Jeffrey didn't know what he was expecting. It wasn't as if Skye would enter through the front door and swoon about how she had met the dashing vigilante, Armageddon, and how he had asked her for directions. But then again, he had kind of hoped she would have been affected enough to say something at all. Maybe complain about it or something.
He must have seemed like an idiot to her and Jane, when Skye had finally gotten home.
"Hey, Skye."
Skye barely glanced at him, though their short basketball game had given her enough respect towards him for her to reply with an absent-minded: "What's up?"
Her greeting had definitely been just rhetorical, her way of saying 'hi', but Jeffrey pretended to interpret it differently.
"Nothing much. What's up with you?"
"Nothing." Skye snagged a handful of chips from the bag next to Jane, and hurried on down into the Penderwick's basement before Jeffrey could say anything else, or bother her with small talk.
"Hey, you guys are making progress." Jane joked. Jeffrey made a face at that, so Jane continued on more seriously, "Relax. As far as I know, Skye doesn't have many friends or that much of a social life; so, your efforts were probably the highlight of her day."
"What does she even do in that basement all day?" Jeffrey was curious, "She always seems to either be down there, or grabbing food from the kitchen."
"Depends mostly. Either she's working with some technology gizmo, or fiddling with her motorcycle in the garage. She's going for a degree in mechanics and tech, though she could be working on a Frankestein level experiment for all I know."
That explained a lot. Skye always seemed to have three layers of oil on her hands, or wires spilling out of her pockets. She had even had a screwdriver behind her ear once. She definitely was an odd one.
"And she thinks I'm being ridiculous when I claim she's fills out the bad boy stereotype to a T." Jane scoffed and jotted down a reference for their project.
"What stereotype am I?" Jeffrey was one part joking and three parts curious.
"Hmmm, you're the quiet, shy, girl in all the rom-com highschool movies. The main lead who's always ignored, but leads a secret double life with an alter ego that everybody is crazy about."
Jeffrey felt like his heart had stopped beating, and for a moment he was terrified that Jane knew his secret, until she moved on obliviously.
"How about it, Jeffrey? Are you secretly some famous rockstar or actor heartthrob? Are you going to show up at some cheesy dance and give an inspiring speech? Are you the secret Cinderella that has to be home by twelve?"
Jeffrey was quick to play along.
"You got me." He joked, standing up on his chair, "Everyone is beautiful in their own way. We need to stop shoving each other down, and start offering hands to help each other up. None of us are better than everyone else. We all have fears and insecurities; so, instead of making fun of someone for that, why not encou-" Jeffrey froze mid-hairflip as his eyes landed on Skye standing just outside the basement door, watching him with a peculiar expression.
Skye continued on past the statue Jeffrey and unplugging the toaster, she carried it back down to her basement. Jeffrey heard her mutter just as the door closed, "..and the Oscar goes to.."
Jeffrey sat promptly back down in his seat. His ears were burning, and he desperately tried to ignore Jane's hysterical fit of laughter.
...
"What's up with you?" Skye wasn't going to question Armageddon's sullenness at first, but it had reached a point where his silence started to feel unsettling, and she thought it her responsibility to say something.
"I don't want to talk about it." Armageddon sighed heavily.
"Good."
"It's just that I've got this problem."
Skye wanted to grab Armageddon by his shoulders and shake him in frustration.
"There's this girl."
Skye didn't know why, but she felt an odd twinge in her chest. She pushed it aside. After all it wasn't like she actually cared about Armageddon in that way, and she always knew he had only ever been teasing.
"God, if you are asking me for relationship advice I swear I will throw you off of this building." Skye grumbled, her voice muffled by the bandana.
"Ha. You don't have to worry about that. You're still the only one for me, M'Lady." Armageddon was only half-focused on his flirting as he began to pace back and forth on the building top. Skye watched him from her crouching perch on the edge of the building's wall. She liked looking down on Boston at night, or at least she had before Armageddon came along and tainted it with his troubles.
