Chapter Text
Despite the temperate breeze and warm sunshine that day, the Legends found themselves wanting to be almost anywhere but where they were. They'd been following the Andersons on their tour of the town for the better part of an hour and had run out of ideas for small talk. Basic pleasantries and further introductions had been completed before leaving the Legends' street, so they'd been forced to grab at more remedial topics for chit-chat for so long that the team was coming to the end of their sense of decorum as they slowly approached Main Street.
They'd drifted into natural divisions along the sidewalk. Martin and Ray talked quite animatedly with Albert Anderson about the infrastructure of the town, and how although there were clear roads, hardly anyone had driven past them and everyone seemed to walk everywhere. It was better for their carbon footprint that way. Sara forced dull platitudes through a boring conversation of the town's (limited) dining options with Carla Anderson, while subtly keeping an eye behind her to where Juliette trailed with the Anderson boy.
Juliette, on the other hand, did not feel excitement or boredom. She felt nervous, like she was being tested again, but she wasn't even sure of who was judging her this time. "So, uh..." The girl knew she couldn't get away with walking silently behind the adults forever, she had to say something. "What do you think of the Academy?"
The boy thought about his answer for a moment. "I like it there." He concluded finally. "I feel like I'm made better by being there. There's so much to learn." Though he seemed to feel strongly in his words, he immediately noticed the unsure look that passed across the girl's face. "But I didn't always feel that way, it's alright if it takes you some time to feel comfortable there." He flatly assured her.
Though Juliette was sure he meant the comment to be comforted, she felt more uneasy. Time? She didn't necessarily want to get comfortable here. This place was unsafe. This was going to be an uncomfortable several weeks. But his comment had sparked new means of conversation, "How old were you when you came here?"
"We don't really ask questions like those here." Daniel scolded in a harsh, hushed tone. It was loud enough to catch Sara's ear though, and she was about to jump in to assist the girl when Mrs. Anderson required yet again a response in her own conversation. The boy observed how his sharp tone inspired Juliette's nervous fingers to touch at her wrists, and genuinely felt sorry for her. Daniel, who had just recently been praised for his aptitude for reading others, recognized assurance would not be helpful for the girl. Although he'd felt happy and a sense of belonging in a community of kids like himself, he still vividly remembered how disorienting everything was when he first got here.
"It was two years ago, when I moved here. I was fourteen. I was terrified." Okay so 'terrified' was a slight exaggeration, but by the look of relief on the girl's face, Daniel knew he'd said the right thing.
Sara, the silent eavesdropper, agreed.
"...One of three bars in town." Sara zoned back in right on time to her own conversation with Carla Anderson.
"There are three?" Sara asked. She was surprised there'd even be one.
"Yep," Carla nodded to a darker colored brick facade on a corner just off of the Main street just ahead, "This is the Pub. The Sports Bar is down the street, and there's a Speakeasy in the Southeast."
That caught Martin's attention too, "A Speakeasy?" He turned around slightly, "That sounds intriguing."
"I'll take you by there soon," Albert laughed from beside Martin, "You'd like it there. Lots of the Leadership guys hang out there."
Sara internally gagged. That sounded like the opposite kind of bar than where she would like to visit.
"Which brings us to Main Street, the highlight of our tour and the main hub of the town." Albert stopped and turned to face the group. "Like I mentioned before, the town is set up to be a large compass. Each direction like west, and south, house each of the different specializations in our community, with the Counter-intelligence and Leadership tracks being housed in our Capitol building." He pointed out the biggest building around, which looked like a smaller-scale of a capitol building you'd find in any of the States. "Then each intermediate direction houses a residential district. You live off of Salem street, which is in the northeast." Albert pointed to the sign of the street they'd just been walking down, labeled 'Northeast St'.
"And where is the Academy?" Ray asked, hoping it'd be near one of their specializations.
"The Academy is near the west," Carla supplied, "Which is where the Explosive and Non-Explosive Weapons Divisions are."
Sara was grateful, she'd be close to the school. In case of emergency. She's reluctant to show, though, how relieved she felt. She changed the subject. "So, what's there to do for fun around here?"
