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It's been well over twenty-four hours since Sue Storm was last home. She'd spent the majority of yesterday circumventing the hell that erupted all manner of villain in the Park — both before and after her fight with Johnny. She'd rescued a school bus full of children from a vicious vampire. But since her argument with her brother, each of these feats was done invisibly. No one was aware of her efforts. Or the fatigue creeping over her entire person.
Stubborness and layers of hurt feelings keep her from heading home. Some arguments have no solutions, and some monsters are hard to put back in the box once they're allowed some escape. Plus truths hurt far more than lies. In this case, Johnny had been right: Sue had no one to blame but herself for how he'd turned out.
The fever that'd she'd been keeping at bay tugs at each of the places in her mind as she treads up to the stop she probably shouldn't be making.
The Latverian Embassy, in all its opulence, permitted her relatively easy entry, despite the sentries at the door. In fact, she'd mentioned her name and then was easily ushered into a relatively comfortable waiting room. She perches on one of her chairs — puffy-eyed, wearied, and just a stitch stuffy as she stares at the floor in front of her. In a way, she invites misery upon her.
She's to blame for this.
*
"Sue. Whatever is the matter?" Victor looks…well, he looks pretty good when he finally sweeps in, long legs covering the ground between them in easy strides. Flattering tuxedo partially unbuttoned, glossy hair too long to be in fashion here but worth it for showing off how thick and dark it is, he's the picture of a gentleman, interrupted. He takes a seat in the chair beside her, offers her his hands to hold. And he smells good, too: fresh air, cologne, cigar smoke, brandy. "Tell me what I can do for you."
*
Some questions, whether intentionally or not, have the tendency to open the floodgates of emotion. In this case, the question is enough. Willowy shoulders bob and Sue's breath hiccoughs as her hands press tightly to her face. She would easily take the hands if she weren't so busy hiding her face. For someone who can go invisible, she strangely wants to be visible now, even in her utter humiliation and quite admission. "I…" she inhales around the large crocodile tears that cascade down her cheeks "…don't.. even.. know…" Her hands desperately wipe at the uncommon, altogether uncharacteristic, tears that fall. She chokes back her emotions and finally admits in a whisper, "I'm.. the .. worst.."
*
"Dear Sue, I can assure you that is absolutely untrue by any interpretation." Victor offers her a fine linen handkerchief with one hand, places the other gently between her shoulderblades. "I'll commission a study if it would make you feel better, but I hope you'll take my word. Whatever has happened, you are not the only one to blame. Come. Let me take you somewhere more comfortable. You look cold and tired. You may leave whenever you wish, I will have a car take you home. But surely you don't want to return in this state."
*
"I…" Sue sniffles "…I…" her cheeks flush brightly. "I can't go home." And there it is, the stubborn streak that she finds herself clinging to even more as of late. She swallows hard and accepts the handkerchief to mop up the now unbidden tears. It's now she leans into the hand at her shoulder blades. The stitch of comfort, the small consolation, seems to do its magic, and she calms some beneath it. "Th-th-thank you," she stammers. "You're far too kind to me, Victor." Her cheeks flush further. "But this is my fault." Sullenly, she slides to her feet.
*
"If you can't go home, then you must stay as my guest." Victor doesn't rise but he does reach for her hand. "Sue. You've come to me twice now. Please. Let me show you that your instincts are right."
*
Sue blinks hard. While she stands in front of Victor, something strange pulls at her consciousness. She accepts the hand. "I…" her cheeks flush brighter. And then, quite simply, she nods in response. "I'll stay," she replies softly.
*
"Your rooms will be prepared by the time we reach them." Somewhere, there is a scuffle of feet retreating, as though the order has already come with his throughs. Victor brings Sue's hand to his lips, just enough to brush the back of it with a gentle kiss, then he stands. He looks down at Sue with dark, serious eyes — somewhere deep in them is a steely glint but perhaps it is only his resolve. "You will always have a place here, Sue. Whenever you come to me, I will be on your side. Thank you for letting me prove it."
*
Silently, Sue falls into step with Victor. Her eyes stare back at his with some measure of trepidation, but her chin drops into a small nod; a concession of sort. "Thank you, Victor. I Just… I made a mess of everything. I should've…" her cheeks redden, and then finally she admits, "It's my brother." Knowing full-well that explains, nothing, she continues, "He quit school. Which is, apparently, entirely my fault. People shouldn't raise their siblings. It just creates problems."
