk her down from her guilt. He had gotten involved the second he met up with Ava to help her get Cassadine Enterprises back. Granted he didn't know back then that Ava was really Persephone, but regardless, he was on her radar whether he was involved with the Birds of Prey or not.

"We have history. I don't want you blaming yourself..."

He dipped his head so he could look into her eyes, reiterating his convictions.

"Okay?"

He continued to gently rub her cheek with his thumb, finally looking up at Vivica who looked confused by him mentioning him and Ava had history.

"I worked for her father. Dated her. She came to me a week ago for help.....I didn't know who she was...what she had become..."

He sigh, his eyes shutting with guilt. Zizi pulled him back into a hug and Gabe gently shook his head remembering the look in Persephone's eyes when she threatened Zizi....then she was gone. And he was TERRIFIED. He couldn't believe what Ava had become....what Persephone had turned her into. This wasn't the woman he had loved before. This wasn't his friend and colleague. This was a stone cold killer. This was someone unrecognizable.

"Then she disappeared....and I thought she came here...I thought she......I thought she DID. I fucking thought she DID."

Zizi: "Shh...shh now. She didn't. I'm fine. All that matters is that you're okay. Chewie's not ready to fly the Falcon alone, General Solo. Not yet."

Gabe smiled weakly, his hand grasping Zizi's hair.

"Aye Captain."

He managed to respond, though his throat was on fire and it felt like he still couldn't breathe properly. Finally they pulled away from one another and Zizi finally got a good look at him. His forearms and hands were cut from glass and his throat was already discolored and bruised from Ava strangling him. She mentioned going to the hospital and Gabe shook his head firmly.

"No. No, we're not leaving this tower....i'm fine."

He wasn't about to risk going out in public for some doctor to clean out his cuts and tell him to rest.

Zizi: "Viv, get the first aid kit, please - it's in the guest bathroom in the cabinet. Come, sit down, let me have a look."

Gabe let out a huff, not wanting to be fussed over. But it was better than Zizi putting up a fight and insisting he went to the hospital. He walked over to the dining room table and took a seat. Vivica returned with the first aid kit and Zizi warned him it was going to sting. He winced and hissed feeling the burn of the alcohol against his cuts.

Zizi: "Do you want to tell us what happened?"

Gabe sighed as Zizi began to pick out the shards of glass.

"I walked in and saw her sitting on my couch. She looked...I don't know...different? She looked like she had been crying....She didn't have that same unforgiving look in her eyes that she did last night. And when she didn't immediately attack me I figured she assumed I didn't know about the logistics of what was going on--OW."

She picked out a large piece of glass causing him to lower his eyebrows in pain. He continued.

"I played it up like everything was normal until I was able to text you. She then turned on me like a rabid fucking dog. She knew I texted you and asked if you and the Birds of Prey were coming....then she said he was going to--"

Gabe hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should even TELL Zizi what Ava wanted to do to her.

"...was going to slit your throat. I threatened her to stay the fuck away from you and she fucking choke slammed me like The Undertaker into my glass coffee table. Kept choking me until you texted me back. She threatened you again and then disappeared....and I thought she came here...I thought--"

CRASH

The entire Clocktower shook as a massive crash of thunder shook the entire building, causing all the alarms to start sounding off. Gabe quickly stood up, looking around in anticipation, knowing Ava was there.

"She's here. FUCK."

Gabe unholstered his hand gun from the back of his waist band, cocking the chamber and loading a round. He knew a bullet wouldn't do shit to Ava, but he couldn't stand there and do NOTHING. Maybe it would at least slow her down....cause her to turn his attention onto him so Vivica could get Zizi out of there.

"Are the systems holding?"

He asked as he looked out the window and down onto the street, scanning the area.

 

[Black Widow]

East Village

There was murder in Seph's glare, that was plain to see. Haleigh believed her when she said she only needed three seconds. But this was bad tactics, and they both knew that. Haleigh tried to distract her, redirect her attention, by admitting Helena had sent her here to bring Seph back.

