[sub][h3][center]Archie and Natalie[/center][/h3][/sub][center][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxmyn_uECFs]♫ ♫ ♫[/url][/sub][/center][hr]
”Hi... You look really nice.”

All it took was a soft [i]hi[/i] and he's abruptly dizzy and his world tilts dangerously, the sound of talking and party goers and celebration in the distance blurring into a whirling ambiance and it's like tunnel vision, he can't seem to focus on anything but her. 

Maybe it was the alcohol, but he felt dangerously light on his feet. It was those same silver eyes and shy smile and raven hair and [i]oh. Oh[/i]. Natalie looked beautiful. She always looked [i]pretty[/i] but tonight she was wearing that black dress and tights that hugged her figure well enough and gave him a nice enough view of her arms and shoulders underneath the semi-transparent fabric that left plenty to the imagination yet the dress showed enough clev- His heart monitor was going off. It had been going off for a moment or two now. He groaned in embarrassment, the damn thing ruined the moment he was having with himself and seemed to be particularly active tonight. He gave Natalie a sheepish grin and whipped his wrist around as if that would silence the gadget. When it finally silenced itself, he looked back up to her.

"Oh hey, uh, Natalie. Hi, Natalie, hey. Hey, Nat," Archie stuttered as she she stood in the doorway. Even if it was totally and absolutely expected since he [i]knocked on her door[/i] she still made him jump out of his skin when she answered. He suddenly found his shoes extremely fascinating, and he he started rubbing his neck. He found himself opening his mouth to say something, looking at her, and then finding it difficult to speak. He appraised her outfit and then his own and found himself kicking himself. Here she was, prim and proper and [i]stunning[/i] and he was taking her to a bonfire. He should be taking her to dinner and to a dance, where she wouldn’t get her dress dirty and she wouldn’t have to worry about someone yacking on her shoes.

Well, it wasn’t like they couldn’t slip away to a proper dance if they wanted. Even if his jeans weren’t exactly the fanciest clothing to wear to Homecoming. Still, Natalie knew the plan, she was in the group chats and she was smart. She obviously wanted to at least make an appearance at the bonfire, and if he was being honest, he did too.

“You’re- wow.” Was all he managed to say. It wasn’t grandiose or eloquently spoken, but he’s all tanned skin and broad scarred hands. Suddenly becoming articulate and suave now just wasn’t him even if he wanted to badly to be classy for her. He was no James Bond. He wished that he had taken a few etiquette classes, though. Maybe he could have learned to dance so he wouldn’t step on her toes if they danced.

[i]This one out-powered the lizard.[/i]

Well, that is true isn’t it? Would she even notice if he stepped on her toes? Well, she probably would given that he’d probably end up tripping over his own feet, but he didn’t think he’d hurt her. Hopefully. Archie offered her his hand. "You, uh, ready to go?"

Natalie had blushed despite her efforts not too when she realized that Archie was stunned by her appearance. It was gratifying to see her efforts pay off, of course, but she also never thought, after everything that had been done to her and the scars they'd left, that she would ever be in this position. When his heart monitor went off, she'd stifled a tiny chuckle, which definitely helped to break the ice. The atmosphere was awkward, but it was a nice awkward. Natalie didn't feel like there was tension. They weren't walking on a ridge of eggshells over a pool of 'ruined Homecoming'. Archie's awkwardness was endearing and only serving to make Natalie relax even more. She was also nervous, and excited, and terrified, but just knowing Archie was the same was a tremendous relief. She wasn't alone. She took his hand and smiled up at him genuinely cheerfully. It wasn't the widest smile but it was most definitely the happiest Archie would have seen the quiet, stoic Natalie.

