[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fM0vpe0.jpeg[/img] [sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=a8f9ff][b]#a8f9ff[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]prism[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/G18buhV][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]pool[/b][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Imogen wasn’t going to argue when June suggested wrapping up the meeting. For all intents and purposes, she thought it all went rather well. No one was running for the door and the only tensions came from a lack of knowing each other and her brother’s big mouth… [i]again.[/i] It could have gone a little smoother, but all in all that was far more productive and positive than she might have guessed. And no attacks, not yet at least. Her gaze drifted over to Luke as she lingered near the hallway. She couldn’t wrap her mind around how different he looked. It was like a completely different man. Imogen was thankful for his presence knowing him to be as steadfast and loyal like June or Magni, but there was also a sad sort of guilt that nagged at the back of her thoughts. Having matured and gotten at least a little smarter, she knew she never should have dated him. He was kind and affectionate but she never loved him. She couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what led to their break up in the first place. There were a lot of unanswered questions and apologies he was owed, she knew that. But it’d have to wait until another day. She was mentally exhausted and all she wanted to do was find a way to relax and ease her tensions. The ding of the elevator stunned her back to reality like a shot in the back. Imogen’s head snapped around as a blonde sauntered out of the lift while blowing a bubble and letting loose her long blonde hair that was pinned to her head. The woman acted like it was her own little runway and she demanded attention. If she wanted to make an entrance, she succeeded. [color=217c85]"Surveillance on sub-level 10 is abysmal. You should look into increasing that if you’re trying not to get killed or go missing."[/color] [i]Nope. That’s Jim’s problem.[/i] [color=a8f9ff]"I need to unwind,"[/color] Imogen commented to no one in particular. Her voice was only loud enough for those closest to her to hear, mostly June and Magni. Her mind wandered to the comment about the pool that June had made in passing as an attempt to get under her skin. But after all the tensions and conversations… and Magni’s [i]creative[/i] imagination, cooling off sounded like [i]exactly[/i] what she needed. [color=a8f9ff]"Think I’ll get a drink… and go for a swim,"[/color] she mused out loud before spinning around on the balls of her feet. She cocked her head slightly while looking at June, the humor of the comment not lost on her after the little game of mind fuckery they played earlier. Her gaze slowly drifted up and over to Magni while her smile grew into something more genuine and maybe… [i]hopeful?[/i] [color=a8f9ff]"Bar’s down the hall, left then a right."[/color] She raised her hand and pointed in the direction she mentioned. [color=a8f9ff]"Pool’s down the hall, take a right and go outside. You know… If you get bored."[/color] Imogen’s gaze lingered for a moment before she left them. She detoured near the receptionist’s desk, reaching around whoever was browsing for their new apartment to grab her jacket. She draped the piece of clothing over her left arm, then headed down the hall. After a left and then a right, she found herself in the lounge once again. This time she didn’t intend on stealing a whole bottle of liquor, opting for a proper mixed drink and some decorum. She slid into one of the barstools and slid her fingers across the counter. An inlaid screen illuminated to life with a full extensive menu of nearly every type of drink imaginable. She browsed for a minute before settling on a Rob Roy with extra maraschino cherries. It only took a minute or two before the flat surface of the bar parted and her drink was raised to the top with textbook presentation. The liquid was amber in color, chilled to perfection, in a large martini glass, garnished with three cherries and an orange peel. A content smile crossed Imogen’s lips as she stood up and slipped her fingers beneath the bowl of the glass. She lifted the drink to her lips and took a small sip while the hatch in the bar automatically closed. A natural, softer smile lingered on her lips as she wandered out of the lounge and headed down the hall. She passed the main corridor that led to the lobby and continued straight through a set of double glass doors that opened up to a large private patio area, privacy fences around two sides, the tower on another and the backside entirely open to the view of the ocean. There was a sizable heated inground pool that was always a comfortable temperature, even in the chill of the coastal