| "Simmer" | ||
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Safehouse 1 Manhattan, New York City 1300 hours Paige left the conference room with Gray behind her and entered the large waiting area outside. Bella had apparently been shooed off to medical, Joshua sat leaning back in one of the large chairs near the center of the room reading something. The rest of Alpha stood near the other side of room, Baz included. And Brian. Paige walked over to them her eyes narrowed in anger. "What did you do?" she hissed at Baz. "What?" he grinned at her. She pointed to Brian, "What the hell do you call that?" Brian stood grinning up to her. His hair had been dyed purple with blue tips, exactly matching Baz's, though Baz's was much longer and the effect was that much more contrasting on his hair. Saf and Jordan giggled. "You're on your own Baz," Jordan said leading Safara away. "You like it?" Brian beamed at her, "Baz did it so we could look alike." "Look alike?" she turned to Baz. "You realize he starts school in two weeks? Two weeks, Baz, not three, not four, TWO." "Yeah, so?" he shrugged still grinning at her. Paige stared at him. "So? He can't go looking like that?!" "Why not?" Brian said softly. "I think it's cool." He pouted as Paige looked down at him. She felt her heart melting in that pout. "I never get to do anything cool, and Baz thought this would be cool. He said you wouldn't be mad." Paige sighed and kneeled down in front of Brian. "No, I'm not mad..." "Could've fooled me," Baz muttered. She shot him a look, "not that mad." She returned her focus to Brian. "It is cool. I just...are you gonna be okay in school like that?" Brian shrugged, "yeah, why not?" "I dunno, I just don't want the kids picking on you or anything." "They won't pick on me. They're not like regular kids." Regular kids. He was right. "You're right. It's cool." "Besides," he shrugged, "Baz's been showing me some cool fighting moves just in case." "Ok, that's it," Paige said standing, "hallway," she pointed at Baz. Baz rolled his eyes, "thanks kid, see if I help you out anymore." Paige lead Baz out into the hallway and stood with her hands on her hips. "Listen," Baz said seriously, "the kid should know how to defend himself." "I don't care Baz, you dye his hair, you get him in trouble with Rebecca and Gray, and you teach him how to fight? Three days, three days, you're with him and you've totally corrupted him." "Do you actually think I corrupted him? Do you think I would ever do anything to harm him? I mean, yeah we got into a little mischief, but you seriously overreacted with the hair. The poor kid is all alone, his only friends right now are us. That's it Paige. He doesn't have anyone or anything else. Kids are supposed to get into trouble and dye their hair and learn how to fight. Brian's never done any of those things. He's just being a kid. Why won't you let him just be a kid?" Paige stared at him. Damn him. What kind of fucked up world was it when Baz was the voice of reason? "You're right," she said softly, "you're fucking absolutely right. I don't know why I flipped out. I just don't know." Baz pushed her gently up against the wall and picked her hands up to place them on his shoulders. He then leaned his hands on either side of her head and put his forehead against hers. "What's going on Paige, huh?" he asked softly. "You look spooked." "I'm not spooked," she whispered. "You can talk to me, you know that? I'm always here for you guys." "I know that." He lifted his head off of hers to look at her thoughtfully. "You and I, we've been through a lot these last couple months, Samboy, the Cardinal mission." Paige nodded her head. "That was a bad mission for us." "Yes, it was," she agreed. "So, I know you. I can see it in your eyes. Something's bothering you and you're taking it out on the rest of us. So, what's going on, you can trust me." "I do trust you, you know I do." "Then tell me, is it that Jaime guy?" "No," she smiled, "he's a great guy. You'd like him." "Is it Gray? Rebecca? Worried about Brian..." "I can't, Baz. I can't do this now." "Alright," he sighed. "I'm here, whenever you need me, I'm here for you. I hate seeing one of my girls so upset." Paige scoffed quietly, "one of your girls?" "Yeah, you guys are my team. You're me as much as I am you. You know, one for all, all for one and such?" "I know, I know," Paige said squirming. "Good," he kissed her on her forehead. "Because you had me a little worried there. I don't want to be getting dead tonight on my meet because you're pissed off at something." "Nah, I got your back." "You better. Now, you all need to rest up so you're bright eyed and bushy tailed tonight. And me, I gotta entertain Brian for a couple hours before I head out." "Rest sounds really good," Paige said pushing herself off the wall and heading back to the waiting area. "Yeah, I figure I'll teach him a couple more moves," he said swatting Paige in the back of the head. "Bastard," she grinned at him. "Bitch," he grinned back. Return |
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