Secrets and Sins Part 2: Finding Mary

Chapter 13

~Beatrice~

Both women were on the late shift tonight, Beatrice was tidying up the books, they had gone a little askew since the sister warrior had been away, and completing a stock check. She didn't envy the Halo bearer who was absolutely flat out pouring and mixing drinks, a local sports team was playing live on the bar's modest flat screen and the occasion never failed to draw a crowd. Ava was in her element keeping up with the rapid pace behind the bar.

As Beatrice watched the younger woman move fluidly around the bar, her mind unavoidably wandered to the looming decision about the plan to find Mary. The sister warrior hated that it all hinged on the Halo bearer once again, she understood that Ava was the only person who could attempt it but that didn't make her anymore comfortable. Beatrice sighed, the whole situation was stressing her out. Just at that moment, the younger woman glanced over and shot her a quick dazzling smile, before Hans pulled her back into serving drinks.

We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

"Well that doesn't look like much fun to do at a bar." A British accent drew her focus from her favorite bar tender.

"Oh hey Jen, I didn't realize that you were still in town." Beatrice grinned up at the curly haired woman she had met the night at the blizzard.

"Yeah, I thought I'd stick around a few more days, most of the roads are still closed from the snow."
"Can I sit? I don't know anyone here except for you and don't want to look like a loner."

"Of course." Beatrice replied, gesturing at the booth beside her.
"But just so you know I'm on the clock, so I have to finish this off." She nodded towards the stock checklist.

"Oh so you work here? I thought it was just your friend who did." Jen raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, just casually doing the books and stuff. I'm not much for bartending, that's Ava’s domain." Beatrice explained, glancing over at the Halo bearer who was currently filling a pint glass at one of the beer taps while rolling her eyes at something Hans was telling her.

"Well if you don't mind me hanging around while you work, I'll buy you a drink. What's your poison?" Jen queried, pulling out her wallet.

"Just a coffee is fine. I don't really drink."

"Fair enough."

~Ava~

The bar had been insanely busy tonight and Ava was feeling drained, looking at the clock, the Halo bearer could see she only had an hour and a half left.

Thank God, I can't wait to go home.

She had just about worked her way through the large crowd of customers that had managed to, annoyingly, block her sightline to her favorite person sitting in their usual corner booth. Ava loved working behind the bar, but she also loved watching Bea scrutinize the books. She loved how the sister warrior would bite the corner of her lip and furrow her eyebrows while solving something particularly difficult, it was cute.

“Two lagers please.” A tall bearded man approached her.

“Sure thing.” Ava forced her tone to be light and friendly despite her exhaustion.

She retrieved the beers from the fridge behind the counter and popped the caps, handing the patron his drinks with a winning smile. He nodded his thanks and departed back to his table.

Wiping down the bench with the cloth that she usually kept tucked into her apron, Ava noticed someone moving forward to place their order, “What can I get for you?” The Halo bearer asked without looking up.

“Um I’ll have a Kahlua coffee and Beatrice would like her usual coffee choice, she said you’d know what to do.” Ava jolted a little in surprise, peering up from under the hair that had fallen over her face to see the curly haired woman from the night of the blizzard standing in front of her.

What the hell? She’s back. And she’s buying Bea a drink…

Her mind immediately raced with the implications, Ava didn't realize how long she had been staring until the other woman cleared her throat, “Is that okay?”

So she’s British too, great, even more in common.

“Oh. Okay. Right.” The Halo bearer mentally kicked herself for not being more eloquent as she took the woman’s card and swiped it.
“I'll call your order when it’s ready, won’t be long.”

“Thank you darling.” The curly haired woman turned and headed back to the table annoyingly gracefully.

“Thank you darling…” Ava grumbled under her breath.

“Don’t be petty.”

You don’t be petty.

“Oh so you’re in that kind of mood.”
“I’ll leave you to it.”

Great. Do that.

The Halo fell silent, but Ava was too tired and irritated to feel guilty.

