Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[siobhancan99]

Monica gave him her "work" email "this is the nighthawk email. so that people don't put you and I together. Keep everything as separate as we can." She smiled "I have a long slow flight back to the states, fortunately the ship has good auto-pilot, but I'd like to get back while it is still dark so I'm going to head out and let you get to bed at a reasonable hour" She let him know she'd be calling the sliver in so it didn't get shot down "thanks for meeting with me. when we have a better plan we can talk about raiding helix."

 

[Halcyon638]

"Alright. Be safe," Sutter said. "It's rare I get to talk to one of us that I can possibly trust. It felt...nice to speak our mother tongue. 'May your path be light and swift,'" he added in Centauri.

Monica slept surprisingly well in the Sliver, so by the time the ship arrived back around quarter to seven that Tuesday morning, she wasn't feeling terrible. Gabi was working 8 AM to 2 PM at the pharmacy trying to fit in some hours before the semester kicked off the following Tuesday following the MLK holiday, then planning to meet with Melanie for the first time that afternoon. There was a thin layer of snow over everything, though it wasn't particularly cold.

 

[siobhancan99]

Not really sure what to do with herself, she checked in with her friends on social media, contacting Hadley to see if she could do anything for her or Knapp and to see how he was doing. She texted Mel to thank her for looking in on Gabi, then sat on the couch. She was restless. Too early to head out on patrol, no class. No Gabi. She was alone without a purpose. She sighed and tried to do some reading, but she couldn't focus so she threw the TV on while she did some stretches in preparation for doing some exercise. Fidgety. She contemplated a little "self care" as well, or a drink. She remembered at the last minute to give her father sutter's info, and then flopped on the couch, looking at the TV restlessly.

 

[Halcyon638]

Hadley texted back. “Hey. Things are going okay. I’m back in town tomorrow and definitely wouldn’t mind hanging out. There’s a decent band playing at Riverside tomorrow night if you wanted to meet up. Dad’s doing okay-ish?. It’s still hard for him to concentrate sometimes and he’s still getting mood swings, but doing a little better.”

Gabi returned around 3:30, still dressed in her work clothes. “Hey, sweetie,” she said, tying her hair back. “Do you want the blanket?” She picked up the navy blue fabric and flopped beside Monica, draping it over them. “Here. Missed you last night.”

As they caught up on their days a little, Gabi talked about how it went with Melanie. “It went…well, I think? I mean…I guess I’m still getting used to it—to talking about myself. She asked me a lot of questions—like, personal stuff. Nothing like, too personal, or anything—about school, my family, how we met, stuff like that, but…still new to me.” She leaned against Monica now. “She seems really nice, though. It felt pretty comfortable…talking with her.”

She snuggled against Monica. “How did Canada go? Did you bring me back any maple syrup?”

 

[siobhancan99]

"No but I did buy a six pack while I was there cause you only have to be 19" She laughed and curled her girl in, resting her head against Gabi's chest. She sighed and wrapped her arm around Gabi, pulling her in "I missed you too." She rested against her "I'm glad you can talk to Mel. I know you have to have someone you can talk to who isn't me." her hand slipped under Gabi's top, gently stroking her back. She kissed under her jaw and cuddled in close against her, relishing the simple contact. "Do we need anything? We should probably get groceries at some point today though we could instacart them." She slipped her fingers over and along Gabi's hip, just exploring, more intimate than sexual "Hadley wants to go see some band tomorrow. We should wrangle the group and take everyone over there."

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi grinned. “Ooh, in a couple of weeks, you’re taking me to Canada!” she said, alluding to her upcoming birthday. “Yeah, should probably do a grocery run. Especially since it’s supposed to be, like, ridiculously cold tomorrow. On the other hand…warm, sexy girlfriend under a blanket,” she said, giggling a bit at Monica’s touch and then kissing her cheek.

“Definitely. That’s…a good sign that she wants to go out. I think,” Gabi remarked. “I honestly don’t know how she’s doing it. With all she’s been through….”

The two girls made the trek out into the relatively mild January weather, then made their way back home afterwards. Gabi was prepping her lunch for the next day’s morning shift at the pharmacy wuen Monica received a text from Thalmer. “Back in the area for a few days. Training tomorrow?” The Centauri warrior had managed to locate an abandoned building that was suitable for training during the day without attracting attention.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica herself was turning 20 this spring. "Maybe we can go up to Niagra Falls for your birthday. The Canadian side is supposed to be kinda ghetto but we could hang on the American side then go to a bar."

She texted Thalmer back "yeah, tomorrow's great. Lets focus on weapons. I need to learn"

That evening she and Gabi headed out. She had on black jeans and boots, a white V neck and a leather jacket. Waiting in line she kept her arm around her girl "I should have dressed more warmly but its always so fucking hot in there." she laughed, looking around, instinctively searching the crowd for trouble even though she knew there wouldn't be any.

 

[Halcyon638]

As they strolled into the club, waived in eagerly by the bouncer, Gabi said, “You look so sexy, and those jeans make your ass look amazing. I’ll keep you warm, baby.” She kissed Monica just below the ear.