"There's this girl, I don't think she takes me very seriously."
"If this is you referring to me in a roundabout way, I will kill you on the spot."
"It's not you." Armageddon assured her, "Anyway, anytime I try to talk to this girl she just brushes me off as if I'm a nuiscence."
"Shocking."
"And I want to get along with her, because she's part of this family I've grown really close to."
Skye barely stifled a groan. She couldn't stand rambling.
"Nothing I do seems to get her attention. I could be mud under her shoe for all she cares. I just want to be on friendly terms with her is all. You know make her feel like I'm not an invasion."
"Maybe she just wants to be left alone." Skye said tersely, hoping Armageddon would take the hint and drop it.
"It's unbelievably hard though, because she always seem to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. She doesn't seem to care about anything that really matters. She practically came right out and said she doesn't care at all about what the two of us have achieved. Nothing impresses her."
"Wow, that must have hurt your pride." Skye felt rather satisfied, "Somebody actually dared to reject your attentions."
"I don't hit on her." Armageddon sounded frustrated, "I just want to understand her. She's got to have her reasons, but she just pushes me aside even when I'm in costume."
"Don, what did I tell you about watching over your identity better?"
"I didn't say anything incriminating." Armageddon said flippantly, "I just asked for directions that's all. She drove off on her stupid motorcycle before I got the chance to say anything else."
Skye was about to make a scything remark when Armageddon's words resonated in her mind. Hold up. Directions? Motorcycle? He couldn't be-
"She claims that you don't unnerve her either, but she's never even met you. You'd show her for sure, then she wouldn't be able to even function straight."
Skye couldn't function at that moment. It took all her will power to keep her hold on the edge of the roof. She hopped down before she could lose her balance. By then, Armageddon had slipped into full rant mode and he didn't even notice her.
"I don't even know why it bugs me so much, but I feel oddly compelled to challenge her. Hey, maybe you could visit her. Knock some sense into her head."
"Don, I told you to leave me out of your personal life." Skye's teeth were clenched. No way it could it be her he was talking about.
"She's got a lot of nerve. I think I only got annoyed by Skye, when she dissed you. As if your work means nothing and we'll never make a difference."
And it was her. Of course it was her. Skye's brain whirred as she put the final pieces together. The way Armageddon ranted, his way of the describing the situation...he could only be... No. No. Nope. No way. There was no way possible that her partner could be...Jeffrey? Skye was done.
"I'm out. When you're done revealing personal information to the pigeons, then come and find me." Given the circumstances, it was all Skye could say before she leapt off the building. She twisted mid-air. Firing her grappling hook behind her, she slid the rest of the way down on the steel-enforced rope. This was just messed up. Someone way up there was laughing at her as they shook her life up. Skye scowled up at the tower where Armaged-no- Jeffrey was no doubt trying to figure out what her problem was. Though, according to him that wasn't an entirely new thing.
...
After he and Jane had finished their school project, Jeffrey didn't stop by the Penderwicks' for a whole week, and he began to really miss them. He felt rather lonely of late, Shadow seemed distant. Or more distant than usual, and that was even when he actually got to see her. Before, they'd patrol Boston together, but lately Shadow would only show up at the last possible second, help Jeffrey take out the enemy, and then she'd dash off again without a word of explanation.
Needless to say, Jeffrey had jumped at Jane's invitation to stop by for supper that night. He was so happy to be back, he could have almost hugged Skye herself. He didn't go that far though, just settled for a cheerful hello and a polite question after her wellbeing.
"Fine." Skye didn't grunt. The world was full of surprises. She scurried off even faster than normal, but Jeffrey didn't pay her any mind. He was in too good of a mood.
Rosalind seemed to mind however and stopped her younger sister in her tracks.
"Skye. You're not going into the basement again are you?" She asked, her back to the blonde.
