Among the Strong
Nov. 27th, 2025 03:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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marysuevirusTitle: Among the Strong
Chapter Fifty Seven: To the Manor Borne
Fandom: the Marvel universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic violence, language, sex, dark themes, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. Haley belongs todazzledfirestar Morgan belongs toginevra Roxxy belongs tonanaeanaven Jehnna belongs to silverfox_chan and Dare belongs to me. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from dazzledfirestar .
Author's Notes: this is almost entirely Daz's fault. okay. so it really isn't. its actually almost 100% my fault. Daz just did a whole lot of encouraging. this fic is going to be kind of dark, so please keep that in mind while reading.
Among the Strong - the index
Haley stared up at the house before her and wondered, yet again, if she was in the right place. It was like she'd stepped into the world of Jane Austen. The exterior was all stone walls and mullioned windows that hearkened back to another age. Vines climbed the exterior and there were trees and bushes placed in an obvious pattern in the yard. She'd followed an honest to god stone walk up to the door. After passing through a wrought iron gate set into a moderately high stone wall. She half-expected Mr. Darcy to come stepping out of the door. She was so under dressed for this.
For a moment, Haley considered turning around and going the way she'd come. There was something daunting about standing in front of the door to an honest to god manor house with a baby in her arms, a toddler at her side, and a pair of bags sitting at her feet. She looked and felt like the poor country relation looking for a place to stay or a handout. Possibly even both.
It had taken her a full week of searching to finally end up standing on a set of stone steps leading up to a huge manor house that could have been the backdrop for every period piece the BBC had ever done. She’d been all over Europe, going from London to Paris to Athens to Berlin to Bern. And more. She’d been fairly sure with most of them that Dare hadn’t been anywhere near them. But she’d had to be one hundred percent certain. She’d put every single contact she’d ever made to good use over the past several days, convincing them to check into whatever security footage, street cam footage, and cell phone video they could access to search for any sign of Dare.
She hadn’t been surprised that most of them hadn’t been able to pull up any information about her missing friend and teammate. The lack of trail had eventually taken her back to London, as it was still the only solid lead she had. She’d found a place to eat with an indoor play area so that TJ could stretch her legs and deal with all of the energy that came from being two. And while TJ played and Emilia slept, Haley had taken all of the information she’d gotten from Clint and from Pete and started going over it again.
And it was while she was sitting there, eating some mediocre french fries, that she found that one thing she was looking for. It was a piece of information she’d gotten from Pete that she hadn’t really credited as being legitimate when she’d first seen it. But looking at the two files together, it suddenly became far more important. There was a train ticket included with the itineraries Pete had put together. It was one of many, actually. This particular ticket had been to Scotland. And Haley had dismissed it as a fake trail because Dare’s family was from and in the London area. But when she put it next to one of Clint’s photos… It was far more legitimate than she’d originally thought.
The photo was of a woman who could be Dare standing on a train platform. There was no guarantee it was her because the image was grainy and the woman’s hair wasn’t visible. It was likely it was tucked beneath the hat the woman wore. There was a bit of a brim on the hat and it helped hide the woman’s eyes. There was no sign of baggage or a baby and the woman wasn’t wearing anything that looked like something Dare would wear. Haley hadn’t paid it much mind because some of the images that both Clint and Pete had given her were obviously not of Dare. They’d been taken at roughly the same time in cities hundreds of miles apart.
But what made this image feel like the real thing was the train ticket to Scotland. It was in the name of a Faith Fergus, a name Haley had glanced at and ignored because she didn’t feel like it something Dare would pick. She felt sure Dare would have picked something super goth for a name, like Wren or Raven. What had sold her on the idea that it was actually Dare, beside the photo taken on a train platform, was the time stamp on the photo. It had come from a security camera and the time shown on the photo was nine ten am. The train’s set time for departure was nine thirty. Haley had been certain, but she’d confirmed her belief by pulling out her cell and using the camera to zoom in on the background of the image. There was an electronic sign in the background with Edinburgh in bright green letters on it. The ticket’s destination was Edinburgh.
Once TJ had worn herself out, Haley had taken the three of them to Edinburgh. And she’d gone to the train station to see if she could find anyone who remembered seeing Dare and Petra. She hadn’t been terribly hopeful on that front. She imagined that far too many people went through the station on any given day. So imagine her surprise when she’d found someone who’d told her that not only that he’d seen Dare, but he knew where she’d gone. The man had introduced himself as Robbie and had told Haley, with a kindly smile that had made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, that he’d driven Dare to her destination not more than a few days ago. He’d managed to charm TJ into a fit of giggles before he’d stared with soft eyes at Emilia. And then he’d offered to take her to a town called Wytching Village.
That was how she’d found herself standing on the doorstep of an actual manor house. A swirl of emotions filled her, left her anxious and uncertain. Was she in the right place? Everyone in the village she'd spoken to had pointed her to this place. Dunhaven was what the locals had called it. A kindly older woman with very pink hair had assured her that this was her destination. But she had her doubts. How had Dare ended up here? And why? Why a manor house, of all places. It didn’t seem like a place Dare would know about or even use to hide out in. This couldn't be the place. Could it?
There was only one way to find out.
She squared her shoulders and took a breath. Then she reached out and pressed the button that rang the doorbell.
She heard nothing on the other side of the door. Either the bell didn't work or the place was insulated so well that sound didn't carry very well. She was glad for the covered entry because it was starting to mist. The last thing she needed was for Emilia or TJ to get cold and take sick. But if the rain continued and got heavier, the air would cool and that wouldn't be good for them, either. And she didn't have a plan past 'knock on door and ask if Dare was in' so if no one answered, she didn't know what she'd do next.
Fortunately, before she could really work herself up into a panic about that, she heard the locks turning on the door in front of her. In a few seconds, the door swung open to reveal a man who looked to be in his middle age. He was tall and trim, with dark hair that was starting to grey and a pair of round spectacles perched on his nose. He wore a pair of black dress slacks, a light blue shirt, and a silky silver vest. A tie in tartan colors added a splash of brightness to the ensemble. The look he cast her was bland and she didn't know if he was not amused by her appearance on his doorstep or if he was trained to be unemotional. "May I help you?" the man asked.
Haley heard the faint hint of a brogue in his voice. Almost as if he'd tried to train it out of his speech but the little bugger hadn't wanted to leave. She felt a smile trying to pull her lips up and she clamped down on the urge. Surely he would take offense if he thought she found him funny. "Yes. This is going to sound like a really, really bizarre question. But a woman in the village told me this was the place I wanted. I'm looking for my friend, Dare. Is she here? I've been trailing her across Europe for nearly a week and I really hope she's here because I don't have any other place to look or go."
The man regarded her for what felt to be an uncomfortably long time, then stepped back and held the door open. "Please. Do come in," he offered before turning to look into the house. "Hannah, please come fetch the young lady's bags." Some of the seriousness slipped away and she thought she saw a hint of softness as he turned back to her and stared down at Emilia. She was starting to fuss, no doubt because the weather had turned cold and wet. TJ was staring at everything with big eyes, which kept her from making comments. For now. That would surely change soon enough. Haley offered him a smile, then stepped through the door. TJ followed without being prompted.
A woman in a pair of trousers and a blouse bustled past her and stepped out onto the stoop. She scooped up the bags and then came through the door. "Is this all you've brought with you?" she asked, frowning at the two bags.
