Diamond & Ruby

Emma saw the resigned expression those stylists were giving her and realised she was talking a lot of nonsense, the problem wasn't the words. The problem was time and place.

"Let's focus".

Jean grinned and decided to be a bit mischievous "Or are you just upset that he hasn't fucked you yet?~"

"Don't talk like you got experience, virgin!".

"And proud, thank you".

"I'm just confused about why he hasn't done anything yet. Now that I think about it, Jean... you have been very casual about this. Are you opening up to the possibilities?~" Emma grinned. 

The redhead stared down deep in thought, "More like... I don't know what to feel. I was initially upset when I knew you were moving into his house and when he told me about your relationship, but..."

"But?"

"I feel nothing much has changed since then, so it is not affecting me as much as I thought?".

"Should we just have a threesome and move past this like adults?" Emma suggested.

"Shut up, please..." The blushed Jean refused to talk about this topic any further while the stylists, with holes prickling in their memories, wondered when was the last time they got such crazy-ass bitches as customers. 

...

In the middle of this enjoyable time. Emma's phone rang. Annoyed, Emma picked up to see who dared annoy her special moment with Jean, and then she froze when she saw the screen. 

Jean saw who it was and frowned. 

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm here".

"Am I supposed to be secure?"

"You are. You're not alone".

Emma sighed, "Say, Jean, if fate came at you. Would you avoid it or face it head-on?"

"I would face it. Especially if I'm not by myself, everything will be okay".

It didn't matter how much of a rivalry they had; they were still a team.

Emma nodded and answered the phone with shivering hands

"Bonjour".

"There is no need to pretend; I know you're not in Paris", a man answered from the other side.

"Is that so? Must be because I've been going on and about, Shaw. I thought you wouldn't call me during my little holidays".

"Even if you smashed the GPS, I still have my ways of knowing you've been driving around Manhattan".

"Couldn't I have lent the car to a friend?~"

"The high-definition camera footages say otherwise. Come to me, Emma, we have some issues that need addressing; someone is trying to mess around–" His voice sounded neutral, but one could tell he was agitated. 

"I can't…"

"Why?"

"I'm busy sucking a true man's dick".

"…"

"…"

*PFT!*

The stylists collapsed, covered their mouths in disbelief and heard the conversation further. They didn't know who was on the other side of that call, but things would surely turn nasty. For her part, Jean too gasped... she didn't think Emma would take such a violent approach.

The blonde's hands started shivering even further, but that smile on her face was indistinguishable as if those were words she had wished to say to this man for so long.

"Come again?" It took almost a whole minute before Sebastian Shaw spoke again, and he only wanted to confirm if what he heard was correct. 

"It is as you heard, so you should know how things will unfold from now on, Shaw. Don't call me again. You can't come at me with whatever you want; I'm not alone, and I will be ready".

Emma hung up the call and collapsed with shivering hands.

"I… did it…haha... I-I'm free..." She stared at her own shivering hands, still in disbelief wondering where she gained the boldness to say that, but she wanted it to hurt his ego as much as possible. No doubt that had been a vicious strike to Sebastian Shaw. 

"I don't understand what just happened, but... good work, miss!" Even the stylists complimented her. 

"It's not time to be shivering and scared" Jean hugged her. 

"I'm not scared, just a bit euphoric... I'm free now. It depends on Ray now for how long".

"Is he that scary?"

"If not for Ray, I wouldn't have dared, Jean... he's frightening" Although the content was ominous, her words concealed overjoying happiness. 

Being free was far-fetched, but at least she had taken the first step. 

"Wouldn't it have been better to pretend so that he lowered his guard?"

"Ray wants to fight him alone; what is there for me to pretend? It would be an insult to him if I still pretend to be Shaw's bitch" Emma smiled, "I'll give him the good news tonight".

"I'm sure he will feel proud of you".

That said, now that I've said what I said, a shirt storm is going to fall on me; you will receive it with me, won't you, ginger?" Emma held the redhead's hands softly, and the latter hurriedly shoved her hands aside in utter betrayal.

"Sorry? How is this my problem?".

"You advised me, so now this is automatically your problem, too," Emma glared ominously.

"Ugh… just pay me well".

"We're friends; I'm not supposed to pay you anything".

"Oh, now we're friends? Alright, because we're friends you should pay me double!".

The stylists giggled at the shenanigans of both redhead and blonde. They didn't know if they were arguing or bantering; all they knew was to curse the luck of the guy they were both 'sharing'.

**

**

A diamond and a ruby, any man who saw them on the streets could only attribute them such a description. Emma, in a white dress, and Jean, in a black dress, rode the blonde's Ferrari towards one of the highest terraces in Manhattan.

"What's the objective this time?" Jean asked. 

"This is a favour to a friend. We will disrupt Kingpin's plans a bit. Tonight, there is a board meeting regarding the actions that Charleston Industries will undertake on the hundredth floor of the Chrysler building. They hope to stay afloat. Fisk is trying to get rid of the widow of Charleston this evening. We have to prevent that. I'm going to meet her first, and then we can escort her to a safe spot; however, we may have to fight some mercenaries along the way if we're not fast enough," She briefed. 

"That person is?"

"Her name is Elizabeth Charleston. Ray and I cared for her husband, a bastard called Carter Banks, who managed the business she inherited from her family. She's left a widow inheriting control over her shares and her husband's. Kingpin wants her out of the way, a friend of mine doesn't want her dead… so we will intervene and it will play in our favour when it comes to taking over the Hellfire Club. That woman will only be by my side if I do this for her" Emma groaned in annoyance. 

"So…?"

"Essentially, we will fight a group of mercenaries, no biggie".

"I don't want to kill anyone".

"You don't have to… it is fine for you to practice high-intensity psionic waves. I want you to render them unconscious with an overload. If you want to stay in this line of business without killing, you must be able to do at least this much, Jean".

"I will".

Half an hour later, they reached the venue. To test Jean, Emma allowed her to walk in front. Jean's talents shone through; she manipulated everyone's minds, and without an issue, both ladies made it to the party after the meeting. They arrived half an hour later to ensure all players would be in their positions. 

The moment they arrived at that floor, it was like they became the centre of attention. But that was Emma's plan from the beginning. 

All eyes darted towards Jean's revealing dress, an exquisite black ruby. It accentuated her hair to unprecedented levels. 

'All you have to do is go around, walk, read minds and get some useful information. Everyone in here is a powerhouse, so any information you can get about the elite scheme is useful. Use what I have taught you. I'll be around,' Emma sent her mentally and went about her business as a crowd of men approached Jean. 

The redhead almost shivered at the brash, lustful gazes emitted her way. She wasn't used to this, but then she recalled... that those men had no power over her. 

She walked forward with regal steps, and one by one, that crowd of men allowed her through, walking past her before they started talking with someone who wasn't even there an illusion. They could be millionaires, billionaires, mercenaries, gang lords, mafia lords, generals or coronels. 

In front of her, their sinful minds were just as feeble as that of a baby. What was real, what was false?

With Emma and Jean working together towards the same objective, reality became Ephemeral as they both worked as gatekeepers between what existed and what did not. 

The real prowess of a telepath is in full display.