Disclaimer and Notes: This is the third in an unnamed series that I wrote several years ago. I've not really thought of revising it. All characters are in some way property of Marvel comics.
A New Home
"Jubilation?"
Lee grimaced. "My parents were exited?" She suggested hopefully as she put the final touches of black paint on her new equipment, consisting of grappling hooks, lock picks, and other thieving paraphernalia. She returned the brush to the bottle and looked up at Chad. "Problem?"
Chad, grinning as always, just shook his head and handed Lee an envelope. "One week advanced pay, legal identification, and the keys to a clunker '87 Mercury Lynx, puke green. The colonel suggests you open a bank account and get some clothes. Bodysuits aren't that big in public."
Lee opened the envelope and took out the heavy set of keys. She held them up to Chad. "I can't use these," she said quietly, handing them back.
Chad raised an eyebrow. "Can't drive a stick?"
Lee glared. "Can't drive." She stood and turned to leave. Chad reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Wait." He looked down at the floor and released her arm. "I'm sorry."
Lee stared at the top of Chad's head as he studied the linoleum. She just nodded and turned to leave again.
"Hey!" Lee stopped and turned back to Chad. "I can take you to town. And maybe I can teach you to drive later?"
Lee closed her eyes as her face turned crimson. "Uh, sure. That sounds great." She felt Chad brush passed her and followed him out. Her stomach churned and her mind whirled with uncertainty.
~+~++~+~+~+
Lee went through the clothes racks, dismissing item after item as too frilly, too revealing, too colorful. Chad watched her with amused blue eyes. Lee felt herself blushing under Chad's scrutiny.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"What?" she demanded.
Chad just shook his head. "You're looking for stuff you can hide in, aren't you?"
Lee cocked her head to the side and considered his words. "Yes," she said slowly. "I am. I guess it's a habit." Lee looked over the clothes again. "I'm afraid I'm a little out of touch with style anymore."
Chad grinned again. "Want a hand?"
Lee glared. "I think I can choose my own clothes, thank you!"
The grin widened. "Can you?" He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yes!" She snapped and grabbed the nearest thing at hand. She clutched the tie-dyed balloon pants to her chest and ran to the nearest dressing room.
Once inside, even she saw her mistake. "Brilliant, Lee," she muttered. She opened the door to find Chad waiting, with an arm load of clothes. Lee took them without a word and was not surprised to find that they fit perfectly and accented her body and coloring just right.
::Maybe I'll kill him later . ..::
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
Lee pulled off her clothes, folding them neatly before putting them into her duffel bag. It was always important to be ready to leave.
Suddenly, she stopped, unfolded her clothes and dropped them on the floor. She wouldn't ::have:: to leave here quickly. She was a legal, law-abiding citizen now. She pulled on only an oversized t-shirt to sleep in and crawled beneath the covers for a long, deep sleep.