Chapter 1 – Familiar
Steve looked curiously at the coffee vendor in front of him. With long, jet black hair tied in a scruffy black ponytail and sparkling green eyes, she… she looked so familiar.
"Can I take your order, sir?" she asked, her voice sounding quite soft in comparison to the person she shared appearances with.
"Uh, yeah, white coffee, please," Steve said hastily. "And a blueberry muffin."
The girl smiled gently, her eyes not even betraying a hint of negativity. "Coming right up."
When Steve got his order and sat down at the table, Tony immediately started making jibes about him having a crush on the girl. Steve ignored them, but kept glancing back at the girl behind the counter.
She looked awfully familiar…
Luci 'Rogue' Perfide sighed tiredly with relief as she exited the Costas shop, pulling her hair out of its usual ponytail as she did so. Another shift over, and with a visit from superheroes to boot. Well… kind of. But it was enough to make Thalia go crazy with excitement.
Looking around, she soaked in the sight of the crowded, New York City street. It was still damp from last night's rainfall, and people wearing thick coats walked this way and that; some coming home from work, some going there, some even heading out shopping; probably trying to get some early Christmas shopping in. The early November afternoon held a crisp chill in the air that refreshed her from her half-awake stupor – the result of roughly two nights without sleep. She knew it would only get worse as the cold of winter increased and kept her awake for days on end.
"We could be immortals! Immortals!
"Just not for long, for long!"
Jumping at the sudden sound of her ringtone (she'd have to change that soon, what with Christmas coming around), Luci immediately brought it out and answered. It was her adoptive sister, Thalia.
"Hey, Tali!"
"Gandur ran a dog over!"
Luci frowned. Thalia was known for starting odd conversations without even saying hi, but this was a strange topic, even for her.
"What?"
"Gandur ran a dog over, and he thought it would be a good idea to bring it to our apartment," Thalia repeated, sounding almost annoyed. "I mean seriously, wouldn't a vet be a better choice of destination?"
Lucy nodded. "What sort of dog is it?"
"No idea. Looks like some sort of German shepherd, but a lot bigger. Has this nasty-looking muzzle on its face, too."
"Nasty as in..?"
"It looks like it's been rubbing into the skin. It's made of metal, too. Gandur hasn't let me touch him yet. Overprotective, much?"
Chuckling, Luci smiled. "Okay, I'll be there in half an hour, tops."
"Okay. Love ya, sis!"
I think you may know where I'm heading with this... Or not... I dunno...
You know when trouble is brewing when you hit something with your car.