herotvlive | For Efflations: Come Fly With Me

Agnes's life is scheduled out for the next ten years.
It DEFINITELY does not include room for things like romance.
ESPECIALLY not with Sky High of all people.

Ship: Agnes x Keith/Sky High

Other characters: Kotetsu/Wild Tiger

Prior Events:

Irresistible Force vs. Immovable Object
Agnes is hurt on location. Cue massive guilt from Sky High. Contains several princess carries and numerous threats of being hit with crutches!

Dance Lessons
Tiger needs dancing lessons. Agnes volunteers Keith. THIS will go well!

Summer Wind
The Superhero Swing Party has arrived! Features dancing by Mr. Wild with Mr. Brooks and Agnes running out of contingency plans...

Warnings: Possibly eventual adult situations, swearing, absurd amounts of Sinatra

Current Mood: hyper
Current Music: "Come Fly With Me," Frank Sinatra

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

efflations

[He almost flinches again. 'You've done enough.' He'd made a mess of things. Whatever his intentions, the result of his actions had been bad. But he can't just accept Agnes' explanation for why. Shaking his head he looks up, face set determinedly.]

That's not true. People don't want to be miserable and they don't want to see other people miserable. Not really. If they just realised they don't need to, that it's better to help each other, then they'd stop. I'm sure of it!

[Stepping forward he gestures around them at the offices of HeroTV to make his point.]

Sometimes people just need help to do the right thing. That's what we're supposed to do!

From:

herotvlive

Very inspirational.

[Agnes yanks him back into her office, and shuts the door this time. She clicks open another browser tabs - it's a link to the video clip, along with a very lively discussion.]

You know what they're talking about? It's NOT being better people. It's why Sky High has this sudden INTEREST in HeroTV's producer, when he's never so much as mentioned her before!

So you tell me why they're discussing that instead of why that article should or shouldn't have been written?!

From:

efflations

I don't- I didn't-

[He skims the discussion - although calling it that is giving some of the commenters too much credit - unhappily. This isn't what he'd wanted. He likes his fans, truly he does, but they shouldn't be talking about him.]

You're right. I should have realised this problem existed before now and done something then. It's selfish of me to only act now. If I can-

[It's definitely not the right time to offer to try and fix it again. Not with those words still ringing in his head - 'done enough'. He'll wait and bring it up again later, find a way to make things right.]

I should have told you what I was planning too. I am sorry.

From:

herotvlive

Yes. You should have. And I would have told you "No."

What would you have done then?

[Because this is exactly how she would have expected the whole mess would go.

There are other discussions too. Quieter, not as flashy, on smaller blogs, other forums. THEY might be reacting more how Sky High was hoping. Right now, though, they're lost in the noise.]

From:

efflations

I-

[He stops, thinks. Would he have listened to Ms Agnes? He'd like to think so. It was about her in the first place, her opinion is more important than his feelings. But he'd been so certain it was the right thing to do. Would he have listened to that over her? He wants to say no, that he'd have respected her wishes but he's not sure if it would be the truth.]

I don't know.... Maybe I would've done it anyway. Which would've been just as wrong as what those people wrote.

From:

herotvlive

Now you get it!

[Of course, Agnes did not have the best track record when it comes to honestly reporting her feelings. She will grudgingly admit there were times that Keith knew better then her. See: Pretty much the entire time her leg was broken. He'd figured out (correctly) there were times Agnes said "Fine" when things really, really weren't That there were times when she needed help.

This was NOT one of them. Right?

It's really not surprising he gets mixed up, sometimes. Even Agnes's head is starting to hurt from going in circles.]

Go home, Sky High. In fact, take the night off. It's probably better if you're not out right now.

['Sky High.' Not Keith.]

From:

efflations

[Keith looks up at that, startled and more than a little hurt. But no, he did the wrong thing and Ms Agnes has every right to be mad. Hopefully she can forgive him - he doesn't know what he'll do if she can't - but forgiveness takes time.]

Alright. I'll go home and walk John before I go on patrol.

[She had said to take the night off but he can't just abandon his responsibilities like that. Whatever else has happened he can't do that. Turning to leave he struggles to figure out what to say rather than just leaving things like this. Nothing comes to mind.]

