Chapter 2: Questions and Answers

Woods outside the city

20 minutes later

Laurie

Laurie was already leaning up against a tree as she kept looking out for the Raven Girl, she hadn't relied on her powers to get here, that'd really just been to get out of the alleyway. But, she already let herself breathe more out here, away from everyone. The stench of weed and homeless people was replaced with more freshness and some breeze, it was nice.

Revna

Revna walked into the woods, feeling more at home here than in the city. The smells and sounds were rather overwhelming. She'd had a bunch of practice before she vanished, but it still wasn't nice. Huginn flew down and she held up an arm. He landed and cawed. So, seemingly safe, huh? She walked a little further and located Mystery Girl.

"I'm here,"

she called out.

Laurie

Laurie eyed her as she came, straightening herself up from the tree to stand on her own, her own approach more civil already.

"So, I'll start off with asking you a question, and then we can do that thing where we each take turns questioning each other. Sound good?"

She asked the black-haired girl, only slightly more relaxed than at their first encounter.

Revna

Revna thought for a moment, then nodded.

"That is agreeable. But, if a question is too personal, I want to have the option to refuse to answer. The same will go for you,"

she replied.

Laurie

Laurie's brows loosened up when the Raven Girl said her principles, with the option she gave her permission to use as well as herself. She quickly tensed one of them up again though, not wanting to let her guard down.

"Fine, then I'll go first,"

she said.

"Name?"

She then asked.

Revna

"Revna Linnea Belial,"

she answered.

"Yours?"

was her predictable, but no less important return question.

Laurie

Wow, full name, she thought, the girl really only had to say her first name, since...

"Laurie,"

that's what Laurie intended to do.

"Okay, Revna... where are you from?"

She then asked. By Revna's accent, Laurie would roughly assume she was Scandinavian.

Revna

"Norway,"

she answered. Instead of returning the question, she took initiative.

"What are your powers?"

she asked directly.

Laurie

Laurie raised her brows momentarily, but not from surprise. Fair question, she thought, sighing softly.

"I call it 'silhouetting',"

she revealed to Revna, deciding to just tell her.

"It probably looked like intangibility, but it's different than that... It only works in the shadows,"

she told her honestly, but didn't wait long with another question.

"And, just to get it out of the way, how long have you had your powers?"

Laurie decided to ask.

Revna

Revna carefully memorized that bit of information. She thought about Laurie's question for a moment before answering.

"About a year,"

she said. Rev thought for a moment.

"How old are you, Laurie?"

was what she decided to ask.

Laurie

Laurie hadn't expected that question, pondering whether to be accurate about it or not.

"...16,"

she at last figured to answer honestly. Only one year? That explains,

"Now, what are your powers? Are they just enhanced strength, or...?"

Revna

Only 16? Rev felt sad hearing this. That was too young. She knew she herself wasn't that far away, but still. It seemed like she had been dealing with this for quite a while. But Laurie's question was... hard to answer.

"I... I don't know. New things keep appearing, keep happening to me. So far, it's the enhanced strength -among others-, my ravens and this."

She closed her eyes and the beam of light descended, revealing her true outfit. Her armor shining, spear in hand.

"I also have an absurd amount of knowledge."

She didn't wait to ask her own question.

"Why were you so interested in me? You saw the bench I crushed, then you followed me. Why?"

Laurie

Laurie flinched back by the sudden light and armor, but stared at her in a bit of awe. W-Well, that explains the birds, she thought as widely with the topic as possible, those were a lot of abilities. She corrected her stance only a bit soon enough.

"Curiosity, I guess. It's not everyone you see with powers,"

she told Revna. She wasn't even too sure why exactly she'd done that either. She saw her inability to hide it, and then something just took over her gears. Had she really become desperate? Suddenly, Laurie was a little stuck on what to ask next. Just to be sure…

"Revna, how old are you?"

Laurie eventually figured to ask.

Revna

Rev's expression fell a little.

"I am 18. But I was born in 2000."

She was sure the brunette understood what she meant. For her next question...

"Can I trust you?"

she asked bluntly.

Laurie

That clears asking if she was blipped or not, Laurie noted down in her mind, looking up at Rev at her question, sighing as she made up a decision in her mind.

"Got you out of a pickle, didn't I?"

she answered, referring to giving Rev an escape route from the police. Although, her question also depended.

"Can I trust you?"

she asked with a hint of genuineness in her tone. If she couldn't, she would've wasted her time trying to help her from the robbers.

Revna

Revna thought for a moment before answering.

"You helped me before. I see no reason to betray or harm you. I can't say I trust you. Yet. But I don't distrust you,"

she replied truthfully.

"But you haven't answered my question. Answer me, and then I will ask."

Laurie

"Yes. Right now, you can trust me."

Laurie said with slight frustration.

I wouldn't have offered you help if I didn't wanna look trustworthy, she thought. But what was it worth anyway? Revna just said she didn't trust her at the moment, so why'd she want an answer?

"Ask your next question and then answer me."

Laurie said, putting her hands on her hips with her head down and a sigh. It wasn't like Laurie knew she could trust her either, she still hadn't answered.

Revna

This time, it didn't take long to come up with a question.

"What is your plan going forward, concerning me?"

What is your goal here? she thought inside.

