striker_eureka | for gipsy

striker_eureka

timeline divergence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

striker_eureka

There's really nothing he can do to salvage this situation, so he might as well just roll with it, which is why Hercules doesn't push Gipsy out of his arms or attempt to straighten his clothes — not to mention that there really isn't time, he only realizes the door is being opened when it's already partially open — instead, he just lifts his head and pastes on his best disapproving 'I'm busy' look.

It usually works a lot better on intimidated underlings than it does the program's star pilot.

This...is awkward.

"Becket," he says, trying to ignore how gruff he sounds. He doesn't let go of Gipsy though, keeps his arm snugly around her waist so she knows he's not ashamed of her or of them or whatever.

At least he's not the only one who suddenly feels incredibly awkward, if the deer in the headlights look Raleigh is wearing is any indication. Hercules has no idea if he can recognize Gipsy in her current form, but thankfully Raleigh has the good grace to look incredibly sheepish at having interrupted what is so clearly a private moment.

He's clearly about to just back out of the room when something clicks in his head and his jaw just about hits the floor.

"Oh Christ." Hercules preemptively covers his face with his hand, because he knows exactly where this is going.

From:

gipsy_danger

She rests her cheek on Herc's shoulder and patiently waits; he will handle whatever it is that needs handling and then they can return to kissing because Gipsy really likes kissing. Her fingers have managed to loosen his tie (seriously what is with humans and knotting up their attire?), but that's as far as she's managed to get.

She half turns in his arm to see who it is at the same moment he addresses the person by their last name.

Raleigh's jaw isn't the only one on the floor right now. After what happened inside of the rift, Gipsy never expected to see him again until she'd been brought back online, and while Hercules is the person that she went for first, Raleigh is an important man on her roster.

She just...hadn't expected to have to deal with this yet.

"Hello, Raleigh," she says, tone conversational though there's underlying hints of apprehension and awkwardness. "It's good to see you again."

He knows who she is -- there's no sense in hiding it.

From:

striker_eureka

Raleigh makes a strangled sort of noise in the back of his throat, his eyes wide as he stares at Gipsy and Herc. Hercules thankfully manages to miss this part due to the hand he's still got clapped over his face and the fact he's let his head nearly drop down to Gipsy's shoulder.

"You— And her—" Apparently Raleigh can't manage full sentences just yet. "Is that— Gipsy?" It would be funny to hear him squeak if he wasn't interrupting something.

As it is, Hercules just sighs and totally ignores the pilot, turning instead to the woman in his arms.

"Yes, Gipsy. You want to go talk to him, love? Because I sure as hell don't." That's a rather unsubtle get the fuck out, Raleigh. Not that he listens, of course, still stuck on staring at Gipsy's humanoid body.

From:

gipsy_danger

God dammit, Raleigh. Your timing is utter shit.

"Gipsy Danger, yes." She cups the side of Herc's face, fingers gently pressing against his skin as if to say It's alright, don't worry.

She untangles herself from his grip, and nods -- which probably isn't the answer that Herc was looking for. However, Raleigh has just walked in on something that is not really...explainable at all unless he talks to Gipsy herself. It isn't fair to Raleigh to shoo him out and expect him not to be complete and utterly confused and possibly hurt.

"Come, Raleigh. I will explain." She steps over her jacket that's laying in a pile on the floor and picks her way over to her former pilot, and slowly and begins to explain everything she had already told Hercules in quiet detail.

From:

striker_eureka

That is the last thing he wanted to hear her say. Dammit.

Raleigh is on his shit list, that's for sure.

Gipsy twists her way out of his arms and nimbly steps over her jacket — he's not sure how long she's be 'online' as it were, but however long it was, she's clearly used to her new body now — and leaves him leaning against his desk, frustrated and extremely resentful of the interruption. Still, he's a grown-ass man, and so he mans the fuck up and deals with it.

