Chapter Text
The man looks intimidating!
Was the thought that came to mind as you listened with only one ear to their discussions. It seemed rather useless anyway, since all that came out of their mouths was: conjectures, theories and a lot of 'maybe'...
The truth was that no one really knew what the informant passed to our ally and what those coordinates were (since it was clear they were not the infos hiding spot) still, Morpheus insisted he wanted to see for himself before taking over.
"Can we trace the informant?"
The question was accompanied by a nudge from Hackett beside you but when you turned to silently scold him, he lowered his head to whisper "That is Neo" and you suddenly forgot what you were about to say.
That was... The One? He looked average, well, wasn't that what you thought about the Oracle ? Yet everyone regarded him as a God and the Oracle, well, was the Oracle. Nothing to say about that! You weren't even sure she was entirely human...
But back to the present, Neo was asking Kali to contact Trish and consequently the Osiris, since they were trying to establish a safe line and, you could admire the assuredness in his tone, less imposing than Morpheus but nonetheless firm.
You'd never seen the man in action but you were sure he could enthrall masses without even rising his voice.
"We're done, then"
"Let us proceed" Neo answered Kali, inclining his head. As he started toward the door, followed by another woman (Trinity, they called her), Kali motioned for you and Hackett to follow but Morpheus cleared his throat, stopping her in her tracks.
"Captain Kali, may I talk to your crew's new addiction for a few minutes?"
You could feel irrational panic invade your body at the thought of being left alone without a guide and Kali must have seen it reflected in your eyes because she answered: "You may, Morpheus, but mind you! She's rather anxious and-" she kept talking as he opened his mouth to object, "I'd be immensely grateful if that talk of yours could, indeed, last a few minutes. I'll be counting. I'll be back in ten"
With that, she was out the door before the man could reply, Hackett in tow (but not before he could sneer your way... Asshole! ).
You both stared stunned at the closed door and you, sure as hell, were not gonna start talking, luckily, he seemed to understand that and took the initiative himself.
"A bit over-protective, isn't she?"
And you almost laughed out loud at how clear it was to anyone!
"Believe me, sir, she's not the only one" an image of Chipp nagging Cable to look for a scarf for you peeped in your mind, and you finally chuckled, being a bit more at ease.
"I see..." Morpheus answered with a contemplative tone of voice "Kora, isn't it?"
“Yes, sir. What can I do for you? "
" Mmmh I've heard many a thing about you "
" All of them good, I hope" you tried to dissipate the tension you could feel mounting through your body but it was hard... What the hell does he want?
"The Oracle says you've got potential, but I may not like the answers you're seeking, Kali says to fuck off and leave you alone and I... I say that you would want to ponder the offer of a position on board the Nabuchadnezzar"
"Wha-"
"You, your so called potential, your story, even those answers you seek, like it or not, interests me"
And you didn't know what to say, except :"I myself may not like those answers... I don't even know what they are yet" and a vacuous expression morphed your features as an all to familiar voice whispered 'Are you alright?' in your head.
Blinking, you tried to make the ghost of your nightmares go away but then another voice intruded, telling you that maybe those were not nightmares, but memories and very real.
Taking a deep breath, you noticed Morpheus was looking at you with a puzzled expression.
Trying to divert the subject and failing spectacularly, your only option was to press your lips into a straight line, biting the inside of your cheek not to shout in the man' face when he said: "I heard you died. Better yet, you should have and you had a strange 'in-between' experience. Do you make a habit of playing with Death?"
"I prefer 'flirting' " you corrected him, forcing the words out your mouth.
"Of course. The Oracle said you'd choose a fitting name. She also said that in that 'flirting', an Agent was involved" and you damned his choice of words as soon as he uttered them "I'd love to know more"
Just where the hell is Kali!? "One of them decided to 'change something' during a chase and I was, unfortunately, nearby"
"And suffered the consequences"
You nodded, ready to end the conversation, but he kept digging for information, not caring or not realizing your discomfort.
"How did you get back?"
"Didn't the Oracle tell you?"
He hesitated only a second before replying with a reluctant "...No"
And you felt a little bit of contentment at the thought.
"Pity, you seemed to be well acquainted"
"The Oracle" he began to say indignantly "can be secretive and cryptic when she so chooses" and now his tone turned into a rather defensive one, in your opinion "and sometimes she doesn't talk at all"
You passed the next twenty seconds studying each others, then, not in the mood to say more, you said smirking "I'll tell you everything if I choose to accept your offer"
You could tell he was not happy but something in his posture and his curled lips ( you cursed the damned glasses for concealing his eyes ) assured you he was intrigued.
He cannot very well refuse.
So when Kali bursted through the door exactly ten minutes later ( an eternity to you ! ) and Hackett sneered your way, he only smiled at you politely and with a nod of the head sealed the agreement.
He then turned, ready to walk out the door, ignoring Kali's fussing over you and threats at his person if he did so much as upset you in any way, but stopped short at Hackett comment.
You nearly missed it with Kali talking so close.
"If you're looking for a new crew member, why wasting your time over newbie there, she's no good for the renowned Nabuchadnezzar. I'm your man!"
Morpheus didn't even deign him of a look, he just tsked and replied "Such an arrogant personality has no place on my ship. I do not need anyone, other than myself, to point out who I should or should not choose as a member of my crew"
And you couldn't avoid cheering for the man -taking his ego down a notch, way to go, Morpheus!-, especially the moment Hackett expression morphed into one of pure rage; of course the moment the git started to take a step in Morpheus direction was the moment said man bid the woman before you goodbye.
"Captain Kali"
"Morpheus"
So nothing really happened. Pity... would have loved to see the Great Morpheus punch slimy Hackett in the face!