[center]
[h1]Keeping Secrets[/h1]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/ytozL8X.png[/img]
[h2][color=palevioletred]Zoe[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr][center][color=silver]𝕎𝕖𝕕: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕   / /   ℕ𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙 𝔼𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕠𝕨𝕟   / /  ~𝟘𝟞𝟘𝟝[/color][/center][hr]

[hider=Keeping Secrets]She saw the anger first, because the fiery redhead in front of her was nothing but anger and resentment and it reminded her of different days. Margot ignored the temptation to reminisce, leaning down to look at the unconscious boy's body. She shifted her gun out of the way for a better crouch, eyebrows raised at the extent of the damage. The legs seemed warped, but salvageable. The missing arm and the sleeve trailing putrified blood and flesh were likely not.

[color f7976a]"You always go all-out like this?"[/color] she asked, checking the body for a pulse to be safe.

After taking a few seconds to get over the shock of the woman's appearance - and the instinct that told her to react to the shock like she did everything else, and lash out - Zoe had unceremoniously dumped her captive on to the ground. Watching her examine him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, Zoe's expression darkened upon hearing the question.

[color=palevioletred]"Better than letting a threat run wild. I do what I have to."[/color] The reply was sharp, but it rang hollow. After all, she knew more than anyone there was so much of all this that she hadn't needed to do in the slightest. So many choices she could have turned away from. Still, while Zoe frowned at her words, she didn't back down from them - determined, at least, not to burden anyone else with those worries. [color=palevioletred]"Like I said, he got out of my range. It works automatically once that happens. Stopped it as soon as I could."[/color]

[color f7976a]"No no, it's a compliment. These are necessary actions. There comes a time when good will will get you killed. Or worse: you could watch your friends die first."[/color] The woman straightened with a deep breath, snorting briefly at the rot's scent before rolling the boy's body over with a sturdy boot. [color f7976a]"Ones like us, too. We need to kill two birds with one stone whenever we get the chance. At least until freedom comes."[/color] She tapped at the base of her neck with a free hand.

[color=palevioletred]"Right. When it [i]is[/i] necessary, anyway. Seems like a lot of people can't tell the difference."[/color] Her included. Zoe appeared to relax slightly at the woman's seeming understanding, but remained tense. Letting her guard down, especially right after a fight, wasn't something she'd ever been accustomed to. Still, two birds with one stone... she appeared briefly confused by the statement, before bringing a hand up to her own neck. Pausing, she glanced towards Margot, appearing unsure.

To tell the truth, Zoe wasn't worried she'd fail to save the others from threats. For better or worse, she didn't think of herself as incompetent - the opposite, in fact, especially compared to the others. There was no doubt in her mind that she'd do what she had to in that kind of situation. It wasn't anyone [i]else[/i] killing them that she was afraid of. Freedom was more than a little tempting in that way. To run off somewhere she could be a danger to no-one but herself, or at least take a bullet to the head while trying. [color=palevioletred]"...does it ever get easier? Seems like it's only getting worse so far."[/color]

[color f7976a]"It gets better. But you don't want to know how. Mine's gone. I bet you anything Cat's Cradle doesn't have theirs either."[/color] A shimmer of her form and in an instant another Margot had appeared, bending to throw the boy over one shoulder before walking away, heading back to the estate.

Cat's Cradle didn't have theirs - Zoe knew that much from Andrew. Margot's words told her it was possible, that they weren't an isolated case. Despite that, the reply annoyed Zoe and there was a cold edge to her voice as she spoke. [color=palevioletred]"And what if I do want to know? At least then I can decide whether to give up on it."[/color] Of course, there was part of her knew the smartest decision would be to leave the subject alone. Margot certainly didn't seem like she wanted to talk about it. [color=palevioletred]"I'm sick of getting vague bullshit from everyone. If it's really that bad, giving up might feel shitty, but it's a [i]whole lot[/i] less shitty than hoping for something impossible."[/color]

[color f7976a]"You ever wonder why, if a bunch of Abes are running around without their Stigmas, they don't tell anyone how to get rid of it? That's if they even stay sane."[/color] She rolled her shoulders, stretching lightly while the other version of her continued walking off. [color f7976a]"Because there are some big, bad consequences if word ever got out. You think people hate us now? They'll tear us limb from limb if they knew. And now I'm just waiting for that one special nutcase to spill the beans to the wrong person and we're all well and truly fucked."[/color] She watched the tension ball up in Zoe's fists, and then the shoulders. [color f7976a]"But you keep doing what you're doing, and I promise you it'll go away. It's just a matter of how much you can stand to lose."[/color]

How much she could lose... Zoe was silent for a long moment. [color=palevioletred][i]That bad, huh?[/i][/color] Watching the second Margot walk away, part of her was tempted to keep on that line of questioning, but she doubted she'd get anywhere. Even having seen the effects of her power, Margot had probably dealt with far worse than one angry subnatural - and once intimidation was out of the window, Zoe was hardly silver-tongued.

