Chapter Text
Siuan stared into the abyss. Her mind offered no thoughts, only a quiet, merciful haze. It was better that way. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been driving…an hour, maybe more. Now, she sat motionless in the FBI’s underground parking garage, hands still curled around the wheel. Numb.
Eventually, her feet would move. Eventually, she’d rise. But for now, she lingered in the stillness, waiting for the weight of the day to slip off her shoulders. Waiting for her mind to let her escape.
When she steps into the pit, Siuan’s eyes immediately lock onto the case board. Photos. Strings. Blood. Her body knows this ritual even if her mind pretends it doesn’t.
Alanna spots her first. “What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here!”
Siuan doesn’t flinch. “It’s starting again, isn’t it?”
Alanna sighs. “Siuan—”
“I already went to see him, Alanna.” Siuan finally turns to her. “Now, quit stalling and tell what’s new on the case.”
“No, she will not.”
The voice cuts through the air like a blade. Both women turn.
“Maigan—” Siuan says, jaw tight.
“No, Siuan. Alanna will update you once you come back from your leave.”
“Maigan, I don’t need anymore days off, I’m ready! I need this.”
Alanna glances between them, stuck between friend and superior, watching them like two immovable mountains refusing to crumble.
“Then busy yourself with something. We’ll see you on Thursday. Surely there’s more interesting things than drowning yourself with dead bodies.”
“Maigan,” Siuan pleads, voice thinner now, but Maigan only shakes her head.
Alanna, knowing just how relentless her friend can be, tries to mediate. “Look, why don’t I take a day off and be with Siu—”
“NO!”
The two women say it in unison, snapping their heads toward her.
Alanna groans, throwing her hands up. “Jeez! It’s not like I want the day off too.”
Both Maigan and Siuan raise an eyebrow at her, clearly thinking exactly that. With finality, the older woman said, “Go home, Siuan or go whenever. That;s an order.”
“Don’t be such a prude, Lan,” she said without looking. “You know they deserved it.”
Lan stood by the door, arms crossed, jaw tight. The kind of stillness he mastered long ago—except for the sigh that slipped out.
“You were reckless,” he said. “Impulsive. That wasn’t justice.”
“That was justice,” she countered, turning toward him. “Messy, perhaps but I could care less.”
Lan said nothing, eyes flicking away as the robe slipped slightly off her shoulder. She bent to scrub her hair dry, the cotton clinging tighter on her body.
“If you’re tired of this, Lan, you can just stop. You know that, right?”
He didn’t hesitate. “You know I can’t do that. You’re not the only one who made a promise, Moiraine.”
She smiled then, “So stop being sulky. Let’s celebrate!”
Lan turned away, gaze hard on the floor. “Not tonight.”
And then he was gone.
“You know,” a voice called from behind, calm and unimpressed, “you can’t die by just jumping. That drop’s not high enough to kill you, you know.”
Moiraine blinked, head lolling slightly to the side. There, on the bench beneath the streetlight, sat a woman—cool, composed, and clearly not there for the view. Had she always been there? Moiraine squinted, trying to bring her into focus. Maybe two bottles was her limit after all.
The woman arched an eyebrow, “You’re drunk driving? Really?”
“I’m not drunk. Just tipsy,” Moiraine said, lifting her chin.
“That’s better how?”
“Why do you care?”
“Because you might kill someone,” the woman said, serious now.
Moiraine hesitated, then looked out over the water again. “I already did.”
The woman didn’t flinch—just watched.
Moiraine smirked. “When I turned down the guys... and women earlier.”
There was a pause. Then a scoff.
Siuan leaned back against the bench. “Well. At least I’m not the only one disappointed tonight.”
Moiraine pauses, her head slightly hangs on one side, then she grins. The other woman sighs, realizing what that sounded like, “That’s not what I meant.”
The blonde grins, then starts walking slow, deliberate steps, like she has all the time in the world. “I see,” she said, voice velvet-smooth, teasing. She stops in front of the bench, then slides onto the empty space beside her, close enough to catch the scent of cheap wine and something more expensive underneath.
“I’m Moiraine,” she says, extending a hand, like a dare.
Siuan studied her, her head tilted just enough to make it clear she wasn’t buying whatever this woman was selling. Even after a few glasses of whiskey, Siuan knew a predatory look when she saw one and the woman had that look. Polished, practiced, and bored enough to be reckless.
Still, when the hand hung there between them, fingers steady in the warm night air, Siuan blinked at it.
Because what else was today going to throw at her?
She sighs, half a chuckle escaping her lips as she reaches out.
“Siuan.”
Their hands met, firm, lingering. Not quite a shake, not quite innocent.
Before Siuan could pull back, Moiraine’s grip tightened. A subtle pull, just enough to draw her closer. Their faces were suddenly inches apart. The wine on Moiraine’s breath warm in the space between them.
“You’ve been drinking too,” Moiraine said, low, accusing, almost amused.
Siuan didn’t flinch. Her gaze sharpened, drilling into the woman in front of her expecting a challenge, ready for one. But Moiraine wasn’t looking at her eyes. Her gaze lingered lower, fixed on Siuan’s lips like a slow confession she wasn’t ready to say out loud.
It might’ve been the whiskey. It might’ve been the way the city lights haloed Moiraine’s hair like a fallen saint. Or maybe it was just the kind of night that made sense only in bad decisions and heartbeats. because Siuan’s chest tightened. Her pulse jumped. And for once, she didn’t know if she wanted to step back…
…or lean in.