Blacklight S2 (R)

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

”He didn’t kill Remiah,” Emma said, turning from her place at the window.
“Then who did?” Landry quizzed. “Remiah didn’t drop dead, did he? Jacob did what he did for a reason.”
“And that justifies what he did?!” Emma could feel her own temper rising now; much like it had the night in the gardens when they’d had a similar chat.
“Emma!” Landry was on his feet a second later, his eyes burning into her with such a force she was sure she could feel it against her skin. “There’s only so much of your shit I can take – now shut the fuck up! Who else but him would waltz back into here, knowing he’ll get his job back, after what he’s done? He killed a good man!”
Elijah nearly sprung across the desk. "Don't talk to her that way! Good man my ass. After aiming a knife at my throat? He's fucking angelic."
“You murdered his brother!”

“Isn’t this a pretty sight?” Sol asked Ryan, elbowing him in the side. “This would make a great soap scene – all we need now is for Landry to push Emma out the window and Elijah avenge her in a dramatic fight.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Ryan grumbled, stepping away from her.

Elijah shook his head, “I…I…didn’t-“
“Remiah’s death was an accident, Landry,” Emma moved to Elijah’s side, just in case he decided to jump the rest of the way across the desk. “They swapped trucks and one just happened to blow up. It wasn’t like Elijah planted the bomb.”
“How can you defend him like this?” Landry asked in disbelief. “Jacob was your friend, too. When you first got here he was the only one that spoke to you, and now you’re brushing off his memory just because some arrogant prick is rolling in the sheets with you?”

Her expression hardened. “He stopped being my friend when he murdered all those agents, Landry, and certainly when he tried to kill Elijah. I would have killed the bastard myself if I’d gotten there in time. Why can’t you see the truth about him?” She asked, “I know you miss him, and I know you have so much guilt for letting him do what he did, but blaming Elijah isn’t going to help.”

Some of the anger seeped out of his eyes when he regarded the couple, but he remained rigid in his place.
“Why should I give you your job back, Elijah? And don’t give me any of this ‘I’m the best you’ll ever get’ crap, because that’s just not true. Your girl in the best I have, you’re just the big mouthed boyfriend who’s good with a gun.”
Well, Emma couldn’t disagree with that.
"It's hilarious how your opinion of me changes so fast, Landry. What happened to 'you remind of myself when I was younger' and 'you're one of the best agents I’ve ever seen?' I'm not begging, if that's what you're getting at."
“I was blinded by my lack of awareness. Do you want your job back or don’t you?”
"Not if you're plan on treating me like shit and accusing me of murdering people."

With her sense of urgency driving her forward, Emma pushed herself between Elijah and the desk, forcing Landry’s attention back onto her. She couldn’t let pride stop Elijah rejoining the agency and Emma couldn’t, and wouldn’t lose him again, not now he was back with her.
If he wouldn’t beg…then she would.

“Sir, he didn’t kill Remiah, please believe me when I say that. It was an accident, and whether Jacob knew that deep down or not, I don’t know. Elijah needs this job and… well, I work better with him. I need him here, too.”
“And I need a job as well,” Sol spoke up. “Just to put that out there.”

Landry narrowed his eyes on Emma. “Will you keep him out of my face?”
She answered without hesitation. “Yes.”
“Then I reinstate you as partners, simply because I know where he is when he’s with you, and you know how to control him. Make sure he stays out of damn trouble, Emma.” Then, his gaze flickered over their shoulder to the two silently stood there. “What’s your name?”
Sol smiled, “Sol Villanueva, of D-50.”
“I’ll have to do a thorough background check and contact your last head of agency, but until then, meet Ryan, he’ll be your new partner once you’re approved.”
“And where will I live?” Ryan growled, appearing less than pleased with the new arrangement. “I was growing accustomed to Emma – why can’t I keep her?”
“Because you can’t, that’s why,” Elijah snapped in reply.
Sol laughed, slapping Ryan on the shoulder in good humour. “Don’t sweat it, dude. There’s no getting between those two – and we’ll make a great pair, just you wait and see!”

“As for living arrangements…” Landry mused, a frown creasing his brows. “I’ll need until the end of the day to figure that one out. Since we’ve been recruiting this month, all the free rooms and those left by deceased agents, have been assigned already, and four of you can’t live in that small apartment. I’ll get back to you on that problem.”

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

Elijah was pissed, there was no other adequate way to explain his feelings. Christ, was the old man bipolar? From kissing his ass from needing to be persuaded to rehire him? What happened to all the things he had said about them being the top agents, all the ass kissing he had done in the beginning? All because he killed Jacob? Elijah wasn’t happy about it either, and since the day he had slit his throat, he refused to remind himself of the fact simply because he didn’t want any of his early symptoms to return, but suddenly turning on him?

Y’know what, Elijah didn’t even care anymore. He never did. And if that gave him more enemies than allies, so fucking be it. There was only a few people on this planet who’s words stuck with him, good or bad, and he certainly wasn’t in that group. Elijah would just continue to do his job (because he was fucking awesome at it) and refrain from seeing the archaic prick as much as possible.

“Elijah, he’s just very emotional stressed right now,” Emma tried to justify, her finger hooking at the end of his shirt.
Elijah’s expression remained stoic. “I don’t give a damn. If I actually let my emotions get to me than I wouldn’t be here. It’s like he’s a fucking different person now.” As much as he’d like to brush it off, the entire altercation from him blatantly accusing him of murdering his own best friend, suddenly calling his skills the equivalent of sub-par and struggling to give him his job back was just a smidge far-fetched for Elijah. Not after the man had genuinely enjoyed him and respected his capabilities only weeks ago.

He loved Emma, but saying she was better than him? In what galaxy? He was willing to say their skill level was about the same, but to say she exceeded him? Fucking bull. If he was only good with a gun than she would have died in that burning drug house that night and his ‘prized’ agent would be gone.

