Rory Madden

Rory startles slightly, but looks over her shoulder at Carol with a small shrug. "No big deal. You okay?"

Rory follows close behind, trying to pretend she's not as eager as she is. They reach the stand quickly.

"So, you got a real name or am I supposed to call you Captain?"

"Carol is fine. Captain is usually for only when I'm on the job."

"Okay, Carol." Rory takes another bite of her churro, chewing appreciatively. "So... You've been to space, right?"

Rory shrugs slightly, not really taking notice of the fox-like features. She doesn't have time to judge. "Somewhere to eat, maybe? Cheap food?"

It tilts its head. It doesn't really know how to tell what is cheap but it does understand food. "Uh- good pizza down this street. Like pizza?"

She nods. "Oh, yeah, I love pizza. Where is that, exactly?"

"Just down that way on left." It points. "Can show you!" Vince smiles, heading that way slowly.

"Thanks." Rory smiles, then moves to match Vince's pace. "So... Can I ask about the, um, tails, or is that rude?"

It shakes its head. "Not rude. I am mutant- a mutant." Corrects itself, trying its best to use proper grammar. "Fox apperance and have some powers. Mostly destroy things."

"Really? That's cool!" Rory says. "I'm a mutate, actually. I've got electricity powers. I can electrocute things and mess with magnetism."

"Mutate?" It tilts its head in confusion. "Not know that word. What it mean?" Its tails wag at the description. "Electricity cool! Like lightning, yes? What do with ma-magne-tism powers?"

"It's like a mutant, but I wasn't born with it. Hence, mutate," she explains with a smile. "Yeah, lightning. And I can pull things towards me and push things away from me. It's harder for stuff that's larger or farther away, though." In demonstration, she holds her hand out towards the ground and flicks her wrist. A coin flies up from the sidewalk.

"Unnatural powers... like dad. That cool." It watches her use her powers with wide eyes, tails wagging excitedly at the trick. "Woah... Thats awesome!! Coolest powers." The tips of its tails catch on fire.

Rory pockets the coin, then tilts her head. "Like dad?" Her eyes widen at its tails catching fire. "Uh... Wow."

Vince nods. "Mhm. My dad a super soldier. Given powers. Unnatural." It follows her gaze before blushing, the fire going out. "Sorry- not intentional. Have good control, promise."

Rory hums, nodding softly, though her gaze is still hanging on Vince's tails. "That's your power?"

"Yeah. Main one. Also have decay. Kill things. Mostly fire though."

"Decay?" Rory raises an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Like- the process of things dying and being destroyed by time. I speed up. Rust, rot, that type thing. Sort of disintegration."

Rory hums. "That's really cool! I haven't met a lot of other people who have powers."

Vinces tails wag at the compliment as they arrive at the pizza place. "Thank you!" It tilts its head. "...need powered friend?"

Rory shrugs, smiling as she opens the door to the pizza place and walks in. "I wouldn't say no to one. You offering?"

V nods enthusiastically. "Yes! I can be good friend. Promise." It doesn't have many friends, but it really wants some.

Rory grins, looking back at V while she approaches the line. "I'm sure you can. I haven't had a ton of friends lately, but I think I've been pretty good to the ones I have."

Its tails wag happily. "I not have lot of friends either... but we get good at it together, okay?"

"Okay," Rory agrees with a nod. "We can practice on each other." She gestures to the menu. "What do you like here?"

"Yay! Okay, we friends now." Nods. It tilts its head at the question. "Uh... I think they make good meat lovers. But you get what you like, I not have money."

"Meat lovers?" Rory approaches the counter and orders, then hesitantly pays and smiles at V. "Want to split it? It's too much for me."

Rory blinks, then laughs a little. "What? No, of course not. She might've if I hadn't bought her treats, though, she seemed pretty insistent." She pauses when she manages a better look at him. "...Do I know you from somewhere?"

Bucky sighs and runs a hand down his face. “She does that…” he shrugs. “Probably the news.”

Rory squints at him. "They put you on the news for having a talking care and a bunch of kids?"

“Uhh… no…” he rubs the back of his neck. “I’m… the Winter Soldier.”

Rory blinks. "...oh. They told me a lot about you. Forced it down my throat, really."

Katie lets out a sigh of relief when the person is pushed away from her. The last thing she wanted to do today was get mugged. She turns around to see the person who saved her and squints a bit before realizing who it was. “Rory?”

Rory stops when Katie says her name, then slowly turns around. "Oh, hey, Katie. What's up?"