Haley nodded, choosing to remain silent. She wasn’t sure if the woman, Hannah, was disgusted with her or if she felt some other emotion.
"Follow me, please," the man said, the door already closing. Haley watched the young woman as she carried the bags further into the house. A glance from the man saw her heading up the staircase that ran up one wall. A matched one was on the other wall. She didn't have time to see more, because the man was moving toward a door at the back of the entryway. Haley bounced Emilia a bit to quiet her and followed after the man.
He motioned her to a stop several feet from a door, knocked on the panel, then pushed it open. "Miss Alasdare, there is someone here to see you."
Haley's heart kicked into overdrive. Miss Alasdare? Did he mean Dare? Surely there couldn't be two Alasdares that were women in the Scottish Highlands. Could there?
There was silence from the room for a moment, then Haley heard a sigh. It sounded like a very put upon sigh. "If its Mrs. Teague trying to push her sons on me again, tell her I've already got more men than I know what to do with. I don't need anymore."
The sound of that voice, and the disgust in it, saw relief rushing through Haley. It was so intense she had to lock her knees to keep from toppling over. A glance down told her that TJ was listening carefully, her eyes wide and a smile upon her face. She was going to start pulling at Haley’s hand soon, anxious to go see her Aunt Dare.
"It is not Mrs. Teague," the man said. There might have been more than a hint of a smile on his face. He turned to Haley and motioned her through the door. She started forward, TJ nearly skipping along at her side. When she neared the man, who was obviously the butler or some such thing, he stepped back and allowed her to walk past him. She stopped in the doorway at the sight before her.
It was some kind of drawing room. Or a sitting room. Or... Hell, Haley didn't know. Glossy wooden flooring was mostly hidden beneath a large rug that had to have been hand woven. There were intricate patterns in it, done in reds and golds and blacks. The walls were cream colored from the middle of the wall to the ceiling. The bottom half was covered with wainscoting in a deep maroon with golden accents at the top and base. A large crystal chandelier hung from the center of a ceiling in gold and light grey. Large paintings of seascapes took up space on all four walls in the room. Golden sconces were spread across the walls, lit with soft light.
Four large windows took up most of one wall, two on either end. Light, thin and watery, poured in through them. The drapes hanging at their sides were maroon with cream accents. Large sprays of flowers were arranged in expensive looking vases on either side of the room, while green plants were scattered here and there. Bookcases took up most of one wall, all of them loaded with books that looked old. The covers appeared to be leather or fabric, in solid colors with gold script printing on the spines. The center of the room was taken up by a pair of large sofas. The frames were a deep, glossy brown wood and the upholstery was cream. Small pillows in maroon rested in the corners as accents. Several chairs in a matching style, in the same colors, rounded out the seating area. Heavy wooden tables rested at the ends of the sofas and between them, their glossy wood the same color as that of the sofas and chairs.
Sitting on one of the sofas, feet tucked up under her, was Dare. She was a dark spot against all of the cream, clad in an old pair of jeans and t-shirt. She looked so out of place amongst all of the gilt and wealth of the room. She had a book in hand and she appeared to be lost in its pages. She looked so… normal.
“This is some fucking hide out,” Haley commented.
Her words brought Dare’s head up. Her eyes were wide with surprise. Then she set the book down and rose from her seat. “Haley?” she asked, forehead crinkling a little in confusion.
“Aun Dare!” TJ exclaimed before tugging her hand free of Haley’s so she could dash into the room and throw herself against Dare’s legs. It was obviously a serious hit, because Dare wobbled slightly in place. She went down on her knees and wrapped her arms around TJ to hug the girl back. “We find you!”
“That you did,” Dare responded, dropping a kiss on TJ’s cheek before she turned her attention back to Haley. For a moment, Haley thought she saw a hint of fear in Dare’s eyes. Then it was gone and the other woman rose slowly to her feet. She glanced past Haley and out the door. “Thank you, Jameson. Could I trouble you to have some coffee brought in for Haley? I have a feeling she’s going to need it.”
“Of course, Miss Alasdare,” Jameson responded. Haley turned her head in time to see him offer her friend a faint smile. Then he turned and left them alone. Haley found her hand caught up in TJ’s, her daughter trying her hardest to drag Haley into the sitting room. Or whatever it was.
“Miss Alasdare?” Haley questioned, turning her curious gaze back to Dare. The other woman managed a faint smile that looked very embarrassed.
“I’ve told him time and again to just call me Dare. I think he keeps calling me Miss Alasdare to get a rise out of me. You may not believe me, but the man is mildly sadistic. But he seems to love Petra and he tolerates me. So I suppose I should count myself lucky,” Dare explained. She shifted on her feet then, moving her weight from one leg to the other. And the look on her face became less open. More cautious. “How did you find me?”
“I looked. And you sure as hell didn’t make it easy,” Haley replied, huffing a laugh that held no amusement. She was at a loss for words. She’d been searching for Dare for days, living with the frightening thought that Sinister had grabbed her and Petra. Worried that she would find her friend dead in a ditch somewhere. Afraid she’d never see her again. Living with a growing sense of fear and anxiety that made sleep nigh unto impossible. And Dare had been hiding out in the lap of luxury. The rush of emotions left her head spinning. Relief and anger warred with one another before Haley gave into her building temper. “I’m so mad at you right now. I should punch you in the mouth.”
“If it will make you feel better,” Dare replied quietly. As if she actually expected Haley to do just that. As if she felt she deserved nothing less. Oh. That knowledge made Haley all the angrier. The other woman was so frustrating. Muttering a string of curses under her breath, Haley nearly stomped into the room until she stood right in front of Dare. She set Emilia’s carrier down on the couch before giving her attention to her teammate. They stared at one another a moment and Haley could see in her friend the urge to take a step back. To run. To put distance between them. And Haley didn’t know if it was because Dare thought she was about to get punched or if it was for some other reason.
It was obvious that Dare had hit her limits. All of the trauma she’d experienced over the years was starting to affect her more than usual. It made Haley want to cry. It made her want to yell. It made her want to pound something, anything, into oblivion. She did none of those things. Instead, she reached out and took hold of Dare, then tugged her friend into her arms and squeezed until she heard Dare’s breath squeak out of her throat. A moment later, Dare wrapped her arms around Haley and hugged back. There seemed to be a desperation to that hug, as if Dare was using it to try and anchor herself.
“I should do it, you know,” Haley said in Dare’s ear. “You kind of deserve to be hit. You left me alone. You left me there without any support. You ran without me. Why?”
“I’m sorry, Haley. I know that won’t make it better, but I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stay. Not after Jehnna. Not after finding out there are so many rumors floating around the school about…” Dare’s words ground to a halt, but Haley didn’t need to hear anymore. She understood completely. She knew about the rumors. She’d heard how the kids whispered and saw them point and stare. If anyone understood why Dare had up and run, it was Haley. She understood better than anyone.
She realized then that Dare was crying. She felt the wetness soaking into her shirt. Her friend who hated tears and made a habit of resorting to anger and rage rather than tears, was crying on her shoulder. It was a rare sign of weakness and vulnerability. Haley wasn’t sure if she should feel honored that Dare had shown that side to her or if she should just get even more pissed because it was obvious everyone had missed the signs.
So, instead, she hugged Dare to her harder and allowed her own tears to come. Tears of frustration and worry. Tears of loss and sorrow. Tears of joy.