"He kinda is. What Jacob did really messed with his mind."

Ryan and Sol lingered several paces behind them, knowing what was good for them, and instead tried to initiate small talk of their own.

“Why? It makes no sense, Emma. Jacob was a prick.” He was purely speaking out of frustration, lips pressed together. So Landry basically sent him to timbuc-fucking-tu to get rid of him because the man was convinced he was a cold-blooded killer and somehow responsible for the death of his precious staff.

Elijah couldn’t get over that.

"They were friends for years, Elijah. Jacob hid who he really was for all that time, harbouring all that anger..." She shrugged. "Plus, I know he blames himself for not picking up on it."
He just shook his head leaning against her and resting his chin on the crown of her hair. “Make me forget,” he heard himself murmur, “about all of this.”

Emma moved away slightly before twirling her fingers around his and ducking into a shadowed nook in the wall. Then, turning to wrap her arms around his shoulders she lightly pushed him against the wall and murmured, "Shooting Range?"

As small as the gesture was, Elijah felt a genuine smirk tinging at the corners of his lips. "You know me so well."

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

”We’re being moved to…where?” Emma blinked down at Landry’s stone cold face through the monitor.
They hadn’t long got back from the shooting range, Elijah taking all his anger and pain out on the targets. Then Landry had called and dropped the new bomb…
“Do not make me change my mind.”
“Wait, I don’t get it. Why do I have to move? Can’t you just move Sol and Ryan into the new place and leave us where we are?”
“On what planet would I give two new agents the penthouse, Emma? I wouldn’t. Plus, it’s way too big for just two people.”
To say she was confused was an understatement. “But…Jacob lived in there alone.”
His sombre expression darkened somewhat. “He was head of department.”

She rubbed a hand against the side of her neck, “So, you want Elijah, Sol, Ryan and I to live in the penthouse from now on?”
“Yes. Three rooms, three bathrooms, large kitchen and living room that over looks the city, separate TV room. You won’t be living on top of one another, since there’s more than enough space.”
Emma blew out a deep breath. Moving? For the love of god, why? She’d lived in this apartment for nearly ten years. “I’m guessing Sol got a job then, right?”
One greying brow rose up, “She has a good record.”
“Super.”

“The place has been cleared out already, it’s all ready to be moved into,” Landry straightened. “Enjoy.”
And with that, he cut the line, leaving Emma to gap at the wall in a stunned silence.
Just like that? Move into your new home now, if you like? That simple?

Ryan looked up from the newspaper he was reading. “You look happy.”
“We’ve been given the penthouse – all four of us.”
His brows quirked, “That sounds like hell. I suppose Sol’s been given a job, as well, right?”
Emma frowned, “Right. Which means you’re now partners; good luck with that, Ryan.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Elijah walk from the hallway, a towel slung over one of his shoulders as he dried his hair.
“I don’t see why I couldn’t stick with you.” Ryan mumbled.
“Sol will be a… great partner, I’m sure.”
“You’re a great partner.”
"That's why she's mine," Elijah commented easily.

A deep frown creased Ryan’s brow. “Until you get a better offer.”
Emma turned from the phone, finally, and moved to stand at the kitchen counter where Ryan was leaning. She should have been surprised by his comment, but oddly enough, she wasn’t. He’d voiced his opinion of Elijah leaving on more than one occasion.
"There is no better offer," he quickly responded.
Ryan mumbled a reply before dropping his attention back to his newspaper.

Wasn’t living together going to be a blast?

Moving into her side, Elijah dropped his hand from the towel, only to reach out and capture a loose lock of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail and tuck it behind her ear. “Did I hear Landry?”
“Yes, and we’re moving.”
“We are?”
“Mhmm, to the penthouse – all four of us, tonight.”

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

Was Elijah that damn popular to be disliked by so many people? Christ, felt like the list was growing each and every day! He only felt the urge to chuckle and shake his head at his haters though, only shrugging it off with disinterest. Having them be petty wouldn’t affect him in any way, shape or form. He’d continue being incredible while they spent their energy on someone who couldn’t care less. Which was precisely why Elijah had brushed off Ryan’s spite without another second’s thought, strolling up to Emma with a towel slung across his shoulder.

Again, his thought processes weren’t easily understood, but that was the beautiful thing about individuality. Emma had chosen to love him and his sporadic and unpredictable behavior – point blank. It’s not like he had hidden it in the fine print or acted any less like himself around her. They both knew what the hell were getting into before initiating any kind of relationship and he liked to believe they were thankfully the type of people who didn’t act like a completely different person around others.

Who had gotten his panties in a bunch anyways?

“Mm, does that mean more bathrooms?” Elijah questioned with a raised brow.
"Three bathrooms, which means you'll still have to share with me," The corner of her lips perked upward.
“Aw really?” he questioned, sucking his teeth in mock disappointment before grinning.

“Don’t tell me we have to deal with your mushiness each and every day,” Sol groaned, before jabbing Ryan in the ribs lightly. “We’ll definitely have to stick together. They’re in a world of their own.”
“What have I done to deserve such misfortunes,” Ryan grumbled from beyond the island counter.
Elijah snickered, briefly tracing Emma’s side with his finger.

“Anyways, we should leave these two alone,” Sol announced. “I’m ready to pack up and get the hell out of this small apartment.”
Ryan rolled his eyes a final time but obliged nonetheless, leaving the two of them in the kitchen.

“Been good while I was gone?” Elijah questioned once they were alone, pressing her against the fridge softly. Ideally, he would have liked a space all to themselves without any restraints but knew they didn’t have a chance in hell of that happening.
"Aren't I always?"
“Who knows with Debbie Downer?” he shrugged. Living with that negative fuck would have brought him to the point of insanity.
"His name is Ryan," She said, rolling her eyes. "And yes, he's miserable, but no more than I was before I met you."