“What’s up? What’s up is that you just saved my ass. Thank you.”

Rory shrugs. "No big deal, but you're welcome. Does that happen a lot around here?"

"Kinda, I mean it hasn't happened to me a lot since I usually don't go out too much, but it's pretty common in general. How have you been?"

"Pretty good. I landed that acting gig and my apartment only has a few cracks in the pipes! You?"

“Hey that’s great! Congrats! Glad to know you have a place to live now. I’ve been ok, except the whole almost dying thing, other than that I’m great!”!

Rory snorts. "Well, I'm glad you don't almost die too often. I haven't almost died a ton, either."

"Oh yes I don't almost die a lot, luckily. Only sometimes. I'm glad you haven't almost died too often either, please keep it that way. I'm surrounded by too many dumbasses."

Rory laughs a little. "Really? Yeah, I'm not a dumbass, I don't think. I'm relatively responsible."

"Thank god, I don't think my heart could handle more stress. So, what were you doing here anyway?"

Rory shrugs. "Came out to get groceries. You?"

“Needed to clear my head so I thought a walk would help. Apparently not though.”

"Yeah, apparently not." Rory laughs. "What're you clearing your head over?"

“Oh nothing much. I was trying to finish a project and my brain refused to actually work. Did you already get your groceries? Or are you going now.”

"I'm going now," Rory says. "Want to tag along? It's more fun with a friend."

“Sure that sounds fun, besides I have nothing better to do. So how did the gig go? How’s everything else going?”

"Pretty good! I was just ensemble, but it paid, so I can't complain," Rory says as she walks along towards the store. "And everything else is pretty nice. I've been trying a bunch of New York foods. You don't put chili on your hotdogs, which is disappointing, but your churros are good."

“Chili in hotdogs? What is wrong with you guys?That should be a crime…oh my god that sounds disgusting.”

Rory snorts. "Yeah, we do. Don't knock it til you try it." She opens the door to the grocery store and waves Katie in.

“Uh huh sure, because that combo sounds totally amazing and not at all disgusting.” Katie shudders at the thought before walking in.

"It is amazing," Rory protests as she follows Katie inside and takes a shopping cart. "I'd make them for you but I don't think they'll do the true coney special."

Rory follows the two of them, glaring at Leon. "Hey, you wanna tell me what the fuck you're doing?" She'd heard what he said, seen him throw the hotdog away, and isn't exactly happy with it. Lightning flickers behind one green eye. "Because it looks like you're being an asshole, and I'm not so sure I'm a fan of that."

April squeaks as she looks back, she was shaking as she frowns slightly. "Rory..." She was tugged to Leon as he glare back. "Try it, wanna just hurt her instead? I can promise you that's all you'll do."

"Nobody's getting hurt here unless you don't shut up, quit scaring her, and get out of here," Rory says, voice firm. "And in that case it'll be you getting hurt, if you couldn't infer."

Leon stares as he began to drag April along. "Come on!" April whines but she slowly follows him along.

"Wrong answer," Rory mutters as she walks behind them. She flicks her wrist, aiming a small-ish electric shock for Leon's arm.

Leon growls as he yanks for their hand. Sending the charge back as he stare at her. "Try that again-" April yelps as she was shocked.

Rory makes a sound of surprise at the same time as April yelps. "Sorry," she growls, addressing it to her. She levels a glare at Leon. "Hey, I know it's in your nature and all to be an ass, but she's a perfectly nice girl. Pick a fight with someone who'll fight back."

April shakes her head a ssh egot between them. "Please don't fight.. please..." She calls out as she was shaking. Leon pulled her harder, finally showing her bruises on her arms.

Rory's gaze softens a little when April speaks, but hardens again when she sees the bruises. "Did he do that?"

April nods her head as she was shaking more. Leon growls as he yanks on her hair. "You bitch!"

Rory's expression turns into something bordering between fury and concern, and she steps forward. April said not to fight, so she won't, but she's not letting this keep going. "Get the fuck away from her before I call the cops." Her voice is low, and she narrows her eyes.

April looks over to her as she gently tugs free. She collides into Rory as she was shaking. "Let's move ..let's go .." she whines out.

Rory staggers back for a moment, then steadies April. "Yep, going. I'll buy you a new hotdog." She takes April's hand and gently tugs her away from Leon. "That was your boyfriend?"

April blinks as she tugs her hand, "He was..." She sighs softly as she squeezed her hand a bit. "Thank you... I'm sorry..."