Skye skidded to a halt, and leaned casually against the basement door, closing it with a silent click. "No." She attempted to sound innocent, her hands cradled the electric mixer she had stolen off the counter behind her back. Not for the first time, Jeffrey wondered at her strange obsession with the kitchen appliances.
"Put the mixer back. You know the rules. You're only allowed to take one utility at a time, and you still haven't returned the microwave."
"What's left of the microwave." Skye corrected under her breath as she set the mixer back in its proper place.
"Where's Batty? Have you even picked her up from school yet?!"
"Yes, she's just hiding again." Skye rolled her eyes towards the living room, "She, Lydia, and Ben are playing one of their games. Are we done here? Can I go now?"
Jeffrey was finding the whole exchange rather amusing, though Skye didn't seem to appreciate his presence. She kept casting strange glances at him.
"Not to the basement." Rosalind said firmly as Jane sauntered back into the kitchen, "You need some fresh air. You're going outside with Jane and Jeffrey."
Jane looked agreeable. Skye and Jeffrey didn't.
"Can't I just go for a ride on my motorcycle or something instead?" Skye pleaded.
"She can do a wheelie now." Batty piped up from under the table and startled everyone.
"What?!" Rosalind turned on Skye.
"She showed me on the way home from school."
"You picked her up on YOUR MOTORCYCLE?!"
"You know what? Fresh air sounds good. Let's go." Skye grabbed Jane by the arm and practically yanked her outside. In turn, Jane snagged Jeffrey as they went past, and he found himself outside rather suddenly.
"What were you thinking, bringing Batty home from school on your motorcycle? You could have been arrested!"
"She was fine. And I took all the backways. The cops are pretty oblivious."
"Wheelies though?!"
"She wasn't on the motorcycle with me when I did them. I was just trying to intimidate a couple of brats that were making fun of her, okay? Let's just drop it. You guys go on and do whatever it is you do. I'll go off and do my own thing, and then we'll all meet back here later."
"No."
"No?"
"Rosie's right. You're becoming a recluse, Skye."
"Oh God. Don't give me this right now." Skye motioned at Jeffrey ever so slightly, and he caught her meaning. It was 'don't do this right now. In front of him.'.
"You're staying with us. If you go off, I'll tell Rosie on you."
Skye scowled. It was something familiar though, and oddly enough Jeffrey drew comfort from it.
"Fine. What are you two doing?"
"We're going for a walk to the park to play some Frisbee." Jane produced the disc out of seemingly nowhere.
"Whatever." Skye grudgingly followed Jeffrey and her sister ten feet back. She stayed quiet the whole way, kicking at some leaves.
...
Skye stuggled internally. Oh, God. How was she supposed to deal with this? How should she be acting around Jeffrey? Was she being overly obvious? She was wasn't she? Should she talk more? Should she talk less? Curse Rosie and Jane for choosing now of all times to force her to socialize. And to socialize with the last person on earth she wanted to talk to at the moment. Seriously, Skye got along a lot better with some criminals she knew than she did with Jeffrey Tifton.
"Throw it here." Jeffrey motioned, and Skye practically hurled the Frisbee at him in an effort to throw out everything on her mind too. She threw it way too hard and aimed too well at Jeffrey's head. Jeffrey yelped and dropped right before the Frisbee would have beheaded him. The Frisbee flew on and on and on and landed in a tree.
Jane groaned in frustration.
"I'll get it." Skye and Jeffrey promised and ran off at the same time. Halfway there it turned into some weird race, because they both refused to let the other retrieve it. Skye was faster though, and she knew it. She pulled ahead of Jeffrey by at least five feet. Armageddon was the strong one, he didn't have the quickness and agility that Shadow had. When they got to the tree, Skye leaped for the lowest branch without slowing down. As a result, Jeffrey didn't slow down either, but he wasn't quick enough to jump; so, he crashed straight into the tree.
