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[color=375a87][b]#375a87[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]......[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/nmvqlk4][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]nightingale[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]..........................................................[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]#ed1c24[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01988d15-1285-777b-861c-1660d70aa9ff.webp][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]vanguard[/b][color=2e2c2c].....................[/color]

[i][b]traveling[/b][/i][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][color=ed1c24]"What's our ETA, H.E.L.E.N.?"[/color]

[color=d6d6d6]"We will be arriving in approximately 38 minutes at 10:43 AM."[/color]

Jim nodded, leaning back in the driver's seat as the van continued effortlessly weaving through highway traffic. Flakes of dried blood had turned the tips of his fingernails a faint reddish-white, his hands awkwardly tapping the door handle and the gearshift as he stared out at the road ahead of him. The car drove itself, the van being Jim's self-designed prototype for a line of autonomous vans meant to begin production by the end of the fiscal year. Bags still remained under his eyes, and two large thermoses of coffee sat empty in the cup holders. He was doing his best not to look June's direction as thoughts spiraled in his mind. He still wore his sweats and undershirt, though both were a bit more crumpled than they were before.

The van was another brilliant idea on Jim's part. He had called for it while mopping up June's bathroom, and it was idling outside them that morning. It gave them the opportunity to get naps on the trip back, and it had plenty of space to store the armor in the very back. Most importantly, the van was a tank in all but legal classification. Bulletproof windows, armored plating all around, near-lethal anti-theft technology… It was the only set of wheels Jim felt truly safe in. After June's ambush, it was the only thing he trusted to keep her safe. And yet, Jim still felt a need to ride alongside her just in case. He wouldn't be much help if they got attacked again and the van was compromised. So now, Jim was stuck in a rolling prison with a woman who had jumped him twice in the last twelve hours.

He needed to say something, but he had a sinking suspicion his words were going to sow discord. His eyes shifted towards June in the passenger seat, a small blush running up his cheeks at just the sight of her. He looked away quickly, frightened that making eye contact was going to lead to a repeat of earlier in the day. [color=ed1c24]"So… ummm… did you still want to have that date?"[/color] He winced as the words left his mouth, the awkwardness of the question evident even to Jim. He continued nonetheless. [color=ed1c24]"We don't exactly need a do-over at this point, so it might be a little… redundant."[/color]

June’s eyes were heavy, exhaustion and blood loss weighing her down. She also had the air of a satisfied cat, spread across her seat delicately, mindful of how every bump made her side twinge in pain. She’d struggled back into her sweatpants and sports bra after her second shower of the morning, skin flushed, body sore, but more victorious than she’d been even when she was participating in underground fight rings overseas. She jumped some at the sound of Jim’s voice, blinking open eyes that had slipped shut at some point. [color=375a87]"Of course I want to,"[/color] June sat up a little, wincing and rubbing a hand over her face. She bit her lip, thinking for a moment about how she’d like several do-overs of what they’d done in that shower, but those were the sort of thoughts she ought to keep to herself. Though, sometimes Jim could be a little…confused, so it was probably better if she shared those sorts of desires aloud. [color=375a87]"I want to do that date, and then as many other dates as you’d entertain. You’re the only person I’ve ever—"[/color] her face burned, and she squirmed in her seat. [color=375a87]"I mean, it was really good. For me, at least. So, as long as it was good for you, then maybe we-we could- I mean, only with each other. Unless that isn’t what you want, then…"[/color]

June turned toward the window, not even flinching as her stitches pulled uncomfortably on her side. She contemplated jumping out, curious if this speed would kill her and put her out of her misery or not.

Jim turned himself in his seat fully, staring over at June with an incredulous look. The gears slowly turned in his head as he looked her over. All the talk of wanting him to get the wrong idea, the sexual teasing, the demand for a kiss… for some reason, he hadn’t precisely connected those dots in the most obvious way. Given how Imogen acted around her friends, he was under the impression that June might also view things like kissing and sex a little more liberally. He wasn’t the world’s greatest detective, or even a remotely emotionally observant man, but he could tell that June was anxious. She was fumbling over words, shifting in place, blushing. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Processing it would take time, but the knowledge was enough to respond in the only way he knew how. [color=ed1c24]"Holy shit… Junie Wayne is [i]nervous[/i]? Call the tabloids."[/color] His tone was playful, but his nerves were still shot to hell. His ribbing always had a way of calming her down, giving her a way to redirect her feelings at him. He had always liked filling that role, but was still far too dense to understand [i]why[/i] quite yet.

