Takes place directly after: xXx
Once Sabine had gotten far enough away from the other energy signature for it to fade, she powered down and quickly dug her cell phone out of her purse, quickly bringing up Delilah’s number, she held the button down until the the phone started to call the other woman.
She was sniffling and crying, and there was no sense of trying to mask it when she was on the phone. There was no hi, or hellos, as soon as the line picked up, Mercy whimpered and sniffled into the receiver.
“Please tell me you’re home…”
---
Delilah was leaning over her desk going over things. What she should have been doing...the pile of books to her side for the paper she needed to be writing... appeared untouched. To be honest, Delilah had begun to struggle when it came to focusing on school. Every time she sat down to draw, to sketch, to read or write now, her mind became clouded and her hand began to shake. She had honestly not been able to draw in a month or more. Before that, everything she did looked...deathly. Her professors had even asked her if someone close to her had died recently. Or was she depressed...
It was something she was hiding from everyone. Especially the physical shaking.
All she could do was focus on her moon research. The gardens she had found there. The images. The language. So much more to understand...to learn.
And then there was everything going on here…
Her phone ringing the theme song from the last unicorn snapped Delilah out of her trace. With a smile, she picked it up and before she could say a word, Mercy’s panicked voice filled her ears.
“Yes.” Delilah rose up, grabbing her henshin pen from the side of her desk. “Are you alright? Where are you?”
---
Mercy sniffled into the receiver. “I’m s-sorry… I’m okay, I just… I got in a fight with a Negaverser and I need to talk to someone and you’re the first person I could think of… I’m close to your apartment, can you buzz me in?” Mercy could already see Delilah’s building in the distance even in the dark.
“I’m like… five minutes away, tops.” She said, her voice a bit calmer now. “I’m not hurt, we didn’t really get into a super tussle… But he said something that really bugs me… and I need to find out some things. I figured you would know where to find out the information the best.”
Rubbing her face with her sleeve she sniffled. “Make some tea for me? I could use a cup…”
---
Delilah could feel her hand relax around her henshin pen and she sat back in her chair. It took another moment before her heart began to beat again. “Jason is on duty downstairs. The one that always says you look pretty. Knock and he will let you in. I’ll get the water going. What kind would you like?”
And she was already rising up again to head for the kitchen. Delilah didn’t dare bring up the problems on Mercy’s mind right then. Wait until they were behind closed doors.
“But let me let you go until you get here. Last time I tried to boil water on the phone, my leg regretted it.”
---
“Anything herbal I don’t need any caffeine for the next year…” Mercy said with a small huff. “I’m so wound up and… mad.” She puffed her cheeks in frustration now that the tears had run their course. “Okay, I’ll call when I’m on my way up… See you in a few!”
She waited for Delilah to say goodbye before hanging up, then a few minutes later reached her building. She knocked on the door, and waved at Jason, giving him a small smile as she rubbed her eyes. “Sorry to get you out of your chair…” She said with a small curtsey when he let her in, moving over to the elevator to key the button up. “Have to see Delilah for something important…”
She hopped she didn’t look too mussed up.
---
Jason’s face seemed to smile a bit when he saw who was at the door. “Well I don’t need to ask you where you are going.” He smiled, but the noticed her tears. It made him falter for a second before making sure the door was locked behind her. “Is something wrong beautiful? You know you are safe here. We won’t let anything happen to those who live here or their friends.”
He had seen Delilah and Mercy enough to know they were just friends. That gave him hope as he always looked her over. “If I can do anything, say the word. Okay?”
Up on the 6th floor, Delilah had the pot going, her box of tea already out on the table as well as some snacks. This wasn’t Mei mad. That would have required something stronger or offering Mei to meet at the gym (something Delilah did NOT enjoy). This was little ball of fury mad. Frankly it was scary.
But it was a welcome distraction as she returned to the now whistling pot. At least with Mercy around she didn’t have to think about the fact her body hated her.
---
“Just boy trouble, Jason,” She smiled sheepishly as she sniffled a bit. “Got in a fight is all, he’s stupid, but I wanted to talk to Delilah about it.” She said with another small bow of her head and once the elevator arrived she slipped inside with a small shake of her head. “You have a good night!” She said, before pushing the sixth floor button and pulling out her phone, hoping that she’d get at least some signal in the elevator as the doors closed.
