checkingout | You were a lion ; I was a songbird.

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You were a lion ; I was a songbird.

Who?: Grant ward, a few select threads, then you perhaps?
When?: Post his log with Agent 33, prior to starvation.
Where?: Lobby, breakfast nook, possibly down in the laundry? Basically anywhere.
Warnings: None so far. Possibly rotten eggs involved.
Notes: A couple of planned threads with Agent 33 and Ward and a few other people.

For 33 and Helen.

[This is awkward, slipping in and out like this. It's also annoying as hell thanks to Coulson and the rest of them. It's hard to tell if she's awake or not but he's got to get this done.]

33?

[The number thing, all of this. He wants to be the person she thinks he can be, standing there, shifting his weight catlike from foot to foot.]

Open the door we need to talk.

For Haymitch, 33, and Ward.

[Haymitch and Ward had a standing date to play battleship and ward's got it out, leaning back in his chair. He's started training every morning so he's thrown himself into the shower, fresh and clean.]

I figured I'd grab my friend later.

In the lobby.

[Ward is training. It's the first day he's felt good enough to do it and it's rather impressive - not his words but the words of others. Shirtless he spends a good four hours at 5:30 every morning shadowboxing, doing pushups, doing push-ups with his back pressed against the wall, and then more shadowboxing. He repeats this process again at 530 pm - feel free to catch either show.

It helps him think (and it's not like there's a lot of anything else to do around here.]

Laundry

[He's a rat bastard but he's not that much of a rat bastard. Coming up the stairs with a small bag full of those eggs a faint smell can be detected. Trash can, trash can, and no goddamn door. So he'll frown at the first person.]

No trash can anywhere that won't piss people off can you believe that?

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It isn't as though we're going anywhere anytime soon.

[ The doors are still locked, windows unbreakable, and so on. The hotel will keep them captive here a while longer. ]

Or is it because I'm going to win this time? Don't want her to see you cry?

[Ward's eyes narrow] It's not like that.

I'd be more worried about you having a breakdown after the last game.

Now you're just trying to deflect the embarrassment on me. Very clever.

[ He shrugs, tinkering with this little boats, setting them out on the little map. ]

I'll try not to cry too loudly this time, I know how easily it offends your delicate sensibilities.

[Tim's sleep schedule has honestly gotten more and more messed up since he got to the Hotel at the End of the Universe. Most of the time, it seems like he just kind of... naps periodically through the day and night. He's not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, really (Alfred would probably say bad, and Bruce would probably just grunt noncommittally), but it means that he sees 5:30 in the morning way more often than he would at home. And not just because he stayed up that late. And then, of course, he can't get back to sleep.

Which is how he finds himself in the lobby at 5:30 in the morning, watching the cagey Shield/Hydra Guy (whatever that means) running through his morning routine.

Sure, it's impressive. For anyone who hasn't spent a lot of time watching and working out with Batman, Nightwing, and Batgirl. But it's definitely a lot more hardcore than most of the people around here are doing, so Tim is actually kind of impressed just on that score. So he settles in to watch. Maybe he can pick up a few pointers.]

[Ward normally comes out of his work out rolling to his feet. When he repeats the move he ends up back on his feet with a grimace. There are scars along his left side. Landing down on the floor he grimaces. clearly this was not supposed to happen.

So he's back on his hands, doing push ups against the wall in a moment, repeating the move - only to have it fail again.

Silence. He's a SHIELD agent. A HYDRA operative. Called one of the most dangerous men in the world.

He might be aware that he's being watched so he'll glance out into the darkness...and repeat the move a third time only to have it fail once again. Slamming his hand into a fist he lies on the carpet, frowning.

Angry.]

[Tim's not exactly trying to hide, but maybe it does kind of come off that way. He's pretty naturally sneaky, and he didn't actually say hi when he settled in to watch.

He clears his throat.]

Everything okay?

...Fine.

[he shrugs] Trying to pull myself off the DL.

[Tim nods. He's done the "fine, even though it's obvious he's not" thing often enough himself that he's not going to call him on it.

Much.]

Looks like you got pretty banged up.

[Ward studies him for a moment, pulling himself into a sitting position.] Bad break-up.

[he keeps saying that he could almost believe it. Unbidden his thoughts go to Agent 33.]

I got shot. [Good leaders tell the truth right?]

[Tim's eyebrows go way, way up.]

You must have seriously pissed her off. [brief pause] Or him. Was it someone else? I mean, usually a reaction like that means someone else, right?

[Ward laughs despite himself.] I made a really huge mistake. I betrayed them. And I thought...that I could make amends but they didn't want that.

[He swallows] Which is fine. I just ...have to live with it.

Well, maybe they just need more time? I mean, you said it was a really huge mistake, so their bad feelings about it are probably also really huge. That takes some time to go away.

