Pieces of a puzzle

[Black Widow]

Maxim requested a towel and remarked on Delilah's temper. Haleigh just sat there smirking at him. If he thought Delilah had a temper, he hadn't seen ANYTHING yet. Delilah was the slowest to anger, out of all the members of the Six. Maxim nonchalantly mentioned Ava trying to kill him, and Haleigh's smile grew a bit prouder. If Ava had REALLY tried to kill him, he'd be dead. She was probably just trying to encourage him to talk.... or teach him some manners. Nicolas probably had something to do with talking Ava out of doing anything worse. That must have been when he learned Maxim's last name.

Maxim: I'm not really worried about it.

"You should be."

He was a fool for his pride, but Haleigh wasn't going to bother. Let him go on in ignorance and get himself killed.

Maxim: How about answering a question for ME for a change. Why all the questions? What do you care what I do? Once you let me out of this joint, you never have to see me again. Why do you all give such a damn about who I am?

"Because we've been fucked over so many times, by so many different people, that now in order to survive, we must automatically assume the WORST of people. And I don't care if it sucks for you, having to answer all these inconvenient questions, because WE are the ones with the raw deal here, WE are the ones dealing with a neurotic mistrust of strangers. YOU are lucky that our rampant paranoia didn't lead us to simply leave you out in that ocean to drown. You understand? So this can go down two ways. You can continue to be a stubborn ass and hold on to all your boring little secrets, in which case your shorts can air dry and that's the least of your problems, because I can literally sit here and inundate you with questions FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.... OR.... you can get over yourself and just answer the damn questions, in which case the towels are right here, and your liberty will soon ALSO be within your reach."

She replies calmly, opening the cabinet of the bedside table next to her stool to reveal a stack of towels of various sizes.

"I'm nothing like Delilah, I'm not going to hold your hand and reassure you, or make you any promises about you being safe here, or being set free once you get you get better. I will only tell you this: you will not leave this place ALIVE until we are satisfied that you are not a danger to us or anyone we care about. It is that simple. You have the power to make this quick and easy, or long and hard, it is entirely up to you. It makes no difference to me; I'm not getting any older, and I've got nothing better to do right now. But you are aging. And clearly, you have some pressing agenda. Why won't you just do the smart thing?"

 

[Bishop]

"Sweetheart, no one ever accused me of being smart."

He laughed.

He walked over to Haleigh, and reached past her to pluck a towel out of the cabinet. He backed off, then turned away while he dried off.

"Look, I'm not stupid though. Anyone with this setup has to have the ability to run a background check on me, which I'm sure you've already done. I'm just a regular guy."

He tossed the wet towel on the bed and turned back around, all serious now.

"The woman I'm following paid a man to kill my girlfriend. I want her brought to justice. I lost her in the storm - and I don't know why she was headed this way. End of story. I'm sure you would do the same."

 

[Black Widow]

Maxim: The woman I'm following paid a man to kill my girlfriend. I want her brought to justice. I lost her in the storm - and I don't know why she was headed this way. End of story. I'm sure you would do the same.

If someone had Zach killed?

"Seek justice? No, I'd want vengeance, and I'd do some pretty unspeakable things to accomplish that goal. This woman you're following, her assassin, your girlfriend, I need names. When was your girlfriend killed and why? The more specific you are, the easier it will be for me to confirm your story."

He followed her THIS way? Haleigh wondered if this woman had also shipwrecked-- or perhaps had landed somewhere on the island taking refuge before the storm hit. Beach patrols would have been cancelled during a storm of that magnitude. She performed an island-wide scan of all the metallic objects she could identify, hoping to find some debri washed ashore that could clue her in. She compared it with a similar scan she'd done a few days before the storm had hit, when she was trying to catalog all the things their 'poltergeist' had moved around or tampered with. It was then that she noticed it. Not something new, something missing. It had been down in the vault two weeks ago. Now she searched the island high and low, and did not uncover the very distinct metallic shape anywhere. She beamed a message straight to the observation deck's video screen.