Putting the phone to her ear, she let it ring, huffing a bit before hanging up as the phone went straight to Delilah’s voice mail. Right - no cell service in the elevator - got it.
Putting the phone back in her purse, she exited the box once it hit the sixth floor and she walked quickly on her flats to Delilah’s door, knocking it on just loud enough to alert her that she was there - but not loud enough to disturb her neighbors.
---
Delilah was standing by the door, cup of steaming hot peach tea in hand. When the knock came, she opened the door and without a word, stepped to the side, handed Mercy the tea, and pointed to the coffee table. “Sugar is over thee. Needs to seep a bit longer.”
She slipped back into the kitchen area and grabbed her own mug before coming back around and making sure the door was locked behind her.
“Now, where would you like to start?”
--
Mercy was never so glad to see Delilah as she was then, she took the tea without a word and moved over to the coffee table, taking her normal spot on the couch she added about two spoonfuls of sugar before letting the tea steep for the moment. Taking a slow breath she looked up at Delilah.
“So… I got in a fight with a Negaverse Officer. I don’t know his name, but he claimed a senshi killed his friend’s brother and would have killed them too if they hadn’t joined the Negaverse… I… am admittedly unsure if they’re one of ours - but he gave me a name… And as of late… speaking to some of those we had before we went into their base…”
She bit her bottom lip. “I… I just want to make sure our side isn’t full of murderous psychopaths? You know?”
“Super Sailor Penthesilea, was the name he gave me… I just wanted to see if it rang any bells…”
---
Delilah had hardly managed to take a seat on the couch next to Mercy when the words started to flow. It took her several moments to process everything that was being said as she reached over to add honey to her own tea.
“Okay. No wonder you didn’t need anything more than herbal.” Delilah sighed out as she filtered through everything. “First off, yes. It is highly possible that a senshi, even one of our own, has killed. You saw that for yourself already and I would very much be lying if I did not say that there are...well...some bat s**t crazy people on our side. Even some I have once considered friends have turned to the dark path.”
Her eyes looked at Mercy. She was trying so hard NOT to make a Star Wars reference there. “However, I do not know that name. But it doesn’t mean much as there are many on our side that I have not met before. “
Putting her tea down, Delilah turned to sit at an angle, facing Mercy. “I have told you before Mercy, there are people in Order who could easily cross that line between what you and I view as morally right and wrong. Does that mean they are murderous psychopaths? No. It just means they have lost belief that anything more than killing each other can bring results. Now…” She reached back for her tea, “If they were going around killing everyone including civilians, then I would say we had some psychopaths on our hand.”
Finally she brought her cup to her lips and blew on it. “But I have a feeling that is not all troubling you?”
--
Mercy had nodded slowly. It was admittedly not what she wanted to hear but… The truth was the truth and there was no avoiding that. Picking up her cup she held it for the warmth, and mainly to keep her hands from shaking as she continued to speak. “I… I…” She sighed softly and looked up at Delilah.
“I felt so helpless… I can’t fight. He was stronger and faster and he could of killed me… He took pity on me, I think… because I helped to keep the officers in the barracks alive but…” She sniffled again, trying to hold back tears.
“I… I was so scared, Delilah. This is the third fight I’ve been in and every single time I’ve fought… I’ve had to run away… or trick my attacker in some way to escape… I either have to patrol with someone constantly or… One of these days I’m not going to be lucky…”
She looked down into her tea, her vision blurring as the tears welled up again. “It was like that night all over again… I just wanted to be sick… I was so scared…”
---
There was a click as Delilah set down her own mug. Then a shadow as the woman moved closer and wrapped her arms around Mercy, pulling the girl close and one more stroking her hair protectively.
“I wish I could find a magic unicorn for you Mercy that could make this all go away.” Delilah cooed, leaning her forehead on the girl’s head. “But I don’t think even magic can make things the way they were.” For a long moment, Delilah was silent. There was very little that could be said or done in a case like this besides offer a warm shoulder to cry on.