Turns out, unsurprisingly, that the citizens of Dark Valley had a very different idea of 'fun' than the Legends. Fun for the residents mostly took form of mandated workout regimens and the occasional family outing to the park on a nice day. They were, however, let in on a not-so-secret 'secret' underground fight club that took place bi-weekly in the basement of the Speakeasy across town. It was the town's one and only collective activity that involved betting allowances and scoring out differences that they came across in their training programs. No one was expected to participate, but as it was, most families that desired integration into the community elected one member to participate.
"Who are we gonna send?" Martin asked after they had gotten home and collapsed on the couches.
"What do you mean? It's obvious." Ray relaxed into his seat, biting casually into an apple that had been leftover from earlier today. "Sara."
Normally, Sara would immediately agree. In any normal situation, she'd bet on herself in any fight. But this wasn't just any fight and this wasn't just any situation. "Everyone here is a certified badass." Sara shrugged. "I think we should wait and see what the deal is with the whole fight club thing." The point of the mission was to blend in, and--although she'd hate it--if letting one of the guys fight (and get their asses whooped, she knew) meant blending in, she'd play whatever role she'd need.
"You don't think we should part-take?" Ray clarified. It was unlike Sara to back out of a fight.
"Of course we should do it." She scoffed. "And I'd beat every one of their asses. We just gotta see what the deal is first. Like, what if its normally the leader of the group who fights?"
The teams' attentions turn to Martin, suspiciously sizing him and not feeling good about their conclusions. Martin immediately objected. "That'd be absolutely ridiculous." He sat up straighter. "A good leader knows their team's talents... And when to delegate." He deflected, adjusting his shirt.
"Alright, alright." Sara laughed, "Don't worry, old man. We wouldn't let you go out there and make a fool of us."
"I don't know, we've seen him when he was younger. I bet he still has some of his fight in 'em." Ray added, alluding to the young Dr. Martin they'd met in the 70's.
"Clarke?" The doctor abruptly shifted the focus to the girl. Both Sara and Ray expected to find the girl laughing along with them but were startled to see big, teary eyes. The girl had curled in on herself on the opposite side of the couch from Ray, and seemed equally as startled by her emotions. "Are you okay?" Martin's voice was soft and predictable.
"What am I gonna do tomorrow?" She asked herself, a haunted gaze fixed on the coffee table. "How am I supposed to act like a normal person?"
The girl finally glanced up, but the second she made eye contact with Sara, Sara wished she could look away. Again, she was harshly reminded how scary this must be for the young girl. To the rest of the team, it was like playing house. For her, everything was new and big and confusing. From what Sara had gathered, she hadn't grown up in a house and the girl made no mention of any family, or leaving the lab before at all. There's a good chance she'd never received any schooling before, and would feel completely lost in this already abnormal school situation. Sara's stomach filled with true, pure horror as she realized she'd never asked, "Can you... You can read, right?"
Juliette looked confused for a moment, a cute crinkle gathering in between her eyebrows as she gaped between the three adults in the room with her. Then, oddly enough, her face broke into a smile. Then a giggle escaped her lips, before turning into a few deep belly laughs. "Yes, I can read!" She watched relief flood the adults' faces before soberly explaining, "I've had a bit of... Lessons before. Things normal kids my age would know how to do: physics, advanced calculus, anatomy." She drained into a sad demeanor, so no one wanted to tell her that most kids her age (14? 15? How old was she?) would definitely not know those subjects. "But I don't have any context for them. It wouldn't even matter where we were." She meant when.
Ray, Sara, and Martin all glanced at each other. She was right. How could they give her a crash course on how to be a normal high school student building from nothing in one night? Martin once again felt guilty for dragging the girl along. Even if they did need her, they were wrong to put her in a situation that's causing her such duress. He began doubting and trying to find outs, when he stopped himself. The girl was personable and friendly and smart. She'd managed to make room for herself on this team, and they had already become quite protective of her. She needed to push herself and they needed to be there for support. "Listen... Listen, Clarke."
