Chapter Text
‘Root.’
‘Sameen.’
The word slipped from her mouth like liquor and the woman stepped forward, taking Shaw’s arm in her own and guiding her into the throng of distinguished guests.
Shaw’s skin prickled at the touch.
‘Relax Sameen,’ chided Root lightly, smiling at a waiter as she picked up a flute of champagne, ‘this is a party.’
‘Why are you here?’
Root gestured with her champagne over the party guests in explanation.
‘A gathering of the rich and famous,’ Root brought the flute to her lips taking a gentle sip, swallowing lightly and smiling at the smooth taste, ‘why wouldn’t I be here?’
Shaw forced Root to stop moving, spinning her by the arm to face her and locking eyes with the woman. She was perfectly put together, the very image of sophistication: silken brown locks cascaded down her shoulders shimmering in the golden light of the party, and her eyes felt like gentle streams as Shaw glared into them, her own harsh as a rock pool.
Shaw resisted the urge to shake her head and clear her thoughts: Root tended to have that effect on people. Even her.
‘Root,’ she growled, grip tightening on the woman’s arm and she could feel the shiver through her skin as Root’s body reacted.
Their eyes never left one another even as Root brought her champagne up to her lips and took a long drink.
‘The question is,’ she began and Shaw felt a twitch at the smirk curling at Root’s deep red lips, ‘why are you here Sameen?’
Shaw pulled away like she’d been burned as Root’s hairs stood on end.
‘None of your business.’
Shaw clenched and unclenched her hand that had moments before rested on Root’s arm.
‘You look nice,’ complimented Root, as if she had eyes for no one else. As if no one else was worth her time but Shaw.
Shaw glared but Root took it in her stride, chuckling lightly and Shaw felt like she’d been trickled in honey at the sound.
‘Stop it.’
Root tilted her head slightly, mouth tugging at a smile.
‘Stop what Sameen?’
Shaw took a deep breath, reaching for her own glass of champagne and downing it in one.
‘Why are you here?’
‘I told you: this is where I belong. You on the other hand,’ Root took a step forward and the air bristled stopping Root in her tracks, though the lightness never left her features.
Root changed course.
‘How are things?’
Shaw looked at her.
‘Small talk?’ she growled.
‘This is a party Sameen, at least try to enjoy yourself.’
‘I hate parties.’
Root laughed loud and bright and Shaw saw a few heads turn in wonder. Yeah. Root tended to have that effect.
‘I know,’ Root reached out for a plate of hors-d’oeuvres, picking one for herself before handing the rest to Shaw who took them with a suspicious eye.
‘So how are things?’ tried Root again, eyes fixed on Shaw as she devoured her meal.
Shaw shrugged.
‘Slow. Fight the good fight: that’s what they say,’ grumbled Shaw before taking another mouthful.
Root hummed non-committedly, voice perfectly pitched.
‘And you?’ added Shaw as an after-thought.
Root smiled lightly.
‘Good. Plenty of things to do.’
Shaw scoffed, setting down the tray behind her next to her discarded champagne.
‘The world will never run out of thinks to debauch,’ she spat.
Root smiled softly.
‘Debauchery is what I work with,’ she agreed lightly, finishing her own drink.
‘Yeah well I have to clear up your mess.’
Root fixed her with a look.
‘I appreciate that. You do a good job.’
Shaw grunted.
‘Angels and Demons,’ muttered Shaw and Root hummed.
‘Only no one wants Angels these days.’
‘Must be busy.’
‘It is.’
The two stood in silence, watching the party launch into full swing champagne flowing, and Shaw could feel the pull from Root: could see the thousands of threads that tugged at her from the crowd of the party but Root stayed still, body perfectly relaxed.
‘You should go,’ indicated Shaw gruffly, noting the strain on Root to resist and Root turned to look at her, smiling softly.
‘I can’t help it.’
‘I know.’
Root turned back to the festivities but didn’t move.
‘Root-‘
‘Why are you here Shaw?’
Root’s voice was soft and inviting, tempting Shaw to spill and Shaw knew Root could have dragged the truth from her like wine poured from a bottle if she so desired.
‘Reports of an incident; guess I know why.’
Root didn’t reply before nodding lightly.
