[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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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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and goes off after him, trying to catch his arm, still half-smiling.]
Hey, no, shut up, wait, I already did that. This morning! I knew what was gonna happen, I wasn't gonna die or anything, you're so sensitive, god.
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[keeps walking keeps flushing hmph hmph hmph]
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[starts floating along behind him
just to be a shithead.]
I'm sorry I freaked you out. Better?
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[he hunches his shoulders more, jams his hands into his hoodie, keeps stalking forward!!!]
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[keeps following!!!]
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[hurm]
I ain't cranky, neither.
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