Don't play with fire

The week was coming to an end and that meant that families were about to go back home and things would be going back to normal in Lake Grimstone, but what was normal?” Ian didn’t know. What he did know was that he wanted a week to just pretend that all was right with the world which was why he was at the farewell party. He had a drink in his hand and was sitting quietly watching as the people around him were partying and enjoying themselves, but his concentration was broken when he heard someone speaking to him rather than around him. Ian looked up at smiled at the girl. “It is now.” He said referring that the seat would now be taken by her.  “How has your week been so far?”

Upon closer inspection, it was obvious that the man had been in deep thought and Nat regretted for a moment pulling him from his own mind. Cautious, she pushed the skirt of her dress under her as she sat beside him, smiling softly. “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” She pointed at her head in a terrible attempt to indicate his thoughts. Glancing back out at everyone and their families, she shrugged at his question, “As good as I can be. I didn’t have family to visit with.” Natasha explained, tipping her head back toward him. “What about you? How has this week been?”

Ian walked down the street making sure that if anyone needed help they would get it. It was good for him to keep busy like that, it kept his mind off of the fact that not even his brother wanted to be around him at the moment, not that he blamed him since Ian often pushed the younger Mako away. Ian had been so consumed in his thoughts that he had almost missed that someone was in need of assistance. “We have mail slots.” He replied to the woman. “I can take you to where where she lives.” He offered. “I don’t know where she is at the moment, but she’s bound to go home at some point.” 

Kathy smiled and sighed in relief. It wasn’t as best as finding Rosalie and talking to her in person, but it would have to do. “Oh thank you dear. So much. I would greatly appreciate that.” Having her natural on her face still, Mrs. Moore held out her hand and introduced herself, “I’m Kathy Moore. Rosalie’s mother.” Glad that Lake Grimstone had welcoming and helpful people, Kathy felt a little more at ease after catching a couple glances at the destroyed buildings. The mother wondered, perhaps they are just remodeling?

Jessica pauses on the steps using the height as an advantage, but she still couldn’t pick Hunter out. Had he changed that much, or has he not changed at all and isn’t even here? The person behindes huffed obviously impatient to see their family member. She said made short work of the stairs but stood to the side not knowing where she was heading. She was so anxious it must have been written all over her face because someone approached her “ You wouldn’t happen to known where Hunter is? Hunter Cullen, about this big” she motioned the height she remembered him at at the age of sixteen.

“Hmm more like this big.” He said moving her hand higher up to reflect his friend’s actual height. “He should be around here and if not he might be training, it seems like that is all he does nowadays. I can take you to the training facility if you want.” He offered and then realized that she had no idea who he was and would probably not want to leave with a complete stranger. “I’m Ian Mako, by the way, I’m good friends with Hunter.” 

He didn’t blame her for not being fine, he didn’t even think that those that fought alongside TRP were fine, not completely at least. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself? Because it’s okay if you’re not.” Ian wanted her to know that it was okay to feel the way she did, he was definitely not dine, how could he be after all that he had seen? “Hey,” he shook his head at her words and raised his hand up as if asking her to stop. “You don’t need to apologize, this was not your job, it was ours. I’m sorry that we couldn’t keep you guys safe. You all deserved better than this.” 

“Both?” Rosalie replied truthfully for the woman was indeed trying to convince herself more than anyone else she spoke to. Though, saying it loud wasn’t helping. Not yet anyway. Rosalie watched Ian’s hands and stiffened a little being reminded of Zane’s hand and how he had manipulated her with his powers. “Um…y-yeah. I guess I don’t need to apologize but, still wish there had been some way or some warning we could have all seen before any of this happened.” The shadow mimicker swallowed hard forcing herself to roll her shoulders and be less stiff and to remind herself this man wasn’t Zane. “We all deserved better….” she paused and bit her lip before adding, “even those who were on TRP’s side.”

They failed, it was that simple. There were no excuses, no one else to blame but themselves. They had set out to make Lake Grimstone a town where people with special abilities could feel safe and instead they made some of the residents easy targets for groups like TRP. The guard let out a sigh and shook his head as he walked down the street of a town that he once called home. 