>>Alison, I just discovered that a broadsword of some kind is missing from the vault. It was on my 'radar' before the storm. I don't know how long it's been gone. Perhaps you will be able to determine the significance of its disappearance when you figure out what's been taken? Let me know.

She couldn't leave Maxim to take care of it herself. He was starting to open up. Soon they might have all the answers. Besides, Haleigh trusted that Alison would be able to handle her end.

 

[Bishop]

Maxim turned away, head down-turned, and walked to the bedside. This wasn't something he wanted to have to remember, and they kept forcing him to.

"Seek justice? No, I'd want vengeance, and I'd do some pretty unspeakable things to accomplish that goal.

He turned his head back to her, met her eyes at this. He simply nodded, then turned his head back away.

This woman you're following, her assassin, your girlfriend, I need names. When was your girlfriend killed and why? The more specific you are, the easier it will be for me to confirm your story."

"No!"

His fist slammed down on the bedside table, so hard that the items on top were sent flying and the top of the table was left off kilter. He turned around, anger flashing in his eyes.

"What happened is NOT a story for your or anyone else's amusement. I will not have you use it as my get out of jail free card!"

He took two steps towards Haleigh, his speech low and animal-like in his chest.

"Some things are sacred in this life, and you can leave me to ROT in here forever for all I care, I'm not telling you another GOD DAMN THING."

Pure fire blazed in his eyes as he spoke. He'd humored her so far, but she had no right to the details of his life. They were his. His cross to bear, and no one else's.

"Do you think if the details were that easy to 'confirm' I'd be here right now? I'd be at home while the police locked her up and threw away the key. But she's BETTER than that. [quieter] You wouldn't find anything even if I told you."

His breath was coming heavy now. He ran a hand through his hair, slick with sweat now. He sat down in a chair and put his head in his hands. He was a broken man.

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh watched him slam his fist down on the table RIGHT NEXT TO HER, and have his little tantrum. Looks like he had a temper of his own. She didn't move, didn't flinch, and didn't smile, she only raised an eyebrow slowly at his outburst, and gazed steadily at him as he growled at her. If she was a jumpy woman, she'd have shot him by now. He seemed to be laboring under the misapprehension that she was amused by his story, or that anyone else would find amusement in his story, but she didn't correct him.

Maxim: Some things are sacred in this life, and you can leave me to ROT in here forever for all I care, I'm not telling you another GOD DAMN THING.

[shrugging nonchalantly and leaning forward until they were inches apart] "Fine, have it your way, ya big dumb brute. I hope you like it here."

Maxim: Do you think if the details were that easy to 'confirm' I'd be here right now? I'd be at home while the police locked her up and threw away the key. But she's BETTER than that. [quieter] You wouldn't find anything even if I told you.

"The police are bound by law, ethics, and the responsibility to respect the constitutional rights of those innocent until proven guilty. I, on the other hand, am free to do whatever the hell I want, and I have no qualms violating all KINDS of privacy. I can find out more than the FBI and the CIA combined, because I have access to EVERYTHING."

He was practically hyperventilating, and sweating and probably close to shaking, but Haleigh was completely unmoved.

 

[Bishop]

Enough messing around. He had wasted too much time already, and he should have known better than to allow himself to get sidetracked. Delilah would be fine here - Bianca wasn't here - and it was time for him to go.

Haleigh really did have a high opinion of herself. She couldn't fathom that some things might be beyond her control. Might be none of her damn business, even. All she wanted was her way, no matter who was hurt by it. Typical.

He looked up.

"Just go."

 

[Persephone]

Nicolas: At least Hades KIDNAPPED you and bargained for the freaking SEASONS. I am hoping here that Delilah doesn't manage to leap before we all have a look.

Ava scoffed at the notion. Delilah wasn't a dumb person by any stretch of the imagination, but her love life was definitely her Achilles heel. Closing the laptop finding nothing on Maxim worth noting. He had no criminal background whatsoever. The only black mark on his record was a speeding ticket from when he was 20 years old. A model citizen if there ever was one. She knew Haleigh would [and had] done a much better background check, but Ava just needed to keep busy. This situation was infuriating.

