Fake Empire 7

[nike_ravus]

Title: Fake Empire 7 (Mostly Emma's)
Author: Alsike
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: X-Men/Criminal Minds
Pairing: Emma Frost/Emily Prentiss, other Emma Frost/Emily Prentiss
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men or Criminal Minds. I owe wizened_cynic for the concept of quantum babies.  She does it much better than me.  Title stolen from the song by The National.

Apologies: Wow, actually the next chapter of the real Fake Empire!  How long it has been!  Not very polished, but grad school apps are making me insane.  Working on this was so relaxing.  I hope you think it's decent. 



Fake Empire 1 (Queen Emma)
Fake Empire 2 (JJ's Part)
Fake Empire 3 (Emily's Part)
Fake Empire 4 (The Mansion)
Fake Empire 5 (Kyougen)
Fake Empire 6 (Morning) 

“I’m hungry,” whined Didi.

Bobby was lying in wait for them in the hall.  He grinned at Emma.  She pinioned him with a glare, and Emily sidled behind her to be out of range of shrapnel.

“Emma!  I didn’t know you were so virile.”

Emma glowered, and hoisted a still sleepy Didi up onto her hip.  “Did you learn a new word just for the occasion, Robert?”

“Would you prefer, ‘congrats!  You knocked up your girlfriend!’”

Emily snickered, and Emma had to divide her cutting glare between multiple targets.

“And to think, I’m more successful than you without even trying.”

Bobby rolled his eyes.  “You’re losing your edge, Emma.  I don’t even have a girlfriend.”

            Emma just smirked, until Bobby realized what he had said, flushed, and scuttled off.

            “Ooh, burn!” said Emily, dryly.

             Emma gave her a look.  “They’re going to have to try harder than that if they want to embarrass me about this.”

             Emily and wondered how hard it would be.  She slid her hand down Emma’s forearm and laced their fingers together, if only to cushion the blow.  “He didn’t even mention that I was your slave there.”  She heard the short intake of breath and saw the stiffened spine, but ducked her head and brought Emma’s hand up to press against her forehead.  “Mistress.”

             There was one long frozen moment, before Emma finally laughed.  “God, you would be a trial to have as a slave.”

             Emily laughed along with her, happy that it had worked.  For someone who had very little physical shame or regret for her past actions, Emma was very sensitive when there was any suggestion of a stain on her character.  Emily had been surprised at first when she reacted so strongly to that element of the other world.  But considering the power she had as a telepath, and her father’s mutant ability, slavery, in the guise of full mental control, was far too attainable to be meaningless.

*            *            *

Even if it wasn’t possible to escape cafeteria dining when you lived at a school, at least the teachers didn’t have to eat with students.  Still, it was always a little like high school, and Emma had gotten used to bringing something to do so she didn’t have to watch her fellow diners feel awkward about not wanting to speak to her.  The way Emily was tagging along three inches from her hip and the way her eyes had widened at the sight of the room suggested that she was having some negative flashbacks too.

But somehow Didi, as usual, made everything different.  Ororo and Logan came to sit with them, and it was too easy to look over and see Emily, doing something mildly idiotic, and feel safe.

Logan was attempting to be congenial and asking about Deirdre.  “What does the cub like to do?”

Emily looked slightly out of her depth at this.  She glanced over to the child in question who was sculpting the mound of powdered eggs into something that could have been a hobbit hole.  “Um, she likes stories.”

“Books?”

“Um, yes, books about dragons, specifically.”

Logan nodded, still looking interested, even at her influent response.

“What sort of books do you like?”  Emily asked him, trying to make it less awkward.

Emma overheard this and snorted. 

Logan gave her an offended glare.  “What?  I read!  And yes, I’ve read things besides Louis L’Amour!”

“Mommy!  My toast is too big!”  Emily covered her eyes.  She had cut it into soldiers, but apparently that was not good enough.

Logan leaned over and attempted to be helpful by using his claws, but only managed to rend the tablecloth.

Emma took over. “Logan, do not use your weapons to cut your food.”

 She gave Didi a knife, taught her to hold it correctly, and insinuated something about servants only being useful for certain things, which made Emily hit her and Ororo look at them both with an expression of disbelief.

“When are you planning on returning to Washington, Emily?  We are not on a mission right now, so we can take you whenever you’re ready.”