Skye barely resisted making a Shadow-like sarcastic remark down on him. She focused her energy on scrambling up higher and grabbing Jane's yellow Frisbee. Then, she slid down with ease, landing lightly next to Jeffrey's prone, panting figure.
"You okay?" She hadn't killed him had she?
"Peachy." Jeffrey wheezed and held out his hand, Skye took it automatically and began to tug him up to his feet, only to freeze. Wait. No, this was Armageddon. The guy who had been flirting with her for three months now. Skye flushed and dropped Jeffrey's hand quickly before he had a chance to fully get up.
Jeffrey fell back again with an, 'oof'.
"Skye! Will you please stop repeatedly and methodically trying to kill Jeffrey?" Jane protested, finally reaching the two of them and helping Jeffrey up.
"Sorry. Sorry. Um, here." Skye shoved the Frisbee into Jeffrey's chest. A little too roughly.
Jeffrey wheezed and bent over trying to regain the breath that had been knocked out of him. Skye gave up and clambered up the tree in an effort to escape.
"Skye!"
"Just..." Skye was already embarrassed by her split decision. Climbing up a tree? Right, because that was a totally normal thing to do. "Just go play without me. I think I'll stay up here for a little while. She peered down on the other two in time to see Jeffrey motion up towards her, asking Jane what her problem was. Jane shrugged back in bewilderment and looked torn for a moment, but Jeffrey managed to coax her away and Skye sighed in relief. That couldn't have possibly gotten worse.
Skye lost track of how long she stayed up in that tree, just lying on the branch staring up at the leaf-filtered sky, before she heard Jeffrey's voice down below. How had she not recognized that familiar voice before?
"You okay?"
"You're asking me?" Skye scoffed.
"Fair enough. I'm fine, if you at all worried about that. Accidents happen."
Skye really wished he'd just leave her alone, the last thing she needed was Jeffrey- who was also Armageddon- being nice to her. He was making it very hard to avoid him.
"Jane's started back for home, she got so engrossed in a new chapter for her story she forgot you." Jeffrey explained.
Skye decided she had no other course than to head back too then; so, she jumped down from her branch and only nodded at the boy as they walked back. Jeffrey was too polite to let Skye lag behind, and he kept in step with her reluctant pace.
"I'm sorry." Skye couldn't stand just walking along silently, it made everything ten times more awkward.
"It's cool now." Jeffrey remarked, his voice just as stiff as her's. It was one of the reasons Skye was having such a hard time associating him with the loose and open 'Don' she worked alongside.
"I wasn't doing that on purpose, I promise." Skye felt the need to clarify, "I-I've just been really occupied of late."
"It's okay. It'd take a lot more to kill me than that." Jeffrey puffed out his stomach and thumped his chest in mock smugness. It was an action so befitting of Armageddon, Skye couldn't help rolling her eyes at him. Jeffrey coughed and seemed to be sheepish at his moment of ego. He fell silent again, rubbing the back of his neck. Skye never realized how long the walk to the park was.
"So, Jane says you're studying to be an engineer."
Skye shrugged in confirmation.
"You like it so far?"
"Yeah, I like the work. Machines are just about the only things that make sense to me."
"I can tell." Jeffrey's eyes widened at his own snark and he rushed to amend it. "I'm sorry that was rude-"
"I don't mind. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a lot worse. Whatever you say is not going to phase me."
"Believe me I have noticed." Jeffrey laughed slightly, and it was the most authentic sound he'd ever made addressed to Skye. "You literally have machinery coming out of you."
Skye glanced in confusion down at the pocket Jeffrey had motioned to. He was right. Some of her wires for her newest project were trying to escape their place in her pocket.
"Surprised I haven't lost these yet." Skye grunted and pulled them out before they fell. "Girl pockets are one of the biggest crimes facing America today."
"I'll hold onto them if you want." Jeffrey offered. Skye hesitated but then tried to roll the messy tangle up better before she eventually handed them over. "What are they for?"