Nicolas: Pretty mild so far, huh?

"Just a speeding ticket."

Nicolas: Good thing you didn't kill him I guess. Though even if you had, she would have found a way to blame me.

Letting out a small laugh, Ava shook her head.

"With my history of murder? I highly doubt that."

Shifting her eyes to Haleigh, Maxim, and Delilah in the medical lab, FINALLY he did something to tick Delilah off. She threw a pitcher of ice water all over his lap, instantly making Ava grin with delight. The water soaked right through his boxer shorts and emphasized his very personal area for everyone to see.

"Now I understand why he's so pissy."

Ava not so subtly teasing that he was LESS than well endowed.

The back and forth between Haleigh and Maxim went on for another few minutes. He gave a vague representation of who he was searching for and why. However the second Haleigh asked for his lovers name he blew a gasket. Rolling her eyes, the elemental stood from her seat and walked over to where Nicolas was standing by the window. At this point Maxim asked Haleigh to leave.

"Well that was a colossal waste of time. [deadpan] Why aren't we throwing his happy ass back into the Mediterranean again?"

 

[Black Widow]

Maxim: Just go.

Did he think he had ANY kind of authority here? Did he think his sad puppy dog eyes had ANY effect whatsoever on her? Clearly he didn't understand the lengths Haleigh would go to to make sure her family was safe. Her time and patience was the least of the things she was willing to sacrifice for them. She gave him a trenchant smile.

"I don't think you understand. You're STUCK IN HERE with me, until you feel more cooperative. Now would you like to read GQ or Men's Health? I've got dibs on Car and Driver first."

She said, reaching for the magazines on the bedside table, ready to toss one at his request. She transformed the metal stool she sat on into an ergonomic, high-backed chair, kicked off her shoes, and reclined back to put her feet up on the bed. After a few minutes, she nonchalantly introduced another question:

"So exactly HOW were you tracking your mystery woman? Did she come here straight from New York? Is SHE from New York or Russia, or somewhere else entirely? Did you already take care of the hitman, or what's the deal with him?"

Oh Yeah, she could do this ALL DAY LONG. She didn't even look up from the article she was reading. The fact that he was being so damn secretive only made things worse for him, and hurt his trustworthiness. What was he trying to hide, and why? ALL she wanted was to know the truth and get RID of his stubborn arrogant ass, one way or another. He was just prolonging the inevitable.

 

[Bishop]

"I don't think you understand. You're STUCK IN HERE with me, until you feel more cooperative. Now would you like to read GQ or Men's Health? I've got dibs on Car and Driver first."

Bitch. Two could play that game. He just looked at her.

"So exactly HOW were you tracking your mystery woman? Did she come here straight from New York? Is SHE from New York or Russia, or somewhere else entirely? Did you already take care of the hitman, or what's the deal with him?"

He said nothing. He walked slowly over to Haleigh, plucked the issue of "Car & Driver" she was reading from her hands, went into the bathroom, and shut and locked the door. Fuck her.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah stormed up the stairs. What a humongous ass! She had been nothing but nice to him and he was...

She took a deep breath. She shouldn't let this bother her so much. She didn't know why she had reacted the way she did. She put a hand to her forehead. All she felt was confused and all over the place.

Coming out of the stairwell, she opened the door to the observation deck and found Nicolas and Ava there. She looked Ava dead in the eye.

"You lied to me."

She closed the door and went to get some fresh air.

 

[Black Widow]

Oh, he really had a fucking pair, this one. Haleigh felt her rage surge off the charts as he snatched the magazine out of her hands and shut himself in the bathroom.

OH FUCKING HELL NO.

Haleigh took a deep breath to steady herself, then RIPPED the bathroom door from its hinges, lunged and took him by the throat, slammed him against the wall just hard enough to make him see stars, and got right up in his face, looking absolutely APOPLECTIC.

"The next time you snatch something out of my hands, I will snatch your testicles from your body."

She snarled, then took back the magazine by force, dropped his ass on the toilet, and stalked back out to resume her reading.

 

[Bishop]

Well, that really pissed her off.