Emma tasted something bitter and ugly in her mouth and wanted to bite her head off.  But Emily looked just as awkward.  “Oh, I, um, I probably should…”  She glanced over to Emma.  “Do you have to teach?”

“I have two history classes this morning, but I can switch my afternoon telepathy for Jean’s if you think it’s worth waiting.”

“Yeah, I was going to talk to you last night.  But…”

Emma looked away, catching Logan’s amused expression, and narrowing her eyes in return.  She hadn’t been the one to start it.  And really, who in their right mind would turn down that when it was offered?  Even if she had been telling herself to get over her and learn some self control for months now.  That was easy enough when Emily wasn’t there, when her scent and her skin and her mind weren’t within easy reach.  And anyways, sex for them had always been the least of their troubles.  It really didn’t matter how much of a bitch she was being or whether Emily was being obstinate and block-headed, because they tended to communicate better when they didn’t try to speak.

*            *            *

“Ms. Frost.  Ms. Frost.”

<< Ms. Frost! >>

Emma jolted up from her reverie to notice the Stepfords looking at her petulantly.  She had been gazing out the window towards where she could just see Deirdre chasing leaves that Ororo was tossing about in the winds for her.  Emily was under a tree, watching.

“We’re finished with our assignment, Ms. Frost.”

Emma winced and tried to refocus.  She could feel the ironic irritation from the telepathic girls.  They were disappointed in her, and almost… jealous, it seemed.  It made sense, and she felt a little sorry for them, but not enough.  She was staying there, wasn’t she?  She was going to let Emily take Deirdre home, and just cut herself off from them, be nothing to them.  She could have her students or her family, but she couldn’t have both.

(It wasn’t new.  She never could.  But it seemed to hurt more this time.  It had made her think again, reevaluate her choices.  But she couldn’t just pull up roots and change everything for this.  She had fought so hard for so long to not do it for Emily that it felt like doing it because of Deirdre would be a weak pretext for just taking what she wanted but shouldn’t have.  Didi was a crisis, but she wasn’t a big enough crisis to make it worth it, to make it not a sin.)

*            *            *

Didi fell down dizzy in the soft grass and the green leaf settled on her nose.  She laughed and huffed it up.  Ororo made it spiral a few times before letting it drift back down.  She leaned against the tree next to Emily and looked down at her.  She sighed then reached down and rubbed away the lines etched into Emily’s forehead.

“Why is this such a trial for you?” Ororo asked.  Emily wrinkled her nose and glanced up.  “You told me about your plans with Michael.  Why isn’t this… something you want?”

“Something I want?” Emily echoed, and shook her head.  Ororo slid down the tree and settled behind her.  “It’s not.  It can’t be.”  She sighed.  “I don’t think anyone really understands.  It’s not like providence has dropped a child in my lap and I should be grateful for that.”  She made a face that suggested that if providence dared to show its face after trying such a trick it should be prepared for a boot to the crotch.  “She’s not mine.  She’s someone else’s.”

“Another you.”

“A different me.  And I’m not her.  She has these expectations, and this real life with real parents somewhere else, and how long will it last before she realizes that I’m not good enough?”

“Why on earth aren’t you good enough, Emily?  I read that note.  Yes, the situation was different, but there’s no way to judge whether it was better.  And that woman had the same mother you did, and all the fears that came with that.”

Emily’s eyes drifted up to a window on the second floor, and Ororo sighed, realizing why she had picked this particular tree to sit under.

“I’m just going to tell you what I’ve always told you.  Once you’ve figured out what you want, don’t waste time dithering about whether it’s worth taking.  Some things…” she didn’t say people, she didn’t need to encourage this.  “Some things need to be taken.”

*            *            *

Ororo had volunteered to watch Didi for the afternoon, and had taken her off, informing her that plan one was going to be a nap.  Emily was impressed that she dared to suggest such a thing, and tried to memorize the attitude and phraseology for later use.  Emma came out of her classroom with five students surrounding her like a cloud of electrons, trying to hand her papers, give excuses, beg for better grades.  Emily just leaned against the wall and watched.  She so rarely got to see her like this.

Emma took the paper, told the skinny tow-haired boy that he was on Dani’s team and that was final, told the girl that if she wanted to rewrite the paper so the first sentence didn’t give her a headache, there would definitely be an opportunity to improve her grade, and told the boy who was claiming stomach flu for missing a pop quiz that if he planned to lie to her, he needed better shields.  She also mentioned that alcohol was not permitted in the student dorms, and that if he didn’t show a marked improvement in her class, she might suggest that Raene take a walk past his door in her wolf form.