From:

herotvlive

[Agnes has already moved away, back to her desk. She's not looking at him. She knows exactly what expression he'll have on his face.]

Do what you want.

[Because he will anyway.

There would usually at least be a "Good Night" if they're not going to see each other. But she's already gritting her teeth, seeing the next onslaught of messages requesting input, a statement, something. So Keith's getting what the e-mails are - "No comment."]

(OOC: Time skip? Maybe next day?)

From:

efflations

Good night.

[He doesn't get a reply. His patrol is longer than usual that night - flying helps him think sometimes but he doesn't have any ideas how to fix the mess when he finally gets home.

The next day he doesn't say much to the other heroes - they try but he changes the subject and generally avoids talking too much. It's not hard. Poseidon are keeping him busy, trying to distract from the mess yesterday maybe, while making sure he doesn't get a chance to say the wrong thing.

Finally he has some free time and makes an immediate beeline for Ms Agnes' office. He picks up some lunch and coffee for her on the way, just in case she's been too busy to take a break herself. Coming to a halt in front of the office, Keith takes a deep breath and knocks.]

Ms Agnes? It's me. I brought you some lunch if you're hungry.

From:

herotvlive

[Just then, Cain pokes his head around the corner.

"Oh, are you looking for Ms. Agnes? She went for a run."

He takes in the food and Sky High's face.

"She usually takes that path that goes to the beach. But you didn't hear it from me!"]

From:

efflations

Thanks and thanks again!

[Suddenly hopeful Keith deposits everything on Agnes' desk - carrying it and running will be too troublesome - and bolts out the building.

He's already feeling much more hopeful - being outside running in the fresh air always puts him in a good mood and maybe it will her too. And they'll be able to talk easier away from possible distractions in the office.

It doesn't take long to catch up with Ms Agnes - he has longer legs and the wind is always at his back when he's in a hurry. Coming up alongside her he calls out-]

Ms Agnes!

From:

herotvlive

[Agnes has long had a habit of keeping running gear in her office. It's easier to pound out a few miles of pavement then pound in the faces of morons. And if it provides more stupid paparazzi fodder? Screw it. She refuses to hide, or change her routine no matter HOW many stupid things certain people say on TV.

Her leg's still weak though, so she's not in top form. Even if she were, there'd be no outrunning Keith anyway. She slows a bit, but doesn't stop.]

What?

From:

efflations

[She's acknowledging him. That's a start. He'd been half-afraid she'd refuse to speak to him at all. Keeping pace he glances between her and the path ahead.]

I came to find you. I want to make things right again. I understand I made a mistake and you're angry. I want to show you that I really am sorry. Please give me a chance?

[Please say you can forgive me. He doesn't say it aloud but he's thinking it. If Ms Agnes is only talking to him so she can tell him that it's over, that the entire relationship was a mistake- No. He won't think that. He can still fix things. He will fix things between them!]

From:

herotvlive

[Agnes keeps her eyes forward. This is a tricky part of the trail- downhill and zig-zagging. It demands concentration.

Keith is loud. Annoying. Way too cheerful to be allowed sometimes, and it's been... hard, not speaking to him. The "Good night" had kept circling, lonely with no answer. God help her, she's fond of the idiot.

When the path evens out, Agnes chances a glance over at Keith. She's seen kicked puppies who look happier. Her answer's not as sharp as yesterday. However, it's settled into something almost cold - lightyears away from the way she usually speaks to him, even before they were dating.]

I believe you're sorry. I don't believe you understand why I'm angry.

[Not that she's going to make him guess or anything. That's a petty game, and she despises people who play it. The pace slows to a fast walk. Better for talking.]

I need to seriously think about if I can be with someone who doesn't consider my opinions.

From:

efflations

[He doesn't say anything. For at least a whole minute Keith is silent, thinking. This conversation could be his last chance to fix things, he can't just say the first thing that comes to mind. That is partly what caused this mess in the first place. He takes a deep breath, stops walking. Hopes she doesn't just leave him there.]

