Transportation Escort

[Stitches]

Having the Path back was infinitely helpful. They could see where they had to step again. It was also detrimental, in a way, because Pepper could now see every one of the puffy hands that slapped the ground in rhythm. She saw the way the “ground” beneath it had bent and wondered if that would be permanent. That was important right then. No, what was important was the space they were putting between themselves and the creature. Slowly, they made their way to the doorway, which glowed brightly on the horizon. It took far longer than it normally would for them to make it to the open door, and it was painful to watch it inch slowly closer to them.

Soon, they were close enough to see the other side of the portal. She could see the lobby of L-14, the place they had started this whole journey. She sighed, heavily. Off beat. Behind them, the creature shifted just the tiniest bit in their direction. Pepper watched it over her shoulder as they walked the rest of the way to the doorway, When they finally arrived, she turned back toward Laine.

“We’re… here.” Pepper took a step through the portal, her head easily clearing the top of the portal. She wanted to collapse on the ground the moment she felt the solid floor beneath them.

 

[illirica]

They did not move quickly, but Laine was very good at being patient. It was not necessary to be quick, as long as they arrived within a reasonable time frame. As the trip out had gone very well, they were still within reasonable parameters even given the detour.

Besides, it was easier now that they were where they belonged. On thinking about it further, Laine was now certain that she could follow the path even without Pepper. It was just a matter of staying where she belonged. The path, however, belonged to Pepper, and so if Pepper were not there then the path did not belong, and so Laine would not have belonged on it either.

This was why it was important to follow directions.

They drew closer to their destination, Pepper making a sigh out of time. This seemed to be a moment of uncertainty, but it passed without issue and Pepper guided them the rest of the way. Laine followed her through, and was back where she really belonged. She felt better immediately. The path was a place she could belong temporarily for a reason, much like the other location had been a place where she could belong temporarily for a reason, but neither of them were L-14.

Carefully, Laine reached up and undid the blindfold, blinking her eyes a few times. Perhaps it was to get used to the light again.

"That was very interesting."

 

[Stitches]

Pepper sighed a deep sigh of relief. Her shoulders sagged as she replied, “Yeah, that was. Not usual. Not usual at all. It’s been years since I last saw one of those giant hand creatures.”

She was just glad they had made it back to L-14 unscathed. Her last encounter with one of those monsters had nearly ended with her losing her leg. It was really a stroke of brilliance that Laine had figured out that the thing was finding them based on vibrations. Pepper never would have pieced that together on her own. And she was supposed to be the researcher.

“That was genius, by the way. You’re the only reason we got out of there and back here without getting hurt. I never would have noticed that. But, I have a question for you.” She paused and then hesitantly asked, “Did you also notice that it was the exact tempo of Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana?”

 

[illirica]

"I am good at measurements," Laine said, by way of explanation. "But I would not mind if I did not have to measure that again." Both statements were true. Measuring the time had been simple, but knowing that it could very easily go wrong had been hard.

She hadn't liked being off the path, either. It wasn't just the not belonging, it was the worry that they might become lost. Pepper had said that she could find the way, but Laine had lost someone once before and did not want to do it again. She liked Pepper. Pepper was kind. Sometimes Pepper did things that Laine didn't like, but it was because she didn't understand. It was never on purpose. Laine knew enough to understand the difference. She had known that since she was very small, after all.

She listened carefully to Pepper's question, considering it as well as she could for a moment, then inquired, cautiously, "Is 'Nirvana' a collections team? I do not think I have read any of their reports."

 

[Stitches]

The sense of relief that Pepper felt must have been affecting her ability to control herself, because the smile that she had meant to give Laine turned into a full-blown laugh. She laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. Laine and she might not have seen eye to eye on everything– who ever did– but she definitely liked Laine. Laine was straightforward and keen, and those were traits Pepper respected. She had a feeling they could be friends, at the very least.

“No, no, it’s a band. Early 90’s grunge era, my dad used to listen to them. I’m referencing a song. Maybe we can listen to it the next time I see you?”

It was subtle, but Pepper knew Laine was clever enough to figure it out. She was offering to be friends, to see each other again outside assignments, and to do things together. Maybe they could get along, despite their differences. But of course, if Laine turned her down, she wouldn’t be hurt. Even Pepper could tell that they didn’t fit together like puzzle pieces, but rather like parallel rungs on a ladder. They never intersected, never really touched, but they supported each other in their pattern. Maybe she and Laine could also support each other.