“My pardon for the intrusion.” The discomfort in Jameson’s voice was barely evident when he spoke. And his sudden arrival saw Dare pulling back hastily. Saw her turning her back to them so she could try to wipe the tears from her cheeks with some dignity. “I’ve brought Miss Haley’s coffee. And a fresh Coke for you, Miss Alasdare,”
“Thank you, Jameson,” Dare responded, her voice watery. She turned to offer him an equally watery smile. “Vicki is right and you are an absolute lifesaver.”
A hint of a smile twitched at the corner of the man’s lips as he entered the room. He carried a tray, which he brought over to settle on the coffee table before the sofa. On it was a pot of gleaming silver with a scrolling handle and intricate designs etched into its surface. The aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee rose up from it. The coffee cup that accompanied it was elegant and delicate, a match to the silver coffee pot despite being made of what Haley thought was stoneware. A tall glass fizzed with dark liquid poured over ice cubes. There was also a plate of sandwiches and a plate of cookies to go with the beverages.
When he’d deposited his burden, Jameson stood and studied the two of them for a short while. “It is quite obvious that you two ladies have much to discuss and require some solitude in which to do so. Perhaps the young miss might like to see the playroom? There are toys aplenty and many books. There are even some plush animals with which to play, if she so wishes. And Hannah has offered to keep an eye on the wee babe, if you are amenable to such a thing, Miss Haley.”
Haley looked at TJ, who was busy studying one of the huge paintings on the wall. The water in the painting was a bright and vibrant mix of blues and white. A ship was caught between gentle waves. If she squinted, Haley was certain she could see people standing on the deck of the ship. A voice at the back of her head screamed that Haley shouldn’t let the children out of her sight. There was no telling what would happen if she couldn’t’ see them. But Jameson was correct in his pronouncement that she and Dare needed to talk. “Would you like to go play, TJ?” Haley asked.
The use of her name saw TJ turning to look at her mother. Her blue eyes, so like her father’s sparkled brightly as she considered Haley’s question. “You comin’ too, Mama?” she asked, her head tipping to the side with her curiosity. She looked so much like Johnny in that moment. Haley’s heart hurt to see it. She quashed the feeling and shook her head.
“No, sweetie. I need to stay and talk to Aunt Dare,” she told her daughter.
“Miss Hannah will play with you,” Jameson said. As if that had been a cue, Hannah came in through the door. There was a broad smile on her face that looked sincere and welcoming. Haley took a moment, now that the panic had started to ebb, to study the woman. Earlier, she’d seen a blouse and trousers. Now, she saw the thick braid of dark chestnut hair that hung over one shoulder. She saw the deep brown eyes that were warm and welcoming. She saw the curve of Hannah’s cheekbones and jaw. She saw that the woman wasn’t a beauty, but there was still something kind of compelling about her looks. She was young and gave the appearance of being sweet and earnest.
“We can take your little sister with us,” Hannah offered. Her brogue was stronger than Jameson’s and her voice was warm and honeyed. She felt like the perfect person to keep TJ engaged and to watch Emilia. But that notion didn’t stop a rush of fear and panic from coming. Haley’s gaze turned to Dare, who seemed to understand what she was asking. She nodded her head and the assurance went a long way to calming Haley’s nerves. “Oh, I know! We can have a tea party! Would you like that, TJ?”
TJ’s eyes got wide as saucers at that. She brought her stare Haley’s way. Even before the girl spoke, Haley knew what was going to come out of her mouth. “Mama? I go play?”
“If that’s what you’d like, sweetie,” Haley responded with a smile. “But you listen to Miss Hannah and do as she says. Be a good girl.”
“I will!” TJ chirped before rushing over to throw herself against Haley’s legs and deliver a TJ hug. Haley couldn’t stop the smile that came as she, like Dare, knelt so she could return her daughter’s hug. When TJ disentangled herself from her mother, she ran over to Hannah’s side. The woman had already picked up Emilia’s carrier, and she offered her free hand to TJ. Haley watched her daughter put her little hand in Hannah’s, then they made their way out of the room. When they were gone, Haley felt that same sense of panic take her again. She wanted to go after Hannah and snatch her children back.
“I will leave you ladies alone now. You know how to reach me should you need anything else,” Jameson said, his last statement directed toward Dare.
“I do. But I don’t need anything else. I can wait on myself, damn it,” she grumbled at the man. It had a feel of familiarity to it, leading Haley to believe that she’d said it to Jameson more than once. Jameson offered up a genuine smile, filled with warmth and care, then nodded his head.
“Of course, Miss Alasdare,” he responded. Haley was pretty sure she heard the cheek in the man’s voice as he spoke. He turned for the door and made for it, stopping long enough to turn and look back at the two of them “Do contact me if you need anything else, Miss Alasdare.” His smile got broad and knowing for a moment. Then he pulled the door shut so that she and Dare were alone.
A moment or two passed in silence before Dare heaved a sigh and took a seat. Haley took that as her cue to join her and settled herself on the sofa next to her friend. And she allowed herself to study the woman. It had only been a week, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since she’d last seen Dare. And Dare looked… different. Not in a physical sense. Physically, everything was still the same. The almost too pale skin hadn’t changed. Her eyes were still that same shade of grey that could be calm and warm or turbulent and cold. The same dark hair, which had been freshly colored. Which struck Haley as odd because of course there’d been no way she could color while they’d been held captive. But Haley had never really noticed the woman’s natural color when they’d gotten back. She hadn’t even realized that the color had faded until just now, when she’d taken note of the fresh color job. Even the colored streaks were there. And Dare still sported her favored black t-shirt, a faded band shirt, and torn black jeans.
But she was changed, all the same. There almost seemed to be less tension in her shoulders. A gentleness that Haley had only seen on her when she’d been dealing with one of her children. Something had changed about Dare. Something that Haley couldn’t put a name to. But it was there. And she had to wonder what had happened in the week Dare had been gone that she’d changed that much.
“When are the boys getting here?” Dare asked, her voice soft and laden with tension. The question, so blunt and filled with a healthy dose of resignation, shattered the peace between them. It prompted Haley to really look at Dare. Her friend’s face was neutral, lacking an expression that might tell Haley what she was thinking. But some voice told her that Dare would disappear again instead of confronting the men in her life.
“I don’t know. I left as soon as I realized you were gone. I’m sure they’ve figured out you left by now. And I’m sure they’re looking for you. But I don’t know if they know anything beyond the fact that you’re gone,” Haley told her. Her words saw Dare sag into the back of the sofa, tension leaking out of her so rapidly that it looked as if it left her momentarily weak.
Dare glanced away, her focus seeming to settle on one of the paintings. This one seemed to be nothing but a painting of the ocean, the waves turbulent under a cloud-darkened sky. Haley couldn’t see anything else in the painting and found herself wondering why all the paintings seemed to have an ocean theme to them. She saw Dare’s mouth open, as if she meant to say something. Then she shook her head and pressed her lips together. As if what she’d been about to say wasn’t important.
“Dare?” Haley asked. Maybe if she gave the woman an opening, she’d find out what her friend had been going to say.
Dare did not answer her. At least, not in the way Haley had hoped. Instead, Dare drew in a sharp breath and turned back to Haley. “Why did you chase after me, Haley? Why did you come here?”
For a moment, Haley was floored that Dare would ask such a question. And hurt. Why did she think Haley had dragged her two year old and her newborn halfway around the world with her? The urge to be bitchy rose up. Along with the urge to punch Dare, like Haley had been threatening to do for a month or more now. But Haley held on to her anger, and her hurt, and took some time to figure out what was going on.