"It's okay," Rory answers, squeezing April's hand in return. "It wasn't even your fault." She leads her towards the stand and pays for a hotdog for her. "What's wrong with that guy?"

"He.... Sorta is a dick." April whispers out as she was still shaking. She glanced around as she noticed people staring at her with, pity. She likes up to Rory, "Thank you...."

"Sorta? Yeah, I noticed. And of course, anytime." Rory glares at the pityers. "Why haven't you broken up with him?"

"....He loves me." April states as they got the hot dog and began to move. She didn't like the staring. "He stays..."

"Does he? People who love you don't hurt you. I know from experience." Rory glances at the starers again. "And other people would stay."

April stares up as she nods her head. She gently pulls her into a hug as she whines. "Can we go now...please Rory..."

Rory gently hugs her back and nods. "Yeah, of course. Where do you want to go?"

"... Anywhere." April calls out as she lets her lead. She didn't feel in the right head space, her eyes darting around as she whines.

"Okay, um..." Rory keeps a steady pace, April's hand in hers. She's not exactly sure where to go, but being in public doesn't seem like a great idea. "Your house or mine?"

"Yours might be closer." April calls out as she leans into her more. Once they got out of sight, April was already tugging on her curls. She was shaking-

"Then yeah, let's go." Rory starts to lead her towards her apartment, a temporary living situation in Manhattan. It's nothing fancy, just a safehouse she's been lent for now. She glances at April as they walk. "You're safe, y'know that, right?"

Rory's on alert, too, but she's always on alert. "You're okay. We're almost there." She nods to an apartment building.

April looks up as she blinks. "That's huge-" she jokes as she smiles. A bit of her charm coming back.

Rory laughs a little. "Sure." She walks up to the building and opens the door for April. "We're going to have to climb a few flights of stairs, I'm halfway up."

April nods her head as she steps inside. She hums softly as follows after her. "I don't mind it. It's not that bad of a walk..."

Rory nods, gesturing silently to the couch before going to the kitchen spot several feet away. She pulls a couple bottles of water out of the fridge before coming back to April and handing her one. "They are?"

Peter stumbled back and out of their way, tripping and hitting the ground with a rather painful sounding thud. He was thankful for the random savior, but he could’ve handled himself.

Rory flinches at the noise and turns around. She raises an eyebrow. "You good?" She walks up to him and bends over to help him get up.

“Yeah. I think. He didn’t get me that bad. Could you do me a favor and grab my cane?” He gestures to the very painted and decorated cane that had fallen over a few feet away.

"Oh, yeah," Rory says, putting a hand out. She uses her powers to pull the cane to her, not wanting to bend down because of the back pain she's been having since escaping HYDRA, and hands it to Peter.

“Thank you.” He stares at her for a moment, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. “you’re not normal, are you?”

"Uh..." She bites the inside of her cheek. "It depends on your definition of normal."

“You have powers.”

"Um... Maybe." Her entire demeanor changes, and she stands a bit taller, stance widening and eyes locking onto him. "You with them?"

“If what you mean by that is you’re asking if I have powers too, yes. Doesn’t help the legs much, but whatever.”

"No. I mean, cool, maybe, but that's not what I meant." She narrows her eyes. "Yes or no, are you with HYDRA?"

“Fuck no. Are you crazy? Why would you even assume that??” He looked baffled that he of all people could be mistaken for a HYDRA agent. He was a scrawny disabled teenager.

She deflates a little, though electricity still crackles around the rings on her hands as they rest at her sides. "No, and because I've learned not to trust people so easy. Especially men." She laughs, a little bitterly. "Sorry. So, powers?"

“Well, I’m sure you’ll trust me a little more when I tell you I’m a trans man, but yeah. Got bit by a mutant spider. Gained powers. Sucks ass. That and I’m the child of a goddess, so I have extra bad luck with things like monsters coming after me.”

That doesn't really change anything for Rory, but she doesn't say anything to it. "Mutant spider? Monsters? What happened to getting some good old rigging dropped on you in a good old irradiated theatre? Kids these days with all this extra work." She laughs. They're practically the same age.

“I dunno. But yeah, thanks for helping me. Though, I could’ve handled it myself.”

Rory slightly raises an eyebrow, glancing up and down at him. "Um, yeah, I'm sure..."

“Just because I’m disabled doesn’t mean i cant kick ass.” He rolls his eyes. “I know how to fight dirty.”

"Never said that was why," Rory says, holding her hands up in defense. "You're... scrawny, that's all."