nights. Nestled in the corner of the fence, surrounded by twinkling fairy lights, was a large jacuzzi that could easily fit a dozen people. Then lined along the tower and the side of the patio open to the ocean were several lounge chairs and a handful of small tables. Imogen made her way to a lounge chair that was still barely kissed by the setting sun. She set down her drink on the adjacent table and draped her jacket over the back of the chair. A soft groan of relaxation escaped her lips as she slipped off her heels and let her bare feet rest flat against the ground. She might have been a slave to fashion, but sometimes it really was a steep price to pay. Her fingers diligently unbuckled her belt then unfastened her pants. She shimmied out of her pants and draped them over the chair with her jacket. Imogen couldn’t be bothered going all the way up to her penthouse to grab a swimsuit. Bikinis were just waterproof lingerie anyway and often covered less skin. In just her floral bustier and white thong, Imogen grabbed her drink and carried it to the shallower side of the pool. She set it down on the edge, so she wouldn’t have to get out for a sip, then made her way to the deep end. Since childhood, she never was the type to dip her toes to test the waters, but dove in head first. While a lot of things had changed about her over the years, that was one thing that remained constant. Regardless if it was water or matters of life, Imogen never tiptoed around anything. Life was too short. If she wanted something, she went for it, consequences be damned. Without any hesitation or even bothering with the diving board, Imogen strolled up to the edge of the pool and dove in, simple yet somehow elegant. She effortlessly swam the length of the water, only coming to the surface when she reached the other end. She stood up and pushed her wet hair back out of her face. The shallow water ripped around her waist resting an inch or two above her bellybutton. The gentle breeze chilled her wet skin as she waded through the water toward the edge of the pool. Her right hand curved around her drink and brought it to her lips to take a sip. Keeping the glass pressed to her bottom lip in contemplation, Imogen leaned forward, resting her arms on the concrete that surrounded the pool, watching the light of the setting sun behind her glisten off the ocean.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] june & magni [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] luke & ronnie[color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/SfSZqlE.jpeg[/img] [sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=962929][b]#962929[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]hell's angel[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/iSBHkTI][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]taxi[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....................................................[/color] [color=feffb5][b]#feffb5[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]redback[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/wAh5lG7][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]taxi[/b][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]It wasn’t until the cab pulled up that Myla realized she was due for deja vu upon arrival in New York, knowing full well her wallet was empty aside from the cobwebs and moths that resided there. She could only hope that this cabby was a little more understanding and would let her grab money from her Uncle Foggy. Either way, that was a problem she could deal with in two hours when they reached New York. There were far more pressing things that plagued her mind rather than her absence of money, like her secret identity being a little less [i]secret[/i], their new forming alliance with a group of people she had never met, or Ronnie. Yeah, she was trying her best [i]not[/i] to unpack that one. Myla slipped into the backseat on the passenger side of the car, resting her purse in her lap before closing the door. She quietly fastened her seatbelt and clutched the handle of her bag tight enough her knuckles went white. Once Theo filled the seat adjacent to her, the driver craned his head around to look at them both. [color=d6d6d6]"Where to?"[/color] It took a moment for Myla to snap out of her mental fog. She cleared her throat then answered, [color=962929]"New York. Queens and Hell’s Kitchen, please."[/color] [color=d6d6d6]"You’re aware that’s over a two hour drive, Miss?"