Whisper in the Wind

“What can I say. I’m a rude person.” He means it as a joke, but Tierney knows there are plenty of people out there who’d call him rude, if not something much worse. He smiles softly, hands in his pockets and eyes on the horizon. “Ciara. You can text me whenever you want. It’s not a bother.” Besides, he liked talking to her. He scoffs at her comment about not worrying about her. Of course he worries. He worries about everyone in the Syndicate. Some more than others. “You tell me not to worry but I will anyways you know.” He shakes his head and leads the way, weaving in and out of the scattered people with a practiced ease. Blending in, not being noticed, has been a skill honed for years. When he gets to his place he opens the door with little flourish, holding it open just long enough for Ciara to walk in before letting it go and flicking on the light. “Garage is just ahead, stairs to the apartment are on the left.” He heads up, already pulling out his phone. “I’m thinking of ordering the whole menu. I’ll need something to keep Isaac and Jack from eating my good food for a while, right? What is the shelf life on Chinese food anyways?”

Ciara huffs and crosses her arms. She knows that some people had problems with Tierney, sure. But that was because they looked at the surface. There was so much more to him if someone just cared to look close enough. “You might want to take that back, I’m just gonna bombard you with messages now.” She was joking, of course. Ciara always over thought before she sent a message and then looked over it two or three times after that.  And then she wouldn’t send another unless she got a reply. It was just the way she was.

“You grew up on the bottom as well?” she asked. It was what she called near poverty. Poverty in the US was far different from poverty in the Netherlands, the social differences were far greater here. But Luca too had spend many summers in public pools or a little pool her parents set up in the backyard for all the kids in the camp. 

“Oh yes, food here is very good. Then again, I’m still not used to everything, what kind of food did your mom make?” she asked. She enjoyed casual conversation like this. It wasn’t meaningless to her, just.. filling up the space, creating connections. She enjoyed that about being human - or mutant or whatever - it showed that people weren’t so different. Most of them were just a little too selfish, and scared about new people and changes. 

Luca’s grin grew when it appeared that Ciara thought she had been joking. It was funny to see people’s reactions though, she didn’t feel Dutch, she had been away from home for too long, was too angry with her government, that she had forcefully cut ties with her nationality at least. She was a Mutant now. But it was still where she was from, where her family was from. Where Maddie had vanished. 

“I’m going to tell you a secret,” she said, her voice lower. “I’m moved because my country wasn’t really safe for my kind anymore.” 

“I guess you could call it that. My parents didn’t seem to realize the ramification of trying to raise 5 kids at the same time.” Ciara rolled her eyes, annoyance flashing across her face. Not many things aggravated the woman but her family was a sore spot. She loved them, always would unfortunately, but man if she didn’t hate them most of the time.

“There is certainly a lot to choose from but I’m glad to have some different options. My mom used to make us Tostones and Arroz Con Gandules. Eventually I learned to make it myself along with a lot of other things. I like to think I’m a pretty decent cook.” She laughed which was followed by a soft sigh. “What about you? What kind of food do you like?”

Luke sighed before turning to face the ocean. “You know, when I joined the Blackburn Syndicate, the only family I had was Isabel. Before her, the only other family I had was my mom, and I haven’t seen her since I was six.” He turned to face Ciara again. “I’m sorry you were on your own. It shouldn’t be like that, the Syndicate should be more like a family than anything else.” 

“If you want, we’ve just moved into a massive house. It’s really run down, but we’re fixing it up. You’re more than welcome to swing by if you’re feeling lonely.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, snuffing out the dim light. He allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkness. “Even if you just want to have a drink or a place to crash. Mi casa es tu casa” 

“I pay attention. Read your texts. The usual.” He smirks, joking. He’d never invade Ciara’s privacy like that. Her life outside of his was her own. Not that he wasn’t paying attention to her life though. He’d taken a vested interest in her life ages ago, not that he’d honestly expected Ciara to get into much trouble though. He keeps his smile strong when hers falls, trying to keep her mood up. “Chinese sounds fantastic. There’s this place down the block I’ve been meaning to try. I’ve been told their Crab Rangoons are to die for. I intent to test that.”

“Mine neither, so I feel you,” she said in response, letting all that American slang that she had picked up from the television rolling right off her tongue as if it was a natural thing to say. She would like to feel Ciara, you dig? But that was… wishful thinking?

“I mean… any beach in this city is perfect, which sort of makes it easy to end up there, but I still like to point it out. Make this beach feel special,” she said patting the sand. “Such a special beach. Seen anything interesting besides the beach?” she asked, in an attempt to keep light conversation going. All smiles and grins, and a warm voice.