It was plain to see that Dare wasn’t quite comfortable with the topic of discussion. There was a slight tension in her shoulders, a defensiveness in her posture that screamed to the fact. It didn’t take much thinking on Haley’s part to realize that Dare was rattled by something. She just couldn’t be sure if this was an old something or a new something.
“Dare,” Haley started, reaching out to take hold of the other woman’s hand. The move was gentle and slow, an obvious show of love and concern. “Why would you think I wouldn’t come after you? You’re a good friend. Part of my family. I was worried about you. Sinister is out there and we don’t know what he’s got planned. You can’t fight him on your own. Not when you have to keep Petra safe. And, if we’re being honest, you’re the only one who seemed to care about what was going on with me. I didn’t want to lose that.”
She watched, silent, as Dare continued to stare at her. She clearly saw it when Dare swallowed hard, letting Haley know that her words had gotten through to Dare, despite there being so few of them. Her friend blinked and glanced away, but not before Haley saw the glimmer of tears. “I’m sorry, Haley,” Dare whispered. “I shouldn’t have taken off like I did. I should have talked to you or something. But we both know I don’t think anything through before I do it.”
“That isn’t true. And stop talking about yourself like that. You know I hate it,” Haley admonished lightly. Dare flushed a light pink at that. “You scared the life out of me, Dare. I imagined all sorts of terrible things when I realized you were gone.”
The flush darkened. “I’m sorry.” The words were soft and genuine, spoken from the heart.
“You should be,” Haley responded. She took a breath and let it out. And she allowed the anger and the hurt and the frustration and every other emotion she’d been battling with for the past week to come out in her next words. “You left me there. You ran and you left me. You didn’t bother to think about how I felt. You didn’t consider that I felt the same way you did. You just took off and said nothing to me.”
“You’re right. I didn’t,” Dare responded. There was little emotion in her voice. “I left without saying a word. I left you there to deal with all of the stupidity and the anger and the accusations. Because I’m a coward.”
“You are not,” Haley insisted. Dare brought her gaze Haley’s way and pinned her with a stare that seemed to hold Haley in her seat. There was so much weight to it.
“I am. I’m a coward because I can’t face Remy. I can’t face Logan. I can’t face Morgan. And I let Jehnna treat me like shit because I believed she was right. I took the coward’s way out and ran,” Dare said. “I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d find some way to make me stay. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t deal with any of it. I’m a coward. And now you know it.”
“If I ever find out who fucked your head up like this, I will beat them within an inch of their life,” Haley snarled. The heat of her words, the anger in her voice, saw Dare blinking at her with wide eyes. She looked like a deer in the headlights. One wrong move would see her bolting. “You are so much better than you let yourself believe, Dare. Stop listening to the damn voice in your head. Its lying to you.”
Haley took a breath and stared intently at the other woman. “If you had told me you were going to run, I’d have packed a bag and run right along with you,” she told Dare. “You weren’t the only one who felt like they didn’t belong. My life is falling apart around me. Johnny barely speaks to me. And Scott has Jean. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t…“ Haley trailed off, a faint sob rolling up her throat. Tears blurred her vision, but they didn’t stop her from catching sight of the look of rage that twisted Dare’s features for a moment. It was gone a moment later.
“They’re both fucking idiots,” Dare responded quietly. “Hell, all of them are fucking idiots.”
“At least your idiots care about you,” Haley pointed out. Dare snorted at that.
“My idiots. Let me tell you about my idiots,” Dare said. Haley watched as she picked up the book she’d been reading when Haley had first arrived. Dare flipped the pages open and stared at them where the book had opened. Haley caught a glimpse of what appeared to be handwritten text. Then Dare slapped the book shut and rose to her feet. “Come on. I have to show you something.”
Haley rose, too, wondering what this was all about. She glanced longingly toward the pot of coffee and the empty cup, but followed obligingly after Dare. They left the sitting room, or whatever it was, and made their way across the hall toward the bottom of the staircase. Haley’s gaze slid around, trying to take in everything at once. It was difficult, because there was a lot to see. The house was like something out of the movies.
They climbed the stairs up to the second floor. And then the third. The second floor landing had been different from the first floor. The third was different from the second. Haley’d gotten to see sage green walls on the second floor. Wall sconces dripping with cut crystal. Floral arrangements. Paintings of mountains and glens. Delicate side tables that held framed photos or statues. The third floor had walls painted a pale blue. The crystal sconces continued there. As did the various floral arrangements and green plants. The artwork on the walls here held flowers and trees and small animals.
Dare turned at the head of the stairs and headed down the hallway. Haley followed after her, wondering where they were going. They traveled to the end of the hall before Dare stopped before a door. She turned the knob and pushed the door open, then motioned for Haley to follow her inside. Haley did that, eyes nearly popping out of her head with the absolute grandeur of the room into which she’d stepped. She saw a large bed draped in shades of purple and grey. There were posts at each corner, with a canopy overhead and drapes hanging at the corners.
Furniture of wood. Plush pillows. An enormous rug on the floor. Paintings of the ocean and ships. Miniature ships. More crystal dripping from the chandelier. It was the most amazingly appointed room Haley had ever seen. She kept finding beautiful things to stare at. She took note of the crib in the corner, a modern thing that didn’t match the rest of the room. Large windows that allowed natural light to shine in. A giant fireplace occupied one wall, wood laid into the hearth in preparation of a fire.
Dare stood before the fireplace, her back to Haley. Because she was staring at the painting hanging above it. Haley’s gaze rose to look at it and she felt her world tilt sideways. Because that…
“Holy shit!” she breathed.
Chapter Fifty Seven: To the Manor Borne
Fandom: the Marvel universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic violence, language, sex, dark themes, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. Haley belongs to
dazzledfirestar Morgan belongs toginevra Roxxy belongs tonanaeanaven Jehnna belongs to silverfox_chan and Dare belongs to me. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from dazzledfirestar . Author's Notes: this is almost entirely Daz's fault. okay. so it really isn't. its actually almost 100% my fault. Daz just did a whole lot of encouraging. this fic is going to be kind of dark, so please keep that in mind while reading.
Among the Strong - the index
Haley stared up at the house before her and wondered, yet again, if she was in the right place. It was like she'd stepped into the world of Jane Austen. The exterior was all stone walls and mullioned windows that hearkened back to another age. Vines climbed the exterior and there were trees and bushes placed in an obvious pattern in the yard. She'd followed an honest to god stone walk up to the door. After passing through a wrought iron gate set into a moderately high stone wall. She half-expected Mr. Darcy to come stepping out of the door. She was so under dressed for this.
For a moment, Haley considered turning around and going the way she'd come. There was something daunting about standing in front of the door to an honest to god manor house with a baby in her arms, a toddler at her side, and a pair of bags sitting at her feet. She looked and felt like the poor country relation looking for a place to stay or a handout. Possibly even both.
It had taken her a full week of searching to finally end up standing on a set of stone steps leading up to a huge manor house that could have been the backdrop for every period piece the BBC had ever done. She’d been all over Europe, going from London to Paris to Athens to Berlin to Bern. And more. She’d been fairly sure with most of them that Dare hadn’t been anywhere near them. But she’d had to be one hundred percent certain. She’d put every single contact she’d ever made to good use over the past several days, convincing them to check into whatever security footage, street cam footage, and cell phone video they could access to search for any sign of Dare.
