We Don't Burn.... We Prosper

Coralee was in her brothers room, fussing - rearranging the items on his bedside cabinet and dresser anxiously whilst she waited. General tidying. Not giving him a moment as he entered the room before speaking, "You do not have to do this. I made it clear to that bitch that you and Hudson were not to play sacrificial lamb. I do not want you to do this."

“You fret too much, sister. It will be fine.” Ezekiel insisted. “Hudson and I will be fine.”

"You are both wreckless, you are both idiotic to be agreeing to this stupid plan. Even if you walk away, what happens afterwards? The blonde bitch expects us to go head to head with Zurich?" She swallowed. "Or it goes wrong and I will be burying you both."

“This is not the first nor the last time I have been used as canon fodder. And I’m still alive. I promise you I’m rather good at keeping myself safe. As is Hudson.”

"This is the first time the two of you have done it without Malachai. Two stand less of a chance, compared to three."

“We are better off without him. We shall be fine.”

"That's such a horrible thing to say," She argued quietly.

“You’ll understand the gravity of his betrayal one day.”

"I don't wish to mourn anymore family, Ezekiel. What is so wrong in that?" Coralee swallowed. "I was supposed to have led that meeting, but you and H agreed to something I clearly disapproved of. It was humilating."

“And this is where your naivety is showing through, sweetheart.” Ezekiel frowned, moving to squeeze his sisters shoulder. “We didn’t have a choice. Agreeing to it saves face. But both Hudson and I were acutely aware that Nash wasn’t asking us. It was a veiled order. We were doing it whether or not we agreed…”

"She is no one to order us. You and Gabriella are besotted with one another, you are hand in hand with The Board. That blonde cow is no one compared to that."

“There’s that naivety again.” Ezekiel moved to hug her gently. “As ER she can do as she likes… and if that means sticking a bright red target on my ass.”

"The others have all gone off to do shit," Coralee gulped, leaning into the hug even if she didn't blatantly return it. "You two are the only ones that have stuck around. She can't be getting you killed."

“The others are a ten minute drive away at most. And I’m not leaving you, neither of us are.”

"Ten minutes, exactly! Ten minutes is the equivalent of hours in an emergency. Ten minutes is hours, when it is only me in this place...alone."

“Just for tonight. Mother and father will be back by next week, and Hudson and I are only spending the night out. Call Phoebe, have her come over if you’re so worried.”

"I would have rather you both had my back then have to humilate myself to our sister."

“You could parade around naked and it wouldn’t humiliate you in front of Phoebe, you know that.”

"She will not feel humilated by seeing me but I would be hunilated to be at that point." Coralee snorted softly. "You two go off and get shit done, as you are eager to do. I will be the grown up without emotions, bury my face into books or... find a new academia to look into until I have to deal with it."

“I adore your over dramatics,” Ezekiel snorted.

"I am not being dramatic." Coralee mumbled, though in a lighter tone then before. Flopping down onto Ezekiel's bed to stare up at the ceiling, "I'll be waiting up until you both get back tonight."

“I have a date later, I won’t be coming home. But I’ll call you and let you know I’m okay, okay?”

Coralee was quiet for a few moments before nodding her acceptance. "Fine."

“Try doing some of that meditation thing you do.”

"Mm. Your wanting your room back, aren't you?"