"And like you, I say yes. You can trust me. I know I may seem untrustworthy and dubious, but I mean you no harm or ill will,"

she said, a hint of friendliness in her voice. This person -no, Laurie- was the first person she met who was the tiniest bit like her.

Laurie

Laurie put a hand up to the back of her head again, very gently while eying Rev. Right, I'm convinced, she thought to herself, sarcastically. It still hurt like a bitch. However, a bit of Laurie opened up slightly at Rev's change of mood. A little feeling of... safety. The girl brushed it off pretty quickly, though. She'd literally just met this girl -well, Revna- and just because they both had powers, didn't mean they'd grow close. Laurie had to keep that in mind, just like with everyone else.

"Look, I can let you in on how to hide your powers from people, tips and tricks of subsiding your abilities. If anything, concealing them. For your own good, you should take this offer from me."

Laurie explained, but her eyes remained serious.

"But, I won't help without any benefit coming back my way."

she highlighted in warning.

Revna

Rev nodded. That was fair.

"I will take you up on that. I could really use it,"

she confessed honestly.

"I... do not have a lot of experience with hiding my power."

But payment...

"And what is it you desire in return? Before you ask, I don't have any money. Not a lot, at least."

Laurie

Laurie's brows rose slightly, getting a tad less defensive. God, she's honest, she thought. Not that it wasn't absolutely obvious, but she didn't even attempt denying that she couldn't hide it. Nonetheless, Laurie looked down in thought. She didn't even need any money really, but... what could she get from this that she would need?

"Hmm, well..."

she voiced... it was quite hard to think of something she needed, other than common sense as to not hurt her anymore with her massive strength, and to not tell anyone about Laurie's powers. At last, Laurie finally thought of something.

"A box of cookie dough ice cream. Ben & Jerry's,"

she demanded.

"To make up for the concussion,"

she added.

Revna

"Ice...cream? That's it?"

A bit baffled, Rev asked for confirmation. Then, she chuckled.

"Sure thing, Lau-"

Before she could finish her sentence, a jolt of pain ran up her entire body.

"Ugh,"

she groaned. Not now, dammit! From her backpack, she pulled a leather strap with clear bite marks in it. Revna put it in her mouth when the pain fully struck. She bit down, as hard as she could to not scream out.

Laurie

Laurie's expression turned from stern to shocked at this. What the hell? With wide eyes and a raised frown, showing confusion.

"Uhm,"

she said as she backed away a little, but hesitantly attempted going forward again.

"H-Hey. What's going on with you?"

she asked, trying to regain sternness in her tone, while she was getting concerned.

Revna

Balling her fists, she fell to her knees, trying very hard to remain silent. Through the thick haze of pain, she vaguely heard someone saying... something. Rev didn't, couldn't, respond. She just hunched over, with a few tears streaming down her face.

Laurie

The clear inability to respond from Revna only made Laurie more scared, taking a few more steps back. She didn't know what to do about this. Could she in any way help? She didn't know. Although... it was a long shot, but sure. Laurie reached into her pocket and got some of her pills and her water bottle, kneeling down and holding them in front of Rev.

"Here, geez. Take these and try to calm yourself,"

she instructed.

Revna

As sudden as it came, the pain subsided. She didn't collapse, but she came damn close. Panting, she spit out the strap and looked up.

"I-I'm fine. This is not the first time this happened."

Shakily, she stood up and took a few deep breaths. Slowly, Rev collected herself.

"Sorry you had to see that,"

she apologised.

Laurie

As Revna quickly came back to her senses, Laurie pocketed her stuff again almost instantly. She watched her stand up.

"It's alright. Wasn't as if it looked like it'd... y'know, kill you."

Laurie replied with more sarcasm, it seemed pretty damn intense. And Revna didn't seem like the pussy type of girl, so…

Revna

Rev laughed, but she had to force it. She knew from experience she'd be shaky for at least another hour, even though this was a short episode.

"Hasn't killed me so far, and I'm pretty sure it won't. Just hurts like a son of a bitch."

She threw a glance at Laurie's pocket.

"Painkillers don't help, by the way. But thank you for offering."

Putting her strap back in her backpack, she straightened.

"So... do I bring you your ice cream here or...?"

Laurie

Laurie rose a brow.

"You don't expect me to trust you going back in there alone and shop for ice cream for me, do you?"

She started.

"You don't know the proper shops around here, and you don't wanna be with me when my tastebuds are dissatisfied,"

she simply explained, walking back towards the city, still carrying her things.

"Come on... Revna,"

she told her.

Revna

"Rev,"

she said, suddenly.

"My friend used to call me that. I know Revna can be a mouthful, so... call me Rev."

She chuckled.

"But let's go before your taste buds get angry."

She closed her eyes, blinding light descended and soon she looked like before.

Laurie

Laurie's eyes stayed on... 'Rev' for a moment, her eyes narrowed, yet a tad softer.

"Hmm."

'Friends', huh? she spoke in her mind, slowly turning around to keep going.

"Okay,"

she said aloud, casually. Well... let's see how long it'll last, Laurie thought to herself, only the tiniest shimmer of expectations growing inside of her.

Revna

Revna followed her, indeed not knowing any shops around them. She watched Laurie in front of her. A 16 year old girl, who's had powers for a while and is lonely. It was a sad story, but so were most. But so far, Rev liked the girl.