She hadn’t been surprised that most of them hadn’t been able to pull up any information about her missing friend and teammate. The lack of trail had eventually taken her back to London, as it was still the only solid lead she had. She’d found a place to eat with an indoor play area so that TJ could stretch her legs and deal with all of the energy that came from being two. And while TJ played and Emilia slept, Haley had taken all of the information she’d gotten from Clint and from Pete and started going over it again.
And it was while she was sitting there, eating some mediocre french fries, that she found that one thing she was looking for. It was a piece of information she’d gotten from Pete that she hadn’t really credited as being legitimate when she’d first seen it. But looking at the two files together, it suddenly became far more important. There was a train ticket included with the itineraries Pete had put together. It was one of many, actually. This particular ticket had been to Scotland. And Haley had dismissed it as a fake trail because Dare’s family was from and in the London area. But when she put it next to one of Clint’s photos… It was far more legitimate than she’d originally thought.
The photo was of a woman who could be Dare standing on a train platform. There was no guarantee it was her because the image was grainy and the woman’s hair wasn’t visible. It was likely it was tucked beneath the hat the woman wore. There was a bit of a brim on the hat and it helped hide the woman’s eyes. There was no sign of baggage or a baby and the woman wasn’t wearing anything that looked like something Dare would wear. Haley hadn’t paid it much mind because some of the images that both Clint and Pete had given her were obviously not of Dare. They’d been taken at roughly the same time in cities hundreds of miles apart.
But what made this image feel like the real thing was the train ticket to Scotland. It was in the name of a Faith Fergus, a name Haley had glanced at and ignored because she didn’t feel like it something Dare would pick. She felt sure Dare would have picked something super goth for a name, like Wren or Raven. What had sold her on the idea that it was actually Dare, beside the photo taken on a train platform, was the time stamp on the photo. It had come from a security camera and the time shown on the photo was nine ten am. The train’s set time for departure was nine thirty. Haley had been certain, but she’d confirmed her belief by pulling out her cell and using the camera to zoom in on the background of the image. There was an electronic sign in the background with Edinburgh in bright green letters on it. The ticket’s destination was Edinburgh.
Once TJ had worn herself out, Haley had taken the three of them to Edinburgh. And she’d gone to the train station to see if she could find anyone who remembered seeing Dare and Petra. She hadn’t been terribly hopeful on that front. She imagined that far too many people went through the station on any given day. So imagine her surprise when she’d found someone who’d told her that not only that he’d seen Dare, but he knew where she’d gone. The man had introduced himself as Robbie and had told Haley, with a kindly smile that had made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, that he’d driven Dare to her destination not more than a few days ago. He’d managed to charm TJ into a fit of giggles before he’d stared with soft eyes at Emilia. And then he’d offered to take her to a town called Wytching Village.
That was how she’d found herself standing on the doorstep of an actual manor house. A swirl of emotions filled her, left her anxious and uncertain. Was she in the right place? Everyone in the village she'd spoken to had pointed her to this place. Dunhaven was what the locals had called it. A kindly older woman with very pink hair had assured her that this was her destination. But she had her doubts. How had Dare ended up here? And why? Why a manor house, of all places. It didn’t seem like a place Dare would know about or even use to hide out in. This couldn't be the place. Could it?
There was only one way to find out.
She squared her shoulders and took a breath. Then she reached out and pressed the button that rang the doorbell.
She heard nothing on the other side of the door. Either the bell didn't work or the place was insulated so well that sound didn't carry very well. She was glad for the covered entry because it was starting to mist. The last thing she needed was for Emilia or TJ to get cold and take sick. But if the rain continued and got heavier, the air would cool and that wouldn't be good for them, either. And she didn't have a plan past 'knock on door and ask if Dare was in' so if no one answered, she didn't know what she'd do next.
Fortunately, before she could really work herself up into a panic about that, she heard the locks turning on the door in front of her. In a few seconds, the door swung open to reveal a man who looked to be in his middle age. He was tall and trim, with dark hair that was starting to grey and a pair of round spectacles perched on his nose. He wore a pair of black dress slacks, a light blue shirt, and a silky silver vest. A tie in tartan colors added a splash of brightness to the ensemble. The look he cast her was bland and she didn't know if he was not amused by her appearance on his doorstep or if he was trained to be unemotional. "May I help you?" the man asked.
Haley heard the faint hint of a brogue in his voice. Almost as if he'd tried to train it out of his speech but the little bugger hadn't wanted to leave. She felt a smile trying to pull her lips up and she clamped down on the urge. Surely he would take offense if he thought she found him funny. "Yes. This is going to sound like a really, really bizarre question. But a woman in the village told me this was the place I wanted. I'm looking for my friend, Dare. Is she here? I've been trailing her across Europe for nearly a week and I really hope she's here because I don't have any other place to look or go."
The man regarded her for what felt to be an uncomfortably long time, then stepped back and held the door open. "Please. Do come in," he offered before turning to look into the house. "Hannah, please come fetch the young lady's bags." Some of the seriousness slipped away and she thought she saw a hint of softness as he turned back to her and stared down at Emilia. She was starting to fuss, no doubt because the weather had turned cold and wet. TJ was staring at everything with big eyes, which kept her from making comments. For now. That would surely change soon enough. Haley offered him a smile, then stepped through the door. TJ followed without being prompted.
A woman in a pair of trousers and a blouse bustled past her and stepped out onto the stoop. She scooped up the bags and then came through the door. "Is this all you've brought with you?" she asked, frowning at the two bags.
Haley nodded, choosing to remain silent. She wasn’t sure if the woman, Hannah, was disgusted with her or if she felt some other emotion.
"Follow me, please," the man said, the door already closing. Haley watched the young woman as she carried the bags further into the house. A glance from the man saw her heading up the staircase that ran up one wall. A matched one was on the other wall. She didn't have time to see more, because the man was moving toward a door at the back of the entryway. Haley bounced Emilia a bit to quiet her and followed after the man.
He motioned her to a stop several feet from a door, knocked on the panel, then pushed it open. "Miss Alasdare, there is someone here to see you."
Haley's heart kicked into overdrive. Miss Alasdare? Did he mean Dare? Surely there couldn't be two Alasdares that were women in the Scottish Highlands. Could there?
There was silence from the room for a moment, then Haley heard a sigh. It sounded like a very put upon sigh. "If its Mrs. Teague trying to push her sons on me again, tell her I've already got more men than I know what to do with. I don't need anymore."
The sound of that voice, and the disgust in it, saw relief rushing through Haley. It was so intense she had to lock her knees to keep from toppling over. A glance down told her that TJ was listening carefully, her eyes wide and a smile upon her face. She was going to start pulling at Haley’s hand soon, anxious to go see her Aunt Dare.
"It is not Mrs. Teague," the man said. There might have been more than a hint of a smile on his face. He turned to Haley and motioned her through the door. She started forward, TJ nearly skipping along at her side. When she neared the man, who was obviously the butler or some such thing, he stepped back and allowed her to walk past him. She stopped in the doorway at the sight before her.
It was some kind of drawing room. Or a sitting room. Or... Hell, Haley didn't know. Glossy wooden flooring was mostly hidden beneath a large rug that had to have been hand woven. There were intricate patterns in it, done in reds and golds and blacks. The walls were cream colored from the middle of the wall to the ceiling. The bottom half was covered with wainscoting in a deep maroon with golden accents at the top and base. A large crystal chandelier hung from the center of a ceiling in gold and light grey. Large paintings of seascapes took up space on all four walls in the room. Golden sconces were spread across the walls, lit with soft light.
