Lowe and Gray: The Atavistic Box

Chapter Fifteen - Dewbridge

THEY MAY HAVE been flying on a commercial plane but of course they would be flying First Class. Jensen was seated next to Aurora, who stared outside the window constantly fidgeting due to her restlessness. They needed to be as inconspicuous as possible which was difficult with Daxton who glared at anyone within a five-metre radius and River chatting up the flight attendants.

Aurora nudged Jensen's elbow. "I'm bored."

"Hi Bored, I'm meditating."

"You meditate?" She frowned.

"Yes."

She shifted. "Do they show movies on this plane?'"

"It's a two hour flight to France, Aurora. No they do not."

"Can I ask you something?" He lowered his sunglasses so he could see her without the tint. "What happens when we defeat Malignant?"

"In what sense?'

She shifted. "Like, can I still be your partner?"

Jensen paused. "If you still want to be involved with this world and the Haven, then I can't see why not."

Aurora nodded and faced forward again as he put his glasses back on. She fidgeted a little, then turned again. "Do you have your own house? Like, you said Malignant burned your house down - and you live with Zoe and Will-"

"Malignant burned down our house in Almara," Jensen responded.

"Your manor house?'

"That still stands. Our own house - we built it from the ground up with our bare hands."

"So do you have your own house here?"

"I do."

"So why don't you live there?" She asked him, then paused. "I don't want to sound rude..."

"Go ahead," he said, and took off his sunglasses, tucking them into his jacket.

"It's just... you live with your dead wife's family," she said quickly. "And I get that they're your family too but it's like... you live with them because together you know you want justice. But what happens when you get it? You said your purpose is to bring Malignant down but once that happens then what? Don't you think you should live your life?"

"I am living my life," he told her.

There was a moment of silence. "Was that insensitive?" Aurora said quietly. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"Nonsense," he told her and smiled. "As my partner I want you to feel comfortable saying anything that could possibly offend me. But I'm not offended, Aurora. To answer your question, I do have my own house. It's a nice house."

"And when you defeat Malignant?"

"Life will continue," he said simply and Aurora faced forwards again.

A stewardess came round with a drink trolley. Jensen turned to Aurora. "Do you want anything?"

She shook her head. "I don't like airline food."

"These are drinks."

She shrugged and looked out of the window. Jensen paid for a Coke and passed it to her. Aurora frowned. "I said I didn't want anything."

"It'll distract you for when we begin landing."

"Why would I need to be distracted?"

"You told me take off and landing makes you nervous," he said then pulled out a sweet packet from his pocket. "Mint Humbug or Chocolate Lime?"