Could it still be home? He wondered as he continued to walk it was then that he bumped in to Rosalie Moore. “No, I’m the one that’s sorry… I wasn’t paying attention.” He explained. “How uh how are you?” It was a stupid question but one that needed to be asked.

Rosalie looked up at the guard and quickly swallowed back her tears and did her best to clear her throat before replying, “I’m everything but fine right now….but,” she froze and looked away feeling a tear fall from her frustration and hopelessness at the moment, “I’ll be fine tomorrow. Really.” I’ll be back to my old optimistic and cheerful self, she thought or hoped for even now in the mix of her gloomy emotions. Scratching her nose a little and biting her lip to hold back more tears, Rosalie glanced at Ian again and asked, “How are you and the rest of the guards? I’m sorry we couldn’t be more help….”

Hunter had no intentions of going to the hospital to get his wounds treated. What was the point? He healed faster then most but definitely slower then Harley. He found a clear doorway he could lean against as he eyes drifted not really concentrating on anything. “It’s not polite to stare… but i guess we’ve gone past the point of being polite anymore.”

As he walked towards his place he came across Hunter. His eyes on the man that looked to be hurt, which was surprising considering his power. That could only mean that he was seriously hurt. “Yeah, I have heard that and yes we are,” Ian said with a shrug. “You really need to go get that looked at.” 

Rosalie wanted to get away from it all. The woman had always found a reason to be optimistic and hopeful during any situation but when defeat was staring at you right in the face-it was hard to ignore it. Feeling her throat and stomach tighten as well as her eyes growing blurry, Rosalie began to back away from all the distraction that had been around her and hadn’t paid attention to those she’d be bumping into or stepping on until she felt and heard them. “S-shit….I’m sorry….I’m so sorry…..” The woman managed to say but could hardly speak.

Could it still be home? He wondered as he continued to walk it was then that he bumped in to Rosalie Moore. “No, I’m the one that’s sorry... I wasn’t paying attention.” He explained. “How uh how are you?” It was a stupid question but one that needed to be asked.

I hope that you’re right, that he didn’t hurt anyone. Doing something like that… it stays with you and messes you up in ways that you can’t even imagine.” While the person that Ian had hurt had deserved it, it had still effected Ian in a way that he couldn’t even begin to describe and he didn’t wish that on anyone. “I know the feeling all too well, It’s hard to keep your emotions out of it especially when things like this happen, but the more people like you that we can get in here the better off we will all be. As you can see from this mess, not everyone that is a guard is with the government.” Ian shrugged at Harley’s words, in all honesty after all the chaos that they caused he didn’t care if they were in solitary. “Where would you have put them? Talking to them is not an option, not right now at least.” 

“Because then they’re all in one place and easy to find.” Harley spoke, brow raised as he looked over the other. “Look, I’m on the right side here, I am, but it’s proving difficult right now. Just… They’re not going to be hurt, right? Neutralised doesn’t mean you’re going to hurt them?” That was all that Harley cared about - that Tristan wasn’t in some torture cell being goaded for information that he likely didn’t have. All the kid wanted was to be with his mom.

It was hard for Ian not to let his feelings get in the way of doing his job, but he knew that if he gave in to them that things could get worse. While it worried him that people he knew and cared about had been taken away, he knew it was for the best. Ian let out a sigh at the guy’s question and nodded, “they were taken to solitary. It’s the safest place for them.” He assured the guy. Another sigh passed his lips and Ian nodded completely understanding where Harley was coming from. “I know the felling, I know how hard it is to care about someone that chose them because they feel like this is the only way, but it isn’t. They made their choice and we have to make our own… the thing is they didn’t just mess with the government, they tried to hurt innocent people that call this place home.”

“Tristan didn’t hurt anyone.” Harley seemed adamant, but there was no way he could be sure about that. Tristan had said that he wouldn’t promise not to hurt people, and he knew first hand that Zane had. “I’m on the governments side, y’know? Always have been. I was once training because I wanted to be a guard but then I realised that I wouldn’t be able to keep my emotions out of it. I would protect this place with my life… but I can’t just let him sit in there. It’ll make him worse. It’ll make him angrier. It’s not smart to just keep them locked up in solitary! Are they all there?” The man glanced past Ian, in the general direction of where he knew solitary to be thanks to his exploration with Liam to try and find his mom.