Persephone: I'm not going back.

"Good."

She replied, not wanting her sister to surrender herself once again to the torture of the Hellfire Inner Circle. The problem was that now Persephone had shown herself to be a villain, and the Six had demonstrated last night that they were ready to engage and eliminate. Haleigh suggested a safe-house. Seph's single syllable response gave Haleigh permission. Several gas pipes sprang leaks, filling the floor rapidly with natural gas. Missing walls made it spread quite evenly.

Thunder ripped the atmosphere without warning, and it seemed to make the whole world tremble. Cypher was the kind of genius that was also an utter idiot, coming close to the window and looking out at the street, as if he expected Ava would just be strolling down the sidewalk.

Haleigh could have sniped him with just the iron sights on her pistol, but lucky for him, she had no desire to do so. She took a hold of her sister's hand. The partially assembled and spliced wiring that was exposed all around them made it easy for Haleigh. She turned on the lights and the gas that permeated the air in the room erupted. They were gone before the fireball reached them and blew out the brand new windows.

In East Harlem, they appeared in Haleigh's safe house apartment. It was an old building, but she'd discreetly reinforced and secured it. Haleigh went straight for the scotch and glassware. She was waiting for Seph to turn that fury on her, because it hadn't really happened yet, and she assumed Seph was mad at her. She poured two full glasses, not caring if it was still morning.

"Say something."

She finally begged, when she couldn't stand the sullen silence for another second.

 

[Matrix]

First things first. BREAKFAST. I sent room service and flowers to Blaze with a note and we walked to one of the cafe's to get (mostly me) something to eat.

True fact: Miss D loves watching me eat. I used to be embarrassed to do it because I thought she was taking pity on me and, well, no way a young man's ego survives that. But a long time ago, she explained that in her village, the best thing a woman could do, could give her loved ones was to watch them eat their fill. So I am happy to eat in front of her, because it makes her happy and that was the first time she admitted she loved me.

I was following the diet that Zizi had researched for me so I was at full strength and feeling better than I ever had. It had been some time since I had been run down. So we were walking towards the street and I was set to drive rather than us teleport around town to the Clocktower.

Miss D: I can simply send us where we need to go, Richard. There is no need for this.

But I have something to show you. Just trust me here.

I became a 1956 Rolls Royce Phantom and she entered into the back seat, expecting to ride alone as always. But this time, I began to form beside her, almost startling her, but she about squealed when she saw that I could sit with her in the back seat AND be the vehicle at once. She leaned over and hugged me; it was something she knows I had been trying to do for a while now.

And we were off, taking the scenic route, I was drinking in a smile that had not been there so much prior to today. She'd had a lot on her mind and she had gone to the brink to save some folks. But now? We chatted about nothing, flirted, joked some of the crazy looking motherfuckers you see around NYC and I got to practice splitting my focus between being me and being the car. So far it seemed natural, like once my body figured out how to do something my mind was already ready anyway. We were 12 minutes out (I had been enjoying our time and actually driving away from the 'Tower) when Zizi came over the com.

[via com] "Oracle here. There's been another Ava sighting. Be on guard and stick together.

I took the next exit and turned to make our way back to the Clocktower, armoring myself a bit more as I went along. Miss D did not need to tell me what to do; I already knew so we sat silently, the spell broken as we made our way quickly back. We were 90 seconds out when a crash of thunder shook the entire area and the top of a building a few blocks from the Clocktower exploded. I turned down an alley and Isis was teleporting us seamlessly into the Clocktower as I reformed, changing my right hand into a Vepr 12 shotgun. I hit the coms.

We are inside, are you OK?

I hit the dining area first, with Isis watching my back as I swept. I saw Zizi, who had been crying, Vivica, who looked concerned, and some white boy at the windows. Something was odd, I smelled blood and alcohol in the room, someone was injured.

Was Persephone here?

