A Visit [Helen, Ayel]

[first_noel]

She'd promised Nero that she would speak to his captors. And she would. Despite what had happened, she truly believed that Nero and Ayel were better off together - for their own quality of life, and especially for Nero's mental health

Comments

[loyalty_ever]

It was strange. Not suspicious, exactly, but strange. Nero was her--patient? Was she a nurse?--and it made sense for them to talk alone, or for the three of them to talk together.

It was odd, that was all.

He stood, scooted back a bit. She'd let in a lot of light behind her. Wasn't quite ready for that, blinking.

Didn't ask why she was here. He had a pretty good idea.

"Hello."

[first_noel]

She stopped just inside the cell, halting her approach as he backed away.

He seemed uncertain about something - or maybe it was just that he was unused to the daylight. There were no windows in this cell. It was difficult, in the dimness, to see whether last night's confrontation had left any marks.

"How are you feeling?"

[loyalty_ever]

She stopped moving. Because he had?

"I can see you," he offered, "you can come in."

Not that there was much of anywhere to go, in a small dark room with a hanging mattress and a necessary as its sole fixtures.

"I--I was treated and released here," he said. "They must have written it up."

Part of him was furious, against all reason. That file was going to be used to keep them apart.

"Something went wrong." It was bitter to admit. Impossible to ignore any longer.

He looked away.

[first_noel]

"I read the report," Helen said. She stepped further into the room; another two steps and she was standing across from him. He looked confused, and angry. She could hardly blame him.

"Yes, it did," she confirmed, her tone serious. "Do you understand what?"