"A radio device." Skye's police scanner had been getting in the way during her fights, and she definitely needed a smaller radio to fit with the rest of the equipment on her utility belt. A better earpiece too, now that she thought about it. One that wouldn't fall out of her ear so often.
"Is it a project for school?" Jeffrey was still being conversational.
"No, more like one of my many side projects. I like to do a lot of tinkering." Skye was finding it easier to talk to Jeffrey than to his alter ego. It helped that he wasn't hitting on her. Skye could get used to a less cocky Armageddon. "What about you? What are you going to school for?" It was probably for the best that Skye switched the conversation onto Jeffrey, and it wasn't because she was curious about what Armageddon did in his spare time. Or what he was like.
"Accounting."
Accounting was definitely not a job career that Skye could have seen Armageddon pursuing. "You like math?" Skye felt rather excited. Numbers were something safe the two could talk about for the last five minutes of their walk.
"Not really."
"Than why-"
"It's safe, and a pretty sensible career. It can make a crap ton of money too." Jeffrey's words sounded practiced, as if he had said the words over and over. His voice showed no passion for his career choice. But who was Skye to say anything? "What kind of projects are you working on?" Jeffrey sounded eager to change the subject.
"Little stuff. Radios like I mentioned."
"What about all the kitchen untensils? Are you upgrading them or something?"
"Not really. Those wires are from the microwave, I'm using them for a current project."
"How is the microwave going to work then?"
"I'll use some parts from the toaster."
"Well how's the toaster going to work?"
"It's not. I was trying to steal the power mixer for that, and, well, you heard what Rosie said." Skye said regretfully, "Do you think she'll miss the toaster or the mixer more?"
"Toaster. Everybody uses that more."
"Have you seen the amount of cookies Rosie bakes?"
"Good point. I guess you're pretty screwed either way. Why not just buy the actual parts?"
"Because I can get them for free from one of the appliances in the house." Skye pointed out. Jeffrey laughed at that. His laugh was so warm and sincere and in such a companionable way, Skye smiled along against her will. Jeffrey really wasn't that bad, when she wasn't accidently injuring him or when she actually took the time to talk to him. He was pretty-
No. Skye couldn't do this. She couldn't go there. 'There' strayed into a dangerous territory, one where she accidentally revealed herself to her partner against crime, and so Skye blurted the first thing that came to her head.
"Race you back to the house." As if she was some kind of twelve year old.
...
The more Jeffrey got shunned by Shadow, the more time he spent at the Penderwicks'. It distracted him from the hurt he felt every time Shadow brushed him off. It wasn't as if they had been buddy buddy before, but they had talked a reasonable amount- as long as neither dropped hints of their secret identities. Jeffrey had loved those talks, he adored every second he got to spend with Shadow. Now those seconds were few and far between.
The only positive development in Jeffrey's life at the moment, was that Skye had definitely ever so slightly relaxed around him, sometimes even enough to hold a ten minute long conversation if she was eating something.
That night in particular was welcomingly chaotic at the Penderwick household, as Jane had a whole group of her friends over. The group was such that they'd welcome Jeffrey into the conversation but didn't mind too much if he withdrew a bit. When their topic became focused on whether Shakespeare was actually a talented writer or just someone who had had a knack for relating to a common based audience, Jeffrey slipped away to the kitchen where Rosalind was working out how much money she needed for the pizzas she had ordered.
"Need a hand?"
"No, I've got it, could you do me a favor and go down into the basement and get Skye for me? I need her to pick up the pizzas."
"Are you sure I'm allowed down there." Jeffrey was wary. The basement was Skye's main habitation, and in his mind it was akin to wallowing into a lion's den.
"She won't kill you, Jeffrey." Rosalind seemed amused.
"No, just maim me for life." Jeffrey mumbled under his breath, but he opened the basement door and slipped through it.