[pause]

Which is the totally lame advice from the kid that doesn't actually know anything about the situation at all, so I guess you can take that for what it's worth.

[Despite everything ward manages a smile - although the degree of actual belief he has in it remains to be seen. Instead he starts in on push ups, talking while he does them.]

I'd rather get better then get back together. No substitute for knowing yourself kid. remember that.

[There's a pause] I'm Grant Ward by the way.

[He nods.] Tim Drake. And I'll keep that in mind, though I'm pretty sure most people don't expect me to know myself for at least five more years.

[Unless they're Bruce.]

...You'd be surprised. [Ward's smile's a little soft and wistful.] Kind of world I'm from ...you gotta know yourself fast.

[He relaxes by a hair, watching him.] How long've you been here?

He shrugs a little.] Since the beginning, I guess. A couple of months.

So what's your world like?

[He grimaces at that, thinking.] Changing. Best way I can describe it.

[That gets a laugh from Tim.] Heh. Okay. I mean, most worlds are in some way or another or they'd probably be pretty dead, right? Changing how?

[Ward's attitude dissolves. No point in giving the kid attitude. He smiles to himself before he shrugs his shoulders.] - There's a line between the weirder world and the not-so-weird one. The line's blurring. Between aliens and gods and monsters.

[He shrugs] So we have superheroes and aliens that fight with them and people trying to survive in the middle.

That... sounds an awful lot like home, actually. [wry smile] I mean, that crap mostly happens in cities that aren't Gotham, but Metropolis gets to be kind of a mess sometimes, and I know there are a bunch of other cities that can get pretty weird, too.

[She doesn't want to answer the door. It feels like she had just laid down to sleep after some exploring, but she rolled out and came to the door, blinking to switch to another face. You never know who might be there at the door, even if it sounded like Ward. So she kicked up Agent May's face, for now.]

[Opening the door she peeked out at him] You know you shouldn't say my code name out in the hall like that. Come in.

[moving back enough to let him in]

I've been watching the doors for a half an hour.

[Point of fact] Everyone else is gone for a bit. [There's a brief pause before he speaks, softly.] You asked me not to call you Kara until you were ready for me to.

[Which comes to the point of his issue] I want you to meet someone who will take a look at your face. See if we can either get it fixed or removed, make sure that being here hasn't damaged it further.

[Everything he said before that last part was lost. All comments dropped before she could say them, her eyes narrowed just a bit, then one brow listed above an eye, clearly unsure about this.]

[Did he think she was broken--no. No, not that. But...]

I... don't think it can be removed, Ward. Are you sure you want someone to know about... this?

If you're telling me that it's not working since your arrival it may be damaged.

[He studies her with sincerity. He's been thinking hard. It takes a moment but he puts his hand on her shoulder]

I just want to make sure you're okay and this person...she's the one that helped me with my wounds. If she was on Skye's side more directly she would have left me for dead.

It... it doesn't... hurt. [she said softly, her hand lifting to touch her cheek, a clear and clean cheek of May, not her own burned one, but it was the side that was burned. She sounded unsure now though, reverting back a bit to that lost feeling. With his hand on her shoulder and being reassuring and helpful. It was what she had ended up liking about him, wasn't it?]

[She tilted her head down a bit, but gave a small nod.] If you trust her. Will she know anything about it though?

[she drew back, away from ward and moved to grab her hooded sweater, hauling it on and zipping it up, pulling the hood up again, a click and her face shifted, half hidden. Clearly she'd go with him wherever.]

I just want to make sure.

[Ward frowns. Does she?]

It'll work. And if she doesn't then we have another ally. You're playing against people that you don't trust. We need people. We need allies.

[He paces the room before picking up one of her books.] Are you bored with these? WAnt something else to read?

I understand. And you're right, we need allies.

[She came over to his side as he picked up the book. This one as the movie novelization of Pulp Fiction.]

I'm doing alright, for now. I learned a long time ago to entertain myself. Long periods of nothing to do are easy enough to manage. [She wanted to rest her cheek on his shoulder as she looked down to the book, but she drew back instead, sliding her hands into her pockets.]

When do you want to see this doctor?

we could spend the time training. I need to get back into shape. I'd like a partner.

[He shrugs his shoulders] I love books though. We'll be seeing the doctor today. As soon as possible.

Training does tend to be one of those things I do to entertain myself. [she smiled faintly though. She and Ward had sparred before. Trained before. Once he was better. Once he was able. She helped him get back into shape and he helped her pick up on things she hadn't learned before. She had been a good Agent, but even she needed a few pointers in fighting.] We can train again, yes. But not until you are healed fully.

You said this was the doctor that fixed you up?

She's the one who sewed me up. I looked over and you were gone. [He grins] ...I must have missed you.

