Everybody's Got A Dark Side - Can You Love Mine?

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

(Yes, I totally stole the song for this, 'cause it's awesome and you're awesome for showing it to me. This is now their sibling song. *nodnod*)

Erika had avoided bringing this certain topic up to her sister; There was plenty of other things that was more important to discuss between the two of them, but this was what had been occupying Erika's mind the most, and having a mind reader for a sister made things a little harder to avoid.

Sliding into her sister's bedroom, once again without knocking, because really, Eri wasn't known for knocking, the brunette pressed her lips together as she moved to stand in the center of the room. Swaying a little, Erika sighed. "So, uh, there's something I've neglected telling you," she began, well aware that by that statement alone, her sister would start digging through her mind, so instead, she quickly followed it up, "It's about Trevor. Obviously," she added with a nervous laughter.

"He asked me to move in with him. Like, in an apartment." Without waiting for a response, Erika moved over to her sister's bed and sat down at the edge. Folding her hands in her lap, Erika pursed her lips, "And I sort of, kind of already said yes," she added with a sheepish smile. "And before you tell me what a horrible idea it is, and that it's too early, I already know and we already talked about that. I mean, we sort of live together already and we'll have separate bedrooms and all." Ha, as if. "And with what'll happen after graduation and once the next semester starts up again, I think it'll be good to get away a little and not continue living at the school, you know?"

She fell silent after that. She was entirely sure how Elsa would react; Either she'd go the route of telling her something along the lines of 'whatever makes you happy', or ask a lot of questions that would either make Erika doubt her decision, or make her have to defend herself. Or maybe a different approach altogether.

"And I just realized that I've completely neglected to ask about what you think about the relationship, though... That- I mean. I'm happy, you know? It's so... It's not complicated." Gawd, she was rambling. "And... I don't- I haven't been this happy, or felt this free of troubles - all things considered - in a very long time."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Of course Erika would just barge into Elsa's room. At least this time she wasn't laying on the bed bemoaning her usual headaches. They had, for the most part, started to ebb by now, and she only needed the medication she'd appropriated every once in a while. No, instead she was sitting at her newly improved laptop, finishing the setup and getting things together. Elsa turned as her sister entered, a quip about people not feeling the need to knock fresh on her lips. It stopped there as Erika spoke: neglected to say.

So Elsa remained quiet, looking to her twin with raised brows. move in with him, in an apartment. Move in with the boyfriend that she'd only known for a few months. That sheepish smile told Elsa volumes: even Erika realized how incredibly foolish that sounded. Already talked about it, pointing out their current situation, which hadn't exactly lasted long. Elsa had pretty well intended to get them moved away from each other as it was. however, she could understand Erika's desire to get away from the school, even with her position as Headmistress. Elsa could see things lining up though: Erika moving away, Elsa staying out of duty. Wasn't that a wall being erected between them, built by Trevor, of all people?

No, Elsa shouldn't think of it that way. She knew something like this would've happened eventually. Erika was always going to be the one who parted with her twin first. Holding on would be selfish, tempting, but selfish nonetheless. Elsa held her silence through Erika's, remaining so even as Erika continued. Happy, not complicated, this last had Elsa smiling.

"Not complicated? You fell for someone you were kidnapped with who is a known dealer in the criminal underworld," she pointed out. "You've got plenty of troubles there, and if they're not there now they will be at some point in the future," Elsa looked away for a moment, remembering her conversation with Trevor, how he'd promised never to hurt Erika. She really wished she could believe that. "But you're an adult now, supposedly capable of making your own decisions," she looked at Erika with a raised brow there, as if half challenging the statement. "You certainly don't need to ask me for permission. I'm going to be working for you, remember?" Okay, that was a bit of a low blow, really. Elsa usually didn't throw those at her sister, but then again, her sister didn't usually hide major decisions from her and then spring them like this, so Elsa considered it pretty well even.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"What he does when we're not together has nothing to do with me," Erika pointed out. She wasn't one of those girls that wanted to control their significant others, and although it wasn't a perfect situation nor a perfect relationship, Erika trusted him. "And I don't consider them troubles. Why? Because I trust him enough for them not to be, or become." If they ever did, she was sure the two of them could work it out. Maybe it was naive, and maybe it wasn't. Quite frankly, Erika didn't care.

Arching her eyebrow, Erika tilted her head to the side. "I'm not asking you for permission," she said, sighing as she turned her head to look away. "I wasn't aware that I had to," she added. She wasn't even go down the road of commenting on what her sister had added last, as much as she wanted to. It wasn't worth it. As much as Erika wanted to be petty and point out that she wasn't the only one to make bad decisions, she wouldn't. She wouldn't sink to that level. She was going to be better than that.