Despite it being a weekday half a week before the semester started, Riverside was packed, possibly due to the band, who seemed to have quite the following judging from the number of Dumb Luck t-shirts Monica spotted among the crowd. Hadley and Nick were the only members of their text thread that had made it back into town already, but they also spotted Ian and his bandmates Eve, Caleb, and Trey, who made their way over.

Hadley greeted the girls with hugs and they caught up on how they’d been spending their collective breaks. “Come on,” Gabi said to Monica as they broke away for a moment, “let’s dance before the bands start.” She gave Monica’s hand a soft tug and led her out. “Remember the first time we danced here?” she said. A very vivid image of her-then friend in a skimpy rose-colored dress pressing her curvy body against Monica came to mind.

As they began to dance, they spotted Eve trying to draw Ian out onto the dance floor and failing, only to turn her attention to Caleb. As usual, Monica and Gabi drew the attention of more than a few onlookers, men and women included.

 

[siobhancan99]

"uh, do i remember a peach dress and the most beautiful woman in the world asking me to dance while I felt shabby and underdressed?" She grinned down at her girlfriend, wrapping her in close, swaying with her on the dance floor "only at least three times a day" she laughed and ran her hands along her girl's curves, cupping her ass gently, more a touch than a squeeze "yeah I remember. I'll always remember" she sucked on Gabi's pouty lips, tugging with her own before sliding her tongue in to play gently with Gabi's "Its when I figured out for real you might like girls. It only took forever."

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi grinned as her cheeks grew pink. “Aww. You’re so sweet,” she said, giving in to Monica’s touch, the dark-haired girl’s tongue now pressing against her girlfriend’s. “You know…you never did get a chance to take that dress off me…,” she teased.

The two girls danced for a little while longer until the tech crew started checking the instruments on stage. At one point, Hadley, Monica, and Eve were hanging at one of the tables. “So…I’m changing my major,” Hadley noted. “Theater. My future’s probably fucked career-wise, but I need to actually have something to look forward to this semester,” the Electrical Engineering major added. “Still terrified, though.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"Well baby you can wear it again for me later" she laughed and wrapped Gabi up in her arms, leading as they danced. When they finally settled with Hads, Monica did her best not to blanche and say something about getting a useful degree and pursuing acting on the side. Instead, she put herself in Hadley's place. The girl's life was traumatic and sometimes people made poor decisions from that basis. Like charging russians with guns. "I hope it makes you happy hads. Really I do. Whatever you need let us know."

 

[Halcyon638]

Hadley managed a smile. “Thanks. As long as you and Gabi don’t mind me mooching money from you some day.”

“Carpe the heck out of that diem,” Eve noted.

“Oh, and I can send you all my notes from Computational and Fundamentals,” Hadley said to Monica, referring to the required Computational Methods in Engineering and Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses the younger girl would be taking during the upcoming semester.

As the openers came out, Eve leaned over to Hadley and Monica and said, “We know these guys. Good people.” As they began to play some Americana-indebted rock, Gabi and the others rejoined and watched the performance.

As Gabi wrapped her arms around her once more, Monica received a text from her father. “Someone you’ve been talking with reached out to me. We should talk about it. How are you doing?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Texting back. "Good. NObody tried to blow me up this week. mutual friend can help with that strange thing?" She wrapped her arm around Gabi, then playfully slid her hand down and grabbed a handful of the Latina's ass, grinning down at her then returning her attention to the band, hand wrapped around the phone to feel it in case her dad texted back.

 

[Halcyon638]

James Bergenson texted, "Yes. We seem to be in the clear for now. Did you see Fiona Haigler's press conference after the swearing in? Not great. Give me a call next time you have a few minutes, okay? Just to catch up. Kat says 'hi.' Love you."

Gabi rested her head against Monica, all the tension from her body ebbing. After a few songs from the openers, the headliners made their way to the stage. They had a few genuinely fun songs, and Hadley seemed particularly into them, displaying a level of enthusiasm Monica had only seen in her when she was drunk. Monica also caught Eve gazing more than a little longingly at Ian at one point while he was catching up with Gabi near the bar.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica hmmmed and squeezed Gabi "I think Eve likes Ian and I'm not sure whether to intervene on his behalf or hers." She laughed and kissed her girlfriend's temple "he's really been stepping up though. And he's Ian so he's probably oblivious. or fucking like 12 of their groupies. or both." She ran her hand along Gabi's hip, then led her over, getting in close enough to shout to be heard "So. Ian huh?"

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi let out a laugh. “Do it!” she replied, giving her a playful nudge. “The whole Layla and Porter thing didn’t exactly work, though, so maybe we should be careful.” Softly tickling her side, Gabi said, “Hmmm…weren’t you just admitting to being oblivious to me being into you? You know what they say about glass houses…”

Eve gave Monica an oddly hesitant look, the dim lights glinting off her piercings. “Oh. Yeah, I guess. Is that okay?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica nodded "yeah. you know he's really growing up a lot this year. I think you'd be good for him. If you like him you should let him know. Guys appreciate a little forwardness." She squeezed Gabi "Fuck, we all do sometimes. Life's short, chica. Get your pleasure in where you can."