*
"You have been given a great many burdens," Victor says solemnly. He slides an arm around her shoulder to guide her through the surprisingly lively halls of the Latverian embassy. Of course, the time difference means that business in Latveria is just beginning for the day. "And very little power to effect change. You are a brilliant young woman, Sue. If you have fallen short, it was due to a lack of power, lack of resources, and not a lack of will or foresight." He leads Sue into one of the elegant elevators that look like tiny sitting rooms.
"If I may?" Victor faces Sue and takes her gently by the shoulders. "Your brother is a man now. His failings are his own. Dropping out of school is purely foolish of him, a terrible waste of a good mind — and disrespectful, also, of all he's been given. But he is his own man. Perhaps." Victor puts a finger under Sue's chin to tip her face up so she is looking at him. "Perhaps it is time for you to think of yourself. To put your energies where they will be received with gratitude, not resistance."
*
Seo's chin remains dropped. Her eyes train on the floor even as the hands are brought to her shoulders. She sighs heavily. "He betrays the memories of our parents. I've taught him nothing of respect, of honour, of tradition, it would seem." Her posture tightens. It's obvious she's giving the words consideration. "In our culture, you honour where you came from. The dead aren't gone. We owe them what we have. We owe them who we are. Joon doesn't have that. And his missing that — that is my fault."
The notion of putting her energies someplace they'd be received with gratitude has her eyes lifting to rest on Victor. "I defended my dissertation a few weeks ago. I stood in front of a group of my betters and they judged the work as good. Not infallible, but good." She manages a flicker of a smile, "But it doesn't change the challenges that have always been there. Women aren't easily accepted in my field. Visible minority women? Even less so."
*
"Then let me help you find a place," Victor says, as the elevator slowly lifts them to the upper floors of the embassy. His expression is intent, sincere. "Let me give you one — you and I both know you deserve it. You can show everyone we're right if only you have a stage to stand on. I will give you mine. Let me make up for the failings of the world out there." He gestures angrily toward the elevator doors. "It would be an honor."
*
Sue's eyes remain trained on Victor. Her posture continues its taut edge. The truth spoken weighs heavier than if it were lies. In fact, Sue has worked incredibly hard to get where she is. She's aware of every battle she's had, and every glass ceiling she's had to smash to achieve any of her success. There's a small tick of her lips, a smile of near-concession: "What do have in mind?"
*
The elevator eases to a halt and Victor gestures for Sue to go ahead of him. They are in a hall reminiscent of a hotel, only wider, with marble floors and arches at the intersections. Latveria spares no expense for those deemed worthy of staying at the embassy.
"Latveria is known for its progress in technology but your work could expand new territory." Victor sounds genuinely excited at the prospect — it's a level of authenticity Sue hasn't yet seen in him before, no matter how sincere he's been. This is him unguarded. Animated. His eyes are bright, he emphasises things with his hands when he speaks.
"What I have in mind is… is…" He pauses, trying to find an elegant way to phrase it, but falls short. "You." He gestures toward her with both hands. "Whatever you see fit to study, to develop, Sue, I know it will be revolutionary. I don't want you to follow my line of thinking. I want yours…your thoughts. My resources, your mind. It could be…alchemy. Almost literally."
*
It's in moments like these that Sue understands Victor's position as Latverian royalty, and the ways he must have managed to get a country behind him. Overthrowing the current government had meant finding support among its people. This version of Victor is easy to support. His charisma at this moment actually eases her. Her lips edge upwards into a small smile. "My work isn't as technological as biological," but there is clear appreciation at the ability to do, literally, anything.
And then, for the first time in a long time, the appreciation turns a corner. Sue's dark eyes dance with consideration. Evidently the proposal, as vague as it is, seems to have some merit. "But what would that look like? Would I work here? Would you employ me?" her eyebrows lift as amusement enters her tone. "I'm guessing your advisors would see that as a terrible idea…"
*
"A grant," Victor suggests. "No, an endowment. For yourself and your work. Through the Ministry of Science and Technology, the research division. A seat at the table. Literally. And a laboratory of your own." He's rolling this around in his head, checking all the legality as he walks her to her room.
"I can think of no reason that wouldn't be allowed under our laws, or yours. It fits with our retention program — we are attempting to make Latveria hospitable to all her great minds, and those who wish to join us. You would be your own authority. There is no progress without freedom." He says that without irony. Freedom — for the right people — is a necessity, of course. "To make you beholden to anyone would be wasteful. How could we see the full extent of your capacity if you are attempting to keep your job or please your superiors?"