Gipsy's jacket gets hung on the back of his chair and then he plops back down behind his desk, pulling his tie out of his collar and unbuttoning a few buttons as he watches Gipsy try to explain what happened to make her the way she is to a shell shocked Raleigh.

Finally, some of his empathy kicks in, and Herc reaches into the bottom drawer of his desk to pull out a bottle of carefully-hoarded whiskey which he then pours generous amounts into two glasses.

He carries one over to Raleigh and presses it into his hand. "Here," he grunts, still looking a little peeved that his reunion was usurped by someone else. "You're going to need this."

From:

gipsy_danger

While Gipsy talks, she carefully guides Raleigh to sit down before he falls down. Gipsy herself isn't pleased about the interruption, but -- it's Raleigh. He was a big part of her life before she met Hercules. She's experienced the absolute worst and some of the best memories of her life with the younger pilot.

...She only hopes that Hercules can understand that the bond between herself and Raleigh is strong, though it's not even remotely close to the one she has with him. Her connection with the younger pilot is more on par with what Hercules would consider siblings. If Gipsy understood the terminology, she would call him 'brother'.

Hercules...is something else entirely. Hercules, who looks incredibly grumpy as he passes a glass of relatively foul smelling liquid to Raleigh. When Raleigh takes it, Gipsy's nose wrinkles but she reaches to catch that free hand of Herc's, fingers threading with his.

She's sorry it got interrupted, but she couldn't kick Raleigh to the curb. Almost on autopilot, she tilts her head questioningly at him, using her mind to make a query.

Are you angry?

It takes her a moment to realize that he can't hear it, and an irritated and almost angry look passes over her face in response.

From:

striker_eureka

Gipsy reaches out to take his hand when he finally joins them in front of his desk, her head tilted a little to the side as she looks at him, her brows drawing together. He can't read her mind anymore, but he can guess what she's asking, especially when she looks pissy and irritated immediately after like she just realized what she's doing.

He manages to quirk a little smile at her and shakes his head slightly, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

No, I'm not mad. Not at you.

He understands, to a point, Gipsy's need to be around Raleigh, and her concern for him. He was her first pilot. He's not going to begrudge her the chance to explain her miraculous ressurrection to him.

He's just going to sit down in the other incredibly uncomfortable chair in front of his desk and casually pull her down until she's perching in his lap. This way he can snake his arm around her waist and hold her gently against his chest as he drinks his own whiskey, the look he shoots Raleigh over her shoulder blatantly challenging the younger pilot to say anything about the casual way Hercules touches Gipsy's human body.

If he knows what's good for him, he won't.

From:

gipsy_danger

She's glad that Herc seems to understand her, and she gives his hand a little squeeze.

Try not to be mad at him.

It's infuriating not to be able to read his mind anymore, but she supposed that it's something she's going to have to live with. Unfortunate, but it seemed to be a byproduct of being human.

"I know it's a lot to take in," her voice is quiet as she speaks to her former pilot, free hand lifting to brush strands of her black bob behind her ear. She sits comfortably in Herc's lap, looking entirely unfazed at the rather, ah -- possessive way he's holding onto her. She's not that much different, honestly. She's fiercely protective of her pilots, though this...this is so much different.

"It's confusing for me, too." She reaches up and behind her to brush Herc's cheek while he glares daggers at Raleigh.

Stop that.

"But...it is better than not being here at all."

From:

striker_eureka

Yes, it's one of the unfortunate side effects of being human. But being human has other great benefits, like kissing, and things that follow after kissing... When you don't get interrupted, that is.

He listens intently to her story the second time around, having been a little dumbfounded the first time — he can tell Raleigh is probably going to need to hear it twice too, judging by the look on his face — and not for the first time, Herc is amazed that he spends so much time with such brilliant people day in and day out. He's really going to need to spend more time down in the science labs with the geeks, because this is incredible.