[/color] the man asked, not in a rude or accusatory way, but like he was making sure she was aware that the fare would be steep. [color=962929]"Yes, thank you,"[/color] she replied quietly. Once the car started rolling away, she sunk back into the seat. Myla slouched into the recesses of the stiff cushions until the scratchy headrest nestled into the crook of the nape of her neck and supported the weight of her head. It wasn’t often she found herself longing for sight having been used to her own unique way of experiencing the world. But the ability to stare out the window and switch her brain off was a bordering on orgasmic proposition after the evening she just experienced. The last thing she needed was to drown in her thoughts. The silence stretched until Theo started to feel car sick. Everything was suddenly too loud, the rumble of the engine, the sound of the tires dragging across asphalt, the wind hitting against the windshield. The cab smelled strongly of tobacco and some sort of stale liquor, the rusty smell of blood permitting the smell. He blinked, coming back to himself in bits and pieces as the shock and anger drained away, leaving Theo feeling washed out and dazed. There was glass nestled in the palm of his hand, blood smeared across his hand and pants, a few specks of crimson staining the white of his shirt. He hadn’t even felt the pain earlier, still barely felt it. [color=feffb5]"I’m sorry,"[/color] His voice was too soft for the cabby to pick up on, the man was too busy listening to bad jazz to pay them any attention, but he knew Myla would be able to hear the soft whisper. His words were tinged with agony, voice cracking at the end. [color=feffb5]"I had no idea, I-I thought she was dead for [i]two years.[/i] She just… left one day, didn’t say anything, I looked for months. Then my dad went missing, and I just… there was so much going on, I didn’t want to burden you with someone I had already mourned and moved on from."[/color] The words rushed out of him, and by the time he was done there were tears slipping from his chin. A root of shame took up residence in his chest, curling around his heart, and his eyes burned. Theo’s hand curled into a fist, the glass digging in deeper to his skin, and he tried to use the way blood pooled between the crevices of his fingers to calm the guilt hammering at him. Myla hadn’t noticed Theo was hurt until the metallic scent of iron pulled her out of her haze. No matter how she felt, knowing he was bleeding pulled her out of the well of quicksand that was her mind. She turned her head to face him, her face full of worry as he raced through an apology like he feared if he took too long it’d be too late. The smell of blood grew, overpowering the faint saltiness of his tears. [color=962929]"Don’t do that!"[/color] she scolded him quietly as she unfastened her seatbelt. An alarm beeped from the dashboard and the cabby turned down his music abruptly. [color=d6d6d6]"Ay! Seatbelts!"[/color] [color=962929]"I know. I’m sorry,"[/color] Myla apologized to the driver as she slid across the backseat. She quickly pulled off his sweater, not wanting to risk ruining something that was special to him with his own blood. Her thigh brushed his as she buckled into the middle seat and discarded her purse and his sweater into the warm space she left behind. Once the music returned to its normal volume, she pulled Theo’s hands into her lap. Myla didn’t care for one second if he got blood on her. Neither of them were strangers to dressing each other’s wounds. If it ruined her clothes, well… she had more. The tips of her fingers gently and diligently ran along his palm, picking every piece of glass from his skin and dropping it on the floor of the taxi. Honestly, after everything, leaving a mess in a cab was so low on the totem pole that she gave it little to no thought. She worked meticulously in silence for several minutes, her attention focused solely on the task at hand. When she finished, her blood soaked fingers doublechecked every inch of his hand to make sure she didn’t miss a thing. Myla cursed under her breath realizing the one thing she didn’t plan for was injuries. She packed no bandages, antibiotics, nothing. After a few seconds of contemplation, her red stained hands tugged the hem of her shirt out from beneath her leather skirt. Then, without any hesitation, she pulled her shirt off. It wasn’t an ideal situation being in only her bra when all the cab driver had to do was look in his rearview mirror to catch a glimpse. She didn’t let that thought fester, quickly shoving it back to the recesses of her mind. His injuries were far more important than her dignity… Even if she was far more aware of the bare skin of her arm that brushed Theo’s as she sat topless beside him, ripping her shirt into strips. Her fingers, gentle but precise, bandaged his injured hand. She carefully wrapped the cotton fabric around Theo’s palm, alternating above and below his thumb until most of the cuts were covered in a couple layers. Myla finally spoke up as she started fastening the ends together. [color=962929]"It’s ok."[/color] Her voice was soft, sheepish, and barely above a whisper. [color=962929]"You didn’t owe me that knowledge… You didn’t even know who I was until today."