Dark Squire's Ultimatum

"You went out drinking with some-some nobody and Constantinople of all people." Steven turned as he finally got between the door and the woman; he needed to explain things to. Psyis attitude only confirming the suspicions that were growing in his heart, after he'd seen her dreamily looking towards the stars; she was going to leave him.

It wasn't even a question; Steven could feel it in his bones that Izime was something more than just a professional risk. Once Izime had gotten involved Psyis seemed to just forget any kind of sense, down to how she was supposed to behave. Steven had always been confident in keeping Psyis embroiled in their back-and-forth situation-ship until he'd appeared.

Fine, maybe they weren't as steady as Radiation Lad and S'rah the Martian but until a few days ago Steven had been sure that things would go back to normal. Psyis and him were just having a rough patch that would smooth itself over once she realized things were simply better with him beside her. Now instead of her seeing the right of things she was swooning over the stars; Steven's confidence shaken to his core.

"We're not doing this." Psyis denied him uselessly, turning away not wanting to listen to the snowballing thoughts in Stevens's mind, intending to just ignore him. Closing her eyes tightly Psyis knew this was the reason she'd had to refuse Constantinople; looking back Izime was nice, almost cute even in his own odd little way kind of like his bird.

Maybe in another world where she wasn't so entangled she could do more than just enjoy his company and friendship. Dig in to all the little facets of his life that he'd hidden away as he shared them with her, see the same distant planets and stars. Read into not just the mind that was hidden from her but the entire life he seemed to hide from the world. Psyis wiped her eyes as she could physically felt those thoughts barred from ever even realizing themselves as desires, the inexplicable chain she felt in her heart towards Steven making it impossible.

"Yes, we are." Steven demanded that they have a resolution of some kind, not that Psyis could stop it from happening either way. Stan had already put things in motion that would solve everything quite nicely regardless of how she thought she felt about Izime. It still bothered Steven immensely to see Psyis standing here sniffling because he'd said a few harsh words about him. Not only was she acting worse than she had when she'd tried to make him jealous dating that stupid web-slinger in New York, she wasn't faking it this time.

Psyis seemed to lose any reason when it came to Izime, even sending the city into a mild panic just so she could chase him down. Steven had excused her actions because she'd alerted them, looking back now it was easy to see her in a different light. Psyis had been love-struck standing there in that alley, lips greasy after Izime had forced her into sharing a meal with him. It had to be some power, a method of control wielded by the street crawling outcast that'd left her so brainlessly smitten. Steven had known something was wrong even before Stan had explained Izime's danger, now intending to show Psyis the same.

"Anyone would worry if the person they cared about was out throwing them back with the exorcist who torched Eden and some homeless freak." Steven took a shot at Psyis actions tonight, wanting to make sure Psyis was still sensible enough to stay on the right side of what was coming.

Psyis just blinked for a moment as she had no words, only wishing there was something different floating between Stevens two brain cells. One obviously deciding who and what were good and just, dedicated to heroics, the other deciding what was good and right for her.

Fine, Izime was still a bit shady even she had to admit that, but after tonight he seemed like a decent enough person certainly not a freak by any means. Interesting was the right term; Psyis decided after seeing Steven's reaction, Izime was interesting even if she was too hung up to be interested. So, it wasn't the least bit surprising to feel the jealousy just rolling off Steven's mind; in fact, she'd already expected it.

The truly shocking part was Steven's thoughts on Constantinople, the man was a bit rough by nearly any standard, but the wise cracking con-brit was still a force for good. The exorcist had proven his worth, had sacrificed plenty and even restored their entire timeline once at great cost to himself, losing his rank as Leader. Now it seemed just by association with this new unknown in Stan's field of vision the ex-leader had come under suspicion. Psyis clenching her teeth wondering if she had as well Steven now stopping her from opening the door.

"Stan wants to see you in the basement." Steven put his own hand over the purple and blue one, feeling a bit of resistance as he kept her from turning the handle. Hoping his warning tone would finally get Psyis attention, taking some small satisfaction in her tense reaction to his words even if she didn't look at him, "We did some digging into your new friend."

"You found something at Savior Station?" Psyis didn't bother looking up, instead focusing on how uncomfortable Steven's restraining her was making her feel. The exact opposite of all the fondly remembered butterflies shed once had, Psyis not wanting to hear the hard-lined Dark Squire that had ruined those memories. Steven now dragging down her new friend as she was unable to stop him.

Steven's mind filling with flickers of detractions and insults about Izime. Varied in depth from simple jealousy to unbridled anger; all circling between the layers he tried to confuse her with. Tossing his mind between unnecessary concern for her to valid questions that the league might ask. Psyis knowing that the ever driven and overly possessive Steven would follow Stan's every order if it involved bringing Izime down to a level that kept her on Steven's little pedestal.

