ellectrical | March 2007, Costa Verde

Elle's never been swimming, but that doesn't mean she's not prepared. Maybe some part of her hoped she could use it, or she thought it looked pretty, but she walks out onto the deck of the hotel pool in a black-and-white swirled bikini, large sunglasses, and a wide-brim straw hat.

Well, the hat she'd bought at the gift shop.

There's no towel (she won't need one) and she steers clear of the pool itself, not even stepping on wet footprints in the concrete and careful not to run into any scampering, soaking children as she finds a chair on a separate deck, facing away from the pool. She orders something fruit-sounding from the waiter, but doesn't touch it once he brings it, even if she's tempted to peck off that little pink umbrella.

And she listens for her father's voice. It's boring, waiting around without being able to do much besides feel the sun baking into her skin and watching the completely cloudless sky, and as closely as she listens to the splashing water, her stomach shifted with aversion that overran anything like curiosity.

Her father wouldn't be happy if she accidentally electrocuted a bunch of little kids, either.

Fortunately, she doesn't have to wait too long – the ice in her untouched drink has barely begun to melt when it picks up –

"- and curing Niki."

"That's what I like about you, Dr. Suresh, your moral compass always faces true north. Which is why you're going to get a new partner. One who can execute, whose compass faces north-northwest..."

"I hope you're using sunscreen."

(She's not.)

"Overprotective much?" she grumbles, pushing her hat lower on her head as her father and the professor circle her chair.

"Dr. Suresh, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Elle," her father holds out a hand toward her, but the professor blinks between them, looking confused.

"Your daughter?" he whispers to the professor, clearly trying to keep his voice low enough for her not to hear, and not succeeding. "She's the executioner?"

Her father nods, slightly, and Elle grins, lowering her glasses. The white bandage over his nose is the first thing she notices as her eyes slip over him once, and she asks, "What's your superpower? Punching bag?"

"Have you been working on your sharpshooting?" her father interjects. "I don't want you getting too close to Bennet."

"Hey, Fight Club," she calls to Suresh, rather than her father. "Check this out."

And she levels her pointer finger at the drink, flicking up her thumb like a small trigger. The glass shatters, flames crawling over what's left of the orange-colored cocktail. The little umbrella flops off, engulfed in a flame that tears it apart before it reaches the ground.

Elle grins again.

[ooc: Dialogue lifted from Heroes 2x09, "Cautionary Tales."]