( No Title )
The Mechanics of Emotion (30199 words) by thesavagesabretooth
Athena Cykes has a problem. For years, she built her life around rescuing the man who had saved her, Simon Blackquill. She’d been imagining a fairytale ending. A kiss. A ride into the sunset. But real life isn’t as simple as a dream. Athena got her kiss, but there was no ending– there was a complication. Bobby Fulbright was suddenly back in Simon’s life in an unexpected twist of fate, and it turned out that he and Simon had been together for a whole year.
Not to mention that there are two more members of the Phantom Organization who’ve been captured that Simon now needs to prosecute, and Athena must defend. Love and chaos in LA. In justice we trust– but who understands the mechanics of emotion?
–
December 27, 2:35 pm
They did, in fact eventually decide on where to get lunch, despite the revelation that Halblicht had already eaten. Over bowls of Eldoon’s noodles they chatted about interior decorating, the challenge of finding a place to live, and generally light matters.
After lunch, they’d split up, with Simon heading to the prosecutor’s office, and Athena who had to go to the police precinct to start preparing for “asset 24"s case. Halblicht had happily accompanied her, and now she found herself in the passenger seat of his rented car.
“You know…another benefit of living together’s this.” Athena chuckled. “I can hitch rides with you guys instead of running everywhere and missing buses.”
She leaned partially against the door, watching the city roll by with a chuckle. The noodles had hit the spot, and the nerves of the morning had all but seemed to dissipate.
"Ahh, you don’t drive, do you, Miss Athena?” Bobby asked, cocking his head. “I’ll be happy to drive you anywhere you need, as long as I’m not on duty–”
“–and maybe sometimes if I’m on duty anyway,” Robert cut in slyly.
She glanced over at him with a sly grin.
“You guys have always been pretty helpful~. I won’t be afraid to hitch a ride, on duty or no, Mr. Halblicht” she winked playfully “I never got my driver’s license, given the whole ‘living in Europe’ thing.”
“They do have a very good public transit system there. LA seems to try its best,” Halblicht chuckled. Bobby mused after a moment “I could teach you to drive if you wanted!”
Athena shifted to look at him more fully with a grin.
“Woah, you would? I mean…on one hand It’d mean I couldn’t beg you for a ride as often, on the other…I guess I’ve always been kinda curious…and it’s not like I had anyone willing to teach me before.”
“No one? That’s a shame, Miss Athena! Consider the offer open. And if you do learn and you still want me to drive you, I don’t mind playing chauffeur."
Athena leaned on the center console.
“Hmmm…Sorry , I’m just trying to imagine you in the cap.” She chuckled into her hand “and sadly not…I mean. My father’s parents…my grandparents I guess– they were pretty old and didn’t seem keen on giving lessons, and I was too busy anyway to do anything but cram and study.”
They seemed to notice Athena leaning toward them, and she felt a flutter of curiosity from Bobby, but it was Robert who replied.
"Actually, I happen to have a full chauffeur’s uniform among my possessions. Though, that may be classified as evidence now.” He smirked, dryly. “But I see, busy busy busy in europe. And as I understand it Mr. Wright doesn’t drive either.”
Athena whistled, the curiosity fluttering in echo through her “…wait , for real? Why? Did…did you actually chauffeur on a job?”
She nodded her head , still leaning on that midpoint between them “yeah, Mr. Wright doesn’t drive, and the one time I asked him he got all cagey about it and went into a long winded story about the time he was hit by a car and hit a telephone pole.”
They shook their head in response. “Mr. Wright’s a bit ridiculous. As for chauffeuring, that’s one role I’ve actually played more than once. It does make it easy to get close to someone, and to get them alone.”
“Easy to dispose of crime scene too, if you’re careful.” she put her fingers to her chin “honestly it makes sense! I just thought the uniforms were only used in like…old movies.”
She chuckled “Mr. Wright’s …a lot. But he’s my boss so..you know.”
“No, the uniforms are still very much in use. I suppose you’ve never had occasion to have an official chauffeur. Me either.” Another dry smirk from Robert, and he glanced her way curiously.
