Weatherproof Jacket
Tosh stood in the frigid weather, wind wrapping its freezing tendrils in the gap of skin between her hair and jacket. After countless hours of solid work, Jack had finally ordered her home. The rain that spat droplets of icy-cold water onto her face was yet another reason for her to turn around and continue her work in the Hub.
For seconds that ticked by to the rhythm of her chattering teeth, Tosh seriously considered simply ignoring Jack.
All of a sudden, the wind fell still. The rain stopped tapping wet, wintery fingers on her shoulders.
But, she noticed with a frown, pieces of litter were still being swept along the pavement in windy gusts, and ripples were still spreading across growing puddles of water. She looked up, only to find her sky a sheet of black plastic stretched across a spidery metal web. In mild shock, she glanced back toward the Hub.
Instead, was Owen.
Umbrella in hand, he hovered in silence at Tosh's side. His ruffled hair was the only evidence he sported from bearing the brunt of the harsh breeze, despite the thin shirt and open jacket he wore: a bit of cold hardly worried a dead man. Tosh stared up at her friend curiously, slightly confused. He placed a cool arm around her shoulders, further sheltering her slight frame from the bitter wind.
Seconds, perhaps minutes, passed. Tosh finally found her voice. "Thanks," she said with an embarrassed smile, casting her eyes downward.
Owen smiled his customary thin smile. "Home, Tosh," he said, and they started away.