fandomhigh | Library, Monday (11/15)

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Library, Monday (11/15)

By some strange, twisted, and quite frankly a little bit mean coincidence, there was a book about the history of Stonehenge in the returns dropoff today, full-color panoramic photo of the standing stones in prominent display on the cover.

Gabrielle took one look at it and flinched, immediately deciding she should put it away as soon as possible . . . but she couldn't help looking at it, instead.

Half a chapter into the discussion of the possible history of the monument, she was frowning in a but that's not how it happened way, and rather than putting the book away, she'd gone to get more for cross-referencing purposes. It was sort of like picking a scab. A very perplexing one.

It did nothing for her mood, but that was something she wouldn't be taking out on anyone. And anyway, there was coffee; that might be the important thing.

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Jaime was silent for a moment.

Then very, very quietly. "I'm sorry."

"I know. I'm not mad, you know. I'm upset, but not mad." She took a breath. "Dinah told me she figured it out on her own. Is that what happened with Nadia, too?"

In other words, was Momoko the stupid girl in his life?

Jaime shook his head. "No... someone else told Nadia." And while it had worked out, Jaime felt the need to add "without asking me first."

Except that his throat was tightening at the reminder of Nadia, and what had happened.

Ah.

"If it's not my secret, Jaime, I totally won't tell it." She had to say that. "I seem totally bad with secrets, but only my own. Really!"

"I know," Jaime nodded seriously. "Like I said: I trust you."

Momoko still wasn't sure how that matched with his not telling her earlier, but she let it go.

Sort of. "So, uhm. Why would someone tell Nadia?" Watch Momoko open her laptop like she didn't feel a bit of anything about the mention of another girl who got to be told. "Was she another superhero, too?"

"Not really?" Jaime's attention returned to his lap. "She was a computer hacker. She and her brother. When I was first getting started a friend of mine brought them in to help me figure out where to go. Where I was needed most, that sort of thing."

"So she was one of your teammates, then? Doesn't that mean she has to know your identity?"

"Well, they helped me after they found out. So it was really more like learning the secret made them teammates."

And got Nadia killed.

"Sometimes teams work like that, though." At least on TV. Her support team kind of consisted of the people who actually gave her the powers in the first place. "But if she was on your team, she totally knew what she was getting into, right?"

Jaime shook his head. "She was support. She was supposed to be safe behind the computers on the other end of a comm-link." Not out in the field. Not at risk.

Momoko rubbed her eyes. "And she didn't stay there."

Of course she didn't, citizens always tried to help and got in the middle of things.

"No," Jaime agreed quietly, finding it hard to get the word out past the massive lump that seemed to have appeared in his throat.

Which was why she had never said too much to 'Jaime' until it was all over.

"I'm sorry. That's totally the reason we were chosen do this, to protect people, but sometimes... sometimes we just can't."

Jaime nodded, almost surprised that his attempt to swallow the lump that was keeping him from speaking didn't get them shushed for being so loud.

"Still my fault," he managed to get out in a whisper.

Momoko stared at him, not really sure if he was simply saying that because he felt guilty or not.

"How was it your fault?"

"I got distracted," he admitted, voice choked. "And then..."

Jaime trailed off, blinking rapidly as his eyes began to well up.

Okay, fight or no fight? A crying Jaime meant she needed to be nearer, and Momoko didn't hesitate to shift her chair over to his side of the table. Hopefully he wouldn't mind how close.

He didn't even notice. Jaime's attention was far too focused on not breaking down in the middle of the library as the memories came rushing back.

~~Well, that makes a girl feel special~~

"That's why they're supposed to leave. Or not be there." She leaned against the table, looking at him. "But there are people who just can't, you know? If we didn't have powers, we'd totally still try to help; it's who we are. Only... only some people get lucky enough to have powers."

"That doesn't make it okay," Jaime mumbled thickly. Which, well, he knew Momoko knew, but...

"No." Momoko was remembering her relief that Priestly hadn't been hurt during the Shiva fight. And her feelings of self-loathing that she hadn't been able to save Leda's kidnapper. "No. But I think we have to make it okay by doing better next time. I think that's how we have to pay them back."

Jaime nodded slowly. That made sense. It didn't make it hurt any less, but it did make sense.

Momoko didn't know how to make it hurt less.

"I'm sorry. About what I said on Wednesday, getting so upset." She sat up and fiddled with her fingernails. "You came in just after... something, and, well. I would have felt the same way, but I probably wouldn't have told you."

Somehow Jaime managed a tiny twitch of his lips. It could almost be a smile considering the mood he was in.

"Hey, I deserved it." He wasn't entirely sure that was true, but... it was at least partially true, so he might as well give her that.

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]

Re: NFB FROM HERE, PLEASE! :: Re: Mod Your Library [11/15]