“Now that you mention it, I guess this would be more threatening.” She holds up a hand, and flame arcs from one finger to another. “You haven’t exactly been the volunteering type.”
“Look, despite your reputation, Ellie, it’s mostly potential at this point. We haven’t seen any works of genius from you yet. And you, Danny boy, have never killed anyone, much less in seven different ways before their body hit the ground as you explain why their work has a subtle design flaw. You’re both in way over your heads.” Condescension drips off Tom’s words. “Now be the nice kids you are, put me down, and I’ll be on my way. No harm, no foul.”
“We’re in over our heads?” Daniel sounds amused. “And you think you’ve been briefed on us.”
Daniel shoves Tom toward the window. Tom squirms and kicks. A couple of kicks even land, not that Daniel notices.
“We’ve been renovating the skunkworks for weeks now. The train is already hurtling down the track. You won’t be able to stop it.” Tom’s voice is loud and hoarse. “Interfere and you two are going to get yourselves killed.”
“Try again.” Daniel squeezes and Tom grunts.
“Why do I even bother?” Tom slumps.
“In that case, give them a message for me.” Daniel winds up. “Stop fucking around with my car. I can’t afford to replace it.”
Daniel hurls Tom through the window. Tom’s arms lash out and grasp the window frame, not that it matters. He flies through and screams as he falls.
Daniel slams the window shut, claps his hands together, andturns to Ellie, his face smug. For a moment, all is silence. Ellie stares at him, jaw slack.
“Oh my god, you did it.”
“You doubted I’d do it, but now you must admit that succeed I did?” Daniel smiles at what Ellie assumes is yet another one of his private jokes, inverted syntax and all.
“Yes. No.” Ellie sits back down. “Threats are one thing. I didn’t think you’d go through with it.”
“A.” Daniel opens his right hand and taps his right index finger with his left. “I told you that I’m capable of unconscionable things.
“Two.” He taps his index and middle fingers at once. “Youthreatened to shoot him.
“Orange.” He taps his index, middle, and ring fingers at once. “He has a whole thirty feet or so to get to some other universe or whatever and arrange a safe landing. He’ll be fine.”
“Because that’s something that maintainers do all the time.”
“Exactly.” Daniel nods with satisfaction. “Ahdi never threw me out of a window or anything, but he’s had me practicing stuff like this ever since I was a kid.”
“I see.” Ellie’s words are slow and careful. “I don’t think maintainers are typically trained to do that.”
“No?” Daniel sputters before he grasps for a desperate ring buoy of a retort. “But your sister tries to kill you on the regular.”
“You and Ahdi made it quite clear that that’s not typical either.”
“So, no.”
“No.” Ellie shakes her head.
Concern spreads across Daniel’s face. His gaze grows wide and his mouth forms a small circle. He shudders.
“Tom’s not totally stupid. I’m sure he’s thought of something by now.” Without looking, Daniel pulls down the window blind. “Can you change the structure of my apartment?”
“Like add a wall or something?” Ellie looks around his postagestamp of an apartment. “Not without some fallout. We’re talking about apartment renovation.”
“Oh.” Daniel looks disappointed. “I just don’t want anyone I don’t know showing up here out of the blue like that again.”
“Speaking of which.” Ellie holds up her left hand, and flames dance from one finger to another. “I have a few questions.”
“Whoa.” Daniel throws his hand up in surrender. “What did I do to deserve this?”
“I’ve beaten you when we spar in the gym.” A realization dawns in Ellie. “Oh no. You let me win, don’t you?”