I do understand Ms Agnes. I had no right to put my feelings ahead of yours and I am truly sorry. I made a mistake and acted selfishly. But the important thing about mistakes is to learn from them and I can do that. I can learn from my mistakes.

It's not that I don't respect you or your opinions at all. Even when I don't agree with all the things you say I know there's a reason you say them and I try to understand and see your point of view but... sometimes you don't tell me when something is bothering you and I have to figure things out for myself. And then I make mistakes.

[He steps towards her, reaching out hopefully.]

I- You make me very happy. So very happy and I don't want to lose you. Not now and not ever. I'm not asking you to just forget what happened, just to give me a second chance. Please, can't we try again?

From:

herotvlive

[The quiet surprises Agnes, but she lets Keith think. She's not sure what answer she wants to hear. Frankly, she's not sure if any answer will help.

When Keith stops, she does too. Listens quietly, arms folded. Actually, that's... fair. Insightful, even. Not just insightful for Keith, insightful for anyone. She has to remind herself he really hasn't done this - not the maintenance part, the part where you fuck up then have to fix it. (Or call the other person an unreasonable bitch, storm away because who wants to deal with this crazy?)

But he's not walking away. Just the opposite. When he reaches toward her, there's a sigh, but Agnes does take his hand.]

Okay. Let's try this again.

[Still holding his hand, Agnes begins walking once more. She almost never risks even this much in public. But it'll make Keith happy. It's such a small thing, but it does. There's another stretch of silence. The trees fall away, and they've on the harbor. Sun glitters off the water, and gulls wheel, squabbling.

When Agnes does begin talking again, she's surprised at how hard it is.]

That article was nothing new. I've heard it all so many times it's not worth the time or energy. When things like that bother me, I ignore them. Eventually it goes away. So it's "Fine." And I expect everyone else to just... everyone else just goes with it.

From:

efflations

[Ms Agnes takes his hand. It's like a knot around his heart has just been released and he can breathe again.

It doesn't mean everything is fixed or forgiven but it means she's still willing to try. To let him try. The smile that sweeps across his face is so relieved and wide it's almost painful. They can still make this work. It might be hard but most good things are hard work, it's what makes them worthwhile.

He quickly sobers again and listens to her explanation.]

Even if that's how you feel I can't agree that it's alright to just let things like that happen. It's not right that people overlook hurtful lies because they get told it's fine or because it doesn't hurt them. That's no better than telling them yourself. And ignoring something wrong just because it's easier is telling the people doing it that it's OK to keep doing it.

[He squeezes Agnes' hand, wishing he could take away the problem and the hurt it must cause as easily as he can capture a criminal.]

That's what I believe. But nobody has ever written things like that about Sky High. I don't know what it's like. I can't change what I believe but I... can't tell you how to deal with something I don't know anything about.

[He's not happy about the admission but it's true and he wants Agnes to know he's trying to respect to her feelings on the matter.]

From:

herotvlive

Right. You don't know what it's like. You're not the one who looked weak.

[Agnes is still upset. It's strange. Oh, she gets mad all the time - she yells, the problem gets fixed, next crisis. This is more complex. She can't remember the last time anyone was close enough that they could make her this angry. The usual remedies - silence, furious phone calls to sympathetic ears, running - had been no help. It's only now, walking with her hand in Keith's, that she feels things starting to settle down. Not gone, but at least not building.]

I... appreciate you're upset too, but there's helping and then there's saving. You need a better way to deal with your white knight complex.

[Yes, she knows that will need explaining.]

White knight - Like in old movies, when a knight comes charging in on a horse to rescue the damsel from a dragon. Or on a jet pack to save her from a magazine article.

[Coming to a stop, she looks up at Keith, eyes snapping.]

But I'm not a damsel and I don't need to be saved.

From:

efflations

[Keith stops as well, surprise and confusion mingling on his face.]

I always save people. It's what Sky High does. It's all I've ever wanted, to be able to help people.

[He's thinking hard, trying to put the pieces together to get an answer.

Saving people is his job. And saving people and helping them is about the same, isn't it? No, that much he knows. There's a difference between freeing a hostage and helping someone overcome their fears, say.

It's not as though he's ever thought less of the people he saves for needing help or not being NEXTs themselves. But.