“And you’re defending him because?” he murmured against her jaw.
Her hands skirted up his chest, "I don't know, I guess I see a little of myself in him, or vice versa."
“You weren’t that much of an asshole,” Elijah murmured with a tiny grin, “unless I’m love-blinded now.”
"That or my asshole-ness was overshadowed by yours." Emma laughed.
“That’s why we’re perfect dear,” Elijah returned with a chuckle.

Elijah was completely convinced Emma was the only one that could ‘handle’ him; most girls had either cried, ran away, or cried some more after long doses of being in his presence. It’s not like he intentionally tried to hurt anyone’s feelings, but ended up doing so regardless. Eh, it's not like he screamed 'angel' and most of the girls that gravitated to him hungered the thrill of a one night stand. If they thought he'd be all nice and snuggly in the morning like they were some married couple, they were sadly naive. He had always been the fuck and duck sort of guy , well, until Emma stepped into his life.

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

*****

As the end of March approached, the foursome soon settled into their penthouse home. It proved to be more than spacious enough for them all, Sol and Ryan on one side of the apartment while Emma and Elijah made home on the other, sharing the king room and the luxury bathroom – something that Elijah seemed more than happy with, manly the huge, circular bath tub that came in it. It proved the perfect size for two.

“Before I forget,” Sol drawled, inspecting her nails. “I wanted to thank you two for the show last night.”
Emma glanced toward the woman, “What are you talking about this time?”
Elijah smirked but kept his attention onto the passing parade.
“I know the apartment is huge and all, but honestly, how many times do I have to tell you to keep it in the bedroom?” Sol grimaced. “One minute I’m on the road to sleepsville, next I’m being rudely interrupted by you two. What happened to watching a movie and snuggling on the coach?”
Emma gritted her teeth. She’d thought they’d been discreet, the loud action scenes of the movie masking any other noises they might have made – hell, it wasn’t like it had been planned that way, one minute they’d been doing just what they’d told Sol they would be doing, then there had been kissing… It progressed from there.
"Who ever just watches the movie?" Elijah pointed out with an amused grin.
“Normal people,” She growled, “People who have roommates? Jesus, I think you’ve scared me and Captain Moody for life.”
Ryan huffed in response, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he regarded the crowd in front of them.

The new Mayor was celebrating his first week in office with this joke of a parade, with balloons, floats and anything else he could use. The people of D-79 had come out in a force, eager to see their new leader.
Emma, Elijah, Sol and Ryan had come out of boredom.

"Guess that's your cue to go out more often then," Elijah returned.
“It was nearly midnight!” She protested.
Emma groaned, “Shut up, Sol. You must have bat ears, because the movie was a lot louder than we were.”
“This isn’t the first time, either! I hear your little bath sessions, so don’t think I can’t, and when you thought I was asleep on the coach –which needs to be burned now thanks to you- and started that make-out marathon in the kitchen. Your mushy, boyfriend/girlfriend shit is starting to piss me off.”
Elijah barely blinked. "Sorry for not being sorry."
“I don’t hear anything, thankfully,” Ryan said, earning him a small smile from Emma. “Or see much either.”
“Then you’re blind, simple as. You’re too busy walking around like you want to kill us all to notice the two lovebirds. Well, all but Emma, she’s the only person you smile at.”

It was true that Ryan only smiled (kind of) or really spoke to Emma. Over the last month he’d warmed to her, revealing why he was the way he was, why he was so angry and ‘moody’ all the time. The man had lost everything years ago, when his pregnant wife had been shot dead in front of him. It explained a lot about why he was the way he was.

Sol turned away, sulking that she was the only one with a problem. “Probably crushing on her…” She mumbled.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ryan snapped. “You’re jealous that they’re getting some.”
She gasped, “I am not jealous! I can get some as quickly as that.” Her fingers clicked on the last word.
“Sure you can.”
“Are you doubting me? I should-“
“Look,” Elijah cut Sol off, using his free hand to point at the float closing in on them, while he draped his other arm around Emma’s shoulders. “Here he comes.”

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

Elijah hated parades. He always ended up getting restless while watching a procession of floats move through the streets on their floating metal platforms, holding political figures he couldn’t care less about. He hated the government with every fiber of his being as a young boy and that hadn’t changed in the slightest. They were basically a bunch of people that got high off of controlling and milking the money of people supposedly lower than them.

The grandest car began to roll down the street, a cluster of limos surrounding it as a bullet proof shield surrounded the chair in which he was sitting in. His black hair was slicked back, clad in a cape-looking thing over dark pants. Elijah couldn’t help but arch his eyebrow, nudging Emma lightly. She matched his confusion before shaking her head.

Bulky, jewel-encrusted rings wrapped around his pudgy fingers, accenting his gaudy necklace.

“Dresses like a d-bag,” Elijah commented under his breath.
“My thoughts exactly,” Sol responded, lips twisting into a scowl.

Eventually the car came to a sharp stop, the man slowly rising from his chair as he lifted his palms upwards to the sky as if he was god himself. The crowd seemed to hush their speaking, eyes widening as they zoned in on their new mayor. Elijah simply rolled his eyes.

“Good afternoon!” He exclaimed. “I am your new leader, your new idol.”
“We’ve got a loon as our new mayor,” Elijah heard Ryan grumble from Emma’s side.

The man continued.

"I will change this once proud and glorious city into the place it so rightly deserves to be. Out with the old and in with the new!” His bright black eyes beamed underneath the artificial light, cape swaying about his boots. Elijah would have given him a lot more slack if he didn’t look like he had come fresh out of the costume store.

In response, the congregation of thousands of citizens screamed together in excitement, parents lifting their curious children onto their shoulders as they witnessed the scene before them.

“First things first,” the mayor went on. “As a sign of respect, I demand you to prostrate before my greatness.”
"Is he kidding...?" Emma asked in a whisper.
Elijah hardly had time to answer before the crowd was breaking out in surprised uproars filled with ‘this is insanity!’ and ‘we’re not your slaves!’ He felt his own anger swirl in the pit of his stomach, eyebrows furrowing together as he waited for the pompous on the float to confirm this was all a joke.