The girl took just a moment of hesitation at the name, but Martin waited until she could meet his eyes. "Listen, at this school... Everyone's gonna be faking it." He explained. "No one at your age, or our age for that matter, has it figured out. Everyone's just walking around doing their best. Everyone's just trying to fit in, but really they're just as nervous."
"I was such a nerd when I was fifteen." Ray added, "Liked we talked about the other day, at dinner? Remember?" The girl smiled, how could she forget? "I never felt like I really fit in. It's hard being that age. Everything's so confusing, for everybody. But just because they hide it better than you, doesn't mean they are better than you, or know any more than you. Okay?"
"Okay." The girl sniffled. She felt at least slightly comforted by the idea that all the kids might act tough, but are just as insecure as her. However, her concern was also of a practical nature. Practically, she wasn't sure what to do all day at a school.
As if reading her mind, Sara--ever the pragmatist--stepped in, "Alright, so here's what you're gonna do. I'mma walk you school where we'll meet the Director and get your classes figured out. Then you're gonna go to those classes and keep your mouth shut, got it?" Juliette nodded with wide-eyed attention. "Just write everything down. Observe. We'll pick it apart and help you strategize when you get home, got it?"
"What if someone asks me something I don't know?" The girl whined.
"Two options:" Sara held up two fingers. "First, you smile and laugh. Say you don't know if they push."
It sounded like admitting weakness, and Juliette wasn't sure she'd want to show her hand. "Or?"
"In true Team fashion: Guess. Wing it." Ray provided the girl with the Legends' most beloved truism.
"You're smart, kiddo." Martin relaxed back into the couch, "Trust yourself. Read your surroundings. You'll be alright."
"Okay." The girl gritted through her teeth. She certainly didn't trust herself, but the Legends have yet to lead her astray. Juliette looked to Sara, who gave her a reassuring nod.
"Listen, how about you go read your manual? Your father and I are going to take a walk, and then we'll be back to talk strategy for tomorrow? Sound good?" Sara saw affirmation in each member's nod.
"I'll be in the shower." Martin stood, announcing his plans, "Will anyone want any evening tea?" He saw Ray's smile before looking to the girl. "Or... maybe some hot chocolate?"
Each Legend was 100% sure Juliette had no clue what that was, but saw the girl light up at the mention of chocolate. "Yes, please." She grinned, somehow already bounced back to her unburdened, puppy-dog-like state.
"Not too much." Ray jokingly warned, as he stood too, grabbing Sara's hand and walking to the door.
"Be back soon." The woman called over her shoulder, following Ray outside and into the night.
It was just after dusk and they'd luckily worn jackets this afternoon so they weren't too cold for their second walk of the day. The headed down the street, leaving the stress of the family at the house. But that stress was soon replaced by the tension between them, and what they were meant to be to each other. Sara didn't want to think about it for a second. "I think," She began, wanting to stop Ray from bringing it up for just a moment, "If we do the fight club, you should do it."
"Emily," Ray started, "It doesn't--"
"I'll help you." She interrupted him, surprising them both. "I'll train with you."
To Ray, it didn't make sense why she would want him to participate instead of her. "Why?" He examined her as close as he could while walking beside her.
"I'd just be doing it all day... I'm not sure I'd want to come home and fight at night too, you know?" Sara attempted at a reason.
Ray still wasn't convinced, but was ready to leave it there if she wanted. "If you're sure..." He left the door open.
Sara crossed her arms the way she did when she was considering being vulnerable. It'd be easy, so easy to ice Ray out. Mostly because she knew that he fiercely respected her boundaries and would never force her to talk about something until she was ready. But even so, she knew that would be wrong, and a betrayal of his trust. How were they to do this mission as partners if she made these big decisions and wouldn't even share her reasoning. It wouldn't be fair. At very least, she owed him that. "I just..." She tried, then sighed. "I just wouldn't want to stand out too much."
And suddenly it made sense. She wasn't afraid of kicking peoples' asses or getting hurt, she was afraid of being too good and causing attention. And it all made sense. Of course she couldn't be expected to fight at half-power, it'd be dangerous for lots of reasons and dangerous for lots of people to put her in any fighting ring. As Ray looked down at her as they walked under a street lamp, he saw the same haunted look he saw in Juliette's eyes and in... Most of the Legends' eyes. It's a fear... a fear of being a monster and out of control. He realized that asking her to go in front of people and fight for recreation was a temptation for evil for Sara. He'd never ask her to do something like that.