Rory shrugs slightly, not really taking notice of the fox-like features. She doesn't have time to judge. "Somewhere to eat, maybe? Cheap food?"

It tilts its head. It doesn't really know how to tell what is cheap but it does understand food. "Uh- good pizza down this street. Like pizza?"

She nods. "Oh, yeah, I love pizza. Where is that, exactly?"

"Just down that way on left." It points. "Can show you!" Vince smiles, heading that way slowly.

"Thanks." Rory smiles, then moves to match Vince's pace. "So... Can I ask about the, um, tails, or is that rude?"

It shakes its head. "Not rude. I am mutant- a mutant." Corrects itself, trying its best to use proper grammar. "Fox apperance and have some powers. Mostly destroy things."

"Really? That's cool!" Rory says. "I'm a mutate, actually. I've got electricity powers. I can electrocute things and mess with magnetism."

"Mutate?" It tilts its head in confusion. "Not know that word. What it mean?" Its tails wag at the description. "Electricity cool! Like lightning, yes? What do with ma-magne-tism powers?"

"It's like a mutant, but I wasn't born with it. Hence, mutate," she explains with a smile. "Yeah, lightning. And I can pull things towards me and push things away from me. It's harder for stuff that's larger or farther away, though." In demonstration, she holds her hand out towards the ground and flicks her wrist. A coin flies up from the sidewalk.

"Unnatural powers... like dad. That cool." It watches her use her powers with wide eyes, tails wagging excitedly at the trick. "Woah... Thats awesome!! Coolest powers." The tips of its tails catch on fire.

Rory pockets the coin, then tilts her head. "Like dad?" Her eyes widen at its tails catching fire. "Uh... Wow."

Vince nods. "Mhm. My dad a super soldier. Given powers. Unnatural." It follows her gaze before blushing, the fire going out. "Sorry- not intentional. Have good control, promise."

Rory hums, nodding softly, though her gaze is still hanging on Vince's tails. "That's your power?"

"Yeah. Main one. Also have decay. Kill things. Mostly fire though."

"Decay?" Rory raises an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Like- the process of things dying and being destroyed by time. I speed up. Rust, rot, that type thing. Sort of disintegration."

Rory hums. "That's really cool! I haven't met a lot of other people who have powers."

Vinces tails wag at the compliment as they arrive at the pizza place. "Thank you!" It tilts its head. "...need powered friend?"

Rory shrugs, smiling as she opens the door to the pizza place and walks in. "I wouldn't say no to one. You offering?"

V nods enthusiastically. "Yes! I can be good friend. Promise." It doesn't have many friends, but it really wants some.

Rory grins, looking back at V while she approaches the line. "I'm sure you can. I haven't had a ton of friends lately, but I think I've been pretty good to the ones I have."

Its tails wag happily. "I not have lot of friends either... but we get good at it together, okay?"

"Okay," Rory agrees with a nod. "We can practice on each other." She gestures to the menu. "What do you like here?"

Rory blinks, then laughs a little. "What? No, of course not. She might've if I hadn't bought her treats, though, she seemed pretty insistent." She pauses when she manages a better look at him. "...Do I know you from somewhere?"

Bucky sighs and runs a hand down his face. “She does that…” he shrugs. “Probably the news.”

Rory squints at him. "They put you on the news for having a talking care and a bunch of kids?"

Rory startles slightly, but looks over her shoulder at Carol with a small shrug. "No big deal. You okay?"

Rory follows close behind, trying to pretend she's not as eager as she is. They reach the stand quickly.

"So, you got a real name or am I supposed to call you Captain?"

"Carol is fine. Captain is usually for only when I'm on the job."

"Okay, Carol." Rory takes another bite of her churro, chewing appreciatively. "So... You've been to space, right?"

Katie lets out a sigh of relief when the person is pushed away from her. The last thing she wanted to do today was get mugged. She turns around to see the person who saved her and squints a bit before realizing who it was. “Rory?”

Rory stops when Katie says her name, then slowly turns around. "Oh, hey, Katie. What's up?"

“What’s up? What’s up is that you just saved my ass. Thank you.”

Rory shrugs. "No big deal, but you're welcome. Does that happen a lot around here?"

"Kinda, I mean it hasn't happened to me a lot since I usually don't go out too much, but it's pretty common in general. How have you been?"

"Pretty good. I landed that acting gig and my apartment only has a few cracks in the pipes! You?"