“We could trade the uniform back and forth if I got my license, I suppose. We can pretend to be living the high life.” She looked up at him with her bright grin “you don’t mind me leaning here, do you?”
“There’s hardly anything I mind, Athena,” Robert remarked, glancing at her again. “But it does remind me of a question I meant to ask.”
Athena pointed to him with two fingers. “Shoot, Robert…I’ll answer as best I can.”
“I still don’t have my gun back,” he said, shaking his head. Clearly a joke, despite the lack of palpable feeling from him. “But my question. You mentioned the night we shared a bed with Simon. Was that a persuasion tactic, or a flirtation?”
“Too bad.” she laughed “maybe the police department’ll give it back later. You could teach me to shoot, too.”
She joked partially to delay her answer, feeling the slightest burn of heat on her face as she formulated an answer.
“As for your question.I did promise to answer…” she rubbed her neck with a shy grin. “I mean…I suppose I meant it as a flirtation…and as a way to show you that I was pretty open to the idea..”
“To the idea of both of us having a relationship with Simon?”
Athena ducked her head with a shy laugh.
“I mean, I was okay with that basically since the start. Simon deserves all the love in the world. But well, we’ll be in pretty close proximity– and we’ve had some moments where we’ve bonded over a lot..”
“A flirtation towards us then. Interesting.” Robert smirked. “Bobby suggested that it might be, but I hesitated to believe it.”
Athena tucked her hair over her ear with a nod. “Yeah, a flirtation towards you guys….you hesitated huh?”
“My guess is that most people in your position would be hesitant to extend a flirtation in my direction.” He rested his hand on the center console near where she was leaning. “Though I’ve already observed that you’re not like most people.”
Athena laughed softly.
“most people would think i was crazy for even thinking about it…” she shifted, and her hand brushed his “I’m..not like most people. Like I’ve told you back in Cauli, I was born a bit different…I don’t think the same way as others. And despite everything, I enjoy your company.”
“For the best, since it seems like you’ll be getting a lot of it after all.” The warm leather of his gloved hand brushed hers in return and then rested atop it. It was the same hand, she realized suddenly, that bore a scar of her making.
The same hand she remembered from her visceral half-memory that had risen up during the trial. In a way, it was a sign of the history they all shared, twisted and tumultuous as it was.
Her thumb rubbed against the leather of the side of his hand as it rested atop hers, as she nodded “and you mine, so I hope you don’t mind too much.” she winked.
“We’re gonna be roomies…promise, I don’t snore. Just don’t ask Junie.”
“I don’t have to ask though. After all, we’ve already shared a bed, as you mentioned.”
He pulled the car into the police precinct, and backed smoothly into a parking space.
Athena’s eyes widened.
“…I don’t snore, do I?” she asked in a hushed voice, leaning over to put her other hand atop his gloved fingers.
“No, Athena, you don’t snore,” Robert assured her. But suddenly his expression changed and Bobby looked at her with a wide eyed expression. “Wait a minute– do I snore? I used to snore, but Robert doesn’t…”
Athena lifted her hand off his to wave a little ‘50/50’ motion. “Eehhhhh, a little bit, detective.”
“Oh that’s weird!!” He slapped the steering wheel and accidentally beeped the horn, jolting in response to the sudden noise.
“Yeep!” Athena jolted too as her fingers tightened on his hand for a moment.
“It is, isn’t it? I mean…maybe your giving Robert some of your bad habits?” she teased. “I mean…nothing wrong with that, it adds character!”
Bobby smoothed back his hair, laughing off their mutual startlement. “Well, if you insist that it does, Ms. Athena. And I suppose Robert could use a few non-illegal bad habits, eh?”
“I was just thinking the same thing.” She tapped her nose “maybe I can pass over some of mine, too. You know…as a welcoming gift into our new arrangement.”
“You have bad habits, Ms. Athena?” he asked playfully, grinning widely at her. She could feel his puppyish warmth and affection wash over her, almost completely overwhelming the background ping of his slight anxiety.
Athena flushed. It was a lot of emotion– good emotions, the sort that were easy to accept and allow to reverberate through her internal matrix, easing her own.
“One or two.” she stretched her legs out. “…I mean, I may have a slight addiction to going out to eat. I also wake up real early to go on runs most days.”