Four large windows took up most of one wall, two on either end. Light, thin and watery, poured in through them. The drapes hanging at their sides were maroon with cream accents. Large sprays of flowers were arranged in expensive looking vases on either side of the room, while green plants were scattered here and there. Bookcases took up most of one wall, all of them loaded with books that looked old. The covers appeared to be leather or fabric, in solid colors with gold script printing on the spines. The center of the room was taken up by a pair of large sofas. The frames were a deep, glossy brown wood and the upholstery was cream. Small pillows in maroon rested in the corners as accents. Several chairs in a matching style, in the same colors, rounded out the seating area. Heavy wooden tables rested at the ends of the sofas and between them, their glossy wood the same color as that of the sofas and chairs.
Sitting on one of the sofas, feet tucked up under her, was Dare. She was a dark spot against all of the cream, clad in an old pair of jeans and t-shirt. She looked so out of place amongst all of the gilt and wealth of the room. She had a book in hand and she appeared to be lost in its pages. She looked so… normal.
“This is some fucking hide out,” Haley commented.
Her words brought Dare’s head up. Her eyes were wide with surprise. Then she set the book down and rose from her seat. “Haley?” she asked, forehead crinkling a little in confusion.
“Aun Dare!” TJ exclaimed before tugging her hand free of Haley’s so she could dash into the room and throw herself against Dare’s legs. It was obviously a serious hit, because Dare wobbled slightly in place. She went down on her knees and wrapped her arms around TJ to hug the girl back. “We find you!”
“That you did,” Dare responded, dropping a kiss on TJ’s cheek before she turned her attention back to Haley. For a moment, Haley thought she saw a hint of fear in Dare’s eyes. Then it was gone and the other woman rose slowly to her feet. She glanced past Haley and out the door. “Thank you, Jameson. Could I trouble you to have some coffee brought in for Haley? I have a feeling she’s going to need it.”
“Of course, Miss Alasdare,” Jameson responded. Haley turned her head in time to see him offer her friend a faint smile. Then he turned and left them alone. Haley found her hand caught up in TJ’s, her daughter trying her hardest to drag Haley into the sitting room. Or whatever it was.
“Miss Alasdare?” Haley questioned, turning her curious gaze back to Dare. The other woman managed a faint smile that looked very embarrassed.
“I’ve told him time and again to just call me Dare. I think he keeps calling me Miss Alasdare to get a rise out of me. You may not believe me, but the man is mildly sadistic. But he seems to love Petra and he tolerates me. So I suppose I should count myself lucky,” Dare explained. She shifted on her feet then, moving her weight from one leg to the other. And the look on her face became less open. More cautious. “How did you find me?”
“I looked. And you sure as hell didn’t make it easy,” Haley replied, huffing a laugh that held no amusement. She was at a loss for words. She’d been searching for Dare for days, living with the frightening thought that Sinister had grabbed her and Petra. Worried that she would find her friend dead in a ditch somewhere. Afraid she’d never see her again. Living with a growing sense of fear and anxiety that made sleep nigh unto impossible. And Dare had been hiding out in the lap of luxury. The rush of emotions left her head spinning. Relief and anger warred with one another before Haley gave into her building temper. “I’m so mad at you right now. I should punch you in the mouth.”
“If it will make you feel better,” Dare replied quietly. As if she actually expected Haley to do just that. As if she felt she deserved nothing less. Oh. That knowledge made Haley all the angrier. The other woman was so frustrating. Muttering a string of curses under her breath, Haley nearly stomped into the room until she stood right in front of Dare. She set Emilia’s carrier down on the couch before giving her attention to her teammate. They stared at one another a moment and Haley could see in her friend the urge to take a step back. To run. To put distance between them. And Haley didn’t know if it was because Dare thought she was about to get punched or if it was for some other reason.
It was obvious that Dare had hit her limits. All of the trauma she’d experienced over the years was starting to affect her more than usual. It made Haley want to cry. It made her want to yell. It made her want to pound something, anything, into oblivion. She did none of those things. Instead, she reached out and took hold of Dare, then tugged her friend into her arms and squeezed until she heard Dare’s breath squeak out of her throat. A moment later, Dare wrapped her arms around Haley and hugged back. There seemed to be a desperation to that hug, as if Dare was using it to try and anchor herself.
“I should do it, you know,” Haley said in Dare’s ear. “You kind of deserve to be hit. You left me alone. You left me there without any support. You ran without me. Why?”
“I’m sorry, Haley. I know that won’t make it better, but I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stay. Not after Jehnna. Not after finding out there are so many rumors floating around the school about…” Dare’s words ground to a halt, but Haley didn’t need to hear anymore. She understood completely. She knew about the rumors. She’d heard how the kids whispered and saw them point and stare. If anyone understood why Dare had up and run, it was Haley. She understood better than anyone.
She realized then that Dare was crying. She felt the wetness soaking into her shirt. Her friend who hated tears and made a habit of resorting to anger and rage rather than tears, was crying on her shoulder. It was a rare sign of weakness and vulnerability. Haley wasn’t sure if she should feel honored that Dare had shown that side to her or if she should just get even more pissed because it was obvious everyone had missed the signs.
So, instead, she hugged Dare to her harder and allowed her own tears to come. Tears of frustration and worry. Tears of loss and sorrow. Tears of joy.
“My pardon for the intrusion.” The discomfort in Jameson’s voice was barely evident when he spoke. And his sudden arrival saw Dare pulling back hastily. Saw her turning her back to them so she could try to wipe the tears from her cheeks with some dignity. “I’ve brought Miss Haley’s coffee. And a fresh Coke for you, Miss Alasdare,”
“Thank you, Jameson,” Dare responded, her voice watery. She turned to offer him an equally watery smile. “Vicki is right and you are an absolute lifesaver.”
A hint of a smile twitched at the corner of the man’s lips as he entered the room. He carried a tray, which he brought over to settle on the coffee table before the sofa. On it was a pot of gleaming silver with a scrolling handle and intricate designs etched into its surface. The aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee rose up from it. The coffee cup that accompanied it was elegant and delicate, a match to the silver coffee pot despite being made of what Haley thought was stoneware. A tall glass fizzed with dark liquid poured over ice cubes. There was also a plate of sandwiches and a plate of cookies to go with the beverages.
When he’d deposited his burden, Jameson stood and studied the two of them for a short while. “It is quite obvious that you two ladies have much to discuss and require some solitude in which to do so. Perhaps the young miss might like to see the playroom? There are toys aplenty and many books. There are even some plush animals with which to play, if she so wishes. And Hannah has offered to keep an eye on the wee babe, if you are amenable to such a thing, Miss Haley.”
Haley looked at TJ, who was busy studying one of the huge paintings on the wall. The water in the painting was a bright and vibrant mix of blues and white. A ship was caught between gentle waves. If she squinted, Haley was certain she could see people standing on the deck of the ship. A voice at the back of her head screamed that Haley shouldn’t let the children out of her sight. There was no telling what would happen if she couldn’t’ see them. But Jameson was correct in his pronouncement that she and Dare needed to talk. “Would you like to go play, TJ?” Haley asked.
The use of her name saw TJ turning to look at her mother. Her blue eyes, so like her father’s sparkled brightly as she considered Haley’s question. “You comin’ too, Mama?” she asked, her head tipping to the side with her curiosity. She looked so much like Johnny in that moment. Haley’s heart hurt to see it. She quashed the feeling and shook her head.