After a few moments, Delilah spoke once more. “I want to tell you to put away your henshin pen for awhile. Take a break and regroup. However, I truly believe that is the worst thing you could do right now. “
“You are living in fear of a what if my dear. And that what if is going to catch up to you.”
---
“I am scared of what if… What if I die? What if I get hurt? There’s nothing I can do to stop being afraid, but I was completely powerless, Delilah… He could have easily turned around and beaten me till I was dead… or worse…” Her voice fell. “He could have corrupted me… he could have…” Arms wrapped around herself and she hugged herself close and she rested her head against Delilah.
“All I know… is that I can’t fight… I can’t defend myself. I have no knight to defend me. I can’t keep calling on you to come help me… I mean I can… I know you will come and help me but you have your own life to live too…”
She rubbed her face, frustrated tears starting to fall now. “I just… don’t know what to do… anymore.”
---
“Mercy Haynes! Where is that girl I watched jump off a building without fear? Walk on the moon with eyes full of wonder and mystery? Take on a giant rhino like it was nothing even after I gave you a headache!” Delilah had shifted, her knees coming to rest on the floor so that she was kneeling in front of Mercy. Those red eyes gazed at the young face ever so softly. “The young woman who came to me one day full of questions and concerns and who I have watched turned into a fine young lady.”
Leaning back slightly so she wasn’t so much in Mercy’s face, Delilah gave a weak smile. “Is she just giving up because of what ifs? What if is such a silly question. What if the sun turned off. What if the moon fell out of the sky. What if your hair turned pink and your boobs went flat? What if you grew a rabbit tale and a rhino horn out of your butt.” Ridiculous but she was making a point. “You are letting your mind run away with what ifs my little fledging. He could have easily turned around and beaten you but have I not taught you to always be mindful? He would have had to catch you. You would have had to let him. The Mercy I know is a fighter. She has never needed a Prince Charming to come riding in on a white horse to save her. Frankly I think she does a better job saving their behinds.”
Putting her hand on Mercy’s shoulder, she leaned forward so their foreheads touched. “What all of this should have shown you is that you can’t go running into something head first. Look what that did to Quinn and those that he was supposed to help. Running into anything blind is foolish and frankly my dear, we have all learned a very valuable lesson about it. Even I have…”
“But I know one thing more now than ever. I can’t do this alone. I thought for a long time I could and then I met you. You made me realize that I needed help on so many levels. I am stronger because of you Mercy. So don’t let these nightmarish demons take you away from me.”
---
Mercy listened, and shaking her head slowly she wiped at her eyes. She was crying again, she knew. She had a feeling she would spend a lot of time crying. It took a lot of effort to speak, and when she did it all came out in a huff.
“I think that girl is dead, or gravely hurt,” Mercy said, watching Delilah with a gaze that was part fear, part… cry for help. “People died, Delilah. I didn’t know them but they died. I could have helped them, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I froze. All that bravery and spunk it… evaporated in the face of actual, legitimate danger on a scale I had no idea how to handle. A youma or two with you close by - I’m not worried. But an army? Alone?! How could I survive that… How could I ever hope to make it out of a situation like that alive?! So I… froze… and another person put their life on the line for me and the seeds that I carried and then we were saved…”
She sniffled. “I… still have nightmares, Delilah. Of the fire, of the screaming. Of being unable to move to help anyone as they’re all cut down, or devoured by youma and worse… I hate it… I… I wish I had died in the battle.”
Then she shook her head quickly raising her hand to try and prevent Delilah from interrupting.
“I… I don’t mean that. Not really. But it would have made things easier for me… You can’t worry and cry if you are dead after all…” She wiped at her eyes again, hating every moment of this. But Delilah… Delilah was the only one she could tell. The only one who would understand what she was feeling. She had to tell her or it would eat her alive.
“What this whole thing has shown me is that I am completely inadequate at doing my duty as a senshi in my current state. I can’t fight, and I can’t expect someone to protect and save me at every moment. No amount of planning, of tactics, will save me if I’m in a one-on-one situation as I currently am.”