Gipsy's fingers brush gently against his cheek and he can't help the soft huff of air through his nose, a quiet laugh and acquiescence both.

He's still not exactly thrilled that Raleigh interrupted them, but he'll stop making a big fuss over it, if that's what she wants.

"I'm going to buy Tendo a fucking fruit basket," he says, chuckling into his glass of whiskey after Gipsy is done telling her tale.

From:

gipsy_danger

One day, she is going to find out what happens after kissing. If Raleigh takes any longer to leave, today is not going to be that day.

"He's quite the genius," Gipsy agrees, shifting in his lap a little bit in order to get more comfortable. "Though truthfully, he wasn't alone. Newton and Hermann...they are equally responsible for my presence in the room right now."

How the hell they built her and kept her a secret -- especially with Newt involved -- is beyond her. She's only glad they managed it, and that she's sitting here right now.

Raleigh is still looking pretty shell-shocked, and drinks his whiskey instead of sipping it, because Gipsy Danger is right in front of him and sitting in Hercules Hansen's lap. Gipsy smiles sympathetically with him, and leans forward a little to touch his cheek.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your room?"

It's very 'Gipsy', how she politely suggests it's time for Raleigh to go, yet offers her presence to him at the same time.

From:

striker_eureka

Apparently Raleigh should have listened to those stories about Hercules and his robot girlfriend, because they were a lot more true than people apparently believed.

They were a lot more true than Herc himself believed, honestly. Not that he's upset by that.

Gipsy's sweet little suggestion has him swallowing back a laugh, but apparently it's enough to knock Raleigh out of his doze. He declines distractedly, still staring at Gipsy, but more like he sees her and less like he's been hit on the head, so Herc will take that as progress. Raleigh drains his glass and then stands, and then, cautiously, holds out his arms in a gesture Gipsy should be quite familiar with. Her nudges her up out of his lap so she can go hug her old pilot.

"Go'wan then. Poor boy could use a hug."

From:

gipsy_danger

...It's progress. Gipsy will take it.

When Raleigh stands up and offers his arms to her, Gipsy smiles and allows herself to be pushed up to her feet before moving right into Raleigh's arms. There's something ruggedly warm and familiar about the embrace, and he smells just like she remembers. A faint twinge of leather, some sort of cologne, and the remnants of a glass of whiskey.

He holds her tight, crushing her against his frame and Gipsy reciprocates before wriggling in his grip until he loosens it enough for her to pull his face down and give him a little kiss on the forehead.

"We will talk later, Raleigh. When you have had a chance to absorb all of this."

Her new body, the casual way Hercules touches it, and...well. The relationship itself, actually.

From:

striker_eureka

She really is spending too much time with him (or something), because she's picking up his mannerisms left, right, and center. Not that Hercules can bring himself to mind, much. He thinks it's sweet, and it's clear that Raleigh is torn between charmed and his persistent confusion.

Herc nods to the younger man and lifts his glass in a sort of salute as he backs out of the Herc's office, finally leaving them in peace.

"Well."

He looks up at Gipsy, leans back in his chair, and drains the rest of his whiskey. "That went well."

From:

gipsy_danger

"It could have gone worse." Gipsy watches him leave, then follows after and shuts the door behind him, reaching to twist the lock then resting her back against the door, hands behind her.

"I'm sorry...I couldn't send him away."

She's truly regretful about it, and seems very upset that they'd been interrupted. She hadn't meant for it to happen, of course -- but...it was Raleigh. If it had been anyone else, Gipsy probably would have just let Herc shoo them away and they could have gone back to doing what it was they were doing.

Not Raleigh.

From:

striker_eureka

He immediately reaches out for her, prompting her to come back and slide back into his lap. He wants to cuddle, please.

"It's alright, love. I don't mind, not really."

He was annoyed, sure, but if Striker had suddenly come back to life in a humanoid form, he'd want an explanation pretty much immediately, no matter what else was going on. He's not going to begrudge Raleigh that.