“No, sweetie. I need to stay and talk to Aunt Dare,” she told her daughter.
“Miss Hannah will play with you,” Jameson said. As if that had been a cue, Hannah came in through the door. There was a broad smile on her face that looked sincere and welcoming. Haley took a moment, now that the panic had started to ebb, to study the woman. Earlier, she’d seen a blouse and trousers. Now, she saw the thick braid of dark chestnut hair that hung over one shoulder. She saw the deep brown eyes that were warm and welcoming. She saw the curve of Hannah’s cheekbones and jaw. She saw that the woman wasn’t a beauty, but there was still something kind of compelling about her looks. She was young and gave the appearance of being sweet and earnest.
“We can take your little sister with us,” Hannah offered. Her brogue was stronger than Jameson’s and her voice was warm and honeyed. She felt like the perfect person to keep TJ engaged and to watch Emilia. But that notion didn’t stop a rush of fear and panic from coming. Haley’s gaze turned to Dare, who seemed to understand what she was asking. She nodded her head and the assurance went a long way to calming Haley’s nerves. “Oh, I know! We can have a tea party! Would you like that, TJ?”
TJ’s eyes got wide as saucers at that. She brought her stare Haley’s way. Even before the girl spoke, Haley knew what was going to come out of her mouth. “Mama? I go play?”
“If that’s what you’d like, sweetie,” Haley responded with a smile. “But you listen to Miss Hannah and do as she says. Be a good girl.”
“I will!” TJ chirped before rushing over to throw herself against Haley’s legs and deliver a TJ hug. Haley couldn’t stop the smile that came as she, like Dare, knelt so she could return her daughter’s hug. When TJ disentangled herself from her mother, she ran over to Hannah’s side. The woman had already picked up Emilia’s carrier, and she offered her free hand to TJ. Haley watched her daughter put her little hand in Hannah’s, then they made their way out of the room. When they were gone, Haley felt that same sense of panic take her again. She wanted to go after Hannah and snatch her children back.
“I will leave you ladies alone now. You know how to reach me should you need anything else,” Jameson said, his last statement directed toward Dare.
“I do. But I don’t need anything else. I can wait on myself, damn it,” she grumbled at the man. It had a feel of familiarity to it, leading Haley to believe that she’d said it to Jameson more than once. Jameson offered up a genuine smile, filled with warmth and care, then nodded his head.
“Of course, Miss Alasdare,” he responded. Haley was pretty sure she heard the cheek in the man’s voice as he spoke. He turned for the door and made for it, stopping long enough to turn and look back at the two of them “Do contact me if you need anything else, Miss Alasdare.” His smile got broad and knowing for a moment. Then he pulled the door shut so that she and Dare were alone.
A moment or two passed in silence before Dare heaved a sigh and took a seat. Haley took that as her cue to join her and settled herself on the sofa next to her friend. And she allowed herself to study the woman. It had only been a week, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since she’d last seen Dare. And Dare looked… different. Not in a physical sense. Physically, everything was still the same. The almost too pale skin hadn’t changed. Her eyes were still that same shade of grey that could be calm and warm or turbulent and cold. The same dark hair, which had been freshly colored. Which struck Haley as odd because of course there’d been no way she could color while they’d been held captive. But Haley had never really noticed the woman’s natural color when they’d gotten back. She hadn’t even realized that the color had faded until just now, when she’d taken note of the fresh color job. Even the colored streaks were there. And Dare still sported her favored black t-shirt, a faded band shirt, and torn black jeans.
But she was changed, all the same. There almost seemed to be less tension in her shoulders. A gentleness that Haley had only seen on her when she’d been dealing with one of her children. Something had changed about Dare. Something that Haley couldn’t put a name to. But it was there. And she had to wonder what had happened in the week Dare had been gone that she’d changed that much.
“When are the boys getting here?” Dare asked, her voice soft and laden with tension. The question, so blunt and filled with a healthy dose of resignation, shattered the peace between them. It prompted Haley to really look at Dare. Her friend’s face was neutral, lacking an expression that might tell Haley what she was thinking. But some voice told her that Dare would disappear again instead of confronting the men in her life.
“I don’t know. I left as soon as I realized you were gone. I’m sure they’ve figured out you left by now. And I’m sure they’re looking for you. But I don’t know if they know anything beyond the fact that you’re gone,” Haley told her. Her words saw Dare sag into the back of the sofa, tension leaking out of her so rapidly that it looked as if it left her momentarily weak.
Dare glanced away, her focus seeming to settle on one of the paintings. This one seemed to be nothing but a painting of the ocean, the waves turbulent under a cloud-darkened sky. Haley couldn’t see anything else in the painting and found herself wondering why all the paintings seemed to have an ocean theme to them. She saw Dare’s mouth open, as if she meant to say something. Then she shook her head and pressed her lips together. As if what she’d been about to say wasn’t important.
“Dare?” Haley asked. Maybe if she gave the woman an opening, she’d find out what her friend had been going to say.
Dare did not answer her. At least, not in the way Haley had hoped. Instead, Dare drew in a sharp breath and turned back to Haley. “Why did you chase after me, Haley? Why did you come here?”
For a moment, Haley was floored that Dare would ask such a question. And hurt. Why did she think Haley had dragged her two year old and her newborn halfway around the world with her? The urge to be bitchy rose up. Along with the urge to punch Dare, like Haley had been threatening to do for a month or more now. But Haley held on to her anger, and her hurt, and took some time to figure out what was going on.
It was plain to see that Dare wasn’t quite comfortable with the topic of discussion. There was a slight tension in her shoulders, a defensiveness in her posture that screamed to the fact. It didn’t take much thinking on Haley’s part to realize that Dare was rattled by something. She just couldn’t be sure if this was an old something or a new something.
“Dare,” Haley started, reaching out to take hold of the other woman’s hand. The move was gentle and slow, an obvious show of love and concern. “Why would you think I wouldn’t come after you? You’re a good friend. Part of my family. I was worried about you. Sinister is out there and we don’t know what he’s got planned. You can’t fight him on your own. Not when you have to keep Petra safe. And, if we’re being honest, you’re the only one who seemed to care about what was going on with me. I didn’t want to lose that.”
She watched, silent, as Dare continued to stare at her. She clearly saw it when Dare swallowed hard, letting Haley know that her words had gotten through to Dare, despite there being so few of them. Her friend blinked and glanced away, but not before Haley saw the glimmer of tears. “I’m sorry, Haley,” Dare whispered. “I shouldn’t have taken off like I did. I should have talked to you or something. But we both know I don’t think anything through before I do it.”
“That isn’t true. And stop talking about yourself like that. You know I hate it,” Haley admonished lightly. Dare flushed a light pink at that. “You scared the life out of me, Dare. I imagined all sorts of terrible things when I realized you were gone.”
The flush darkened. “I’m sorry.” The words were soft and genuine, spoken from the heart.
“You should be,” Haley responded. She took a breath and let it out. And she allowed the anger and the hurt and the frustration and every other emotion she’d been battling with for the past week to come out in her next words. “You left me there. You ran and you left me. You didn’t bother to think about how I felt. You didn’t consider that I felt the same way you did. You just took off and said nothing to me.”
“You’re right. I didn’t,” Dare responded. There was little emotion in her voice. “I left without saying a word. I left you there to deal with all of the stupidity and the anger and the accusations. Because I’m a coward.”
