(4 days before the switch)
Location: Outskirts of San Francisco, California, world of Earth.
The hum of the hybrid SUV was a low, sporadic indication of movement across the pavement as Thomas navigated the city streets, heading towards the old factory site, the furthest and most isolated of the properties she was to investigate so far. Vivian's thoughts churned, a quiet suspicion settling over her regarding Alex's sudden reticence about his personal properties. It was practically opposite to his usual, almost aggressively open demeanor.
Alex, sensing her shift in mood, leaned back, his gaze fixed on the passing cityscape. He allowed a comfortable moment to stretch, then turned to Vivian, a soft, almost contemplative expression on his face. "You know, Vivian," he began, his voice a smooth, low register, "your dedication to this investigation is truly remarkable. Most people in your position would simply follow the established protocols and stick to the obvious leads."
Vivian met his gaze, sensing his probing. "I know you're just attempting to flatter me, Alex," Vivian responded bluntly, Ben's concerns still echoing in her head. "In truth, I can become a little obsessed about solving this kind of puzzle." Then she added with her dry humor, "So, if I find out you're setting little fires on abandoned properties just because you know I can't resist…"
"Uh oh. You found me out already," Alex put his hands up in a mock surrender, playing along with Vivian's teasing. With a genuine smile, he continued "Seriously, though… your methods? They're... unique. I've been thinking about what you said about your job, about helping people during one of the worst moments of their lives. It takes a certain kind of person to rush towards danger, to face the very thing others flee." His eyes seemed to bore into hers, searching, assessing. "Was that something you always knew you wanted to do? Or was there a specific moment, a catalyst, that set you on this path?"
Vivian stiffened. The question, seemingly innocuous, felt like deliberate bait. It skirted dangerously close to the raw, unhealed wound of her father's death. She chose her words carefully. "I suppose some people are just drawn to it. A desire to make a difference, perhaps. But that's the firefighter side. The arson investigation is mostly intellectual curiosity."
Alex nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, I can understand that. But I especially know that sometimes people are motivated from a personal experience, which makes them able to empathize—to know what the consequences are when things go wrong. To know what happens when fires take more than just property." His voice was gentle, almost sympathetic, yet the words hung in the air, weighted with unspoken knowledge.
Vivian turned to look out of the window before a reaction played out on her face. Of course he'd know about Dad. She forced herself to remain calm. "I would have to agree: fires always take more than property, Alex. Like I said, fires take livelihoods, memories, and even a sense of security. Sometimes, they take lives. I'd hope most people would want to prevent that." He knows, a small, cold voice whispered in Vivian's mind. He's showing me that he knows about my father. The thought sent a jolt of adrenaline through her. But he couldn't possibly know the whole story. She had been so careful. Only Ben and Callum knew the full story, and that she was still investigating his death on her own time.
Alex's eyes softened further, a hint of genuine sadness flickering within their depths. "Indeed. The ripple effect of a single spark can be devastating. I imagine it's something you've seen firsthand, perhaps even... very early in your life." He paused, letting his words land, letting her absorb the implication. "It must be incredibly difficult to dedicate your life to fighting something that has touched you so deeply."
Vivian's jaw tightened. He wasn't just guessing. He knew. The casual empathy, the carefully chosen words—it was all a performance, a calculated reveal. He had researched her. The charming facade hadn't cracked; it had simply shifted to reveal a different, more formidable layer beneath.
"You know, Alex, most people just say, 'Sorry about your father.'"
Why? Why would he dig into my past? What would he gain from it?
Her mind raced, trying to find a logical explanation, a professional reason for this deeply personal intrusion. She had no power and was technically still an investigator in training.
So, other than rattling me, he gains nothing. As a matter of fact, he stands to lose more than gain if he aims to sow distrust.
Alex leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a confidential murmur. "I believe true dedication often stems from a profound personal connection, Vivian. A desire to prevent others from experiencing the same pain. Maybe even to bring justice, where there was none before." He watched her, his expression a complex mix of understanding and something akin to a challenge. "Am I wrong?"
"You really are trying to be Batman…" Vivian softly said to herself.
She then bit her lip, her habit she displayed in moments of deep thought or stress. "You're not entirely wrong, but you already knew that. Now I'm curious what you thought you'd gain from it."
The air in the SUV suddenly felt thick, charged with unspoken history. She felt exposed, vulnerable, yet a strange, defiant spark ignited within her. She refused to let him see her rattled. "Everyone has their motivations, Alex," Vivian continued, her voice steady despite the tremor in her inner wariness. "Mine are no different than anyone else's in my profession."
Alex chuckled softly, a low, knowing sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Of course. The law. Justice. Noble pursuits. And some are just adrenaline junkies, right?" He paused, then added, almost as an afterthought, "I've always admired people who pursue knowledge, even when the odds seem stacked against them. Even when the truth is obscured or seemingly, impossibly defying all logic." His gaze was intense, unwavering, hinting at layers of meaning she couldn't quite decipher. "Especially when it's personal."
Logic-defying knowledge? Does he… Is he talking about Aethelgard?
The silence that followed Alex's last comment stretched, taut and charged. Vivian kept her gaze fixed on the blurring cityscape, but her mind was racing, a furious current beneath a calm surface. A slow, simmering annoyance began to replace her initial shock. He had crossed a line, and she felt a growing resolve to understand his motives. She turned back to him, a challenge in her eyes.
"Do you know why I was assigned to this case, Mr. Greyson?"
"Ahh… so it's Mr. Greyson again," Alex noted after Vivian changed the way she addressed him.
He actually didn't know how she got the case originally. He did, however, know why no one else had stepped in when she was still in training—he had specifically requested she continue.
"If I had to guess, everyone else was afraid to take it? And they pawned it off of the newbie?" Alex said in half-jest.
"You're not wrong," she declared.
Alex watched her expressions. "But there's more?"
"You mean how they thought you'd end their careers if it didn't go the way that you wanted?"
Alex continued to study her, wondering where she was headed with this new line of questions. "Is that what you think? I'll end your career if I don't like what you find?"
"It's a possibility. You certainly have more clout with the city than I do as just an employee. But I still intend to do my job, regardless of whether you like the results, or not."
Alex, sensing he'd gone too far into her personal history too early, shifted slightly in his seat. He understood the delicate dance of trust, the need for reciprocity, especially with someone as perceptive as Vivian. He had pushed, and now he needed to offer something in return.
"Vivian," he began, his voice thoughtful, "I realize my questions about your past might have seemed... intrusive. And for that, I apologize. My intention wasn't to pry, but rather to understand. I have a profound belief that true insight, the kind that unlocks solutions to seemingly intractable problems, often stems from a unique way of seeing the world. A way that connects disparate elements, links seemingly unrelated sources, and discerns patterns where others see only chaos." He paused, his gaze steady on hers. "It's a drive I recognize. A drive born, in my own case, from a very early and very painful experience, too."
Vivian had a strange thought: Could he be looking for someone who could empathize?
Alex turned and continued, "I will show my trust in you and share something that almost no one else knows, okay?"
Vivian was having trouble keeping up with all of the shifts, questioning what could possibly be behind his motivations even more. "You don't have to…"
"I think… I want to. Is that okay?"