“Hey that’s great! Congrats! Glad to know you have a place to live now. I’ve been ok, except the whole almost dying thing, other than that I’m great!”!

Rory snorts. "Well, I'm glad you don't almost die too often. I haven't almost died a ton, either."

"Oh yes I don't almost die a lot, luckily. Only sometimes. I'm glad you haven't almost died too often either, please keep it that way. I'm surrounded by too many dumbasses."

Rory laughs a little. "Really? Yeah, I'm not a dumbass, I don't think. I'm relatively responsible."

"Thank god, I don't think my heart could handle more stress. So, what were you doing here anyway?"

Rory shrugs. "Came out to get groceries. You?"

“Needed to clear my head so I thought a walk would help. Apparently not though.”

"Yeah, apparently not." Rory laughs. "What're you clearing your head over?"

“Oh nothing much. I was trying to finish a project and my brain refused to actually work. Did you already get your groceries? Or are you going now.”

"I'm going now," Rory says. "Want to tag along? It's more fun with a friend."

“Sure that sounds fun, besides I have nothing better to do. So how did the gig go? How’s everything else going?”

"Pretty good! I was just ensemble, but it paid, so I can't complain," Rory says as she walks along towards the store. "And everything else is pretty nice. I've been trying a bunch of New York foods. You don't put chili on your hotdogs, which is disappointing, but your churros are good."

“Chili in hotdogs? What is wrong with you guys?That should be a crime…oh my god that sounds disgusting.”

Rory snorts. "Yeah, we do. Don't knock it til you try it." She opens the door to the grocery store and waves Katie in.

Peter stumbled back and out of their way, tripping and hitting the ground with a rather painful sounding thud. He was thankful for the random savior, but he could’ve handled himself.

Rory flinches at the noise and turns around. She raises an eyebrow. "You good?" She walks up to him and bends over to help him get up.

“Yeah. I think. He didn’t get me that bad. Could you do me a favor and grab my cane?” He gestures to the very painted and decorated cane that had fallen over a few feet away.

"Oh, yeah," Rory says, putting a hand out. She uses her powers to pull the cane to her, not wanting to bend down because of the back pain she's been having since escaping HYDRA, and hands it to Peter.

“Thank you.” He stares at her for a moment, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. “you’re not normal, are you?”

"Uh..." She bites the inside of her cheek. "It depends on your definition of normal."

“You have powers.”

"Um... Maybe." Her entire demeanor changes, and she stands a bit taller, stance widening and eyes locking onto him. "You with them?"

“If what you mean by that is you’re asking if I have powers too, yes. Doesn’t help the legs much, but whatever.”

"No. I mean, cool, maybe, but that's not what I meant." She narrows her eyes. "Yes or no, are you with HYDRA?"

“Fuck no. Are you crazy? Why would you even assume that??” He looked baffled that he of all people could be mistaken for a HYDRA agent. He was a scrawny disabled teenager.

She deflates a little, though electricity still crackles around the rings on her hands as they rest at her sides. "No, and because I've learned not to trust people so easy. Especially men." She laughs, a little bitterly. "Sorry. So, powers?"

“Well, I’m sure you’ll trust me a little more when I tell you I’m a trans man, but yeah. Got bit by a mutant spider. Gained powers. Sucks ass. That and I’m the child of a goddess, so I have extra bad luck with things like monsters coming after me.”

That doesn't really change anything for Rory, but she doesn't say anything to it. "Mutant spider? Monsters? What happened to getting some good old rigging dropped on you in a good old irradiated theatre? Kids these days with all this extra work." She laughs. They're practically the same age.

“I dunno. But yeah, thanks for helping me. Though, I could’ve handled it myself.”

Rory slightly raises an eyebrow, glancing up and down at him. "Um, yeah, I'm sure..."

Rory shrugs slightly, not really taking notice of the fox-like features. She doesn't have time to judge. "Somewhere to eat, maybe? Cheap food?"

It tilts its head. It doesn't really know how to tell what is cheap but it does understand food. "Uh- good pizza down this street. Like pizza?"

She nods. "Oh, yeah, I love pizza. Where is that, exactly?"

"Just down that way on left." It points. "Can show you!" Vince smiles, heading that way slowly.

"Thanks." Rory smiles, then moves to match Vince's pace. "So... Can I ask about the, um, tails, or is that rude?"

It shakes its head. "Not rude. I am mutant- a mutant." Corrects itself, trying its best to use proper grammar. "Fox apperance and have some powers. Mostly destroy things."