“You are not,” Haley insisted. Dare brought her gaze Haley’s way and pinned her with a stare that seemed to hold Haley in her seat. There was so much weight to it.
“I am. I’m a coward because I can’t face Remy. I can’t face Logan. I can’t face Morgan. And I let Jehnna treat me like shit because I believed she was right. I took the coward’s way out and ran,” Dare said. “I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d find some way to make me stay. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t deal with any of it. I’m a coward. And now you know it.”
“If I ever find out who fucked your head up like this, I will beat them within an inch of their life,” Haley snarled. The heat of her words, the anger in her voice, saw Dare blinking at her with wide eyes. She looked like a deer in the headlights. One wrong move would see her bolting. “You are so much better than you let yourself believe, Dare. Stop listening to the damn voice in your head. Its lying to you.”
Haley took a breath and stared intently at the other woman. “If you had told me you were going to run, I’d have packed a bag and run right along with you,” she told Dare. “You weren’t the only one who felt like they didn’t belong. My life is falling apart around me. Johnny barely speaks to me. And Scott has Jean. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t…“ Haley trailed off, a faint sob rolling up her throat. Tears blurred her vision, but they didn’t stop her from catching sight of the look of rage that twisted Dare’s features for a moment. It was gone a moment later.
“They’re both fucking idiots,” Dare responded quietly. “Hell, all of them are fucking idiots.”
“At least your idiots care about you,” Haley pointed out. Dare snorted at that.
“My idiots. Let me tell you about my idiots,” Dare said. Haley watched as she picked up the book she’d been reading when Haley had first arrived. Dare flipped the pages open and stared at them where the book had opened. Haley caught a glimpse of what appeared to be handwritten text. Then Dare slapped the book shut and rose to her feet. “Come on. I have to show you something.”
Haley rose, too, wondering what this was all about. She glanced longingly toward the pot of coffee and the empty cup, but followed obligingly after Dare. They left the sitting room, or whatever it was, and made their way across the hall toward the bottom of the staircase. Haley’s gaze slid around, trying to take in everything at once. It was difficult, because there was a lot to see. The house was like something out of the movies.
They climbed the stairs up to the second floor. And then the third. The second floor landing had been different from the first floor. The third was different from the second. Haley’d gotten to see sage green walls on the second floor. Wall sconces dripping with cut crystal. Floral arrangements. Paintings of mountains and glens. Delicate side tables that held framed photos or statues. The third floor had walls painted a pale blue. The crystal sconces continued there. As did the various floral arrangements and green plants. The artwork on the walls here held flowers and trees and small animals.
Dare turned at the head of the stairs and headed down the hallway. Haley followed after her, wondering where they were going. They traveled to the end of the hall before Dare stopped before a door. She turned the knob and pushed the door open, then motioned for Haley to follow her inside. Haley did that, eyes nearly popping out of her head with the absolute grandeur of the room into which she’d stepped. She saw a large bed draped in shades of purple and grey. There were posts at each corner, with a canopy overhead and drapes hanging at the corners.
Furniture of wood. Plush pillows. An enormous rug on the floor. Paintings of the ocean and ships. Miniature ships. More crystal dripping from the chandelier. It was the most amazingly appointed room Haley had ever seen. She kept finding beautiful things to stare at. She took note of the crib in the corner, a modern thing that didn’t match the rest of the room. Large windows that allowed natural light to shine in. A giant fireplace occupied one wall, wood laid into the hearth in preparation of a fire.
Dare stood before the fireplace, her back to Haley. Because she was staring at the painting hanging above it. Haley’s gaze rose to look at it and she felt her world tilt sideways. Because that…
“Holy shit!” she breathed.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-12-06 11:15 pm (UTC)Poor Haley... feeling so lost and on her own and having to stare down this manor house in hte middle of nowhere. That's intimating, even for her. That could have gone so many different ways and it's a good thing Dare's support system in town are good people.
That talk was a long time coming, even though they'd been leaning on each other since everything happened. I don't think Haley actually wanted to have to hunt Dare down but she can't leave well enough alone and the paranoia around Sinister and what could happen wouldn't let her. Dare should keep an eye on her... she might still bolt.
Hopefully they can kind of help each other heal at least a little bit with a little space.
And ooooooh boy... that's going to be a hell of a history lesson!
Great work hun.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-12-07 11:45 pm (UTC)i am relatively certain i'd feel the same way if i were in Haley's shoes. standing in front of a manor house, hoping against hope that you aren't on a wild goose chase and people won't look at you like you're insane. she's got balls of steel. i will give her that. i have no doubt the town is in some kind of surprised uproar or something. two new arrivals in a week's time? and there's the added bonus of history kind of staring back at them? things could have gone so much worse than they did. and it is amazing how the village so easily adopted Dare. and looked at Haley and knew they could trust her. i feel like this is one of the best things that could have happened. to both of them.
i'm sure there's more to be talked through. but yeah. they've needed to talk for a while now. i'm sure Haley wanted to find a place to hide and call it good. but she absolutely couldn't leave it alone.
i think Dare has started to heal some. the grannies have seen to it. Haley will get the chance, too. because she will meet the grannies. have no doubt.
yeah. it will be one hell of an interesting history lesson. i expect someone will need a drink before its all said and done.
glad you enjoyed, hon! thanks for the lovely worlds. comments are <3
Sorry it took so long to get here, bb
Date: 2025-12-17 01:37 am (UTC)So, Haley actually managed to track Dare down. Not that I had any doubts she would. Eventually. I'm sure that was so NOT the place Haley expected to find Dare in. And of course she didn't make it easy. That frustration gave Haley all the feels. And, yes, Dare was probably expecting the worst, but a hug really was the only option. And they both cried. Wow.
We all could use a Jameson. Probably a Hannah too....
Dare's relief at finding out that Haley hadn't brought/told the men is palpable. Poor dear.
Of course Dare *thinks* she's a coward. Quite the opposite though. She's gone through so much and survived it all. Maybe not without scars and unhealthy coping mechanisms, but still. I'm with Haley on beating the life outta whoever made Dare think that. Roxxy will be standing in line for her turn at them.
Haley didn't even get her coffee? That's just cruel. lol
Holy shit, indeed!
Well, at least you've already got the next chapter finished. Here's hoping I can find time the time to read it before xmas. *fingers crossed*
Well done, bb. I enjoyed it muchly. *smooches*
Re: Sorry it took so long to get here, bb
Date: 2025-12-17 11:53 pm (UTC)yeah. there was probably never any doubt that Haley would be able to track Dare down. and i'm sure Haley was absolutely not expecting to find Dare hiding out in the middle of Pride and Prejudice like that. i feel like Dare always expects the worst. that hug was definitely the only option. and, yeah. more tears. kind of surprising, yeah?
man, i could absolutely use a Jameson. and probably a Hannah, too
don't get me wrong. Dare loves the boys. she does. but she's absolutely not ready to deal with them in any way, shape, or form. i think she's still very much trying to find herself. and i think the boys kind of make it very hard for her because of their personalities and all. and she's got, you know, all that trauma. she kind of lost herself in it, i think. this here is her chance to start finding herself and finding her strength. the one she's always had and never really realized she did. she's definitely finding it now, though.
no. Haley didn't get her coffee. so unfair.
no worries about it, hon. it'll be there when you can get to it. and i know you'll get to it. thanks for stopping by and checking out this one! <3