‘Goodbye Sameen,’ she offered, before gliding across the wood blending seamlessly into the crowd. Shaw watched her disappear before turning and heading for the exit.
Shaw was breathing heavily chest heaving as the rain soaked her clothing.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ she addressed to a seemingly empty alley.
Root stepped from the shadows, heels clicking lightly on cobbles and Shaw wondered how she could walk in heels like that, but swiftly drew her thoughts far, far away from Root’s legs.
‘Who was it this time?’
Shaw looked at her as she stood at the end of the alley, her coat pulled close hands deep in her pockets and despite the pummeling rain her hair still seemed to retain its luster.
‘Teenagers. Drug deal gone wrong.’
Root looked behind Shaw at the bodies on the floor.
‘Are they dead?’
Shaw bristled.
‘Do they look dead?’
Root met Shaw’s eyes with a smile.
‘No.’
‘Then they’re not.’
Root took in Shaw’s form: black combat boots, tight black jeans and a thin black tank top.
‘Are you cold?’
Shaw looked at her bare arms.
‘Yes.’
Shaw walked forward, skirting around Root and walking onto the main side street. Root followed.
‘Would you like my coat?’
Shaw spun on her heel.
‘Why are you here?’ she demanded, eyes hard and accusing.
Root held her gaze before looking away, studying the brick to her right.
‘Something’s going to happen.’
Shaw straightened.
‘I didn’t sense anything.’
Root turned back to face Shaw, flirtatious smirk back in place.
‘You won’t be required, though if you’re interested I’m sure we can work something out.’
‘Root,’ grit out Shaw harshly and Shaw felt a flutter of something from the woman.
If she were the type she might have regretted the ferocity of her words.
‘As it happens,’ continued Root, ‘just a simple affair. I was in the area: you’re not exactly subtle Sameen.’
Shaw glared.
‘I don’t have to be.’
‘You draw every demon within a half-mile radius,’ reminded Root.
‘And yet you’re the only one here.’
Root took a step forward ignoring the static danger radiating from Shaw.
‘Are you waiting for someone else?’
Shaw held her gaze.
‘Stop it.’
Root raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Shaw’s fist clenched, before she turned and walked away.
Root noted the blood on her back and the tears in her tank top and wondered what sort of drug-deal-gone-wrong warranted that amount of power.
‘I was thinking,’ Shaw groaned at the voice but didn’t turn around, ‘we should talk.’
Shaw stiffened as Root stepped up beside her, the toes of her shoes over the edge of the building as they looked out over the city lights.
‘Why would I want to talk to you?’
Root didn’t reply, content even as the wind billowed through her usually pristine hair.
Shaw sighed.
‘What do you want to talk about Root?’
Root looked over at Shaw who didn’t meet her gaze.
‘Aren’t you cold?’
Shaw was wearing just a tank top once again against the harsh weather.
‘Yes.’
‘Do you want a coat?’
‘No.’
Root turned back to the sky.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Don’t know what?’
‘What we would talk about.’
‘Then we shouldn’t talk.’
Shaw didn’t wait for a response before she jumped feet first from the building. Root leant over the edge slightly, watching with sharp eyes in the dark night as Shaw twisted in the air and wings unfurled from her back.
Root watched until she disappeared behind a building, taking a step back from the edge and walking towards the exit, melding with the shadows like the night itself.
‘You’re very dramatic.’
Shaw instinctively turned at the voice in her ear, strong hand coming to grip at a throat. As she registered the owner of the voice she relaxed her grip but didn’t let go.
‘Root,’ she growled.
‘Lovely to see you too Sameen.’
Shaw could feel the stares from the rest of the bar; feel them directed at Root who seemed to shrug them off even as they filled the room with a certain air.
‘What do you want?’ demanded Shaw.
‘A drink.’
Shaw searched her eyes but found nothing and let her hand fall away, turning back to the bar as Root slid onto a stool beside her.
‘Whiskey please,’ she asked, voice sickly sweet and the bartender attended immediately.
Shaw rolled her eyes.
‘Really?’
Root grinned.
‘I like quick service.’
‘Why are you here Root?’
‘Can I not just have a drink?’
‘Why are you here?’ growled Shaw, no room for avoidance and Root sighed, fingers running the rim of the whiskey glass placed before her.
