sentiment [C]

Normally she would have addressed him somehow, not in a friendly manner but one of acknowledgement. Turning at the sound of his so called greeting, her lips would part to say his name but for some reason stopped hesitantly. Watching him made her feel somewhat guilty for her failure, her emerald eyes tracing over the mess that was his appearance. His spirited energy looked to have drained from his voice and the exhaustion showed on his face. It was strange for the ranger to feel as if she missed Adrien's stupid antics and she'd never say anything of the sort either.

She wouldn't move as the man approached and sat next to her, still unable to say much as the silence settled in. She took notice of the fact that he did not make much eye contact with her and chose to stare into the stance instead. This would have been fine it it had not been for his attempt at making small talk with her. Adrian turned her head to face him, her eyes seeking to get some sort of acknowledgement as she spoke. "Don't give me that shit Arkwright." Because it didn't matter how she had been. Despite the harsh words her tone wasn't all that aggressive. It was not in her nature to comfort other people and thus Adrian didn't try to do so, yet it was hard to scold him here.

Releasing a sigh, she'd lean forward and rest her elbows on her knees, keeping an eye on Adrien as she did so. "You look like shit. Are they not getting any better?" What she expected was for Adrien to be drilling her for information. Seeing him like this threw her off and honestly made her want to punch him in the face. Then her memory reeled to the fact that Liam was still on the loose which had her speak again. "Or did something else happen?"

Even his smirk was halfhearted to the point Adrian brushed off easily, not even giving him a proper response to that question. What he would normally call 'playful banter'? It lacked anything playful about it. Credit for trying maybe but it was as if he was begging for help or sympathy. In fact everything about him looked and felt lethargic. Rubbing her eyes to clear any tiredness of her own due in part from looking at Adrien, she'd let him take his time. He'd murmur something and the ginger could only say she heard the words due sitting directly next to him. Of course she didn't believe what she heard anyway so she might as well have not heard them to begin with.

He was losing sleep, that much was obvious whether it was due to the sleeping conditions or otherwise. Despite herself she'd take what he said at face value. For a moment she'd think over her position - what she could help with. Suggesting having him rest up somewhere that wasn't the hospital ward and that she'd take over watching them temporarily was a possibility. After all while this was in no way her personal problem there were pangs of regret. She should have been faster, she should have caught him, she should have been able to do more. Either way as of now the woman felt there was no possible way he was ready to hear the details of that night much less do anything about it.

This much was further established with the next thing that Adrien said, his words causing the woman to feel annoyance run through her veins. There was no way he meant that right? "What do you mean probably? Weren't you with them the entire time?" She snapped instinctively, her volume raising higher as she sat up. For once she didn't want to yell at him but he was not leaving her with much choice. He was supposed to be with them and by their side. How did he not know?

It didn't make sense to her. When she first saw him the same day the two were sent into the ICU, he wasn't like this. He was in a panic and demanding answers from her. That was the Arkwright she expected to be facing her now, not the hollow shell of him. What could have possibly changed between then and now? "Don't make me do this Arkwright. I’m not good at comforting people." Truthfully that was also one of a ranger's many duties - to ease people and convey information calmly. That was never Adrian. She doubted she could do this for even her best friends or family, let alone someone like Adrien who had until this point taunted her to no end.

What would be the best way to approach this? Honestly all she wanted was answers, his feelings be damned. "What happened to you? And don't fucking lie to me."

He threatened her, albeit jokingly, with water and ice for her attitude. It didn't stop her in the slightest, the woman giving him a stern look for the comment. Keep in mind that if he had actually managed to get a bucket of ice water somewhere then she actually would have let him dowse her if only to make him feel better. Among the grumbling and despair, she waited for more witty banter... but it didn't come. Truly the woman was hopeless when it came to lightening the mood. She'd shake her head in disappointment right as Arkwright spoke. 'Deserved an explanation' he said. An explanation was the least she earned here. Yet she'd release a sigh, breaking the heat from the rage to prepare for whatever he had to say.

As Adrien spoke of Leah, recollections of her face that night would flash in her eyes. How she screamed for her not to shoot and how she reacted afterwards. The thought that her brother didn't get through to her wouldn’t surprise her in the slightest. What did shock her was the next set of news. The happy couple, during a time that it was most important to be together, separated. He would claim he 'kinda wanted to' which the woman didn't believe for a second. Her concern shifted from Adrien and went to Jason, pondering how he was holding up. Rather than Adrien being by his side, he was all alone with no support during his recovery - an awful feeling.