Drawing her breath, Erika shook her head. "I'm not asking you, Elsa. I'm telling you. I'm telling you what's going on and what might happen in the future," she said with a sigh, "And if you can't talk to me without throwing petty comments at my face, then I might as well just leave right away." With that, Erika stood up. She understood that springing this upon her sister would bring certain emotions, but that didn't give Elsa the right to throw their future positions at her like that. It wasn't like Erika had chosen that kind of future for herself.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Of course what he does matter: don't be that naive," replied Elsa, not willing to give her a bit there. As for the trust, she had to pause, looking at her sister at that. Did Trevor deserve Erika's trust? Elsa couldn't be sure, and since she wasn't, she didn't feel like she was in any position to judge them or their relationship. That was the problem, as far as she saw: she only knew what she knew, and it didn't feel like enough to comment. How could her sister be moving this quickly with someone though, pulling away from her so quickly?

"You don't," said Elsa, actually sounding slightly offended, "that's what I was--" Elsa stopped as Erika flat out said she was telling her. Of course she was: they both knew that. Elsa felt those words rising to her lips, but she managed to swallow them, especially as Erika pointed out that Elsa was doing precisely that. Elsa rose as Erika did, reaching out to grab her arm.

"Don't leave," she said, speaking quickly, "you know how I am, especially when you put me on the defensive like this," she pointed out. "I'm sorry," she meant it, "but think about it. How would you react if I came to you and told you that I was moving away from you with someone you barely knew who may or may not be shady? We just put things back together, Erika, and there's so much changing..." Elsa dropped her sister's hand, turning and looking away for a moment. Great, another little bit of vulnerability. Dammit, it wasn't fair that Erika could just scrape it all away like that. Elsa was supposed to be the one who had everything together...

...dammit all.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"No, it doesn't," Erika argued. "Why? Because it doesn't affect anything. Not my feelings and not the way he treats me," she added. "If that makes me naive, so be it. I'm happy, Elsa. Isn't that the most important thing regardless of how long--" she paused, "-or short it lasts? For the first time in a really long time I'm happy. Really, truly and wholeheartedly happy." She hadn't been this happy with Everett; Things had been too messy for that. Too complicated. Same with Felix. With Trevor though? She had never felt anything alike. It was consuming, and she let it be.

Turning as she felt her sister's arm on hers, Erika sighed. She wasn't mad. Not really. How could she be? This was Elsa. Her twin sister; The one person that no matter what loved her to no end and looked out for her. "I would be happy for you, Elsa," she said, feeling her voice weaken by the second. "And that's the thing though; You don't know him." Falling silent, Erika looked away again. It took her a moment to realize, but when she finally did, Erika pursed her lips as she took a step away. Turning around to properly face her twin sister, Erika shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"That's what this is about, isn't it? You're afraid I'm leaving you." Moving forward, Erika lifted her hands to cup her sister's face, and unless Elsa moved away, Erika remained doing so. "I'm not leaving you. This does not - and will not change anything." Her voice shook, but the meaning was clear. "I have your back, Elsa. Just a few miles between us won't change that. Nothing ever will; Not a boy, not a new living arrangement, and..." she trailed off there. Licking her lower lip the telekinetic sighed.

"You're my person."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Of course Elsa had a retort ready for the comment. Easy to point out how Erika could essentially be signing up to be a mob wife or something. Happy, truly happy, but hadn't it nearly been that way with Everett? Hence the whole desire to run to France or what have you. Things had been complicated with Felix though but... wait, consuming? Elsa nearly frowned, already fully believing that her sister was all too aware that she was sifting through thoughts.

Happy for her, of course Erika would be. She was the naive happy sister. Elsa was tempted to point that out, say something along the lines of now pretend you were me or something. As for the knowing, again, Elsa found words at the tip of her tongue. She knew him, if only a little. And how well could Erika really know him, after so short a time together? They'd fallen in love in the foxhole. All these thoughts chased one another around the main one in Elsa's head, the one that Erika apparently picked up on.

