𝔟𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔴𝔦𝔡𝔬𝔴 𝔦𝔦

“the same cop stopped you before?” it would have been nice of gráinne could say that she wasn’t usually so NIT PICKY. it wouldn’t have been the truth, in any regard - but it would have at least been nice. “or are you just presuming? one foul run in does not a misogynist make, i’m afraid. it’s as likely you were in the wrong.”

❛  no presumptions here . he’s done it a few times now . last time he called me dollface and told me I was driving too slow . we were in a school zone . ❜ she rolls her eyes , placing the glass on the bar in front of her . if there was one thing she could never stand it was the patronizing nicknames offered by men . sure she handed out nicknames like business cards , but they were always said with real affection .   ❛ this time it was little lady . ❜

never too busy for you, he would say, but won’t say. “busy varies on perspective.” he heads down the hall toward his bedroom to change, instead. jamie’s room is a mess, he ignores it for now, he changes into a clean shirt, and then clean pants, he runs a brush through his hair but the curls become unruly immediately. it’ll do. he notices his smell- it’s not awful but it’s still a jamie-like smell that isn’t awful but is not pleasant either. he decides to go with it anyway, and returns to find her. he notices his head hurts when he sees her, and when he steps closer t.u.e.s.d.a.y. chimes in with something about the suit needing repairs. “i just- let’s just go?” he sounds exasperated, because he is. “I need to not be- this person-,” he indicates to the apartment, but is referring to the A.I. he treats like a friend, the suit, etc. “for- ten minutes? deal?”

              she’s always been more patient than most , at least when it came to her loved ones . even more so when it came to him . she’s been alone in the house plenty of times , waiting for him or surprising him . it’s a comforting place , always reminds her of him in a way his childhood home never has . at his return , the smile flickers on her face .   ❛  yeah of course , you’ve got yourself a deal . ❜  at first glance she hadn’t noticed the dark circles and head full of disheveled looking curls , but they still don’t come as a surprise . instead she’s more motivated in her attempt to keep him distracted . surely they can both use it . heading towards the door , portia offers a grin .  ❛  but only if you’ll drive .  ❜

“So, does that mean you weren’t driving recklessly?” Wren twisted the toothpick hanging from his lips in a circle, a bit curious as to the type of conversation the story was supposed to lead into, if any at all.

❛  not in the slightest . ❜ if there was one thing she’d grown very cautious with , it was driving . it had taken her years to finally be in the driver’s seat , and while she couldn’t say she was necessarily comfortable with it , it wasn’t something she could avoid forever . portia shrugged , eyes lingering on her glass   ❛ but I’ll for sure be calling a cab tonight otherwise I might be . ❜

“oh- i’m sorry about that. just let me move some of this,” he responded, nervous and speaking way too fast he hurried to move his belongings closer to himself. when blake had arrived at the coffee shop, he’d been alone, and he’d taken over a rather large table in order to spread out his work. but as the need for space increased, he relinquished some of his table. “there you go! it’s all yours!”

           ❛  shit . no , i didn’t mean you had to leave . ❜  she really hadn’t , her words had come out snappy in her exhaustion . she smiled apologetically .  ❛  as long as I have a space to sit and take in my first dose of caffeine for the day , i’m content . ❜ portia nodded towards his work , sipping her coffee . ❛  so , anything interesting ? ❜

“were you driving recklessly? i mean, i know a few of our boys and they ain’t ones to discriminate…. probably the only police department that don’t but i can try and talk to them about it if you need me to?”

❛  course not . i’d only backed up a couple feet . ❜ portia paused , letting out a huff of frustration .  ❛ but it’s fine , honestly . nothing new , and nothing a few pints can’t fix  . ❜

tin man, the dumb, stupid, jamie stark grin formed- he withheld his impulse to reply with dorothy, “T.U.E.S.D.A.Y wouldn’t let me forget.” he admitted, jamie moved, holding the apartment door for her. he had been in sokovia for the weekend and while the notification for their meeting had been on the corner of his screen the entire morning, it took his emotional support digital assistant vocalizing that he would be late for dinner and that it was time for him to head back to paragon. “I didn’t forget-,” saving himself, he hadn’t forgot, jamie was just…busy, “-she just made sure i got back on time enough to answer the door. let me grab a different shirt and we’ll go?” 

              ❛  i believe you . ❜  her smile grew in amusement as she stepped through the doorway into the familiar apartment . gotta love t.u.e.s.d.a.y. and her reminders .  girls had to stick together , even artificial ones .  ❛  wouldn’t have blamed you if you had though . from what i hear you’ve been pretty busy lately . ❜ they both had really , but she understood his current state . she’d come back in far rougher shape after some missions . portia shook her head softly .    ❛  anyways , go ahead . i’ll be here . ❜

jamie had only just gotten back when the doorbell rang. another not-mission, but the doombots from the other day had left him paranoid and he had spent another day in sokovia. fine. that’s how life went all the time with jamie. he was ironman full time. and that was fine, it was the life he had chosen. but now the doorbell was ringing and he thought he might know why but he had to ask T.U.E.S.D.A.Y what it was about anyway and then immediately felt bad for making portia wait at all as he ran, armor off but still very gross from the day, across the apartment to open the door for his long time friend. his mouth fell into a an apologetic half-smile. “we’re supposed to be getting ramen tonight, right?” that’s what T.U.E.S.D.A.Y had said. ( @wvdows )

              she’d been scrolling through her phone when the door opened , a hint of a smile spreading across her features and her phone quickly forgotten . not a single speck has changed    ———-   at least  ,  in her mind  .  sure they’d both grown , now in their late twenties .  yet  ,   there was the nostalgic feeling that the other’s presence always brought   ,  their lifelong friendship always proving a comfort to her  .  ❛  spot on tin man                  thought you might’ve forgotten . ❜ she paused , giving the other a sweep of hazel hues from head to toe .  ❛  if you want to change i can wait .   ❜   

“Listen, I can teach you how to fly a plane.” Carol sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “But, I need you to be sure. Like willing to sign a waiver kind of sure.”

❛  oh ? ❜ portia paused , before nodding slowly . she’s done far more dangerous with a signed waver . besides , how hard could flying be ? ❛  yeah , sure . of course . i’ve signed wavers for worse .   ❜

𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐅𝐅, 𝓫𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓭𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓲

tw. child loss, death