"I... I understand." Ray assured her, "If it's something we get involved in, I'll do it. As long as you help me out." He playfully nudged her shoulder with his, which earned a scoff and a shove back.
He let them walk down the sidewalk for several strides in silence, but in truth, he had something he wanted to mention as well. Sara sensed it was coming, and fortified herself for the talk she didn't want to have. "Um, I know this is kinda weird." He subtly motioned between himself and the woman. "But, um? Maybe we need to be... Warmer to each other?... I'm not sure--" that they were being convincing.
"I know what you mean." Sara spared him from further stuttering by pulling herself closer to his arm. They spoke in quiet, hushed tones as to not be overheard. "You're right. I'm sorry." She said pensively.
"It's alright, darling." Ray attempted, immediately regretting it, especially after Sara's gagging laughs. "You're right, I'll keep trying."
"No," Sara laughed, "I like it. It's better than sweetheart." She was quiet for a moment. "Did you have any specific ideas?"
Ray shrugged. "Not really." He had never done anything like this before either. Especially not so long term or under such scrutiny. "I'd always seen you kind of like a sister." He admitted quietly, which pulled an unexpectedly strong emotion from Sara, until he ruined it. "So maybe we could be more like normal? Except, like, kiss? I dunno. And be more affectionate than normal."
Sara blanched, "Ew, okay. Weird route, never say that again." They both were giggling as they walked. "But I get it. Happier."
"Happier." He repeated. "You know, more relaxed? More... Fun."
Sara opened her mouth, like she was going to admit something, and Ray glanced at her with curiosity.
But Sara was frustrated, frustrated at herself. This hadn't been her first time pretending to be someone's partner for a mission. She'd done it before, many times, on many different missions. Missions that felt like there'd been lower stakes than their current one. Why wasn't she doing better at playing the role? At first she suspected it having something to do with Ray, but quickly dismissed the idea. He's a great partner; considerate and capable. And he's a good friend of her's, they'd been through a lot together and Sara trusted him. Sure, it was a little weird having to play an affection wife and doting parent along with him, as it wasn't a role she was accustomed to herself, but it shouldn't have been so weird to relate to him like that. Sara trusted him. She just hoped she got over whatever was holding her back soon.
Ray was still debating if he should ask what's on her mind or not, when they heard a door close from the house they were walking in front of. "Hey, neighbors!" A woman's voice called out, drawing their attention and slowing their feet. A man was following a woman out the front door, and shutting it behind himself.
"Hello!" Sara reacted first, searching her mind to that morning when they had met the couple that was now walking to meet them at the sidewalk, "The Robinsons, right?"
"Good memory!" The woman smiled, genuinely impressed. "I remember it took quite a while for us to sort out everyone's names." She laughed.
Ray joined along, "Oh, don't give us too much credit. I'm not sure I remember your first names."
"I'm Helena," the woman reminded them, "And this is Bobby."
"Oh, right." Sara looked over their faces again, committing it to memory, "Helena and Bobby. We got it now."
"Wanted to see more of the town?" Helena poked gently.
"Oh yeah," Ray easily laughed, "We just didn't get enough during today's walking tour."
Sara clarified, "We just wanted some fresh air. Before everything crazy starts tomorrow."
"We understand that, don't we honey?" Helena pulled a lofty laugh from her partner. "The first day is always the worst. Trying to figure out what's what."
"You'll do fine, though." Bobby spoke up, for the first time in the conversation, quick to assure the other couple. "I'd just show up ready to go, tomorrow. You'll be golden." He looked meaningfully between Sara and Ray. Sara considered his words a sort of warning, that they shouldn't expect to be eased into the work tomorrow. Good to know.
"Thank you." Ray smiled.
"But we really should be getting home." Sara wrapped herself just a little tighter around Ray's arm.
"Yes, of course." Helena conceded, "We'll be seeing you guys around. Good night, and good luck tomorrow!"
