The Risk Takers

Part 4 | MI5

Liam and I are eager to hear Teddy's, what seems well thought out, plan. A plan that's apparently been years in the making.

"Okay Teddy, it sounds like you and your parents have an agenda for all this. What is it?" Liam reluctantly asks and I grab Liam's hand. Teddy gives us his sly grin and I'm interested to know what he has up his sleeve. 

"Well like I said, my parents are researchers for MI5 and they literally have the world at their disposal. About a year ago, they developed a serum to break up the DNA that creates our abilities. They had already discovered how to extract the DNA while working at the C.I.A and inject it into other subjects. Now...they giveth and they can taketh away."

Liam and I sit there stunned. Teddy's parents can literally take away someone's special abilities?

"Are you serious?" Liam asks completely astounded.

"Yessir. We can take away all the abilities Topher has injected himself with. The catch is, we can't take away what was originally there. So whatever your dad was capable of doing before joining the C.I.A will still be a part of him."

I don't know what to say. We have the power to take away Topher's power? I suddenly ask, "So your parents don't have something to completely take away someone's abilities? Since I've never injected anything into myself, the serum wouldn't work on me?"

Teddy shakes his head, "Someday I'm sure they'll have that. But not yet."

Liam notices me deflate a little and he puts his hand on my shoulder, "You're disappointed?"

I meet his gaze and reply, "No, just curious." I don't have the heart to tell Liam that if a serum existed, I would definitely consider taking it. But I shove that argument away for a later day and ask, "So what's the big plan Teddy? I'm guessing you have one right?"

Teddy, keeping his positive attitude looks to us and says, "Almost! I wanted to get permission from both of you to tell my parents that we are all up to speed now. And that you are on board with taking Topher's abilities away from him?"

I glance to Liam and I wonder how he feels about this. I flit my eyes back to Teddy and nod my head, "I've been completely paralyzed by this man, had my memories ransacked, witnessed chandeliers come crashing down, watched him conjure up fire from his finger tips and last but not least, take Liam away from me. I think he deserves what's coming to him." Liam is still in his head and I hope he'll agree with me. We can't do this unless Liam is on board. Teddy notices his hesitancy too and we both worriedly glance to each other. I grab Liam's hands and force him to look at me with his beautiful ocean colored eyes.

"Liam, he deserves this." Liam slowly nods to me and quietly says, "I know. It's just unfortunate that there will never be any kind of relationship between us after all this."

"He did that to himself. He could have been your father but he is too focused on being a super human."

"No, I know that. I haven't wanted anything to do with the man since he showed me a vision of him drowning you. I'm just wondering what will happen once his power is gone? If he'll go back to being the dad I remember from ten years ago. Will I ever be able to forgive him?" I know I won't but I don't say that out loud. I don't know what it's like to have neglectful, selfish parents so I have a hard time understanding what he's going through.  I know he's disappointed it's come to this.

"Right now I think you need to decide if you're on board with all that's about to go down. I don't want you saying no to this because you're afraid you'll lose any hope of having a father. You won't have him with these powers, you do know that?" I ask him and without hesitation he nods his head. We both look to Teddy and Liam asks, "Now what?"

Teddy pops up off the chair and claps his hands together, "Now, I will go let my parents know that we are a united front and finalize a plan. You two can...do...whatever it is that you want to do and we'll reconvene in the morning. I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do." Teddy waves us goodnight and as soon as the door is shut, I walk over to the handle and lock it. I flip the light switch off and I launch myself at Liam. He is just as eager to get me under the covers and we are both excited to make up for lost time. 

************
I'm laying in the crook of Liam's arm as he slowly runs his fingers through my hair. I haven't felt this relaxed in months and I know I'll never let Liam leave me again.

"I'm never going to leave you again. Don't worry," Liam whispers in my ear and I'm too worn out to be annoyed that he's back to being in my head. We lay there for a few more minutes in silence and then Liam says, "Ellie, after all is said and done, I'm ready to live a normal life. If that's still what you want." I pull my face up to meet his and he sees my confusion.

"What do you mean Liam?" He readjusts so he's now on his side looking right into my eyes, "That's how we got here right? I wanted to go explore my abilities and you didn't. Well I've explored and now I'm ready to come home." I touch the side of his face with my fingers and gently trace his defined jaw line, noticing the stubble. 

"My life was boring without you," I whisper and I see his smile in the dark.

"Mine too." We enjoy the silence again and I let him trace his fingers down my back. I'm about to fall asleep when he says, "I'm sorry for leaving you." I peek my eyes open and quietly reply, "Don't be. Do you remember that message I left you? After all of my drunken ones? I said I wanted to work on myself before you came back and I have. If you would have never left, I would have never seen what was really important to me." He gently gives me a small peck on my forehead and he pulls me into him so my back rests against his chest.

"I did some soul searching too you know?" He says softly.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, at the agency I saw a whole bunch of jobs I could have that utilized my abilities. I think I'm ready to make an honest living. No more stealing." I'm surprised by his revelation and excited to see what career path he chooses. Liam has so much going for him that it won't be hard to find something he excels at.

He gives me one more kiss on the cheek before pulling me into him and even though the day has been overly exciting, my brain decides to give me a break from overthinking and lets me drift happily off to sleep.