"Stan has an idea on how to bring Izime in for some serious questioning," Steven was a bit sad when Psyis finally looked at him, breaking her gaze from where he was holding her hand. He'd been enjoying that familiarity, "not this cat and mouse game that he has us playing. Hopefully you can still understand why we need to bring him in, you don't even know who or what he is."

"What's that supposed to mean." Psyis narrowed her eyes, realizing there was more to Steven's stopping her. A reason she had tried to ignore burying it under her disgust at those memories, not escaping either in the end. Purple paling slightly as she realized this went beyond simple jealousy and a sense of betrayal, there was something deeper and more real behind Steven's directionless thoughts.

Steven scoffed at her reaction, the mind-reader who'd been so suspicious now acting as if all was well in the world when she still hadn't cracked the question of Izime. That creep had just needed to say a few words or smile at her; whatever the hell he'd done had turned his woman's brain to mush. All that effort Psyis had put in, all the trouble she'd caused for Voltham, and even the efforts Stan had taken to contact Constantinople all wasted. Steven irritation flaring to the point he knew he was going to come across as snappy even though he was only trying to bring Psyis back to reason.

"You've let Iz-that thing get away what?" Steven corrected himself, wanting to keep things in a certain perspective. Hoping to mentally box the psychic into thinking of Izime as a non-human through insinuation. Steven furrowed his brows as he buried those intentions under a layer of blame, "Three times now, once at the noodle shop where it obviously had better control of the situation than you, then willingly let it leave in the alley, and tonight you flipped on me and went along with Constantinople an it; you sided with them."

"Th-them?!" Psyis exhaled taking a breath after the slight outburst, finally demanding Steven say it aloud after she'd managed to even her breathing, "Steven, Constantinople once lead League Mystic, he was the ranking member for mystical, magical, or divine for everyone at Savior Orbital. This is about Izime and only Izime; he knows who we are, just say it."

Psyis knew the real issue Stan had with Izime since this whole thing had started, there was only one thing that could drive the sleuth up a wall like this. Izime having power he could leverage outside the League's control, more over it was that Izime was outside of Stan's control. Everyone in the League knew Stan had it out for anyone with what he considered to be too much power, from James on down.

Those considerations sometimes felt kind of feeble considering Dark Night was only a mortal man turned hero through his position and good intentions. The man could have just as easily gone the other direction and been an even more twisted version of The Laughing Man.

"We need to know you're going to help us, Stan's got some leads. If the Vidan Council isn't going to step in we should have free reign over what happens on Earth, this is our planet, your planet Psyis. I thought you cared what happened here?" Steven looked down his nose at the shocked alien, wondering if he was feeling remorse or regret as those red eyes blamed him. Still Stan was right Psyis needed to hear it straight, and Steven knew it was better coming from him than the old man. "There's some nobody that we can't even confirm is human, hauling who knows what off world, and selling it who knows where. The Vidan Security Council sure doesn't."

"It's batteries." Psyis refuted, knowing it was far more than just batteries, but she'd never admit it. If someone wanted to there was probably something they could build out of Izime's stock to cause trouble, bigger trouble than the box that had been labeled as security devices. The fuels along with an ignition source alone would turn his ship into a massive bomb, add all the gases and what not he might have stored away, and it was a bit scary to consider.

"You know that how?" Steven felt his grip tighten unintentionally in shock, the way Psyis had said it sounded off like she was defending Izime. Psyis was deep in denial just like Stan had been worried about, the alien favoring the off-worlder for some reason. "Seriously, you're going to take his side on this; Psyis we've already got proof he's selling fear toxin to demons."

Psyis didn't even bother hiding her sarcastic response, putting a hand on her hip as she looked away blatantly refusing to give Steven any more reason to dislike Izime. She'd already had her words over him when it came to the toxin issue and if Steven wanted details on how she'd spent her time with him he could use his own imagination.

The thessian almost wanting to explain just the littlest bits on how it'd almost wound up being a date just to snowball his little brain. Though for some reason the idea of sharing those simple moments felt incredibly intimate; nothing worth teasing Steven with no matter how badly he deserved it. Psyis only allowing the barest hint of a satisfied smirk to pull at her full lips as her silence was the only answer she'd give Steven.

"It's coming to an end and if you're going to help Stan's waiting, if not?" Steven gave an ultimatum losing his patience at Psyis silent glare; she knew something and just wasn't telling him. Steven warning his ex about the consequences of further betrayal to their expectations, "Don't bother showing up for patrol tomorrow; we don't need another risk."

"You've got to be jo..." Psyis started to refute, trailing off as she read his mind which revealed the depths of Stan's actions. There was nothing she could say that might help calm the matter if he'd involved Radiation Man, Steven was right if she wanted to have any control she needed to pick a side tonight.

