( for sinistral. ) where do all the memories go the ones we hide away with lock and key
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abrandsticks
2019-03-08 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ This particular band had been trailing her for a little over a week now. It was not safe to be on the street level, except in brief spans, and so she kept to the rooftops. Alleyways.
She had seen this man many times over the past week. He rides a motorcycle, stops in at the little bodega, he likes plums, and always buys one or two. She watches him because he reads as able to protect. Not just able. Willing.
Laura can smell that she can trust him.
So, she takes a chance when they get too close. She climbs down from the fire escape she was in, and drops onto the dirty, cracked pavement with her backpack, tugging her hood over her head. When she heads into the store, she knows they aren't far, but they are looking for a young girl who is alone.
When she slips between a lady and man deciding on what to eat for snacks for the road, and takes the tall man's hand, small one curling around it. Now she isn't alone. ]
She had seen this man many times over the past week. He rides a motorcycle, stops in at the little bodega, he likes plums, and always buys one or two. She watches him because he reads as able to protect. Not just able. Willing.
Laura can smell that she can trust him.
So, she takes a chance when they get too close. She climbs down from the fire escape she was in, and drops onto the dirty, cracked pavement with her backpack, tugging her hood over her head. When she heads into the store, she knows they aren't far, but they are looking for a young girl who is alone.
When she slips between a lady and man deciding on what to eat for snacks for the road, and takes the tall man's hand, small one curling around it. Now she isn't alone. ]
[He's being watched.
Bucky's simply too much of what he is, still far too much the Winter Soldier to not be aware of it. It's careful though, staying out of sight. And it doesn't make a move, so he lets it be. There had been a moment of course when he'd considered mentioning it to Tony, but he simply doesn't have enough information about it: no motive, not even a positive identification. It'd only make Tony worry, and that's not at all what he wants to do.
Besides, it's not like he goes out unarmed. And even if he did, it's not like he's not a weapon simply by nature of what he is.
Still, it's a good week and change before things change. He's out on a bike, as has become usual for him, and a bike means leather jacket and gloves, easy to conceal that arm. Not that he needs to do much of that, but it's easier. Simpler. Draws less attention, fewer stares. And he likes this shop, likes the friendly staff just trying to make a few bucks. They're simple people with simple lives. Sometimes he envies it.
Other times he remembers blood on the floor and the cold fear of having to press the reactor back into Tony's chest and he's thankful that he is what he is.
He's just starting to reach for a few plums off the display when a hand slips into his own and he stiffens for a fraction of a second, glancing down at the dirty figure at his side. His shadow then; she has to be. Younger than he would have expected; smaller too. And further observation is forestalled by the arrival of— Well, it doesn't matter what organization they're with, not really. Bucky knows their type well enough, and can certainly stop their type a mile away. The two who come into the shop aren't exactly inconspicuous, but that doesn't mean he wants to hang around for too long.
He bypasses the individual fruits for a prebagged dozen instead, pulling the paper bag off the display and tugging her toward the cashier. The sooner they're out of the shop the better; it doesn't take much for him to figure out that she's being hunted and he's her disguise. It'll work for a while, but a hooded sweatshirt and an adult make for a poor disguise overall and he'd like to put some distance between themselves and the two agents sooner rather than later.]
Put these in your bag. [It's quiet as he leads her out of the store. Putting a kid on the back of a motorcycle probably isn't the best idea, but it's going to have to work. And a dozen plums are too many to put in his jacket pockets.]
Bucky's simply too much of what he is, still far too much the Winter Soldier to not be aware of it. It's careful though, staying out of sight. And it doesn't make a move, so he lets it be. There had been a moment of course when he'd considered mentioning it to Tony, but he simply doesn't have enough information about it: no motive, not even a positive identification. It'd only make Tony worry, and that's not at all what he wants to do.
Besides, it's not like he goes out unarmed. And even if he did, it's not like he's not a weapon simply by nature of what he is.