“So I must either arm myself - and prepare for the worst, and be ready to kill anyone who comes against me… Or I must learn to defend myself… Because I can’t simply be useless if combat comes to me. I can’t run all the time. There will be a time that I am cornered… Then what will I do? How will I escape without fighting? My magic doesn’t work on myself - I can’t make myself vanish…”
She sighed then, shaking her head and biting her bottom lip. “I have wanted to throw my pen away since that night, but I knew I couldn’t. This city needs us - now more than ever. Tonight was even more proof of that. I had gone to the park to think, to clear my head and try to regain some of my composure. The Negaverse Officer came out of nowhere, and he didn’t speak until after he’d already hit me once. He was so fast… So strong. I honestly think the only reason I am here right now is because he pitied how pathetic I was.”
Hands again moved to wipe her eyes and she took a long, slow breath, her hands were shaking as she pulled them away from her face and she held them out for Delilah to see. “I hate this the most… I can’t write a single thing when it happens… I’m so behind on my homework it’s unreal. Making tea is a lost cause too - I spill water everywhere and just make a mess.” She lowered her hands to grip the hem of her long skirt, trying to take slow, deep breaths.
“I just… Don’t know what to do, Delilah. I just don’t.”
---
Someone should have had a camera on Delilah’s face as she showed a number of different emotions through Mercy’s words. Shock, worry, sadness, panic.
Everything finally settled on realization.
Delilah stood up when Mercy showed her her arms and walked towards her desk. Leaning down next to the trash can, she picked up several balls of paper and brought them over to the girl and placed them in her lap. “I can’t draw Mercy. I can’t draw, I can’t write. I can’t focus on anything that doesn’t have to do with this war. “ The papers were covered in red marks, black blobs, torn and ripped in places. Any lines on them where shaky. The figures were all over the places. None where her normal clean, skilled drawings.
“My professors have recommend that I seek help and withdraw from this semester. Because I have not been able to keep up. I haven’t even been able to sew straight.” She was standing now, gazing back at the piles of notebooks she was throwing out.
“Death? No Mercy. Death is not the answer. Death will never be the answer because Death only makes things worse in the long run. It makes a hole in the hearts of people who love you. It makes a hole in the line of defence between us and them. And death in our case is not a choice. We are senshi Mercy. When we die, our starseeds will be reborn and go on this same path. Then everything we have learned in this life will be for nothing…”
Her hands were balling into fists. Where Mercy was crying and full of sadness...Delilah was angry. Livid almost.
“I made a vow to never let the wings of anyone be clipped. And I have realized that I’m not strong enough on my own to do jack!” Her fist slammed down on the desk, shaking everything and sending several pens rolling off the side. “You and I both watched idiots represent us in the Barracks. That one little girl wanted to make a ******** bomb...a Bomb! That’s the sort of people we leave behind if we give in. You and I…” She turned to gaze back at the girl. “That is not the line we walk. That is over the line and even over the line of humanity itself!”
She looked away and inhaled. “You can’t be something you are not. I can’t be a weapon. I know that now. So I have chosen to be something else. You cannot expect to be as fast or as strong as them either. You are not them. Chaos does not flow through your veins. So you need to decide where to focus. Building your mind or your body. If you want to learn to fight, I will give you my cousin’s number…”
---
Mercy had not expected Delilah to get up - but when she did, she immediately worried she’d said the wrong thing and Delilah was going to be angry at her and kick her out. When she started to speak, Mercy wrapped her arms around her body, trying to keep herself centered, ready for a barrage of yelling and anger.
A barrage that never came, at least, not directed at her.
When it was all said and done, she looked up at Delilah and then stood, moving over to the woman she wrapped her arms around her and hugged her close, face buried in her chest.
“Delilah… You’re like a sister to me, I… I couldn’t leave you like that.” She said, looking up and sniffling a bit. “I… I would like your cousin’s number… Just to not be a burden on others… I don’t like feeling like people have to protect me. I want to be able to protect myself…”
She rested her head on Delilah again and sighed. “But… If we are the most human of the senshi… then maybe the Negaverse is right about some of what they speak?” The doubt was there - she’d seen both sides.
“Are we really any better?”