*
The prospect certainly has merit. So much so that it's impossible for Sue to subdue her expression. Her eyes continue alight and her head drops into a small nod. "It's late," or early by some estimations, "may I consider it? I… it has a lot of appeal. Bu there's a lot of details to hammer out. Things to think about and whether…" her cheeks hue pink. "Like, would I need to move? Latveria is a long way from New York. Or… would I still have the capacity for," her chin drops and she inspects her unstable molecules uniform. "You know?"
A warm, but tired, smile draws over her features. "You surprise me. Did you know that? Very little surprises me, but at every turn," her head shakes slightly. "Why are you so nice to me?" Even when she's in circumstances of her own making…
*
"Because I can be," Victor says, with complete honesty. He reaches out to touch Sue's cheek. "Because it is so easy — I rarely get to do the easy thing, the good thing, but I can when I'm with you, Sue. Sometimes I come across as cold, but that's habit. Necessity, even. But it is easy to be good to you because you are good." Speaking of necessity, Victor does pulls his dignity back around him a little and he straightens before he launches into a sonnet or something equally embarrassing.
"You would not have to move, but you could do so if you wanted. I will make sure transportation is always at your disposal. I have resources, property, here in America, though." Victor's smile is warm, he's still genuinely excited at the idea of helping her. "Say the word and I will see that you are given the means to choose a place that suits you."
*
The fingers at Sue's cheek earn a ghost of a smile: small, appreciative, and considering. Sue eases underneath the touch. The smile grows underneath the reassurance that someone seems to appreciate her capacity and ability to nurture. She may not be a mother, but mothering really has become second nature to her. Her cheeks become warm and she allows her chin to drop as his hands return to his sides. "Thank you," she replies softly. "For… everything." Her smile virtually glows. "I will, honestly consider it. The offer… it's generous."
It's only then that she realizes something, her eyebrows lift at Victor's attire, "Oh my goodness, Victor, please tell me I didn't pull you away from something important — "
*
"Oh, this." Victor looks down at himself as though he's seeing what he's wearing for the first time. "No, I had a dinner elsewhere tonight and I was debriefing with an advisor when you came in so unexpectedly. Actually, you saved me," he adds, with a laugh. "It was drier going than the beef — that's what I get for eating at the British Embassy instead of here, where we know how to cook. Besides, Sue."
Victor shoves his hands in his pockets and looks a little sheepish, shrugging like a schoolboy. "I can't think of anything short of war breaking out that I'd put ahead of you. Selfishly. That's all it is. Selfishness. I like to see you."
*
The healthy glow of Seo's cheeks doesn't let up at the last. Her response reflects her surprise. "W-well," she stammers quietly. "I.." her eyes lid lightly and her lips clamp shut while her lips tug into a shy smile. And, with the grace exuded by so few, she replies gently, "You're very sweet. And, as I said before, incredibly kind. I'm glad I could rescue you from a banal conversation about the British as even a fraction of my appreciation. I'm putting you out. Thank you, Victor. Truly."
*
"You're always welcome." Victor opens the door before them to let Sue into her suite. "Your rooms. I hope they are to your satisfaction. Your staff await you, they will provide you with your keys and your embassy pass. I fear I can only spare two at the moment, but the maid will see to your personal needs and the manservant will run your errands and do any research you might need. Please, make yourself at home. I hope you do feel it a little — at home. I want nothing more."
*
"I don't…" Sue stares at the room. "Staff are unnecessary, but thank you." And then, rather impulsively, she throws her arms around Victor in a hug that is released moments later. "Sorry. I…" her eyes clamp shut "…I really appreciate this. Genuinely. Not just lip service. Truly. If there's something I can do to make it up to you… please. Let me know. Please." She repeats the last. "I… should…" she motions further into the room. "And let you rest as well. I came late. It would behoove us both to call it a night."
*
Victor is startled but recovers enough to hug Sue back briefly. "You owe me nothing," he says with great sincerity. "I haven't been this happy in ages. Consider the offer, that's all I ask. Take your time."
He gives her a real bow, graceful in spite of his dishevelled clothing. "I'm at your service. Sleep well, Sue."
*
"I will. At length. I promise." Sue returns the bow — she's become rather practiced in diplomacy — before Victor retreats. Confusion and fatigue pull on the corners of her mind as she strolls to the bedroom of her 'rooms' in the embassy. She inhales a slow measured breath as the emotions and events of the day wash over her once more. The need to be appreciated runs deep. And, for the first time in a long time, she feels like she has choices.
But for now. Sleep.