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Through her tears, she admonished him at once for taking so long to arrive and for coming at all.

"She would have to kill me to keep me away."

She nestled her cheek into the curve of his shoulder, crying for fear, for relief, for love. She told him how sorry she was - that Ava only attacked him because of her.

He pulled back to look at her, gently wiping her tears away.

"No...No, none of this is your fault. We have history. I don't want you blaming yourself..."

"But I made her your enemy..."

He found her eyes, reiterating that he didn't blame her. She finally nodded, face & eyes puffy. He kept rubbing her cheek, though, and she kept watching him, as if she thought at any moment he would disappear. He explained to Vivica his backstory with Ava, and that surprised Zizi, her eyes opening wider. As much as she hated to hear about his relationship with Ava, for the man who had been so afraid that Rose would find out of his connection to Ava, to now not try to hide it at all...well, that meant something. Said something about who he was.

She held him close again, and then seeing his hands and arms suggested a hospital.

"No. No, we're not leaving this tower....i'm fine."

She went about patching him up as best she could, while he told them what had happened.

"I played it up like everything was normal until I was able to text you. She then turned on me like a rabid fucking dog. She knew I texted you and asked if you and the Birds of Prey were coming....then she said he was going to--was going to slit your throat. I threatened her to stay the fuck away from you and she fucking choke slammed me like The Undertaker into my glass coffee table. Kept choking me until you texted me back. She threatened you again and then disappeared....and I thought she came here...I thought--"

Zizi's hand went on top of Gabe's as the closest crash of thunder she had ever heard shook the building. He stood, pulling out his gun.

"She's here. FUCK."

She didn't even bother to say "language" that time.

"Are the systems holding?"

She gave him a look of wounded pride.

"Of course they're holding."

The spot at the dining table that didn't have a chair was intentionally placed so she could see the monitors from her place.

"No one's come near the perimeter. But, still, come away from the windows."

He was looking out at the street. She used the control device on her chair to flip through the other availabile video feeds in the area, expanding the radius they were monitoring, but saw nothing unusual. Until one of the floors on the building across the street blew out in a fireball, the building shaking again.

"Oh my goodNESS! I hope no one was in there."

She wheeled over to the main computer station, sending an anonymous alert to the 911 dispatcher, describing what had happened.

Hearing the horn of the fire truck coming from Great Jones just a couple blocks away, and hearing no more thunder or sounds of imminent attack, she turned towards Gabe again.

"Did you hurt your back when you fell?"

She wheeled herself closer to him to peer at the bruises on his neck.

"And for that throat, what do you reckon? Whiskey?"

The Clocktower 's systems recognized Isis' teleportation signature and allowed them entry, and then Zizi heard a familiar voice over the com.

"We are inside, are you OK?"

[via com] "Everything is fine, Rich honey."

She saw him come from the dining room.

Was Persephone here?

She shook her head.

"We heard thunder, but didn't see her."

 

[Valkyrie]

EOS Nomad

Zach held her and kissed her forehead, and she felt her fear gradually subside. She vowed to kill Persephone if she came for Zach, and she would, or die trying.

"If Persephone comes for me again, I'll BREAK her cruel, apathetic heart. Then she'll BEG you to put her out of her misery."

She rested her forehead against his chest, and smiled a little at that. His uncharacteristic coldness was pretty sexy, after all.

She couldn't remember the last time she had felt such a need to protect. Or be protected. Since the day she stopped being human, before even, she only relied on herself. And now here she was, vulnerable, because of him.

She spoke, but it was as much to herself as to him.

"Why do you make me feel so safe? I haven't felt safe in twelve hundred years."

Not since there was another man who protected her.

She looked up into his face, her hands tracing the outlines of his shoulders, his arms, his chest. It was then that she realized his nakedness, and the mixture of man smell and testosterone that emanated from him was intoxicating. She had seen armies brought down by various addictions before, the opiums of the world and even liquor. But it wasn't until then that she realized what it was to need something so badly that nothing else mattered but having it again.