Still, it's a good week and change before things change. He's out on a bike, as has become usual for him, and a bike means leather jacket and gloves, easy to conceal that arm. Not that he needs to do much of that, but it's easier. Simpler. Draws less attention, fewer stares. And he likes this shop, likes the friendly staff just trying to make a few bucks. They're simple people with simple lives. Sometimes he envies it.
Other times he remembers blood on the floor and the cold fear of having to press the reactor back into Tony's chest and he's thankful that he is what he is.
He's just starting to reach for a few plums off the display when a hand slips into his own and he stiffens for a fraction of a second, glancing down at the dirty figure at his side. His shadow then; she has to be. Younger than he would have expected; smaller too. And further observation is forestalled by the arrival of— Well, it doesn't matter what organization they're with, not really. Bucky knows their type well enough, and can certainly stop their type a mile away. The two who come into the shop aren't exactly inconspicuous, but that doesn't mean he wants to hang around for too long.
He bypasses the individual fruits for a prebagged dozen instead, pulling the paper bag off the display and tugging her toward the cashier. The sooner they're out of the shop the better; it doesn't take much for him to figure out that she's being hunted and he's her disguise. It'll work for a while, but a hooded sweatshirt and an adult make for a poor disguise overall and he'd like to put some distance between themselves and the two agents sooner rather than later.]
Put these in your bag. [It's quiet as he leads her out of the store. Putting a kid on the back of a motorcycle probably isn't the best idea, but it's going to have to work. And a dozen plums are too many to put in his jacket pockets.]
[ There were other people. Other regulars. Marks who could have passed. Made due. It would not be good. They do not carry themselves the same way that the tall man does.
They would not survive very long. They would die because they tried to protect her and could not. This man does not feel like that. He's also armed. It's a habit of his, she can tell. He doesn't want to use it, but always has it.
Laura can feel him tense as she takes his hand, and for a second she holds her breath, uncertain if she misjudged. She's glad to find that she hasn't when the men come in, and he keeps holding on to her hand, going about his business as if she were always there.
It's simple enough to go along with getting what the other man is buying, and not cause a commotion. She doesn't make eye contact with the men in the store, but keeps them in her peripheral. They are the ones that have been following her.
He keeps up with his longer strides easily. She slings her backpack off her shoulder, and opens it up to let the plums be put inside. She's ridden in cars before, but never a motorcycle. It's the one part of this plan that she isn't certain what to expect from. The bag is zipped back up, and slung back on, hand resting on the seat of the motorcycle, unsure how to proceed. ]
They would not survive very long. They would die because they tried to protect her and could not. This man does not feel like that. He's also armed. It's a habit of his, she can tell. He doesn't want to use it, but always has it.
Laura can feel him tense as she takes his hand, and for a second she holds her breath, uncertain if she misjudged. She's glad to find that she hasn't when the men come in, and he keeps holding on to her hand, going about his business as if she were always there.
It's simple enough to go along with getting what the other man is buying, and not cause a commotion. She doesn't make eye contact with the men in the store, but keeps them in her peripheral. They are the ones that have been following her.
He keeps up with his longer strides easily. She slings her backpack off her shoulder, and opens it up to let the plums be put inside. She's ridden in cars before, but never a motorcycle. It's the one part of this plan that she isn't certain what to expect from. The bag is zipped back up, and slung back on, hand resting on the seat of the motorcycle, unsure how to proceed. ]
[It's just a brief look he gets of her bag but it's enough to confirm to him that she's alone and on the run. And inside are two men who want to change that and haven't realized their mark has slipped away. That's fine, but they're probably not the only two. And he probably doesn't have much time.
When she hesitates Bucky doesn't, hands on her waist to deposit her on the bike's seat. Even with a backpack she's small enough that it won't be a problem to have her in front, not once he shows her where she can hold. She's heavier than he would have though; good. At least she's not starved.
He wastes no time gunning the engine and pulling out of the small lot. He's not sure where to go except away, definitely out of town limits but certainly not back to the house. Not until he figures out what her deal is.