She dropped him and left the bathroom.

His neck was really having a bad day. He laughed, loud enough that she would be able to hear him in the other room. Then he called out to her.

"Hey, you must be related to Ava. She did the same thing this morning."

But both experiences told him two things:

1. That they weren't in fact, going to kill him. Most likely it was Delilah keeping them honest. And

2. That Delilah would have to come back at some point.

So all he had to do was bide his time. So he peeled off his boxers, turned on the hot water in the shower, and climbed in.

Smiling, he called out once again to Haleigh in the next room.

"Feel free to join me."

 

[Persephone]

The echoing of foot steps indicated that someone was coming up the stairs; most likely Delilah. As the door flew open Ava's eyes met with the blondes.

Delilah: You lied to me.

Without another word Delilah left the room. Shit... Rolling her eyes shut, a soft sigh escaped her lips.

[to Nicolas] "Excuse me."

Exiting the observatory, Ava followed Delilah outside. It was chilly out--around 50 degrees or so. Folding her arms across her chest, the wind whipped around Ava's body giving her goosebumps. Delilah was facing away from her, looking out at the vast sea that surrounded the island.

"Delilah....I'm sorry. When he woke up I thought I could ask him a few easy questions to learn more about him--things that Haleigh would easily be able to look up. I just wanted to help, that's all."

Craning her neck back, Ava stepped forward so she was now standing next to Delilah.

"I was polite for what it's worth....until he pissed me off by being a giant prick--BUT that's not my fault!....You know how bad my temper is.."

Huffing out, Ava nudged Delilah's shoulder with her own.

"Please don't be angry with me."

 

[MorningStar]

Ava gave her "apology". Delilah said nothing. She didn't even look at her. Then, after a minute or two of silence, she glanced at Ava.

"Wait, I need Haleigh here for this too."

Delilah pressed on the discreet com she wore as a bracelet around her wrist.

"Haleigh, get your ass out here."

And Delilah said nothing while they waited for her to arrive. When she did, Delilah held up a hand as she started to speak, silencing her. She spoke very quietly.

"I asked for one thing. To rescue this human, and send him on his way. And the two of you have taken this as an opportunity to play Gitmo."

She held up her hand again and shushed them from interrupting.

"Whether he's an ass or not is no excuse for trying to kill him. All I asked for was some simple human compassion from you, to sit with him for a few minutes and no, I don't think you're sorry at all! Have either of you forgotten that we are going to wipe his memory once he leaves here? But no, let's induce trauma that he'll remember one day. He's just a man. God I think you two WANT trouble to come our way."

She turned away from them and back to the ocean.

"I really really don't need to have to fight the two of you every step of the way right now. So back off. You've done your background check, you know he's a nobody. He's not our problem. We'll wipe his memory and set him in the middle of Times Square - and forget him."

 

[Black Widow]

The ONLY reason she hadn't REALLY tried to hurt him just now was Delilah. Maybe her reaction was above and beyond what was appropriate, but this guy was the fucking worst.

Haleigh could always tell when Zach was helping her with her emotions, this time it was because she felt her anger drop precipitously. One more deep breath and she had herself back under control.

Maxim: Hey, you must be related to Ava. She did the same thing this morning.

"She's my sister, asshole."

He decided now was the time to take a shower.

Maxim: Feel free to join me.

"No thanks, I've got a REAL man."

Haleigh called back in reply as she removed every last towel from the cabinet, and gathered all the ones in the bathroom itself [and his shorts while she was at it], opened the shower door, and dumped the whole load at his feet, under the downpour of water from the showerhead. She looked up at him smugly.

Delilah: [over the intercom] Haleigh, get your ass out here.

[sighing] "Looks like she saved you again. I wish you actually deserved her efforts, but you're just some dumbfuck nobody who got incredibly lucky. TWICE."

She disappeared from sight, but not before she made sure the room was secure and the guards were outside at their posts. She reappeared on the other side of Delilah, but before she could ask what was up, Delilah launched into her lecture.

Delilah: Whether he's an ass or not is no excuse for trying to kill him.