Unfortunately, not even a shred of remorse crossing his features. Matter of fact, he looked the slightest bit irritated, eye lids nearly pinching together. And with the simple wave of his hand, a swarm of police officers shot from the sides of the street and out of buildings in the hundreds, subduing citizens that didn’t comply and slapping cuffs on them.

Elijah felt an officer grab his arm roughly, pushing him downwards.
“Get the hell off of me!” Elijah shouted, reaching for his wallet with his free hand and pulling out his identification. “I’m in the FBI!”
“Then you, of all people, should set an example,” the gruff voice growled back before forcing him on the asphalt, cheek pressed against the hard floor.

“I meant what I said about things changing in D-79, and I’m staying true to that promise,” he heard the mayor declare once more, an indescribable darkness in his tone.

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

”Now, this is more like it!” A voice boomed out across the bowed heads of the crowd. “There was a time, years ago, when the people of D-79 would bow their heads without being told to. I say we bring that time around again.”

Since Ryan and Emma had gone down without the need of force (not happily, though), while Sol had been kicked down, cursing as she went, they were officer free. Emma turned to face the man holding Elijah down, his hand pressed forcefully to his head, pinning him to the floor.
Beneath the continuous echo of the mayor’s voice, she caught the gaze of the officer and snarled, “Either you remove your hands, or I remove your fingers. Choose.”
“Shut your fucking mouth, princess.”
Her hand darted out, catching him around the wrist, “I’m no princess.”

“Get off-“
Her fingers curled around his and pulled, stretching his out to the back of his hand and sending him skulking backwards, cradling his hand to his chest, a look of pure horror etched in to his face.
Before he could utter a word, the crowd once again began getting to their feet, the mayor’s car now driving silently away, waving merrily to the people as he went.

Emma pushed onto her knees the same time Elijah did, dusting off the dirt on his cheek with a light brush of her hand. “Are you okay?” She should have broken the cops fingers, one by freaking one, just for touching him.
"Confused and pissed, but okay," he murmured, eyes downcast.
“I’m not sure what the hell just happened but-“ The feel of cold metal took her off guard, snapping around her wrist in a tight grip.
The cop had shaken off his shock it seemed.

The strength behind his tug had Emma wincing as he knocked her off her knees. “Think I’ll let you get away with that you little bitch. Hands behind your back, now!”
Her wrist throbbed beneath the cuff. “How can I do that when you keep tugging at one of them? Moron.”
Abruptly, the cop got to his feet, dragging her along with him, lifting her by her restraint as easily as a child did a doll. “Stand the hell up!”
Elijah quickly rushed over to intervene, pushing the cop off of her with force. "Back off before I lodge my foot between your ass cheeks."
The cop stumbled, releasing his hold on the other cuff.
His dark eyes narrowed as he righted himself. “You’re both going to pay for this one, wait till-“
Sol was suddenly behind him, a trash can lid in her hand. “Oh, shut up already.”

One slam, and the cop was slumping into a heap against the wall, his chin lolled to meet his chest. A few members of the crowd chuckled as they passed by, the diminishing people acting as the perfect shield from the rest of the police force, who were now ushering the gathering away.
“Let’s get the hell out of here. This is messed up.” Sol waved a hand and nudged at Ryan to move on ahead.
Elijah slipped his arm around Emma’s shoulders, urging her in front of him, placing himself between her and the unconscious officer. “Hide the cuff under your sleeve, Em, we’ll get it off ourselves.”
Sol shot them a grin over her shoulder. “Give me a hand saw and I’ll sort it.”
“Not funny.” Emma growled.

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

The group eventually returned to the agency, riots breaking out on the way back as angered citizens still raged on about the mayor, chants of: 'Impeach him! Impeach him!' booming throughout the streets. Even though Elijah was still somewhat irritated, he forced such thoughts to the back of his mind, a larger issue at hand.

“Are you alright?” he glanced down at Emma as they moved close together. Elijah had told Sol and Ryan to head back to the flat, leaving the pair to their own devices.
“Not really,” she huffed, clawing at the cuff secured around her wrist.
“Picking at it won’t help,” Elijah murmured, reaching for her hand and examining it closely. It was one of those new series; the ones that had codes in the hundreds to unlock the transparent chamber.
“Best fucking day ever,” she drawled sarcastically, blowing a tendril of red hair out of her eye. “We should have stayed in bed all day.”

Elijah couldn’t help but snicker.
“What’s so funny?” she quickly hissed, hazel eyes meeting his bright blue ones.
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t have been opposed to it, sweetheart.”
Emma fought a smile, simply shaking her head as she stared off down the hallway. “I need to see Connie; she can probably get this piece of crap off of me.”
“Well I’ll come with you,” he offered.

Emma almost nodded in acceptance before the overhead speakers cut on in the hallway, a familiar voice filtering through.

“Hello agents,” he greeted, his tone indescribable.
Elijah felt his muscles tense, the tiniest sliver of grief overwhelming his form. He had chosen not to look back at their argument months prior, and since then, other than the formal assigning of missions, they hadn’t spoken. An occasional glance or two, filled with indifference, was the closest they had gotten to acknowledging each other’s presence, and he was still miffed.

Anyone that knew him understood his grudges came and went in a flash, but anger welled in his stomach whenever he thought of being accused of killing not only his best friend, but the head of department who had held a damn knife to his throat.

Fuck. Elijah wanted to punch a wall whenever he thought of it.

“Hello, Landry,” Emma greeted, nudging her partner in the ribs when he didn’t say anything. “Don’t you know respect?” she added, only loud enough for him to hear.
“I have no respect for him,” he murmured.
She rolled her eyes although her free hand tucked around his arm comfortingly, voice lifting up to the speakers once more. “What do you need? We’ll be right down in a second after I—“
“Actually I was hoping to only speak with Elijah, if you don’t mind.”

