[his eye flickers up, showing uncertainty, a deep-set worry that won't go away]
[and maybe this is why he's been such an asshole about her life, about her powers; he's had to be strict with himself, with acting a certain way and following the jungle-rules of the city; any contact with something more than human, more powerful than it should be, hasn't ended well for him]
[it's hard to accept how Holly Heights works, and it's almost impossible to accept the idea that somewhere, it is someone's life's passion to help instead of hurtkillmaimrape, with their extraordinary powers]
[his reaction isn't what she'd been expecting at all -- whatever she'd been expecting. maybe some loud swearing or something, but definitely not this... quiet. it unnerves carol enough to make her frown, notch of concern forming between her brows.]
I -- you just seem kind of...
[slowly, slowly, she touches back down, boots scraping on the ground.]
[he's been saying it to other people; you can regain abilities you lost, but this is the first time he's seen it in such dramatic action]
[he shrugs a bit at the woman, frowning (why did she stop that weird floating? -- he had a tendency to bring people down, maybe, to force them to ground and asphalt)]
S'good. M'fine. ...It's weird, is all.
[it's so, so stupid, but he's scared, too, hopes it doesn't show]
[a hazy green eye watches again, and he tries to give himself an inner shake, because it's Carol, god damnit, he had nothing to be afraid of from Carol (other than her getting into his business, other than her finding out about -- )]
[she's not a monster from below. she might be a monster from the surface, but he doesn't know what measuring stick they use up there; maybe all the monsters are heroes]
[which is a blatant lie; give carol a chance to show off and she will show off. right now it's caution holding her back, not any sense of decorum or restraint.
he still seems so uncertain.
but she sighs, faking put-upon, and pushes herself lazily up through the air until she's higher than his head, higher than two of him. calls back down:]
[--and the next second she's a sleek streak of blue and red and gold, impossibly fast (not as fast as she can be, no, her body's still too human for that), arcing further up, up, shooting straight for that hot sun.
how long until she hits the barrier and ends up on the ground again, right on her ass on the pavement?
[the quick movement startles him, and her ass slamming into the asphalt beside him has a loud, sharp sound coming from his throat; something between concern and shock]
[that laughter makes him think of home, and he flushes stupidly, hunching into an embarrassed ball reflexively; that's laughter at him, he's very well aware]
Sh-shut the fuck up! Go faster next time so ya bounce inta the center'a the goddamn earth!
[his reaction just makes the whole thing absurdly funnier, and carol reaches out to ruffle at his straw-rough hair while she tries to rein herself in, catch a breath.
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[and maybe this is why he's been such an asshole about her life, about her powers; he's had to be strict with himself, with acting a certain way and following the jungle-rules of the city; any contact with something more than human, more powerful than it should be, hasn't ended well for him]
[it's hard to accept how Holly Heights works, and it's almost impossible to accept the idea that somewhere, it is someone's life's passion to help instead of hurtkillmaimrape, with their extraordinary powers]
[eventually, he stutters out a]
Y-yah, I. Yah.
[and his eye flickers back to that space]
...Why...
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I -- you just seem kind of...
[slowly, slowly, she touches back down, boots scraping on the ground.]
Freaked out?
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I -- no, I meant why all'a sudden can ya do that.
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[it's an obvious lie, and he doesn't try to pad it, too, well, freaked out]
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[her tone is painfully gentle, like she's trying not to spook a deer.]
I got a regain thing. You sure you're okay?
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[he shrugs a bit at the woman, frowning (why did she stop that weird floating? -- he had a tendency to bring people down, maybe, to force them to ground and asphalt)]
S'good. M'fine. ...It's weird, is all.
[it's so, so stupid, but he's scared, too, hopes it doesn't show]
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instead, she offers him a small smile that tries to have the same effect.]
I told you, didn't I? Superheroes.
[I told you, didn't I? I help people. I protect people. I save people.]
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[instead he says, more of a question this time]
Do it again?
[thin fingers scratch inside the top of his cast, but his eye is trained on her sharply still]
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[the smile gets a little bigger. carol puts her arms behind her back, casual, and floats up again, a little higher than before.
as many times as he asks, she'll oblige him.]
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[she's not a monster from below. she might be a monster from the surface, but he doesn't know what measuring stick they use up there; maybe all the monsters are heroes]
[barks distractedly]
What, izzat all? I can jump that high.
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[which is a blatant lie; give carol a chance to show off and she will show off. right now it's caution holding her back, not any sense of decorum or restraint.
he still seems so uncertain.
but she sighs, faking put-upon, and pushes herself lazily up through the air until she's higher than his head, higher than two of him. calls back down:]
Happy now?
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[and he sits down as she gets farther away, resting his cast in the crux made of hip and folded thigh]
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[she's done this today already, she knows what'll happen, but still. carol turns her face up, squints against the light, and smiles to herself--]
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how long until she hits the barrier and ends up on the ground again, right on her ass on the pavement?
thirty seconds, forty-five tops.]
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[yeah that still hurts]
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Th-the fuck was that!?
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You get up high enough and there's a barrier or something.
[ow ow ow]
Can't see it coming.
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cracks up
into laughter, bright and stupid.]
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Sh-shut the fuck up! Go faster next time so ya bounce inta the center'a the goddamn earth!
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it's not easy.
but she manages eventually, rubs at an eye.]
Oh my god. Haaah. That was good.
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[SMACKS AT HER ARM, STANDING UP REALLY AWKWARDLY fucking cast]
Shut up! You're fuckin' cracked in the head! Like hell I need this!
[STARTING TO STORM OFF]
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