“I suppose you have to go back.”

Emily blinked.  The children were gone and Emma was looking at her.  “I… yeah, it looks like I have a lot to do.”

“I suppose so.”

Emma took her arm, gentlemanly, and firmly, and they walked through the dark wood hallways, not quickly, but in a specific direction.  Emily wished she had something to say, but just thinking of leaving made her chest ache.  She always managed to get on with her life when Emma decided she didn't want her around, but it never seemed to be going anywhere during those times.  Now it was rushing forward, with a force that suggested an impending waterfall, and she didn’t want to let go or be abandoned by this firm grip that held her arm.

“What else do we have to do?  I don’t even… I don’t even know what I need to get done.”

Emma nodded, only half listening.  “And she’s…”

“With Ro, having a nap.”

They were outside Emma’s rooms, and she unlocked the door, dropping her papers on the table by the door.  She fumbled through them.

“I made you a few lists.”  She pulled out two handwritten sheets, one with names and numbers of counselors, the other a list of schools.

“When did you do this?” Emily asked, frowning as she scanned the names.

Emma waved away the question.  “I had already assigned a quiz, I just wrote that instead of grading.”

It was great, it was wonderful, so useful, etc, but it still felt like she was being hustled off.  Emily sighed and put the papers down.  “Thank you.”

Emma gave her a half smile.  “I wanted this time.”

Emily looked at her, confused.  Emma stepped into her and pressed her lips to her neck.  Emily sucked in air and let herself be kissed, this time on the mouth.  She fumbled quickly for buttons and catches.  “Why are you…” she started, not resisting as Emma stripped off her shirt.  “I mean, I thought you didn’t want-“  She gave a little gasp as Emma’s mouth found her breast.

“When have I ever not wanted you?”

She hadn’t meant that.  She had meant the throwing of the phone, the last three times Emma had kicked her aside for her own protection, the fact it was clear that none of this ever worked out for them.  “Why now?” but as the words slipped from her mouth she knew the answer.  She would leave tonight and this was it.  As always, this was it.

Emma didn’t answer, they were at the edge of the bed, and it was easy to tumble down on it, pull her close, and pretend.  “I’ll come in the summer,” she whispered.  And Emily pretended that meant something other than it did as well.

*            *            *

“Have you thought about hiring someone?”

“Hmm?”  Emily blinked in the warm afternoon light.

“Full time, I mean, since I can’t seem to convince you to quit your job.”

Emily laughed quietly at her wry expression.  It was better than when she meant it.  “It seems like a big decision, and picking someone to basically live with you.”

“You do tend to rhapsodize about your profiling abilities.  It might be time to use them.”

“Maybe so.”

“All right.”  Startlingly, Emma pulled her up and out of bed, chucking her scattered clothes at her.  “It’s time to go.”

“What?  Go where?”

“Shopping.” 

Emily’s eyes widened in horror. 

“Don’t look like that.”  Emma chided her.  “I warned you about this.”

*            *            *

“If she doesn’t want them, don’t get them for her!” Emily snapped.

Emma gave her a look.  “Do you think I disagree?  You really were traumatized by dresses at an early age, weren’t you?”

Didi ran circles around their feet.

Emily looked away, frowning.  “You don’t have to make her try on everything.”

“That’s how this works, I’m afraid.”  Emma picked up a few things from the cart and handed them to her.  “Here.”

Emily looked at them askance.  Emma made a shooing gesture.  “Perhaps you should get involved.  Go try those on.”  She sat down on the bench and pulled Didi up into her lap.  “We will evaluate.”

Emily hadn’t intended on coming out with clothes for herself as well as for Didi, but if Emma decided that it looked good and she hadn’t vociferously disagreed, it was given to the sales associate.  Even more distressingly, she was apparently getting two new tailored jackets.  She had thought she was done with tailoring after her mother stopped trying to influence her wardrobe.

Deirdre had four bags however, and Emily was grateful that they weren’t flying commercial air.  She had also decided that she had to wear her new shoes (red) and her new jacket (fake fur-lined) out.  They waited for the interminable tying-shoe period to end, for Didi insisted on tying her own.

“She’s just going to grow out of them,” Emily hissed.