He felt his heart rate pick up, although it was quickly replaced by anger. If it didn't regard his job, he wasn't interested.

“Absolutely—"
Emma’s nails dug into his arm.
“Fantastic. See you in ten.”

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

As they rode the elevator up, Emma made sure to give Elijah a few helpful tips on his upcoming meeting with Landry.
“Please don’t be cynical and answer back, okay?” Emma said, peering up into his face. “Just do as your told, nod your head when you need to and please don’t give him the fact your giving me right now.”
The I-couldn’t-give-a-shit look. Emma wasn’t often the receiver of said expression, but she’d seen if more often than not aimed at someone else.
"That's the thing, Emma. I'm not some fucking dog that barks when someone tells me too.
“When you work for an agency as big as this, sometimes you have to, Elijah.” She sighed, moving to stand in front of him, her hand gripping at his shirt. “Please? I don’t want you to get your ass fired now that you’re home again.”
Elijah fought the urge to roll his eyes but instantly softened against her touch. "For you, okay. But only for you!”

A smile erupted over her face as she closed the gap between them, her arms circling his waist. “Thank you, big guy. I’ll go get these stupid cuffs removed and meet you up there afterwards, ok?”
With that said, the elevator doors slid open behind her to the MedLab.
“My stop,” She murmured when he bowed his head to kiss her. “Remember, Elijah, keep the attitude to a minimum. If I come up there and you’re both arguing with one another, I will not be a happy girl.”
He kissed her lips once more before she stepped out of the doors and into the clear white hallway. “I solemnly swear to be a good boy, love.”
A second before the doors sealed shut, Emma gave him a reassuring wink, earning herself a sneaky grin in return.

She walked through the labs with a ridiculous grin on her face, despite the morning she’d had and the cuffs still hanging from her wrist. Elijah had a way of making her smile, without needing to do much at all.

“Emma?”
Connie looked up from her pile of paperwork, her thick glasses perched onto the end of her nose when she regarded Emma; she strolled into the room, one empty cuff swinging at her side as she took the free seat opposite the medhead. “Hey, Con. Long time no see, eh? I may need your help with something…”
The young woman raised one dark brow, “Don’t tell me you’re pregnant?”
Emma sat up, horrified at the concept. “What? Hell, no! Pregnant? You’ll never have to worry about me in that department; I’m not having children. No, I’m here because of this,” She raised her arm up in front of them to show off her new bracelet. “Can you get it off me, please?”

Pushing her glasses up her nose, Connie blinked at the electrical handcuffs. “Emma…” She spoke slowly, “You do know I’m a ‘medhead’ right? Not a ‘techhead’. You’d be best to go down to them and get that thing off.”
“I like strangers touching me, Con, you know that. You’re the only one I trust enough to get it off me…plus,” Emma flicked at the mental, “I think this one is a Crusher, right?”
Connie sighed, all her hesitation going out the window. She leaned across the table and gently took Emma’s wrist into her hand, where she inspected the cuffs closely before nodding. “Oh yea, those are definitely Crushers. If I make one false move when trying to take them off, they’ll clamp down on your wrist and break every bone in it! I don’t want to-“
“I know you can do this,” Emma nodded encouragingly. “I’ve seen you work on the lab crap you have in here – you’re a genius, Con.”
“Don’t try to flatter me, Emma,” But she smiled anyway, flattening Emma’s arm down onto the table top. “Let me get my kit and get this thing off.”
“Thanks for this, Connie. I owe you.”
“Well, you can start by telling me how you got that on you in the first place.”

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

Elijah’s thoughts ran rampant on the way up to Landry’s office. As of late, it felt like the man was a wild card, either bitching for no apparent reason at all, or kissing his ass. Personally, he preferred the latter more than the former, but there was no telling what was in store as soon as he stepped into the devil’s den. Elijah had adapted to haters though, and simply shrugged them off with other colorful gestures if need be.

Eventually the large metallic doors came into view, a key pad situated on the right side. Elijah pressed the button right underneath it, not having to say a word before the slabs slid open in response. Landry greeted him on the other side, his back pressed against the desk, his right foot crossing lazily over his lap. At the sight of the young agent, he immediately straightened, albeit slightly, before gesturing him in.

“I was hoping you’d show,” he breathed, fingers caressing the silk of his tie.
“What do you want?” Elijah sharply questioned, standing close to the door. A ball of anger welled in his chest, too thick to be swallowed easily.
The boss parted his lips to speak before closing it and repeating the process enough times to look like a fish out of water. Finally he sighed, “I’m sorry, Elijah.”
The words were enough to floor him, but Elijah hid it behind a scowl. “Is that all you wanted to speak to me about?” His body was already twisting towards the exit.
“No.”

His teeth grazed his tongue but he whirled around to fully face him once more, eyebrows shooting upwards. “Then what, Landry? Expect me to apologize in return? I didn’t fucking do anything wrong and I stand by that. You're the one that towed me off to a shitty agency.” Emma’s words resonated in the back of his mind but he was too stubborn and aggravated to turn back. “And blaming me for both Jacob and Remiah’s death? Do you think I decided one day I’d take the Fishers’ boys out? Because that makes a lot of sense that I’d kill someone who was fucking there for me through thick and thin, and then kill his older brother for no apparent reason.”

Landry briefly ran a hand through his graying hair before placing it on his hip. “I was having a bad day, Elijah.”
“And that justifies why you popped off on me of all people? Look, I’m used to be questioned for my ways, and hell, I could even add I’m used to the criticizing, even though it often comes from some butthurt one night stand, or a jealous prick, but don’t you ever bring my best friend or girlfriend into any of your arguments. I’d rather take the heat alone then for you to skimp out and go for a cheap shot, understood?”

