Walking on Broken Glass (planned)

It was just a shame he wasn’t here to kill the man. It was as easy as that, was it? Just act repentant, then pick up your helpless blind mutant at the drive-through?

Damn. He and James should have tried a scam like this—lord knows there were plenty of mutants who racked up the body count, and then tried to play the ‘I’ve seen the error of my ways! (until the next kill)’ card. They could have gotten at least one of the Mansion’s killers by playing the part of reformed zealots.

>> "Did you sleep well?"

“Huh?” Rupert started back to the present, as Luke’s mirrored sunglasses reflected his own guilty expression back at him. “Oh, fine. Fine.” A small laugh escaped his throat. “Like crap, actually. You?” He put the car into gear.

All too soon, they were at the Mansion.

Raina had been replaying the phone conversation in her head every few seconds for the past few hours. She'd woken up way earlier than she intended and having immersed herself in mansion duties, gotten herself dressed and washed and presentable. She was looking a bit like she was about go out- not that it was intentional. With so much on her mind her hands just seemed to do the work for her in regards to both the mansion work and her makeup this morning.

She'd found about a million seemingly rational reasons to keep standing up from her office chair, striding down the halls, and looking out the front door windows. Every car that came up the drive had her heart racing and one of the other mutants had started teasing her about looking like a dog waiting for it's owner to return. She wasn't too happy with that comment but honestly with her mind pre-occupied she was hard pressed to think of a witty retort.

She was going to be seeing Rupert today. Rupert Kelley. Of all people. He hadn't crossed her mind in so long until the dream- the dream that she was betting was the number one reason why she and Luke hadn't seen each other in a few days. Too many days. Only talking on the phone was starting to get to Raina. In fact after this whole mess with Rupert was over she was planning on calling Luke up and insisting they go to dinner.

But why exactly did Rupert want to see her? She knew he wanted to talk but she had to wonder if he was taking issue with another mutant at the mansion. Of course, her mind was alive with the possibilities of the dream but she was trying her damnest to not be a crazy woman today. Then again, if two such as Raina and Rupert could get together like old chums and talk she might just mention the dream, it could be her only chance. If she looked like a fool to Rupert then it really wasn't changing a whole lot. So it's not like she could regret it.

She fidgeted looking out the window again then stood erect and walked back to her office; her heels clicking in a stomping sound the whole way. "keep it together girl." she told herself "it's just Rupert, I mean... he only shot you." and she couldn't be afraid. Maybe he was coming to finish her off? but that seemed unlikely since they did meet about that jacket business.

She flipped open her cell phone. Maybe it was a bad idea to keep all of this from Luke. After all she needed support right now. She wasn't going to go rushing back into the arms of her ex-boyfriend the zealot but Luke would understand after all this dreaming of babies that she needed support... wouldn't he? She was already thinking it was a bad idea again to call Luke when his secretary informed her he was in a meeting or something. Probably for the best.

She took a seat in her chair again. She put her fingers to her temples and made circles. She still hadn't changed. She'd had a bath this morning and everything. First bath in over a year without changing. She didn't change in the dream.

After a few moments she sighed and stood up- again the idea of waiting by the door seemed completely sane so she headed back in that direction.

Listening carefully to the direction various noises were coming from had given Luke a pretty good idea where the mansion door was and so he shook his head as Rupert made his offer. "I'll manage. I was born this way so no reason I should let a few years of cheating get the best of me. And you're welcome Rupert. I really hope everything works out for you."

Concentrating and focusing as best he could, Luke walked slowly across the lawn over toward where he knew the steps had to be. As his can hit the steps he lifted it, mentally mapping out the situation in front of him so that he wouldn't do something stupid... like slip and fall on his face. Yeah, now that would look really bad.

There was no question that Rupert was going to make it to the main door before him but Luke really didn't care. This was a matter of pride and he was going to prove to himself all over again that he could survive without his sonar. Sure he had gotten used to having it around but he had been born blind for crying out loud! He knew how to use a cane and he knew how to make his way around a building.

"It's actually been a few days since I was last at the mansion. Maybe I'll check in with a couple of friends or something once you get your conversation started." Luke said conversationally. He had offered to come with Rupert, yes, but once he knew that Rupert and his ex were on friendly terms, there wouldn't really be any reason for him to stick around would there? There were people that Luke really should talk to. Especially Raina... he still hadn't been able to bring himself to tell her about his blindness but she deserved to know. There was no reason he should be trying to hide the fact that she was currently dating a mutant without a mutation. Nope, she needed to hear the truth.

ooc: great timing.. forgive me.. but I have great Lyrics for this!

IC:

Heartless, heartless, heartless
Where’d you hide your heart?
In the dark, the darkest darkness
I’m coming apart
In the dark
This is how it feels
To be under your thumb
To be under your wheels

Raina stood at attention the moment she heard the knock at the door. Her head swam for a moment- she'd stood up too quickly. Had that actually even been a knock or her hopeful imagination again? She'd recently resumed her post at the other end of the hall in the chairs and couldn't be certain the way the sound carried if what she had heard had indeed been a knock. She shook her head a moment and pushed her hair back.

It had taken her months to grow back after the camps. Wasn't that Rupert's last memory of her? A skinny malnourished mutant with barely any hair and new found ability to speak again? And of course after spending so long growing it out again to be the Raina he'd remembered, in her new found confidence in herself and her identity she'd cut it off again. Would he recognize her? So much had changed. She started her stride down the hall each footstep feeling heavier than the next and the walls seeming just a little bit brighter.

