The One Where Victoria's Heterosexual (Inquisitors Maragos & Maragos)
The Inquisitors set up a base in a long, narrow warehouse near a railyard, just to the southwest of the community called Lincoln Park. A highway separated the industrial area from the renovated neighborhood where, unknown to the Inquisitors, their prey went into hiding. Since the warehouse once served as a distribution center for paint, some boxes and gallon-sized cans remained, along with a few tables and chairs, but not much else. It was lit naturally by a row of windows near the ceiling. At night, they used their equipment to illuminate the space enough to move around. Decency compelled them to separate the area into respectable quarters. They hung old canvas material from the rafters, creating makeshift compartments. Other areas contained stockpiled food and gear.

At the end of the row, Hayden ducked into a stall and let the canvas close. He sat down. A little bleary eyed, he stretched out his legs one at a time. His right knee was swollen. He could feel the brace grow tighter on his last surveillance. There would be fluid around the joint. He turned the pins in sequence and released the pressure incrementally. Sometimes, taking the damned contraption off hurt worse than walking around without it. It was also hot in the building. A drop of sweat rolled down his face. He hunched his shoulder and mopped it with his sleeve. The uniforms were ill-suited to the humidity and heat of the city. On his earlier hunt, he caught a glimpse of the inland sea and only gentility kept him stripping down and diving into it. Others did, men and women in clothes not suitable for underthings.

Pain radiated around his kneecap. Hayden left the brace alone for a moment and took off his boots.

A familiar hand was felt to slide around his back, then over opposing shoulder; the owner joining him with as much of an affectionate embrace as could be managed from one side. A kiss finding itself bestowed to his cheek, respectful, yet loving. "Let me," spoke a female voice, lowering hand to soothe where inflammation troubled the lead Inquisitor most. "I know you're not an invalid, but you know how seeing to this thing frustrates you, darling."

Victoria's allowed her harder-nosed edge to loosen when in private moments with her husband. Necessity had given her cause to be practiced with temporary removal of the device. The day when assistance could not be offered to one's own spouse would be a sorry age, indeed. She knew her husband's limits and what would cause him too much pain. The structure needed an experienced handler to ease it away.

"When the task ahead of us is done with, we're going to have to come back to this world, aren't we?" She asked, almost matter-of-factly. "Perhaps even our entire Chapter, I've no doubt."

He was quiet as her fingers released the pins. Attempting to speak while she did so would betray pain.

"It's a necessary evil, I'm afraid." Like others, Hayden found the place intolerable. Like crusading Christians, or certain of this world's democracies, the Inquisition felt it their responsibility to spread their doctrine for the betterment of humankind. It was likely -- indeed, almost a certainty -- that their leadership would demand they return and pave the way for others to cleanse the world. They couldn't allow the demonic ones to colonize and spread their sin and sickness. They would undoubtedly return in numbers.

He ground his teeth together and flexed his knee as the brace loosened.

"I know you find it... trying," he said. Hayden cut a look at her, a smile working at the corners of his mouth. Upon hearing that she took Tobias to task, he was saddled with mixed feelings. Part of him (an admittedly large part) found her feisty reaction a source of amusement. Another part (the reasonable part) knew that Victoria's outburst compromised her credibility. Women had a harder time of proving themselves.

"You know, if you have another incident like the one with Bryson, I'll have to bring you to task in front of the others." He put a hand behind his knee and forcibly pulled it closer. "For the sake of our ever-watchful audience." To not do so brought up questions of favoritism.

"I expect nothing less," Victoria replied in a tone suggestive of this perhaps not being the first time. She was efficient and good at what she did, but never once protested her husband's treating of her like any other Inquisitor. She was dedicated to the cause and group cohesion was important. Unlike some, religion had not been the driving force which had brought her to this point. Past events had. "If I was of a mind to, you'd never have put up with me, hmm?"

A light-hearted smile was made his way and Victoria told him to brace, as she undid the last vestige of mechanical bondage, liberating limb from harness. A little freedom, every now and again, was good for the soul. Providing it returned to where things were best-suited for its existence, of course.

Opening mouth to speak, Victoria held her piece for a moment, gathering thoughts. One hand moving across to be placed on top of his. "Hayden, I..." A pause was made, but not for dramatic effect. More to focus her mind. "This place... It's polluted. Even this world's denizens speak openly of dissatisfaction with their affairs... They're unable to correct it, even though many desire to. Even a thousand Inquisitors could not hope to reverse a tide of this magnitude. My thoughts on this matter are clear, but..."

Looking about herself, Victoria lowered voice, deciding that discretion was most definitely the better part of valour, in this case.