Still Adrian would say nothing to allow the man to recollect himself, her emerald eyes finally shifting away towards the expansive sky once recognizing that the indigo haired male was not going to meet her gaze. Really, she wanted to scold him for the decision, but would let him finish dumping his feelings first. Her purpose now was to listen - no matter how stupid Arkwright was being. What reasoning did she get? A self-centered one... yet she could not all it an unreasonable assumption with what she knew so far. Before she could call him out on it on the other hand his tone shifted. The topic changed. Releasing a deep sigh, the ranger forced herself to her feat. "You know why. I'm a ranger and I can't exactly risk a civilian entering a dangerous situation being, especially with a personal interest in the matter to make them unstable, no matter how capable."

She took a few pacing steps forward, running a hand through her cascades of amber hair. He must have known that, it was common protocol for rangers and he is- was – dating a ranger. As she turned towards Adrien, he had finally acknowledged her physical presence there but what she saw in his eyes... she knew that look. It was the look of someone that would throw caution to the wind for even a strand of chance at vengeance. There was no doubting his words. He'd kill him. Or at least he'd risk himself and everyone around him trying. Perhaps Adrian had no right to stop him considering how frequently she indulged in her impulses out of anger, yet that didn't matter. She couldn't allow that to happen and watch someone sink into the empty abyss that came with it. "And you're not giving me any reason to make me think I made the wrong decision."

Her lips would press together into a thin line. Seeing him like this... isn't this playing right into Liam's hands? Not that any of this makes sense to her. First it was Adrien's grandfather and then his loved ones? How did Liam even know about Jason? "You're letting him win you know," she'd offer as an observation to maybe push him out of this behavior. At this stage Adrian needed answers. Mirroring the man's demanding voice, she'd once again try to look him directly in the eye, now standing in front of him to block the distance he stared towards before. "Look at me and tell me the truth. Why is Liam going to such lengths to get to you?" There was no way that Adrien could dodge this question anymore, not with how involved she was now.

Adrian didn't mind the rage. He was finally speaking and saying his thoughts rather than giving her halfassed answers. Overall an improvement if one were keeping score. It was an unusual side that the woman had not seen before but it was not as if the two were close to begin with. His words weren't wrong and that was as much as she could hope for at this point. That did not mean his words did not sting on the other hand. As the criticism was flung into her face, she couldn't help but bite her tongue to keep from retaliating. He was right in the fact that his desperation must have led him directly to contact her rather than waiting for the situation to matriculate through headquarters. She wasn't sure how he knew that she went in alone but she wouldn't question it as he was right about that too. Maybe Leah had told him what she had done when they had spoken to each other the day previous.

It was the truth how Adrien saw it and she could not deny him that. Adrian took his criticism for once and never broke eye contact all the while. Sure she had established what she went there to do - save the hostages no matter the cost to herself - yet the threat still remained. Regret clawed at her throat preventing her from speaking against him. A small paused formed. "You're right, maybe I should have." She shook her head, mostly at herself rather than towards him. It was not as if she was a saint that followed protocol all the time either but she'd rather be damned then allow someone else to endanger themselves.

It occurred to her that their roles reversed since they met. He was doing the yelling and she had to deal with him, which was a funny thought if not for the situation. Exhaling deeply the ginger placed her hands to her hips to support herself as she leaned in. "I did what you asked Adrien aside from that. I kept the information under wraps. I went in on my own to get them out as soon as possible rather than waiting for reinforcements. Believe me when I said I did everything I could," aside from killing him of course. She'd let the blue haired man take her words how he wanted to, still having yet to discuss the actual details of it all. But of course it all came down to the realization of it all and she couldn't defend herself here. It was the truth. "And yet I still failed you. I'm sorry."

A bitter pill to swallow. It was a reluctant apology and a rarity of one at that. Even saying those words 'I'm sorry' made her feel ill but also appropriate. He'd struggle to hold himself back and she saw this - his words beginning to sound like desperation. He tried he said. It failed him he cried. There was no doubt he wanted to take the situation into his own hands and that very thought... if he had actually done it then there was no way he was ever coming back. "But that doesn't change my mind.". She'd shove her hands in her pockets now, her right hand clutching onto her phone as if trying to will it to give her the chance to finishing the job. It was futile of course.

What was the best course of action here? What was she supposed to do or say to make this better? She wasn't going to lie. Was this when you were supposed to do something comforting like pat him on the back? Nevertheless in regards to her demand he would quiet down some but it still have her no information. Nothing to work with. Only the apparent fact that Liam was arbitrarily out to get Adrien. "Then this doesn't make any fucking sense," she seethed, unconvinced of his answer. How he was able to look her in the eye and lie to her was astonishing but perhaps it was no lie.

Regardless she backed away and let him have his space for now. If Liam was going to keep targeting Adrien then she knew the target and that he would eventually come for him again. "You should stay safe with Leah. I'll see if I can request some protection for you and your loved ones." She'd say that with some ounce of compassion in her voice, disregarding the fact this could be guaranteed. No one needed to know her position currently and if Adrien had known she was appointed commissioner then she would have never heard the end of it. "I'll take care of Liam and this time I won't let him get away. You should be with your sister when that happens." Hopefully the doctors had told him about his sister and she wouldn't have had to spill the news... if the doctors recognized it.