"Really? That's cool!" Rory says. "I'm a mutate, actually. I've got electricity powers. I can electrocute things and mess with magnetism."

"Mutate?" It tilts its head in confusion. "Not know that word. What it mean?" Its tails wag at the description. "Electricity cool! Like lightning, yes? What do with ma-magne-tism powers?"

"It's like a mutant, but I wasn't born with it. Hence, mutate," she explains with a smile. "Yeah, lightning. And I can pull things towards me and push things away from me. It's harder for stuff that's larger or farther away, though." In demonstration, she holds her hand out towards the ground and flicks her wrist. A coin flies up from the sidewalk.

"Unnatural powers... like dad. That cool." It watches her use her powers with wide eyes, tails wagging excitedly at the trick. "Woah... Thats awesome!! Coolest powers." The tips of its tails catch on fire.

Rory pockets the coin, then tilts her head. "Like dad?" Her eyes widen at its tails catching fire. "Uh... Wow."

Vince nods. "Mhm. My dad a super soldier. Given powers. Unnatural." It follows her gaze before blushing, the fire going out. "Sorry- not intentional. Have good control, promise."

Rory hums, nodding softly, though her gaze is still hanging on Vince's tails. "That's your power?"

"Yeah. Main one. Also have decay. Kill things. Mostly fire though."

"Decay?" Rory raises an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Like- the process of things dying and being destroyed by time. I speed up. Rust, rot, that type thing. Sort of disintegration."

Rory hums. "That's really cool! I haven't met a lot of other people who have powers."

Vinces tails wag at the compliment as they arrive at the pizza place. "Thank you!" It tilts its head. "...need powered friend?"

Rory shrugs, smiling as she opens the door to the pizza place and walks in. "I wouldn't say no to one. You offering?"

V nods enthusiastically. "Yes! I can be good friend. Promise." It doesn't have many friends, but it really wants some.

Rory grins, looking back at V while she approaches the line. "I'm sure you can. I haven't had a ton of friends lately, but I think I've been pretty good to the ones I have."

Rory blinks, then laughs a little. "What? No, of course not. She might've if I hadn't bought her treats, though, she seemed pretty insistent." She pauses when she manages a better look at him. "...Do I know you from somewhere?"

Rory startles slightly, but looks over her shoulder at Carol with a small shrug. "No big deal. You okay?"

Rory follows close behind, trying to pretend she's not as eager as she is. They reach the stand quickly.

"So, you got a real name or am I supposed to call you Captain?"

Peter stumbled back and out of their way, tripping and hitting the ground with a rather painful sounding thud. He was thankful for the random savior, but he could’ve handled himself.

Rory flinches at the noise and turns around. She raises an eyebrow. "You good?" She walks up to him and bends over to help him get up.

“Yeah. I think. He didn’t get me that bad. Could you do me a favor and grab my cane?” He gestures to the very painted and decorated cane that had fallen over a few feet away.

"Oh, yeah," Rory says, putting a hand out. She uses her powers to pull the cane to her, not wanting to bend down because of the back pain she's been having since escaping HYDRA, and hands it to Peter.

“Thank you.” He stares at her for a moment, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. “you’re not normal, are you?”

"Uh..." She bites the inside of her cheek. "It depends on your definition of normal."

“You have powers.”

"Um... Maybe." Her entire demeanor changes, and she stands a bit taller, stance widening and eyes locking onto him. "You with them?"

“If what you mean by that is you’re asking if I have powers too, yes. Doesn’t help the legs much, but whatever.”

"No. I mean, cool, maybe, but that's not what I meant." She narrows her eyes. "Yes or no, are you with HYDRA?"

“Fuck no. Are you crazy? Why would you even assume that??” He looked baffled that he of all people could be mistaken for a HYDRA agent. He was a scrawny disabled teenager.

She deflates a little, though electricity still crackles around the rings on her hands as they rest at her sides. "No, and because I've learned not to trust people so easy. Especially men." She laughs, a little bitterly. "Sorry. So, powers?"

“Well, I’m sure you’ll trust me a little more when I tell you I’m a trans man, but yeah. Got bit by a mutant spider. Gained powers. Sucks ass. That and I’m the child of a goddess, so I have extra bad luck with things like monsters coming after me.”

That doesn't really change anything for Rory, but she doesn't say anything to it. "Mutant spider? Monsters? What happened to getting some good old rigging dropped on you in a good old irradiated theatre? Kids these days with all this extra work." She laughs. They're practically the same age.