---
“Define better.” Delilah said as she looked up and out the window at the night. “Are we better than them? No. We are as much monsters as they are. We fight just as they do. We bleed. We kill. I won’t lie to you Mercy. I told you before there is no ‘good and evil’ as we wish. There is no line of who is better and who is worse. Just because some where the uniform of a White Moon Senshi does not mean they do things in the name of justice or the betterment of others.”
“Just as those who were the uniforms of agents aren’t all dark and twisted.”
Delilah took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Not long after we got back from the crazy mess, my dreams started to get...funny. I started to see things not as they are now but as if…” She paused and opened her eyes. “As if Chaos had won. The city under their control. Humans used as cattle. Those under the White Moon leaving in fear. Anyone suspected being carted out and never heard from again…”
Her eyes gazed at Mercy. “I didn’t think much of it. Fear. Worry. Dread. Stress. But then I remembered something.” She stopped talked and swallowed. “Mei had the same dreams. So did Quinn. And others…”
“Some...don’t think they are dreams at all.” There was a half laugh in her voice. “But visions of ‘what if’...What if Metallia wins..”
---
Mercy shook her head slowly. “We can’t have that…” She said softly lowering her gaze to look down at the floor between them. “Arthur asked me if I thought the war was a no-win situation…” She looked back up at Delilah then, and bit her lip. “The more and more I see of things, the more and more I am sure that it is. No side can win this - not really.”
“Not unless something major happens or if our side can actually act as a force for good instead of allowing those with murderous intent in our midsts…” Shaking her head she let go of Delilah and took a step away from her.
“But that said - I would like the number of your cousin - if only to prove that I can protect myself… And also to give myself peace of mind if nothing else…” She wiped her eyes again, letting out a small sigh.
“Sorry… to make you remember something so horrible too.”
---
Slipping away from her, Delilah went to her desk, picked up the pen off the ground and scribbled a cell phone number. “Here. Tell him who you are and that I will kick his a** if he is mean to you.” Delilah offered the number to her, sitting in her desk chair. She wasn’t ready to face even Mathias right now...not after the look on his face when he found out she and Quinn were over.
“I fear you are right about that. And I was blind or a long time. It isn’t winning we should be after. Unless the Moon Queen returns, I don’t think we have any hope of that…” Her head shook. “Especially now….Especially now that we ******** up.”
She looked at Mercy with a wince. “Sorry. Screwed up.”
“But that’s something I’ve been thinking on. What now. What reason do we have. I mean I have my own personal one now but it isn’t enough. Neither side will give unless it is completely destroyed and well, while we have some on our side willing to do that, they have more on theirs….”
Her head shook. “Sorry. I’m rambling love. It’s been a few long weeks and the strain of being strong is starting to wear on me…”
---
Mercy shook her head and waved at Delilah. “No you’re right we did… f-fudge it up…” Mercy couldn’t bring herself to swear, but she didn’t want Delilah to think that she wasn’t allowed to around her. She’d stated time and time again she didn’t mind other people letting loose swears every now and then. She was a lady - she did not expect others to uphold themselves to her level of self control.
“You’re right though, a personal reason, no matter how lofty it is, isn’t enough.” She took the number from the older woman and nodded her head slowly. “Not anymore, not after that fiasco. It proves that we are too disjointed - too disorganized to do anything.” She said with a small sigh. “Unless we can unify the White Moon - which sort of the Queen returning I doubt will ever happen - I think we’re doomed to a permanent stalemate.”
“We can’t win this war with fighting - we’ve got to win hearts and minds… and we just hurt that mission by a whole heck of a lot.”
---
“It’s sad to admit you are completely correct.” Delilah sighed, hands on her knees as she stood back up and moved towards the couch and her cooling cup of tea. “We damaged any hope talking can do for a long while. If the stories are correct. They have lost one General Queen and the other, well...there was no confirmation of death. Just a dragon falling on her. They lost their Queen long before. However, they have Metallia and she has control and power elsewhere. We have what? Guardian Cosmos and four royals who would rather fulfill self interests than see the good of all happen?”