"Come on, I'll make you breakfast. Or at least order you some."

She pulled him towards the kitchen by the hand. Turning back, she gave him doe eyes.

"Unless you'd rather go back to bed?"

 

[Persephone]

The sound of gas filled the room, Haleigh attempting to clean up the murderous rampage she inflicted on the six construction workers that laid among them. Persephone stood there silently, seeing Gabe react to her thunder. He was right there, holding a gun, acting like he had an iota of a chance of taking her out before she could kill them all. It was pathetic. It was then Haleigh ignited the place up, both of them dissipating just as the explosion roared around them and blew out the windows, pluming outside the building in a mushroom cloud of fire.

Then they were in her safe house. Haleigh went over to the bar immediately, grabbing some scotch and two glasses. Persephone slowly blinked, the adrenaline from attacking Gabe, the workers, and stalking the Birds of Prey starting to wear off.

Haleigh: "Say something."

Persephone shifted her eyes to Haleigh, taking the glass of scotch from her.

"Thanks."

Taking a large swig of the scotch, she shut her eyes as the liquid burned her throat; the heat filling her stomach. She finally took a seat on the couch, resting her forearms on her thighs while leaning forward, her head hanging low.

"I'm such an idiot."

She softly said, not looking at Haleigh as she spoke.

"Of course he didn't love me.....No one loves me.....All anyone ever wants to do is possess me or kill me."

Tears fell from her eyes, dropping to the floor due to her angle.

"So i'm going to kill all of them."

Her voice was a low whisper, cracking at the end involuntarily as she finally lifted her head to look at Haleigh, tears filled to the brim but rage behind her eyes.

"The Birds. The Six. Everyone."

Without blinking, the tears fell onto her cheeks as she finished off her scotch and stood from the couch, walking past Haleigh; her heels boots knocking against the hardwood floors. If she couldn't be happy...if they wanted her dead...she would make them ALL SUFFER before killing every single one of them. Then when she was done, she would kill Helena.....but not before she tore Alek in half in front of his precious Queen.

"I've been a victim for over a year and i'm DONE."

A reference to her capture and torture at the hands of Hades a year ago, to now. The selfishness of The Six, to Diana hurting her, Ravena, Helena, Alek, even Haleigh. She stood by the window, looking out at the tree lined streets, arms folded across her chest with tear stained cheeks. Her face was blank and even.

"Now I know without a shadow of a doubt....I can only ever rely on myself."

What small glimmer of red that was left in her heart was now black. She wouldn't be prey to her emotions anymore. And she wouldn't allow anyone to EVER use them against her again.

 

[Cypher]

"Are the systems holding?"

Zizi: "Of course they're holding."

Gabe gave her an embarrassed look before turning his attention back to the streets below. He knew Zizi's programs and systems were fully capable of keeping Persephone out....but Black Widow? That was a different story. He just wanted to make sure he didn't need to hop onto the system and use his abilities to double up protection. But there was no sign of any attacks outside...or anything unusual.

Zizi: "No one's come near the perimeter. But, still, come away from the windows."

Gabe nodded, but just as he was about to step away a massive explosion erupted out of one of the buildings under construction across the street. The windows vibrated from the intensity of it as Gabe watched the black smoke rise from the building. It seemed a little too coincidental....

Zizi: "Oh my goodNESS! I hope no one was in there."

"Yeah..."

He responded softly as he stared at the building; sirens already being heard in the distance from Zizi's call.

Zizi: "Did you hurt your back when you fell? And for that throat, what do you reckon? Whiskey?"

"Oh.....I didn't really notice."

The bruising and pain from his back no. His throat? Absolutely.

"Yeah, whiskey sounds damn good."

He heard Zizi talk to someone named Rich over com link before a kid entered along with a woman. He recognized them as Richard Martin and Domonique Deveraux. Their profiles fresh in his memory.

