xp_logs | Nathan and Ororo | Saturday (Reply)

Nathan prepares something for the mission. Ororo is very glad she decides to check on him while he's working.

It had been entirely too long since he'd done any significant work with explosives. Oddly, Nathan realized that he'd missed it. It was an art, after all, he thought dimly as he carefully crafted the explosive charge he would be bringing with him to Campbell's lab. Too little and you didn't get the job done. Too much, and you overdid it, damaged what you didn't mean to damage.

Too little, too much. Such a fine line between the two.

Ororo wasn't an expert in explosives - not even close. Which was why she was very grateful and more than willing to have Nathan take care of that particular part of the mission objectives. It didn't mean she wasn't going to check in on him, of course... she was still team leader and they were all under a considerable amount of stress. Approaching the area where the telekinetic was hard at work, Ororo glanced over his shoulder, a frown coming over her face as she saw what he was working on. "...Nathan?"

"Ororo." He didn't quite mimic her questioning tone. "Yes?" He kept right on working. If there was one thing he did not do with explosives, it was sloppy work.

"Are you sure that is the correct amount of material to be using in this specific instance?"

'Isn't that a little too much Semtex, Nathan?' 'Why yes, yes it is.' "You're concerned," he observed instead, his voice very even. "Why?"

Ororo tilted her head; though her first instinct was to reach out and place a hand on his shoulder, she knew this was not the time for such gestures. "This is a very difficult mission. Both for logistical and personal reasons. I am concerned about every team member accompanying me." Especially the ones with the ability to blow up the entire compound.

"Very wise of you." It might have been mocking, if his tone hadn't been quite so mild. "But don't worry. This will do exactly what I mean it to do. Precision is important when dealing with explosions."

"Yes, I am sure it is. And what you mean it to do is..?"

Blow the bastard into tiny little chunks, informant or no informant, part of Nathan snarled viciously. He ignored it. "Make George's death 'look good'. Since we owe him for the information," he said, still mildly.

She felt like a teacher with a willful student, albeit one with many more years of experience than her in this particular field. "Nathan... you told me not too long ago to save my anger for those who truly deserved it," she murmured. "But I think we must also remember to temper that anger with caution. Killing George will not undo what has happened. And I do not think you want his death on your conscience."

Pete would be substantially pissed at you if he knew you were even considering this, Nathan's conscience, having been evoked, added helpfully. Nathan's expression tightened, and he picked up the knife, slicing half the Semtex away in one practiced move.

Ororo didn't even want to know how 'good' George's death would've looked without Nathan's adjustment. She had enough on her mind causing her stomach to churn already. "Thank you," she said in a low voice, and after watching his hands for a moment more, turned to go.

"Only because you asked," was the reply, substantially colder than Nathan's last comment had been.

Then I am very glad I did so. Maybe Pete will buy me a drink.