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[h3]2 PM…[/h3]
Everyone was working around the clock. Tim had warned everyone it was going to be a long couple of weeks - they’d start at roughly 7 am and finish by 7 pm, but they’d be doing most of the noisy stuff in their workshop. Some of the guys questioned why, but some of them had been on similar projects - some of them even remember working on Rose’s home, though they generally didn’t make the connection. Suddenly, in the middle of the afternoon, a young woman was seen hanging around the middle of the site, looking around - pink hair, pink shirt, a purple skirt, cute boots, and a dark navy shoulder purse. It caused most of them to mumble and whisper while working, after all, she was one of the notable rich kids of the city - Melrose Faye.

Towards the back of the room Girard was working with another man to install some of the dry wall having noticed the guy was having trouble but also trying to keep focused so none of the rest of them could read him for anything strange. He would’ve verbally agreed with Tim earlier but it became more apparent just how much would need to be done just to get the place to code let alone cleaned up enough to be comfortable. He heard some grumbling from some of the other workers, nothing too uncommon on site with there being more than enough to complain about lately in the city, though it sounded more directed this time. A quick turn of the head was all it took for him to notice Melrose moving around the site which had him feeling a bit uncomfortable. Sure he didn’t mind the other vigilante seeing his face but knowing his job was a little much so soon. The big man decided to keep his head down, best as he could given the situation, for now to see if he could slip under the radar but he would keep an eye on the woman to see what she did.

For several minutes, Melrose just kept wandering around, as if looking for something or someone in particular. Her eyes were mostly towards the ceiling, pursing her lips in thought. Tim even walked up to her at one point, asking if everything was all right, to which she nodded and gave him an unusually shy smile - though it wasn’t directed at him, exactly. By chance though, she happens to spot Tank - or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that someone so big is not very good at sneaking about. At first, her entire expression blanked before simply smiling in soft recognition. Bonding over on light feet, she gives him a wave. [color=cb6eff][b]“Hey! Girard!”[/b][/color] She apparently not only knew his name, but didn’t seem phased at all about his line of work.

Girard kept at least an eye in the back of his head while watching the other vigilante who looked like she was thinking about something though as to what he could only guess. Not to mention looking between all of the other men at the sight ignoring them politely like she had a target in mind. When the big guy recognized the target of Melrose’s attention he had a small moment of panic, or as close to it as the man could get, hoping that she might not make a particularly big deal of it at least. Of course he may have had a bad guess as to what she would do because not only did the woman head directly at him, he got called out by name without a look of surprise and much care that he was working under her guy.

[i]Really didn’t need that to add to the awkwardness.[/i] He thought less than amused about the situation.
[color=ffb830][b]“Uh hi. You need something Miss Faye?”[/b][/color] Girard said turning to meet her but covering for himself all the same.

She had forgotten for a split second that maybe calling him by name might not be the best in his situation, but she also realized the most he’d get is teased for knowing one of the rich women. So she just perked up and replied. [color=cb6eff][b]“So, have you seen… um…”[/b][/color] Suddenly, Rose had realized what she was really asking and how silly it might come across, making her duck a little in shyness as she continue. [color=cb6eff][b]“Um.. the.. IT girl, that.. yeah, she was.. around a little while ago?”[/b][/color] Melrose admitted, she wasn’t quite sure why she was looking for Ditch at all. Previously, she had been bored, having put together the prototype electrical surge units as best as she could for now and thought she would see if Ditch was around. Of course going to the future HQ, full of construction workers - what was she thinking?

Oh he was going to get it from the guys for this, not horribly, but they sure as hell we're going to pick at him for a day or two over it. A guy like him knowing a rich girl like her would always have raised some eyebrows though given her expression it might have just occurred. It seemed like the little thing was off starting to ask him something but pausing weirdly before asking about some IT chick who apparently was working around the theater. For a moment it hadn’t sunken in but once the gears were turning the only thing buzzing was a question or two for why she was here to see Ditch, if she was even still here having maybe caught a passing glimpse of the other woman earlier. Not to mention of all the people she could have ended up asking about it and he got picked out. Something was up but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it because even he figured finding Ditch near the main working body wouldn’t happen unless it was important.

[color=ffb830][b]“Not sure but she might’ve gone towards the room where all the electronics are going.”[/b][/color] Girard said taking a moment to point here over towards a side section where he guessed the computers or generators she had mentioned the night before were going.

[color=cb6eff][b]“Really!?”[/b][/color] She exclaims a bit more loudly than she should have, turning her head towards the computer room. Rose looks back to Girard, blushing as she realized again what she was doing. [color=cb6eff][b]“I-I mean, uh… heh… are you sure?”[/b][/color] she asks again, shuffling slightly in place, the blush still lingering light across her cheeks. [color=cb6eff][b]“I mean… I don’t even know why I’m asking, she, uh, probably went home - right?....”[/b][/color] Melrose was looking noticeably embarrassed at this moment, almost like she wanted to hide away, gaining a few odd looks.

The big guy flinched slightly at the sudden burst of excitement from Melrose who had him surprised by reaction alone. Then the blush hit and a singular solution clicked loudly in his mind, the little woman had a crush on Ditch, and it was apparently a pretty major one with all the body language to match it.  The stuttered response followed by the look of embarrassment drew a little pity from him knowing the feeling himself years ago but he didn’t let it show more for her sake than his. Honestly he felt a little bad he couldn’t give her an absolute answer about if Ditch was here or not, but it was probably best to get her moving along so she could compose herself.

[color=ffb830][b]“Don’t know for certain but you could look and if she’s not you could probably get ahold of her. Seems like a pretty quick responder.”[/b][/color] Girard said picking his words carefully though he couldn’t help his gaze softening slightly in concern for her. [color=ffb830][b]“Oh and if you need anything else don’t worry about asking, I can make time.”[/b][/color]

He hoped the girl would be alright and maybe even be able to center herself enough before anything went wrong. The big man had been guilty of emotions getting ahead of him, it wasn’t something he wanted to see turn bad.

[color=cb6eff][b]“Uhh…”[/b][/color] Finally Melrose gave a shy smile and recomposed herself. [color=cb6eff][b]“Right.. I’m just being silly! Um - keep up the good work… and stuff.. yeah. And leave the stage be - don’t break it.”[/b][/color] She then decided to smirk playfully at the man and spun around, slowly making her way out of the future clubhouse. It was a somewhat awkward situation, but she had never thought to meet any of her future teammates here in the middle of the day, despite knowing their day jobs. She kind of hoped that she wouldn’t get teased later for this.

Girard breathed an internal sigh of relief for now but he had a feeling he might have to keep an eye on Melrose, possibly even Ditch, just in case the crush started to bleed over into work time. It could be life threatening if anyone on the team slipped should it come down to the fight with Umbra and losing vigilantes was the last thing this town needed especially if he could prevent it. Then again it wasn’t so bad for the time between major jobs and he had work to get back to fixing up the HQ for rose and the rest of the team.

[color=ffb830][b]“Will do mam.”[/b][/color] The big guy said with a polite and mildly amused smile.

Girard went back to work shortly after because this sorry excuse for a home base wasn’t going to get done with him doing nothing.

[sub]*1,584 words.*[/sub]