Rich: "Was Persephone here?"

Zizi: "We heard thunder, but didn't see her."

"Speak for yourself."

He joked grimly as he rubbed the back of his neck. Reaching out toward Rich, he shook his hand.

"Gabriel Jerome. I've been working with Rose on her new security system."

He gave Dominique a respectful nod.

"Miss Devereaux, pleasure."

Looking over at Zizi, Gabe nodded toward the bedrooms that lined the hallway.

"You think John or someone has some clothes I can borrow?"

His shirt and jeans covered with spots of blood from the cuts on his skin.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Gabe introduced himself, as if he were just some technician installing their cable.

"He's also an old friend."

She knew Dominique would not take kindly to a stranger being around in these times. He seemed to notice his appearance then, and looked to her.

"You think John or someone has some clothes I can borrow?"

"I doubt any of the men in the building are the right size."

She glanced at the security monitor.

"But I had clothes sent over from Lucky (they know me there). And a double order of donuts from Donut Connection. Looks like that's them. Richard, would you please be a dear and go down to the lobby and retrieve them? I'll control the security system from here. Everything is paid and tipped for already."

The coast looked clear, but even so, it made sense to send someone who could handle themselves. She looked at Gabe and shrugged.

"I didn't think you had a chance for a shower...and donuts are your favorite."

When Rich returned, she thanked him for doing that for her, and handed him one of the boxes of donuts.

"I know it's not the most nutritious of meals, but everyone needs a treat every now and then, eh?"

She smiled at him and patted his hand, before handing the shopping bag to Gabe.

"Jeans, t shirt, socks, underwear...and male appropriate shampoo and soap. Use my bathroom. And you should lie down after too - you didn't get any sleep last night. And you need to heal."

 

[Matrix]

No one was explaining who strange white boy was....but Zizi seemed to trust him so I put away the Mossberg as he reached out.

"Speak for yourself."

He joked grimly as he rubbed the back of his neck. Reaching out toward Rich, he shook his hand.

"Gabriel Jerome. I've been working with Rose on her new security system."

He gave Dominique a respectful nod.

"Miss Devereaux, pleasure."

Yeah, Miss D was not gonna be feeling raggedy-looking bloody white dude. I stayed between him and her as Oracle continued to explain.

"He's also an old friend."

He actually asked for John's clothes? The fuck was this guy? Friendly enough, but people were on edge. Myself included. I looked to Zizi as she took charge.

"I doubt any of the men in the building are the right size."

She glanced at the security monitor.

"But I had clothes sent over from Lucky (they know me there). And a double order of donuts from Donut Connection. Looks like that's them. Richard, would you please be a dear and go down to the lobby and retrieve them? I'll control the security system from here. Everything is paid and tipped for already."

I grew a third arm out of the middle of my back, holding the Mossberg again as I went downstairs as normal. Luckily for them, they were legit and I accepted everything, signing the forms as needed before bringing it all back up.

When Rich returned, she thanked him for doing that for her, and handed him one of the boxes of donuts.

"I know it's not the most nutritious of meals, but everyone needs a treat every now and then, eh?"

She smiled at him and patted his hand, before handing the shopping bag to Gabe.

"Jeans, t shirt, socks, underwear...and male appropriate shampoo and soap. Use my bathroom. And you should lie down after too - you didn't get any sleep last night. And you need to heal."

Gabe was staring at my third arm for a second before he took the items. Meanwhile, it was time for a snack. I took a seat and waited until he left the room.

So Zizi...why is he bloody? Is he the one who saw Ava? If so, how did he survive and why did you not call us over sooner?

 

[Black Widow]

East Harlem Safehouse

Haleigh leaned sideways against the pillar with her glass of scotch, as Seph went to the couch and sat down, her back now to Haleigh.

Persephone: I'm such an idiot.

"What??"

She asked in a bemused tone. Though her sister had been quiet, Haleigh had heard her, she just didn't expect or understand that first statement.