"I'm the mind-reader," Elsa reminded her sister, keeping her voice flat and even. She wasn't going to break down and cry this time: her head didn't throb nearly as bad and she hadn't killed anyone lately. Erika cupped Elsa's face and Elsa rolled her eyes. "You saw right through my carefully constructed ruse, whatever shall I do?" she dead-panned, even though the words were achingly close to the truth. "I really am worried about you too, you know," she met her sister's eyes. "You keep doing stupid things for happiness and love, and I can't help but be worried and want to make sure you don't end up hurting yourself." There, that was truthful, also might show a little more of Elsa's doubt over this whole thing, but she wasn't going to quite point that out, not while they were having such a touching moment.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Smiling meekly at her sister's comment, Erika opened her mouth to speak, but quickly shut it again as she rolled her eyes. "Don't be sarcastic; It's not cute at all," Erika drawled, "You'd be much cuter if you smiled more," she added with a shrug. Ignoring her sister's comment, Erika moved her fingers to her sister's lips, where she stuck both of her index fingers against the corner of Elsa's mouth and tugged them lightly upwards, "What did I say? Yes, much cuter." With that out of the way, and as a way to avoid getting slapped - or worse, Erika stepped back and let her arms drop to her sides.

"Better to try and fail than to never try at all," Erika pointed out as she smacked her tongue against the back of her teeth, "And you know, the more you pull, the more I'm going to push." She was childishly stubborn after all, and Elsa knew that. "I love you, I really do, but you need to learn how to let your hair out. Take chances. Be foolish." Of course, Erika knew that she was speaking to deaf ears and that she probably would get nothing in return but a sarcastic response or maybe an eyeroll. But it was still true; Elsa was stuck up, whether or not that was a choice.

"Look," Erika began, "I get it. I really do, but Elsa.." she trailed off, offering her sister a faint smile. "He's not a bad guy. I promise you that, and just because a few rumors say otherwise... You know very well how made up some of those rumors can be." Was she really walking on sunshine and living in a fairy tale wonderland? Perhaps, and maybe that wasn't such a bad change of pace.

It was odd though, how easily the words flowed when around her sister. She had such difficulties expressing herself with other people, and when around her sister... None at all. "I'm crazy about him."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Sarcasm isn't adorable? No wonder I can't get any action," deadpanned Elsa again. Fingers were on her lips, and her eyes were soon narrowing threateningly. Anyone else, there wouldn't have even been that little warning: there would have been a slap and potentially some good old fashioned mind raping. This was her sister though, so even when Erika moved Elsa's lips in a smile, all she got was the most sarcastic look that eyes could manage.

Try and fail, push, and yes, yes Elsa did know that. Though she could've done without yet another suggestion that she "let her hair down." Felt like every other person Elsa spoke with suggested the same thing; got a little tiresome after a while. And yes, yes she did realize that when that many people suggested something, the problem was likely somewhat real.

At least Erika got it, though she also believed wholeheartedly in Trevor. "We spoke," said Elsa, barely waiting for the "I'm crazy about him" part to pass Erika's lips. Elsa waved a hand, "I was... appropriating some migraine medication after the whole kidnapping business and he was there, looking for drugs to sell," she looked away for a moment, wondering how to phrase this. Should she fry Trevor? Erika wouldn't believe it, so probably best to just go for the truth. Elsa had to fight laughter at that thought... only with Erika. "He offered to cover for me; I essentially threw drugs at him and told him he was a drug-dealer. He promised never to hurt you," Elsa shrugged then looked back at her sister with a half-apologetic smile. "Standard conversation with your paramours, really. No confessions of love this time though, which is probably for the best, considering..." No, she wasn't going to say that. Erika knew that Elsa sometimes picked up residual feelings. The last thing Elsa needed was her sister knowing that something akin to feelings had awoken in her with regard to Felix. That was the last thing either of them needed.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"Appropriating," Erika repeated, "I'm sure." Really though, she knew how Trevor appeared to his peers. She didn't blame them for thinking he was shady. She had too when she had first met the younger boy, but oh, hadn't he proved her wrong in a million ways? Oh well. "He is a drug dealer," Erika said, arching her eyebrow, "And yes, he wouldn't hurt me." Not that she was aware of, anyways. However, at the confession comment, Erika frowned and looked away. Ah yes, the c word that seemed to be brought up a lot more than what Erika felt comfortable with. "Considering what?" she asked, but didn't wait for a response as she moved again.

Walking across the floor, Erika kept her eyes fleeting; Never really resting at one spot for long enough to focus on anything. She trusted her sister. She wasn't worried. She never really was, but even so, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling just as much as she couldn't pin point why it was there to begin with.

In a way, she wanted Elsa to like her significant other, but on the other hand, maybe it was better that she didn't. Because then it would keep Erika on her A game. Not that she really thought Trevor would hurt her, but she had thought the same thing about various other people, Ellen, Everett, Felix, Franck... And yet, here she was. Each and every person (Except Elsa) seemed to find a way to get under her skin and even if it wasn't intentional, and even if it was her fault to begin with, it always ended the same way. Over and over again.