"Thank you, same to you." Ray allowed himself to be pulled away by Sara. The two shared an odd look, both surprised how normal of a conversation that was, and impressed with themselves. "Lets go home." Ray said.
Several blocks away, Martin had finished showering and decided to go check on what the rest of the team was up to. He passed Juliette's room and briefly noted her studying her manual on her bed, but continued on down the stairs to the living room. Upon finding Sara and Ray still gone, he put a kettle on for his tea. Then another one of milk. He was lost in humming a tune when he heard light feet pad down the stairs and noticed the girl's head poke around the corner.
"What are you doing?" She asked curiously, almost timidly approaching the stove.
Martin continued humming. "Making some tea, and some hot chocolate." He reached into a cabinet for the cocoa powder. "Here, come stir this." Martin measured out a cup of the powder then poured it into the pot and handed the girl a wooden spoon. "Careful, it's really hot." He warned.
Juliette was silent for a moment, pushing around the chunks until it dissolved more into the milk, turning it from pure white to darker brown. "So this is what hot chocolate is?" She observed to herself, "Coco-ah powder and..." She read the label, "Milk?" Obviously, she'd had milk before, but it was always served to her directly in a cup, she'd never seen it in such a container. It was fascinating to her. Everything was fascinating to her. It reminded her that just as things were new and scary, there was also such excitement in learning about things she'd never considered before. Like milk being in the oddly shaped container. She supposed she'd thought it always came in a cup, she'd never considered what happened before the cup.
Martin hummed in agreement. He could see the gears in the girl's mind turning just as the spoon in her hand, and was relieved that it seemed to be a pleasant train of thought this time. He thought the girl deserved that more often than she got.
"And tea, it's made of water and ground up leaves." Martin told her casually, taking the kettle off the burner, aware that the water wasn't quite hot enough yet but wishing to avoid the loud sound that came with it.
"What kind of leaves?" Juliette asked, pensively and serious. "Leaves off of any tree? Can I make tea with hot water and... That tree?" She pointed out the kitchen window to the sugar maple tree beside the drive way.
"No," Martin smiled endearingly, "It's a certain kind of leaf. There are different kinds of leaves, different kinds of tea. This is one of my favorites," He poured the hot water into a mug and steeped the tea bag, "Hibiscus."
The girl watched him interestedly, before eagerly returning to her own drink in the making. "When will my tea be done?"
"Hot chocolate isn't a tea, my dear girl." The old man chuckled. But Juliette was shameless, the smell teasing her of her favorite chocolate-y desserts she'd tried at the buffet the other day. "Does the cocoa look mixed?" He gently guided.
Juliette turned quickly to him, startling the doctor with wide, enthusiastic eyes. "Yeah." She nodded several times.
Martin peered over her shoulder, "See how it's still clumped when you stir?" He pointed out several spots for example, "It's not completely mixed yet. It won't taste as good." The girl's expression scrunched in annoyance, and finally, Martin witness a child-like expression that seemed appropriate on the girl. "It'll be just a couple more minutes, I assure you." He nudged her to keep stirring.
As silence began to settle between the two, Martin found himself wanting to continue conversation with the girl. "How's the reading going?" He nodded to the manual that the girl had abandoned on the kitchen island.
"Not great." She shrugged, suddenly very interested in the cocoa-milk mixture. "I have to choose which track to do tonight." Sensing there was more, Martin waited for the girl to take a beat. "I'm not sure which one to do, but I don't think I should take the test and leave it up to chance."
"I agree," Martin said, "Perhaps this should be a very careful decision."
Juliette stirred, distracted. "I'm... Not sure any decision I make will be right."
"Nonsense." Martin immediately dismissed, "The right decision will be whichever you decide, after careful consideration. There probably isn't any one, 'right' answer."
The girl looked at him with cautious eyes. "You think so?"
"I know so." The man had never felt so sure of himself as he did when assuring the girl. Besides, she had the Legends behind her. They'd figure it out. "So, what are the options again?"