They're on the bike for a good half an hour before he pulls off and into a park. He parks by the picnic area, where the facilities building hides the bike from the road, and kills the engine.]
You gonna tell me what that all was, kid?
When she hesitates Bucky doesn't, hands on her waist to deposit her on the bike's seat. Even with a backpack she's small enough that it won't be a problem to have her in front, not once he shows her where she can hold. She's heavier than he would have though; good. At least she's not starved.
He wastes no time gunning the engine and pulling out of the small lot. He's not sure where to go except away, definitely out of town limits but certainly not back to the house. Not until he figures out what her deal is.
They're on the bike for a good half an hour before he pulls off and into a park. He parks by the picnic area, where the facilities building hides the bike from the road, and kills the engine.]
You gonna tell me what that all was, kid?
[ She has herself, a picture in her pocket of her family (the other kids), and a bouncy ball that barely fits in her hand. If one doesn't count the plums now. She tenses just a little at being picked up, but then straddles the motorcycle.
It reminds her of the mechanical horse outside of the convenience store somewhere else on the road. A lady had been nice to her and put a quarter in it to make it move like she was riding. She puts her hands where he tells her, eyes widening once the bike starts, and they are off.
She has a moment of surprised laughter that is swallowed up by the wind in her face, blowing her hood and hair back. Her eyes are wide as they speed through the roads with ease. She learns quickly to lean a little when he does, so that the bike stays balanced.
Eventually, they stop in a park. She shimmies off the bike in order to get her feet under her and face the man properly. ]
Men wanted to hurt me. Looking for me. Alone. With you. Not alone.
[ Her words are heavily accented, stilted and broken. She knows English, but not very well. Her Spanish is better. He slides her bag off of her small frame, unzips it, and pulls the bag of plums out to offer it back to him.
She's grateful for the help, but she doesn't expect any more now that they are not so close to the city. Her sleeves near her wrist are filthy, knuckles bloody, but not raw. ]
Gracias.
It reminds her of the mechanical horse outside of the convenience store somewhere else on the road. A lady had been nice to her and put a quarter in it to make it move like she was riding. She puts her hands where he tells her, eyes widening once the bike starts, and they are off.
She has a moment of surprised laughter that is swallowed up by the wind in her face, blowing her hood and hair back. Her eyes are wide as they speed through the roads with ease. She learns quickly to lean a little when he does, so that the bike stays balanced.
Eventually, they stop in a park. She shimmies off the bike in order to get her feet under her and face the man properly. ]
Men wanted to hurt me. Looking for me. Alone. With you. Not alone.
[ Her words are heavily accented, stilted and broken. She knows English, but not very well. Her Spanish is better. He slides her bag off of her small frame, unzips it, and pulls the bag of plums out to offer it back to him.
She's grateful for the help, but she doesn't expect any more now that they are not so close to the city. Her sleeves near her wrist are filthy, knuckles bloody, but not raw. ]
Gracias.
Why?
[He doesn't know if he's expecting an answer or not. Probably not, or at least not an adequate one. Why would men like that be hunting a girl like this? Why had she picked out Bucky as the most likely candidate for her plan to hide?
Why has she been watching him for a week?
He pulls a plum out of the bag and tosses it to her, lightning quick, mostly to get a better look at her hands. He knows blood when he sees it, but the absence of marks on her make it strange.]
De nada. [His Spanish is remarkable only in that it isn't; HYDRA hadn't wanted him to have too distinct an accent in any tongue.] Cuál es tu nombre?
[He doesn't know if he's expecting an answer or not. Probably not, or at least not an adequate one. Why would men like that be hunting a girl like this? Why had she picked out Bucky as the most likely candidate for her plan to hide?
Why has she been watching him for a week?
He pulls a plum out of the bag and tosses it to her, lightning quick, mostly to get a better look at her hands. He knows blood when he sees it, but the absence of marks on her make it strange.]
