ATLAS // Five Hargreeves

[#28] Sir Reginald Hargreeves Invites You

LILA WAS UNABLE TO SIT FUCKING STILL and sit fucking quietly. Like literally, what was her deal? Was she doing it just to get on Atlas' nerves, or was she that incompetent that she just wanted to see what would happen if she were to trigger her temper?

Atlas shot her a glare for the hundredth time from her place by the desk, watching Lila hum from the couch with her feet on velvet pillows, her head thrown back as she sang the tune that had been stuck in her head all day. Tired and irritated, Atlas' teeth ground together so hard that she feared they would shatter like ice, and snapped out towards her, each word dripping in faux politeness.

"Would you be kind enough to tone down your obnoxious discrepancies," Atlas asked her, "Or will I have to make you?"

"You should know by now, Atlas, that assassin's are not kind." Lila retorted, passing her a wide, full-toothy grin that made it clear she was merely trying to press her buttons.

"At least I thought we had some respect," Atlas mumbled before narrowing her eyes and spitting out; "Shut the fuck up, will you?"

Lila threw her head back and let out a bark of laughter, something that sent a shiver of annoyance to trail along Atlas' spine, her eyes momentarily flashing with anger before she growled under her breath and returned to her planning, the sound of pen scratching paper. Lila frowned at the lack of attention and sat upright, humming louder. "You don't scare me anymore, Atlas."

"Oh," Atlas said, her lips pursed together with boredom as she continued to write, her words dripping with uninterest. "Do I not?"

"No," She grinned. "You used to, but not anymore."

"Hmmmm? And why is that?"

Lila's eyes glittered with a sense of superiority and security. "Because I know you can't hurt me. My mother wouldn't let you."

Atlas looked up and levelled a cold stare at her, annoyance prickling at her cheeks. She smirked, challengingly and tilted her head, her eyes slowly sliding from Lila's to the sharp pen in her hand before flicking back to her in amusement. "Would you like to test that theory?"

Lila regarded her for a second, shrinking slightly as she fell back onto the seat. She feared Atlas King, even if she said that she didn't, but regardless, she stood her ground. "You wouldn't dare. My mom would kill you."

"Believe it or not," Atlas sighed, turning back to her work. "But The Handler has tried to kill me before. It didn't work out as well as she hoped and well... ta-da! Oh-! Look - I'm still alive! It's unfortunate for both of us."

There was a stretch of silence and Lila continued to fiddle with an ash-tray that she had plucked from the middle of the table, but had thankfully silenced her humming. A few seconds later, however, she spoke again, but kept her eyes levelled on the tray that she spun around in her hands, her face unreadable.

"Do you think that she loves me?"

Atlas' face scrunched up with confusion. "What?"

"She loves you," Lila continued, a perilous envy coating each of her words. "I know that she loves you, I can see it. She properly loves you, like it's not even a proud mentor sort of thing, it's like a motherly, that's my baby, sort of thing."

Atlas paused her writing and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, a scowl upon her lips. "The Handler is not my mother. She's my employer. I kill the people she wants killed, and she's grateful for it."

Lila scrunched up her face and let out a doubtful scoff. "Yeah, right. Did you know that she wants to give it to you? The Commission. When she dies, or retires, or gets killed heroically in battle, she wants to give everything to you. I mean... what the hell? I'm her daughter-! I've always been loyal, I've always stuck by her side and you...? You've betrayed her, tried to burn down the Commission, and frankly I think that if given the opportunity, you'd kill her again. Am I correct?"