"My thoughts on this matter are clear," she repeated, "but I fear for how witchery might affect the rest... There'll be talk of simply letting our prey reside here. Suggestions that we simply... Well, that we merely return and claim the deed is done. If it comes to that, I must know your direction. Are we to prosecute the needles in this new haystack or might we have to prepare for more of a... Global conflagration? I realise that now might not be the time for such answers, but what I saw... Quite frankly, it chilled me."

Hayden held the seat of his chair in a death grip as his knee adjusted. His other hand, the one closest to his wife, turned up to lace into her fingers. A glance at the canvas confirmed it shut, but it did precious little to block sound. He lowered his voice to a mutter. "I won't give up the mission. I am resolute. Neither will I tolerate those who suggest dishonesty and turning a blind eye to the plight of these people."

It seemed a Herculean feat even to find the fugitives. To beat them on foreign ground, where they could be camouflaged so well, would be an enormous task. But it was their responsibility, theirs because they failed to stop the invasion. "If this world falls to demons," he murmured, "It will not be by our hand. We can't defeat them all, but we can kill those that came from our world. If our orders are to return for the rest, we'll do so with reinforcements. Right now, it isn't our concern."

He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles.

When his mind was made up, then wherever it led, Victoria would follow. She had not exchanged vows on a schoolgirl's whim. Not just to one another, either - to the cause. An Inquisitor's life could be a lonely one, if the path was taken seriously and she did not take her fortune for granted. In this world, their other selves were far from star-crossed souls, but those lives differed considerably. When - and if - they were encountered, it would be quite the revelation.

"We have some indications of activity, at least," she confirmed with a light squeeze of fingers and thumb against his. "Some hopeful traces of their remaining energy signature. It's slight, but could mean something. Besides, they're as ignorant of this world as we. Ignorance always sticks out among the informed: Even if we have to put in a little effort in our more conventional detective skills, we'll find them."

She spoke in a harsher manner to others. Here, though, they had privacy. Even if outcast among the world's devils. Leaning in, she bestowed a soft kiss of lips to wounded husband's cheek. "I undertook an interrogation, earlier. It won't be long," she reassured. "Then we can be done with this place. At least, the more surgical portion of it... If we do return, a more indiscriminate cleansing should certainly make things easier."

Hayden leaned his elbows on his legs and clasped his hands together. When he was thinking, he often stared at the juncture of floor and wall and let his eyes unfocus. "The other night, Logan mentioned recruiting others to our side. We can't -- and shouldn't," he said, holding up a hand to stop an objection, "take that lightly. Certainly, it takes more than willingness to be in the Inquisition. But we may have allies here. People who see demons as we do. A Slayer, maybe. Other demon hunters... The world's not overrun, there must be someone keeping their numbers down."

The squad leader rubbed his palms together. "Those of us who are best at hunting the fugitives should focus on that. Those who are more... cerebral... I think they should put their attention to locating allies. People who see the world as we do. Or even demons that can be paid or... shall we say convinced to give up the whereabouts of any newcomers matching the description of our fugitives."

He pushed on his legs and straightened his back. "I'll communicate it to the squad." Hayden looked at Victoria. "What did you learn on your interrogation?" For a moment, mirth and a certain sexual playfulness made his eyes shine. "I know how persuasive you can be."

"Paying will require money," his wife pointed out. Whatever amount they might happen to have taken along with them, would almost certainly not be legally acceptable here, but perhaps... "Bartering might be worthwhile," she helpfully suggested, "unless you feel we should take more than just nutrition by force." Ration packs, after all, had not been a priority to take with them. An interdimensional excursion had not been expected. "But I agree on the leverage of payment, whatever form it might take. The corrupt are notoriously weak-willed - and even less loyal."

As conversation turned to the subject matter Victoria knew best, the brunette took on a more confident, self-assured expression. Although a worthy addition in combat, like all of them, interrogations were her speciality. She was not addicted to the process, but was extremely well-versed in how to attain the best results. Physical torment was rarely needed, but the threat - or at least, ambiguity of the same - could work real wonders. Besides which, a true sadist would only desire the application of pain upon others. A truly good interrogator was far more concerned with getting accurate information and truthful answers.

Once, she had tricked a creature with particularly powerful telepathic abilities into ripping apart his companion's mind, on a psychic level, in the next cell. To some, the use of such talents was distasteful, but to her, they were a tool, like any other. The results had caused enough guilt to extract the information required and lives, ultimately, were saved. Beyond that, she had virtually no compassion for those she administered. She was given a task to do and there her obligations ended.

"Descriptions," she smiled. "And a general locality. Not as precise as I'd like, but at least we seem to be in the right area. Little more than that, although, if true, it seems most fugitives haven't made the decision to scatter. Perhaps they wish to make a stand?" The thought of it amused Victoria and she showed as much in her expression. The foul wretches were as outmatched here as in their home world. What made them think such a strategy was viable? "I can't lie about their chances, but... It's almost enough to make me wish to extend my sympathies."