She laughed, turning back toward him, posture relaxing some, but she wasn’t going to back down. The timing felt off, she’d never expected the two of them to end up working so closely together because family members started to go missing, but she wouldn’t have traded what they’d done earlier for anything, or anyone, else. Her gaze was soft in a way that was rare and vulnerable, directed sorely at Jim. [color=375a87]"This isn’t how I ever thought the conversation would go when I’d imagined it, not really how I imagined our first time either."[/color] She froze, eyes widening some as her words caught up to her brain. Her hand twitched toward the door handle, contemplating jumping after all. [color=375a87]"The tabloids suck, anyways."[/color] She went on, hoping, praying really, that Jim would do what he did best and ignore the moments where someone blatantly shared their feelings with him. [color=375a87]"They haven’t published a single accurate story about me, or you."[/color]

June’s luck had worn out. Jim was hanging on her every word, and her slip up did not escape his notice. His evil grin grew wider as he raised both his eyebrows, his voice dripping with condescending excitement. [color=ed1c24]"So… you’ve thought about it before?"[/color] For once, he finally understood how their little game felt on June’s end. It was intoxicating, the smug power she held over him. He leaned closer from his spot, his eyes scanning her expression. She seemed more distressed than he had expected, his smile wavering slightly. He wasn’t sure if he would get an opportunity again, but something about the way June spoke made their game seem trivial. He needed to deflect, for her sake. With a shaky breath, he sighed. [color=ed1c24]"I… have had dreams about you before. Chalked it up to hormones. But… I don’t exactly know how this stuff is supposed to go. You were with Liam, and I was busy with work, so I never really…"[/color] It was his turn to stammer and look away. He cleared his throat, trying to figure out what exactly he was trying to say. He cycled back to her questions. [color=ed1c24]"It’s… all very new to me, but I do want to spend time with you. It’s just…"[/color]

There was an elephant in the van with them, whether they were willing to admit it or not. Jim wasn’t one for complications, or feelings, or confronting things that needed to be confronted. He acknowledged it anyway. [color=ed1c24]"I want to find our fathers, and bring your brother back home… not that I am particularly excited for your dad to find out about last night, he scares the fuck out of me."[/color] His awkward joke hung in the air, more of a self-defense mechanism than an attempt to make her smile. [color=ed1c24]"I… don’t want my feelings to get in the way of that."[/color] He paused for a moment, cycling through options on what to say next before speaking very slowly. [color=ed1c24]"But… I need help making gadgets. And I have been having a hard time falling asleep lately…"[/color] His words trailed off as he searched June’s face in the hope she would understand what exactly he was getting at. 

Her smile had tugged at her lips, softening her expression, but the more Jim spoke the more her smile slipped. The mention of Liam was a sore subject, she tried not to think about her brief time with him, and how the relationship as a whole had made her feel less like a person and more like an object. Her stomach had twisted itself into knots by the time Jim was done speaking, and June was reduced to a pair of suffocating lungs behind a stoic mask. It was rejection and acceptance all wrapped in one shiny metal bow, but she couldn’t understand why his deflection hurt so much. 

Well, that wasn’t true. It hurt because he was pushing away how not only he felt, but how she felt as well, while planning to accept the physical. It wasn’t something she’d have ever expected of Jim, and that was perhaps what hurt the most. June’s eyes slid down to her hands, to the blood that was still beneath her nails, and it took every iota of her self control to stop the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. Even in her worst dreams, this was [i]never[/i] how she’d thought the conversation would go. 

