Turning a new page

[staturity]

It was a fine day (simulated though it was) and anyone in the City would be treated to a formerly rare sight. Cassie Lang walked along the cracked and damaged streets and surveyed some of the ruined buildings. She had a feeling she'd be asked to help move the larger chunks of rubble eventually. Best to size them up now.

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[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

Nate had only just been released from GLaDoS a few hours ago, and he was not happy. He'd missed the entire fight with the Nightmare King. Or what he assumed was a fight at least, judging from the damage that had been inflicted to the surrounding City. He could have been some help in that fight. But no, had he been allowed to help? TO protect his teammates and others? No. He hated that stupid machine, he was going to find its core and rip it out with his bare hands one day.

For the moment however, he was taking out his frustration doing the most productive thing he could think of to do. Dressed in his plantsuit, with his armor over that, fully powered up and humming quietly, he was moving the debris by himself. No one had asked him to do it. No one had told him where to put the rubble either. But he had to to something. So when Cassie wandered past, he already had a tall pile of broken walls, pilings, random building carvings going.

He was in the midst of lifting another piece of wall, a piece that looked far too big for his frame, yet the armor was a help. Gritting his teeth for a moment, he paused to let the suit pick up the slack, hoisting the debris onto his shoulder easily and throwing it angrily onto the pile.

It seemed he was a little too preoccupied to have noticed her yet.

[staturity]

Fortunately for our emo star crossed emo lovers, Cassie was not too preoccupied.

"Nate!" She grinned and practically threw herself onto him.

Congratulations Nate, she missed you.

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

Nate would have taken issue with their being labeled lovers. In the most narrow sense of the word, they hadn't done any "loving" ever. Though in the broadest sense of the word, perhaps she could get off on a technicality.

That didn't matter at the moment though. The one thing that did was OMGFLYINGHOTGIRLHEY. Whirling, he quickly caught her, half turning with her in his arms, not letting her down yet even once they'd slowed. "Hey Cass."

He was tired. That much was evident. He'd been working at it for a good period of time if his pile of cleared debris was any indication. His face was smudged with dirt and sweat. But he was at least glad to see her.

[staturity]

No thanks to Stacy.

"I am so glad to see you you wouldn't believe." She pulled back and gave Nate a shy smile. "Well, I guess you would."

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

Probably the crying had something to do with it as well though. Most probably the crying.

Tilting his head at her, he set her down on her feet, taking a moment to look her over. She didn't seem hurt or injured. But then, exactly how long had he been out of it anyway? "Well, try me." He smiled slightly.

[staturity]

Yup, emo lovers.

"A whole lot." Cassie ran her hand through his hair. "You're a mess."

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

Probably the most accurate label that could be put to them.

He pulled a face at her fussing. "I'm sure I've looked worse."

[staturity]

"Maybe. But just as handsome as ever." No tears, and no guilt at the flirting, just a bright smile.

[wheresmysuit.livejournal.com]

"Hah. You're so full of it." He laughed, shaking his head. Something must have happened while he was gone. Something good. "You okay?"

[sithhavecooties.livejournal.com]

Ben felt her in the Force before he saw her, and jogged across the broken streets to catch a word. "What happened here?"

[staturity]

"Someone freaked out and trashed the City during the fight with the Nightmare King." Funny how she couldn't remember who it was.

[sithhavecooties.livejournal.com]

"The Nightmare King?"

[staturity]

Cassie smiled, then shook her head. "Ah right, I guess you wouldn't have heard. Before you woke up there was this, well, just what the name says. A really powerful villain who attacked you through your mind. Making you see nightmares, he could even make them real."

[sithhavecooties.livejournal.com]

He nodded. He'd fought a Force phantom of his mother before, and knew his father and Jacen had fought phantoms of each other, too. "So who tore up the area -- the nightmares or the dreamers?"

[staturity]

"One of the dreamers. The whole area was transformed during the dream, the damage occurred after."

[sithhavecooties.livejournal.com]

He gave a low, slow whistle. "How does that even work?"

[staturity]

"The transformation?" Cassie shrugged. "I'm not sure. I don't really understand magic. Not my thing." Sometimes she wasn't sure if even her witch friend Billy understood it.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"This is going to take a while," Kate sighed as she eyed all the rubble, tiptoeing her way around some of the larger debris and detritus.

[staturity]

"Yeah. I'm not sure if I should try clearing some of this myself or wait. Although some of it looks stable enough I could move it. I just wouldn't know where." Cassie looked at Kate. "Uh, there's something I've been meaning to say..."

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"Maybe there's a warehouse structure that could work. Haven't come across one yet, but I bet Stacy grabbed some."

Kate's blue eyes glanced up to meet Cassie's, "Yeah, what's up?"

[staturity]

"I just wanted to say..." Cassie brushed her hair back and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for how I've acted lately. I didn't mean to push you away."

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Kate came over to put an arm around her friend's shoulder, "Hey, it's all right. It's been pretty rough lately for all of us."

[staturity]

"Yeah but... thanks." Cassie gave her a hug.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

She hugged her back tightly for a moment before letting go. Kate still kept a hand on her shoulder.

"I know how hard it is to let go. I'm sure your dad would want you to live your life. Bet he'd be proud of how brave you are."

[staturity]

Cassie's throat choked up a little. She looked at the floor. "Yeah, I hope so."