Of course there was my notorious bad habit that got put on public display during the Themis trial. But that isn’t something to mention out loud right now.
“Ah, I hate to break this to you, Ms. Athena but I don’t think getting up early and going on runs counts as a bad habit! If anything it’s a very good one!” he grinned broadly and openly at her, but the way he held his head, she could tell there was something else on his mind.
“Gosh, maybe I’m some kind of modern saint then! or maybe you haven’t gotten the pleasure of seeing my worst habits yet!” She looked up at him with a tilt of her head “…you alright? You look thoughtful.”
“Ah, well!!” He put his hand behind his head embarrassedly, and she realized as he did that it was the first time their hand had left hers. “Maybe just a minor thing on my mind! Can’t fool you, Ms. Athena!”
“Maybe that’s one of my bad habits.” she chuckled with a sheepish grin, holding her hands up. “I’m not easy to hide things from, and I can’t help but ask when I notice something…can I ask?”
“Well– it’s silly! I’m being told it’s silly,” He grinned embarrassedly and waved his hand. “But I was wondering, you know…. um, just Robert?…. Or me too?”
Athena blinked, and she turned a deep pink .
“Oh!!” She began brushing her fingers through her hair, through her long ponytail with a lopsided and flustered smile and laughed quietly. “Yeah! Obviously you too, Bobby! I mean…I know you were in there that whole year investigating…I was always over the moon when I saw you at a scene! We had fun, ongoing jokes…you were charming. And then in Cauli….”
Bobby’s smile lit up, and the wash of puppydog warmth rolled over Athena all over again.
“Really? That’s honestly really nice to hear, Ms Athena…” He poked his fingers together with nervous pleasure. “I’m glad you liked seeing me at the scene!”
Athena grinned “I mean…of course I did! That whole ‘oh poor damsel, if only someone on the side of justice would help me’ back and forth was more than just me fishing for evidence you know! You’re cute and I was having fun! It was kinda flirting from the start!”
Bobby laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “You were! I had wondered at the time, but you know it didn’t seem like the right time to follow up on that, given the circumstances.”
“Given the circumstances.” she chuckled before leaning on her hands on the center console “but I absolutely was…and circumstances have changed…”
He rested his hand next to hers again, leaning toward her a bit. “I’d say they’ve changed considerably!”
This time, it was her hand that went atop his as she looked up to meet his eyes with a half smile
“Only took one crazy week, packed to the gills with weirdness, too.” She bit her lip, feeling a ping of shy, almost timid joy thrumming in her heart “honestly, I’m overjoyed in a way.”
“You are?” he cocked his head, leaning quite close now. She could feel Bobby’s curious excitement in every subtle motion and twitch of his expression– not that either were ever subtle with him.
She nodded, and for a moment her nose brushed the tip of his.
“…I can feel you’re pretty excited too. So I know it’s not just me…” With a slight glimmer of mischief, her eyes met his.
Bobby, always neatly dressed and classy in his handsome suit, looked flustered beyond belief. He grinned embarrassedly as their eyes met.
“Can we kiss you, Ms. Athena?”
She answered his grin with a mirror of it,
“I was just about to ask you the same thing…” Leaning forward with a close of her eyes, she nodded “I’d be overjoyed, Mr. Halblicht.”
They leaned in and closed the small distance between them, and her. Their lips brushed hers, lightly at first but with intention. They cupped a gloved hand on her jaw, and she could smell the wafting scent of their cologne.
It was a nice cologne, the scent pleasantly filling her senses along with the feeling of his lips against hers, slightly tacky with gloss.
She leaned into his touch, lips parted slightly as she accepted the kiss with eager anticipation.
It was an expert kiss, eager, but not overzealous, their lips tugging at hers for a moment, before she felt their tongue press to slip between her teeth. Their fingers slid gingerly down her jaw and over her neck, sending a thrill of sensation through her.
She was no expert, but she matched them all the same with an eagerness and warmth. Her skin prickled in the wake of their fingers, the sensation of the leather lingering against her jaw even as his hand trailed downwards. A flush traveled in its wake as her face heated against his.