‘I don’t know,’ Shaw looked at her sharply, ‘you I suppose.’
Shaw didn’t look away and Root swallowed the whiskey in one, ignoring the tension emanating from Shaw.
‘Root,’ she growled.
Root finally looked at her.
‘I know.’
She stood and Shaw watched her every movement.
‘We should talk Sameen.’
‘Stop it.’
Root ignored her as she left the bar and Shaw stared into her glass.
‘Talk.’
Root looked up from her book as Shaw sat opposite her.
‘Hello to you too.’
‘You said you wanted to talk. Talk.’
Root sighed, sliding a bookmark between pages before gently closing the book, hands resting on its cover.
‘What would you like to talk about Sameen?’
‘Stop it.’
‘I’m not doing anything.’
‘I know.’
Root blinked at that.
‘Okay.’
Root’s voice is soft.
Shaw stood and Root watched as she made to leave.
‘Are you coming or what?’ demanded Shaw over her shoulder and Root got up, tucking away her book in the pocket of her coat as she followed.
Shaw pushed open the door to the café, leading the way through the busy street. She shouldered her way through the crowds, as Root seemed to slip through the gaps following Shaw without a sound, low heels clicking against the sidewalk.
Shaw turned down a side alley and Root followed without question until Shaw came to an abrupt stop. As Root came to a halt behind her Shaw turned and pushed her into the damp wall, her head falling back with a thud.
‘Shaw-‘ she tried but Shaw pushes her arm harder.
‘This is us. Talking,’ she growled.
Root dug her nails into the brick even as every instinct told her to push back and her body thrummed with tension.
‘Shaw stop.’
Shaw pushed harder and Root swallowed against her arm.
They stayed there for what to Root felt like an eternity using each ounce of willpower she had left to stay still. She wouldn’t fight back even as her body yelled at her to claw and kick and flee she wouldn’t. This was Shaw.
Shaw pulled back with a growl and Root stood straight, watching as Shaw created distance. It hadn’t just been hard on her she realized. Shaw was straining just enough for Root to pick up on it.
‘We’re done.’
‘Sameen.’
Root took a step forward but Shaw matched the movement backwards.
‘Root,’ growled Shaw, ‘this is never going to happen.’
Root tilted her head.
‘I can make it.’
Shaw didn’t flinch at the threat. Root wouldn’t.
‘We. Can’t.’
‘If you want it,’ replied Root, voice so very soft, ‘we can.’
‘How?’ grit out Shaw, ‘you just going to override centuries of biological imperative that orders me to rip out your throat and leave you at the Devil’s door?’
‘Sam-‘
‘It affects you too.’
‘I can make it stop. You know I can.’
Everything she said sounded like flirtation and Shaw shook her head.
‘Using your power isn’t what you want.’
Shaw’s voice is hard but her words convey the meaning clearly enough.
‘No,’ whispered Root, ‘but if it works.’
‘I don’t do this and you are not worth it,’ Root looked stung at the words but Shaw pushed on, ‘this can never. Happen. And it will never happen. I kill your kind.’
‘And yet you won’t.’
Shaw glared but didn’t have a reply.
Root took a chance, taking a step forward and Shaw didn’t move back.
‘You aren’t going to kill me Shaw. And I’m not going to kill you.’
‘Watch me,’ growled Shaw.
‘You won’t.’
‘Stop it.’
‘I’m not doing anything.’
‘You can’t help it.’ Root stopped her movements. ‘Everything you do is laced with it like poison,’ growled Shaw, ‘reminds me what you are.’
Root tilted her head.
‘You think I don’t know that? You don’t think I see it too, the way you eat and fight and kill. I watch you Sameen-‘
‘Creep.’
‘-and each time I know that you could shoot me next. Bring Redemption and Justice down on me. That you might have to.’
‘This can never happen.’
Root took a step forward.
‘And it won’t.’
Shaw could feel the air soften around them and knows this is Root’s doing, her power laying a blanket on a thousand years of territorial instinct and it felt…good.
‘Something’s coming Shaw.’
Shaw didn’t acknowledge the warning but felt the gravity of the words. Root kissed her. Just a peck on the cheek before she sauntered off down the alley and out of sight before Shaw had a chance to be angry.
‘We’ll talk soon Sameen.’