A/N: Sorry for my absence! As always, songs for this chapter are:
Polaroid by Imagine Dragons- http://youtu.be/dqz_boAEUuo?list=PLWopt2KEPXqKGU2TDp4LbuIdHqWWGCKr1
Flair slumped into the lounge chair in her room. Rynn plopped down on the seat across from her and sighed, blowing hair out of her eyes.
“That went surprisingly well, huh?” she said. Flair snorted in response and rested her forehead on a knee. “I mean, no one died, so that’s good.”
“Yeah, I guess. Kane handled it well, don’t you think?”
“Oh, yeah. Definitely. I mean I thought he’d soil his pants, but he seemed pretty relaxed for having guns pointed at him. Well, they were pointed at us all, but the rest of us are pretty used to that,” Rynn replied. Her sister nodded and then frowned, slipping into her head.
“I know he was talking about those… things, or whatever they were. I have no idea how we’re going to investigate that further. I’m not going back to the institute. Even if… he’s still there,” she said, voice dropping to a throaty whisper at the last part. She pressed her lips together and shook her head forcefully, shaking away emotions.
“He’s not going to be the same if you find him, Rebel,” Rynn murmured. The childhood nickname made the corners of both girls’ mouths twitch up into small smiles. Flair bumped the side of her foot against her sister’s shin.
“I know that, Blossom,” she said, returning the sentimental display of affection. “I can’t help but hold onto the idea of finding Silas though. He was there for me when no one else was.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. Rynn’s eyes flicked to her hands and she fiddled with the edge of one of the blankets.
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything that warrants an apology,” Flair said.
“I wasn’t there for you. I know I was younger when you were taken away, even younger than you were, but I still should’ve tried to do something. And I should’ve been there for you. I know I’m a crappy sister. I still don’t have your back all the time and I should. You’ve had to do so much and I’ve just sat back and watched you.” She drew a shaky breath. “I should try to fight my own battles and support you. You shouldn’t have to protect me anymore.”
“You both have a lot of issues,” came a voice from the door of Flair’s bedroom. She jumped and cursed under her breath.
“Kane. Give me a heart attack, why don’t you?” she snapped. He grinned and shoved himself off the doorframe. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough, Rebel,” he said with a sly grin.
“You use that nickname ever again and you’re dead,” Flair snapped. Rynn slapped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle giggles and failing miserably.
“Am I interrupting anything?” Kane asked.
“Yes,” Flair said, while at the same Rynn replied with a cheery “no, of course not.”
“I’m just going to join anyway. I have an idea about where to get help for that… thing we talked about,” he said. Flair leaned forward casually, trying to conceal her interest and eagerness.
“Help? Don’t we have three other people on our side already? Besides you and me,” she said. He nodded and cleared his throat nervously.
“But we’ll probably need more help than that. I’m not saying your crew isn’t useful, but we’ll need other skill sets to succeed. We can’t get caught,” he said.
“I know that. I already hate the idea of going back to the Institute, there’s no way I’m getting caught trying to expose secret government projects and getting trapped in that place again,” Flair said. Her jaw twitched and his eyes lingered on the tense muscles of her neck before drifting along her cheekbone to her eyes.
“I know how horrible that place is, Flair. I was there too. I don’t want to get dragged into that place again either, so that is exactly why I am saying we should find allies we can trust. I know people that will help us. All I ask is that you trust me,” he said in a low voice. His eyes were calm and cold. She’d remembered that same expression on Silas whenever he made up his mind or knew that he was right. Flair was stubborn and reckless, but she wasn’t stupid.
‘That expression must run in the family. I’ve missed having someone that actually argues their point. No one’s called me on my crap in a long time,’ Flair thought. She nodded.
“Okay. We’ll visit your person,” she said. “And don’t look so smug. This is only one thing I’m agreeing with you on. Don’t think this’ll happen often.”
“Alright, alright. I do think you’ll like the person that I have in mind to assist us though,” he said absentmindedly.
“Who is it?”
“Well now, that would be spoiling a pleasant surprise, wouldn’t it?” he said, then waltzed out of the room. Flair was left sputtering at the empty doorway.
Rynn stifled a smile. “That went well. And he was right you know. We do need more help than just us. We can head out tomorrow. For now, try to get some sleep. I don’t want someone that hasn’t slept to drive the ship.”
A/N:
Thank you so much for reading! It's so amazing to have the support of people with this story. I've had quite the hiatus while I try to keep up with everything, but I've finally gotten back to writing. HUGS TO ALL OF YOU LOVELIES!
-EnnaStark
ns 15.158.61.20da2