The two were off shortly after that, walking side by side towards their destination. When Archie found out that the party was in the campgrounds and that they would be going into the woods, he had been hesitant at first. After what happened last time he was there he didn’t know if he was alright with the idea. It had all been traumatic, seeing a body. He [i]knew[/i] that he had seen more during the breakout, but he didn’t [i]remember[/i] much from the incident. He never did. All he could recall were feelings, flashes of colors, maybe a face or two. It was like recalling a dream that one couldn't quite place, and he didn’t take the reptile to be one concerned with corpses. The closer they got to the woods, the more apprehensive he became. Natalie seemed to pick up that he was nervous for one reason or another, or at least noticed that he was holding her hand abnormally tight. Natalie hadn't been privy to any of the texts sent between the others. She didn't know there was a gathering in the woods. However, after what had happened during the breakout she trusted Archie with her life, and she had assumed from his text that he had some kind of plan. She was admittedly relieved they weren't heading to a dance even though she was dressed for it. Really, she was dressed like this because she didn't know the plan and wanted to cover all bases. On homecoming, you can wear a dress anywhere and nobody will think it strange, but you couldn't go to a dance or a fancy restaurant in jeans and a sweater. Plus this was a date and Natalie wanted to impress Archie. She was still riding the giddy high of having succeeded. Natalie felt Archie's grip get tighter and wondered why, before realizing where exactly they were. She gave his hand a reassuring (controlled) squeeze back. Her smile shrank and she looked up at him. This was a place she couldn't imagine he'd be too thrilled on going back, which meant this wasn't his plan. Which meant they were going to be meeting other acquaintances of theirs here. Eli popped into Natalie's mind straight away.

"Don't worry, Archie," she spoke to him, in what was meant to be both a reassurance and a hint that she hoped he'd pick up. "I know that place has some...memories for the both of us but we won't stay there any longer than you want to."

"You ever feel like you're walking into bear trap?" Archie questioned suddenly, deflecting from his obvious discomfort and Natalie's soothing words as to not admit weakness. He laced his fingers with hers in appreciation instead. "I- I feel like a fish that's about to bite a hook."

"That's probably just nerves," replied Natalie, shrugging. "And even if it's not, you've got me. We made a promise, remember? I'll look out for you if you look out for me. I'm not going to let anything end this night on a bad note as long as you don't let me become the bad note."

There was a momentary reprieve from his discomfort in at her words. It was nice to have a body guard of sorts in that way, even if he was probably not the best fail safe himself. "Y'know it's funny you mention that," he said, halfheartedly kicking a stick that was stuck out of the dirt some out of their way. "Given that you've kicked my ass and all. You could probably pop my head like a grape."

Natalie shivers and grimaces at that mental image, before shaking it away. Archie gives her a smile for her benefit, very obviously not bothered in admitting it. "When you and Keaton were talking about that chip thingy, I was really hoping that you would get it. Y'know, cause I'm not exactly the best when it comes to keepin' my phone and all an-" he sighed. "I thought it would be a great excuse. Gotta stick together for protection and all rather than..." he trailed off, his eyes flashing to their linked hands and then back up to Natalie's eyes. He didn't finish his thought, feeling as though he had said enough of that sentence. Lynn had seemed so angry with him, and given the whole world ending, we're all gonna die attitude that seemed to be dressing most of the group, he didn't want the judgement that came with his desire to just [i]be with someone[/i] for a little bit and not focus on the fire falling apart around him. "I don't know if I said this and all yet but... I'm glad you came with me tonight, too. Would, uh, would you mind telling me something?"

"Like what?" Natalie asked.

"Dunno." Archie replied, shrugging himself this time. The conversation was helping him ease his nerves, and he didn't want it to end. "Anything. Something the others don't know. About, ah, about you I mean." He said. Archie had always felt like there were a lot of ways to start a friendship, and some of those ways were pretty vague. Sometimes it was a smile that he didn’t expect and didn’t know he needed. Sometimes it’s been a slow build, sometime’s a chase. But there’s usually a moment where it comes into focus. A pat on the back, and invitation, a secret. Then there it is- he had a friend. He wanted that with Natalie- more than that with her, but he would settle for whatever he could get. There was a time in his life when he would've rather been sick every day than deal with this... this affliction that grew in his chest whenever he met her eyes or saw her smile. This affliction of affection. He had never felt quite this clear about how he felt about a girl before. Maybe it was because she knew about what he was and wasn't bothered. All things considered they were a lot alike in that way. After everything that had happened, it felt nice to have someone just [i]like[/i] him without some nasty case of internal debate underlying their thoughts.