"Protection and enforcement, culture and assimilation, explosive weapons, non-explosive weapons, counterintelligence and resistance, cyber-works, and leadership." Juliette rattled off, clearly having spent time memorizing and agonizing over her choices.
"Are there any that we can immediately eliminate?" He prompted, finally taking the first sip of his tea and subsequently deciding it need a few more moments to cool off.
The girl nodded, "Leadership. I wouldn't have any business in that." She laughed, self-aware enough to know her limitations.
"And I hope you hadn't set your heart on any kind of weapons training." Martin playfully ruled out, "No way would Sara let you go through that."
Although the weapons tracks had sounded interesting, Juliette had never really considered them for herself. The idea that Sara would be concerned enough for her to forbade those options out of fear for Juliette's safety, though, had the girl's heart soaring. No one had ever seemed to care about what's best for her, only for how she could preform the best work or tasks for them. As crazy as all of this stuff was, Juliette was once again comforted by the reminder that the Legends were looking out for her now, in this moment.
"Do you know anything about computers?" Martin tried.
Juliette shook her head. They'd used screens and virtual reality hookups in the lab, but she'd been tightly monitored and strictly forbidden from learning how to operate the systems. They were meant to control her, not her control them. "Not really."
"So lets throw that one out as well." Martin suggested. "That leaves us with three, right?"
"Protection and enforcement, culture and assimilation, and counterintelligence and resistance." She surmised. "Maybe we should eliminate the culture and assimilation one, too?" She said, regretfully remembering that was the one Laura was in. "I don't even know anything about this culture."
"Alright." Martin took another huge gulp of his tea, which was just becoming a comfortable drinking temperature. "So how do we feel between the remaining two?" To him, the decision between protection and counterintelligence seemed easy. A protection and enforcement track sounded like it'd be filled with a bunch of muscular young men used as body guards and police officers to be bold and crass. That didn't exactly seem to describe what he knew of the girl, not that he'd tell her so. He'd already resolved to support whichever decision she ultimately came to, though he knew she'd need to be informed and advised along the way.
"I think..." The girl paused, considering the weight of her words, "That counterintelligence seems like the best answer. The manual was describing it as a softer combination of protection and assimilation. I think I can do that."
Martin watched as she spoke, seeming to become more firm and sure in her conclusion. "Well done, girl." Martin praised, "You have made a very sound and empirical decision, by trusting yourself and using your logic. Well done."
Juliette couldn't bring herself to even thank him for the high praise and encouragement, she was so wrapped up in the feeling of accomplishment. She smiled at her feet, which were bare and cool against the kitchen tile.
"Alrighty," The man peered over her shoulder again, "Your hot chocolate looks thoroughly mixed. Lets get that into a mug for you." The girl watched as he pulled the pot to the sink and poured the liquid into a light blue mug Martin had found in the cabinets. "Clarke, will you look in that cabinet there," He pointed to one to her left. "And grab a small container labeled 'cinnamon'?"
"This?" The girl quickly found it and showed it to Martin for confirmation. After his nod, she walked it to him. "What is it?"
"Cinnamon is a spice that's sweet in small amounts. Hot chocolate is best with a bit of cinnamon on top." He sprinkled some on and placed the mug in front of the girl on the island. He watched with baited breath as she took the mug with both hands. Sensing that it was hot, she blew softly on the drink, as she'd watched Martin do with his tea several minutes before.
Juliette took the tiniest sip and her eyes shot open. "Woah!" She physically restrained herself from jumping up and down like all the taste buds in her mouth were doing. "This is amazing!" Her brilliant smile had every single pearly tooth on display. "I've never tasted anything as amazing as this is!" She took another small sip then beamed up at Martin.
The front door open, and an unsuspecting and weary-looking Sara and Ray reentered the house. "What's happening?" Ray noted the commotion in the kitchen.
"Have you guys ever had hot chocolate?" The girl pronounced the drink's name with a holy reverence.
Sara laughed, glancing at Martin to note how bizarre the girl's reaction was. "Yeah, once or twice." She followed Ray the few steps to the kitchen.
"Me too." Ray agreed, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge "What are your thoughts? We like it?"