He saves people from criminals and danger, when they can't protect themselves. He helps people when they can do something but just need support to get there.]

By trying to save you I was saying I didn't think you could take care of it yourself and needed me to do it for you. If I really wanted to help I should have.... should have asked if there was anything I could do to show people it was wrong.

[He doesn't sound entirely certain, watching Ms Agnes like student waiting for their teacher to tell them if they answered correctly.]

Edited Date: 2014-10-16 10:35 am (UTC)

From:

herotvlive

[Sometimes, Agnes has to wonder why they let this man strap on a jetpack. He is trying though. There's practically smoke coming out of his ears, but he's trying.

Keith really thinks she's worth this much effort.]

Yes. That's the difference.

[Agnes drops his hand then, but not because she's any more upset. Quite the opposite - she's calmed down enough to notice other things, like that her hair's escaping its ponytail. Tendrils whip in her face - though it's hard to tell if the breeze is just from the water or from Keith being upset. She pulls it loose then begins tying her hair back in order.]

That's what people saw, instead of what you wanted them to see. They saw the hero saving the day. So I look like just another woman who needs to be saved. That's so much more interesting!

[Speaking of interesting, there seems to be a rustling coming from the brush nearby. Once again - might just be the wind...]

From:

efflations

[The rustling barely registers at first - he has a lot on his mind and yes, at least half the wind whipping about them is from him. It's not worth paying attention to when he thinks maybe he's finally starting to work things out.]

But that shouldn't matter. People get saved all the time. Sky High has been saved before and-

[He stops himself - he's getting it wrong still - and tries again.]

But you didn't need saving and that's the point. And I shouldn't try to save you... Unless a villain has you hostage of course - then it's OK, right?

[Even as Keith waited for Ms Agnes to confirm that yes, it would be alright for Sky High to save her if her life was definitely endangered by a threat she probably couldn't fight off single-handedly, he finally noticed the oddly active brush nearby. There wasn't any wind causing the noise - now that he was paying attention he could say that with certainty - so what was there? Was there an injured animal?

Frowning he craned his head to see, jumping when he spotted a shadow of something hiding back there.]

Ms Agnes-? Do you see that?

From:

herotvlive

Yes. Then it's okay.

[Maybe she should make a flowchart? And staple it to Keith's forehead? She has to bite back a smile at that.]

Otherwise -

[Then Agnes's attention is on the noise too. There's no jump. Instead, her eyes narrow, and any warmth that's been creeping in vanishes. Blue Rose would be jealous of the ice field now being generated, It's a wonder the sun keeps shining. She stalks straight toward the bush, probably scaring Keith. But if he stops her, wouldn't that just get him in more trouble?! But who knows what could be back there?!

Oh, but Agnes does.]

From:

efflations

[So long as the flowchart has pictures. And not too many words - stopping to read when he's got a job to do isn't going to happen.

He squeaks as Agnes' sudden shift - he hasn't done anything! - and watches her stalk off in befuddlement.]

Um, Ms Agnes?

[Trailing after her, Keith sees the shadow from before begin to retreat. It looks like a person? Why would a person be back there? Why does Ms Agnes seem so mad that they're there?]

Ms Agnes? Is something wrong? Again, is everything OK?

From:

herotvlive

[It's definitely a person, and now Agnes can see the unmistakable shape of a camera in his hands. He's quick, but the brush is slowing his progress. She points to a spot a little bit ahead of the man, where Keith will easily be able to cut him off.]

Stop him!

[This close, Keith should be able to block the photographer with no NEXT powers at all. Agnes follows right after him.]

From:

efflations

Right!

[The response is immediate, he's so used to following Agnes' orders without question. Sprinting ahead Keith skids to halt right where she'd indicated and catches the fleeing stranger in his arms a moment later.]

Stop right there!

[As though he's giving the man a choice. Holding the struggling man firmly in place, Keith finally notices the camera too.]

A paparazzi? Following you Ms Agnes?

[The heroes occasionally have trouble with them. Sometimes one will find their transporters and hang around trying to get a picture of their real faces. He didn't realise they gave Ms Agnes trouble too. Though really, after the article that caused them so much trouble he should have.]