Persephone: Of course he didn't love me.....No one loves me.....All anyone ever wants to do is possess me or kill me.

Haleigh looked at her sister sadly, and wanted to correct her, but she knew she couldn't. If she clarified in Alek's defense, Seph's pain would only worsen. At least THIS way, it was a clean break. Seph's heart was broken, but she was much less likely to relapse with the Red Knight. If Haleigh told her everything... it was just a bad idea. Instead of commenting, Haleigh filled her mouth with scotch.

Persephone: So I'm going to kill all of them.

The statement, barely audible, made Haleigh's blood run cold. Persephone lifted her head and looked back at her. Haleigh's gaze was compassionate. Under the tears, Seph's was barbaric. Was she talking about taking out the Hellfire Club? Another suicide mission.

Persephone: The Birds. The Six. Everyone.

Haleigh gave her sister a meaningful look.

"No you aren't. Maybe you'll get one or two of them, but YOU know as well as I DO that you can't take them ALL on ALONE. Do you want to go back to being a statue in Ororo's Garden?"

Seph went to stand by the window, and Haleigh watched her pass, throwing back the rest of her scotch smoothly. She was glad to have invested in bulletproof glass. She set the glass down on the table nearby as Seph declared she wasn't done being a victim.

Persephone: Now I know without a shadow of a doubt....I can only ever rely on myself.

Haleigh walked over and sat down in the brick window sill, looking up into her sister's empty stare.

"And ME. You know you've got me. I heard Cameron's threats last night. If he thinks I'm going to let that happen he's in for a rude awakening."

She promised.

"I don't want you to come back to Hellfire. BUT.... if you're done being a victim, I DO think it's the best place for you now. You've already formed some alliances, and they'll stand with us against the Birds and the Six, which presents much better survival odds for you."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone vowed to kill everyone. It was a vague threat because she knew once they went back to Hellfire, Diana could easily read both of their minds, and if she threatened Hellfire, she would most definitely be killed. But it was a threat nonetheless....one she was more than willing to follow through with.

Haleigh: "No you aren't."

"Watch me."

Haleigh: "Maybe you'll get one or two of them, but YOU know as well as I DO that you can't take them ALL on ALONE."

"I'll take out as many as I can."

She corrected stubbornly, her tone malicious and cold.

Haleigh: "Do you want to go back to being a statue in Ororo's Garden?"

Persephone scoffed.

"They wouldn't turn me into a statue, Haleigh. Not this time."

She stated matter of factly. Cameron made that abundantly clear the night before when he said he would rather Ava die than for Persephone to be in control any longer.

Persephone moved to the window looking out at the street; Haleigh made her way over, taking a seat on the brick window sill. She realized in that moment that she had no one left to rely on but herself. Because as much as Haleigh tried to say she was on Persephone's side, she only cared about what happened to her because of AVA. And if Ava wasn't apart of the equation, Haleigh would be a non factor in her life.

Haleigh: "And ME. You know you've got me. I heard Cameron's threats last night. If he thinks I'm going to let that happen he's in for a rude awakening."

"Right."

Persephone responded unconvinced, her eyes shutting as she sighed. The funny thing was, Persephone and Ava were two sides of the same coin. The main difference being Persephone's willingness to kill anyone. But it still stung to believe that even Haleigh's 'love' for her was under false pretenses.

Looking back out the window, the conversation moved onto Hellfire. The thought of going back to the place made her stomach to turn. What happened in the Morning Room probably spread around the club like wildfire.

Haleigh: "I don't want you to come back to Hellfire. BUT.... if you're done being a victim, I DO think it's the best place for you now. You've already formed some alliances, and they'll stand with us against the Birds and the Six, which presents much better survival odds for you."

"I'm only going back for you, otherwise this was all for nothing....But if anyone say anything to me [regarding Alek], i'm going to cut their fucking tongue out."

