JP - Riley gets in the Way

Riley chased after the pheromone user eventually catching up with her "easy Tzeitel what's going on?" He asked, appearing in front of her.

“Fucking Colt!” Tzeitel grumbled, continuing to run. “All this fucking time. I thought he was over me. He- he kissed me.”

Riley stood dumbfounded there for a moment "honestly I wasn't expecting that but am somehow not surprised" he sighed before scooping her up. "Let's go somewhere quiet to talk," he replied, taking her to the small island in the middle of the lake.

Tzeitel scowled and looked around herself. “Whenever I use pheromones around him he just blows them away, I don’t know how to make him stop.”

Riley gently set her down before taking a seat on a log " why don't we start at the beginning."

“The beginning of what?” Tzeitel asked, touching her neck scars nervously. “I told Colt years ago that it’s never going to happen. He chose Feng. I thought he had gotten over any feelings he had for me by now.”

"I've done plenty of traveling as you know and let's say that's something that never happens no matter how you start it the outcomes always the same with you a Colt " Riley sighed. "He never got over you, he was just trying to with Feng and look how that turned out. I know this 5 years has been s*** for a lot of people and I've been blessed because I had both River and Amber still while you and the others have suffered."

“I tried to protect him from Feng.” Tzeitel hugged her arms, feeling her eyes filling with tears as she thought about what happened to Bao. “I don’t feel that way about him. If I could have used my powers on myself to make myself fall in love with him I would have. It doesn’t work that way.

"You know you could try the more natural way" Riley replied "going on a couple of dates see how you feel."

“The only closer friend I have is Klaire… why can’t we just be friends?” Tzeitel sighed. The thought of going on a date kind of scared her.

"Nobody's forcing you to do anything" he replied rubbing her back "I'm just suggesting it might not be as bad as you think."

“Then why don’t you date him?” Tzeitel asked, starting to bristle again. She was already reaching for her power.

“Calm down” Riley replied not concerned about her activating her powers “you’ve punished yourself long enough over these years you deserve to be happy. Everyone’s worried about you.”

“I’m happier when I’m not worried about Colt kissing me!” Tzeitel said, starting to give off repellent pheromones.

“That’s a conversation you’re going to have to have with him” Riley replied “consider this your intervention once you’ve calmed down we’re heading to the underground and getting you some help.”

Tzeitel scowled. “Why isn’t anything ever over?”

“Because life likes to torture us sometimes” Riley replied “but it also brings good things into our lives like Ami and Cody.”

“I could calm down faster if I could get something strong to drink.” Tzeitel said.

“Tzeitel drinking isn’t going to do you any good except destroy your liver” he replied “have you thought about talking to River about her offer for some ‘herbs’?”

Tzeitel had been too busy pushing River away to really talk to her. She shrugged. “Alcohol works faster.”

“This is healthier for you so unlike alcohol the others won’t take it from you” Riley retorted “you wouldn’t be the first, She’s given some to Alex to share with Megan and even Lyle took some when he was sobering up to rejoin Megacorp.”

“I don’t need people taking my booze from me, I’m an adult, dammit.” Tzeitel was bristling again, giving off more repellent pheromones.

“It would put Ami and Cody at ease as well” Riley added “plus River can modify it to act faster and stronger than the average dose.”

“They shouldn’t be worrying about me. They’re my kids.” Tzeitel stood up to pace, giving off even more repellent pheromones. “It’s my job to worry about them.”

“Then let me help you” Riley offered standing in front of her “you don’t have to do this alone.”

"Damnit Riley, you're fast enough to get the fuck out of my way!" Tzeitel snapped, turning to walk around him. "Leave me alone, stop smothering me!"

“No” Riley replied standing in front of her again “no matter how much you try you won’t be able to push me away.”

Tzeitel flared repellent pheromones. “Leave me alone!”

Riley flicked her on the nose “no I won’t and if you keep acting like a kid I’ll bend you over my knee and spank you like one.”