Stark Industries [Friday]

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

Kaylee didn't know exactly what was going on, but she knew enough to realize that maybe all these new people weren't precisely the sort she liked making friends with, necessarily.

So, it was a slightly worried Kaylee who was tucked back behind the counter, clutching her biggest wrench just in case.

Comments

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

Sometime later that afternoon, after his unfortunate visit to the other island, Ned slipped in, careful of his still stinging side.

"He...llo?" he called quietly.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

Kaylee peeked up over the counter. "Ned! You okay?"

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he lied for the time being. "Are you? Why're you hiding?"

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Stuff's happening," she said worriedly. "I mean, I dunno what but it didn't sound normal from the radio."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, there's stuff happening," he told her, nodding. "I dunno what exactly it is but I don't think it's good."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"I got a wrench," she told him, holding it up. "To hit things with if I gotta!"

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

He smiled at that and moved closer to the counter. "I hope you don't have to hit anything but it's a really good, big wrench."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"But just in case!" she said, nodding emphatically. "You can come hide back here with me, if you wanna."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

He'd just been waiting for the offer so he could skitter back there and crouch down with her.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Want to hold my wrench?" she offered.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"No, that's okay," he said, shaking his head. "You're probably better with it than I am."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Nothin' scary's gotten to you?" she checked.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Uh." He hesitated. "Well..."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

Kaylee frowned worriedly. "Another big doggie thing?"

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"No, she wasn't big," Ned said and winced.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"...a dog? Another monster?" she asked, trying to see if he was hurt.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"No, she was an older lady," Ned said, frowning. "And she shot me with a...wand thing. Like a magician has."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

Kaylee's eyes were enormous. "Are you okay? What'd she do to you?"

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"It just hurts a little," he said, leaving it at that. "I'm okay. I ran away from her."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Where?" she asked, now looking somewhere between angry and worried.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay," he said, trying to stop her from looking like that. "Really. I'm fine."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Where?" she repeated. "I'll go throw my wrench at her if she hurt you bad."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"She's on the other island," Ned said and then quickly pointed to his side. "It's fine. I can't even feel it anymore. It just stings every so often. Like a bee sting."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

Kaylee tentatively reached out to touch his side. "D'you want somethin' for it? I ain't sure what I got but I can find somethin', or try."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"No, it's okay," he said, not flinching away. "I'm okay. You don't need to do that. I'm all right."