De nada. [His Spanish is remarkable only in that it isn't; HYDRA hadn't wanted him to have too distinct an accent in any tongue.] Cuál es tu nombre?
Edited 2019-03-08 08:42 (UTC)
[The first time he meets her, he's not a pedestrian. He's suited up. Helmet on. In the process of finishing up a street fight. She's low to the ground and fast, for a moment Matt thinks it's a stray dog. Scrappy and ill tempered because that sounds like a growl though a half full can of beans is still rolling up to his foot.
Daredevil drops the thug who just lets on a tight thank you Lord as he books it. Nothing too bad, selling stolen things out of the back of a van. TVs, radios, though he has reason to believe there are weapons hidden in there too. The florescent lighting from the front of the convenience store buzzes in his ears. The collection of trash rustles again.
It all smells....disgusting. The thug books it across the pavement and down the street. Matt will find him again. Later. His head tilts. There's a heartbeat. Fast with either adrenaline or anxiety.]
Daredevil drops the thug who just lets on a tight thank you Lord as he books it. Nothing too bad, selling stolen things out of the back of a van. TVs, radios, though he has reason to believe there are weapons hidden in there too. The florescent lighting from the front of the convenience store buzzes in his ears. The collection of trash rustles again.
It all smells....disgusting. The thug books it across the pavement and down the street. Matt will find him again. Later. His head tilts. There's a heartbeat. Fast with either adrenaline or anxiety.]
[ It was not safe to be on the street. The people looking for her were still out there, and it was just safer to break into the little bodegas when they were closed, get food and water, and go back to the alley where she hid. It was not very nice. It did not smell good, but no one came looking.
Apparently it was not something to last. The scuffle that ended in the alley after the man in the body armor and mask let the man with the van go knocked into her little hiding space near the dumpster, tipping over her can of food. Laura growled again, shifting and putting her backpack on, and bolting out to grab the can, then use her claws to dig into the wall to jump up to the fire escape.
Her clothes were dirty, hair matted and filthy, and she rubbed a dirty sleeve across her face once she landed above the strange man in red. She doesn't stay much longer to watch him, and heads up for the roof of the building to get away. ]
Apparently it was not something to last. The scuffle that ended in the alley after the man in the body armor and mask let the man with the van go knocked into her little hiding space near the dumpster, tipping over her can of food. Laura growled again, shifting and putting her backpack on, and bolting out to grab the can, then use her claws to dig into the wall to jump up to the fire escape.
Her clothes were dirty, hair matted and filthy, and she rubbed a dirty sleeve across her face once she landed above the strange man in red. She doesn't stay much longer to watch him, and heads up for the roof of the building to get away. ]
[A child alone at night in Hell's Kitchen isn't exactly ever safe in the conventional sense. If it isn't the bitter cold of the city, it's criminals and unsavory people. That's what colors Matt's expression as shock enough for his jaw to drop as he sees what could be a child. It had to have been. Unless there really are demons and creatures in the city.
Matt gets his wits to try and chase who or what that was. Though size means agility. And being on the ground, it takes effort to get to the roof though he is faster than the typical person. And she? Even faster.
The second time he meets her he's in plain clothes. A blind man on an errand. Another bodega. Another hour. His paper bag has a juice, a sandwich and a few other small things. It's easy to consider that strange encounter in an alley as a one off. New York is the home of those. Any thing can happen. Except...]
Matt gets his wits to try and chase who or what that was. Though size means agility. And being on the ground, it takes effort to get to the roof though he is faster than the typical person. And she? Even faster.
The second time he meets her he's in plain clothes. A blind man on an errand. Another bodega. Another hour. His paper bag has a juice, a sandwich and a few other small things. It's easy to consider that strange encounter in an alley as a one off. New York is the home of those. Any thing can happen. Except...]
[ Laura is not what one would consider a conventional child. Most wouldn't even consider her a child. She's an experiment. A tool. A weapon.