"PLEASE, if I were TRYING to kill him, he'd be dead already."

Delilah: All I asked for was some simple human compassion form you, to sit with him for a few minutes and no, I don't think you're sorry at all! Have either of you forgotten that we are going to wipe his memory once he leaves her? But no, let's induce trauma that he'll remember one day.

[scoffing and rolling her eyes] "He's too much of a moronic meathead to even be traumatized by what I've done to him. I gave him a concussion and he invited me to fuck him afterwards. Trust me, he's not THAT traumatized."

Delilah: He's just a man. God I think you two WANT trouble to come our way.

"ALL I WANT is to keep us SAFE from all the fucking crazies out in the world, Delilah. I will NEVER EVER apologize for the measures I take to accomplish that goal."

Delilah: I really really don't need to have to fight the two of you every step of the way right now. So back off. You've done your background check, you know he's a nobody. He's not our problem. We'll wipe his memory and set him in the middle of Times Square - and forget him.

"No one wants this to be a fight between us, least of all ME. That idiot is not worth fighting over. So if you don't want me to help, okay. This is really your thing anyway. But I hope you're right. I hope beyond LOGIC that he's REALLY not our problem, but I've got to warn you: the fact that he won't just TELL US at least the NAME of who he's after does NOT sit well with me. What if he made up the whole cover story about his girlfriend getting killed? What if he's actually following one of US?? Just because he doesn't have a past doesn't mean he's not plain old PSYCHOTIC."

 

[Persephone]

Ava tried apologizing. She was straight forward with Delilah, even admitting that her temper had gotten the best of her. But Delilah didn't want to hear it. She summoned Haleigh outside and made a heated speech about how the only thing she asked for was for them to play nice and not try and kill him. Ava DIDN'T try to kill him--she doesn't "try".

Shaking her head, Haleigh took point and rebutted first, explaining that they were only doing this to help protect the team, but most importantly her. Ava could have said a LOT of thing in that moment; things that would most likely hurt Delilah and cause an even bigger rift between them, but she held her tongue. Instead she waited for Haleigh to finish before putting in her two cents.

"Look, I apologize. I promised I wouldn't hurt him and I roughed him up a bit. I'm sorry. But i'm not going to stand here and apologize for wanting to protect this team and you. You might not want to hear this Delilah, but you sitting vigil by his bedside--a stranger you know NOTHING about--isn't normal. You are in way deep for someone who just wants to wipe his memory and drop him back in New York. But fine, if you want me to stay out of it? I will. I won't go near him OR you until he's off of this island."

Walking passed Delilah and Haleigh, Ava disappeared into the mansion heading far FAR away from anything to do with Maxim Shermetyev.

 

[MorningStar]

"…I hope beyond LOGIC that he's REALLY not our problem, but I've got to warn you: the fact that he won't just TELL US at least the NAME of who he's after does NOT sit well with me. What if he made up the whole cover story about his girlfriend getting killed? What if he's actually following one of US?? Just because he doesn't have a past doesn't mean he's not plain old PSYCHOTIC."

She was calm now, not angry – just…tired.

“Haleigh. If someone locked YOU in a room, tried to strangle you, demanded you answer their questions. What would YOU do? My reasons for treating him humanely aren’t just because it’s the right thing to do. Which of us has gotten more information out of him?”

"Look, I apologize. I promised I wouldn't hurt him and I roughed him up a bit. I'm sorry. But i'm not going to stand here and apologize for wanting to protect this team and you. You might not want to hear this Delilah, but you sitting vigil by his bedside--a stranger you know NOTHING about--isn't normal. You are in way deep for someone who just wants to wipe his memory and drop him back in New York.

Delilah put her hands to her face.

“I wish you would all stop treating me like a CHILD.”

But fine, if you want me to stay out of it? I will. I won't go near him OR you until he's off of this island."

She looked out at the deep blue ocean. She spoke very softly.

“Why is everything always my fault?”

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: Haleigh. If someone locked YOU in a room, tried to strangle you, demanded you answer their questions. What would YOU do? My reasons for treating him humanely aren’t just because it’s the right thing to do.