Landry could fire him for all he cared – there were plenty agencies close enough to this one to still maintain something with Emma. If he was going to be called out for shit that was way out of line, he didn’t want the damn job. His talents were already sought out elsewhere and the only thing keeping him at the agency was one of the only relevant women in his life.

“Jacob was as distraught as you were, Elijah, the both of you just handled it in very different ways,” Landry murmured, “but it will never happen again. That was one of the most unprofessional moments in my entire career and an apology isn’t enough. You’re a talented young man, Walker, and my emotions shadowed that. Jacob and I were close…been together since the start of the agency fifteen years ago. He’s helped me through a lot of hurdles in my life, and can you blame me for being upset? Surely you know how getting through a loss feels.”

Elijah felt his jaw loosen in the slightest, automatically cursing himself for being able to relate. Through the nights of drinking until he passed out, to flipping out on people randomly and treating women more horribly than he should have, he had momentarily manifested into a much worse version of himself. The thoughts stung his memory, anxiety overwhelming his body, so he was quick to push them away.

He still remained by the door though, eyes searching for the window past Landry’s face. “He killed so many innocent people. Remiah would have never wanted that.”
“Well, who are we to try and justify his actions?” The older man pushed himself off of the desk, closing the gap between them as he pressed a warm hand on the younger agent’s shoulder. “Yes, he killed, and yes, it was the after effects of years of pent up emotions, but the deed has been done, and you shouldn’t have been blamed for it. We could speculate all we wanted, for years and years and years, but I suppose that won’t lift either of them from their graves to give us insight or answers, correct?”
Elijah finally met his dark blue orbs, “Right.”

He paused several seconds before sticking out his hand, “Then let’s bury the hatchet, for the both of them.”
Elijah involuntarily chewed on the inside of his jaw, although he slowly followed suit. “Nothin’ to lose.”

Landry dropped his hand before pulling him into a warm hug.

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

Emma rubbed at her wrist as she rode up the elevator to Landry’s office, thankful that Connie had managed to get the cuffs off without crushing it into dust. It hadn’t left her completely unscathed, though. A deep, angry red circle now encircled her skin where it had been, her skin torn away in one place and another.

Her mind began running wild when she noticed the office door was a jar, nothing but silence sounding from beyond it. Her first thoughts went to ’Oh, shit, they’ve killed each other!
She pushed the door, hurrying into the room, preparing herself for –
Anything but what she saw.

Landry and Elijah were stood in the middle of the room, goddamn hugging! Of all things. Not strangling each other, or cursing or arguing.
Emma cleared her throat, “Am I…interrupting anything?”
"Nope," Elijah responded with a tiny smirk.
The two men stepped apart, Landry dropping his gaze to the floor in what looked like embarrassment. “Hello, Emma.”
A soft smile curved at her lips. She couldn’t say there was a reason to be embarrassed, since, if anything, she was suddenly incredibly proud of her man; he’d kept his word and behaved, and for that, Landry was rewarding him.
“Were you just hugging each other?” She asked, her smile turning into a smirk.
"It was an illusion," he quickly teased but nodded nonetheless. "We're good now."
“An illusion?” Emma laughed. “Okay. I didn’t see anything.”

Landry shook his head and returned to his seat behind his desk. “What happened to your wrist, Emma?”
She strolled over to stand beside Elijah and raised her red raw arm up. “I got cuffed by some asshole cop.”
“Jesus,” Elijah tugged her arm toward him, a layer of concern etched into his face. “It didn’t look that bad earlier!”
“The metal was locked tight. I didn’t even see the damage until Connie removed it.”
“I’m gunna hunt that fucker down and-“
“Wait,” Landry waved a hand, cutting Elijah off mid-rant. “A police officer cuffed you? What the hell for? You went to the parade, right? What could you possibly do to get in trouble there?”

Emma watched Elijah press a kiss to her sore wrist, momentarily distracted by the sheer tenderness of the simple movement.
“Have you met the new mayor yet, Landry?” Elijah questioned when she remained silent.
His fingers brushed thoughtfully at his chin, “I have. Henry Hoffman; the mans a freaking dictator, and he’s already getting his claws into this city. Us included.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s working his way under the floor boards of the agency. His first aim was the police force, and by the sounds of things he’s already worked them over. Pussies that they are. He’s called me to his place three times this week alone, to discuss the ‘state’ of our workplace.”

Emma didn’t like the turn the conversation was taking. “He has no power over us though, right sir?”
“He’s our mayor, Emma, he has all the power he wants to have. Our previous leader was certainly less… hands on, that’s for sure. She knew we were protecting the city and that’s all she cared about. Henry is different.”
“He forced us to bow to him.” Elijah growled.
“I think bowing is the least of our problems.”

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

“What do you mean bowing is the least of our problems?” Elijah questioned, eyebrow perking up. He had been hoping the whole prostrating act was a one-time thing to welcome the new mayor into the city, but the prick had been making changes in the agency as well?
Landry tapped at a file on his desk. “I’m not quite sure of the details yet, but your assignments will go through a drastic change. He’s getting his hands on every crevice of the city and manipulating it. Just today a woman was arrested for glancing at him the wrong way after the parade.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Emma exclaimed.
“Gets worse,” he continued, “apparently a rumor has been spreading through the grapevines. Hoffman is thinking about bringing back executions and torture.” For the last fifteen or so years, proper executions had been ruled out, the criminals of the town just spending the rest of their lives rotting away in highly guarded, state-of-the-art prisons. And torture? Elijah couldn't think back to how long ago it had been since those had officially disappeared. Was this guy psychotic?

Elijah’s muscles tightened. “How the hell can he do that? Not like he’s the president.”
Landry shook his head. “New rule brought forth by the president – was all over the news yesterday, surprised you didn’t see it. Mayors now have the power to do anything they wish with their sectors as long as he approves it.”
“That’s crazy,” he muttered. “It’s like we’re reverting to a dictatorship.”
“Might as well call it that,” Landry responded, running a hand through his gray tufts. “Funny how I had a head of black hair before the start of last year.”