Taking her chin in his hand, he kisses the tip of her nose.

"You're a sweet girl, Gipsy. He'll be glad you're back, once the reality sets in."

From:

gipsy_danger

She comes right back to him and settles into his waiting lap, more than happy to cuddle with him. Hopefully, it's not something that he will ever tire of -- Gipsy is incredibly physically affectionate, thanks to him.

"Hm. Like you are?" He certainly seems glad to have her back, if his kisses and touches and possessiveness were any indication.

From:

striker_eureka

He lived with the loss of everyone he ever loved for a whole year. To have her back...he's not letting her go again. Not that easily, that's for sure. So he's a little possessive. It will probably dial down soon enough once he gets used to her being back in his life again. Right now it kind of feels like if he takes his eyes off her for too long, she'll disappear.

"Well, hopefully not quite like me," he murmurs, smiling as he leans in to kiss her again.

From:

gipsy_danger

"Mmm. No, maybe not."

She smiles affectionately at him, then loops her arms around his neck as she leans in to meet him half way. She adores kissing him; the feel of his lips against hers sends happy shivers down her spine and she holds him tightly to her, smoothing her fingers along his cheeks and neck before resting on his shoulders.

From:

striker_eureka

There's something to be said for enthusiasm; kissing Gipsy would be wonderful simply because she is who she is, but kissing Gipsy is even more wonderful because she takes to it so easily, is so eager to try some more, to keep going. It makes it far too easy to nuzzle little kisses along her jawline, leaning in to draw her earlobe between his lips and tease the tender skin with hit tongue just to see how she'll react.

From:

gipsy_danger

She reacts positively; a shudder and a sucked in gasp, eyes fluttering closed as her fingers grip the material of his shirt where her hands rest on his shoulders.

"You have missed me," she breathes, eyelids sliding closed as her head tips back. "My wonderful Hercules..."

From:

striker_eureka

That was exactly the reaction he was hoping for, and Hercules doesn't even try to hide his smug little smile as he noses at the skin of her neck, his hands spread wide against her body like he wants to touch as much of her as possible.

"I was devastated when you died," he whispers, his voice a little raw. "That was the worst day of my life."

From:

gipsy_danger

He's not the only one craving touch and reassurance. Sometimes (in the brief amount of time she has been back online) Gipsy thinks this is too good to be true, that this can't be happening and that it's all going to be snatched away from her at any moment. Who is she to deserves something so wonderful when all the rest of her kind are dead?

"I know." She'd known he would be. "I'm so sorry." Her voice catches a little, and she's shocked by liquid heat running down her cheekbones. "I'm -- leaking." Crying.

From:

striker_eureka

He lifts his head from her neck when he hears her breath catch in her throat, and then he's frowning, his hands lifting to cup her face so he can stroke her cheeks with his thumbs to wipe away the tracks of her tears.

"Gipsy, honey, don't cry," he croons, leaning in to kiss her wet cheeks. "It's okay."

Hercules has lived through so much loss and pain in his life, he had resigned himself to living through some more and figured it was just his fate. But now she's back! So it's all okay.

From:

gipsy_danger

Gipsy knows there is nothing in the world that she can say or do to make his life 'okay'. He'd lost both her and Chuck that day, and while Gipsy doesn't know what it's like to lose a child, she knows how it feels to lose a sibling (in more ways than one, honestly), It's an ache that never truly goes away.

Crying is a very, very strange feeling for Gipsy and again she has to marvel at her science teams thoroughness. It's a little embarrassing to do it now, and thankfully it doesn't last long. This time, anyway.

"I tried, Hercules." She had. She really had.

From:

striker_eureka

"I know, love." He has listened to the whole battle, watched it unfold in little blips on the radar. He knows what she did to save them all.

"And I'm so proud of you. You know that, right? You're incredible and I was proud of you then, even if it hurt to listen to you blow yourself up to save all of us."