 

[Halcyon638]

Eve leaned in toward Monica to hear her better, then responded, “Thanks. I don’t know that it’s going to matter, though. He’s still totally into you,” she shouted above the din. Seeing the looks on Monica and Gabi’s faces, the older girl drew back in embarrassment. “Shit. Did I just say something I shouldn’t have?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica looked at Eve for a second, contemplating whether the girl was trolling her for not minding her own business. Monica would have done that. If so it was a quality piece of trolling. She felt like maybe there should be a bridge for them to live under. The look of genuine embarassment though put her somewhat at ease. Somewhat in that she was now in potentially the most awkward moment of her entire life. She thought of Ian as a kid. He was a year younger, and he was Toms "baby brother" despite only the year between them. Also he was so much less mature. Also he killed Tom. She was really trying not to dwell on the fact that Ian was the but-for and proximate cause of Tom's death. Plus he... he wasn't into her. Not in her estimation. This was some sort of taking tom's place bullshit.

"I could not possibly be a worse match for Ian." She threaded her fingers through Gabi's, honestly needing the comfort and support of her girlfriend at the moment "and in his heart of heart he has to know that. Besides you're really hot so. You know I doubt it would take any convincing for his dumb ass to come around." Too awkward to say she'd considered hitting on Eve before Gabi, so she let that go "Look I'm not gonna push it but take it from me, you have to seize your opportunities when you can in life."

 

[Halcyon638]

Eve seemed to wince. “Sorry, I don’t know…I was way off base with that,” she shouted, growing even redder when the current song stopped, decreasing the volume. “Just ignore me. I’m going to go grab another beer or twelve.” She moved away, hurriedly. Gabi, eyes wide, looked at Monica, squeezing her hand, but the words wouldn’t seem to come to her. Mercifully, the music started up again with a thunderous drumbeat, just as Ian and Trey made their way back over from where they were chatting up the openers.

As the crowd tried to lure the band back on for an encore, Gabi said, “Did you want to head out now?”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica practically dragged Gabi out "well that was fucking awkward" she laughed and brushed her thumb along the back of Gabi's hand "I know it goes without saying babe, but. You're amazing and beautiful and wonderful and I'm lucky to have you." She gently pinned Gabi against a nearby wall and kissed her, sucking on her lower lip. "Love you baby" she sucked on her upper lip again, then brushed her fingers through Gabi's long silky hair. "thanks for being so tolerant of all the weirdness around me"

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi laughed a relieved laugh. “Yeah. A little bit.” The dark-haired girl let out a little pleased coo as Monica pressed her body back and kissed her. “Mmm. I love you, querida.” She guided her lover’s hands down to her curvy hips, letting out another short laugh.

“Actually, I’d put this pretty low on the weird-o-meter. It’s not, like….shocking that Ian would have a thing for you. If Eve’s right.” She took Monica’s hand now, walking back onto the slightly slick sidewalk. “I mean…you spent a good couple of years hanging out at his house every week. And you’re—well, you’re, like, ridiculously gorgeous. In case I haven’t reminded you enough lately,” Gabi said, wrapping an arm around Monica’s waist.

 

[siobhancan99]

"ew. no. its super fucking weird for exactly that reason." She squeezed Gabi's hand "this is all part of his weird Tom atonement thing he's doing. Ian is like my little brother. I'm a year older than him, I dated his brother who is a year older than him. Ian was always the fuck up little brother. I was always one of the two responsible people pulling his ass out of trouble. I was there all the time, sure, but as a sister. Plus he never exhibited any interest before. Look he's trying to be a responsible kid to his parents to replace Tom. Which, if that's what gets him off drugs and into a job and maybe some sort of career, that's fucking great. But I'm a person not a path to atonement. I'm not his penance and I suspect, deep down inside, that's what's going on in his head. The only thing we have in common is we both like girls. In my case, really really hot girls. The hottest."

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi listened sympathetically as they approached the subway stop. “Oh, totally. I get that,” she said as they pulled up the apps on their phones to pay. “I spent a pretty good amount of time with him this year, and I never picked up on anything. So maybe Eve’s just reading into things.”

Gabi smirked at Monica’s flattery. “Hmm, are you talking about me? Or Eve?” She kissed Monica’s lips softly as they climbed into a mostly empty subway car. “Keep up this kind of talk and you might get lucky tonight.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica laughed "If you think there's a hotter girl on this planet than you you're out of your mind" she swept Gabi up and pulled her to sit in her lap when they got into the car, kissing her lower lip "She's attractive, not gonna lie, but you... you are beautiful. Stunning. And you're my best friend so I get it all in one place. Gorgeous girlfriend who knows me inside and out. I couldn't ever ask for anything better than that."