June 2007, Three Weeks

[ellectrical]

After three weeks, everything had finally come into place. It had rained until late into the previous night, but the sky was clear by morning, and Elle had packed her bag (a large black purse) with what she'd borrowed from X, her map, her gun, even another plastic bag of Girl Scout cookies, before locking the door to her room and heading out to the street.

She gets an early start, making her way to the alley a couple hours before she thinks he'll show up. After double-checking that the employees of the club have really cleared out, Elle checks her surroundings, then moves to the double doors, and sets her purse down on the wet pavement.

About ten minutes later, with the aid of a torsion wrench and bump key, the padlock on the door has slid open. She leaves it hanging on the chain, puts her tools back into her purse, and moves away.

There's a space on the other side of the alley - it gives her cover in the form of the hair salon's dumpster and is kept dry by a short, striped awning that juts out from the wall, over the dumpster and the door on the other side. Elle positions herself, and waits.

Patience is not one of her virtues.

But sometimes, when she wants something bad enough, it doesn't really matter.

Comments

[ellectrical]

Elle doesn't sigh. But her capacity for sticking to honey over vinegar is limited.

"That'll get noticed. And if you're caught - you're just some kid without anything."

Even she seems to notice the way it sounds, but it doesn't stop her from continuing. "That's not - common."

[walksthebounds]

Jamie's response is amiable; if he's stung by the comment, there's no sign. "Not common, she says to the fellow who's been doing this only for a couple of centuries - look, Elle, I do know what I'm doing. It's been months since I came through and I've had no hassle."

Oh any given world, kids without anything are more common than Elle might think.

[ellectrical]

But Elle's world isn't any given world. She's learned that well enough through her time in the Bar.

She nods, faintly. "Most people'll think it just happens, because they don't know anything else. But we - they look for that."




But something in her manner changes - she looks at Jamie more directly, and any amiable pretense she had is gone.

"Jamie, I don't care. I don't care if you can do it -"

It's not like she'd let X stay too long in her world, either. And her opinion of X's ability to evade capture might, admittedly, be higher than what she has of Jamie. It didn't balance anything out.

"It's what they'd do. One of them could just pass you and read your mind and -"

Maybe someday she'll offer anti-mindreading tricks. But it's not today. "I don't care if it happens. You can risk it in somebody else's world, just - not mine."

[walksthebounds]

Jamie scrubs his hands through his hair, closing his eyes for a second, and then drops them again with a sigh.

"Well - look, I suppose it's not so difficult for me to go on one world over. I'd be moving on in a month or two anyway. I just don't see what you're so worried about me risking that I'd have to go right now - I mean, what, you think someone's going to pass by me and read my mind to figure out where you are? I mean -" He grins. "Elle, I'm fond of you and all, but I spend my time thinking about lots of other things. The odds seem a bit slim."

[ellectrical]

"It's not about me either."

A 'just' might have been in order there, but the bottom line is, Elle thinks she's lost enough to the Company already.

And she's really pissed about having to say it.

[walksthebounds]

"- ah," Jamie says, blinking a little.

He still doesn't think the Company is likely to take much interest in him. More likely they'll think he's mad, if they pay attention; it's the standard reaction.

But he supposes it's not as if it makes much difference, in the long run.

He sighs again. "It just seems a shame, is all. I've got a fair sum of money saved right now; if I'd thought I was leaving so soon, I would've splurged it."

[ellectrical]

The Company deals with everything from precogs to time travelers. And she know a few of them know about Milliways.

Including Sylar.

So 'mad' is not a reaction she thinks they'd have.

Elle rolls her eyes. "God, I'll get you money."

[walksthebounds]

"Oh, money never does any good a world over," Jamie says, waving a hand dismissively. "I would've spent it on something ridiculously expensive - had dinner at the poshest restaurant in London just because I could, or something. You may as well live it up while you can."

[ellectrical]

Still exasperated: "You wanted to come here."

Beat.

"And you can spend in the Bar. Or change it."

[walksthebounds]

"I didn't know you were kicking me out, then!"


Jamie looks a little doubtful; he's not planning on going right back to the bar, not just yet. "Well, if you'll let me stop by a - what d'you call 'em, the little machines, I can take out some to change next time I'm there, or -"

He brightens. "Are you going back soon, d'you know? If I gave you the cash, would you be able to dump it off there for me?"

[ellectrical]

Elle doesn't make a face at 'the little machines,' though it takes some effort.

"I go when the door comes back."

She takes another drink of her soda before adding, "It happens a lot. I could leave it there."

[walksthebounds]

Jamie nods and leans back. "It might be a few years for me, and I don't know if I'll hang onto anything that long. So I'd appreciate it - thanks."

He seems to have accepted by now the basic premise that he'll be heading out shortly. When you come right down to it, there's not that much tying him to one world or anything.

[ellectrical]

Elle just shrugs. If it gets her what she wants, she doesn't care that much.

But she checks her watch again, and says, "I don't want to be here that much longer."

[walksthebounds]

"All right, all right - you don't need to check your watch again, I've got the hurry-hurry message."

Jamie kicks back his chair. "If it's such a rush, let's go, then."

[ellectrical]

Despite having only about half of her food, Elle doesn't complain. She takes out the money to leave on the table, and pulls her bag over her shoulder.

"Do you know where to go?"

[walksthebounds]

"Yeah, the Bound's off towards the end of Wandsworth. It's not too far from here - it'll take about twenty-five minutes on foot, or there's the Tube."

[ellectrical]

"All right. We can just - find an ATM."

There's an emphasis on the last word, so Jamie might remember what to call them if the next world's anything like hers.

[walksthebounds]

"Ah, they're everywhere around here - there's probably one in the deli round the corner," Jamie says.

He picks up his grocery bag, looks at it, and sighs. On the one hand, he's sick of toting it around. On the other, it goes against the grain to throw away food - especially when he doesn't know where he'll end up - so he might as well haul it on with him.

[ellectrical]

"Then let's go."

She doesn't even sound impatient. But she does stop short as she's about to step away from the table.

"That stuff I told you."

Maybe she'll think of a polite way to say it.



"- don't talk about it."

[walksthebounds]

Jamie doesn't even stop walking - just tosses a grin over his shoulder.

"What do you take me for?"

[ellectrical]

It takes her a moment, or maybe a little longer, but Elle does finally smile back.

And for the first time, she lets Jamie lead the way.