Lover, lover, lover
Where’d you leave your love?
In the bed, beneath the covers?
Where push will come to shove
I will leave
And will not return
I will make my mistakes
And from them I’ll learn

She hovered at the door. Yes. It had been a knock. There were other residences looking at her curiously until one of them perked up and shooed the others off following in suit. Her hands felt shaky now, her heart fluttered, and her skin was hot. She gripped the door knob and pulled. It didn't give. She looked up to see the bolt lock still in place and had to laugh at her own stupidity and nervousness. This was Rupert after all. All he ever did was try to kill her. She sighed, told herself to man up; he wouldn't walk all over her, and unbolted the door.

Snickers from the peanut gallery trying to stay out of sight around the corner.

She took a breath and opened the door.

Steady, steady, steady
Slipping through the night
Are you red or are you ready?
Don’t you think you might
Be afraid of where this could go?
Things that you can
And cannot control

Rupert. It was Rupert. Every inch of him. Her nostrils flared as the warm summer breeze sent his scent to her. It wasn't that she was a particularly strong smeller, or that Rupert had a strong smell.. it was just that lingering scent of a first lover. The kind that never fades over time.

Her gray eyes searched his for a moment. yep. It was Rupert alright. She couldn't help but let a warm smile flood her face. It was just the way she was. She was silent for a moment looking him over. It seemed like minutes but it was only a second or two. He looked different; not the Rupert from her dreams. He didn't look peaceful as much as he looked tormented. His body seemed heavy and even though he was still she knew there'd be a limp when he moved.

"Rupert." she said in a normal speaking voice with as much of a welcoming tone as she could muster. It wouldn't be easy to walk into the mansion of all places as a mutant hating zealot. "It's been a while." she started.

Her eyes drifted past him, he'd brought someone else. Surely he wasn't that scared to see her that he felt he needed protection? For goodness sake she wasn't about to spit acid. But there was something her body realized far faster than her brain as it tensed and panicked. Her feet wanted to run, her legs urged her to leave but her mind hadn't quite caught up at the person standing right behind Rupert. Was this some coincidence? A cruel joke? Bad timing?

"Luke?"

Running, running, running
Chasing down the light
I know the dawn is coming
Does it have to take all night?
In the dark
We face ourselves alone
Asleep or awake
Abroad or at home

((ooc: Sorry for the delay in reply! Good song choice, Raina. <3 I see your Joel Plaskett, and raise you Pink Floyd. ))

Hello.
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?

Rupert’s hand hung in front of the door for another useless second before dropping back to his side. He could hear people on the other side of the door: quiet snickering laughter, somewhere in the background. Much closer, the sound of a dead bolt sliding. So that was it, was it? For one moment, Rupert heard that sound in reverse: a dead bolt locking, not being drawn free. What an end that would make.

The door was pulled open, before he had time to process how he’d feel about that.

Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts:
Can you show me where it hurts?

Gray looked out, searchingly. Gray—he remembered that color, even if the face had changed so much. Her hair had grown back, he noticed. It looked... good. Healthy. Her cheeks had filled back in, though not in quite the same way—there was something more mature to them, now. A change in angles, a definition in cheekbones. Or maybe it was just the eyes that knew more, now. Those gray eyes. A question from months ago came back to his mind: is gray a human color? They had been alone together in the break room of the Camps guard house. On their hands and knees, side by side, cleaning up a pot of coffee. Hot liquid and glass shards; a collar around her neck. She’d said she still loved him, but that was all he could think; is gray a human color?

>> "Rupert. It's been a while."

“Raina. You’re looking well.” His smile was small, but genuine. Something in his stomach twisted at the sight of her: she was right there, in front of him. Gray was Raina’s color. What did the rest matter?

“Can I come--?” The question died in his mouth out of some instinct, perhaps. Something that told him she wasn’t seeing him, anymore. Not just him. Gray eyes looked over his shoulder.

>> "Luke?"

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying.

Rupert felt his breathing still down. Her voice—God, her voice. How could you put that much into one voice?

When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.

>> "Hi Raina."

He looked back over his shoulder at the blind man behind him, then back to Raina. Odd. He’d thought he heard the dead bolt again, but the door was still standing open.

I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.

His lips moved. Because he was here, and that’s all there was that he could do. “There’s a lot—a lot I’d like to tell you. A lot of things you should know. If you’ll listen.”

Gray eyes weren’t looking at him. But muddy hazel were still looking at her, for what it was worth. For what it had ever been worth—any of it. The coffee was long cold, the glass shards forgotten. Muddy hazel: it was a human color. That’s all Rupert was—just human.

I have become
Comfortably numb.

This was not how Luke had pictured the situation going. He had expected to introduce Rupert to some mutant that he probably didn't know very well, escort them to an office or something, and then leave the two alone to discuss their issues. The very idea that Raina was the woman that Rupert had come to see was baffling. He was beginning to feel numb. Not only was he truly blind and unable to see their expressions but the whole situation had blindsided him. Why had he agreed to help Rupert with this situation?!

As Raina stepped away from the doorway and invited them in, Luke followed behind Rupert. A part of him wanted to separate right nwo but another piece was curious. Did Raina still have feelings for this man? Had he just been a rebound to help her feel better until Rupert came back to his senses?

"I'll follow you up to the office and then leave you alone." Luke murmured quietly, momentarily quickening his pace to gently bump up against Rupert before they reached the stairs, "I... I hope it goes well."

Slowing his pace, Luke felt his cane touch the first of the stairs. Suddenly he felt his mind go into a panic. How many stairs were there? This was something that he as a blind man should know! Why hadn't he ever bothered to count the stairs? Why had he stopped so many of the things that had helped him to survive as a kid until his sonar appeared?

Gritting his teeth, Luke's eyebrows knit together in concentration as he began to ever so slowly mount the stairs. Mentally he was mapping the staircase as he tapped each step, counting and recording this as information he would never forget. Never again would he be caught so off guard. If he were to lose his sonar again or if he were to never regain it, he would at least be able to function!