The Equivalence {closed 1x1}

[MsFoxy]

The Setting

What if everything you believed in when you were young was real? What if all the myths and legends were real, and things that go bump in the night actually bumped? Fairies, dragons, ghosts, vampires, werewolves… They're all real. Can you see them? You probably haven't looked hard enough. Some are easier. That flash you caught out of the corner of your eye? Probably a pixie getting into trouble. Can't find your glasses? A ghost may have moved them for you. Some of them are harder. Ever feel like you're being watched? You probably are. And you'll probably never see who's watching you.


Sometimes, the "invisible" world can get a little out of hand, and affect the rest of us enough to make even the most oblivious person take notice. Enter The Equivalence. The force that keeps the balance between our world and theirs.

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"I should have known it'd be you," Demeter said, sauntering across the hardwood floor. The sound of her boots echoed in the bare room. Her porcelain skin was a stark contrast to her black ensemble, and her fiery hair was aglow in the evening sun. The whole room was diffused with warm coppery tones from the dirt-tinged window.


"Hellstorm, it's good to see you too. Looking lovely, as always." Behind a stately wooden desk sat a man Demeter knew well. Maybe a little too well.


She rolled her eyes at his insistent mispronunciation of her last name, but deep down she actually liked it. It was more accurate, though she'd never tell him that. "No one at the precinct would tell me who or what, and now I know why. Just go, they said, it'll be fun, they said. My ass." She sat down on a shabby chair in front of the desk and put her feet up on the corner. "So, what is it this time? Pixie infestation in the garden? Monster under the bed? Ghost haunting the girl's bathroom?"

 

[Ravenwing88]

Gabriel tossed his head back with a hearty laugh, his neck-length hair touching the back of his chair. He leaned himself forward, a sardonic smile across his lips as he rested his point chin in an outstretched palm.


“Such simple things, Hellstrom”, Gabriel said, stroking his chin. “Garden pixies, bed monsters, and ghost in the girl’s lavatory are too easy. There is no challenge to them.”


Letting out a brief guffaw, Gabriel stood from his wooden chair, tugging at his red and black pinstripe suit vest. Always one to cross casual with professional, Gabriel wore a black Rolling Stones tongue shirt under the vest. He sauntered over to Demeter, placing his body behind the woman’s chair. Gabriel took in the glow of her red hair as he placed his left hand on her left shoulder. As he leaned forward to speak into her ear, the smirk returned.


“How does full home possession sound to you?!”

 

[MsFoxy]

She turned, pulling her shoulder from under his hand. She would not be swayed so easily. She looked deeply at him, looking for any kind of tell that he was joking. But his smirk was just smug, and the glint in his eye said he was truthful, and excited.


"Possession?" Demeter raised an eyebrow at him before turning and heading towards the door. "But you know that's almost impossible. The amount of energy needed for a full house possession would be..." She turned back, just a few steps from the door. "You don't think it could be... But I thought we... It couldn't be... could it?" She took a step back towards Gabriel, thinking for a moment. There's no way... Unless... "You had better have a pretty good explanation for this," Demeter demanded, flopping down on the shabby chair again.

 

[Ravenwing88]

The smug smirk never leaving his face, Gabriel swept his hands down his torso and out towards Demeter. “Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Consider this to be another, my dear.”


Gabriel returned to his desk, picking up a weathered file folder from the top as he sat down. Flipping through the pages in the folder, the man licked his lips and made clicking sounds with his tongue. It was almost as if he was nervous about what he would find. Gabriel stopped, pulling out pages that were held together with multiple paperclips.


“Now…” Gabriel stumbled over his words. “Now… I… I really can’t explain what had happened.” Gabriel placed the pages on the desk top, turned them 180 degrees, and slid them towards Demeter. “I thought… We thought it was all taken care of. All loose ends tied up. We slipped up somewhere.” He leaned back into his chair, folding his arms over his chest. The smug attitude was beginning to dissolve. “Or did someone try to make us think we succeeded?”

 

[MsFoxy]

Demeter looked at the papers before her. Some were photos. Some were eye-witness statements. None looked good. "Gabriel, what happened here? How is this even possible? I mean, I know how it's possible, but how... how did this happen? Either we royally screwed this up, or someone, or something is messing with us. I mean, it's got his signature all over it. But I thought we decimated him. Gabriel..." Demeter looked up at him, her grey eyes were desperate, "I've never had anything come back before. I can't do this alone. I never, in a million years, would have thought I would say this, but I need you. I need you to help me get to the bottom of this. Please."