It isn't hard for her to lose him on the rooftops. She can watch him from a safe distance until she's certain he won't follow her. She scents the air after he's gone: concern. The nurses who let them out felt the same. Concern. Worry. Fear.
Maybe this man is not all bad. Maybe she'll watch him. In turn, she watches others, and finds new ways to blend in. She finds a place to take clothes from, and another to clean up so that she does not look so unkempt. It's supposed to be cold outside (it doesn't bother her), but she wears the right clothes all the same so she doesn't stand out.
The man who runs this little bodega is nice. He caught her looking at things, wondering what she could take and run with. He must have known. Instead, he has a bag waiting for her when she comes in, and insists she picks out something sweet each time.
Laura's fiddling with the wrapper edges, and sniffing at a package she's picked up when she notices the familiar scent of the man in line. Her eyes widen a little, and she peers around the corner to get a better look at him. He has glasses over his eyes, so dark that she can't glimpse his eyes from her vantage point, and a cane in one hand. She's not sure what it means, no one in the place she came from had anything like it. ]
It isn't hard for her to lose him on the rooftops. She can watch him from a safe distance until she's certain he won't follow her. She scents the air after he's gone: concern. The nurses who let them out felt the same. Concern. Worry. Fear.
Maybe this man is not all bad. Maybe she'll watch him. In turn, she watches others, and finds new ways to blend in. She finds a place to take clothes from, and another to clean up so that she does not look so unkempt. It's supposed to be cold outside (it doesn't bother her), but she wears the right clothes all the same so she doesn't stand out.
The man who runs this little bodega is nice. He caught her looking at things, wondering what she could take and run with. He must have known. Instead, he has a bag waiting for her when she comes in, and insists she picks out something sweet each time.
Laura's fiddling with the wrapper edges, and sniffing at a package she's picked up when she notices the familiar scent of the man in line. Her eyes widen a little, and she peers around the corner to get a better look at him. He has glasses over his eyes, so dark that she can't glimpse his eyes from her vantage point, and a cane in one hand. She's not sure what it means, no one in the place she came from had anything like it. ]
They want to kill me.
[ Put simply. In actuality, they would likely want to bring her back, put her to sleep like they did the others, and take samples from her before disposing of her body. That is what they did with some others before they were released. Before they fought back against those who wanted to use them as weapons.
She reaches up to catch the plum easily and quickly, not phased by how quickly he tossed it to her. ]
Laura. [ She ate a little recently. She'll save the plum. It goes back into her bag for later. She should go now, but something makes her want to stay. She sniffs at the air. There isn't anyone dangerous around them. ]
[ Put simply. In actuality, they would likely want to bring her back, put her to sleep like they did the others, and take samples from her before disposing of her body. That is what they did with some others before they were released. Before they fought back against those who wanted to use them as weapons.
She reaches up to catch the plum easily and quickly, not phased by how quickly he tossed it to her. ]
Laura. [ She ate a little recently. She'll save the plum. It goes back into her bag for later. She should go now, but something makes her want to stay. She sniffs at the air. There isn't anyone dangerous around them. ]
[Well. That certainly makes things interesting, doesn't it? Bucky's no stranger to being a target, or to being the man sent after a target. He crosses his arms, regarding her curiously. From head to toe she doesn't look like much, and her weight certainly doesn't match her appearance. And her appearance doesn't match her appearance: blood and dirt on her, and not a scratch.]
Now why would they want to do that? [It's murmured more to himself than anything else; he doesn't really expect an answer. There also aren't very many people with the reflexes to make that catch as smoothly as she did. Something doesn't add up.]
So. Laura. [He doesn't tell her it's a pretty name, or any of that garbage that people seem to say to little girls. This is no ordinary little girl.] I'm Bucky. [He tosses her another plum before taking one for himself and biting into it.] What are you going to do now?
Now why would they want to do that? [It's murmured more to himself than anything else; he doesn't really expect an answer. There also aren't very many people with the reflexes to make that catch as smoothly as she did. Something doesn't add up.]
