The Good Intentions of a Cyborg Werewolf

The Gift - XXX

Erin paced back and forth behind the loading bay of the Coag building. Luke wasn't back yet, even though it had been well over fifteen minutes since she returned. True to his estimation she was not followed by police, and had made it back to the building without incident. When she had it, the staff were immediately ready to take Elizabeth inside. Erin was asked what had happened and she was honest. She told them about the men who came after Elizabeth, the shootout, and Luke's confrontation with police. They seemed unhappy but not surprised, and frustratingly cryptic in their response. Erin was getting tired of not knowing. Not being able to do anything. Running and worrying and constantly at her limit, all while the people around her seemingly knew everything and she knew nothing. Who was Elizabeth? Why did Celestial want her? Answers she was apparently not good enough to know.

Then there was Luke. The most ironclad of them all. Eeking out even a hint of his character was a chore for her, and now she was worrying about him. Less his safety and more what he would do to those officers. The memory of the apartment, the way he killed the fake, and everyone's words of warnings. Erin trusted Luke, she wanted to at least, but not knowing was sewing doubt and panic in her mind. If he hurt anyone, or worse, she wouldn't know what to do. She imagined if Alex were one of the officers, or even if it had been Kyle, and while Luke gave his word they wouldn't be killed he had a tendency to overdo things. It didn't sit right with her.

"You're gonna wear a hole in the ground," a voice came from the door behind her. Mahi strode down the incline that led from the main loading platform. Erin laughed nervously as she shrugged.

"He's been so long," she said.

"You worried about him?" Mahi asked as he joined her.

"Yes," Erin teetered her head back and forth in indecision, "and no. I just hope he's staying out of trouble."

"And how are you doing?" Mahi asked, "you okay? It sounds like things got pretty hairy."

"I'm fine," Erin waved away his concern. "Not even a scratch on me."

"I mean are you okay-okay?" He asked again, "like with all this? Not every day you see someone get shot."

"Would you believe me if I said I'm used to it?" Erin chuckled even though she didn't find it amusing.

"No, I wouldn't," Mahi sat down on the curb just next to the ramp. "I don't think this is something you get used to. It shouldn't be, in my opinion."

"It is what it is," Erin sighed, "it wasn't supposed to go this way. If CB hadn't shown up then we could've just walked out. Those people would still be alive, and I..." Erin stopped herself. She was getting worked up, which wasn't going to help anyone. She took a breath, buried it, and continued to look out towards the entrance to the back lot. "I'm getting tired of being in last place."

"I'm sorry," Mahi muttered, and Erin turned to him with a confused look. "I know what it's like to feel that way. Like you're the last to be let in on the gag. When they started taking my people we weren't even sure what to think. It started with just one, then another, and even once it became obvious what was happening it's not like there was anything we could do." Mahi stood up, joining Erin by her side as he likewise looked towards the entrance, "it made me feel impotent. Weak. Like I was just waiting for..." his voice trailed off as he rubbed the back of his neck, stretching it back as he gazed upwards towards the sky. "Like I was just waiting my turn."

"Damn," Erin nodded. "You're not wrong. But then-" Erin stopped herself before she said something insensitive, but Mahi quickly cocked an eyebrow as he glanced at her.

"Go on," he smiled with a shrug. "You don't gotta filter yourself around me. I promise I won't get offended."

"I don't mean this in a bad way, it's just..." Erin searched for the right words, "you can fight. Maybe not back then, but now? Like I'm not saying you have it easier, but I'm not a doctor, or a mermaid, or a werewolf. At least not really. I'm just-" Erin groaned as she felt like she had just turned into a complainer, "I just feel like I don't have anything to fight back with. If a monster corners me I'm fucked. If someone shoots me I'm dead. I can't even deal with regular people! Those men who attacked us weren't even monsters in the literal, horrific sense!"