"We love it." The girl gushed. "It's the best thing I've ever had. Ever."
As she was speaking, Sara noticed the very object of the girl's affections begin to slip from her hands and a quick hand darted underneath the mug to stop it from falling completely. "Easy there, Bean." She guided the girl's hands to set the mug on the counter.
"Sorry," Juliette was not at all apologetic. "I got so excited!"
"So we need to keep a full stock of hot chocolate. Lovely." Martin noted affectionately. "How was your walk?"
Sara and Ray shared a shrugged look. "It was nice." Ray supplied, "It was only a little chilly and we ran into the Robinsons."
Martin didn't at all remember who that was. "And they are?..."
"Just a couple. Really tall woman and a guy who was really quiet." Sara crossed her arms as she leaned against the counter, "They were here this morning." There really wasn't much else to discuss about them. "So, uh, how we feeling about tomorrow?" She glanced between the old man and the girl, both of them knowing full and well that she was mostly just checking up on the girl. She'd scope out Martin's feelings out later, privately.
"Great." Juliette took another large gulp, leaning back near the edge of the stove to appear more relaxed like the rest of the team. "Granpa helped me pick a track for school."
Both Ray and Sara's eyebrows shot up with surprise. "And what did you guys decide?" Ray inquired. He was intrigued to hear what the girl had come up with.
"Counterintelligence and resistance." The girl nervously fixated on her mug, avoiding eye contact in case anyone had strong objections. None came.
"The sounds great," Sara assured, "Maybe we can look through that section of the manual in a bit?"
"Yeah, of course." For the first time since she'd picked up the hot chocolate, a hand left the mug and moved itself behind the girl to help push her up. Ray, Sara, and Martin watched in slow motion as the stray hand neared where the burner was still red with heat.
Not able to conjure a word to stop her actions fast enough, Martin called out "Wait." Sara, on the other hand, only acted. She lunged towards the girl and grabbed at her arm. But she'd been just slightly too late, only pulling her wrist up a second after Juliette's skin had touched the hot stove, noted by the way the girl's hand was already flinching away from the heat.
Sara wasn't sure what reaction she expected. She guessed it'd be tears or something close, and the girl seeking comfort and aid for her injury. An image of the girl crying in one of their arms only briefly crossed her mind. What she hadn't expected, though, was how Juliette actually responded to the shock. Or really, didn't react. A quiet whimper left the girl's mouth and she looked down in confusion as Sara turned her palm up to inspect the damage. The girl didn't seem surprised at her injury but caught off guard by how it happened.
"The stove is hot, Sweetheart." Sara noticed the edge Ray was trying to keep out of his voice. "We gotta be careful." He was already looking around the kitchen for any useful first aid material.
"There's a kit in the bathroom upstairs." Martin supplied. "I'll grab it." He started up the stairs.
Juliette looked from the blistering skin, to where Sara was holding her wrist, to Sara's face, to Ray's with a reappearance of her forehead crinkle. They were coming to understand that was a quality she displayed when she was making sense of some new information. "It, was... Hot?" The girl asked, glancing back down to the scene of the offending object.
"Yeah, Bean." Sara gave her a confused smile. "Stoves use electricity to make the surface really hot for cooking."
"Oh." is all the girl said, allowing Sara to raise the hand for closer inspection.
The afflicted skin covering the outside pad of the girl's palm was already red and swelling.
"Clarke," Ray leaned in for a closer look too. "Did that hurt?"
"Mhmm." Juliette whimpered again, the only indication to any pain she felt.
Ray and Sara were at a loss by how oddly the girl reacted to the pain, when they know that had to hurt. Maybe they would've addressed it, but Juliette was spared the questions as Martin clobbered down the stairs with the first aid kit.
Several minutes later, after the burn had been treated and covered, the girl had been pulled from her confusion to explain how they landed with her track decision. Having Sara and Ray onboard, they sent her upstairs to get ready for bed with strict instructions of avoiding messing with her hand and that they'd be up to say good night in a bit. Bewildered but at that point, just so exhausted, the adults spent the rest of their evenings reviewing their own manuals, discussing strategies for the next day, and honestly just hoping for the best.