[color=375a87]"I understand,"[/color] the pause had been so brief it was barely there, and when she turned back to him the smile was back, though it no longer reached her eyes. It had hurt less when she had been shot, and she let her mind drift to how it had felt when that man had dug his thumb into the bullet wound. Pain was a good distraction from things that actually weighed on you, and so maybe this would be better for her. [color=375a87]"It would be nice, not being the only one struggling to sleep."[/color] There were some perks that came from being trained by a man who qualified as one of the worlds best spies to be just as good as he was, namely being able to lie without batting a lash even when it felt like her ribs were being broken all over again, only this time by someone she’d trusted to never break them. [color=375a87]"I’m happy, as long as you’re happy."[/color]

The mood had soured, unsurprisingly, when their families had been brought up. His attempts at levity did not help the matter. When she smiled at him, it wasn’t [i]her[/i] smile: it was the fake one she used in public. He had seen it a few times. But given how understanding she seemed of the situation. Those last words, though, felt off. It’s a phrase he had seen used in movies, usually accompanied by sad music. This wasn’t that kind of moment. He wanted to be with her, she wanted to be with him, they had confessed… being happy if another was happy could be a good thing. He understood the sentiment. He caught himself smiling sympathetically when June was excited before. She must be thinking that… but the implication that she wasn’t happy still clung in the back of his mind, locked away behind more pressing thoughts.

June wanted to spend time with him. Excitement coated his words, even if his face was still mostly a stoic mask now. He looked out at the road in front of them, speaking as fast as he could think. [color=ed1c24]"It’s not as romantic, upgrading the Batmobile or helping to update everyone’s suits, but it gives us a chance to talk. Strategize, sure, but maybe… we never really talked about your art before. What your style is, your inspirations, what they mean… and what kind of music you like, and..."[/color] He paused, his thoughts cataloging all the things he wanted to know about her. This didn’t feel like the time and place for that. Her somewhat pained expression from before had shot to the front of his mind, his attention immediately shifting back into her needs. [color=ed1c24]"Shit… stitches, right. How are they? Do you need anything? I should have a kit in here somewhere."[/color]

She was surprised, the last thing June had expected him to bring up was her art. She hadn’t had time recently to turn toward her usual outlet, pieces sitting in her studio unfinished, but the clear excitement that radiated from him despite how he tried to keep it under control made her relax some. This was Jim, her best friend, someone she trusted inexplicably, so what if it didn’t happen the way she’d hoped? This was more than Juniper could have ever hoped for, and she wasn’t going to complain now and ruin it. 

[color=375a87]"Nothing popped, thankfully."[/color] her hand brushed across her side, fingers trailing over the splotchy and ugly bruise that was rising to the surface along her ribs. That was only a half truth, the stitches Alfred had given her the night before had popped at some point during the bank robbery, but it hurt more than it had bled so she ignored it. What was most concerning was how each deep breath hurt, it felt like June couldn’t quite get the proper amount of air into her lungs. [color=375a87]"Cracked rib, maybe two? Dizzy from the blood loss, my pain is only at an eight though…I’ve had worse."[/color] She smiled, another lie, she’d never been shot before, but all things considered she had been lucky.

Jim was quiet for a moment, his brain cycling through what he had on hand that could possibly help June. She needed medical attention, [i]proper[/i] medical attention. [color=ed1c24]"We'll be at the tower soon… I can help you up to the infirmary."[/color] He eyed her wearily, his breath catching in his throat. He was a bit powerless to provide much aid. The only thing he could do was just be present. He reached a hand over awkwardly, placing it right next to June's leg in her seat. He turned his palm upward, and offered a small smile. [color=ed1c24]"I can sit with you while you get patched up… whatever you need."[/color]

Her eyes slid to his hand, heart jumping to her throat, and she’d slid her own hand into Jim’s before she even could consider not doing it. Their fingers laced together like two pieces of a missing puzzle, and her cheeks flushed at how his calloused fingers felt against her own. [color=375a87]"Stay with me,"[/color] she whispered, not able to look him directly in the eye. 

Jim nodded, his eyes fixed on the road in front of them. He squeezed June's hand softly. [color=ed1c24]"Of course,"[/color] he whispered back, a bit of a smile creeping on his lips. [color=ed1c24]"Just… no more trips alone, ok? Flying that fast makes me sick."[/color]
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