So. Laura. [He doesn't tell her it's a pretty name, or any of that garbage that people seem to say to little girls. This is no ordinary little girl.] I'm Bucky. [He tosses her another plum before taking one for himself and biting into it.] What are you going to do now?
[ Laura has known only being a test subject in a lab, or being hunted. She doesn't know anything about this world outside, except that which she has learned by watching others. She saw other kids close to her size that would hold the adults by the hand, and no one paid them any mind. ]
Because they made something better than us. [ She doesn't expect the second plum, but still catches it just as easily. Following his example, she takes a bite of it. It tastes good. It's something she's never had before. ]
Bucky. [ It sounds hard on her tongue, but she manages it. Another bite with a little of the juice that ends up dripping down her chin as she chews. When she talks, her voice is muffled from eating. ] Run. Not safe.
Because they made something better than us. [ She doesn't expect the second plum, but still catches it just as easily. Following his example, she takes a bite of it. It tastes good. It's something she's never had before. ]
Bucky. [ It sounds hard on her tongue, but she manages it. Another bite with a little of the juice that ends up dripping down her chin as she chews. When she talks, her voice is muffled from eating. ] Run. Not safe.
Did they now? [That's curious, the phrasing. Bucky leans back against the bike, legs crossed at the ankle, and watches his young charge. She'd picked him out as camouflage. She's imitating the way he eats. She's been watching him, and she'd picked him out for her scheme.
There's no way it's accidental.
He glances to the road by which they came into the park, and then across the park at the playground equipment. It doesn't matter that they'd slipped away from her pursuers, he thinks. Eventually, they'll track her down. The next time they do, will she be able to get away? Or will someone get hurt doing for her what he's done?
Can he really justify walking away?
Can he justify taking her with him?
Fuck, when did his life get this complicated?]
Where are you going to go? Do you know a safe place? [Judging from her clothes, how dirty she looks, it's likely been a while since she has. And it's been a while since he's done something this reckless, truth be told. He's probably due.
Tony, he thinks, is going to have a heart attack. Figuratively speaking anyway; Bucky's not sure he can have an actual heart attack anymore.]
There's no way it's accidental.
He glances to the road by which they came into the park, and then across the park at the playground equipment. It doesn't matter that they'd slipped away from her pursuers, he thinks. Eventually, they'll track her down. The next time they do, will she be able to get away? Or will someone get hurt doing for her what he's done?
Can he really justify walking away?
Can he justify taking her with him?
Fuck, when did his life get this complicated?]
Where are you going to go? Do you know a safe place? [Judging from her clothes, how dirty she looks, it's likely been a while since she has. And it's been a while since he's done something this reckless, truth be told. He's probably due.
Tony, he thinks, is going to have a heart attack. Figuratively speaking anyway; Bucky's not sure he can have an actual heart attack anymore.]
[ She nods when he asks that. It's the only reason they wanted to kill them. They said they were good, but they didn't want to hurt anyone. A soldier who won't kill is worthless to them, so that is what they all became to those who made them.
People have already gotten hurt for her. Because of her. Her friends. The nurses. Gabriella is dead in a room somewhere because of the Reavers.
She shakes her head when he asks her that, and takes another bite. ] No place is.
People have already gotten hurt for her. Because of her. Her friends. The nurses. Gabriella is dead in a room somewhere because of the Reavers.
She shakes her head when he asks her that, and takes another bite. ] No place is.
[It's that lunch rush. Matt had a late night and there was no way he could have wrestled together something. And his stomach needed more than a protein shake. His head tilts and as usual he listens around him. Familiar and yet not presence. Clothes do change up his perception quite a bit. Still young, still small. Not nearly as offensive to the nose. Though he knows when he is being watched.
And so once he's up to the counter he takes his time, getting out money and the bills folded carefully for him to organize. Damn, the prices went up. That's what you get when you don't plan, Murdock. Right now he can't pay direct mind to the person. Small person.