 

[Ravenwing88]

Looking at the serious and pleading expression on Demeter's face, Gabriel sat back in his chair. He knew she was right. All signs pointed to her being right. However, there was a slim possibility that kept poking him deep in his gut.


"Demeter, you sound like you are begging", Gabriel said. He swung his legs upon his wooden desk. Was he trying to make it seem like he was disinterested? "You know I don't respond well to begging. Besides, do you honestly believe it could be him? I know I might have led you down that road, but it isn't possible." He didn't want to admit it to himself, but Gabriel was genuinely frightened. "If you wanted to go mad trying to find something that is long gone, go ahead. I am done with fieldwork." Gabriel missed the fieldwork. "The only way you could get me out of this comfortable chair and out of my cozy office is to bring me proof that it is him. And that ain't happening." At that moment, Gabriel knew he was scared.

 

[MsFoxy]

Demeter looked at him, trying to keep her face calm and collected. Inside, her head was spinning. There were so many inconsistencies between what Gabriel was saying and what he was showing her. But she also knew that he was stubborn as a mule and if she didn't play him just right, he'd be of no help to her at all. And if there was one thing she was certain of, it was needing his help to fix whatever this thing had done. That's what concerned her most.


The last 5 years flooded through her head. She thought she had put it behind her. She had spend the last two years moving on with her life and seeing other people, and now, in the moment that seemed like it could possibly end the rest of her career (and possibly her life), she found herself needing the one person whom she had been trying to get away from. And that's when it hit her.


"Gabriel, you don't need proof; you already have it. You and I both know what happened that night. You also know that you and I were the only people who know what happened that night, and if you had even the slightest inkling that something may have gone wrong, that you couldn't tell anyone but me because we'd both be in jeopardy. And whether or not you care about mine, I know you care about your own ass enough to protect it. So, tell me Gabriel, why would you specifically ask for your crazy, egocentric, manic, and deranged ex-girlfriend? Why would you ask for me if you weren't already absolutely sure yourself already? I mean, why put up with me? I'm argumentative, combative, confrontational... the list goes on. Why bother? There are plenty of other young, sexy agents they could have set you up with to assist you. Why me? Because you know it's Him. And that's why you called for me." Demeter folded her arms across her chest.

 

[Ravenwing88]

Every fiber of his being wanted to argue against what Demeter just said. Gabriel knew she was right on the money. But he kept asking himself why he called her back. Gabriel could have just ignored it. Reports fly past his desk every day. The man has his pick of whatever he wants, tossing others for someone else to do. Yet, he had to pick this. Why?


The internal fight that Gabriel’s heart and mind was having could be up there with the like of Ali vs. Frazier. A part of him missed her. There was another that wanted to keep her away. That part kept reminding him of the danger he just put Demeter in. What Hell have I gotten us into again, he asked himself. He can’t pass this off to some poor rookie now. Sure, he missed it all. But this was not a job to start with!


“Like always, you are right.” Gabriel removed his legs from the desk, sat his feet flat on the floor and sat straight up. “I don’t know why I asked for proof. I don’t need it. The proof sat before me when I opened the folder. The information was clear as day.” Gabriel stood up and slowly turned to the window behind him. The dust was caked on thick. It would take more than vinegar and water to see clearly again. He let out a small sign, blowing whatever loose particles there were away.


“I have to keep asking myself why I brought you in. We both know I couldn’t pass this off. But why did I bring you in? You know you have the same problem I have. You can’t walk away now.”


Gabriel rested his left forearm on the window frame and dropped his head to his arm. “What did I do? Where did we go wrong? This shouldn’t be.” All the years of training. All the years of work. Hellstorm and Bran were too good at what they did for this to happen. And why did it take so long for Him to return?

 

[MsFoxy]

"It's not just you. But we won't know unless we get to the bottom of this. So, let's start with what we know, and what we have." Demeter grabbed the folder and started separating all the files. She handed the stack of photos to Gabriel, requesting that he hang them up so they could get a good look at them. They poured over notes highlighting this, and copying that. There were sticky notes everywhere, and sketches pinned between the photos. After the sun had set, and twilight faded to darkness, and the lights of the city were aglow, Demeter pushed back from the desk. The dusty clock said it was after midnight.


"Gabriel, I need to step away from this. And I'm starving. I'm going to Alice's. You coming?"