Her tongue brushed his, and her lips sucked softly against his own. Her hand, with only a little hesitance, rested upon his chest, against the breast pocket.
His lips lingered on hers for a long moment even as he pulled away, as if for a moment he considered pulling her with him. Then the kiss broke, and they were left leaning on one another in the wake and glow of it.
Halblicht smiled.
Athena smiled back, her breath a little heavy as she caught it, and her head tilting to rest against his shoulder.
“Wow. You know. I can see why Simon gave you guys such rave reviews in the kissing department.” she giggled quietly, before she flushed deeper “…that was a really nice first kiss…thanks guys.”
He pushed up his glasses which had slid down his nose.
“Rave reviews, hmm? Well, that’s good.” They smiled rather amusedly, and then it widened into a bashful grin from Bobby. “Definitely a really nice kiss, Ms. Athena.”
His hand lingered on the curve of her neck.
It felt nice, she found herself gently shifting to feel the trace of his leather gloves against the skin.
“Maybe the first of many, if I’m lucky?” she asked with a sheepish grin.
He stroked his fingers up her neck and over her jaw again, as if noticing her movement.
“Count on it, Athena,” Robert murmured. “But for the moment, I’m afraid we’ve got business to attend to.”
She tilted back into his hand with an amused wink.
“yeah… I probably shouldn’t let you guys distract me toooo much from preparing my defense.” Sitting up, she pointed her finger “distraction tactics can only go so far!”
He gasped and threw up his hands. “Caught!”
December 27, 1:55 pm
After filing the paperwork at the precinct, they got instructions on where the building was that Interpol was holding Kelso, and headed off to it. This time, as they drove, Bobby casually held his arm around Athena’s shoulders. It was nice. She’d been so unsure of how this would work when Simon and her had discussed it, and even when they’d brought the idea to Bobby…
But she couldn’t help but feel warm and comfortable under his arm, the casual intimacy giving her a pleasant and happy little thrill. She had, quietly and surprising even herself, been growing ever fonder of Bobby and Robert during their time in Cauli. Now here they were, sitting so close as they winded down the road towards the holding facility.
The building they arrived at was by all external appearances an extremely mundane office park down a long driveway, with tall hedges and dark, mirrored windows. There was a somewhat menacing man in a long coat waiting outside for them whom Athena didn’t recognize, but Bobby immediately saluted him as they approached.
“Agent Badd, sir!”
Athena saluted as well, blinking at him “Agent…Badd?” Surely it had to be a nickname, right?”
However, the man simply nodded. “Halblicht. Fancy seeing you here and without your leash. And this must be…”
“This is Ms. Athena Cykes, defense attorney and psychologist, sir.”
“Ah,” Badd snickered. “Second leash then. Nice to meet you, Ms. Cykes– I’m Agent Tyrell Badd,”
The big, grizzled man offered her a handshake.
Athena shook his hand with a big grin.
“Nice to meet you Agent Badd! I guess you could call me the second leash, if you want.” She flushed, and ducked her head “I see you’re aware of the situation!”
“Agent Badd and I spoke while I was in the hospital,” Robert explained with a restrained smile. “He had a few words of wisdom to share, which have been taken to heart.”
“Glad to hear it,” Badd grunted, smirking. “So you two are here to see Kelso, right? I haven’t got clearance to let anybody talk to Lovelace yet.”
Halblicht moved to stand very slightly closer to Athena, and she felt a subtle ping of discomfort from his direction– from Robert. From anyone else it would have been nothing, but from him, it was like a rocket of anxiety going off.
Athena looped her arm around his, and let her hand find his own to squeeze. “We’re not here to talk to Lovelace, luckily then! We’d like to talk to miss Kelso.”
As Robert’s gloved hand squeezed hers, she felt Badd’s curiosity as his eyes lingered on them. He didn’t say anything, but the corner of his lips curled up, and Athena could feel his amusement.
“Perfect then, come on with me.”
He waved them forward, and headed to the dark glass doors.
Athena hurried along to follow, gently tugging Robert behind her as she turned a deeper pink, feeling the amusement turn to her own embarrassment inside her.
Inside the glass doors was a large, very normal looking office lobby with a waiting area and potted plants, and a reception desk with a blond woman behind it filing her nails.
