Serenity in the Storm

“We’ll make it through. Ain’t that why we’re supposed to be heroes?” It felt weird to say because Joe didn’t feel like he had anything worth being a hero. He was actually quite broken, if he were to describe himself, but that didn’t seem like a good way to introduce himself. If Gabi hung around, she would find that out soon enough. Or discover something worse about him, who was to say.

“Mabe I did. I’m cooking with gas, what can I say?” He chuckled to himself as he realized she probably wouldn’t know what that meant and he couldn’t exactly put it into words. It would probably be best to lost the slang, but he couldn’t seem to shake it. “Well, you won’t have to worry about me calling you at three am because I don’t know how to work my phone. They gave me one when I got here and it’s too damn fancy. This place makes me seem like a fuddy-duddy, not great.” He cocked his head. “What’s their names? I’m wondering if I ran into them yet.”

“I’m . . . still debating the whole hero thing,” Gabi admitted.  She tugged on a lock of her hair.  “We lost Daddy that way and . . .” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head.  “Mom and Dad are heroes, but they always say they’re not - and with the toll it takes?  I’m just here because . . . well, I can’t just sit back and do nothing if people need me.  It’s just not who I am.”

Her brow furrowed at his words, but she let it go.  Slang could be weird in her own universe - she didn’t want to try and unravel someone else’s.  “Didn’t anyone offer to show you how to use it?” she huffed.  “How is that supposed to be helpful?”

At his question, her smile came out, quick and bright.  “The twins, Mia & Elliot; they’re the youngest of us girls.  Mia’s our soft spoken artist while Elliot is a good deal more outgoing and always training at something.”

“Thank you.” She smiled as the other moved their things out of the way, letting her bag fall from her shoulder onto the ground before sitting down. “Which is probably the smart way of enjoying them.” She chuckled, going into her bag to get out one of the books she’d brought with her, even if she knew she’d mostly spend time with her phone. “I just fell in love with dancing in the rain when I was about four - then took every chance I could to take it. Talked my best friend into doing it with me once.” She mused, a fond smile on her face at the memory. “What’s your go-to genre for books?I always think that says a lot about a person.” 

“Certainly a safer way to enjoy them,” Gabi couldn’t resist noting.  The big sister in her just had to get that note in there.  She chuckled at the other’s comment on dancing in the rain.  Maybe once upon a time ago . . .  “Must be a very good friend,” she allowed.  “And go-to genre?  Hmm - mystery usually.  What about you?”