"I DID treat him humanely at first. I remained calm despite his insufferable ego, and when he supplanted MY questions with some of his own, I replied with tact and understanding. I took him seriously and responded in detail, explaining just why it was so important for us to know all about him. I told him what we needed and why and I let him know that without his cooperation, his situation would not change. I didn't threaten him, I didn't bully him, hell, I wasn't even sarcastic. And I THOUGHT I was getting through that thick head of his, but after giving me the vaguest skeleton of a story, he BLEW UP at me in the most unnecessary conniption. I COULD HAVE backhanded his punk ass across the room at that point, but I kept my cool. But I DRAW THE LINE at being rude and insolent just for the sake of proving he could be a big bad bitch. I never went in there to have a pissing match with him, but he'd better be EXCEEDINGLY careful what he wishes for."

Ava: Look, I apologize. I promised I wouldn't hurt him and I roughed him up a bit. I'm sorry. But i'm not going to stand here and apologize for wanting to protect this team and you. You might not want to hear this Delilah, but you sitting vigil by his bedside--a stranger you know NOTHING about--isn't normal. You are in way deep for someone who just wants to wipe his memory and drop him back in New York. But fine, if you want me to stay out of it? I will. I won't go near him OR you until he's off of this island.

Delilah: I wish you would all stop treating me like a CHILD.

Haleigh reached up and took Delilah by the wrists, pulling her hands down from her face. This was the time for eye contact and sincerity.

"We're not treating you like a child, we're treating you like we CARE about your well being, Delilah. I'm glad you're doing better, and for fuck's sake I'm not trying to guilt-trip you when I say this, but I don't think you understand what your suicide attempt did to the rest of us. Yeah, I said it. You don't want us to act like you're made of glass? Then it's about goddamn time SOMEONE acknowledged that it devastated us to pull your lifeless body out of the surf that day. You'll never know, and I cannot bear to explain the grief and the guilt and the torment we experienced while we waited to find out if Ororo could fix what WE LET HAPPEN to you. AND NO, IT'S NOT ALL YOUR FAULT, because EVERYONE knows we all played a role in that one, and we all carry a fraction of the blame for our actions in regards to Bishop. But yeah, you contributed to this problem we're all trying to negotiate. And I think all ANY OF US wants is for everyone to make it out alive, but you've gotta help us out here. We're flailing around trying to figure out what's going on with you, and protect our asses all the while. AND DO NOT TELL ME that you are 'fine', because Ava's right. We have to talk you into leaving that guy's side. She had to talk you into eating lunch. I'm concerned about you, okay? And I don't think I'm just being silly."

 

[MorningStar]

"I DID treat him humanely at first.”

Delilah gave her a look that said she didn’t quite believe that one.

Haleigh took Delilah by the wrists.

"We're not treating you like a child, we're treating you like we CARE about your well being, Delilah. I'm glad you're doing better, and for fuck's sake I'm not trying to guilt-trip you when I say this, but I don't think you understand what your suicide attempt did to the rest of us. Yeah, I said it. You don't want us to act like you're made of glass? Then it's about goddamn time SOMEONE acknowledged that it devastated us to pull your lifeless body out of the surf that day. You'll never know, and I cannot bear to explain the grief and the guilt and the torment we experienced while we waited to find out if Ororo could fix what WE LET HAPPEN to you. AND NO, IT'S NOT ALL YOUR FAULT, because EVERYONE knows we all played a role in that one, and we all carry a fraction of the blame for our actions in regards to Bishop. But yeah, you contributed to this problem we're all trying to negotiate. And I think all ANY OF US wants is for everyone to make it out alive, but you've gotta help us out here. We're flailing around trying to figure out what's going on with you, and protect our asses all the while. AND DO NOT TELL ME that you are 'fine', because Ava's right. We have to talk you into leaving that guy's side. She had to talk you into eating lunch. I'm concerned about you, okay? And I don't think I'm just being silly."