Emma trailed over to the window, glancing down at the hover crafts that shot through the sky. “There’s no way to have him impeached?” she questioned, turning on her heel. “This is madness.”
“People have already started getting together to try, but it’s unlikely. The president and VP favor him, and as long as they favor him, he’ll stay remain in charge.”
“Indefinitely?” Elijah questioned from the chair, seated on the armrest.
“Indefinitely.”

“And we’ll have to arrest people for looking at him the wrong way, or god forbid what else? Plus the two people that run our country are pro-torture and pro-execution. That's lovely.” Emma sarcastically scoffed in disbelief.
“Unfortunately,” Landry responded with a sigh. “Do I want to? Hell no. But I’d much rather keep this agency alive than start a ‘movement’ and get us all arrested or killed.”
“Well if we’re the law enforcement in D-79, we can’t arrest ourselves, can we?” Elijah questioned with a raised brow.
“The police force can.”
“Everyone on the police force can’t possibly stand for this!”
“They’ll do what they can to get by, Emma. Whatever feeds their families or puts food on the table.”

“Can the kids get executed too? Or tortured?”
“The torture is definitely out for minors but the executions are still in debate, according to the news thirty minutes ago,” Landry warily replied. “Hoffman says he’ll come back with a response in forty-eight hours. That’s what started the first uprising.”
“Of course that’s understandable. No one wants Harry or Jade getting arrested for stealing a cookie from the bakery.”
“I stole candy and other shit all the time when I was a lil’ brat. Guess I would have gotten arrested if he was the mayor,” Elijah mused.
Landry cracked a smile, although it was sardonic. “Thankfully he wasn’t then. But for now, we’ll have to play it by ear. You two will have an update and hopefully your new assignment in the morning.”

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

Things got a whole lot worse in the weeks to come. Henry Hoffman took his role to a level Emma hadn’t known was possible for a mayor; he arrested innocent citizens for petty crimes, was changing the appearance of city with each passing day and had even began a program to rid the city of ‘scum’. People were actually being deported from D-79 for no reasons other than they didn’t meet the criteria.

Their missions had also been affected by the man. Henry would send out daily morning emails to Landry, informing him what he wanted done for the day.
Poor Ryan and Sol had been out on more than their fair share of ridiculous assignments; twice they’d had to man the boarder of D-79/78, to stop unwanted personnel entering the city. Another new idea – boarder control.
Emma and Elijah had had it easier, since it was Landry who did the assigning; he felt it silly to assign his two best agents to petty nonsense.

Until today.

The couple stepped into Landry’s office, backhanded by the unpredicted sight of Henry Hoffman and four of his guards, all wearing matching black suits and ties.
There was no escaping the bastard now.
Landry was sat at his desk, looking as tense as he surely felt.
“Ahh, are these the two, Landry?” Henry boomed, standing from the coach.
“This is Emma and Elijah, Mayor Hoffman. Emma’s been with us some time now and her file shows she has a 100% success rate on her missions; Elijah’s on the road to the same thing.”
“Yes, yes, I remember his face from the papers. The Blacklight Killer’s Killer. Consider me impressed.” He brushed his chubby fingers across his meaty chin. “And the girl, my, my, isn’t she a piece? I wouldn’t mind a girl like you on my staff, honey. Fancy a career change?”
Emma made sure to keep her posture straight and her expression casual. “I’m no good at desk work, sir.”

When he walked toward her, one of his guards followed closely behind him. He stopped at her side and playfully cupped her rear, “Oh, you wouldn’t be doing desk work, honey.”
Her hands fisted at her side, stopping her from reacting how she normally would have. Elijah coughed behind her, a moment before the mayor removed his hand.
Henry grinned at her, his pearly teeth unnaturally white. “I’ve given your boss an exciting mission for the both of you. My deadline is a week.”
“That’s all we’ll need.” Elijah murmured through tight lips.
The man’s grin grew. “And you don’t even know what it is yet, that’s commitment for you.”
With that, Emma felt Elijah step into her side, his hand coming to rest against her hip. “I’m nothing if not committed.”
“Good to see, boy. Good to see!” Henry waved his hand above his balding head, “Come boys, we have much to do today. Goodbye, Landry, keep up the great work. I hope to see you again soon, Emma, honey.”
“I’m sure you will, sir,” Emma nodded curtly.

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, Emma shivered, the feel of his hand still imprinted on her butt.
“I’ll break the bastards hand if he touches her like that again,” Elijah fumed, dropping down into the seat opposite Landry’s desk.
“I’d get used to it if I were you, Elijah. He treats every moderately attractive woman the same way. He’s certainly hands on.”
“Get used to some grabby, fat old man feeling up my girl? I don’t think so.”

Emma stood at the back of his chair, her hands coming to rest on his broad shoulders. “What’s the mission, Landry?”

[/blockquote][/font]

[Ange Keating]

{name:Elijah #|#picture:17}

Elijah was usually never the type to hate someone because quite frankly, it was a major waste of the energy he was far from willing to give, but just by the way the colossal piece of shit closed in on Emma, treating her like a slab of meat, caused his muscles to tighten, eye’s subconsciously narrowing. The only thing preventing him from bashing the ass’s face in was the part of his brain that told him he’d cause more trouble than good after the fact. So, with tightening fists he practically dug his toes into the sleek metal flooring, forcing back any actions he may have felt impelled to act on.

But as soon as Emma's fingers began to work against his shoulders, kneading the flesh, his frame instantly softened, the tips of her hair grazing his cheek. He tapped a pen against the desk absentmindedly, eyes meeting Landry once he propped open his mouth.