Pathetic was a harsh word. It was most definitely a term Adrian would have aptly used if the situation allowed for such. However in her eyes, the only pathetic individual here was herself. She couldn't help the man sitting in front of her that was suffering and in pain. If anything her presence was making things worse. Normally the ranger would not have cared however this was partially her fault, her burden to carry. The woman shut her eyes in thought, prepared for another round of scolding. When it didn't come she slowly opened her eyes to see the man no longer facing her, but rather shaking his head. He'd refuse the apology, pleading for her not to. Those passionate words weakened and were replaced with an unassuming tone which bemused her. She was so sure this was right, that the apology was the correct answer, yet once again the result made it worse.

And now he was shutting her out.

His voice was unsteady and eye contact was a thing of the past. Adrian didn't know what to do anymore. Apologizing felt terrible enough as it was. Getting apologized to from the person she had failed felt infinitely more disgusting. She wanted him to stop. She wanted him to go back to how he was and to fix this. She wanted nothing more than to go back and hate him for how promiscuous he acted. Before she had known it, the redhead had lifted her hand up and placed it on Adrien's shoulder. "This isn't like you. Stop." This was not a demand rather than a spur of the moment thought that made it through her lips.

Obviously she wouldn't accept those words - she couldn't. In any other situation she would have gladly taken her victory, yet here they felt as if they were guilt driven rather than genuine. Nothing she had done earned any of this. "You said nothing wrong. I should have been able to do more," she'd say further to back up his previous statements. Those words needed to sink in lest the memory fade. With that in mind Adrien refused her further cooperation which did not bode well for her. She was sure that Adrien's thoughts on the matter had not changed - that he wanted to kill Liam no matter the cost - and she could not have that. Nevermind her duty as a ranger, it was her duty as a human being. "You're wrong on that part though. I do have to. I don't want to see this happen again." Of course she intended to keep her word and tell him the details of that night one way or another, but before she could gather her thoughts another one was posed.... about her.

"..." Her gaze instinctively shifted away the same way that Adrien's had moments prior, the question sinking in as she backed away. Adrian didn't want to lie. The urge was tempting to give Arkwright less things to worry about, if he would even go that far to worry about her. A pause would form that would have given him the correct assumption to the answer. Realizing this she attempted to salvage it. "Nothing serious. It comes with the job." She needed to shift topics fast. "Anyway it doesn't matter. What matters is what happens next."

Adrian couldn't help but stare at the man as he motioned for her to sit by him once more. It was funny how the situation made any gesture feel different. It was unlike her to oblige these types of requests yet she complied with his offer without argument. Taking a deep breath the woman hesitantly returned to the bench, sitting down next to Adrien yet placing enough space between them not to make things more awkward than they already where. Whatever came over them needed to end. Exhaling, Adrian tried to recompose herself. The events that happened the day before, right, she needed to tell him... from the beginning. "I tracked him down to some abandoned building and found him with your sister. When I confronted him... he sounded desperate."

Cupping her hands together in front of her, she lowers her head into the palms of her hands to cover the lower part of her face. Staring into the distance with no focus, she'd speak as if to nobody rather than to Arkwright. "You know what he said to me?" A pause to give him the moment to prepare. In retrospect the answer wasn't terrible to her yet she couldn't imagine how her brother might have felt. "He wanted me to take your sister away to a hospital. He wanted me to save her." The memory flashed in her mind momentarily, the whispers of thanks from the criminal and the firing of her gun. She'd bring herself back and lower her gaze towards her hands. When it came to that point of the story, Adrian held no regrets or doubts in her decision, but she did try to skim over the fact quickly.

"I shot him in the leg after that and your sister... didn't take that well. She pleaded for me not to hurt him. There's no doubt that Liam was feeling sympathy for your sister and your sister was developing sympathy for Liam." At the time, she didn't take much stock in what Leah had said. 'Don't hurt him'. The sound of her voice and her words remained in her memory. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she turned to face Adrien. "Lima and Stockholms are a dangerous combination together. Your sister might even try going back to him. No matter what you have to watch over her and take care of her."

No matter what the case resolved to become, he needed to stay with his sister and break whatever connection that might have formed between her and Liam. Hopefully knowing this was enough to dissuade Adrien away from revenge over taking care of his sister. Even when they had run into each other weeks ago, the man was buying gifts for the woman apparently. The possibility of him being a doting brother over a potential killer had to have won out.

It just had to.

"If you have any questions, now would be the time to ask. It doesn't get any better."