thoughtformed | Private texts

[Five minutes after a quick 'I'll be right there', Koizumi materializes in Lin's office.] You wanted to see me, Lin-sama?

[Standing at rigid "at ease" behind her desk, Lin does not look up as he speaks, but jerks her head to indicate he should come in and shut the door behind him. Even this late at night, with hardly anyone in the station, all the blinds are drawn in here, and only her little desk lamp casts a pool of white light on the single sheet of paper centered there. Only when she hears the door close does she look up to lock eyes with him - the picture of restrained anger and resigned disappointment.]

What did you do, while I was in the hospital.

[Her voice is flat, implacable. She waits.]

[After shutting the door, Koizumi moves to stand in front of Lin's desk - somehow looking simultaneously attentive and relaxed. He had already had some idea what this was about, and Lin's face confirms it.

His response is prompt and matter of fact, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.] Ah, of course. The hospital staff was limiting visits to family only, and Kyon had relived a life-threatening stab wound, so I sneaked Suzumiya-san into the hospital to see him.

[She's secretly glad that he's honest, even if it means that he was fully aware of his transgressions as they occurred. Her face does not change. Nor does she move.]

You realize that was a breech of your authority, and an abuse of your power as an officer of the law.

I didn't actually use my power as an officer - though I recognize that gets me nothing, as I would have done, if I'd thought it might have helped. You know better than I that nobody who actually works for the government considers the police as any sort of authority.

Yes, I was and am fully aware of the consequences of my actions. I was also aware that we had no guarantee of Kyon's recovery, and I know what it would mean if she didn't get to see him before died. [He shrugs, in an unapologetic sort of way.] I would do the same thing in a heartbeat - as I would do for you, or Sheska, or any of my friends.

[He's quiet a moment, and then, more quietly but sincere:] I am sorry if this will cause you hardship.

[What makes this worse is that she understands. She understands perfectly, and it's more than likely that she would have done something similar. Though on her world the odds are that it would not have been illegal to do in the first place. But she cannot show him that sympathy. She cannot undermine the point of this. Only the slightest tightening of her eyes betrays her reaction. With a sharp gesture, she points down at the page on her desk.]

You know what this is?

[He's quiet and passive in the face of her reaction, glancing down at the paper.] I imagine it's likely to be a letter from the government regarding my behavior.

[Her open palms slam to the desktop on either side of the sheet as she leans into the desk, glaring at him.]

It's a demand for your termination! No appeal, no option for leniency - immediate termination, Koizumi, because you didn't pause to try and find another way! Whether you would change your actions or not, you gave them the excuse they needed. You're done, and neither of us have a choice in the matter.

[He nods calmly.] I expected as much. It's been demonstrated in the past that the hospital is extremely important to the government, particularly as our place of arrival on the island.

[He bows to her in a formal apology.} I apologize that I have made more work for you and the other officers, and that I will not be around to help out the same way in the future.

[A growl edges out between her clenched teeth.]

Cut the crap. You should have lasted longer than this. I wanted to get you fully trained before you did something stupid and brought it down on our heads.

[She pulls her hands back toward her as she straightens, but remains bent, staring down furiously at the nondescript letter.]

I'm waiting for a call back from Carol. She'll see to it that you get the rest of the training you need. Mentorship, if you need it. A wider variety of defensive and offensive training. Anything she thinks you need? You'd be wise to do it. I'm hoping she can convince Natasha to help.

[Straightening, she puts her hands on her hips, locking eyes with him again.]

In the meantime, you'll leave your gun and badge with me. Collect your things. I'll be telling Sheska, and a few select members of the force. I won't be making an announcement to island. As of now, I'm no longer your commanding officer, Itsuki Koizumi, but you'll be hearing from me.

[He looks back just as stubbornly, passion in his voice.] I wish I could have lasted longer than this as well, Lin-san. Of course I do, but the moment the position becomes more important than my friends - the people I'm meant to help and protect - in that moment, it's no longer worth it.

I liked this position. I liked working with you, and helping people. But my friends are more important to me. I will not apologize for that.

[He cools down, considering her critically for a moment. Continuing training? What was she planning? He responds much more slowly, careful.] Of course - if you think I should continue my training, I'd be more than happy to oblige. [After a couple long moments, he decides not to ask - she'd tell him what she was up to when she was ready. For now, it would do to simply trust her.

He takes his gun and badge and places them, without ceremony or hesitation, on her desk.] If it's all right with you, Lin-san, I'd like to tell Sheska - and my other friends on the force - myself.

[What use is an apology? She doesn't want one, and he wouldn't mean it. She lets it lie, impassive. When he's finished, she gives him a curt nod.]

Include Officer Joe Dangan in your rounds. If he, Julie, or Sheska come to me with questions, I will answer as I see fit. I will be adding your patrol route to my own to pick up the slack. I won't be able to drop everything to answer your calls. Understood?

[That double route was more than long enough for him to be able to find her outside the station. And he knew both routes more than well enough to time it right. Now would he pick up on that.]

Of course. [He'd want to let Joe know anyway - the man was, if not a close friend, then a very good acquaintance.

He blinked several times as Lin continued, his eyes moving subtly to scan the rest of the room after a moment. Did she... think the room was bugged? He supposed it shouldn't really surprise him. He gave her a tight smile and a nod.] You should really see if you can split the patrol up more, Lin-san - you already work too much.

