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[color=375a87][b]#375a87[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/nmvqlk4_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]descendant tower[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Her threads were unraveling, like a canvas worn by time, colors bleeding into shades of exhaustion. Juniper was surprised by how quickly the sensation arose, it was fast and sharp like the sting from a wasp, but she’d expected it to creep across the floor like a beam of sunlight until it had reached her unmoving frame. She didn’t want to be [i]here.[/i] She didn’t want to watch a stranger's face drain of color, to see fear bloom across their features in ways that were intimately familiar. 

She didn’t want to know it was all a result of something her friend had said, callous and cool. Grief could twist people, this she knew, but it revealed them too. Had Jim always been so uncaring when it came to others feelings? First Imogen, and now perfect strangers. June didn’t look at Jim again, she couldn’t bring herself to. Everything else slipped away from her, the new man and woman who had joined them were noted, a small part of her brain categorizing several ways to incapacitate them before moving on.

[color=962929]"No wonder you’re desperate for allies,"[/color] The woman was admirable for keeping it together as well as she was, if it had been June…she may have hit Jim. [color=962929]"I can’t imagine an invasive, judgemental prick like you has many friends."[/color]

Juniper closed her eyes, let the sound of an ally they could have had walking away wash over her, and tried to untangle the sudden mess her emotions had become. This meeting had been a handle on hope for June, she’d clung to it once the option had been given. Her mind wandered for a moment, to the days before she’d known, where she’d spent dark nights in damp alleyways trying to beat information out of men who had no information to give. She’d rather be [i]there[/i] now, if only to have an outlet for it all. 

[color=a8f9ff]"What the fuck happened to me doing the talking?"[/color] June used Imogen’s anger to ground herself, the tempo of her heart slowing into a more steady beat. Why did she feel so angry? The way Jim had targeted them, innocent, unaware of whatever inner turmoil they faced, it reminded her too much of other people. The kinds of people who never could be considered [i]heroes.[/i] [color=a8f9ff]"Diplomacy and trust is how you make allies, Jim. Not this,"[/color] Imogen wasn’t done with him, and she wasn’t surprised. She took a steadying breath before allowing her eyes to flutter open, taking in the angry set to the other woman’s jaw. [color=a8f9ff]"Just because we don’t get the luxury of anonymity does not give you the right to strip that away from others,"[/color] 

That was it, she realized, feeling stupid for how long it took her to pinpoint her deeper source of anger and betrayal by his actions. June took another step away from Jim, because it was betrayal she felt sinking into her bones like cancer. June was tired, and she missed her dad and brother more than she missed sleep. All she wanted was to hear their voices again, to feel their hug, to know she was safe to live her life because they were there. 


She felt like Atlas now, the weight of Gotham laid across her shoulders like a hot brand searing into her skin. Did these strangers feel it, too? Did they struggle with staying to fight for New York? She knew she wasn’t the only one feeling the pain of this loss, but did Jim know how it felt to have something so crushing placed into your hands and told it was your job to stand against everything that longed to destroy it? Did he know how it felt to stand alone in a fight that you knew you couldn’t win, but to still choose to fight anyways? Even if he didn’t, could he not put himself in any of their shoes for even five minutes? They’d all taken up mantles that felt too large to lift, but he was the only one lashing out.

[color=375a87]"I told you I was handed the responsibility of planning my father and brothers [i]funeral[/i], and I know you understood why. Having a secret identity isn’t just about anonymity, Jim. It’s about keeping the people you [i]love[/i] safe from the people who would use our identities to hurt them."[/color] Her words rang through the lobby like trumpets at Jericho, voice cool and surprisingly empty. It was the tone Juniper typically used when she was Nightingale, when she was wearing a mask. [color=375a87]"Those two have their own city to protect, have a place they call home that is in utter disarray. They’ve been in those streets every night trying to keep it all from falling apart, I’ve seen the news and I know you have too."[/color]

Juniper turned away from him, she felt feverish and exhausted and there was nothing she could do about it. She had too many things to do to allow herself to get wrapped up in personal feelings right now. [color=375a87]"Will you be sharing my secret identity with everyone too? Would you take away something as intimately personal, something I’d only give in trust, from me, too? We’ve all only just met each other, you didn’t even give them a chance. This is our only hope, why are you trying to—"[/color] 

She bit her tongue, stopping the words that wanted to spill out before they could, and June went to the man who had been left on the couch, not looking back at Jim.
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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] jim [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] imogen, theodore, myla [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
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[color=feffb5][b]#feffb5[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/wAh5lG7_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]descendant tower[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][color=ed1c24]"Phil, why don't you get Ms. [i]Murdock[/i] and Mr. [i]Parker[/i] here some water before we start discussing family matters. They had a long trip down from Manhattan, and I wouldn't want them to feel like strangers."[/color]

The man's words were bouncing around in Theo’s skull like a pinball in an old arcade machine. The squeeze of Myla’s hand ought to have hurt any normal man, but it only brought him back to his senses before he slipped too far into his own mind. He wasn’t surprised by how she was reacting, by the anger he could practically feel rolling off of her. He understood, and he’d been working with Hell’s Angel for long enough to know she wasn’t always sweet as sunshine. 

[color=962929][i]"Up[/i] from Manhattan,"[/color] a drop of cold rolled down Theo's spine at her voice, and his hand squeezed her own back gently. He supported her, no matter what. [color=962929]"Bridgeport, Connecticut is Northeast of Manhattan. I figured a Stark would know how to read a map."[/color] Myla's words were biting, calculating, and he felt a small thrill at the realization that she was [i]smart.[/i] Way smarter than Theo was, he would have never caught that mistake in his own rage.

