Reunion with kneel_majorzod

[have_no_mercy]

For any other reason, Tess wouldn't do this. She's tired, fat, cranky and moody and the last thing she wants right now is company and a potentially stressful conversation, but she needs to know what happened. And that means she needs to talk to Zod in person. Right now.

That doesn't mean she has to be happy about it, even if she is somewhat relieved that he isn't dead after all. Not that she ever really thought he was and wasn't worried at all about him. No.

She suspects he'll remember their usual conduct for these types of meetings and waits for him to arrive in the mansions's study, resting on her chaise, an arm over her forehead.

Comments

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod does remember. And he shows up at the proper meeting place fairly quickly, entering her study wordlessly and closing the doors behind him.

He likely looks about the same as he did last she saw him. At least, he should. All signs of physical injuries healed almost immediately after he was rescued. Yet something about him has changed. Being kept more or less in a constant state of pain, both physically and emotionally, for weeks isn't something one can come back from so quickly, injuries aside, and something about him reflects as much.

He doesn't speak to announce his presence as he enters, which really isn't anything new, and instead comes to a silent stop in front of her desk to study her with a rather unreadable expression.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess glances over at him, but doesn't move from her position. She's far too comfortable for that and these days, comfort wins over just about anything else.

"You look like hell," she says quietly.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod remains silent for a little while longer, giving her a quick glance up and down, before giving her a soft reply.

"I can't say I'm surprised."

[have_no_mercy]

Neither is she, frankly. She can well imagine what he's been through.

"Your people must be pleased to finally have you back. They were quite concerned."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"I disappoint them," he mutters, averting his gaze and moving to claim a seat vaguely near hers without waiting for an invitation. "They'd never say it, but I see it in their eyes. I wasn't exactly the valiant leader they remembered when they found me."

[have_no_mercy]

"I doubt they hold it against you." And if they do, she may just have to teach them a lesson. But he doesn't need to know that.

"But how about we skip over all this..." she waves a hand vaguely, whatever all this is, "and you just fill me in on the important details, hmm?"

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He shifts his gaze back to her as he takes his seat and then half nods. "I assume you'd like me to start from your departure on your little vacation."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"I don't think your back up would have made much difference," he tells her, a bit more delicately. "It wasn't an issue of trust. As I said, I didn't want to involve anyone else. And why would I stop trusting you now?"

He watches her a moment and then sighs as well, though leaning forward in his seat rather than back. "But I'm not without information now. There's more to the story. More you need to know. Darkseid isn't alone."

[have_no_mercy]

"I know. His pets. His minions. I haven't seen them myself, but I never thought he was here by himself."

She studies him for a moment. "He really, truly wanted me to think you were dead."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He turns to stare at the wall bitterly. "I heard them laughing, saw glimpses of them between the bars of my cage. They came to watch. And participate, sometimes."

There's a long pause, and then he gives her a brief glance. "Why do you think he wanted that so badly?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess just shakes her head. "I don't know. He's... he's never lied to me until now that I know of. But he was being a little off about it, so maybe he didn't want me to believe him. I don't know anymore and I'm too tired to keep thinking in circles."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"If he truly wanted to keep it from you, perhaps he doesn't want the two of us together. Though I can't imagine why. We haven't exactly posed much of a threat to him thus far." But he doesn't seem to have any great desire to think in circles, either, because he simply sighs and falls silent.

Then, after a few seconds, "He came and talked to me. In my cage. It was the first time he's said anything to me directly. He didn't even stoop so low as to speak to me when he killed me for real."

[have_no_mercy]

"What did he say? Although she can well imagine.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

That suggestion receives a glare from him, but after a moment, he nods, albeit darkly. "If you think it necessary. Though if he didn't talk before, I can't imagine why he'd decide to fill you in now."

[have_no_mercy]

"Because he's never lied before now. He's changing the game and now I know it for certain." Tess appears to be talking more to herself now than to him. "We'll have to discuss the new rules"

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"This isn't a game," Zod says softly. "He may pretend to treat it like one, but it isn't. There are no rules. There never have been."

He glances at her wearily. "He doesn't have to discuss anything with you."

[have_no_mercy]

She smiles thinly and attempts to settle back into her chair again, although that only prompts another glare down at her stomach. "It's always a game. Everything is."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

She'll get another glare in return. "Then it's his game, not yours. And we can't win. Not the way we've been playing."

[have_no_mercy]

"I've been playing this game in one form or another for a very long time, Major. I can hold my own." There isn't even a question in Tess' voice otherwise. "But he's done all this for a reason and it's a reason he wants us to know. The easiest way to find out is to simply ask."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

And the Major remains genuinely frustrated.

"I suppose it really doesn't matter," he says in a defeated voice. "He'd still find you and get what he wanted, regardless. He still wins."

[have_no_mercy]

"That's why we need to know what he wants," she reemphasizes. "We don't know what he'd be winning, so we don't know what we'd need to stop."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"But if we wait long enough to discover what it is he wants, it may be too late to stop it." He sighs again. "And it leaves us at his mercy in the meantime."

[have_no_mercy]

"Then think of something," Tess snaps at him. "I'm sorry I can't be of much assistance, but I'm only in the midst of creating life and can blow at any given moment."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Fine." Zod stares at her for a moment and then rises to his feet. "I'll just let you know when I do."

[have_no_mercy]

"Fine."

There's silence for several seconds and when Tess speaks again, her voice is decidedly less edgy. "I'm sorry, this has all just been so--" she stops herself and takes a short breath before continuing. "I'm glad you're all right."