***
“What is it?”
The question came out the instant he entered the room and made eye contact.
How the hell does she know?
“You’re walking funny. Very nervous-looking. Tell me whatever it is you don’t want to tell me. Let’s just get it out in the open,” she said firmly, standing up from the chair she had been relaxing in and stepping closer to him. “No sense in beating around the bush. What have you done that I’m not going to like?”
His jaw dropped open in surprise.
Maddy snorted. “You seriously have the look of someone who swallowed a frog, Connor. I’m not blind nor stupid. Plus, we’re in a bit of a predicament, and you are a good man. Which means that you’re willing to do something stupid to protect me or something. So whatever it is, spit it out so I can tell you that you’re dumb and we’re doing this together.”
He shook his head. This was not going the way he had imagined it. Then again, he reminded himself, he had imagined it would involve a lot of throwing of objects and screaming. The almost serene calm that Maddy was exuding was throwing him off guard.
“Why don’t you tell me what it is you’re planning that makes you care so little about what I’m about to say?” he returned, watching her closely.
She jolted, but barely, and covered it up quickly enough that he barely saw it. In fact, if he hadn’t been looking for it, Connor doubted he would have known.
“When I figure it out, I’ll tell you,” she replied. “Now, tell me what you’ve gone and done.”
Connor didn’t sense a lie in her words, but it was clear they weren’t the complete truth either. Still, she had admitted she was up to something, which was more than he had expected. But he was now forced to acknowledge her words.
“Flint is going to get you out of the city.”
Maddy frowned. “Wasn’t that the plan all along?”
“Without me.” He tried not to laugh at how similar the conversations were.
“Why?” Unlike Flint, there was no protest from her. She had known he was up to something, so the news wasn’t entirely shocking to her.
“Because I draw too much attention.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not all. Tell me the whole truth.”
Connor sighed and collapsed onto the bed unhappily. “When I led them off the other day, they caught me. They took my mask off.”
Maddy looked away, upset. “They know what you look like now,” she said.
“Yes.”
“What else?”
He swore to himself as she pressed him. Connor had hoped to get away without telling her his next plans. So much for that.
“We need to capture someone alive who can tell us about all these new serums,” he said after a long pause.
Maddy looked at him hard as she thought over his words. “You want to capture one of those, what do you call them, Extreme Agents?”
He smiled briefly. “Extremis, but yes,” he admitted.
“That sounds like a pretty dumb idea,” she stated bluntly.
“I’ve had better,” he replied. “But whether it’s a good idea or not, it needs to be done. If they have other serums, ones that can affect other abilities, either enhancing them or denying them, then we need to know about it.”
“And capturing one of those is something I can’t help with,” she said at last, dejected. “I would be far too much of a liability.”
Connor didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. Maddy knew what she was saying was the truth. He didn’t need to reinforce the fact.
“I’ll be able to work better knowing that you’re safe,” he said softly. It was cliché, but it was the truth nonetheless. He needed to say it aloud and for her to hear it from his lips instead of having it implied.
She smiled wanly. “I know. But that doesn’t help me feel something other than useless,” she said with a shrug. “I want to be able to help, not hinder.”
“You’re smart,” he said. “Perhaps we could get you a job in Genesis Valley, helping to analyze these formulas. Find a way to make us immune to their effects, perhaps?” He smiled. “It’s not frontline work, true, but trust me, it’s extremely important.”
Maddy frowned. “I’m not sure I have the proper set of smarts for that,” she told him. “And why can’t you come with me, and then go do this once the rest of your team is back?”
He hesitated. It was a good question, and one he had thought of several times. “I’m not sure I can tell you a logical reason for that,” he admitted. “It just feels right. I need to go do this, and not go with you.” Connor winced. “I know that sounds stupid and ridiculous, but there it is.”
To his surprise, Maddy didn’t instantly scoff at his thoughts. All she asked was one simple word. “Why?”
“Something to do with the Agency, the serums, us, the Underground, and the mole. It all blends together somehow.” He made a mental note to go and find Flint. He hadn’t mentioned the mole to him yet. They were going to have to do some internal hunting once Maddy was gone. That was why he had gone to Flint, and asked him alone to arrange her extraction. If nobody else knew it was happening, she couldn’t be betrayed either. Connor had to do everything he could to keep her safe.
Maddy nodded slowly. “I understand.”
He blinked. “You do?”
“Yes,” she told him. “I’ve always felt that I don’t belong. I’ve just known it. Something about me is different than the people I’ve met before. I just don’t know how, but it is. I can’t explain it either, but it’s one of those things I just know.”
“I think you belong,” he replied.
She gave him a small smile. “I don’t feel completely out of place around you.”
He began to relax, still in shock that the whole thing hadn’t devolved into a shouting match. She knows you better than you think. There was some definite truth in that statement, he thought, reflecting on the calm way she had handled the issue. It was very unusual, and yet extremely welcome at the same time.
“Don’t think you’re out of the woods yet though,” she said sternly.
Connor sat straight up. What?
“Move your ass back,” she told him, getting up from her chair and approaching the bed where he lay.
“Okay?” he said, confused but doing as she said.
“Now, it won’t be night for a little while yet, so you had better hold me tight until I have to leave,” she ordered.
“Absolutely,” he promised, wrapping his arms around her as she settled into his lap, his lips nuzzling into her neck, kissing her softly with affection.
Don’t grow too attached. She’s going to be in Genesis Valley while you’re here.
Connor didn’t acknowledge the thought. Instead, he simply turned his bear loose on it. He allowed the animal mind to fight with his own subconscious, subduing it quickly, allowing him to cuddle in peace with the woman who somehow meant so much to him.
He didn’t want to let go.