left hook

[gevurah]

WHO: HEINE RAMMSTEINER and KATE KANE (Nill can tag in, too.)
WHERE: Kate's apartment
WHEN: late afternoon of 2/29
WARNINGS: brb
SUMMARY: Finally out of the hospital, it's time for Kate to meet Nill's friend from home.
FORMAT: non


Kate had hailed a cab from the hospital and gone straight back to the apartment. After tipping the driver, she let him keep the change as well, and headed into her building. She didn't have her keys on her (or a coat, no thanks to being dragged out of her place in the middle of the night). She also didn't have her cell phone or communicator to ring up Nill and tell her she was on the way back.

She can only hope Nill is home, or her friend from her world. She felt somewhat uncomfortable having a total stranger -- from her point of view -- in her place, and after the situation with the Skrulls.

She knocks on the door to the apartment.

Comments

[gevurah]

"Something like that," she replies, trying to restrain the bitter tone. Hearing about Vulcanus again when she checked the Network -- to know they were up to something again, but not caught, frustrates her. There's no telling if they'll pull something like this again.

"There's almost always some kind of big battle around here."

[shooteverything]

"Nothing new, then," he mutters. Heine leans awkwardly on the back of couch, waiting for a way out of the conversation or to change the subject. He's never been the most social, and talking to a stranger is even worse.

[gevurah]

Kate's getting the vibes off him, yet here is someone from Nill's home in her apartment. Nill might trust him, but Kate had to rely on good faith while she was cooped up in the hospital. Besides, she can recall what she's been told about Heine and Nill's world; a violent and strange place, perhaps too brutal for someone like Nill. Heine, on the other hand, looks as if he can put up a fight. He's on the slim side, but she imagines he can be quick on his feet.

"She's spoken about you before. About how you rescued her." From the brothel.

[shooteverything]

Heine shifts on his feet, balancing his weight on one foot and then the other. Her voice — all women's voices — have echoes of the professor's, and his sister's.

Glancing up at Kate, over in the kitchen, Heine lowers himself onto a seat. He's quite ready to return to what he'd been doing earlier, but... right. The comm's over in the kitchen. Maybe he could just walk over —

— well, no. "She told you. Through writing?" Not that there could much of any other way, but he figures he'll ask.

[gevurah]

"The Network, yes." She pauses, as if she's going to add something to that. Ultimately, she decides Nill's new power is not for her to talk about, even among people she trusted. She would tell Heine eventually, anyway.

The crease in her forehead never loosens as she thinks back on those conversations. She pours some water into a glass, then takes a long swig of it.

"It's not something many people know, I think." She faces him once more. "How did you two meet?"

[shooteverything]

"She told you, didn't she?" he mutters. He never misses a chance to talk as little as possible.

He's also watching her in a way that might be unsettling, but it's more of a habit than anything. Trusting everyone that Nill does isn't easy, but Heine is quite assured of the fact that she knows who to get along with.

[gevurah]

"She said you saved her." She never pried later on, though on a second thought maybe she should have. The manner in which he's eyeballing her is enough to warrant a look from her. "It's not quite telling."

[shooteverything]

He opens his mouth, hesitates — he'd really rather not talk, but it'd be worse if Nill had to explain it. With a shrug, he starts again.

"Saw her on the street when she was running away. Got rid of the guys who were trying to catch her." Heine stops there, even though he's cutting out nearly all of what actually happened.

[gevurah]

Setting down her glass, her expression softens up. She'd seen horrible things at an earlier age, but it doesn't stop her from thinking anyone Nill's age shouldn't be subjected to the evil people can do.

God, she barely even knew her own food groups.

"When she talks about you, it's obvious you mean the world to her." She says to Heine.

[shooteverything]

"It wasn't..." Heine trails off. He's half-turned away from the kitchen, but it's fairly easy to read his posture from any angle — tense and closed off. "I had to." At the time, it was almost a reflex to seeing her wings.

But now he'd do anything for her, without question, though his shrug just looks apathetic as usual.

"I think she's in her room," Heine finally adds. "If you want to see her."

[gevurah]

Something changes in Kate's expression again. She stands there, some sort of quiet understanding reflected in her eyes.

"I get it." And she starts off towards Nill's room finally.

[culver]

Nill hadn't known Kate would be back so soon, and she'd been in her room drawing for class at the Institute. But she'd eventually heard Heine and Kate talking, and her eyes had lit up with excitement. She knew that he wasn't comfortable around women, but she at least hoped he could be nice to her (nice in his own way, of course). And she was aware of how Kate felt about strangers, but she had the same hope for her. It wasn't the most likely friendship, but she could at least try for an amiable acquaintanceship. She heard Kate heading her way, and immediately got up to open the door, wings flitting, a smile on her face. She hadn't exactly listened to what they were talking about, just the sound of their voices. She raised a hand in greeting, even if her expression immediately became concerned when she saw the state her roommate was in.

[shooteverything]

Heine stays in his seat, now toying with one of the belt loops on his pants. He looks almost younger than he is.

Looking up when Nill comes in, Heine's expressions slides towards the positive, but just barely.

[gevurah]

She can always count on Nill to smile, no matter happens to her. It relaxes her, though only slightly; it's hard to shake the images of Dick tending to Nill aboard the ship.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

[culver]

She shrugs, still smiling. Kate didn't seem to be letting her injuries bother her, so she'll try to act as if it doesn't bother her either. It would, of course, but she'd try to hide it. She caught sight of Heine behind Kate, and went on tip-toe to look at him. She smiled and gave a wave.

[shooteverything]

Sitting where he is, he goes to face her when she walks up. "Hey." His voice is exponentially gentler when he talks to Nill.

[gevurah]

There's a lot left unsaid, but Kate concludes it's best for the time being.

"I'm going to shower. Have you eaten yet? I can order Chinese." She didn't feel like cooking tonight, especially now that they are three people for the moment.

[culver]

Nill nodded, bringing her eyes back to Kate. She'd definitely ask to talk about it later. It may have seemed mean, but she hoped it was just the skurlls. She hoped Kate hadn't gone out and been hurt even more. She was still settling in after being abducted, and was jumpy at most everything. Knowing Kate had somehow gotten hurt again... she didn't know if she'd be able to go out alone for a while.