Memory Lane

Chapter 38: Rift

Performed songs: Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton (Emily's initial piano piece), City of Stars by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling,
Mentioned songs: It ain't over til' it's over by Lenny Kravitz
Inspired songs: Teenage Dreams by Katy Perry, Quiet Water by Toby Fox, Rainbow Connection by Jim Henson
(The song Emily sings/creates a musical number out of is actually something I made up on the spot, so... enjoy? I call it Open Your Eyes)

Rachel breathed a sigh of relief as Valerie practically cried herself to sleep curled up to Falcon.

"Thank God..." she sighed, Miguel also shaking his head in relief.

Falcon kept Valerie in her arms, then looked at them both.

"What happened?" she asked, voice mindfully low.

"Your shooter came," Rachel whispered, and Falcon frowned tiredly. "She freaked out. She got lost in her head, then she freaked out again. Then he came back. So I threatened to kick him to the police station if he didn't get out of there and if they didn't let her see you."

"Oh great, what was the excuse they gave this time?" Falcon laughed mirthlessly.

"You killed someone. Capital K-I-L-L-E-D. I thought you were a pacifist," Miguel said. "And you already killed someone else before..." He tried not to choke at that. "They're not taking any chances."

"Lovely," Falcon sighed, looking down at Valerie. "Has she been doing okay?"

"No," Miguel said flatly. "Did they really deny you all forms of human contact?"

"Unless it was nurses and even they were told not to give me basic information," Falcon muttered tiredly. "Rehab's going to suck."

"What makes you think it's rehab and not prison time?" Rachel asked.

Falcon smiled sleepily at them. "Too gifted to let go. Still a minor. Self-defense." She frowned. "I don't even remember killing him."

Miguel had heard this before. But he was surprised he was hearing it now.

"What? I thought you were in total control?"

"I... think I lost it," Falcon admitted. "He was standing over Rex and Valerie and he was talking about killing them and then I- I just don't remember what happened..."

She paused. "It's stupid, I know."

"How'd you get back to reality?" Rachel asked.

"I don't actually know. Maybe it was Valerie's touch, or her voice, or the fact that my anger was just slowly waning by that point. I know I killed him, since it's been imprinted in my brain by the officers..." Falcon freed a hand to rub at her temples. "And the fact that afterwards, Valerie wouldn't even let me see him."

"Why'd you jump in front?" Miguel asked, gently prodding.

"... I don't know."

He and Rachel shared a look. "You don't know?"

"No, I don't," Falcon reiterated with irritation. "I just... felt something pushing me to. I said I'd protect her, and that was probably it."

Again, they shared a look. Falcon was not oblivious, and picked up on it.

"Okay, you guys. What is it?"

"Well..." Miguel said, playing with his fingers, "me and Rachel were just thinking... that maybe... just maybe... you... maybeinlovewithValerie?"

Falcon blinked slowly, lazily, before her eyes narrowed. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Keep your voice down!" Rachel hissed, fearful that Valerie would wake up and this revelation would be just the icing on the cake for Valerie. Izzy had been talking to Rachel about it, confessing that she had no good advice for Valerie. Also because it had been glaringly obvious over the years.