Not like he can tell if it is a child or not. The stiffness in her frame and the way she carries herself, it's not like any child he's known. Matt gets his change and he gathers his items to leave. Taking his time. He's going to eat out of the office, there's a bench close by and some shade under a tree. If there's a threat, if he's being followed he'll know for sure then.]
And so once he's up to the counter he takes his time, getting out money and the bills folded carefully for him to organize. Damn, the prices went up. That's what you get when you don't plan, Murdock. Right now he can't pay direct mind to the person. Small person.
Not like he can tell if it is a child or not. The stiffness in her frame and the way she carries herself, it's not like any child he's known. Matt gets his change and he gathers his items to leave. Taking his time. He's going to eat out of the office, there's a bench close by and some shade under a tree. If there's a threat, if he's being followed he'll know for sure then.]
[God, Tony is going to have a heart attack, reactor or not. Bucky will have to make it up to him.]
I know a place that is. [He's watching her carefully as he finishes his plum. They have plenty of guest suites, the entire compound can be locked down in a heartbeat, they can figure out things like clothing. And trying to figure out where she's from and who, exactly, is after her would be a lot easier with JARVIS running the numbers, with Tony's brain working alongside Bucky's own.
And she'd trusted him enough to use him as camouflage, hadn't she?] Interested?
I know a place that is. [He's watching her carefully as he finishes his plum. They have plenty of guest suites, the entire compound can be locked down in a heartbeat, they can figure out things like clothing. And trying to figure out where she's from and who, exactly, is after her would be a lot easier with JARVIS running the numbers, with Tony's brain working alongside Bucky's own.
And she'd trusted him enough to use him as camouflage, hadn't she?] Interested?
[ Not as bad of one so long as he calls ahead at least. But yeah, making up will still be a Thing for sure. ]
Si. [ She finishes her plum a couple of bites after he does. He seems to be thinking of how to do things. She thought of similar things when the men were looking for her at the bodega. ]
Ride again? [ She tosses the pit of the plum away, and looks toward the bike. What? She likes it. ]
Si. [ She finishes her plum a couple of bites after he does. He seems to be thinking of how to do things. She thought of similar things when the men were looking for her at the bodega. ]
Ride again? [ She tosses the pit of the plum away, and looks toward the bike. What? She likes it. ]
[ The place she stays at is not close to where she was before. That is the first place most would look if they'd spotted her before. He is not looking for her this time, but she knows she's been noticed. He says nothing, and so neither does she.
Laura notices that he keeps his bills folded in a way that the other people don't, and wonders what it means with all the other little things. She waits until he leaves to grab the first thing that smells good of the sweet things, and goes up to the man behind the counter. He gives her the bag that he makes for her, and she follows after the man with the cane.
She hangs back a little, backpack on her shoulders, and paper bag crinkling in her hand. Laura waits until he sits, and follows him there. She's severely lacking in social graces, and shows in the way she doesn't ask to join him. She merely climbs up to sit down on the other side of the bench. ]
Laura notices that he keeps his bills folded in a way that the other people don't, and wonders what it means with all the other little things. She waits until he leaves to grab the first thing that smells good of the sweet things, and goes up to the man behind the counter. He gives her the bag that he makes for her, and she follows after the man with the cane.
She hangs back a little, backpack on her shoulders, and paper bag crinkling in her hand. Laura waits until he sits, and follows him there. She's severely lacking in social graces, and shows in the way she doesn't ask to join him. She merely climbs up to sit down on the other side of the bench. ]
[In the public eye and daylight hours, Matt Murdock cannot see and is a blind man. That's the one and only story. His cane is still extended but resting against his knees. The bench is not so large that he would not notice someone there. Just before he can begin to unwrap the plastic from his sandwich he tilts his head slightly, brow furrowed and listening. Sitting in stillness for a few vital seconds he tries to gauge what will happen next but.... there are no tells.
