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Here, let me help you.

[It's not the first time he's aided her in propping up pillows so she can sit comfortable, but at least there are no shrapnel wounds this time.]

Thanks.

[ A quiet sigh of relief and she sinks back against the comfort of all the pillows, making sure her head is extra cushioned. Reaching out she rests a hand on his leg. ]

As I was saying, I got to the middle. Three children appeared then. They were young. The MID couldn't pick up on what they were saying but they seemed pretty good at gesturing so it was easy to follow along.

It wasn't their fault. Like I said to Adrien, I really don't think they understood their actions or the consequences.

They showed me where they lived. Nate, it was terrible. [ Elena sits away from the pillows then, brows knitting. ] The house was filthy. They obviously had no caretaker. No parents.

[A couple of things she says don't bode well—if the MID couldn't pick up their speech, it must be seriously obscure, and her defending whatever it is they did or didn't do before even describing what it is gets his hackles up.

The rest hits a little too close to home, though, and he looks away for a moment.]

That doesn't necessarily mean anything. Kids can be pretty resourceful by themselves.

[It's not that he thinks it's a good thing. It is what it is.]

[ She knows what nerve she's struck. These children were obviously orphaned, left behind. Elena doesn't know how or why, all she knows is they needed help in some way and she felt that it was up to her. ]

I know that. It was hard to tell if the neighbors were helping at all. How the children were eating. If they had to steal their meals or asked around. I don't know.

I...tried to leave. [ Now she's the one who has to look away. ] They...didn't quite like that.

Last thing I remember is they knocked me off balance, I saw the ground coming up and then I was out. A few hours must've passed by the time I woke up because the sun was starting to drop to set.

That's ah, that's when I woke up bleeding and my wrists...

[ Trailing off she pulls back the sleeve of her sleeping shirt, giving him a peek of thick bands of pink and purple.

Quickly then, she adds, ]

I'm okay though, it could've been a lot worse. I guess.

[Despite his wariness, Nate is sympathetic to any children left behind, whether by choice or by circumstances. How could he not be? He's been there himself. He knows exactly what it's like.

But his expression hardens as she describes getting knocked out, and when he sees the vivid marks on her wrists, he glares.]

It could have been a lot better.

I should have been there.

I honestly didn't think I would go out that far. You did your thing and I did mine; really, it's fine. And besides, I got a hold of Adrien and he came to the house to help sort it out.

[ First damage control. She won't immediately tell him that the same kids who'd knocked her down are on the ship with them. Not yet. ]

I was in good hands.

You called Adrien and not me? Why? Nothing against him, but I can kick a lot more ass.

[Sorry Adrien.]

For one, both his first and last name start with the letter 'A'. He was practically the first on the directory that I knew I could trust— that we both trust. And second, Nate, he came into the house with a gun pointed and ready to shoot these kids.

[ It left an uncomfortable chill in her, one she tried to ignore. He was her friend, her mentor. He'd only been doing what was in their best interest— keeping them safe. ]

Edited (F u spacing) 2016-10-26 20:43 (UTC)

Oh.

[That makes sense. So does him coming there with a drawn gun, even if the idea of him shooting children is...unsettling.]

I can't say I blame him for being prepared. But he didn't, right?

He didn't. But it didn't seem like he much enjoyed me reminding him that they were just kids.

[ Only because he was trying to be stealthy. ]

Either way... Adrien got me out and we got back on the ship for him to stitch me up and diagnosis me with a low grade 2 concussion.

Shit.

[No matter what she says, he wishes he had been there to protect her. She'd want the same for him—it goes both ways.]

At least you're all right now. I hope he gave you some pain meds.

Basic aspirin. Keep hydrated. Warned me that for the next forty-eight hours I'd be lucky if I slept for more than an hour. That the pain would wake me every hour or so.

[ She's hesitating on telling him the rest. It wouldn't be good for him to find out on his own...

Elena offers a tired smile, edges strained. ]

[Ugh. That sounds terrible. He makes a sympathetic face before shifting position to press close against her side.]

Consider me at your disposal, then. Fluffed pillows, breakfast in bed trays, I do it all.

[ She closes her eyes when he sits next to her and she tilts her head to rest on his shoulder. That all sounds nice, real nice. But then she kisses his shoulder before she rests her chin on it, looking at him. ]

That's great. The next forty-eight hours sound like a dream.

Nate, I... There's something else I need to tell you. You just have to pinky promise not to get mad.

[ Better believe her pinky is lifted and ready. ]

[He automatically lifts his hand, pinky out, then lowers it as he narrows his eyes.]

No. If you're already trying to keep me from getting mad, then there might be a good reason I should be mad.

[ Dammit. ]

It's probably a good thing we cleaned up those other private quarters.

[ He'll likely need her to explain but... ]

[For half a second he goes rigid, thinking she means to move out into them—but no, she wouldn't do that. She doesn't even have a reason to.]

And why is that?

[ Internal cringing. Elena sits back. ]

Because they're now a little uh...occupied?

[His eyes narrow further. It's turning into a squint.]

By who?

Edited 2016-10-27 00:41 (UTC)

By...three...children...?

[ 3...2...1... ]

[He leans back abruptly.]

You have got to be kidding me.

I wasn't just about to leave them alone, Nate. No one in that community seemed to care enough to take them in.

What was I supposed to do?

Edited 2016-10-27 01:04 (UTC)

Did you look around? Ask anyone?

[Probably. Or at least, she'd been sure enough if she didn't. He knows her.]

If someone does take care of them, it doesn't have to be you! They attack you!

They didn't attack me! Not on purpose. They got scared. They thought I was― I don't know. They thought I was going to abandon them.

[ It sounds ridiculous. She gets that. ]

I looked around, of course I did. [ Elena breaks off on a quiet sigh, head dropping as she rubs at her brow, pressing her hand to the side of her face. ] I thought you might be a little more understanding about this...

The results sure seem the same.

[Ugh. Is this going to be a fight? He doesn't want it to be. He wants to take care of her. He also doesn't want those kids anywhere near Elena.]

You think I should understand, why? Because I was an orphaned street kid too? I understand that part completely. I've seen what people will do when they want something and they're desperate, and being young doesn't mean it won't be shitty.

[He's been on both sides.]

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