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Chapter 10 - Exploit

The first ring hadn't even finished before she picked up.

"Miana, thank God. You rushed off, I was worried that-"

"Where are you right now, Sandra?"

A confused pause. "I'm at home. Is everything alright, Miana?"

"I... that's a hard question to answer right now. Do you... this might sound weird, but I could really use somebody to talk to right now. Like... face to face talk. Could I come over? Don't feel bad about saying no if it's too much of a bother."

"No... I mean, it's no bother. You know where I live? 210 Halifax Concourse, hit the buzzer for 301 and I'll let you in."

"I'll be right there. Thanks, Sandra."

* * *

Two quick knocks on the door, and Sandra was there in a matter of seconds. So strange to see her out of her usual buttoned-up, conservative everyday style. It was a grey sweatshirt and orange PJs at home.

"Hey, come on in," she said, giving Miana that shy grin that had seemed so uncharacteristic until recently. "Sorry, it's a little messy. I wasn't really expecting company."

"Don't worry about it," Miana said, smiling back as she stepped into the apartment. She unbuttoned her coat as she stepped inside. "Is there..."

"Behind you on the wall," Sandra pointed.

Miana peeled off her long coat, revealing the tight-fitting, low-cut top she had squeezed herself into after making the call. She turned around, making sure to take her time putting her coat on the hook. She might have been imagining it, but she could have sworn she felt Sandra's eyes, getting an eyeful of her backside straining against her tightest pair of blue jeans.

When Miana made a quick motion to turn around, she definitely caught Sandra's eyes bolting upward. Hypothesis confirmed. "Hey, sorry again," Miana said, pretending she hadn't noticed. "I won't stay long, I promise." Yet another lie. It's like you've forgotten how to tell the truth these days.

"Don't worry about it. My roommate's visiting her family for the weekend, so I have the place all to myself," Sandra said.

Miana paused to look over Sandra's living space. It was quite a bit bigger than Miana's apartment. Very well-appointed too, with tasteful generic art on the walls and a few plants to liven up the surroundings. Definitely a lot nicer-looking than Miana's utilitarian design aesthetics. Miana wondered if this was Sandra's taste in decorating, or if her absent roommate handled that sort of thing. Considering how busy Sandra must have been with her Ph. D. work, Miana guessed the latter.

"And besides," Sandra continued, "when you called before, you sounded upset." She motioned towards a small but comfortable-looking sofa. "Have a seat. You can stay as long as you need to."

"I appreciate it," Miana said, setting herself down on the couch and trying not to wince at the tight cling of her undersized jeans.

"Want something to drink? There's a few beers in the fridge and some box wine."

"Wine would be great, thanks."

As Sandra headed off to the kitchen, Miana pulled her phone out of her back pocket. You gonna try and sneak one in while she's gone, you bastard? she thought, her mental voice a furious snarl.

It was the one way she knew to shut him up. In all the time since the Cyclops had entered her life – no "Mr. Cyclops" anymore, the sick son of a bitch didn't deserve such a playful title – he had never once shown himself when other members of her team were around. For whatever reason, he didn't want them to know that he existed.