“Where’s Evanston?” she asked. “You probably can’t hear it well, because my American accent is flawless’ - it was in fact, not flawless at all. - “But I’m from the Netherlands.” She decided against mentioning that she too had been living in Chicago for the longest time. Because now it explained the feeling of familiarity. And Luca didn’t have a dead wish. 

Ciara smiled and laughed lightly. “I’m glad it’s not just my family. It always seemed weird coming back from summer vacation and everyone would talk about these trips they went on and I was lucky if I went to the local pool.” She picked up some sand in her hand and just let it slowly fall back to the ground.

She tilted her head towards Luca, a curious look on her face. “You think so? I’m sure there are spots that aren’t great. But they could also hold memories for other people and that’s what makes them perfect.” She shrugged. “Hmm, a lot of the food here reminds me of what my mother used to make. So that’s nice. Maybe I won’t have to cook for myself all the time.”

He enjoys that her smile broadens and brightens when she sees him but he doesn’t miss the fact it’s a fleeting thing. He won’t tell her, but he’s worried. He tries to inject a little more enthusiasm in his next smile, using his rocks to attempt to draw a picture of a fish in the sand. It’s by no means a work of Picasso’s. “I hardly think I ruined it. Just…made it better. Everyone likes lopsided fish, hmm?” His smile falls with her mood. He’s never been good at the emotional things, but he’d try for Ciara. “You want to steal something?” He’s only kind of joking. “Or, you can come see my new place. It gets delivery.”

In spite of herself, Ciara laughs and rolls her eyes. “How’d you know lopsided fish are my favorite kind.” Her heart lifts a bit, glad that Tierney was still here and hadn’t vanished off the face of the planet. She knew that he wasn’t good with feelings and her texting him like a lost puppy and trying to make sure he was alright would probably make him feel like he was suffocating. So she just waited for him to come to her. The smile on her face drops a little bit again but stays a happier smile this time. She wouldn’t know what to so without him. “While you know I love to steal things, I don’t think my hearts in it right now. But I definitely want to see your new place and maybe get some chinese food?”

Boss. What an awful little word. Benjamin was supposed to keep the ship afloat and now the responsibility of their people fell on his shoulders. He hated it, not because he didn’t want to protect them, but because he knew he’d be willing to watch the world burn for them, and having that power in his hand, knowing when to use it? Benjamin never taught him that. So here he is, sitting in a shitty bar in the city of Miami. Miami, of all places. He always hated the heat.

What a shitshow. Benjamin dead, Abigail as his second, half the gang clamoring for revenge while the other half just wants to be left in peace. He sighs, takes a sip of his tea, closes his eyes for a second… he can feel a headache coming, pounding behind his eyes, and the steps approaching him form behind only promise to make it worse. 

People only come to him to fix their problems or give him bad new. They never showed up with cocktails, cigarettes or the promise of a long, good nap, surprisingly enough. 

He opens his eyes finally, looking at the newcomer, hand inching ever so slightly down to the gun hiding under his coat - just in case. “What is it now?”

Ciara knew this was how gangs worked. That even though there were talks of peace it was a very small tight rope that they all walked on to keep them going. Any gust or even a soft breeze could upset the balance and send them all crashing to the ground below, bloodied and bruised. Some of them possibly not making it out at all. And the actions of Benjamin Granger, well they were a fucking hurricane. There were nights where she work up in a cold sweat, imaginary blood and burns still feeling so real. Maybe that’s why when she heard he was dead, it didn’t effect her like she thought it would.

Until she saw the video. Until Alma was arrested. Until she came back out of breath and everyone had to leave, move their entire lives to an unknown city. Until Ciara took the trip to Miami alone, sleeping on a bus and worrying that her small family was going to be forever fractured, leaving her alone.

With these thoughts swirling through her mind, her feet had brought her to a bar. She had walked past it a few times earlier and thought about stopping but it still felt a little earlier than was usually socially appropriate. Now? Now seemed like as good of a time as any. So she walked her way up to the bar, a neutral expression on her face. She saw someone sitting there, but it wasn’t someone she recognized from behind.

“It went by quickly.” He replied with a chuckle. “Isabel is amazing, she even organized snacks for the trip.” He dimmed his light down to just a dim glow as the moon was full and really lit up the pier despite the lack of street lamps. “How was your trip?”

He sighed before continuing, “I just wanted to see how everyone else was settling in. We moved quite abruptly and I’m not even sure if we have an HQ just yet.” 

Ciara smiled. She wished her trip had gone by as quickly. “Wow that does sound like a good time.” She lowered her hand and let it sit at her side. “Mine wasn’t really anything to talk about. Boring and kind of long. I slept for most of the way there. I was just too frazzled to really be doing anything else.”

At his next sentence she shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going on either. You’re one of the first people I’ve seen since everything happened. Outside of all that I’ve just been on my own.” Ciara kicked a rock by her foot of the pier and into the water. Taking the trip alone just reminded her of how easy it was to be all alone again and she hated it.

