Dispel The Darkness

[lesliethompkins]

Hope for the best, expect the worst. It's one of the many valuable lessons Leslie has learned over the years. Taught by her father, reinforced by experience. She had hoped the bomb delivered maliciously to the clinic would not be an indication of things to come. Somehow she knew that wouldn't be the case.

A week later, there are three patients in residence. Black Mask has had his revenge. Leslie and a select few are left to pick up the pieces.

Comments

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Selina's bottom lip quivers for a moment but she holds it together.

"Thank you."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"No need t'thank me. It was payment remember?" He sighed and took another step closer.

"Did a number on you didnt' they?"

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I'm seriously messed up."

Selina chuckles softly, "And right now, your way is ...." She looks a litlte pale at the idea.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"They dead?" Because people putting a hurt like that on the people he cares about don't tend to get a lot of second chances.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"He's not."

And no, she doesn't sound bitter about that at all. Except for the part where she does entirely. Selina carefully lifts a hand to reach out to him.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

When she reached out he finally gave in and took that last step to catch her hand before it got tired.

"I could..." He doesn't say what exactly but she knows if she accepted it Black Mask could be dead and no one would ever know except the two of them what had happened.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Clasping his hand, she closes her eyes and a breath goes out of her slowly. Her other hand moves to the back of his, running along it, tracing the veins in his hand. "I can't ask." Her voice is soft, "And I wouldn't want you to take that on because of me." She won't purposefully add to the weight on his soul if she can help it.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"Not like I'd be takin' on anythin' I hadn't before luv." He'd done his best to murder Dr. Light for the things he'd done. Light hadn't exactly been the first.

"But I won't unless you ask." Which means it's case closed unless she asks in the future. "She'll be safe anyway."

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"I know that." She still can't ask someone she loves to do something she couldn't... or wouldn't. There are few illusions she has about John and what he is or isn't willing to do. It is part of the reason she won't ask him to do them for her.

"Still?" Opening her eyes, she looks as John, not having thought of the protection as something that would keep on going.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"Not like these things tend t'stop bein' a problem luv." He knows about the Prat's war with the dangerous lunatics that keep coming back to hurt people he doesn't leave off just because it seems over.

"Hope you don't mind her new tattoo. Made it permanent."

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"Oh God."

At first is might seem like a bad thing, with the words she choses and the tears sliding from beneath her lids that she can't stop but John would realize she's relieved. "John..."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"It's all right luv." He gripped her hand tighter for a moment. He's had a shit track record with protecting some people, he's glad he's got this one covered.

"It was the least I could do, it was a largish favor you did for me after all."

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

It frustrates her that she can't get out of this bed right at the moment. It is one of many, many things that she would rather were some other way but are not. She's always been someone who attempts to demonstrate her feelings with actions and she's hampered right now.

"If she ever wakes up, I'll find a way to explain it to her."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"Not sure there's anyone home t'talk to luv. We could take a look sometime if you want." The Dreamtime connects you to everything, they might be able to find the person that should be in that body.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"Maybe sometime."

The prospect that there isn't anyone there anymore at all is something that shakes her deeply and she's not sure she wants to face it. That complete of a failure on her part would be hard to swallow.

For some reason the entire story is sitting in her mouth, wanting to be told, knowing John would be able to handle it without taking it onto himself.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He's had that look many times where he's tried so hard to do something only to find out it had gone to hell...sometimes literally.

"Hope's a good thing, delusions aren't Pretty Kitty. Tell me about her an maybe I'll know better if it'd work."

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"She was happy. She was happy with her husband and they came to visit me." There is obviously a knife twisting in her at the words, "He captured her and killer her husband. Tortured her. Made her..." Selina chokes on the word for a moment, gagging, ".... eat parts of him."

"She'd been a nun. A peaceful woman, a kind and loving soul." Because Selina had protected her. Maybe when she should have let her harden more.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

Her story makes him think of Anne Marie, it's funny how someone like Selena has so many similar things in her life at times. How many people had died just for knowing him? How many people had gotten early graves for daring to be his friend?

"An what did the doctors say was the reason she didn't wake up?" Because if it was the impact of the torture and not physical there might be a hope.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"They never seemed sure. Probably shock since nothing seems to be wrong with her physically." Selina curls up on her side as best she can manage which is mostly not at all. Her hold on John's hand doesn't change.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He used his other hand to push her hair away from her face while he thought over the different things that could be wrong with her sister.

"Could just be doesn't want t'see anymore, sort of the ultimate psychic shell shock. Could be she's in there, could be she's not. But you'll never know until you try."

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Selina smiles at him when he pushes her hair out of the way before she nods in response.

"Maybe. Sometime." A small pause, "Later."

She's not up to that right now.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"All the time in the world luv." He liked to see that smile so he smoothed her hair again and wondered when one of her uptight friends was going to kick him out.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Selina's surprised that Alfred or Bruce hasn't made their way in yet. As it is, she's trying to relax as best she can manage.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"Close your eyes an rest luv. I can promise it'll be without dreams for now. Until you heal up a bit anyroad." He traced symbols lightly against the skin of her forehead with the tip of his finger.

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

There is a sharp cleaning of the throat from behind him. Leslie is naturally protective of her patients. Those in serious condition even more so.

She's never encountered this man before and is naturally suspicious of his intentions, his fingers still on her face. "I'm sorry but visiting hours are over."