She flopped on the couch. “Well, I take that back. Though I disagree with Princess Ganyamne’s words, her actions have shown me she is willing to do some of what is needed when the situation calls of it. However, I don’t think she has the will or the mentality to act on her own. Polaris I have not seen since her wedding. Xanthus mentioned Iris but no one knows where she is. And Castor…” She just looked at Mercy with disgust.
“So that leaves the rest of us running around like chickens with our heads cut off dealing with more chickens with their heads cut off…”
She suddenly stopped and blinked. “Where was I going with this?”
---
“We’re in a war we can’t win by fighting but all anyone seems to be willing to do is fighting?” Mercy suggested, moving over to Delilah to join her on the couch as she reached out for her own cup to take a sip at the tea. “We have royals incapable of… unifying the multitude of factions that we seemed to have devolved into.”
She took a deep breath and sighed. “Princess Ganymede is willing to act in a situation yes, but I doubt anyone short of her knights would follow her willingly. Cosmos is… doing whatever it is she does… I care not at all what Castor is doing or does - he’s…” She shuddered. “Unpleasant.”
“These other names mean absolutely nothing to me because I’ve never heard of them until now. I didn’t even know we had royals looked like until Ganymede and Castor showed up at the meeting with Caedus, and even then I didn’t care.”
She puffed out her cheeks and sighed. “We’re between a rock and a hard place, and it’s going to be a very tight squeeze. I don’t think the Negaverse are going to forgive us, ever, but we can hope that some of them will be willing to see the light and join the right side… But I think we hurt that a lot too.”
---
“We are in agreement there.” Delilah sighed, holding the bridge of her nose. “Frankly Mercy, in my honest thoughts, we screwed ourselves. Trying to take the advantage in the long run has resulted in putting us in a HUGE disadvantage. Sadly, it was a risk we ran…”
Moving to rub her eyes, the human form of the senshi of doves exhaled in a rather silly noise. “The knights got the code back, we released starseeds, and killed one General Queen at least. All of those are good but let’s be frank, nothing long lasting. Everything we did can be undone just as quickly….frankly Mercy I’m stuck.” Delilah finally admitted.
“I have spent days...weeks even...trying to sort this all out and all I can come up with is the fact whatever we have been doing isn’t going to work anymore. We want to talk to them...show them reason. Well I’ve lost count now how many of them have told me they have come face to face or lost someone at the hands of a White Moon. And the White Moon wasn’t even protecting themselves…”
She exhaled. “And now we did this. Basically I’m trying to come up with the next step. What’s next for those of us who don’t want to wipe people off the face of the Earth….”
---
Mercy sighed and she raised her hands in a defeated shrug. “We start over.” She said. “It’s frustrating, but we have to start back at square one. We’ve reset any good will we may have had. We’ve basically proven every single line of propaganda they could write about us.” She felt defeated, really. The attack on Negaspace was supposed to be a moment of triumph. Instead it had turned into a giant mess.
“We start rebuilding our contacts to the Negaverse. We continue to defend ourselves, to show that there are White Moon out there who aren’t out for blood. That only want peace. I’m not saying go full pacifist - because they’ll just kill or corrupt us. But we need to just start over.”
She let out a long sigh and then sipped her tea. “It’s all we can do, Delilah. There is no other plan.”
---
A long whistle of a sigh came from Delilah but she cut it off. “You are right. But we can’t take the same approach we did before either. Neither of us wanted to fight agents if we didn’t have to. Well, I don’t think we are going to be given much of that luxury for awhile. I think we both need to come to terms with the fact that for a while, it’s going to be nasty.”
Exhaling, she leaned back on the couch. “Sometimes I wish I wouldn’t have broken up with Quinn. At least he was great to have in a fight.” Delilah chuckled weakly. No, it had been the right choice.
“I’m going back to the moon.” Delilah finally admitted. “I know there has to be something there. More to this. Even if not this war but things we can do….for those of us who happen to suck a** at kicking a**.”
---
“Do you need me to come with you? Want me to come with you?” Mercy asked softly, looking up at her. “Four eyes are better than two at finding things…” She added. “I’m sure I can parcel out a night to come and help. I just wish we could spend more time on the moon.” She said with a soft sigh. “It would be so helpful.”