[/color] She finished the knot with a gentle tug, then released his hand. He watched her hands work silently, frowning as his blood smeared over her skin. Each brush of her touch against his skin was enough to bring a part of him back. Theo shook his head as if he could clear it that way. He hadn’t been expecting her to sacrifice her own shirt, but she was and the embarrassment at being so close to her, like that, woke him up a bit more. [color=feffb5]"I did,"[/color] he said softly, automatically reaching out to catch her hands before she could pull away fully. [color=feffb5]"I should have told you, I’m sorry, Angel. I thought she was dead, but this doesn’t change anything for [i]me."[/i][/color] He squeezed her hands gently. Took in her warmth, how her heartbeat thrummed through the tips of her fingers, and the last bit of his anger drained out of him. Theo let go of one of her hands, leaning around her to set the sweater back in her hands. [color=feffb5]"Here, put it back on."[/color] He didn’t want to get too distracted, not that he hadn’t respectfully enjoyed the view, but it was better for her if the cabby didn’t catch an eye full or something. Her fingers reflexively curved around the edges of his hands when he took her own within his grasp, being sure not to grip too tightly or put any pressure on his fresh wounds. Myla’s head fell slightly as she composed her thoughts before speaking. [color=962929]"It’s ok,"[/color] she repeated. [color=962929]"You weren’t expecting a ghost to walk back into your life. I understand why you didn’t tell me. Your secrets are [i]yours[/i] to share. I had no right to that information."[/color] The topic of his ex made her want to fold in on herself and shut down. It wasn’t surprising he had previous lovers. She had a few of her own, although love was rarely part of the equation. Theo was a good, kind, and caring man, any woman would be lucky to receive even a fraction of his affections. But even knowing that, Ronnie’s arrival pinched something deep inside her, leaving Myla with a strange ache that she couldn’t quite shake. Myla had been fighting the urge to pull her hands away, resorting to her default of shutting everything out mentally and emotionally. But knowing her touch somehow grounded Theo and calmed his spiraling mind, kept her glued in place, no matter how much it went against every fiber in her being. When he tried to put his sweater in her blood covered hands, she quickly pulled away before she accidentally stained it. [color=962929]"Wait."[/color] She grabbed what remnants remained from her shirt and did her best to scrub her hands clean. There was still a dry residue and her skin smelled like iron, but it was the best she could do without soap and water. Only when she was certain that nothing would transfer onto the sweater, she took it back. Something in his chest warmed as he watched her try to clean her hands, and Myla’s words from earlier seemed to echo in his ears. Had she meant it when she’d said she liked him for more than just—well, of course she had, that was a dumb train of thought. She had no idea what he looked like, and though Theo wished desperately he could give her sight he knew it was impossible and besides, he wouldn’t change anything about her. She was perfect the way she was, even if she couldn’t appreciate the wiry muscle that lined his shoulders. [color=962929]"Although,"[/color] she began as she slipped her hands into the sleeves. Myla couldn’t ignore the conversation forever, no matter how uncomfortable it made her. [color=962929]"I wish she knew how to shut the fuck up,"[/color] she muttered with a little more hostility than intended while pulling the sweater over her head. Her hands worked on tugging the fabric down over her bare torso, struggling around the seatbelt. [color=962929]"Obviously seeing you with—[i]close[/i] to me made her jealous and she realized how much she fucked up."[/color] She grunted softly as she gave the sweater one final tug into place. [color=962929]"But…"[/color] her voice disappeared into a soft sigh as she sank back into the seat. [color=962929]"There are some things I would have liked to discover for myself rather than learn secondhand from her."[/color] Normally Myla would have been bright red after a confession like that, but after everything she had zero fucks to give about her own embarrassment… At least around Theo. She had already kissed him, been bombarded by his ex, and was topless two minutes earlier, admitting to being curious about what his hands [i]were[/i] capable of felt like a drop in the bucket at that point. Theo blinked rapidly, feeling color flood his face. Too many words wanted to come out of his mouth all at once, and all of them were probably a little [i]too[/i] enthusiastic. He cleared his throat, trying to give himself a second to calm the rush of blood that made sitting more uncomfortable. [color=feffb5]"There are still a lot of things you can discover firsthand, I promise."