Alma Wade will not give up (its_my_nature) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-05-21 05:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, alma wade, kitty pryde (shadowcat) |
"You know, I think that smile is all I want. Do you think you can give me a bigger one?"
Who: Kitty and Alma
What: Chance encounter at the mall, buying a meal, and then running again
Where: Mall
When: Just after Azula was a bitch
Rating: PG
status:complete!
As Kitty drove her rented pick-up, she tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. She felt a lot better than she had the day before. She wanted to get something to thank Xi'an for being so tolerant. Or maybe she just wanted to get her something, because thats what you did for secret girlfriends. Even if it wasn't so secret from the twins they'd been trying to hide it from. She'd managed to avoid them saying anything, but the looks she'd gotten.
Maybe she needed to get them something too. She pulled into a mall and got out of the truck. As she walked towards it, she spotted a girl sitting against the wall, hugging her legs. She walked over and knelt down, "Hey. You okay?"
Alma looked up, her eyes puffy and red. Her gaze sent cold chills down Kitty's spine, but she held out a hand, "I'm not going to hurt you."
The younger girl looked at the hand, and then the person offering it, "Go away."
"Do you want something to eat?"
"Will you make me do something for it?"
Kitty winced, "No, I won't even make you dress in drag and do the hula. Just a nice meal. No strings attached."
"Okay. I'm Alma." Alma took Kitty's hand, and the two of them stood. She was older than Kitty had first thought, but not by much. There was an angry red mark on her right cheek that made Kitty's stomach twist.
"Kitty." Kitty led her to the food court, "Pick whatever you want."
Alma pointed at the Panda Express, and Kitty nodded, "Good choice." She got in line, and ordered some food, bringing it back to a table where Alma was waiting. Alma took her food, inspected it, and then started eating. Somehow, the carcinogens and other additives didn't really matter as much, anymore.
There was an air of defeat around Alma. Kitty wanted to break through it, "Did someone hurt you?"
Alma looked up without lifting her head, then lowered her gaze back to her food.
"Well, obviously your face." Kitty scrunched up one eye, and then picked up an egg roll to nom on it.
Eventually, Alma talked, "Someone made me trust them, but they just wanted to use me." Not just Azula. Caroline. Jack Harper. Armachan. The scientists in her dreams. Her father. Her father. Anger and sadness boiled inside her, but she could only sigh. She felt all used up.
"I'm sorry," Kitty replied. "There are a lot of cruel people out there, but there are a lot more good and decent people. You need to hold onto hope, and not let the bad guys get you down."
Alma thought of Scotty, and of Roy. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips, "Maybe."
Kitty smiled back at her, then winked, "You know, I think that smile is all I want. Do you think you can give me a bigger one?"
Alma couldn't help it. She smiled wider, "Thank you." She picked at her rice for awhile, until it grew cold. She came to a decision, "If you would be willing, I need a ride."
She wanted to get out of the mall. There were too many cameras. It was dangerous for her, and it was dangerous for the people around her.
Nodding her head, Kitty replied, "Sure. I mean I can't take you out of state or anything."
"The distance is reasonable." Alma got to her feet, "There's a ranch. They help people there."
"Let me make a quick stop in a couple of stores and then we can go, okay? Maybe you can help me pick something out for a very special person I adore."
"Okay."
Together, they selected a silver necklace for Xi'an, and a PS3 game for the twins that should have enough action without being overly violent. Alma was in a good mood, finally, until she saw the men approaching them in the parking lot.
She ran.
Behind her she could hear Kitty shouting, then the heavy thud of a body hitting the pavement and a very male yelp of pain. She hazarded a glance behind her, catching sight of one of the men on the ground and Kitty grappling with the other. She read her name on Kitty's lips, before turning her vision in front of her. Everywhere she went, people got hurt because of her. She'd have to get to the ranch some other way.