At her statement about Quinn though she shook her head. “No, you did what was right for you, don’t second guess yourself. Even if he was a good fighter - if he is a proper gentleman he’ll come to your aid in a fight regardless and not expect anything in return. And if he is not a proper gentleman then let me know and I’ll sort him out with my boot.”
Her cheeks had puffed up as she talked, but she knew that at the end of the day, she was going to have to fight - which meant calling the number Delilah had given her.
---
Laughing, Delilah looked at Mercy with a smile. “Sadly, the debate is still open as to if Quinn was a proper gentleman. Could he behave in public? Sometimes. He treated me right but honestly…” She sighed. “Mercy, I don’t want a man who thinks he can buy my love. I would rather someone poor as dirt who gives me his heart and listens to me. Not someone who when I growl at runs out and buys me a diamond necklace.”
“Anyway, enough of that. You are always welcome to come with me to the moon. I need to get back there and check on the life I saw growing. Frankly...it’s long past time. All this stuff with Chaos put it on hold and well…” She sighed…”we need to also talk to Sidouer...I mean Mei.”
---
“Love isn’t a commodity…” Mercy said with a small nod. “Well, I think you made the right call,” She said with a small smile. “Who knows, maybe you have a prince charming out there somewhere who’s a roofer? Or a valet?”
Rags to riches right? Who knew.
She smiled a bit more when Delilah said she could join her on the moon. “Okay! I’ll be there, just tell me when to be at the fountain and I’ll make sure I don’t miss it.” She’d cancel plans if she had to. The Moon was too amazing to miss.
At the comment that they needed to talk to Sidouer/Mei her face flushed a bit. “Oh… yeah… we should probably do that… and I should probably apologize for being a brat.”
---
“You can figure it out.” Delila smirked down at Mercy, sipping the remains of her tea. “Night of the full moon remember? Ruins any hopes of a date with a beautiful full moon in the background...or running into werewolves.”
She was only half joking about the werewolves. Stupid youma.
“But yes. We both do need to talk to Mei. I need to check on her and you need to apologize? For what?” Delilah asked lifting a brow.
---
Mercy nodded and made a note to mark her calendar for that date. She’d be there for sure. Looking up at Delilah tho she shook her head slowly, and bit her lip. “The other night… you know, when I was snippy with everyone. She was just teasing I shouldn’t have gotten so… harsh.”
She was trying to not remember how silly and childish she’d been the night Delilah had earned Super… It still upset her - more now that she’d seen horrors she couldn’t even start to describe.
---
“You were in a tough place Mercy. We all were.” Delilah said in a manner she hoped would comfort the girl. “Especially those of you who care so much for me. Most of you were worried I would drop dead or something.” She chuckled and reached over to hug the girl.
“Mei is an understanding person. Respect her and she will respect you.” Delilah added giving Mercy a squeeze. She was avoiding saying what else was on her mind...that now that she failed as a leader, she didn’t think she had truly earned her upgrade…
Super...yea...right.
“Feeling any better?”
---
“A lot better actually, thanks.” Mercy said, leaning into the hug and then starting one of her own. “You’re really great Delilah.” She said with a small smile. “I hope I’m half as great as you are when I grow up.”
She definitely saw Delilah as an older sister, she was a major role model for her, one of a few people who held that title.
The other was back in their dorm room, probably studying her butt off.
---
“You will be even better than me when you catch up to me.” Delilah laughed, giving her a squeeze. “Because you have me here telling you what not to do that I found was a nightmare.”
With a wink, Delilah stood up and stretched. “Want me to take you back to the dorm? Or movie night? I got Maleficent finally. Who knew I would have waited this long to see it.”
---
“Movie night and then a ride home sounds great, actually…” Mercy said with a small smile, ignoring the earlier statement because she was still very much full of doubt on the subject.
“Just to get my mind off all of it… you know?”
---
“Not a problem them.” Delilah walked to the TV to grab the remote and flipped the system on. “Get comfortable then. I hear she could scare children.”
With that, Delilah let them settle in and relax for a bit...forgetting about the stupidity of the world around them.
Torvil