[/color] His voice came out huskier than he’d meant, more confidence than Theo felt shining through in his tone. He resisted the urge to laugh at how ridiculous he’d sounded, fingers playing with the edges of the makeshift bandages. He wanted to hold her hand again, to feel her skin slide against his own, to see her without a shirt on—Theo shifted in his seat, tugging at the collar of his shirt. The cab was actually pretty warm, wasn’t it? Now all he could hear, and smell, was Myla. It was even more distracting than everything else had been. [color=feffb5]"I don’t care how she feels, either way."[/color] Theo added after a pause, though he didn’t want to ruin their moods he felt like it needed to be said. [color=feffb5]"I-I only care about how you feel, anyways."[/color] The gruffness of his voice sent a tingling wave through her, settling somewhere deep in her core. Myla mirrored his movements, adjusting in her seat like she could no longer get comfortable. She cleared her throat as pushed the sleeves of the sweater up to her elbows, feeling increasingly hot between the warmth of his body beside her and the unspoken meaning in their words. Her right leg crossed over her left as she tried to settle into her seat, her knee and shin lightly brushing his leg due to their closeness. Myla tried to focus on anything else, the scratchy upholstery rubbing the back of her legs, the soft yarn of the sweater against the bare skin of her torso, or the dewy perspiration that made the hairs at the nape of her neck cling to her skin. [i]God the taxi was a sauna.[/i] [color=962929]"I need air,"[/color] she whispered as she leaned across him. Her fingers fumbled along the door jam until she found the switch. A soft sigh escaped her lips as the window slowly opened, letting in the cool salty breeze that rolled in off the tide and slipped into the cab. She paused, still leaning over him when his words sunk in. Theo didn’t owe her any explanation to his feelings one way or the other. If Ronnie’s resurrection into his life stirred something in his heart Myla would have stepped back… If that was what he wanted. But the admission of him only caring about her made her head turn to face him and her heart flutter. [color=962929]"I…"[/color] she struggled to find the words. [color=962929]"I just want you to be happy… Whoever that’s with."[/color] Myla didn’t have a clue what he saw in Ronnie, but it wasn’t her job to understand either. Theo’s happiness was all that mattered. However she could help make that happen, she would. If that came at the cost of her own happiness, then so be it. Her head turned away, the waves of her brunette hair veiling her flushed face in the wind. Her fingers slipped from the door as she slowly retreated back into her seat. Theo’s breath caught in his throat, and his uninjured hand rose on its own accord. His fingers followed the curve of her throat, trailed across the edge of her jaw, thumb brushing over her bottom lip. [i]Fuck,[/i] he wanted to kiss her again. He shouldn’t though, should he? If he did, would it be enough to show that the person he wanted to be happy with was [i]her?[/i] He thought he’d been pretty clear about that, but apparently he needed to be less subtle. So, he stole a kiss from her. You couldn’t knock down a wall without a sledge hammer, or super-human strength and pure stubborness, and Theo decided he wasn’t going to let this wall stay standing. His lips pressed against Myla’s in a way that was more desperate than before, as if he could convey all of his feelings in the simple gesture. It was short, but hot instead of sweet. A crime of passion, this stolen kiss. He didn’t feel bad for it, even as he pulled back, drinking in her expression like a man dying of thirst. She swallowed beneath the touch of his hand against her throat. Her breath hitched in her chest and lip trembled expectantly as his thumb traced the suppleness of her skin. If Theo hadn’t stolen the kiss from her lips and thoughts, Myla didn’t know if would have been able to abstain. Something she couldn’t explain about being around him was how he dropped her guard and made all her calculating thoughts fly out the window with the breeze. Her palms pressed against his chest then grabbed gentle handfuls of his shirt. His lips were sweet like chocolate but his tongue was warm like whiskey. Her body slightly turned into his and the knee of her crossed leg inched over his thigh. [color=feffb5]"I just want you to be happy, too."[/color] He whispered, the words ghosting against her lips. He pressed another, small kiss to the corner of those lips, teasing himself with the taste of her. His lips titled up into the slightest of smiles. [color=feffb5]"I want you to be with someone who makes you happy, I want you to be safe. It’s convenient that I can do both of those things for you."