Song : True Colors - Cyndi Lauper

"Some people believe that raven's guide travelers to their destinations. Others believe that the sight of a solitary raven is considered good luck. While a group of ravens predicts trouble ahead. And a raven right before battle promises victory." -Lucas Scott One Tree Hill.

New cover by @Blessed-Unrest I was conflicted on it but after giving it a couple of days I came to appreciate it so thank you! 

***

She'd seen him in the file Lexis gave her but it hadn't clicked then that the same John Smith she was just arguing with Lexis on the other day was going to be present. Was this why Lexis came? Is this why he said he needed her help? Hera looks at Lexis wondering what he was planning.

"This is Alexander Black, Peter Black's first son and his fiancee,"Senator Graham says introducing them to the small group who exchange pleasantries.

"I said she looks like the bride not Miralda,"John replies.

"Well they are engaged. I'm willing to share our anniversary dinner,"Miralda replies smiling.

"You look absolutely stunning,"John says to Hera who smiles in thanks.

"Alexander, I've heard quite a lot about you. It's an honor to finally meet,"John says to Lexis putting his hands out for a handshake.

"I can't say it's an honor but I'm glad to be here today," Lexis says taking a glass of wine from a waiter instead of John's outstretched hand. 

Hera gently squeezes Lexis' arm. He raises an eyebrow at her knowing what she was doing but feigning ignorance.

An awkward silence ensues as John takes his hand back.

"So Alexander, what do you do?" A female senator asks trying to reduce the awkwardness.

"I am planning on starting an organization," Lexis replies.

"An organization?" Miralda asks.

"What sort of organization?" Senator Graham asks.

"An organization for victims of domestic abuse," Lexis says.

"Domestic abuse? That's wonderful, maybe we could work hand in hand one day,"Miralda says.

"You seem to love working with others,"Lexis says.

Miralda smiles and nods patting her husbands arm.

"It's the least we can do for all our community has given us," She says.

Lexis eyes bounces from the wife to the husband and back.

"And you?"Lexis says looking at John.

"Of course, I'll also be willing to help in anyway I can," John says smiling.

"That's what I'm hoping, I know how much love and care you have for victims of domestic violence," Lexis states a smile on his face.

Miralda glances at her husband.

"I mean it's the human thing to do, I can't even begin to imagine the fear and pain they go through," John says.

"No, you can't," Lexis replies sharply.

He turns to the others.

"That's why I'm there to lend a hand, you see amongst those you know, statistics has proven that two out of ten are victims of one sort of abuse or another, either emotional or domestic," Lexis says.

"Sad,"

"Truly sad,"

"The saddest part is there could be right now in this very room..."Lexis says glancing around the room. "...either a victim, an abuser or an enabler," He finishes his eyes stopping on the trio of Graham, John and Miralda.

"No..."Senator Graham says shaking his head.

"Alexander, this is a room filled with dignified senators, politicians and business men and women of great power, "John states.

"Meaning?" Lexis asks raising an eyebrow. 

"Meaning, this is the last place you'll find any of the three,"John answers.

"Just because you're a politician or society sees you as dignified doesn't mean you're above abuse," Hera speaks out getting irritated.

Lexis eyes crinkle and the side of his lips upturn as he quietly takes a sip of his wine.

"Before a politician, business man or whatever role you're playing before society. You're a man, a husband and father and none of those people are above abuse. Some of the greatest abusers are those in power,"Hera states the anger and disgust clear in her words and tone.

Everyone stays silent.

"Businessmen and Politicians lie, cheat and go to great lengths to get what they want. In a way they are abusing the people, the intelligence of the common folk, their trust and emotions each time they campaign without fulfilling their promises, or fulfill only those beneficial to their selfish desires," Hera says.

"Not all politicians lie Miss..."John says.

"Reynolds,"Hera answers.

"Miss Reynolds, I am a politician and would like to respectfully represent my colleagues in disagreeing with your view that all politicians lie,"John says.

"I never said that,"Hera says a snide smile on her face.