Delilah let her hands drop to her sides.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for Bishop, I’m sorry for Sharon, I’m sorry for Nicolas, I’m sorry for…everything. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, and I’m sorry that people were. But do you want me to keep on like this? The only thing I can do is go forward and to do that I have to pretend that everything is okay. Everyone has demons.”

She looked pointedly at Haleigh.

“But I can’t think about mine, not now. Haleigh, that will destroy me. I can’t take it anymore. And the fact of the matter is, none of you ever listen to a word I say. It’s all ‘Oh Delilah, she’s the heart of our team blah blah blah isn’t it so nice how she keeps us human blah blah blah.’ But in reality I’m like a child that you humor before you go off and have the real conversation in the next room where I can’t hear it.”

She sighed. This wasn’t something she wanted to say – ever. But somehow it was coming out of her mouth. She looked at Haleigh with sad eyes.

“Even now you’re doing it. You tell me what I want to hear and then you go and do whatever you please anyway. You don’t listen to anything I say. You never did. I told you that something like Bishop was going to happen, and NO ONE believed me. And then it was all my fault when it actually happened.”

She wiped her eyes with one hand.

“Why is it so hard to understand why Maxim is important to me? He was in trouble, and we had the opportunity to save him. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be here for? Isn’t that what we’re a team for, what our gifts are supposed to be used for? Can’t we just do something good for once without strings attached?”

She closed her eyes, as tears blinked from them.

“I just don’t want to be the monster this time.”

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for Bishop, I’m sorry for Sharon, I’m sorry for Nicolas, I’m sorry for…everything. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, and I’m sorry that people were. But do you want me to keep on like this?

[shaking her head] "No, no. You didn't CREATE Bishop, or Sharon, or Nicolas. YOU didn't machinate their problems or their grievances. You simply dealt with the situations they brought about in the only way your unimpeachable ethics would allow. That's not something to apologize for, and I wish you WEREN'T sorry for having upheld your beliefs and followed your conscience, because I have only ever admired you for it."

Delilah: The only thing I can do is go forward and to do that I have to pretend that everything is okay. Everyone has demons.

[sadly] "But none of ours has ever driven us to such a degree of self-destruction. You've got to cut us some slack, we don't know how to handle this. We don't know how to make you understand that we put you on that pedestal because you are the ONLY one among us worthy of such reverence. Your humility prevents you from accepting that the rest of us bathe in your purity like a snake in the sun.... that we NEED you, because without you we would have let that man drown."

Delilah: And the fact of the matter is, none of you ever listen to a word I say. It’s all ‘Oh Delilah, she’s the heart of our team blah blah blah isn’t it so nice how she keeps us human blah blah blah.’ But in reality I’m like a child that you humor before you go off and have the real conversation in the next room where I can’t hear it.

"Well now that's just not true. I suppose I shouldn't speak for the others, but I personally listen to every word you say. I absorb your advice, and then I go off into the next room to discuss it with the others, and try to compromise my objective with your suggestion, in a conversation behind your back so that you won't hear how horrible a person I am without your guidance."

This last said with a small smile. She wanted to help Delilah come to terms with what was bothering her, she wanted to help Delilah find the empowerment she needed to defeat her demons.

Delilah: I told you that something like Bishop was going to happen, and NO ONE believed me.

"And we paid for our vanity, but not with our pride. It may take some time for some of the others to acknowledge that it was truly NOT YOUR FAULT, but I will ALWAYS stand in your defense when they bring it up, because while it hurt us when you followed your heart, as soon as you realized you'd been lead astray, you corrected your mistakes. Whether or not you loved him, it was not your fault that he was..... the way he was. Nor was it your fault that he did the things he did."

Delilah: Why is it so hard to understand why Maxim is important to me? He was in trouble, and we had the opportunity to save him. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be here for? Isn’t that what we’re a team for, what our gifts are supposed to be used for? Can’t we just do something good for once without strings attached?

"Well..... I..... I suppose we can. Just so long as it doesn't cost us our lives."

Delilah: I just don't want to be the monster this time.

[smiling gently at her] "Delilah. You've never been the monster. I don't think you could be one if you honestly tried your very hardest."