Pathline (11 page)

Rune gave him a sad smile.
"Director, I want to assure you that this decision has no bearing on my feelings towards the agency senior staff.  I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the work that
's
accomplished here, and I appreciate ev
e
rything that the agency has done for me and the opportunities that it's provided me with. 
Unfortunately my mind is made up.  I just don't feel as if I'm the right fit for this agency anymore, or that it's the right fit for me.  I'm proud of the work I've done here, but I think my time has come to move on.  My formal letter of resignation was turned into your office as soon as we arrived, effective at the close of my current assignment." 

The
D
irector leaned back into his chair, heaving a sigh
.
"
I
s there no way to dissuade you?  If this has anything to do with the recent media coverage know that you
r
relationship with Malik bears no weight on our esteem of you, agency policy simply states that you cannot serve on the same team, something that can be easily taken care of. 
Tell me, is there nothing we can do or offer?" 

Rune sighed
.
"I'm afraid not.  This decision wasn't based
solely
on recent events, but I do regret the negative attention the agency has received in response.  As for the work, Blythe is more than capable of taking
over
as lead
W
anderer, and I've spent some time with some of the new recruits, a couple of them show real potential that pr
oper training can
bring out. 
I do apologize for the abruptness of my
resignation;
I hope it doesn't cause too many undue delays within the agency assignments." 

The D
irector
sighed again, shaking his head.
"
I
f your mind is made up then I guess there's nothing for us to do but deal with it.  You'll be missed Rune, and know that the door is open should you reconsider." 

Rune shook hands with
him
and stood to leave
.
"Thank you D
irector
.
" 

Rune made he
r way back to the training room
but only Helo remained, working out on some of the exercise equipment. 

He looked up as she walked in.
"Hey Rune, everyone else took off to the south wing to grab dinner and drinks
.
" 

Rune raised her eyebrows.
"
E
ven Rook?" 

Helo nodded.
"
Y
eah.  Suri, Blythe, and Malik offered to show him the way and grab a few drinks with him
.
"

She thanked Helo and headed out in the direction of the south wing. 
She had to admit to herself that the thought of Malik and Rook spending down time together made her
anxious
.  At least Suri and Blythe were also there, that would keep both of them civil. 
As she neared the entrance to the south wing she could hear people talking and laughing in the bar and cafe, it was their busiest time of day as people from the agency went there to unwind before turning in
for the night
. 
It
took her a moment to locate
the group she was looking
for;
they were sitting at a table next to the bar. 
Suri was the first to notice her, and wave
d
her over to join them.  As she approached the table, both Rook and Malik greeted her at the same time. 

Rook stood, walking around the t
able to meet her before she sat.
H
e turned towards Malik and said
,
"I hope you don't mind if I borrow Rune for a few minutes, I'll get her back to you soon enough".  He didn't wait for a reply but started moving away from the table with Rune at his side. 

"Well that was nice
" Rune said
,
as they walked out
to the patio area outside of the building. 

"It
was
" Rook
replied, with a surprised look.
 
They walked to the end of the patio, where it was empty.
 
"I have to admit, I didn't realize you stayed at the agency during jobs, I thought you had an apartment nearby." 

Run
e took a seat at an empty table.
"I do, well
somewhat
nearby.  But it's just more convenient to stay here while working a job, since we can be called up any time of day.  Is that a problem?" 

Rook shrugged.
"
J
ust an unpleasant surprise.  How'd your talk with the
D
irector go?  He give you up willingly?" 

Rune shook her head and motioned for
Rook to sit.
"
N
ot really, but he accepted it.  How about your drink with
media
supers?" she asked
,
with a questioning look. 

"H
a
h.  Alright I guess.  Blythe and Suri seem nice enough, and I think Malik was
trying
, but I'm not signing up for the agency any time soon." 

Rune laughed.
"
Y
eah, I would be very amazed if you did. 
Do you know your room number?" 

Rook nodded.
"
Y
es
, we stopped by the check-
in counter first thing.
I'm on the third floor last room at the end, what about you?" 

Rune chuckled.
"
T
hird floor, near the end, we're probably only a few doors away from each other.  Again." 

Rook smiled.
"
D
o you guys get in-room entertainment here?  What do you say we take in another movie?" 

Rune shook her head
.
"
W
e just get basic channels here.  Besides,
Malik will be waiting for me." 