Skye wasn't in the basement itself, but the door adjoining to the garage was opened and he could hear clanging from over there; so, it was no mystery as to where the reclusive Penderwick was. Jeffrey took a moment in the basement before he decided to brave Skye.
It was a lot smaller space than Jeffrey had been envisioning. There was just enough room for a small table with a desk lamp and neatly placed drawings and blueprints, the washer and dryer that sat over in the corner, and a low work bench with organized tools and mechanical pieces. Skye was very neat and tidy, something Jeffrey hadn't really associated with the girl whose short hair was always in disarray, as if she was constantly pulling on it in exasperation.
There was one other thing tucked away in the corner. Something large, bulky, and metal. Before Jeffrey got a chance to take a closer look at it, Skye walked in. Jeffrey jumped and Skye froze for a moment as she took in his unexpected presence. She had a pair of small goggles on her face that she slid up to rest on the top of her head so that they messed up her hair even more. Jeffrey had a brief second in which he was struck by how cute she was, before he quickly threw that out and left a blush behind.
Skye didn't say anything; so, Jeffrey spoke first.
"Hi."
Skye nodded tersely, but at least she only looked curious and defensive, not hostile.
"You've got a nice work space down here."
"Thanks."
"What's that in the corner?"
"A time-machine." Skye told him curtly.
"Really?"
"No." Skye's face held traces of amusement now, "What are you doing down here?"
Jeffrey collected himself as he remembered his original mission, "Oh, right. Rosalind sent me down to ask you to pick the pizzas up."
"Why didn't you say so?" Skye snatched up her helmet from the table and sent one of her papers fluttering.
"I got it." Jeffrey stooped and picked it up for her, before he handed it over, his eyes latched onto the page with interest. "What is this?"
Skye snatched the paper away from him, almost frantically, "Nothing. It's nothing. Just some random designing."
"Is that body armor?"
"I...Just...No. It's nothing." Skye looked caught. Jeffrey wanted to ask more, but Skye looked tensed and was eyeing him cagily; so, he shrugged and gave her an easy smile. "Sorry. Didn't mean to snoop, I should probably get upstairs now."
"Yeah." Skye was still watching him, and he could feel her eyes on his back as she...followed him?
Jeffrey glanced back at her.
"Rosie's got the pizza money." Skye avoided his eyes.
...
"Uh-uh. You are not taking that motorcycle." Rosalind snatched Skye's helmet away. "Use the van, Skye."
"But-"
"Iantha?" Rosalind asked for back-up without taking her stern gaze off Skye.
"Please, Skye? You know your father and I don't like you going out on it at night."
"Fine." Skye was disgruntled and took the van keys from Rosalind.
"Take Jeffrey with you too, he can hold onto the pizzas on the way back. You don't mind do you, Jeffrey?"
Skye hoped he did mind, her eyes closed in hopeful anticipation. Please say no. Please say no.
"No, that's okay with me. I'd be happy to help." Of course his overly-polite butt was happy to help. Skye wanted to glare him down so hard, he would melt through the kitchen tile. She didn't dare so much as frown with Rosalind there though. So, instead she just accepted the money from Rosalind, and jerked with her head in a silent order for Jeffrey to follow her. His expression looked just as reluctant as hers.
...
Not that Armageddon was a horrible person, or even that Skye hated him. She didn't hate him, he was a good partner and he had saved her hide more than once. But then again, it wasn't like Skye was interested in a relationship beyond their work. She wasn't in the justice business to make friends, and his open flirting was a definite no-go in Skye's opinion. But Jeffrey felt nothing like Armageddon and just like Armageddon at the same time. The fact that he had dropped the flattering in his civilian form and that he tried his best to be on good terms no matter how much she shut him down, definitely helped him a lot. And no matter how hard she tried, Skye kept feeling herself get unwillingly drawn in. He was nice to talk to if they were both relaxed and she didn't insult Shadow.
"What were you working on in the garage." There he was, trying to be engaging.
"Just maintenance on my bike. I like to tinker with it."
