The elevator slowly crept up to Raymond's apartment.
Val, Weiss, and Patti stood in the middle of the living room. All of them could feel the nervous energy in the air. Val had to consciously keep herself from pacing around the room.
"I suppose it's too late to get another glass of whiskey," Weiss chuckled. She didn't seem scared on the outside, but Val could tell from the way she squeezed her hand that she was downright terrified.
Val kissed Weiss on the cheek. "We're gonna be fine. Just zip in, get Raymond, and wait for the team to get back. Everything's gonna work out."
"You sound confident."
"I
am
confident."
"I'm not!" said Patti with a nervous giggle.
Weiss rolled her eyes, a nervous grin spreading across her face. "You wanna head back home? You can just hang out at the bar until we're done."
"And miss a chance to punch some rich shitstain in the teeth? Fuck that."
The elevator dinged.
The doors opened.
* * *
At 3:47 PM, a portal opened in the meeting room of Rainbow Tower.
Val, being used to sudden shifts in gravity, landed on her feet. The two people she traveled with did not.
"Ow!" Weiss shouted, landing on her side. "Valerie, you didn't say we'd be falling!"
"Sorry!" Val said. "I thought it would be cool!"
"It was a nice idea," Patti groaned, stumbling to her feet and rubbing her butt.
"Val?"
All three women looked up and froze.
There, sitting around the table, were the four other members of Team Rainbow.
Reuben rose from his chair and stared at them. "Madame Blanc, I presume?"
"Oh, shit," Weiss said quietly.
"What the fuck are you still doing here?" Patti said. "Didn't Raymond-"
"Patti?" Yun-hee bolted upright, her jaw dropping in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, hey," Patti replied. "Love the lipstick, it's a good color on you."
"Thanks," Brayden said, before pausing and realizing who Patti was actually talking to. "S-Sorry."
"I don't understand," Val said, fear starting to creep through her body. "Why didn't Raymond send you after us?"
The PA clicked on. "She's not here!" Raymond shouted, sounding slightly out of breath. "Should've known that bitch would trick me..."
Raymond went to the apartment? On his own? Why would he-
"Hello?" Raymond said. "I'm on the right frequency, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Hawthorne," Reuben replied.
"Then why aren't you talking?"
"Because..." Reuben trailed off, a pained look on his face.
"Because what?" Raymond spat. "Say it!"
"B-Because she's here!" Reuben gasped.
"She's
what
?! Why-" Raymond groaned, like he was trying to hold something back. "D-Don't lay a finger on her! I won't allow you to hurt her!"
"What the fuck is going on..." Patti muttered.
"Oh, shit..." Val said, the realization dawning on her. "He
couldn't
send the team after us. You programmed him not to!"
"Yeah, she did," Raymond growled. "And it's not fun."
"L-Listen, Raymond," Weiss said, trying to maintain her composure, "I do feel quite bad about doing that to you-"
"Oh, so
now
you decide to grow a conscience? Not when you were going around town, doing God knows what to all those people? Not when you were having your way with Val?"
"She didn't hurt me!" Val cried. "She... we... it's not what you think!"
"Oh, what?" Val could almost hear Raymond rolling his eyes over the phone. "You think you love her or something? Is that it?"
"Yes! I do!" Val felt the eyes of all her teammates burning into her.
So now it's out there. Funny. Didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.
Raymond chuckled softly. "Isn't that sweet? Well, let's see what that love is really worth. I can't send the team after Blanc, but I can send them after
you
, Val."
"Mr. Hawthorne, please!" Gibson pleaded. "Don't you dare make us hurt Val!"
"Your objection is duly noted, Gibson. Once Val's back on the team, you and I will have a nice, long chat to help you clear all that out."
"Wait-"
"Team Rainbow. Get Val."
Click.
The room went quiet.
For a long while, nobody spoke. Nobody moved. Nobody wanted to make the first strike.
"Val..." Reuben whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Val sighed. "I know what you're fighting against. I won't hold it against you."
She grabbed onto Weiss and Patti's hands and fell through the floor.
* * *
"Ow, fuck! Stop
doing
that, Valerie!"
Weiss groaned and rose to her feet, her eyes straining in the darkness. "Where the hell are we, anyway?"
"My new apartment," Val responded. "Or, at least, what
would
be my new apartment, if we don't get Raymond under control."
Patti pulled out her lighter and waved it around, getting to grips with the sudden change in environment. "Are we still in the tower?"
"Yeah." Val sighed. "Look, I fucked this up. I should've realized the team would still be here, and now I've dragged you both into a warzone. So I'm giving you a chance to bail out now."