“It’s not like it matters.”  Emma glared.  “And since you seem to be revolted by the concept of clothes shopping in its entirety, I had better fill up the stores.”

Then Didi spotted the toy store and they had to stop arguing to combine their powers to wrest her from its lure.

*            *            *

Ororo was waiting outside her team’s plane, but Emma didn’t want to let them go.  Emily looked trapped awkwardly between not wanting to annoy Ororo and trying to figure out how to say something which would probably be better expressed physically.

Didi was ignoring them all and attempting to grab Kurt’s tail.  He had been shocked at being recognized and hugged by ‘ein kleinkind!’ but was now hopping about agilely and keeping his tail just a tad out of Deirdre’s grasp.

Emma watched her for a moment, but then her eyes slid back to Emily.  It was so hard to pull back her mind after that afternoon.  She had just let herself go, fill up on the feeling, and now she had to close the doors.  If she just waited for distance to take her away, it would hurt too much.

“Hold still.”

Emma locked her left arm around Emily’s waist and tugged her tightly into her stomach.  Her right scrabbled in her pocket.  Emily yelped and tried to squirm free, but Emma came out victorious with her cell phone.  She turned it on and tapped her way into its memory.

Then she handed it back.

“I bumped your boss from speed-dial 1 to 4, if that’s allowable.”

“Why four?”

“Because I’m certain something horrible would happen if I disturbed the Thai restaurant and the Indian restaurant from their accompanying places.”

Emily winced.  “Probably.”

Emma couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face, but she did her best.  “Use it,” she said.  Then she tipped Emily’s chin up and kissed her.

She felt Emily’s sharp intake of breath as she did, and clasped her hands around her waist.  They never kissed goodbye.  There were too many words, too many definitions that they didn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t bear to fit, and they cut things short and left them unfinished because promises were too hard to keep.

(Kisses were promises.  They both knew that.  But Emma couldn’t even think of breaking this one.)  She ignored Ororo’s pointed cough, and parted her lips, pleased when Emily’s tongue slid against hers.  Her hands crossed Emma’s back, hooking over her shoulders as she hoisted herself up onto her toes and clung.

When she let her go, Emily was flushed red, but smiling.

Emma knew she didn’t understand why things were different now.  But it was simple.  A child was as good as a brand, as good as a manacle, and somehow she had been waiting for this, waiting for a reason to fight to keep her and never let her go.

 Part 8

Comments

[rebelbyrdie.livejournal.com]

I haven't been such a fangirl for fic in years! I really really love your Emma/Emily stories. I'm a DC girl and now I HAVE to go find some issues of X Men with Emma in it.

Truely awesome work!

[scoutnabout.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you wrote more in this story-line. I enjoyed many (all) of your prompt fics but it's nice to get back to this. I'm a definite fan of the Fake Empire verse. Human I started but Fake Empire just always keeps me with it. Thanks for updating!

[theatrekid510.livejournal.com]

i know i've said it before, but i'll say it again. i love this pairing and what you do with them. they are so wonderful together. and the way you ended this section (i'm hoping there are more to come) left me teary eyed but so moved and happy!

please keep going with this, it's fabulous!

[semerket.livejournal.com]

*squee* An update for this! This is one of my favorite Emily femslash pairing/fics. :-D

[heart1e55m00mba.livejournal.com]

This is like a breath of fresh air compared to Hellfire. Don't get me wrong I heart me some angst, but it's really nice to see things working out for Emma and Emily.

[shaylafitz.livejournal.com]

I have so much love this story. This part made me want to melt into a happy little pile of goo. ^_^

[gmndgmt.livejournal.com]

Me hiciste crear una cuenta solo para decirte lo mucho que me gusta tu trabajo. Gracias por publicar esta historia. I'm sorry, I can't write in english, but i love this story.

[elemental-light.livejournal.com]

I liked the misdirection wrt Emma's thoughts (or at least, I was misdirected at the halfway point as to what she was thinking!)

Also, nice depressing imagery for her at the end, with the 'brand', 'manacle' aspect.

[(Anonymous)]

That comment from Booby was a hoot, and that kiss at the
end with Emily on her tippy toes for her kiss, maybe these
two will realize they have something other people would kill
for.

Xenasgab, because LJ just wont let me log in for now!

[mayireadtoday.livejournal.com]

This is a really cool story.