[/color] When he pulled away, that time she was the one left breathless. Myla didn’t pull away like she often did at the first sign of affection or vulnerability. Instead she basked in it, remaining close. Her hands never released their hold on his shirt, her knee rested slightly on top of his leg, and the tip of her nose brushed the side of his with every word he spoke. She couldn’t fight the small smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth beneath his lips. A soft chuckle filled the air between them after his last comment. [color=962929]"When did you get so confident?"[/color] she asked him quietly, a soft playfulness apparent in her teasing tone. Theo’s smile widened further, a laugh on the cusp from falling his lips but held back at great sacrifice. She could likely feel how his body jostled with barely restrained mirth, every nerve in him hyperaware of their proximity. His fingers slipped into her hair, massaging her scalp just behind her ear, at the base of her neck, in a way that eased what little tension remained there. [color=feffb5]"I’m not sure if I’m confident, just honest."[/color] Myla was always caught a little off guard by how Theo always seemed capable of pulling the softness out of her from behind her cold impregnable shell. It was thrilling but also terrifying. With everything going on in the world, it felt selfish grasping for sweet and tender moments like the ones they shared. She wanted more of him, all of him, but she was also scared of how that became one more thing she could lose. But whether or not she admitted it to herself, if she lost him too, the last broken pieces of her that remained put together would crumble apart. Her head fell slightly as she lightly tapped her knuckles against his chest. [color=962929]"You [i]do[/i] make me happy,"[/color] she admitted sheepishly. It was like speaking it into existence made it that much more fragile. But with everything, Myla owed him that truth because there was no guarantee for tomorrow. [color=feffb5]"Good."[/color] The word tasted as fragile as it sounded, but it was a relief to hear all the same. This entire…thing, felt uncertain. He’d known Hell’s Angel for a year now, they’d worked together seamlessly for so long, he hadn’t even realized when she became more important than just a comrade, than a friend. A large part of him was terrified of losing her, or her vanishing right from beneath his hands just like Veronica had, but he knew this time would be different. [color=feffb5]"I don’t think I’d survive [i]you[/i] disappearing."[/color] He hadn’t meant to say it aloud, it felt like he was flaying the most vulnerable parts of himself for her to see in a more intimate way than eyesight could ever provide. Theo’s fingers trembled against Myla, and he pulled her ever so slightly closer. Her presence alone was like a balm to his soul, soothing the sudden turmoil he’d been forced to face back at the tower. Ronnie coming back as if nothing had happened shook him more than he’d ever care to admit, not because he still had feelings for the other woman, but because it was a reminder of everything he’d already lost and the answers that hadn’t been provided. It was like he was being haunted in the cruelest way someone could imagine, if this were the plot of a book the author would be considered a sadist, that much he was sure. Myla’s right hand released her hold on his shirt and found its way to his face. Her thumb traced the edge of his jaw, memorizing the angle similar to how others studied another’s face. Her palm rested beneath his ear while the tips of her fingers slipped into his hair at the nape of his neck. [color=962929]"You never told me you were a telepath."[/color] Her words were light and affectionate, contrasting the weight of their meaning. Her thoughts mirrored his exactly which made the gravity of the situation that much more dire. They both had lost so much that it felt like they were holding on by the tips of their fingers. How could they possibly help each other if they both were falling? [center]* * *[/center] The remainder of the drive to New York was uneventful, filled with casual conversation, soft laughs, tender whispers and a stolen kiss or two. For those couple of hours Myla and Theo lived in a bubble outside of disappearing heroes, missing fathers, and mysteriously reappearing exes. It wasn’t until the taxi rolled to a stop that Myla noticed the familiar noises, commotion, and smells of Queens. She realized in that moment how [i]real[/i] it all was. Redback wasn’t a faceless vigilante she fought beside, but Theo, a living, breathing person. The secrecy and anonymity washed away with every piece of his puzzle that fell into place. It was strange to think something so small as knowing where he lived could have such a big impact. But with that also came the reality that Ronnie had already known that. She was familiar with who he was in and out of the mask. Not only did she know him, but she knew his family. Theo mentioned how his entire family grieved her disappearance, not just him. Jealousy sank in her gut like a ton