Lexis gently nods from her side in agreement.

"Excuse me?"John says.

"I never said that ALL..." Hera says placing emphasis on the word All.

"Politicians are liars, I said politicians and businessmen lie. I never specified the amount apart from the use of plurals meaning I meant more than one..."Hera says and is interrupted by his,

"But you..."

Hera raises her hands stopping him.

"... Seeing as I didn't specify you can definitely argue that I may have meant all but just because you argue on that point doesn't make it right," Hera says to which Lexis gently nods again.

"I just showcased an example of what some politicians and businessmen do, say something in a way that gives the leeway to backtrack if it goes wrong. Not only did you misquote me, you told a lie by saying I said all when I didn't, which leads me to take whatever you may want to say with a grain of salt but please do continue," Hera says waving her hands for him to go on.

He stays silent for a while taken aback.

The atmosphere is tense as if with one miss step they'll step on pins.

"When has politics or business ever been clean?"Senator Graham asks breaking the silence with a smile to which the group smiles and nods in agreement.

"True, politics and business are dirty but until we become the change and difference what makes us think we have the right to try and change the country for the better when we're rotten inside?" Lexis asks.

Hera looks up at him. Those were her words to him.

An uncomfortable silence ensures amongst them once more.

"Reminds me of something I stumbled on today,"Lexis says as more people gather around.

"Something?" Another lady who'd joined them asks from the side.

"Something and someone, you see I was at Wells today..." Lexis says looking at the Grahams and John.

"Wells? Isn't that where your son works Miralda?" Another lady asks joining them with her husband.

"Yes, he's a Chief at the hospital," Miralda replies half heartedly as if wanting to be anywhere but where she currently was.

"Oh he is? I didn't know," Lexis says in such a sly way that Hera looks at him suspiciously. Did he really not know?

"Anyway, I met a lady there who was abused by her husband, who is actually a politician,"Lexis continues.

A few gasps escape people's lips as a crowd begins to gather.

"A politician?

Who?

Is he here?

Tsk tsk tsk"

"See this lady was so badly hurt that she was almost unrecognizable,"Lexis says to the audience.

His palm tighten it's hold on Hera's, she looks up at him. He had no readable expression in his eyes but she knew he was boiling with rage. She glides her thumb across his palm. 

"I was furious," Lexis says.

Rightfully so

What sort of man does that?

"A monster not a man," Hera replies anger in her voice and eyes. Lexis squeezes her palms.

"Exactly,"Lexis states in agreement and continues,

"Putting on a perfect face for the world to see advocating against monsters in our community when he himself is a monster currently running for office," 

He watches as the trio in front of him get extremely tense.

"The only office he deserves is in jail

Correct

I wonder who he is

People whisper to one another.

"I agree, see I'm of the opinion that he shouldn't be running for office,"Lexis states.

"True,"

"I agree,"

No question about that

100%

"Graham,"Lexis says dropping the Senator title from his name.

 "What do you think?" Lexis asks.

Graham coughs softly as the audience turns their attention to him.

"I...I feel it's a personal issue between him and his wife, abuse victims have feelings, exposing her husband and her abuse could affect her mental health negatively,"Graham says.

"You're doing it,"Lexis says 

"What?

He's the one?

Is it him?

Eyes glance at Miralda searching for signs of abuse.

"Excuse me?" Graham says.

"You're jumping to conclusions, I didn't say I'll expose him...yet,"Lexis says and breaks into a sly smile.

Everyone breaks into a smile of relief realizing Senator Graham wasn't the abuser.

"But abuse victims especially when under the hands of someone with great power find it hard to break free so you suggest we turn a blind eye and leave such a menace to society till he one day hurts her so bad that she dies?"Lexis asks and continues not waiting for a reply.

"You say it'll affect her mentally in a negative way, do you mean the abuse she's frequently subjected to doesn't already do that? By letting it go and staying silent aren't I being an enabler? What do I tell society? How do I face myself? How do you face yourself knowing you knew what was going on and still did nothing but instead aided in covering it up?"Lexis says to Graham.

