alias_savant | penance } { ic inbox

"It's Hell, Elena."

He keeps his voice soft as he makes his way closer to her, resting a hand on her arm gently. He knows that these things are frustrating - they've been frustrating for as long as he's been bouncing between worlds.

"Everything is bound to be used against us eventually."

He swallows hard as he gives her arm a soft squeeze.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I just couldn't get the words out. I was just so happy you were alive."

Elena shifts to face him as they meet in the middle, the muscles in her throat tightening with every word he gives. She existed in a state of do-or-die for years, dulling herself to the rest in an effort to survive it. The brightness of what made life more than survival out of reach when all she could manage was coping. In the midst of such desperation, she made her choice.

And she died for it.

Should it surprise her that in escaping death she has only been brought closer to it? She wasn't dragged to the depths of Hell from nothingness. Deep down, she must have known the truth, if not remembered. It brings her sorrow that he should have had to carry her in the weight of another choice, as surely as it brings her sorrow to look at him now, knowing what she's about to say.

But needing to say it. They don't have a lot of time.

"Neal..." She takes his hand and covers it with both of hers. There's a fierce quality to her tenderness, a maturity behind the quiet sorrow. She knows this is unfair. "I understand why you couldn't tell me and I don't need you to be sorry. But do I need you to be safe, which is why I'm going to ask you to trust me with what I'm about to tell you."

Edited 2021-04-15 01:12 (UTC)

His eyebrows raise in surprise at the statement, curious with what she means. She should know at this point that he does trust her. He would follow her almost anywhere at this point, if she needed him to. But he doesn't know where this is going.

"You know I trust you."

Or he would hope so, at least. His trust isn't something he gives lightly, but she's more than earned it.

"What's going on?"

Elena glances over his shoulder to ensure they're alone before she looks back at him. She supposes it has less to do with trust and more to do with what he's just lived and what she's going to be asking of him, but she needs to do it anyway.

She tells him everything: the warnings from the local demons still loyal to Lucifer, Mammon and the visions... Hellburbia 2.0. This might be their only chance at not becoming brainwashed minions for Barbas's newest legion.

"I want you on the boat when the time comes."

Because this trust goes both ways, and no one has the silver tongue that Neal does. That it helps his survival odds is a selfish bonus. Knowing now what happens at Asgard — she can't let it happen again.

"Me?"

Neal isn't sure that's the best idea. Not because he doesn't think he could do it. He's convinced people of more with less motivation. But that doesn't mean he's the right person for the job, when something so crucial is on the line.

"Why me?"

"Lucifer said Mammon could help, but we have no guarantee that he will. He might need persuasion."

That's a good reason, and not a dishonest one. But perhaps not the most personal one, and they're beyond pretense with each other. "And you might be safer on the island than you would be here."

"And you think I'm the one to persuade him?"

His brow furrows in confusion because he hasn't been here nearly long enough to understand the playing field. Most cons aren't built in a day. You need to study the target, know their motivations. He doesn't have enough time to do what she wants him to do.

"I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I'm going to be dead weight on that boat. I don't know enough about the guy to be effective."

"No one does."

They are relying on some incomplete visions that Lucifer sent to a handful of sinners, and hoping that's enough. Elena herself has never laid eyes on Mammon, but she has to believe that it will work. "Why are you being so difficult about this?"

"I'm not. I'm not trying to be difficult."

He just doesn't think he's the right person for the job. He's still learning his way around Hell, and he doesn't want to make promises he can't keep. He also isn't sure that getting on this boat is where he should be either. Something about taking up a space that could go to someone who would be more effective doesn't sit right with him.

He also knows that this isn't all about his skills. This is about Elena wanting to know that he's safe, and he can't blame her for that.

"I'm just not sure if that's where I should be."

She doesn't want to take that space up, either.

It's not the right time to make this choice. Not when they're still reeling from the broadcast. Not when she finally has the answers to her Leviathan-shaped questions. But they don't have that kind of time. She never has.

"There's the panic room."

Neal may be a thief, but he has a heart of gold. Elena knows he'll help if he sees need. But — there's the panic room, and he would be safe there above all, if he should choose it.

Edited 2021-04-23 00:27 (UTC)

"A panic room."

He nods as he considers it, because yes. That's something he could do. Something low risk that doesn't rely on him making the right choices and using the right words, and ideally he'd still be safe. That seems fair enough.

"I can do that. And I can keep an eye on the girls too."

Because he's assuming their panic room bound as well.

Aunt is the most recent title she has been honored with among several, and one that is of great importance to her. That Neal understands it — that he will be safe and watching over her girls — gives her a great deal of comfort.

Her shoulders sag with the weight of her relief, hand tightening on his. "Thank you."

"Of course."

He gives her shoulders as squeeze as he looks down at her with a smile, before nodding. He knows they don't have the time to really talk about what happened in Asgard, to really unpack what it means to Elena, not just him. But she has to get on a boat and he needs to figure out where this panic room is and the fastest way to get there.

For better or for worse.

"Be careful out there, okay? I'll see you when you get back."

penance } { ic inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject