Revelations with kneel_majorzod

[have_no_mercy]

Tess has just put Alice back to bed and is looking forward to a quiet night in. As such, she's settled by the fire in the study, a book she'd picked up randomly earlier in the week on the table in front of her. If she's lucky, she might even get to start it.

Comments

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod tilts his head at her. "Why would he do that?"

[have_no_mercy]

She shakes her head, running a hand through her hair. "I don't now, but I was at Cadmus. Why would I be at Cadmus?"

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Maybe it was in my head," he suggests with a frown. "Darkseid could have put it there." But he doesn't think so.

[have_no_mercy]

"That would be something he'd do," she agrees with a nod.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"But everything felt real," he tells her, putting a hand on one of her arms almost experimentally. "Just as real as this."

[have_no_mercy]

She glances down at his hand. "I know. There are metahumans who can do the same thing."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He falls silent for a long moment and then shakes his head slowly. "It can't have been him. If he was in my head, the illusion would have been more foolproof. I tested her, and she failed."

[have_no_mercy]

"They're not always perfect." Tess sounds as if she's speaking from experience. "But if you truly think it was real, we need to confirm it."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"How do you propose we do that?" Zod asks softly, studying her carefully.

[have_no_mercy]

She takes a deep breath. "I need to see her for myself."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure that's wise?" he asks, brow furrowed. "If I can lead her to believe she has me convinced, maybe I can find out more."

[have_no_mercy]

"I need to be certain she's real," Tess clarifies. "And if she is, then you going undercover might be our best option."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He nods. "All right. I can take you to the lab, but in order to maintain my cover, she can't know I've been in contact with you."

[have_no_mercy]

"I know how undercover works, Major. I just want to see her. Visual only." Perhaps later she'll want an actual confrontation, but for now this will do.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"I'll bring you along to observe from afar, then?" he suggests, lifting an eyebrow at her.

[have_no_mercy]

She nods. "All right. But how about we just rest here for a minute, okay?"

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Okay," he agrees after a moment, giving her a questioning glance and relaxing back into his seat.

[have_no_mercy]

"It's been a long day," she explains. "Alice and Alexander have been cranky."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Oh." He watches her for a moment and then averts his gaze. "Well, for a while, I thought our partnership was ending today. So it's not been the best of days for me, either."

[have_no_mercy]

She reaches over to squeeze his hand. "Sounds like we could both use a break from everything for a while."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He glances over at her and nods slowly. "Yes, I think so."

[have_no_mercy]

Slowly, Tess leans over so her head is eventually resting on his shoulder, keeping her hand on his. "I will admit your day seems to have a lot stranger than mine."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod remains still for a few seconds and then lifts the arm closest to her and slowly drapes it around her shoulders. "Are they all right?"

[have_no_mercy]

"They're fine, they're just... young," she sighs. "Alexander is tired of being cooped up inside and Alice is just going through growing pains. She'll be six months old in a couple of weeks."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"And you're having to divide your attention between the two of them. And everything else," he replies with a nod and then gives her a small smile. "It sounds like Alexander needs a hobby."