New Home…Again (Nox’s House)

[Legione Sumus]

Liam Wilson

Liam shook his head. "I'm good, ya'll can have it. Thanks though."

Liam curled up in the corner of the couch and his knees to his chest as he spoke about Nox and Lily. "I don't think he had much choice. It was either bond with the baby or she'd scream until she did. It's a thing with their kids, the monsters they were want to propagate, even the females are worth living in most clans, just not ours. They usually offer to other clans for procreation. That's what Vic was for. Sera says Nox feels like them, and Lily sensed it too." Liam looked to the camera feeds knowing that he'd not find Nox on any of them. "I think he needs her as much as she needs him. But it's just a feeling I got when they were together. Nox is good with kids. He's got two others who he's trying to convince to live here with us. But Kenzie doesn't trust him. He killed their parents. A mercy killing as i understand it, but still Kenzie doesn't see it that way. Doesn't stop Nox from letting an angry little girl beat on him until she's crying and curled up in his arms. But don't tell that to Kenzie."

[Elyse]

Elyse listened with rapt attention as Liam spoke, save for one glance towards Adrian who shrugged and shook his head with a look of sadness. What these kids went through was the worst. Nox had gotten them out. Nox was a hero, even though Elyse doubted he felt that way about himself.

Nox had killed one girls parents. Sounded like Liam didn’t know the whole story, but it hit hard for Elyse. She wondered how much Liam knew about her situation. He had mentioned he knew she was hunted. But did she know it was her father who was doing it?

For awhile, Elyse stayed silent, just eating and thinking. She passed the extra bacon to Adrian, who accepted it with thanks. She quickly washed the dishes she had used and then went to Liam. ”I have to get to work on some things, but it was great getting to know you a little bit. Thanks for all you information,” she gave him another hug, saying the next words so only he could hear. ”If you need someone to talk to or cry with - let me know and I’ll be there when I can. Remember - no shame to cry.”

She released the hug and went back to her room. Opening her laptop she began to look over her father’s files. They were very thorough. He had added notes such as “trained with Elyse,” and that brought the tears back as memories flooded back in. Times when he’d taught her to shoot, or taught her about monsters. Now that’s all he saw in her. One of the last entries before she left for Moscow mentioned a hunt he had gone on with her. He had rated her performance stellar. That changed the tears to sobs, she slammed the laptop shut and rested her head on the desk, trying depserstely to be quiet as not to wake Mae. It was then, even with the caffeine, she gave way to her exhaustion and fell asleep.

[Elyse]

Elyse awoke, but it wasn't naturally.  She had been shaken, and she woke up groggily and sore from having leaned over the desk in an unnatural manner. She looked up tiredly to see Mae pulling her up to her feet.  The tears came back immediately as the inner pain hit again.  If Mae spoke, Elyse couldn't here it over the shouting of her emotions screaming that it was her fault.

He killed her because YOU told her your secret.

He has to kill him because YOU fucked up.

The guilt was by far the stronger of the two emotions Elyse felt, but it was laces with the sadness of her father's betrayal.  Even in this state, Elyse noticed the slight difference in her inner monologue. It was no longer that she killed her mother.  Nox's words had broken through.  Deep down she knew what was happening.  The shock of the day before was wearing out.  She was no longer distracted by having to make plans or do anything else.  Now she was forced to process what she felt.  Elyse knew this had to happen.  She couldn't heal if she didn't.

Mae would know that too.  Elyse had never met a person who understood emotions like Mae.  She knew sentients had the ability to change peoples emotions.  She didn't know if they all did - Mae had never tried to change hers that she knew of, and she clearly wasn't now.  Mae knew this needed to happen.  She knew Elyse had to allow herself to be upset to heal.

Mae took her gently, wrapping an arm around Elyse to gently guide her to the bed and set her down.  Mae's hands pushed her shoulders, making her lie down before tucking her in. Elyse was sobbing, the pain of guilt and betrayal felt like her insides were being burned away. She felt  Mae's gentle hands brush away tears and the hair out of her face.  She felt her gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you," Elyse barely managed the words in her crying.

Mae moved away, but soon Elyse felt her there behind her, holding her close as she cried herself to sleep again. Mae would allow her to feel her pain and to heal from it, but wouldn't allow her to be alone.

((OoC: Mae with permission))