“Never?” Luca asked, with surprise. Though. If she was from the US, it shouldn’t surprise her that much. Since the United States was HUGE. Luca had lived in such a small country, and the beach had been about a forty-five minute drive. Close. Relatively. 

“Well, you’ve chosen a perfect beach, this one is sunny. And a perfect day, sunny as well,” she said, holding out her hands to the sky. So nice and sunny. “I’m by myself, because sometimes a lady has need of some alone time, and especially on the beach. Staring into the sun, going for a swim, checking out the other ladies in swim suits. Per-fect-day!” She smiled radiantly. “Only a few days, but I’ve been out by the beach more than I’ve been productive. Where are you from?” she asked. 

“No. My family... we didn’t go on many trips.” At least not ones she went on with them. Ciara had sort of block all of the memories like that out of her brain quite a while ago. City living had it’s perks but when it was one not near most touristy spots it could get quite boring. Honestly, part of her was glad to be far away from Chicago.

He’s been careful to keep his distance from the Syndicate since the move. He’s not mad at them, he’s mad at Alma, but the only way he can show is by not being around. It’s not been easy, especially not when it comes to the people he considers his closest friends. It was only a matter of time before he went to the effort of seeking them out. And if anyone was at the top of that list, it was Ciara. Finding her proved easier than expected, not that he was complaining, she could be hard to find when she wanted to be. He hangs back to watch her for a minute, trying to get a gauge on her mood. It’s hard with her back to him. 

When she crouches down Tierney steps forward, waggling his fingers a little to drop a few small pebbles he found in the road into the middle of her drawing. He smiles at her, standing just to her left, one hand in his pockets, the other by his side. Her thin smile isn’t heartening. “Hello.”

Her smile brightens a bit when she sees exactly who it is who has stumbled upon her, but her heart is still heavy in her chest. Ciara pushes herself up onto her feet again, stretching out her arms. It really was good to see him. She’s been worried about everyone and though she wouldn’t put herself out there and text them right away, it didn’t mean she worried any less about them. Especially her partner. The reason she was even able to stick around with the Blackburns. “I should be annoyed that you dropped pebbles into my lovely artwork.” She was joking of course. Her ‘drawing’ was terrible. But it took her mind off things for a while. “Sorry. I’m just...” She sighs, running a hand through her hair. “The move and everything took a lot out of me. I’m doing my best but,” Ciara shrugs, “it’s been rough going.”

☀️Location: South Beach Pier ☀️Time: March 22nd ☀️Status: Closed with ciarasawyer

Luke had no idea what the syndicate had planned next or whether or not they even had a new headquarters just yet. Regardless, getting in touch with another syndicate member that he didn’t live with was probably best. He scrolled through his contacts list and landed on a name he decided to text. 

“Meet me at that the abandoned pier on South Beach asap, just want to catch up.” is what the text said. He grabbed his jacket from off the bed next to him and head out. He arrived at the pier first and waited, watching and listening to the ocean below. When he heard footsteps behind him he swung round and let a little bit of solar energy escape from his hands like a flashlight. “Hey. Thanks for coming.” 

@ciarasawyer​

Ciara’s phone lit up beside her and she set down the book she had been reading. It didn’t surprise her, everyone seemed to be in disarray and she was no different. She was just able to push it down and hide it beneath a smile and some kind words. The person the text was from however wasn’t the first person she would have though of. Never the less, she was going to go out to the pier. Some human interaction would be good for her. After a quick, ‘Okay see you there!’ She grabbed a light jacket, better to have it and then tie around her waist than to need one and not have it after all, and her keys and headed down to the meeting point.

She shielded her eyes a little as the bit of light from his hands took a second to get used to. Though there was a friendly smile on her face. “Of course Luke. I’d never turn down a friend. How was your trip?”

By now, Luca’s feet had been so deeply buried in the sand so many times that she had to completely shorten her nails because she kept on finding sat under them. Her hair smelled like salt, and she had to resist the urge to cool off in the sea about every six minutes. She was dripping wet when she sat down next to the beautiful young woman already seated in the sand. Beautiful, excuse you, fucking gorgeous. She offered her a charming smile.

“Hello, what brings you to the beach? Are you with someone?” Luca asked, leaning in and opening up. her body towards the woman. Blinking her long lashes. There was a short moment where she figured she knew the person. But as if that was going to change her opinion on flirting with her. 

Ciara wasn’t expecting the person to just sit down right next to her. Though she didn’t mind it too much. It’s not as if it was her beach or something ridiculous like that. Plus a little company never hurt right? So she offered the woman next to her a soft smile. This was a new town, a new start. But if that was true, why did the face sitting next to her look vaguely familiar?

