Room of Requirement

"My apologies. I was kept away by duties back at headquarters for a while." He pulls a face. "I would have sent you an owl, but I couldn't spare the time. I barely had any time to breathe, let alone write."

Her tapping on the glass speakers paused, body becoming rigid. 'You didn't think to... cooperate with me?' like a team, like you said?

Chase winces. "That was what the owl was going to be for," he explains. "I wanted to send one, but nobody would listen. I told them that I was only half of Eagle, and their words were, and I quote, 'Half is better than none'. I think they thought I was just using it as an excuse."

'And i think you're using this as an excuse too.' she spoke flatly, tonelessly. Ace continued staring in front of her, vacant.

"Ace..." Chase releases her only to move around, standing beside her instead. "I am not using this as an excuse. I am telling you what I was told. If I'd been allowed breathing space, I would have owled you in a heartbeat."

'But why wasn't i there in the first place? You just disappeared without me.' she kept her eyes trained directly in front of her, hating the fact she had to be stubborn. In all honesty, she was just hurt, not angry like she should've been.

"We weren't together when Eagle's presence was required." Chase stops himself here, he'll only dig himself into a deeper hole. He touches Ace's shoulder hesitantly. "I'm sorry. I truly am."

'What, am i supposed to be attached to your side now?' she visibly flinched at his gesture, fingers curling around the glass beakers tightly. 'For partners, we're not exactly very equal, are we?'

"I never- I don't-" Chase glances away. His shoulders slump, and he mumbles, "That wasn't my intention."

'I'm never going to be your equal though, am i?' she still didn't face him, a hot stinging sensation building in her eyelids. 'Who's ever going to respect me, when it's you that's Eagle?'

Sick guilt rolls in his stomach. Chase keeps his voice quiet, his body language submissive. "I am new to the idea of partnership," he confesses. "I have never shared duties like this before. I am well aware that I have made a mistake, and I promise it will not happen again. I will make those that matter in our job aware that Eagle is two people, not one."

'Then you have to respect me, since nobody else is going to do it.' she released her grip on the vials, gaze flickering over to his hunched form. 'They'll point at me and laugh, tell me i'm just some random crazy person.'

A few sparks of upset join the guilt. "You're not," he protests, raising his eyes to hers. "You're incredibly intelligent, and a wonderful person to be around. And I do respect you."

'It's not what your bosses will say though, is it? I mean, look at me Eagle.' she gestured to herself: wild, sinewy blonde hair that stuck out at awkward angles, and a haunted yet dazed expression constantly etched to her face. 'A straightjacket would suit me right now.'

He ignores the second part, instead focusing on the first. "I'll convince them," he says firmly. "They've trusted my judgement a hundred times over. They'll have to believe me."

'I doubt they'd beleive anything i had to say though.' she reiterated, automatically switching to a negative outlook.

"They will." Chase is firm on this point. "My appearance does not define me, nor does yours define you. As I have already said, you are intelligent and perfectly capable of convincing them that you are more than worthy of being my partner."

'I'm slightly crazy, Eagle.' she pointed out bluntly. 'That's the difference between us, in being
legitimate.'

"They'll just have to deal with it. I won't have them alienating you. I have decided that you are my partner, they have no say in the matter."

'Then stand up to them next time..' she mumbled, placing her face on the cool stone table in front of her.

Chase went to touch her shoulder again, more tentative than last time. "I will, I promise."

'Thank you.' she breathed, barely audible. Her hand reached up to her shoulder, keeping his palm trapped there. 'I'm sorry for getting angry.'

He moved closer to her again, bowing his head to kiss the back of her hand. "You had every right." Chase placed his free hand on her other shoulder, gently massaging them.

'But it's not your fault you've been busy.' she insisted, instinctively relaxing at his touch. 'You're just doing your job.'

He pressed his lips into a thin line, a dozen different responses passing through his thoughts. In the end, he simply kissed her hair and mumbled, "I'm sorry," again.