"I know what you mean. Sometimes I like to strum on an old ukulele I found in my apartment from the owner before me."
Skye gave him an odd look. Right. Because fixing her motorcycle was the same thing as playing a ukulele. That made complete sense.
"I mean it helps me unwind." Jeffrey explained, "It's some mindless fun for me. That's what you meant about your motorcycle, right?"
It was what she had meant, and Skye was rather annoyingly grateful that he had caught that meaning so effortlessly. "Yeah, something like that. You like to play music?"
"I used to. I loved the piano." Jeffrey sounded distant, "But my mother thought it wasn't an important life skill. She sent me off to a military academy, and when I came back, my piano was gone."
"That's just wrong." Skye scowled at the injustice. "She didn't even give you a say in the matter? Who was she to decide what hobbies you want? And for it to be something like music? If anything she should have been happy that you were expressing yourself in a healthy way. No parent should discourage-"
"Skye, it's fine." Jeffrey was smiling, but he also looked rather touched. "I got over it years ago. I've moved on and accepted it."
"Still..." Skye felt a little sheepish at losing her cool, but she couldn't stand such an act of unfairness. "How about now? Have you played since then?"
Jeffrey didn't answer at first and when he did his voice was so soft Skye was tempted to give him all her attention instead of the road.
"No. It-it wouldn't be the same. I don't know how I would feel if I tried." Jeffrey sounded raw, and Skye felt bad. It was her fault for the bringing up the subject, it was her duty to change it again.
"So the ukulele, huh? Is it hard?"
"Depends on your understanding on music. Do you have a good grasp on the basic fundamentals? Chords and your scales?"
"No. Would you say those are 'instrumental' in knowing what I'm doing?"
Jeffrey's head whipped around so hard, Skye couldn't help grinning in satisfaction at his look of shock.
"Did you-Did you..." Jeffrey floundered, as if trying to grasp the fact that Skye had cracked a joke without a trace of dryness in her tone. "Did you make a pun?"
"That dePUNds on your point of view, I suppose." Skye drawled.
"Oh God. That was horrible." Still, Jeffrey couldn't stop laughing, and Skye found it amusing.
"Oh, and what's your chosen form of humor, Mr. Sophistication?"
"Pick-up lines." Jeffrey informed her. Of course. Why hadn't she seen it coming? This was Armageddon after all. Jeffrey must have noticed Skye's expression, because he quickly tacked on. "Not that you have anything to worry about. I only give them to girls I'm interested in."
"Ouch."
"Not that you're not worth being interested in, or anything." Jeffrey realized what he had been implying and hurried to correct himself. "It's just I don't really see you in that way. Not that you're not a nice person-"
"But I'm not a nice person." Skye finished, amused. "No, need to apologize. I'm completely devastated I'll not get to hear your stellar quality lines, but I think I'll be able to cope with not being compared to an angel that just fell from heaven."
I'm thrilled with all the acceptance I got for the first chapter of this story, I was a little nervous initially but I got so obsessed with the idea that I couldn't help myself. Thanks guys.
KoalaLover-ABC-123: Your review was flattering, I'm glad you liked the first chapter so much. Honestly, where there's Jeffrey and Skye concerned there is going to be a lot of frustration. As for the humor, believe it or not I thought about making it more serious and dark...for about two seconds.
GM01: That is high praise indeed, though it would be kind of sad if I couldn't write a superhero universe considering that I've been obsessed with superheroes since I was about six. As always it feels good to be back and having my old friends commenting on my work.
Nijibrush: I gladly accept the title you bestowed upon me; though, you're too kind. Yeah, I've already got like twenty other AU's bumping around in my head right now, including a plot for a rather long complicated story that's going to have to take a back seat for now. And yeah, I feel like these two are kind of the equivalent of Batman and Robin, Skye's dark seriousness getting balanced out by Jeffrey's dorky earnestness. Thanks for the review!