Feeling a bit of a wobble in her legs, she crouched down in the sand. There were people around, but at a quick glance she hadn’t really seen anyone she knew or wanted to speak with. Instead she drew in the sand with her finger, sighing again. Ciara had never been to the beach before, it was really lovely. Probably would have been better if she wasn’t feeling so down. The sound of crunching sand next to her drew her gaze up towards there face, trying to force her frown into more of a neutral smile. “Hello?”

Where: The Olympic Village When: 2nd Day Who: open

Luca was munching down the American food Maddie had gotten her with great delight, sitting on the grassy field of the nearby park, not caring about how she looked in her huge sweater and baggy sportjeans. Everything was so GREASY. With every bite it felt like she was swallowing two ounces of animal fat, and she was eating freaking FALAFEL. You wouldn’t see any Dutch place serving this much fat and slop. Then again, she was also craving for peanut butter, real peanut-butter, and Stroopwafels, but that was just the home-sickness setting in early. Nothing more. 

The last of the sloppy tortilla, or whatever it was, disappeared with fingers dripping into the single piece of paper she had brought with her. 

She threw up her hands in victory as she finished the burrito thing. “I’m going to be fat!” she yelled. 

Ciara stretched her arms above her head, her hair still a bit damp from a few laps around the pool for a bit more practice. She found when she was in the water, everything around her vanished and things became so much more manageable. But her time was up and after taking a quick shower she was walking around outside with a pack of Reese’s in her hand. The sun felt nice on her skin, which was still a bit chilled. Of course there were a few people around, talking, having fun, but Ciara was usually to reserved to try to enter into any of those conversations.

WHERE: Chicago Slums Garage WHEN: February 12, 2020 STATUS: OPEN

Tierney has been elbow deep in his newest project for hours now. A roached out Harley that’s more parts than functioning bike, really. But if he can get it running and cleaned up he can sell it for triple what he got it for. Money isn’t an issue, the Syndicate pays him better than anyone, but there’s this heady sense of satisfaction he gets when he makes money that isn’t soaked in blood. Not that he can spend it on much, he’s pretty sure if his landlord found out how much he had in the bank he’d be mugged. No one decent offers someone like Tierney a place to live. And he pays out the nose for it too. He’s always hated it but by now he’s nothing more than resigned to it. It’s better that he doesn’t live in a fancy house anyways. Money only protects humans, the police would still be knocking on his door in the middle of the night even if he lived in a big white mansion on a hill. He hates that more.

With a scoff he pushes himself away from the bike, admiring his handiwork. It’s got a long way to go and about seven different parts to replace, but it looks better than it had an hour ago. He glances at his watch and curses, loudly. There’s only a little over an hour left before the damn curfew and the cops have been making it no secret that they like enforcing it earlier on people they think are guilty of recent happenings. And sure, he’s guilty by association, but he’s gone to great lengths to keep that from the police. They just don’t like him. 

He groans and pulls himself off the floor. He’ll have to save the washing up for when he gets home. He’s haphazardly putting his tools back when he feels the unmistakable sensation of eyes on him. He doesn’t even bother to turn around and face them, instantly assuming it’s the same nosy cop whose been riding his ass for weeks now. “Piss off man.” He chucks a wrench a little harder than necessary into the drawer, slamming it closed. “I still have an hour before your damn curfew.”

Ciara just had a gnawing feeling in her gut. Call it whatever you want, it was something that she had grown used to relying on when it came to times like these. She pulled on a jacket and started walking down the sidewalk. Unsure really of where her feet were going to take her. She knew there was a curfew of course. She wasn’t stupid. There was an alarm set on her phone to go off ten minutes before curfew, hopefully plenty of time to get back from wherever she found herself wandering off to. Hopefully being the key word. It was becoming much tougher than she ever hoped being a mutant. Sure, she never thought it was going to be particularly easy. She had always hoped things would never get this far. But they had and now she was just trying to deal with the repercussions. Most of her worry wasn’t for herself though. It was for the people she cared about. A lot of them had classification levels much higher than her own and she didn’t want anything to happen to the small family she had made for herself.

When she finally broke out of her own thoughts, she was standing in front of the garage. She let a small smile cross her face as she heard Tierney working inside. Ciara moved a little closer and leaned against the wall, just watching him work. She owed a lot to him, it wasn’t something she would ever deny. Though she worried about him a lot, most of the time she tried to not show it as much. So that he didn’t worry over her worrying. But then she heard his voice call out and she almost jumped out of her skin. Which was followed by a quiet laugh. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just-“ She paused for a second. Well she didn’t really know why she had walked here. “Hi. Seems like you’ve been having a rough go of it yeah?” The smile slowly slid off her face. “I just wish this was over.”