Hayden smiled at his wife. "Are you so arrogant, then?" He stood up and scraped his chair backwards, until it was positioned behind hers. Then he sat down and wrapped his arms around Victoria's shoulders, squeezing her in the privacy of the stall. "Yes, of course you are," he said, muffling his voice in her neck. On either side of her chair, his legs straightened until they were comfortable.

"What general locality did you learn of?" The squad leader could talk of the unfortunate matter with the fugitives and still enjoy her presence. "Was it to the East?" He leaned left and kissed that shoulder which was nearest the mentioned direction.

"Getting warmer," she replied with a gentle exposure of arching neck. "A little more Northerly, but definitely heading in the right direction..."

He was right. She could be arrogant, but it was with good justification, from her point of view. All such considerations now placed to the back of Victoria's mind, as she allowed herself the indulgence of marital benefits. Being unable to simply relax until the mission was done with, could often be frustrating, but sometimes granted them both a measure of excitement not shared by most married couples. Those little touches, veiled looks and suggestive phrases, which had such a habit of playing on one's mind... It was all a kind of foreplay, in a way.

Sometimes, a tight-fitting uniform could provide an inspiration, all of its own.

"And when you find that special place," she whispered into ear with a telling brush of lips, one hand sliding into a comfortable rest at one side of Hayden's waist, "the results should prove quite explosive, hmm?"

"Mm," he agreed. He leaned around the chair and aligned his nose with his spouse's. "Explosive and also... very, very loud." He struggled to hide the laugh under his breath. Others of their squad moved about in the warehouse, checking equipment or bedding down for the night, and it was an ordeal to keep things under wraps. "Thank god for the old Inquisition gag, huh?" He detached a patch from his sleeve, balled up, and jokingly pressed it against her mouth.

"Though I think you need more than that. I don't know." Hayden shook his head and looked around at the makeshift walls of canvas, as if he was dubious of anything's effectiveness. "An insulated booth, maybe." He was a lucky man. His wife had quite the vocal prowess.

An Englishwoman's giggle often seemed to effortlessly merge those twin qualities of infectiousness and flirtation. Victoria's certainly did so now. Times might have changed from the days of the Inquisition's inception, but certain activities, at least for this pair, still had to be regarded as private. "Sometimes," she began, fingertip at the hollow of his throat, "a girl just needs to express her happiness! Not everything's in the wrist action, after all..."

Smoothing the palm of hand around to cup the side of his face in a manner of admiration, Victoria's smile hovered somewhere between coy and suggestive. Lips parted to say something else, but a nearby sound interrupted her train of thought and she finished with a polite clearing of throat.

"I admit, I am rather curious about this world's variety of recreation... Perhaps, after a while, the novelty of it might even do for a second honeymoon, hmm?"

He adopted a faraway look and stared at an invisible spot on the canvas, just beyond Victoria's head. "I'm afraid I'm stuck on the part about your wrist action." Hayden took her hand from his face and studied its lines and shape, the fingers that knew him well and could take away pain. He kissed the palm of it, and then the soft flesh of her inner arm. His thumb circled the pulse beating under her skin.

"I need to relieve Bryson for a few minutes before we sleep. He's standing guard tonight." Reluctantly, he let go of her and stood up. His right leg complained about the added weight, but he wouldn't be on it long enough to justify the brace. "I'll be back in ten. You aren't going out again, are you?" He looked at the pallet on the floor, which was calling his name. Enough years in the Inquisition, and he could sleep anywhere, including standing up.

"Not yet, no," she replied, gathering the supportive construct into hands. With him to leave, the lack of his physical presence would be replaced by the brace. An odd contrivance to the casual onlooker, but like a lover's cast off handkerchief, it represented an emotional facsimile of her dearest. A very real part of him, literally, no matter its intended design. Something she could have close to her, when he had other business to take care of, away from her. "Once I'm rested, I'll be seeking another source of information. Once we recover enough, God willing, we can do what's commanded of us."

The suggestion of possibly needing others, however, was now starting to weigh on the brunette's mind. Recalling Rhiannon's interfacing with the nearby technological systems of this world, Victoria was beginning to ponder a more direct method of achieving a boost in numbers.

"I need to discuss something with Inquisitor Lee. If feasible, I'll clarify the details, later."

"Alright." Hayden had drawn the rough curtain back, but at the last moment, he stepped back into the stall. Catching Victoria's chin, he looked at her from close range. She had blue eyes. He smiled and his hand moved around to massage her nape. "I'm glad you're here." He kissed her forehead and ducked out of the shared space.

As he limped up the row between the curtains, he pulled a communication device from his pocket and cued it to send a new message. While he gave Bryson his last break of the night, he'd send word to the Inquisitors about the revised strategy.