Her anger always reminded Theodore of winter, all relentless chill. He was glad it had never been directed at him, glad that it wasn’t explosive in nature. He felt a flare of amused pride at her sass toward the other man, at how she stood up for herself even though he could see how sweat beaded on her forehead, the flush he’d been admiring on her cheeks fading. He resented Jim for taking that from him, from stealing the little bit of peace Myla had in this unfamiliar place.

He was angry too, but not so much about his identity being dragged but [i]hers.[/i] Theo knew he was different from Myla, he had powers she didn’t and with that power came the knowledge he could protect his loved ones more efficiently. He knew what was most important, and it wasn’t standing by while someone else suffered, and he couldn’t stand to see her suffer. 

Her hand slipped from his own like a dream fading at dawn, and he watched her walk away for a moment, mouth falling open but no words coming. Should he go after her? Did she want him to? The aftermath was quiet, even with the other women speaking up in their defense, and his heart felt heavy with the weight of it all. This hadn’t been a trap, but it was challenging in ways neither of them had expected. He knew that Myla would rather take a fist to the face any day than having to be vulnerable in front of people she did not trust, and that choice had been stolen from her. 

Theo pushed up from the couch resolutely, turning away from the room to go and follow her, but the woman that had seemed so intimidating earlier approached him before he could even get a foot across the lobby, her hands raised in a gesture of peace, the knives from earlier having vanished once more. [color=375a87]"I’m sorry,"[/color] her voice was soft and repentant enough that it gave him a reason to pause, pushing aside the distress rising in his chest at the fact that Myla wasn’t there in the room with him right now. She was outside, alone, upset, and anything could happen to her. [color=375a87]"I can’t make it any better or take it back, but I can try to help. I understand, kind of. Do you think I could go with you?"[/color]

Theo floundered for a moment, feeling like a fish out of water. He glanced toward the others, toward the blonde who had welcomed them and her chosen beverage, toward the man and woman who had come in and collapsed on one of the other couches, toward the older men who were watching on in a silent, judging sort of manner. He looked back to her, running a hand over his face and trying to keep his nerves from fraying any further. He’d traveled for days, slept on the fucking forest floor, all so he could watch his best friend get bullied? It was bullshit, all of it was.

[color=feffb5]"Why do [i]you[/i] care?"[/color] Theo’s voice came out harsher than he’d meant it to, his anger wasn’t at this woman, it was at the man she’d been standing with earlier. He didn’t back down though, because it was [i]Myla[/i] they were talking about and he wasn’t sure if anyone deserved to see how upset she actually was. 

[color=375a87]"Because, I was taught to have compassion for everyone. Sometimes, I forget why it matters. It’s easy to, when I’m angry, when I’m tired, but compassion is what separates [i]us[/i] from [i]them.[/i]"[/color] The woman took a deep breath, as if saying those words aloud cost her a great deal. [color=375a87]"My dad taught me that, I’ll tell you, and her, all about him…if you’ll let me."[/color]

That was something Theodore could understand, and it was almost funny. She knew exactly what to say to disarm him, unintentionally or not, everything he knew about compassion and responsibility came from his own father. He hastily turned back, picking up Myla’s purse, letting the silence stretch. 

[color=feffb5]"Fine, but if she wants to leave we’re leaving."[/color] His eyes cut toward Jim, and he clenched his teeth to keep in the more cutting things he wanted to say to the man. Instead, Theo swallowed his anger and headed toward the door. [color=feffb5]"We have enough shit to deal with back home, without being harassed by some dick with an ego. We both gave up a lot to be here, not everyone has the same resources as a fucking Stark."[/color]

The woman followed, as silent as the wind, no comment to his words. He nodded to the older man trying to clean up the glass, stepping through what remained of the doors and going toward where he could hear Myla’s heart thundering in her chest. Any thoughts about the other people fell away, all he could focus on was her and making sure she was okay. 

The woman behind him fell back some as Theo crossed to Myla, pausing right in front of her with an air of uncertainty about him. He reached out, slowly, so that she could hear his movements and react if she wanted to, but all he did was tuck a curl behind one of her ears. The tips of his fingers brushed along Myla’s jaw, a tender gesture that telegraphed more than words ever could. 

[color=feffb5]"I’m here, Myla. Whatever you want to do, I’ll follow you."[/color] His voice was soft, and he let his arm drop back to his side. Theo didn’t want to leave, not until he got some answers, until he knew why they were there, but he would if it meant staying with her. The fear of having almost lost her still echoed in his head like the bang of a gun firing, Theo didn’t think he could survive it twice. [color=feffb5]"One of them wants to talk to you first, before you decide. That’s all I’m asking, just listen to her, okay? This one and the other lady gave that asshole hell, and if by the time she’s done you want me to go back in there and punch him I will. If you want to leave we will, but if you want to stay, I’ll be there too."[/color] 

He wanted to hug her, to wrap her up in his arms again and let her know she wasn’t alone, but he didn’t want to cross boundaries, didn’t want to make her feel more vulnerable around someone neither of them really knew. So, Theo didn’t, but he gave her the choice because it didn’t matter to him. He’d be fighting the good fight either way, as long as Myla was beside him it didn’t matter where. 
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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] juniper, myla [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] jim, imogen[color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
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