"Something the others don't know about me," Natalie repeated, trailing off. There was a pause, and her smile was completely gone now. "There are some big things I don't want to talk about tonight, because I don't want my mascara to run. I'll go back a bit earlier that that. Let's start with this; I'm a Parahuman but my strength wasn't the difference I was born with. It was my bones. They were what was different. My bones are really strong. Almost impossible to break under ordinary conditions. So I could otherwise pass for a normal kid as long as nobody else knew I was a Parahuman. So my childhood was pretty normal, all things considered. Well, I mean by the time I was thirteen my Parahuman status was pretty common knowledge in my school but at least I still kept hold of a small circle of friends. I remember we all hated dolls so used to just play with beanie babies and make them have wars and command armies of little pebbles." She chuckles at this memory as she recalled it. "What about you? You were a farmer, right? Any noteworthy stories from your childhood?"

Archie hummed at Natalie's question, giving her a sly smile but otherwise choosing not to comment on 'big things' that she had mentioned. She'd tell him when she was ready. If she was ready, that is. She really didn't owe him an explanation and there were things that he didn't particularly care for retreading himself. He squeezed her hand in comfort, and breathed in slowly to start his own tale. "You've been listening to Lynn too much," he said looking over and down to her. "My dad was a fisherman- used to make a living that way. The powers that be build a big ol' bridge to the mainland that disturbed the breeding ground, and the fish all moved. Things got harder after that." He looked away staring at his feet. "Mom left, and then dad died. All I had was my brother and Winky. Winky was my dad's boss and he illegally adopted us. I worked for him for a long time as a mechanic. Brother got arrested, and then a few years later I got my... condition. Then Winky left, too. Never saw a parahuman until I came here." Throughout his life Archie had been told that Parahumans were [i]bad[/i] things. That they weren't people, no matter how much they looked like them. He had never actually seen or met one, though. Aside from on the news here and there when he got to watch TV. There was a dull light not too far from them now, and he could see the bonfire not too far away. They were getting close now. "Didn't have much in the way of toys or anything, myself. Was just happy to not be homeless."

Natalie was silent for a while, processing this story. While Natalie's bad memories were extremely dark and traumatic, at least she had sixteen years of a normal, happy, middle-class life beforehand to look back on fondly. Archie didn't even have that. After sharing that, it was only another reason why Natalie didn't want to tell her full story tonight. She looked up at him, and smiled, and gave his hand another slight squeeze. "That story was sad, but things will be better now. At least, after this whole mess gets sorted out. Also it gave me an idea. If you really didn't grow up with TV or games or anything, we should go to see a movie in the week. Would you like to do that?"

Archie shrugged at the 'sad' comment. Yeah, it wasn't exactly the best and living in a washed up boat most of his life hadn't been the best, but it hadn't been traumatic. At least, not until recently. But seeing a movie? That sounded nice. He had seem plenty of older movies on Winky's old TV, but he couldn't remember the last time he had been to an actual movie theater. "That sounds really nice." he said simply, because, well, it did. They were upon the campsite now. People were milling about- and he could pick out the faces of Eli, Keaton, Lynn, and Amelia! "Amelia!" he called, happy to see her after what felt like forever. Not since the breakout almost a month ago. She had texted him, so he knew that she'd be here, but actually seeing the teleporter just about made his night. Eli and Keaton seemed to be fairly occupied getting someone else off to the side over. Lynn? Lynn seemed happy, which was both an alarming and great sight. He waved to the group with his off hand, and with his anxiety at the location almost entirely stifled, he felt the extrovert inside him flare up at the sight of people that he liked. Most importantly though, was the mountain of liquor that seemed to be off to the side. He could absolutely work with that. He cast a look to Natalie, and with a wide grin he just about dragged her over to the table at the end of the clearing.

"Ever had a drink before?" he questioned, looking up to Natalie excitedly as he poured himself a cup of rum and coke that was more Kraken than it was coke. Greeting a group of people at a party with no drink in hand and no excuse when they all had one was a party foul, after all. "No pressure or anything, but this is basically all I could do for fun back home. That and fishing with Winky's shotgun."