“Adrian’s going to want you to sign in, even though you’re with me,” Badd chuckled.
And so Athena and Bobby had signed their names on the check in sheet, before Agent Badd led them over to an elevator that was activated with a hand print.
“Tight security,” Halblicht commented. Athena notices his eyes flick to an alarm set high in the wall, and a strange square line dug into the space nearby.
“I’m guessing they don’t want to risk anyone making a mistake– or getting in to ah, finish any jobs.” Athena mused as she squeezed his hand. “How’s miss Kelso holding up, Agent?”
“Pretty well, all things considering,” Badd nodded. As the elevator descended, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of lollipops, offering one to Halblicht, who waved it graciously away, and one to Athena. “I’ve been spending a fair amount of time with her.”
It had been two days since they’d seen her in Cauli, exactly the amount of time that all of them….Kelso included, confirmed that the Agent Kelso who’d died lingered on in the body…sharing space even, with the asset known only as 24.
Athena took the lollipop with a smile and popped it in her mouth.
“You have been? Good…it’s not a great time for them to be alone.”
“Yeah, I’ll agree with you on that much.” Badd nodded as the elevator opened on a long, well let hallway. “I take it you’re here to talk about her trial?”
“Uh huh…I’m her defense attorney, after all.” Athena smiled. “I’m hoping we can come up with some kinda bargain to get her out sooner rather than later.”
“And we need her cooperation for it,” Halblicht nodded with a grin. “Can’t just run roughshod over your client, right Ms. Cykes?”
“I absolutely wouldn’t allow it, Detective Halblicht!” Athena playfully nudged him. “I’d be furious”
Halblicht laughed and nudged her back. “And you’re terrifying when you’re angry.”
Badd grunted, satisfied with the answer, and led them to another check in area. No one was manning this one– it appeared to be automated, as he swiped his hand through.
“Alright. I’m letting you two in.”
December 27, 2:20 pm
The holding cell that they entered was nicer than the one in Cauli. Cleaner, and more modern. When they entered, Athena found Kelso quietly turning a photograph over in her hands with a pensive frown.
She didn’t visibly react to them entering…but Athena felt the mingled and strange stings of quiet caution and eager curiosity well up within her.
“Good morning, Miss.” Athena chirped.
Halblicht lingered behind her like a faithful dog, and saluted as Athena greeted her client.
Kelso jolted, and turned to face them with a tired smile. Her dark hair had fallen around her face, a straight curtain as she gave a two fingered salute. “Morning, Miss Cykes…Halblicht.”
It must have been the agent speaking , it carried her usual lazy and bemused affect, with the pings of emotion to back it up.
Athena sat by the bedside in one of the small chairs provided, and gave her a smile “I heard Agent Badd was keeping you company…I’m glad to hear it, honestly…he seems like a good man.”
“He came to see me while I was convalescing too,” Halblicht said. He remained standing by Athena’s chair. “A pleasant man to speak with– though I didn’t have the pleasure of his company long.”
Kelso’s expression smoothed somewhat as she murmured. “He seems strangely worried about us. But Sam Wan says that’s normal. She’s been training under him and Agent Ash since she joined up a little while back. She says she looks up to them a lot.”
“Paternal, is I believe the word to describe him,” Robert shrugged.
“Paternal.” she blinked slowly “yeah, that sounds about right.”
‘He has a certain fatherly charm, it’s true.” Athena chuckled and put her hand to her chin in thought. “Either way, he really seems to be worried about you. But– I’m your defense attorney. So I’m here to make sure there’s nothing he needs to worry about, yeah? You already gave us all kinds of information, I’m certain I can get you declared not guilty– or at the very least, get you a deal like Mr. Halblicht’s!”
Halblicht nodded. “What we need is your agreement to representation, and that you’ll accept whatever deal that Ms. Cykes can obtain for you.”
“I don’t have much of a choice.” she said slowly “and…”
Sam Wan Kelso must have muscled her way back to the surface from the sudden pings of emotion “Absolutely. 100% , whatever ya need, ma’am. Whatever deal you can get is better than a cell. We’re serious when we say we aren’t going to waste her second chance.”
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