“As of late, there’s been a string of abductions taking place in the Red Light District of D-79. The attacks typically happen somewhere between eight o’clock and midnight on Seventh Street, hence he or she acquiring the infamous name, ‘The Seventh Street Abductor.”
“Kidnappings in the slums of the Underground. What’s new? Some prick got bored and scooped up a reasonably attractive piece of ass; someone has to place some of the blame on the people parading around at that time of the night anyways.”
Landry shook his head. “I'm afraid the situation isn't as simple. This person lures teenage girls to a local café pretending to go by a reasonably believable internet alias. From our reports, he spends approximately a month between each victim, picking up bits and pieces of their lives until he is able to acquire information as personal as their address or school. He or she morphs their appearance with new technology through webcam posing as a young girl approximately their age, persuading the victim into meeting at a public place to induce comfort and then bam! At some point she ends up missing. We aren’t quite sure yet where the victims end up or what their status as far as life goes, but we’re hoping you two could figure out this missing link.”

“Society doesn’t get any better,” Emma muttered, before adding, “What do we have to do, Landry?”
Elijah shook his head. “With all the crazy devices popping up all over the place people shouldn’t be trusting anyone on the internet anyways. Plus, what prepubescent teen goes out at eight to meet another one? Nothing reads a teeny bit fishy?”
“I’d like to believe it comes with both the irresponsibility of the parent and the naivety of the girl,” Landry responded, “but here’s what I’ve planned – Emma will pose as a teenager, approximately fifteen, agree to meet with the pedophile through an instant message session we’ll set up, and Elijah will guard the perimeter of the restaurant in case the criminal decides to make a run for it. All clear?”
“Is that a short joke, Landry? A+ for subtleness; I almost missed it!” He smirked playfully, stealing a glancing upwards in Emma’s direction before quickly meriting a slap to the shoulder.

“Asshole,” she muttered, rolling her eyes as she focused once more on her snickering boss, “Easy enough."

[/blockquote][/size]

[laura]

{name:Emma#|#picture:18}

”And this is used for…?”
Her boots clunked down heavily onto the metal of the platform as she positioned herself as she was told. She was in the TechLabs, with Landry and three TechHeads as the programmed the computer software to do only gods knows what. Elijah was stood off to the side, still grinning like an idiot at the fact she was meant to be playing the part of a fifteen year-old girl.
She was not short.

Zach Gordons, head of technology for the D-79 agency, tapped furiously at the computer keyboard. “This, Emma, is a hologram mobiliser. I am about to scan your body, thanks to the platform you are now standing on, and make an exact replica of what you looked like when you were a fifteen year-old girl. That hologram will then be used to lure this culprit in by walking from the school to an empty apartment block located in the slums of lower quarter – it will act as you would perfectly, only perhaps more…sweeter.”
“Sweeter?” She echoed, cocking an accusing brow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“This guy is going after young, innocent girls, Emma,” Landry explained. She didn’t miss the smirk threatening to explode across his lips either. “You couldn’t be less girly if you tried.”
“I don’t want to be girly,” Emma snapped, folding her arms. “And I don’t think I’m comfortable with you cloning me either.”
“It’s a hologram, not a full-on version of you. You’ll have to control her and speak for her.”
Great, sounded like a barrel of fun.

“How will you know what I looked like back then, anyway?”
“Through your memories, Emma,” Zach answered. “Hologram technology is coming on increasingly well within the agency. Ten times faster than any outside business. We can make incredible things through the bodies and memories of our subjects. What you were then, will be standing in front of you in…” He glanced quickly at the screen. “Four minutes and thirty-eight seconds.”

Suddenly, lights outlining the circular platform glowed around her, and when the scanning process began, Elijah was the first one to move forward.
“Will it hurt her?” He asked, his eyes closing following the pulsing beams going up and around her body.
“No,” Zach answered. “She won’t feel a thing.”

As the lights moved, a platform on the other side of the room began to light up, the lights a deep green instead of the light blue emitting around Emma. A pair of worn out, torn and muddy, black boots slowly formed at the base, their laces broken or missing completely; Emma had to look away, ashamed at what was going to follow.

“Process completed.”
The computers voice echoed through the labs, seconds before the lights around her died.

“Is that it?” She asked, stepping off the platform. “Can we go now?”
“Not yet, we’ll need to connect you to her first,” Zach waved a hand. “Come. I’ll program one of the bracelets – you’ll use that to control her.”
With a deep sigh, Emma followed the others to the second platform, where her fifteen year-old self was waiting for her.

Zach went straight to work on the bracelet, but Landry and Elijah stood, gaping at the young girl.
Wearing a pair of boots two sizes too big for her, teenage Emma was anything but the perfect picture. Her skinny legs were bare -since she wore a pair of black denim shorts, riding too high around her thighs- covered in cuts and bruises, her knees scrapped from the numerous times she’d fallen or been pushed. The black hole-ridden t-shirt she wore had once belonged to her mother, with a name of an old band stretched across the top of it; it hung loosely off her bony shoulders –the freshly scarred one- showing the strap of the tank top she wore beneath it. Her face was pale, the bags beneath her eyes too big for a girl of her age, her split lips set in a grim line as her blank hazel eyes starred outward into nothingness. Her red hair cut off at her chin line, a mass of tangles and spikes from the last time her mother had taken the scissors to it.

What a depressing fucking mess.

“That’s…you?” Landry breathed out softly, blinking at the girl.
“Who else is it going to be?” Emma mumbled, turning away from both Landry and Elijah.
She couldn’t bring herself to look in Elijah’s direction, afraid at what emotions she’d find there – disgust, repulsion, something along those lines. He’d broken his no- commitment rule for that? He’d known of her background, sure, the basic information, but not to extent that he’d exactly seen her at her lowest.
“You’ll have to change what she’s wearing,” She tried to make her voice sound stronger than it felt.
“Without a doubt,” Zach answered, eying the girl with a grimace. “No-one would want to go near that with a barge pole.”

[/blockquote][/font]