"We talked, you know. Felix and I," she said, turning her head to look at her sister. "We decided that it was better for us not to be friends at all. I can't help but shake the feeling that I really dodged a bullet..." She smiled a little at that. Not a genuine, happy smile. More so a sad one, "During his speech... The only thing I could think about was how..." she trailed off and scrunched her eyebrows, "Was how weak he sounded. It was almost... Disgusting, in a way." Did that make her a horrible person? "After everything I've been through- we've been through, that was what mattered?" she snorted at that, shaking her head. "Better watch out, sister, looks like I'm about to steal your title of being the bitch sister."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa shrugged. "As long as you know what he does and don't care, then it doesn't bother me,' which was only partially a lie. It bothered Elsa in what it could potentially do to the Bellefonte name. But honestly, what else could they possibly do to their name? and hadn't the two of them spent nearly every other conversation talking about how they sometimes wished they could blow the name to smithereens?

The considering part Elsa simply waved off. Whatever was there could wait for another time and date; this certainly wasn't a time to be bringing in any of those... emotions. They had quite enough on the docket with Erika's leaving, the introduction of Trevor... and Elsa realized that she hadn't exactly sounded supportive. "Look, about--" she began, only to find that Erika was mentioning Felix.

Great, just what Elsa wanted to talk about. She found a spike of strange emotion coming up then a little... anger. Of course Felix had sounded weak; his feelings had gotten involved and he'd been crushed. "I don't think--" began Elsa, biting her tongue almost literally and looking away. "You know, I really don't think it matters what kind of strength or what happened to him. It pales in comparison to what happened to you, and that should definitely have taken the forefront. Remember though," she looked back at Erika, "he did volunteer to go save you," and Elsa put him in danger, which was certainly not something she wanted to think about. She'd do it again; she'd told everyone that. The person who mattered the most to her, conflicted emotions and all, lay within arm's reach of her.

"And you certainly don't have to worry about taking my title any time soon. I'm definitely willing to defend it. But, if you'll excuse me for stealing the conversation again," she paused for a moment, hoping for a nod or a gesture, though she'd continue regardless, "with Trevor I'm... cautious, but you seem happy, Erika. You know that I'm going to support anything that makes you happy. You just can't expect me not to be cautious until I get to know him, and please don't ask me to take it solely on your judgment. I love you, and I want what's best for you, and for all we know, he's it." Elsa finished, looking away again. There, that seemed... like the right thing to say. She really hadn't decided on Trevor; he had a lot to prove as far as she was concerned.

Then again, anyone who wanted to date Erika Bellefonte had a lot to prove in Elsa Bellefonte's eyes. That was pretty much how it worked.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"But that's the thing though," Erika said and looked at her sister with a deadpan expression, "It does matter. Maybe not to me, and maybe not to you, but to everyone else it does. I don't know if it's their way of escaping reality; Like a way to avoid dealing with it, but no one cares what happened there, at the SPECTRE headquarters. No one cares what we went through. They care only about what happens now; What they can see and interact with." Erika looked away and rubbed the back of her neck. "I know he wanted to, and I would have done the same thing had the roles been reversed, but what does it matter now? People wants to do a lot they can't or don't." She wasn't really sure where she was going with this.

Truth be told, Erika wasn't entirely sure how she felt with anything. Generally speaking, anyways. She was confused and she was just so mad at everything. She was exhausted and just wanted some peace and quiet from all the drama and the trouble. She just wanted a calm, normal life, but even she knew that was too much to ask for. With their last name plastered all over the school, they would most likely never get a shot at a normal life, would they?

Erika looked at her sister again when she asked to speak, knitting her eyebrows ever so slightly. A smile crossed her lips as her sister said what she had to said and Erika reached out, brushing Elsa's hair out of her face, "I know," she said softly, "And I know it's not right to ask you to, or even expect you to be okay with it and keep your mouth shut, I'm just so... Tired. Tired of people talking to me like I'm incapable of making my own decisions. Tired of people doubting them and just..." she sighed.

She didn't know. She just wanted people to butt out and leave her alone. But this was high school. There was a blog that more or less seemed to hate her and everyone she touched and there was all the drama... Maybe it was too much to ask for, that people would leave her alone.

