Chapter 32: Crossing A Line
The smell of food filled the kitchen. Nathan stood beside Veronica, watching as she stirred a pot on the stove.
His eyes narrowed at her actions.
Every few minutes, she’d adjust something until it was perfectly straight. She had also washed some of the utensils more than once while cooking.
He had tried to help, but watching her fuss over everything made him reconsider.
On the other hand, seeing her doing something so normal while wearing an apron was strange.
This was the same woman who could control sleeping gas and used scalpels as weapons. The warden’s daughter who had practically funded his escape.
"Is something wrong?" Veronica asked, noting Nathan had been silent for a while.
"Nothing. It’s just odd seeing you do this."
Veronica glanced at him, curving her lips. "Were you expecting me to burn everything?"
He flashed a smile. "Maybe."
"Hmpf."
She returned her attention to the pot, watching until she was satisfied it was cooked.
A few minutes later, they both sat down, preparing to eat.
Veronica watched Nathan as he took a bite with his spoon. He chewed slowly, letting the flavor settle for several seconds.
"Well?" Veronica asked, curiosity lined on her face.
Nathan nodded. "It tastes good."
"I know." She replied instantly which made Nathan laugh. A faint smile appeared on her face. "Thank you."
They chatted while eating. The quiet neighborhood, her neighbor and her pet.
Nathan glanced at the lonely goldfish swimming. He wondered why the doctor picked a fish of all things.
Veronica asked what Nathan bought. A surprised expression flashed her face when he mentioned the amount he spent.
"You spent that much on clothes?"
Nathan scratched his nose. "My sponsor is quite generous."
Veronica narrowed her eyes. "This sponsor of yours. Is it a man or...?" she let the words trail off, waiting for him to confirm.
"Does it matter?" Nathan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No." She replied, looking down at her food. "I’m just trying to understand their goal. No one offers help without some hidden motive."
Nathan’s phone vibrated before he could offer a response. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Moe.
Apparently, he and his information broker had managed to dig up something on the Detective.
She had tried several times to convince her captain to investigate Specter, but he’d shut her down every time.
Nathan leaned back slightly.
So she’d already been trying to expose Specter.
[Thanks, Moe. So how much will this cost?]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: It’s on the house. I got paid well by Veronica for helping you out, and there’s the favor you did.]
Nathan resisted the urge to chuckle.
Of course it has something to do with Lady Might.
[Thanks.]
Moe sent a thumbs-up emoji and Nathan closed the chat. His eyes briefly shifted toward Veronica.
Nathan wondered how much she had paid Moe for the whole thing.
He studied her for a moment then recalled her earlier statement. "That reminds me, you haven’t told me what you want."
Veronica pursed her lips at how he turned the conversation around.
She let the silence pass for a moment before she spoke. "I want you... I mean your story."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? What do you want to know?"
Veronica sighed. "I’ve done some research, but there are things I still don’t understand."
Nathan waited.
"Why did you confess?" Her eyes remained on him.
Nathan stopped eating then told her everything. His background, friends, the event and case. And finally, the ability that forced him to confess.
When he finished, Veronica was silent.
"An ability that compels you to speak." Veronica’s face creased into a frown. "It seems the most likely culprit is the lawyer."
Veronica let the silence pass before she spoke again.
"That’s stupid."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "What is?"
"With the emergence of meta abilities, you’d think the government would take more precautions for things like this." She shook her head.
"Instead, they’re busy making promotional materials and selling merchandise."
Nathan frowned in thought. "Maybe abilities like that are rare or they kept it hidden."
"That’s possible." Veronica’s expression remained sour. "But still, they could have done better."
There was a moment’s silence between them until Veronica stood up and sat close to him.
Her face held a serious expression which slightly unsettled Nathan.
"Since we’ve met I’ve treated you terribly..." Her voice softened.
"...And for that I am truly sorry."
Nathan’s mouth parted slightly in surprise. He hadn’t expected the doctor would apologize especially when she had every reason to hold the upper hand.
Veronica looked away for a moment before continuing. "I can’t undo what I did. But if there’s anything I can do to make it right..."