~Beatrice~

Ava was very quiet on the way home to the apartment. When Beatrice asked what was wrong, she received a curt ‘I’m tired’ as a reply. The sister warrior decided to leave the younger woman alone for the moment, Beatrice was also pretty exhausted from the long shift and didn’t want whatever this was to turn into a fight.

Despite the monotony of stock check, Beatrice had enjoyed herself, Jen had helped the time pass, telling stories from her home, which just so happened to be the next borough over to where Beatrice had grown up in London. It was nice to reminisce.

“Keys?” The Halo bearer demanded, opening her palm, having reached the old blue door of their apartment first. 

Beatrice sighed, dropping the keys into Ava’s hand, it was obviously going to be that kind of evening. She wished that the Halo bearer would just speak her mind but knew better than to push. Ava tended to need to work through things in her head first and would broach whatever was bothering her when she was ready.

Pulling off their coats at the door, Ava threw herself down on the couch, shutting her eyes and leaning back. She did look tired, dark circles bruising her cheeks. Beatrice moved past the younger woman, pausing to lean down and press her lips to Ava’s forehead. The Halo bearer didn’t react anymore than a small stuttering breath.

Continuing into the kitchen, Beatrice pulled a glass out of the cupboard to pour herself a glass of water, it was then that she noticed the piece of paper on the table.

Picking up the note, Beatrice recognized the handwriting immediately;

B & A,

Stopped in, but you were out, better than catching you in the act I suppose ;)
Anyways, the first lead was a bust. Doubt the second will be better. I think it’s time to step up the training and inform the OCS.
I’ll be back in a few days.

L.

Beatrice’s heart was pounding, she had been praying that Lilith would find another way, but it was really starting to appear hopeless.

“What’s that?” Ava was standing opposite her, the table between them. The sister warrior hadn’t even heard her rise from the couch.

“It’s from Lilith.” The sister warrior’s voice trembled a little before she brought her emotions to heel.
“Our options are dwindling.” Ava raised an eyebrow but kept her face purposefully blank.

The tension thickened between them. The Halo bearer held her eye contact from across the table. They stared at each other unspeaking, both knowing that there would be no going back from this conversation.

"So most likely I'll be teleporting in?"

"This is an unbelievably stupid plan." Beatrice started.

The younger woman was quick to interrupt her, "It's the only plan, Bea. The only move we have left. It's Mary. I can't leave her."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I won't."

Those two words were the last straw Beatrice. Rage surged to the forefront of her mind, all sensitivity and tact forgotten.

"You could die Ava. They might capture you and take the Halo. What then?" She knew her voice was starting to rise but she couldn't stop it anymore.

Anger flashed in the younger woman's eyes, "Don't you think I know that?"
"Do you think I want to constantly risk my life? It's all fucked up Bea! I fucked it all up when we broke into the Vatican and I released Adriel! I caused this so I HAVE to FIX this…and if I do die, well, I’m sure it won’t be hard for you to find a shoulder to cry on, and to…to move forward with.” The Halo bearer looked away, wincing slightly like she hadn't meant to say that.

Beatrice’s mouth fell open, she couldn’t have heard that correctly, right? It almost sounded like Ava was implying that the sister warrior would just hook up with someone else and move on if something happened to her.

“Ava…I can’t believe you would…” It came out as a broken whisper, the younger woman met her eyes again and just shrugged.

“You seemed pretty cosy with that other woman tonight…” Ava’s voice cracked a little, she blinked like she was trying to hold back tears.

Beatrice was gobsmacked, her mouth moved but no sound came out. She didn’t know if the Halo bearer was trying to hurt her on purpose or push her away for her own good, all she knew is the words felt like a dagger to her heart.

How could she say that?

There was a long moment where neither of them spoke.

"I don't want you to do this." Beatrice broke the silence first, her voice barely above a whisper, they both knew the words had multiple meanings.

"I know."

"I don't think I can support you...It's too much."

"I know."

Tears pricked in Beatrice's eyes, she ripped her gaze away from the Halo bearer, hurt, despair and anger all warring within her.

"I'm going to bed." The sister warrior turned and walked slowly into the bedroom.

Ava didn't follow.