Steady heart. Steady breathing. Fingers move slowly, peeling the wrapping from the bread.]
...Uh....hello?
Steady heart. Steady breathing. Fingers move slowly, peeling the wrapping from the bread.]
...Uh....hello?
Yeah. We'll ride again. Put these back in your bag? [The plums he means; it's still the best place for them while they're on the bike. Meanwhile he pulls out his phone to call Tony, at least to give him the heads up.]
You like Chinese? [The question is directed to Laura while the phone rings. Everyone likes Chinese though, really, and with Tony's habit of ordering the entire menu, Bucky's sure they'll be fine. And if she says she doesn't like it, well, there are other options.
He'll keep the conversation short at least, and in French because he knows Tony knows it and he just feels a need for a little bit of secrecy. Tiny bit. If she really is hunted, it might be safer for her to be in the dark about a few of the details related to Tony and himself, at least until they're in the safety of the compound again.]
You like Chinese? [The question is directed to Laura while the phone rings. Everyone likes Chinese though, really, and with Tony's habit of ordering the entire menu, Bucky's sure they'll be fine. And if she says she doesn't like it, well, there are other options.
He'll keep the conversation short at least, and in French because he knows Tony knows it and he just feels a need for a little bit of secrecy. Tiny bit. If she really is hunted, it might be safer for her to be in the dark about a few of the details related to Tony and himself, at least until they're in the safety of the compound again.]
[ Laura doesn't know that part of the story, but he is not in the strange armor he was in before, so she won't bring it up. It must be like her secret if he does not wear it now. She'd watched him walk over here, saw the tapping with the cane, and guessed it was to help him navigate in some way.
She watches him start to unwrap his sandwich, and follows suit with her own after she digs it out of the bag. ]
Hello. [ Returned in Spanish. She knows some English. It's enough to manage at times, but she isn't comfortable with it. ]
She watches him start to unwrap his sandwich, and follows suit with her own after she digs it out of the bag. ]
Hello. [ Returned in Spanish. She knows some English. It's enough to manage at times, but she isn't comfortable with it. ]
[ She nods quickly, excitement clear, even if she doesn't really smile. Putting the bag back in her bag, she zips it up, and walks back over to Bucky again, putting a hand on the front of the bike. Her face scrunches up at the question. ]
No lo sé. [ She's not even sure what that is. Or means. The phone picks up after the first ring, Tony's voice on the other end. ]
What's up, Tin Man? On the way home already?
No lo sé. [ She's not even sure what that is. Or means. The phone picks up after the first ring, Tony's voice on the other end. ]
What's up, Tin Man? On the way home already?
[Hearing a counter wrapping noise of her own selections was not expected. Sugar, starch and edible dyes project from her food. Matt realizes that this is the most turkey smelling ham he has ever witnessed in his sandwich. Oh well.
One word, and it's the way she forms it in reply. Matt blinks thoughtfully before hesitating to take a bite.]
I could be wrong but I don't think that we've met before.
[He is not a native speaker though he has a good grasp on the language. Taking a bite of his sandwich, he tries to act natural.]
One word, and it's the way she forms it in reply. Matt blinks thoughtfully before hesitating to take a bite.]
I could be wrong but I don't think that we've met before.
[He is not a native speaker though he has a good grasp on the language. Taking a bite of his sandwich, he tries to act natural.]
[ It's all very new to her. She likes the way the things taste. In the place she grew up, they had tasteless things. No sweets. Nothing but simple nutrients. Granted, her selection now is just based off what her nose likes the smell of.
She takes a bite of her sandwich. It's a little too big, and it makes her cheek puff a little comically. She doesn't finish chewing before she replies, but she at least makes sure no one is close enough to hear them. ]
Wrong. It was dark. You wore something different.
She takes a bite of her sandwich. It's a little too big, and it makes her cheek puff a little comically. She doesn't finish chewing before she replies, but she at least makes sure no one is close enough to hear them. ]
Wrong. It was dark. You wore something different.
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