[Bad joke maybe.] It's just a chance to be sure. To make sure that nothing was damaged by coming here.

[She gave him a side long glance to that comment, brow raised. Missed her, huh.]

If you think we can trust her, I will go see her.

[bad joke. He shrugs.]

She has no biases or judgements. [But he'll lead Kara down to his room. He needs her on her best behavior. He looks a little winded by the time they get up there.]

...I'm not going to leave you. Don't worry.

[she walks silently with him, but whispers] How much of this should we fill her in on. About the mask? [she was burned and scarred right now, but were they going to let her in on how it work,s or just see if clinically it could be removed and that was it?]

[And him being winded? That ad her looking at him carefully, with concern.]

Leave that to me. [Very little, unless pressed for more. Opening the door to his room he frowned.] I only mentioned that I was concerned when you said that the mechanics attached to your face weren't working as well.

[she probably - most likely - won't be able to fix anything, but he has to do right by 33 and there's something, something like a concerned parent? An older brother in his features? She said he helped her.]

Past repeats itself I guess.

[In more ways then one.]

Helen. This is - [33. Kara.] My friend.

[Honestly, Helen isn't certain what she can do, if she can do anything at all. She's dealt with technology, certainly, abnormal physiology, a number of strange illnesses and injuries; but nothing quite like what he's described. Of course, when has that ever deterred her?

She stands when they enter, a warm smile lighting her eyes.]

It's so good to finally meet you. [She offers a hand in greeting.] Helen Magnus.

[She frowned but nodded to Ward, wordlessly entering his room to see a woman stand. Her eyes looked her over a moment, hidden under her hood, hiding the scarred face. The woman seemed... nice so far.]

[She stepped forward and took the offered hand, a light shake given. Ward didn't say what name was given and called her friend only.] Ah... [sudden insecurity flooded her, and in the middle of the hand shake she glanced to Ward, unsure, before looking back and simply saying.] Nice to meet you.

[Ward blinks - fretting. He's fretting. I want to thank you both- But no. That doesn't make sense. So he'll focus on Helen. Briefly.]

She had an accident back. I wanted to find out if it was damaged further by arriving here.

[She should be fine. That's what he hopes but she'll still be fine. He reaches for her shoulder and puts his hand there, gently. As gently as he can.]

I knew we could trust you

You helped me when I first arrived. [What he doesn't see is how tenderly he looks at Kara.]

Edited 2015-04-21 09:09 (UTC)

[Helen glances briefly between the two of them following that brief hesitation, but if the lack of name bothers her, it doesn't show. There will be time for that later, and it won't be a terrible inconvenience until she finds the need to refer to her in the presence of someone outside this room, which she doesn't believe she'll be doing anytime soon.]

Of course. I'll do what I can.

[It warms her to know he's starting to trust her. Being able to trust someone is something she thinks he badly needs, especially given the concern he seems to have for this woman and the reassurance she seems to get from him.

After a moment, she adds,] You were worth it.

[And unless he does something to drastically change her mind, that's her final opinion on the matter.]

[She's unsure. That is the strongest emotion coming off her right now. Unsure, but she's here because Ward is sure. Ward wants to help her, and so she is here to try and be helped.]

[She doesn't think anything can be done about her mask though. They said it couldn't be removed. And now it wasn't working so well. She wasn't sure how much information to give this woman. She left Ward to do the talking. The explaining. Like she did with the doctor who fixed it.]

[The woman said that Ward was worth it. That... that made her like Helen more already. Someone who felt he was worth something, it was what he needed right? Kara stood back a bit, drawing her hands back to rest in her pockets of the gray sweater she had on, staying hidden in the hood until it was time to get a look at it.]

I want to thank you as well, for taking care of him. I did it once already, but this place is not... correct.

[Ward inhales.] Apparently the streams are crossed, as the ghost busters might say.

If you have any questions I can try and answer them. She's got something fused to her face. Don't suppose you know anything about cloaking technology?

[There's a pause and he looks to Kara] Lay down.

[That's a command however. However gentle it might sound.]

Edited 2015-04-23 03:47 (UTC)

[The 'thank you' gets another smile and a nod of acknowledgment, unnecessary though it may be. He'd needed help. She'd been in a position to provide it. As simple as that. And as she'd said, he's worth it.]

Cloaking technology?

[She moved over to the bed and took a seat as she was told to lay down. A command, but not one she minded taking. After all, he was trying to help her. She moved and turned, head to the foot of the bed, and laid there, hood down. Her face was burned, and though she didn't want Ward to see how much of a mess it was, she supposed it couldn't be helped.]

[Eyes open she looked over at the two, allowing Ward to talk about the mask, curious to see what he tells her about it.]

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You were a lion ; I was a songbird.

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For the Ward and Helen Thread:

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