Walking away from the window, Persephone picked up her empty glass from the coffee table and refilled it with the bottle of scotch Haleigh had left there. She hated what happened between her and Alek was in public, and for that, she was embarrassed to return. But now more than ever she would have to prove that she wasn't weak. And if she wanted to kill all of those fuckers from Birds of Prey and The Six, she would need Hellfire's resources to help her do it. A renewed fire burned throughout her...and she was ready to unleash it.

Looking back over to Haleigh.

"So you saw. What happened last night with The Six."

She stated more than asked.

"I hope you're not still attached. Because i'm going to extinguish your sister [Blaze] in the most painful way possible."

Persephone downed the rest of her scotch.

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: "I doubt any of the men in the building are the right size."

"I just need a t-shirt to hold me over."

But Zizi had already bought him some clothing, Gabe giving her a look expressing that she didn't have to do that. But the deliver guy was already there and she asked Rich to go down and get it him.

"Liz..."

Zizi: "I didn't think you had a chance for a shower...and donuts are your favorite."

Gabe gave her a sincere smile of gratitude.

"Thank you."

Rich returned with the bag full of stuff and handed it to him. That was when Gabe noticed he had another arm coming out of his back, his brows lifting.

"Whoa. Thanks man."

He read Rich's bio and what his abilities were, but it was one thing to read about it and another thing to witness it. Gabe opened the bag looking inside.

Zizi: "Jeans, t shirt, socks, underwear...and male appropriate shampoo and soap. Use my bathroom."

She thought of everything, per usual. Down to his favorite brand of shampoo and body wash. Gabe smiled and thanked her again.

Zizi: "And you should lie down after too - you didn't get any sleep last night. And you need to heal."

"Nah, i'm gonna go over the security systems at The Sanctuary one more time, make sure everything is good. Double check some feeds outside, scan around the city and see if I can find anything unusual."

He couldn't just sit around and do nothing. His throat hurt but he felt fine otherwise. A little whiskey and donuts would do the trick. But Zizi gave him a look and Gabe lifted his hand up innocently.

"Hey...if I start feeling like shit i'll lay down."

He backed his way up before turning around and heading down the hallway, disappearing into Zizi's room. Once the door was shut, Gabe tossed the bag onto her bed and headed straight into the shower. Ten minutes passed before he opened the bathroom door with one of Zizi's purple towels wrapped around his waist and walked into her room.

Gabe sunk down onto her bed, his hands going to either side of his head and raking through his wet hair. The reality of the situation hitting him hard--the adrenaline finally leaving his body. He could of died. Ava could have killed him. But even worse, Zizi could have been killed. Shutting his eyes, the look Ava gave him replayed over and over in his head. The utter fear he had when she disappeared. The panic of driving over. Groaning out as he lifted himself back up, he couldn't think of sleeping. He couldn't even close his eyes without seeing what Ava had become.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Gabe yawned as he shuffled through the bag of clothes, pulling out different items so he could get dressed.

 

[Orion]

EOS Nomad -- Zach's Apartment

They held each other until they both felt better.

Ashley: Why do you make me feel so safe? I haven't felt safe in twelve hundred years.

Her question brought a small smile to his lips.

"By-product of the buddy system."

He joked, as she looked up at him, her hands traveling over his upper body. His hands framed her face, and he planted a kiss on her lips.

"I might say you picked the BEST buddy..... but I don't like to boast."

Ashley: Come on, I'll make you breakfast. Or at least order you some.

"Mmm, breakfast...."

He said, and his stomach grumbled again loudly as she led him towards the kitchen. His mind went to food, French Toast and scrambled eggs, and hickory smoked bacon. And coffee. He wanted coffee and breakfast so bad, he forgot he was naked.

"Let's make some, I'll help."

She stopped, and turned back around to look at him.

Ashley: Unless you'd rather go back to bed?

His gaze traveled over her body as he considered it, and ungentlemanly expression taking over his face. His fingertips played with the lace on her cleavage, his knuckles grazing her skin gently as he shook his head softly.