"As one who aided how do you live with yourself? How do you face your kids and wife? Except she's also in the know then how do you both live with yourselves?" Lexis says looking both Graham and Miralda in the eyes.

Graham laughs nervously.

"He is so passionate about this you'd think I was the abuser," He says.

A couple of people join him laughing.

"I feel bad for whoever did it, he won't let this go," A female senator says.

"True I won't," Lexis says.

Graham frowns.

"What do you plan on doing?" John asks finally speaking.

"Well it's not so much what I plan on doing but what he plans on doing,"Lexis says to John.

"What do you mean?"John asks.

"Is he going to step down from his race? Is he going to give his wife freedom from the abuse? Is he going to pay her nothing less than half a million dollars in damages and keep paying her at least 30,000 in compensation each month for the rest of her life? Is he going to give her the custody of her kids? Is he going to disappear off the political climate never to be seen again while making sure to apologize to his wife for all the hurt he caused her and her kids? To society for how he deceived and abused their trust and intelligence by pretending to be something he isn't? If he is then my plan is to forgive him, after all to err is human," Lexis says.

The side of Johns lips twitch. 

"Fine,"John says.

"Fine?"Lexis asks.

"I agree that your thoughts are right and would love to speak to you more on the victims of abuse after the party," John says.

"Graham?"Lexis says looking at Senator Graham.

"I admire your love and determination, I'll leave it to you both to decide on what you plan to do," Graham says smiling.

"My secretary will be sure to contact you, to further discuss ways to help," Lexis says taking Hera's hands and walking away leaving behind the audience that was now focused on their retreating bodies.

"Which of them was it?"Hera asks.

"Guess," Lexis says.

"John?" Hera says.

"Bingo,"Lexis replies.

"WOW," Hera says turning to look back at him. 

"Don't," Lexis says stopping her.

"He's been abusing her while the Grahams with their sons aid have been aiding in covering it up," Lexis says.

"Wow," Hera repeats.

"Don't you just wish I had shown that video now?"Lexis asks.

"No, regardless of how horrible he is, stooping as low as him wouldn't be right and showing the video wouldn't have made you any different,"Hera states adding,

"But he truly doesn't deserve to be in power,"

"Oh no worries,"Lexis says patting her hand.

"After tonight John shall no longer be in the race or any race, the only race he shall be in is the race away from me," Lexis says and stops walking his eyebrows furrowing.

This is my last car race, but my first race at life with you.

He shakes his head.

"Are you okay?"Hera asks worried

"Yup," He says.

Hera smiles.

"Thank you,"She says.

"For what?"

"Saving her, John's wife,"Hera says and realizes something.

"So that's why you stopped the video, because you found out,"She says.

"No,"Lexis says surprising her.

"No?"Hera says.

"I stopped it before I found out,"Lexis says.

"Why?"Hera asks.

"Stopping was the right thing to do and I was going to lose you if I didn't," Lexis says.

Hera bites her lips.

"You know each time you bite that lip it's like an invite for a kiss?" Lexis says. Hera immediately releases her lips.

Lexis chuckles.

"I am yet to apologize,"He says.

"For what?"Hera asks confused.

"How I acted the other day,"Lexis explains.

She smiles.

"You've earned your forgiveness,"She replies to which Lexis grins.

"Are you sure, we've never met before?"He asks leaning closer. Searching her face.

"What?"Hera asks taken aback.

"You just seem so....Familiar," Lexis says.

 "No!" Hera answers quickly.

Lexis raises an eyebrow.

"Yet the dress fit you,"He says.

"It would fit anyone my size,"Hera replies.

"It might, but the scars on you...It's seemed as if it was made for you," He remembers the note from Alexander Wang on scars and reaches into his pocket to take it out and finish reading.

"I believe that's my finance's hands you're holding," A female voice with an English accent says.

They both turn to the sight of an angry Karen standing next to Nathan.

***

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