Nathan studied her for a moment. The doctor had done enough helping him but he was curious about something. "What’s your ability?"
Veronica tensed for a moment as she processed the question. Slowly, wisps of red gas arose from her skin, drifting slowly through the room.
"My body produces gases I can control." Veronica said, willing the red mist to swirl around her fingers.
Nathan’s eyes followed them. "So the gas makes people sleep."
Veronica chuckled. "That’s just one of the safer effects."
She willed the gas to move gently through the room, wrapping around furniture until it got close to Nathan.
Veronica noted how the sight of it made his shoulders stiffen.
"Don’t worry." she said, raising a finger and the gas froze in place.
"I would never use it on you."
Nathan narrowed his eyes at the statement. His thoughts flashed to the day of the attack and the bloodied scalpels.
"The day the prison was attacked. Did you kill anyone?"
Veronica hesitated for a moment. "No, I didn’t. But..." She turned to Nathan. "...I made sure they regretted what they did."
Nathan went silent. "Why? What did they do?"
"They killed a guard." Veronica answered. "The man had a kid and was expecting another and he died doing his job."
Her hands clenched into fists and she let out a sigh. Her gaze turned to Nathan. "If it wasn’t for you and Mr Lennyworth. I’d have lost two more."
She leaned close to him, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."
Nathan smiled. "You’re welcome."
There was an awkward silence as both of them realized their faces were only inches apart but neither of them pulled away.
Veronica’s breathing had gone shallow. Her crimson eyes remained fixed on Nathan’s face.
"Nathan," she whispered. Her gaze dropped to his lips.
Nathan noticed but didn’t move away. Part of him wanted to lean in and kiss her but he didn’t want to assume.
Veronica paused for another second before closing the remaining distance.
Her lips touched Nathan’s and for a moment, surprise flashed across his face. Then, he gently placed a hand against her waist and returned the kiss.
Veronica’s fingers tightened around his shirt as she leaned closer. Her usual composure slipped away, replaced by the realization that she had crossed a line.
But she didn’t care.
When they finally separated, Both of their hearts were racing. Veronica stared at him for several seconds, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Then, she suddenly stood up and walked toward the bedroom without a word.
Nathan watched her disappear. A moment later, he heard the shower turn on. He leaned back against the sofa and stared at the ceiling.
The kiss replayed in his mind. He couldn’t decide whether the doctor was embarrassed, overwhelmed, or simply regretting it.
Not my problem.
Nathan noted for someone so confident, she seemed surprisingly inexperienced.
Eventually, the shower stopped and a few minutes later, Veronica returned wearing a simple robe. Her hair was slightly damp, and she looked considerably calmer.
She stopped when she saw Nathan still sitting on the couch. "Are you going to sleep there?"
Nathan glanced at her. "I suppose so. You don’t exactly have a guest room."
Veronica stared at him. "I have a perfectly good bed."
"I wouldn’t want to impose," Nathan replied with a sly smile.
Her expression hardened slightly. "Are you refusing my hospitality?"
Across the room, Veronica watched him carefully.
Celine said this was supposed to give him a hint.
Nathan narrowed his eyes.
I wonder just how hospitable she plans to get.
"Of course not. I’ll take the bed."
Veronica turned towards the bedroom, a smirk plastered on her face that Nathan couldn’t see as he followed her.
The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by a small lamp beside the bed. Veronica walked toward the closet while Nathan stopped near the doorway.
"You should shower first," she said.
Nathan dropped his phone and grabbed a towel and stepped into the bathroom. The sound of the shower soon filled the room.
Veronica stood silently for several seconds. Then her eyes shifted toward the shopping bag in one corner of the room.
She walked over and slowly reached inside, pulling out the two pieces of lingerie Celine had insisted she buy.
One was the more modest lace piece and the other was the one Celine had called crotchless.
Veronica stared at them with a frown before glancing towards the bathroom.
She looked back at the lingerie and the memory of Celine whispering in her ear surfaced.
~ "Trust me. If you want tonight to be memorable, pick that one."~
Veronica blushed as her grip tightened around the two pieces.
She let out a sigh and dropped one of them.
You’d better be right about this