"No."

He started, and his hand trailed down the center of her abdomen, his eyes following briefly, before flicking back up to find her gaze, a smirk playing on his mouth.

"I've had you in bed.... and in the shower. I'd rather fuck you all over this apartment, so there's a memory of us everywhere I look."

He said, his hands going to her waist. He spun her back towards the kitchen, and sent her in that direction again.

"But food first."

He insisted, and opened the pantry to grab the loaf of bread. Hanging on the inside of the door was a couple of aprons, and he tied one around his waist and handed her the other.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Gabe thanked her for th clothes and smiled, and she beamed back at him, her face scrunching up into an authoritative stare however as he refused to get some sleep.

"Nah, i'm gonna go over the security systems at The Sanctuary one more time, make sure everything is good. Double check some feeds outside, scan around the city and see if I can find anything unusual."

She relented after he promised to lay down if he started feeling poorly. He went to take a shower, leaving her alone with Rich, Viv & Isis.

So Zizi...why is he bloody? Is he the one who saw Ava? If so, how did he survive and why did you not call us over sooner?

She gave one last worrying glance in Gabe's direction before wheeling herself closer to the others.

"Ava was waiting for him when he returned home this morning. She strangled him. Put him through a glass table - that's why he's bloody. She knew that he texted me and assumed we were all coming, so she fled. Then he called me to tell me what had happened. I had Vivica call Dominique as soon as I hung up with Gabe."

This was getting to be too much. Now she could appear anywhere, take any of them. Even people like Gabe who had done nothing. Who cared about her even. She pinched the bridge of her nose, looking at Viv.

"Anything in your research say how we can keep her out of a place?"

They discussed the situation, then after a bit she excused herself to check on her house guest. She knocked on her bedroom door, but didn't open it. She could hear him moving inside, so knew he wasn't asleep.

"Gabe? Just checking that you have everything you need?"

 

[Valkyrie]

EOS Nomad

Zach covered her serious statement about how safe he made her feel with a joke about Andrew's "buddy system". How that boy would ever get laid again was a mystery.

"I might say you picked the BEST buddy..... but I don't like to boast."

She gave him a steady look.

"I ALWAYS pick the best, sweet cheeks."

She smacked his ass with a grin before suggesting breakfast.

"Let's make some, I'll help."

With a devilish glint in her eye she gave him the option of returning to bed instead, and she thought he was going to accept it, the look he gave her and his touch at her chest sending signals to her nether regions to prepare for boarding.

She was half on her way to the bedroom, pressing against him in that direction when he said no.

NO?!

"I've had you in bed.... and in the shower. I'd rather fuck you all over this apartment, so there's a memory of us everywhere I look."

"Good answer."

She smirked coyly, breathing in sharply as his hand trailed down her body and went to her waist. And then he spun her around...and pushed her towards the kitchen.

"But food first."

Oh, two could play that game, bucko.

She turned back so he could see her face as she licked her lips, giving him a look that said she was the hunter and he was her prey.

"And here, I thought you'd already eaten."

She raised an eyebrow, then proceeded into the kitchen. She pulled the eggs & bacon out of the fridge. She could cook, but didn't see the point of it in New York, where anything you wanted was just a phone call away. But she humored him, watching him wrap an apron around his waist that indeed covered the front but alas left the rear air conditioned. She watched him with a giggle on her lips as he got the bread out, remembering acutely why he was still in her phone contacts as "Nice Ass".

He handed her an apron, but she tossed it aside. She was going to make sure he knew exactly what was on the menu if he thought he could keep her waiting.

She made a show of looking down at herself.

"You know, Zach, I don't think you've mentioned how well you like my new nightie."

She ran a hand casually across her chest.

"You don't think the top is...too small?"

She turned away from him,mgrinning mischievously, and began cracking eggs into a bowl, making sure she inclined her bare neck just the way he liked...