The Ocean On Their Shoulders

Chapter 36

Something was on the horizon; everyone could see it. And with Fontaine's plan already starting to slowly fall into place, it felt like nothing could go wrong. Of course, never say never. Not when Ryan's getting more paranoid by the second, taking drastic measures and pushing his enemies to daring limits. But Ryan's next move? That was going too far.

~*~

Luckily for her, Frank decided to stay at the complex today, opting to work from his office instead of traversing all over Rapture from one business to the next. She wasn't sure she could spend all that time waiting for him anyway, so she quickly raced up the stairs towards their bedroom to find him. Glancing through the frosted wall of his office, she saw him pacing around the space, not knowing he was actually on the phone with someone, until she forced her way through his office door.

His immediate reaction was a bit surprised to see her home so early, responding to a question asked on the other end of the line before adding, "No, everythin's fine. Jane's just home early. We'll talk when I see you tomorrow." Then he hung up.

He threw a smile her way after placing the phone on the receiver, until noticing the slight dread riddling her features.

"What's wrong, Doll?" Frank raised a brow at her tense posture. "I heard what happened at the Fisheries. Wish I was there to see it, bet you gave Sullivan hell." Another smile lifted his lips, but her lack of response had his face dropping again.

"What, did Sullivan say some shit to you?" His defensiveness was instant, "Peach give you a hard time again?"

"Where did you get the weapons?"

Soft blue hardened to steel, his eyes narrowing as he slipped both hands into his pockets.

"What?"

"How did you get the weapons? Where else have you installed the Power to the People machines?" Jane could feel her heart starting to pound in her chest, the sound echoing in her ears as her voice began to crack. "An - and the conflict between you and Ryan, what else is happening that has you arming citizens? Why aren't you telling me anything?!"

"Jane -"

She couldn't stop herself now. "I mean, giving your average John Doe and Sally May something to arm themselves with? It's fucking dangerous, Frank! What are you expecting to happen?"

"Jane, stop ." He spat, cold and commanding as her jaw clicked shut, but the fear etched on her face never relented as she looked on at him. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he squeezed his eyes shut for a second while responding. "This is the exact reason why I hadn't told you any of this."

"But it's paranoia!" Jane interjected. "You're almost as bad as Ryan!"

She didn't expect the next glare shot her way to hold as much venom as it did, "Yeah? What if it is?!" But before he could let his anger completely take hold, Frank stopped himself and turned away from her. He paced towards the frosted wall, his back to her as he inhaled a few deep breaths.

Jane also attempted to pause the shaking felt sprouting from her chest to her fingers, balling her hands into fits to make it less obvious she was also barely hanging on by a thread.

"Jane," he finally spoke up from the window, sighing and tilting his head to the side so she could hear him. "If you've been doing what I have for as long as I have, then you'd know that havin' more people on your side than the other guy is the key to winnin', survivin', especially if they're armed."

And she didn't doubt that, didn't doubt him, but still. "Frank, you're asking for a civil war if this ends up out of your control."

"Who said it was gonna get out of my control?" The smirk was subtle but made her blood run cold. "Way I see it, the only way for any of this to go wrong is if Ryan sinks the city another several hundred fathoms an' dooms us all."