of bricks, stealing the light from behind her smile. Myla hated how dark feelings like that plagued her thoughts. But she was struggling to not compare herself to Ronnie when she had experienced [i]everything[/i] with him and been a part of his life. Up until that day Myla was as faceless and mysterious to him as he was to her. She might have known his soul, but she didn’t even know the name of his mother. Something about that rooted and festered in her mind. [color=d6d6d6]"First stop,"[/color] the cabby called over his shoulder toward them. Myla reluctantly released her hold on him, pulling herself away so they no longer felt like one but two separate parts. She reached over into her purse and grabbed her phone. Her thumbs quickly flipped it open and danced along the buttons. A moment later Theo would feel his phone buzz in his pocket. [color=962929]"Do you think you can get there ok? Or should I come back?"[/color] There was a faint waiver in her voice. The thought of being separated and alone in New York was somehow immensely scarier after their time at the academy. She felt more exposed, like anything could catch her unaware whereas the tower was in the middle of nowhere, quiet and isolated. [color=feffb5]"Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?"[/color] The last two hours would become dear memories to Theo, even when all else felt uncertain and he struggled to put to words how he felt, he knew moments like these going forward would become fewer and rarer. He wanted to cling to the moment, to not slip from the cab. He pulled out his wallet with his uninjured hand, hating the new space that was between them, and fished out two hundred dollars in twenties and handed it to the cabby without a word, it would be enough for the entire drive and then some. [color=962929]"No,"[/color] she admitted with a sad laugh. After everything she hated the idea of being alone and Theo being out of earshot. [color=962929]"But the quicker we leave New York the better… It doesn’t feel [i]safe[/i] here anymore,"[/color] Myla confessed barely above a whisper. They had a long drive back and probably an hour of packing for the both of them. If they went together they wouldn’t be back at the academy until the early hours of the morning. There was a part of her that was curious about how he lived… his mom, but her selfish wishes had to be shoved away. He pulled out his phone and tapped the back of it. A small, blue and red spider dropped from the phone. The little machine seemed to shake itself awake, legs wiggling experimentally. It resembled a jumping spider, small, strangely cute for something traditionally considered scary. Theo leaned closer to Myla, his lips a whisper away from her own. [color=feffb5]"I have something for you, it’s like a failsafe, will you hold onto it until we meet back up?"[/color] He pressed it gently into her hand, one hand cupped around her wrist. To the cabby, it looked like they were simply sharing an intimate goodbye. Myla would be able to feel the cold kiss of metal as the small spider crawled onto her palm, tapping its legs against her skin experimentally. Myla’s cheeks flushed at his closeness but she tried to focus on the tiny cold bit of metal he placed in her hand. If it hadn’t been Theo she probably would have panicked over a spider in her palm, but she trusted him. She didn’t know what it was but assumed it was some means to track her… Should the worst happen. [color=962929]"What do I do with it?"[/color] she whispered back to him, clutching the small device securely in her grasp. [color=feffb5]"Nothing,"[/color] he said softly, rubbing at her fingers to loosen her grip. The little spider skittered up Myla’s palm, beneath the sleeve of the sweater, and caught a loose strand of hair. It nestled in there, to the point where only the subtle weight of something unnatural could be felt, but she wouldn’t feel any little legs on her head either. [color=feffb5]"The batteries will last for a few hours, I can track you on my phone in case…it has a self defense mechanism, but it’s a one time use sort of thing. I just started tinkering with it, so it’s the prototype phase."[/color] He pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips, before sliding away, popping open the door, and ducking out of the cab. [color=feffb5]"I’ll see you soon, Angel."[/color] Her anxiety crawled back up the back of her neck as he kissed her goodbye and slipped out of the cab. [color=962929]"Be careful,"[/color] she called after him. Myla slid over into his abandoned seat, relishing in the warmth he left behind as if a piece of him remained in the cab with her. She nervously fingered at the cuff of his sweater as the taxi pulled away and headed for the heart of Manhattan.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] ronnie [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] [@Sleepy Tani][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]