[color=palevioletred]"Guess if you can't tell me, you can't tell me. At least that's something."[/color]

Something so terrible it couldn't be spoken about, and she was heading down the path that reached it. The idea probably should have been more shocking to her, but it made sense. Even her dream had said as much - she'd chosen death and power over promises of peace and sanctuary. So she didn't question Margot's statement, despite the temptation.

Instead, she gestured towards the Amigo being carried away. [color=palevioletred]"So what's going to happen with him? 'Cause if you're gonna ask questions, I might be able to help with some of that."[/color]

[color f7976a]"You know Freddy. He can more than help with that, don't worry. Once we've got a few of the cuffs on him, he won't be running anywhere."[/color] Margot looked at her other self, contemplating something in some unknown distance before turning back to Zoe. [color f7976a]"Don't believe I've ever introduced myself. Margot. And I've been there, where you were. Trust me, I know the frustration. But if this got out the Holocaust would look like a tea party."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Zoe. But you knew that already."[/color] Zoe shook her head, sighing. [color=palevioletred]"Won't lie; it pisses me off that you're not gonna tell me, but I think I get it. I wouldn't risk something like that on trusting a stranger. Hell, I wouldn't trust most of the people I know to keep it under wraps."[/color] And that was it. Not quite acceptance, but at least a grudging sense of understanding towards the woman's position.

[color=palevioletred]"As for the questioning, you're missing my point. I [i]mean[/i] I can help 'cause I know why they came here."[/color] Zoe shrugged. [color=palevioletred]"Haven't told the others because I don't want them doing anything dumb. And they would, some of them at least."[/color]

[color f7976a]"What have you got?"[/color]

Zoe took a moment to consider whether she should even reveal the information, but Margot didn't seem the type to spill anything unnecessarily. [color=palevioletred]"Angelique Lachance. They've got her 'in pieces, but alive', according to the townsfolk. The Amigos weren't shy about trying to kill us, so if they took her alive... makes sense they came here for her in the first place. Don't know why or where they're taking her, but that's part of why I went looking for him."[/color] She nodded towards the boy.

[color=palevioletred]"As far as any of the others know, she's dead. And until there's more info, I'd rather keep it that way."[/color] Her expression was tired, the sentiment colder than she'd have liked. [color=palevioletred]"They'd tear themselves apart thinking they could save her. If they think she's dead, they can let go; it'll hurt less in the long run."[/color]

[color f7976a]"Good call. Now get back to the estate, hop on a heli, and get some rest. I'll let Zhang know and we'll get something done. You'll be the first to know if anything changes."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Good enough for me."[/color] Zoe nodded, turning to head towards the estate. Figuring Margot had their prisoner more than handled, she found herself satisfied with her efforts on that front, at least. If it hadn't been for her earlier breakdown and the bleak confirmation that she'd never be anything but a danger, she might even have been content.

As things were, it seemed that she'd done much better when she was alone. As usual, really. Without anyone to hold her back, or stand in her way, it was so much easier to work efficiently. But that was something to think about when there was the time to do so, and her energy was best saved for dealing with the others. She'd have to keep from losing her composure, after all - though whether that meant throwing a punch or sobbing her eyes out, she wasn't sure. Either would be something she didn't want them to see.

Despite Margot's refusal to talk about getting rid of her Stigma, the conversation had been something Zoe didn't even realise she'd needed. Because on some level, the woman had understood the things she'd done. Understood that need to sate, the necessity of violence. The frustration of not knowing what to do about it. [color=palevioletred][i]I wonder, if I explained to the others...[/i][/color]

Explained what? That she imagined... hell, [i]fantasised[/i] about tearing people limb from limb? That she got off on hurting people and being hurt? Remembered every single bit of death and destruction with a smile on her face? Best case scenario, they pulled the same thing as Kusari had and just pretended to give a shit - that is, until they'd satisfied their morbid curiosity and could write her off as a lost cause after half a conversation. And hell, even then Zoe hadn't told her the whole thing.

Lost in thought, she hadn't replied to anything else she heard over the cuffs; a pause and brief glance over her shoulder revealing that the other Margot had disappeared. That didn't worry her in the slightest; the woman seemed to more than know what she was doing, which struck one concern off of the list. Not that it made things much less overwhelming.

Trying to put it all out of her mind, she grimaced, turning back towards the estate. Knowing there'd be a long journey ahead, there wasn't much reason to hurry - her pace was slow as she finally resumed her walk.[/hider]