MHA #16 - Thursday Morning

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was still very much his normal self and yes he was supposed to be having his class right then but he had simply not felt like turning up to his final class for the semester so he had decided to stay put in his apartment and do extra research instead.

He wasn’t quite aware of anything unusual going on in Fandom right then, his Connor had actually sent over some new data for him to go through and it seemed like he was finally talking to him again after a couple of weeks of radio silence. He had seen the two Connor’s talking on the field trip, so he wasn’t gong to question it but was relieved that Connor didn’t seem to completely hate him.

For a while Cutter sat on his couch engrossed in his computer with all his books and papers spread out over the coffee table, if he’d known what was going to happen he may have actually decided to have his class instead.

[door’s closed, post is open!]

Comments

[itsananomaly]

It hadn’t taken that long for Helen to track down her ex husband, she was dressed in one of her normal leather ensembles, the only difference with this was that it was from 1995 so there was a bit more skin showing than she normally revealed.

“Really Nick, this is where you’re living these days?” she shook her head at how simple this was, “the London flat was much better,” with that she raised her hand to knock on the door because somedays she could be reasonable and civilised and now try to kick the door in.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor had been keeping tabs on Cutter since the ARC visit. But he was due to check in and see how he was doing. He had promised the other Connor he would, and so he was standing outside the door after making the couple of seconds walk across the hallway.

Connor didn't know what was going on but he felt off... like something just wasn't right. And he wanted to make sure Cutter was ok and so there he was knocking on his friend's door, glancing over his shoulder as he waited, unable to shake that odd feeling.

[itsananomaly]

It wasn’t Cutter who opened, it was Helen, who had already made herself quite at home in Cutter’s apartment.

Cutter was looking a little bewildered on the couch, he’d barely registered the sound of the door knocking but then he had never been able to say no to Helen.

“Well, well, well isn’t this a surprise, Connor Temple it’s been a while hasn’t it?” Helen smiled demurely at him.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

The look on Connor's face went from utter shock, to fear, to anger and right back again as he blinked at Helen for a moment, unable to really process anything right at that moment.

"Helen???" Connor finally managed to gasp out as he looked over at Cutter with a 'what the heck' look before turning back to Helen. "What are you doing here?" Whatever it was, he was pretty sure it was not good. It was Helen after all.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter could only look sheepishly over at Connor with a shrug.

“I was in the neighbourhood, thought I’d stop by,” Helen grinned as she leaned against the doorframe, positioning herself just a little so all that skin was on full display, “so you and Nick are neighbours? How nice…” she drawled.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"In the neighbourhood? Nice try, Helen," Connor said, still trying to accept that Helen was there. In Cutter's apartment. And looking like THAT. "And yes we are neighbours. We look out for each other," Connor said eyeing Helen closely. He had no clue what this Helen knew about timeline crosses or anything and he wasn't about to give her any ammo. But he still needed to know what she was really for...because it couldn't be good.

[itsananomaly]

Helen smirked, “really? How quickly you’ve forgotten Stephen, last I heard you were so mad at Nick that you could barely stand to look at him,” she looked between Connor and Cutter, “poor Stephen will be heartbroken, I’ll have to give him some extra comfort next time I see him,” it didn’t take much imagination to work out what she was implying.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor had to bite his tongue so he didn't say something along the lines of that not being him. If she didn't know about him and Connor being from different timelines, that was something the probably didn't want her to know.

"Stephen can live with his own choices, and mistakes," Connor said, keeping his voice even as he could as he glared at Helen. "And so can Cutter" he said with a quick glance over because, yes Cutter, he was still trying to figure out why the hell you had let her into your apartment!

"But I doubt you are really here to check in to see how our little spat is going. What are you really here for?"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter knew he deserved that look because he still didn't really know why he had let Helen in, he gave a helpless little shrug as he hung back, trying to keep the emotions from his face as Helen made the taunt about Stephen, he clenched his fists but kept silent.

"Ooh did I touch a nerve?" Helen smirked as she looked back at Cutter, noting how his fists seemed to be clenched, "is this the part where I'm supposed to spill all my secret plans for world domination?" she let out a laugh, "sorry to disappoint Connor, there was nothing nefarious in my decision to visit Nick ... I just wanted a good old fashioned chat, that's all,"

Well there may have been a bit of a discussion about trying to persuade Nick to join her cause but she was having to much fun to reveal everything all at once.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"You've had your chat," Connor said coldly. He tried to remind himself that THIS Helen hadn't killed Cutter. YET. But she was going to. And looking at her right now was putting the still all too-fresh memory of losing Cutter on repeat in his mind. "So now you can go."

[itsananomaly]

Helen watched Connor in amusement, "last I checked this wasn't your apartment, it's Nick's ..." she said, her smile widening, "I think I'll stay,."

Cutter sighed, "Helen..." he buried his face in his hand, it was the first time he had said anything since Connor had arrived and he was pretty sure this was going to give him a headache.

He really should have turned up to class, this was payback for all the missed classes he had ever had wasn't it?

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Right. Well, if Helen was staying so was he. Connor wasn't about to leave Cutter alone with Helen, all things considered.

"Well, I need to talk to Cutter too, so I'll just wait till you guys are finished," he said as he walked into the apartment fully and made his way to the couch where Cutter was. He took a seat on the other chair away from Cutter, not wanting to make things more awkward than they already were....

He sat down and folded his arms somewhat childishly and glared at Helen with an 'I am not leaving' sort of look. Connor would leave if Cutter told him to, but he really, really, really hoped he wouldn't.

And as he sat, he debated whether he'd be able to get off a stealth text to the other Connor without Helen seeing.

[itsananomaly]

Helen had more or less expected that really so she grinned, “my my, we are awfully defensive today, well … I’ll leave you boys too whatever it is that is so important to talk about, Nick .. Connor … it’s been a pleasure,” with a wave and a rather not so subtle thrust that showed off her midriff, she turned on her heel and out the door, closing it behind her.

“I’m sorry about her,” Cutter sighed when he had been sure that Helen had definitely gone, he was going to have to try and search the apartment now for listening devices wasn’t he?

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor had watched Helen leave, making sure as well that she was really gone before he said anything.

"This isn't good, mate. Helen knows about the island."

Somehow Connor had thought, and hoped, that Fandom would be inaccessible to Helen somehow. That simply keeping Cutter here and Helen far away would be enough to keep Cutter alive. That was looking like it was not going to be the case.

[itsananomaly]

“I don’t know how she found out,” Cutter sighed warily, “I didn’t think anyone but the team knew that I was here,”

He frowned, maybe Stephen had told her that he was teaching here?

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Not sure.... but it's not good in either case." Especially considering the whole Helen eventually killing Cutter thing hanging over his head. "You ok though?" Connor didn't know how long Helen had been there before he showed up or what had happened earlier in the day.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, “It was just unexpected, seeing Helen in Fandom,” and he had also been a bit distracted by the outfit she had been wearing.

He paused, “thank you though for coming over, I know my judgement with Helen is rather questionable,” he admitted.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Hey, someone has to watch your back," Connor said with a small chuckle. Because lord knew you were terrible at doing it yourself, Cutter. "You've always had my back. My turn to have yours..." And hopefully not fail and end up losing this version of Cutter also.