 

[Ravenwing88]

Gabriel had his head perched on his left hand, staring down at the jumbled pieces of paper in front of him. At this point, he wasn’t really sure if he was reading the text or just staring at it. It was all running together. There was some things that just seemed to lead to nowhere. He was beginning to feel like he was in a bad dream, repeating the same thing over and over. Demeter’s mention of food snapped him out of his daze. Gabriel’s head shot up and he looked at the woman across from him. A little smile crossed his lips.


“How do you always think about food at a time like this?!” said Gabriel, joking. He was trying to break the tension that all of the case study brought on. At least, for himself. “As long as I can get anything I want, let’s go. And leave the papers behind.”


Gabriel pushed himself up from his chair, slowly straightening his legs. His body ached from sitting so long. “We need to look at this a different way. I feel like all of the paperwork is running us through a loop of nothing. I have a thought. Think about this as we go; we should find out if the possessed have heard a name. If it is him, he would try to make himself known in some form. Do you think he has let on to a name?”


The aching man hobbled over to the door, reaching for his hat on the rack. He was seated so long, his butt hurt. Gabriel opened the door, waiting to hear an answer.

 

[MsFoxy]

"Fine. But I'm driving." Demeter smiled before walking out into the hall. Gabriel locked the office door and followed her down the short hall. She unlocked her little black Hyundai and climbed in. "It's possible. And it's not a terrible place to start. We've been staring at that file for hours now, and we're no closer to anything than when we started. But do you think they'll talk to us?"


Demeter pulled into a parking lot with only one working light. The sign above the shabby looking building declared that this was Alice's. A run-down, 24-hour eatery joint that Gabriel and Demeter used to frequent after late night assignments. "I haven't been here in... way too long." Demeter sighed as they walked through the squeaky door. The hostess, and older woman in her 50's with graying hair and a faded pink dress, grabbed two menus, before looking up. "Demi? Is that you? Is it really you? I thought you and Gabriel were... weren't... well it's none of my business, really. It's so good to see you!!" and sat them in a far corner, as usual. "Hi, Delores," Demeter said, hugging the hostess as an old friend. "We're not, by the way." She whispered in her ear before pulling away. "I'll send Barbara right over, dearies. Enjoy your meal." Delores said with a wistful smile. "I wish they would get back together," Delores muttered, a little too loud to be considered to her self. "Barbara!! Table 7!"

 

[Ravenwing88]

"I see the peanut gallery is still hopping." Gabriel shook his head in humor. Delores has always been one of his favorite people. He always appreciated the way she handled herself, no care about what others think. As he nestled himself into the familiar corner, a little twinge in the back of his mind reminded Gabriel that he both missed and disliked this moment. This whole case, only hours in his possession, was bringing back feelings that he didn't want. The sound of a coffee cup falling to the floor brought Gabriel back to the moment. Demeter was giving him a confused stare. He sat up in the booth, pulling his android from his pocket. It is something that seemed out of place for him.


"I don't know if they will talk to us. In all honesty, I am doubtful.' Gabriel put his phone down on the table and spun it towards Demeter. "The photos that the file has of the victims is actually from their identification cards." Gabriel tapped the table next to his phone. "This is what they looked like when we got their. We have both seen this before. If we can get them to give a name, we can start somewhere. But they are too fragile to push. That is where you come in... If you can handle it."

 

[MsFoxy]

Demeter scoffed, pulling the phone closer to her. "If I can handle it? What is that supposed to... oh. I see what you... Is that a... Well." Demeter was swiping through the pictures when Barbara came over to the table.


"It is so good to see you guys again! So what'll it be, the usual then? Coffee for both of you?" Barbara said with a smile. Gabriel nodded emphatically for the coffee, as Barbara flipped over the mugs on the table and poured them both a cup. "That sounds perfect, Barbara. And..." Barbara put her hand up to cut Demeter off. "I won't forget the extra syrup." Demeter smiled, and Barbara walked away to put in their order.


Demeter went back to the pictures on the phone. "You don't have a lock on your phone? I'll have to remember that for later." she smirked. "Wait a sec... Gabriel, did you see this?" Demeter slid the phone back across the table, zoomed in on one of the pictures. "All of the victims have this mark somewhere. Whether it be on their arm or on their forehead. But look closer. Do you see that second mark? Demons are too vain to remain unacknowledged for their work. We've seen that mark before. I think it's time we pay a visit to Lucie."