[Her eyebrows rise at the admonition, but he knows her well enough to catch the appreciation in the slightest ease of her shoulders and face.]

That's not your concern. Especially not anymore. You have your own affairs to worry about. I expect a statement on the incident on my desk within an hour.

Perhaps, but now the worst I have to worry about is school - and that's never exactly been troubling. [He says it in a way that emphasizes the irony, given his real main concern. Anyone not very familiar with him and with closed space, however, would miss it - so if the room was bugged, all they would hear is him teasing Lin. Not usual for someone who's just been fired, perhaps - but not problematic.] So it's not as if it's a difficulty.

[Then he continues, more seriously.] Besides, even if that's not my concern as an officer, it is my concern as a friend.

[Then he smiles again, somewhat facetiously, reaching into his from pocket for an envelope that has the words 'incident report' clearly and neatly printed on the front.] I certainly hope I can function within that time limit, Lin-sama.

You may need to be more specific.

In the files of the PD personnel, Coulson.  I know you've been through them before.  You've seen these Clearance Codes.  What do you know about them?

I couldn't say. Why were you looking at those?

I'm the chief of police. I don't need a reason to look through personnel files. You can't say, or you won't say?

I don't have the explanation of those for you.

Any idea why your file would have one and Koizumi's doesn't?

I really wouldn't be able to tell you anything.

All right. Thank you.

You're welcome. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

If you do find something out, let me know. It's not insignificant.

I'm all ears.

How much do you trust this electronic lock?

It's at least as good as taking a walk on the beach at high tide, which is the low-tech method. If they can crack this code, their tech level is high enough that they could invisibly track and eavesdrop on all of us, 24/7.

Good. When I got back to the office on Monday, I found a letter from the Department of Regulation waiting for me. The phone number listed lead to a recording requesting a Clearance Code. Some digging in our personnel files gave me at least one to work with. I have a recording of the conversation, the phone number, and the clearance code in question. I also have a statement of my memory of the phone conversation. You'll find out why when you listen to the recording. I need this handled outside the department. Interested?

Very.

The letter was a paper copy - forensics hasn't turned up any fingerprints or other evidence. I want to have Sherlock have a look at it - he'll want first chance. After that it's yours. How do you want to handle the transfer of everything else?

Assuming you want to be as discreet as possible... how often do you take your work home with you?

It's not unusual.

And how often do you stop for takeout on the way home?

Irregularly. Usually pizza or Chinese.

Get Chinese takeout when you want to make the handoff. Set the recordings and documents down on the bench that's to your left as you're standing in line. I'll take care of the rest.

As soon as the letter is back from Sherlock.

Yeah?

Not immediate. Feel like sparring on the beach?

[Personal code for: need to talk outside range of most electronic ears.]

Sure. After 5 work? I have detention duty today.

Fine. See you there.

[Carol floats down onto the beach about 5:30]

Sorry, some of the kids wouldn't leave the building.

[Lin follows through with the end of her kata, a small smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. It's still great to see Carol flying again. Straightening, she stretches her neck.]

Not your fault. Something's happened at the station. When I got back on Tuesday, there was a letter from the government's Department of Regulations waiting for me. Requiring I fire Koizumi for a fairly minor infraction.

[She folds her arms, looking at Carol gravely.]

He's not finished training yet, and he's younger than any officer I've brought in. But he's still one of the best I have. I think he can still be an asset to crime fighting in this city. But he can't do it under my command.

So you want him to join the vigilante community? Why do you think they're kicking up a fuss about him now and not earlier?

[Something had to be wrong with this. It seemed too...random. But then again stranger things have happened here.]

I want him to be able to fulfill his potential. And we both know how badly we need good team members right now. Even if he doesn't apply to join the Avengers, he'd make a good ally. I don't know whether to say you should introduce him to Redwing or keep them as far away from each other as possible. They're too alike for their own good.

I don't know why they've decided on this now. Maybe he finally gave them an excuse. If they're getting him on this I don't know why they didn't get me earlier in the year.

[Her eyes tighten over the reminder, but she didn't go into detail in Carol's video, so she's not sure how much Carol remembers of that time-loop nightmare, and she's not going to explain now.]

If they're trying to weed fictionals out of the police force, it won't take much or very long. But taking me out would have been the most logical point to start with.

[Carol grimaces at the idea of the island higher ups trying to take fictionals out of the police force.]

I don't see how that'd be a good move. They'd loose a lot of their employees and the support of the Vigilance community. No offense, but the department kinda needs us.

But yeah, I'll work with him. I'll see if Nat and Clint wouldn't mind showing him some stuff as well. Any notable powers?

[Lin waves off the slight on her charge. She's long been resigned to the need for vigilante assistance, even if she hates it. At this point the department was more back up for the Avengers than the other way around. But as for Koizumi's powers...]

None.

[The reply was prompt. He had abilities, but they didn't apply here, and if he was wanted to tell Carol about them, that was his business. She hadn't had time to check with him first.]

He's been doing martial arts with me, and he's had firearms training - mostly sidearms. He doesn't have a problem staying cool under fire, or getting focused. He's an initiative-taker, but that should be less of a problem for you than for me.

[What, is this Lin confessing that she's a control freak? Surely you're mistaken.]

[Embrace the confession, it will set you free.]

Sounds like just the kind of guy who works best with us. I'm glad you came to me.

[It was still weird for her sometimes how cooperative the department is with the vigilance community.]

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