Rook sat back.
"
Y
es, I'm sure he will.  Well we can still grab dinner can't we?" he asked
,
with raised eyebrows. 

Rune smiled.
"
I
f you don't mind a table for five.  We should get back in there and join them.
  I'm not usually
big on
socializing here, but it would mean a lot to Malik.
  They really are good people Rook, if you give them a proper chance you'll see that." 

Rook sighed, but nodded.
"
O
k, but I'm not promising anything here, I'm just hungry
.
"

Rune
smiled
and they both stood and made their way back inside.

When they returned the group moved over to the cafe to grab dinner.  Malik seemed to be eyeing Rook suspiciously, but didn't say anything about their absence.  The cafe's
food choices were pretty basic
so they had little trouble deciding what to order.  They kept light conversation up all through the meal, and everything seemed to be going well, but there was a slight tension below the surface that no one commented on. 
After the food was gone Suri suggested they hit the bar again, but Rook shook his head and politely left them to head to his room.  The rest of them joined her and
o
rdered a round of drinks. 

"So, Rook seems nice, I just don't think he trusts us much" Suri said, as they sat at a table awaiting their drinks. 

"He's an AP
super, I doubt trust comes easy.
H
ell,
I
don't trust easy and I've been working here for years" Blythe responded. 

Suri nodded thoughtfully.
"I guess spending most of your life hiding who you are would make anyone skeptical of others, still I think there's hope in winning him over, what do you think Rune?" 

Rune smiled.
"I think there's a chance, Rook is pretty good at giving people an opportunity to prove themselves."
She chucked.
"
W
as there another reason you were asking Suri?" 

Blythe laughed
.
"Oh, she's been eyeing him since he walked into the training room
, as soon as we were dismissed for the night she immediately volunteered to show him around." 

Suri turned to glare at him, Rune laughed.  "I have not been
eyeing
him, I was just being friendly." 

Blythe laughed.
"
Y
ou've never looked at me with
those
kind of 'friendly' eyes
.
" 

Suri threw
a
coaster at him as the drinks arrived. 
After they'd all drank from their glasses, Suri turned to Rune ag
ain.
"So, is he even single?" 

They all laughed. 

"As a matter of fact, he is. 
His best friend is
also
a
R
unner, and he regularly works with all kinds of supers, both mainstream and anomalous, so that shouldn't be an issue. 
Although he's not a big
fan of what he dubs '
media
supers
'
, but
don't let h
im get away with that crap.
You just have to work your magic in the time it takes to finish this job, because he won't be sticking around afterwards.  The
only
reason he took the job in the firs
t place was as a favor to me."

Malik met her gaze for a
moment;
she
gave him a small
smile and padded his leg under the table
reassuringly
. 

Suri nodded to herself.
"
O
kay, good to know
.
" 

Blythe laughed.
"
H
ere comes the scheming.  So how long have you two known each other Rune, if I may be s
o bold to ask?" he said. 

"We worked together when we were younger
, but we parted ways when I decided to
join the agency
." 

Blythe nodded
.
"
S
o he really doesn't like the government does he?" 

Rune chuckled.
"
T
o put it lightly
.
" 

They finished their drinks and then Rune and Malik left them. 

While they were waiting for the elevator Malik turned to her and asked, "Your room or mine?  Paperwork still hasn't gone thr
ough
." 

Rune shrugged.
"
W
hatever's easiest, what floor are you on?" 

They stepped into the elevator.

"I'm on the fifth, but I stayed in your room last night as well, it seems like most of the team is on third, except apparently for Serk and me." 

Rune pressed
the button for the third floor.
"
Y
ou two are more important, so you get a higher floor" she said jokingly. 

Malik laughed.
"
S
o what does it mean that I've been staying on the third floor?" 

Rune turned to
face him as they stepped off
the
elevator
.
"
I
t means you've been slumming it with the rest of us commoners
.
" 

He laughed again as they walked down the hall.  He opened the door and let her
in
first.  S
he smiled, all his things were
there
. 
As soon as the door was closed he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply, running one hand
along
her back. 

"Okay," he said pulling away, "about that talk"
.
 

Rune stretched.
"
W
ill you take the abridged version for now?" she asked
,
pulling off her jacket and tossing it aside. 

"Depends on how abridged"
Marcus
said.