"Thanks," Erika said, "For having my back. I might not show it a lot, but I do appreciate that, and everything you do for me."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa listened while Erika pointed out that to the rest of the school it mattered. She listened quietly, keeping a level expression, even nodding in a few places. Wasn't hard to understand after all; people did want to run away from things. Focus on prom, focus on teenage drama. On the one hand, Elsa didn't blame them. On the other:

"Fuck them," she said simply, dismissing public opinion with two words. For Erika? Certainly. Elsa could smooth over whatever bumps her sister came across or brought up. That was how they worked, and it worked brilliantly. Worked when Elsa gave her little spiel on Trevor, enjoying the smile and the little gesture. She could understand the frustration, especially on Erika's part. Her social life had become the gossip blog's favorite chew-toy, though Ellen's wasn't too far behind. Elsa felt some of that frustration herself, and she knew it wasn't entirely spill-over from her sister and all those dark thoughts.

"You're welcome," Elsa replied, her voice slightly light. "Of course, now I can't say the same, or I'm obviously just copying you. I will say this though: if you'd like, I could personally," she paused for a beat before continuing: "hire someone to beat the living daylights out of the people that think you're incapable of making your own decisions. Or if you'd like," she smiled teasingly, "I could make that decision for you."

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Two words was all it took and Erika was grinning. It wasn't a happy, joyful grin. It was more of a snarl than anything else. "Easier said than done," she said and shook her head. If she could, Erika would single handedly take down Dirty Laundry and her blog. She knew the school had tried before, bringing in all sorts of people, but whoever Dirty Laundry was, she knew what she was doing and she knew how to hide her tracks. Or that's what it seemed like anyways. Unless DL was more than one person, which was likely too.

"As tempting as that sounds, I think I'd rather deal with the gossip and the rumors than having the school turn into some freaky mob crime scene," she said, though chuckling a little at the idea.

Another thought crossed the brunette's mind as she turned to look at her sister, eying the image of herself from top to toe before drawing her breath, "You do know that we'll be running this school together, right? The title might have been given to me, but I want us to be equals. If that's what you want, anyways... I know there's never been a divided rule over a school before... But then again, mutant schools aren't like other boarding schools." Then again, Erika was one hundred percent sure Elsa would be there anyways, every step of the way. Or.. So she hoped anyways. "I want to do it with you."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa actually found the blog to be useful from time to time. She couldn't quite keep tabs on everyone at the school, not without some help, and DL provided that help without having to cost her a thing. She just would've preferred if it didn't feel it necessary to air Bellefonte laundry too well. Didn't stop her from joining her twin in a smile.

One that threatened to grow as Erika chuckled, obviously finding Elsa's suggestion at least partially humorous. Nice to know that Elsa could still manage that in her sister. The next thought though, the one that Elsa caught just before Erika spoke, that nearly had Elsa frozen in place. She stared at her sister while Erika outlined a plan that very nearly gave Elsa everything that, at some level, she wanted, thought she deserved. Equal ruling over the school, equals. So much potential there, and who could prove that it should be done better than the two of them?

"Erika, I'm perfectly happy with you up front and shining," insisted Elsa, half-meaning it. She was used to it, if nothing else. "We both know I do better hiding in the shadows where nobody knows I exist. This last thing, the whole SPECTRE mess, that sort of proves it..." she trailed off. Or it proved that Elsa could certainly lead the school in time of trail. She shook her head, sighing. "This is all far too heavy to think about right now. We've got time. You," she pointed, raising her eyebrows, "should be far more worried about upcoming social events. You're Miss Social Butterfly, after all. Plus you'll have to show you're all dedicated and crap, since you're running off with your mobster boyfriend."

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Sighing, Erika shook her head, "No," she said, "If life has learned me anything, it's that there is no either or between us. Apart, we're completely different people with different talents, and together... We cover all the bases. I'm not asking because I want to be nice or because I don't think I can do it. I ask because I think that's what is best for the school. I don't want you in the shadows. I want you to be out there just as much as I am." Erika's expression was void of any emotions, but serious; She had been thinking about this for a while now and she knew this was for the best. "Together we might be able to make a difference."

"At the beginning of the school year, I will be inviting the students to the auditorium where I will be answering all kinds of questions and concerns regarding the future of the school. I would love it if you would be up on that stage along with me." As much as Erika wanted to run away, and would probably spend the entire summer doing just that, there was no escaping this. She had no choice. All she could do was at least be grown up enough about it to make the right decisions. This, having Elsa rule the school with her was the right decision. She was certain of it. "We should also think about getting a 'council' of some sort. Like a... School board with people we trust to help us make the best of everything."

"And he's not my mobster boyfriend." She grimaced at the word 'boyfriend'. The word still felt alien to her, and it didn't taste right. No, she much preferred partner or significant other over... Gah, it sounded so childish calling him her boyfriend, because he was so much more. But, there was no point in getting into that now. "What do you say?"