Sure, she could reveal that she had been to Izime's shop, but that would just lead to Dark Night having an address to conduct this search-and-seizure. It would also just lead to a bigger problem with Steven and his issue with Izime, knowing she'd left with him from the bar and kept drinking at his 'house'. As it was though, Stan had already made up his mind to put a plan into action, so it'd likely take someone more capable that her to think their way out of its grasp.

"I'm not, Stan's not, and Radiation Man's pissed. We're planning to call Hank in so our local Ring Bearer can get some answers from the Tribunal directly." Steven lowered his tone taking careful measure of Psyis reaction to his words, looking for any signs of worry or doubt.

Hoping against hope that she'd still be the cape he knew best; that same driven girl who'd worked her butt off to beat him into the League proper. Burying his more honest thoughts under a train driving down a track of memories that burned so brightly they'd sear themselves in the thessian's heart. Victories they'd celebrated as teens against villains and the tender childish petting they'd attempted after. Moments they'd spent at galas, the feeling of his hand's running under designer lace as they'd hid among the trees in the west gardens. Steven swearing if the thessian wanted some damned bond then those moments ought to have already brand her as his

"This is already happening, so you need to pick a side. Right now." Steven put his concerns aside, wrapping his mind in the air of respect and affection that younger Psyis had earned from him. Hoping she'd not read the doubts beneath that already told Steven if he didn't get between the two, if this Izime didn't disappear, that he'd lose the thessian.

It wasn't personal or only personal, they had a good reason to put down the very real risk Izime posed. Steven just told himself this was just another benefit of being on the right side of justice. If Izime had done things properly maybe the League would have let it slide, the whole being planet side that is; Psyis would always be another matter.

The man could have let the heroes know he was acting on the planet they protected and then maybe he could have run his little stall on some moon. He hadn't so as far as Steven was concerned, he could sit in some cell until someone whose job it was to remember let his out. The cell Stan had picked suited Izime just fine, the deepest darkest hole that way he'd never find a way to sway Psyis again.

Red eyes tried to read through those memories, only catching bits of jealousy through Steven's confidence in the League. Psyis getting little about what plot Dark Night had laid out, there was likely only way to get those answers. Psyis biting at her tongue as she considered that maybe the best way to protect Izime was to just do her job. Standing beside Dark Night and the rest of the League like she was supposed to, at least there she could keep things from getting completely out of hand.

"Fine, but..." Psyis bit at her cheek as she considered her duty. If it was just to answer some proper questions then yes, Izime probably did need to come in. Izime had already hidden a fear toxin explosion; even if it was supposedly in hell, Psyis reconciling this quick betrayal, "it's only because I want to know who's on my planet. Who Steven, not a what."

There had to be some kind of oversight for that occupation. They could find an agent who was worried about safety and health with all those materials. No Izime would need more than one agent certainly, maybe an association would work; they could discuss details when she brought him in. If he was operating safely, they'd have no reason to interfere beyond personal issues, right?

Psyis tried to excuse her decision, but she knew that the most important thing was that the League didn't doubt her, she simply had to do this. It was Dark Night and Dark Squire; the same two she'd served in the League with forever and if they needed her to do it then that was what was right. Psyis took a weak breath trying to find the ground under her feet as she felt her world shake around her, a soul deep fear passing as she briefly considered her alternative choice.

If she helped Izime and the League kicked her out it would ruin her entire life. If she went against the Blane's without the majority of the League or Radiation Man, she'd risk everything. She couldn't even risk getting demoted to the Junior League, it taken her working through her entire youth until now to not just earn that spot in the League but her place here on Earth. Jamestone had finally laid off her in the press and she finally had her own little budgeted life where she could struggle on her own. Difficult as it was on her 'pay' from the various government agencies that helped supply openly acting heroes with living spaces; most of it was taken in as insurance for housing such a liability.

"Izime isn't an it, hes a nice guy. Constantinople's at least right about that." Psyis couldn't take his side, but she refused to take back her statement, red eyes matching Stevens's green. Black brows furrowing as Psyis nodded towards the door handle sarcastically as her words weighed on Steven's mind. A bit bitterly hoping Steven took the stupid imaginary connotations of her words every way he could with his human brain; he'd won again so she'd settle for this little victory.

"If you want my help at all then open the door," Psyis finally grew tired of waiting, settling the last doubts she could hear rattling in Stevens stupid skull while drawing her own personal line, "I already said I'd help bring Izime in what more do you need, I'm not going to call him an it unless that's what I am too."

"That's... not what I mean, and you know that." Steven relented and took his hand from the door latch, finally letting Psyis enter alone. Steven taking his own time on the balcony as he tried to figure out just how calling Izime an it had put Psyis against him, once more siding with Izime.

Psyis quickly heading through the hall, past the grandfather clock and up the stairs to her room. She'd need to change before she tried to deal with Stan, handling Dark Night took a completely different mentality. The thessian hoping dawning her super suit would tip the scales in Izime's favor.