Heroes, Great and Mighty (Exalted x World of Darkness)

[X] Make sure Maggie was safe.

Malcom stuffed his groceries in to the car and slammed the door behind him as he climbed in. Turning the key in the ignition, he pulled out of the parking lot and sped down the road as fast as he could, weaving between commuters heading home after a long day at work. His fast and slightly reckless driving earned him a honking as he cut off one driver and pulled in between two others to change lanes and reach his exit.

The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across the streets as the streetlights began to flicker to life. This only put Malcom further on edge as he sped down a straightaway. Experience told him that bad things happened at night. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his landline again.

"Come on, Maggie, pick up..." He muttered under his breath as the phone rang. "Pick up, pick up, pick up pickup pickup pickuppickuppickuppickup!"

Nothing, the call went to voice mail. No matter how many times he called he couldn't get through to her.

A sense of dread came over Malcom as he sped up. They had just talked not even a few hours ago, there was no reason for her not to pick up again.

Five blocks away now, and Malcom pushed his car as fast as he could, swerving in to the parking lot of his apartment complex. Ignoring the groceries in the back he ran up to the entryway and jammed his keys in the lock. The lobby area was vacant and dark, with only the ceiling lights providing any illumination. Malcom crossed the distance between the front door and the elevator in a spirit, hammering the call button until it finally arrived.

Malcom hit the button for his floor repeatedly as the elevator slowly rose, desperately trying to make it go faster. When it arrived on his floor he didn't even give the doors time to open properly before he was rushing down the hallway to his unit. His door flew open under his weight as he rushed in to his apartment.

Darkness and silence met him.

"Maggie?" Malcom called out, flipping the light switch near the door. The lights flickered before turning on, bathing the apartment in light.

Everything was exactly how he remembered leaving it this morning. The dishes from breakfast were done drying in the dishrack, the new model he had been building was still on the table between the couch and the tv, his bookshelves and dvd racks were undisturbed. Nothing looked out of place, no signs of a break in or a struggle.

No sign of Maggie.

"Maggie! Where are you?!" He shouted. She was gone, she was gone and he had fucked up. He should have called Naomi, he should have asked Bart to watch her, he should have called the cops the moment he didn't hear back from her.

A scream of surprise met his yell and the sound of Maggie's bedroom door slammed open met his ears. The sound of footsteps could be heard running towards him.

"I'm here! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you wait. I'm sorry!" Maggie said breathlessly as she skidded to a halt in front of him, just out of arms reach.

Malcom stared at her, his mind thrown off balance as it tried to shift gears from being fearful and angry to concerned and relieved. She was wearing long pajama shirt and her long hair was disheveled, like she had just woken up.

"You were asleep?" He asked as he took a step forward to get a better look at her and confirm she was actually standing in front of him.

She took a step back, looking apprehensive. "Yes, I'm sorry." She said again. "I was tired andI just went to bed and I didn't think you wouldbemadandI'msorryIdidn'tknowyouneededmeI'msorry." There were tears in her eyes and she looked like she was about to hyperventilate.

"Maggie, breath." Malcom said, his concern for her having completely overrode everything else he had been feeling. "Its okay, I'm not mad, I was scared when I tired to call and you didn't answer the phone. I thought you had gotten hurt or something."

She looked up at him, uncomprehending. "You're not mad?" She asked.

"No, I was worried about you." He said. "Are you okay?"

She answered by rushing him and throwing her arms around him. "I'msorryI'msorryIthoughtIscrewedupandyouweregoingtokickmeoutI'msorry." She said as she sobbed in to his stomach.

Malcom had been staggered by the sudden impact but he had managed to stay upright. Now as he tried to comprehend with this sudden outpouring of emotion from her, his mouth and arms moved on autopilot, giving her a hug and promising her that no, he wasn't mad, its fine you're fine I wont kick you out you're okay you didn't mess up you're fine its okay.

He was really glad he got that second pizza.

Maggie had calmed down eventually and he had gone to get the groceries from the car. When he had returned with his arms full of food he had popped it in the oven and told her that if she wanted, they could have another movie night.

Maggie had accepted, looking equal parts embarrassed at her earlier display and happy that everything was not as she thought it was.

This time when she fell asleep, she was leaning up against him.

Malcom put the rest of the groceries away as quietly as he could, and made sure that Maggie was once more covered up and warm on the couch. Despite his earlier worry, Malcom felt that things were slowly becoming better and better between him and Maggie. She was more trusting of him now, and really looked like she was starting to come even further out of her shell.

A memory struck Malcom when he flicked on the lights to his room, a memory of a figure watching him through the window on a night just like this one. He didn't want to ruin his good mood, but he had to be sure.

With deliberate casualness, Malcom pantomimed the actions of getting ready for bed. When it came time for him to close the window blinds he instead looked across the street at the rooftop where the strange figure had been standing before.

He was back.

Just like last time, the shadowed figure was standing there, staring right at him. This time Malcom controlled his temper and gave no indication that he had seen him. Instead he closed the blinds as though everything were normal and

[] Went to confront the figure, time to end this.
[] Went to bed, he'll investigate in the morning.
[] Called Naomi, if anyone had answers it would be her.
[] Write in.