12458/MIA no more

MIA no more
Date of Scene:	16 August 2022
Location:	Robbie's Apartment
Synopsis:	Gabby finally hunts Robbie down at his new (temporary) digs, and chats with him while he repairs his busted sink.
Cast of Characters:	Robbie Reyes, Gabby Kinney

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Robbie Reyes has posed:
One perfectly normal evening, not too long ago, Robbie simply disappeared from the safehouse with his meagre belongings packed into the back seat of his car, collected his brother from Chas's home, and drove off into the night.

It's been two weeks since they vanished. Two weeks of silence from the Reyes boys; text messages have been returned undeliverable, and calls go to a brusquely-worded voicemail: 'Hey. I ain't here. You know what to do. BEEEEEEP.'

And then, just like that, they're back. Maybe Gabby's been keeping tabs on his work, or maybe she's caught a glimpse of a sleek black Charger hunting the streets late at night. Or maybe it's just her nose that leads her to him. The place he's staying is even worse than the one that burned down, if it's at all possible; some old crumbling tenement block in East Harlem with dealers hanging out on the front steps, and a vociferous yelling match currently playing out between two residents on the second floor.

The name on the buzzer is 'Reyes', hastily scrawled in. Third floor, which must be hell on Gabe. But it's what they've got.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Well this place was complete shit. Even for a quick place to crash. Gabby had caught a whiff of him a week ago while she was hunting down the Not-Rien trying to locate it by working the city in various parts until she'd narrowed it down. She'd noted where he was, and seen the Charger a time or two, but hadn't outright contacted him. Not yet. He needed time and she was on the hunt herself. The mission was something which drove her to ignore the nightmares she'd had herself. It was a carry over from the dream. Focusing on the mission... But now she had succeeded. Now there was time to recover, and reconnect, and just check up on people.

Approaching the steps she stuffs her hands into her pockets and flashes a grin at the dealers hanging out. "S'cuz me guys, got to go beat down a deadbeat that skipped out on me," she offers cheerily as if this were completely normal. Of course she wasn't really going to beat anyone, but a leather pants wearing girl of diminuative size, with scars on her face? Well that might be easily believed enough to be left alone.

Forget the buzzer. She just cracks her fist straight into the lock which jars the old tumblers enough she can traipse right in. These buildings weren't the first such she's gone into in that manner before, though she is kind enough to shut it and relock it behind her. Then up she goes taking the steps two at a time.

Only to end up in front of the door knocking on it solidly in a perhaps familiar knock sequence: Shave and a haircut. Two bits.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
There's a long, heavy pause before she hears signs of movement from within. The cadence of that stride sounds familiar, and the scent's definitely right. That mix of clove smoke, engine grease and a whiff of brimstone.

The deadbolt's turned, and the door opens a few inches. Enough for him to confirm it's her-- and enough for Gabby to see what the last couple of weeks have done to him. He looks, in a word, like shit. That perpetually underslept haze about him is more prominent tonight. Dark circles under his eyes, a bristling of darker stubble on his jaw, and the violence that just *bleeds* off of him. He's in a ratty (but clean) tee shirt, skinny jeans and boots, like he's either just returned home or just about to step out.

After a moment's apparent confusion, "What do you want?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney tips her head to the side peering at him through the crack of the door with a simple half-smile at that confused question. "Wanted to see if you were okay," she points out with a shrug. "Can't I visit some friends?" There's a pause before she lets out a sigh, glancing to the side a moment as she admits, "I haven't told anyone else where you are or that I'm here," she assures quietly in case that were an issue. "I just caught a whiff when I was out looking for... something."

Her hand lifts to clear her throat into her fist quietly. "So anyway." Looking back with concern she asks again, "You okay?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie makes a slight moue with his mouth, and gives his broad shoulders a shrug. "I'm fine." A long, somewhat uncomfortable pause. "Don't care if you told anyone or not. I ain't on the run from nobody. Just needed some space, you know?" His brows furrow a touch when she says 'something' like that, but he doesn't press. For now.

"You wanna come in, come in." The door's pulled open, and he steps aside to allow her past.

Beyond him, it's clear the apartment's tiny. The door to the single bedroom is closed; and it's clear he's been sleeping on the couch. The place, at least, is neat and clean, if falling apart. There's a toolbox laid out by the kitchen sink, which he seems to have been in the midst of repairing, and a pile of what looks like Gabe's school books on their little table.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney does step inside with a little nod as well as a backward glance over her shoulder. Just in case someone were following HER. They weren't but it never hurt to make sure. In fact she seemed a bit more wary than before... but that could just be the neighborhood.

The apartment is glanced around with a simple nod as she takes it in. Simple, small, single bedroom. Gabe's no doubt knowing Robbie. Her attention shifts back toward him as she flashes a grin. "Yeah, I know you're not hiding, but I was trying to respect your privacy too. Until you want to tell people and all," she points out with a little shrug. "You know..." A little look around is given again.

"I could put you in touch with someone to get a better apartment. With elevators so it's easier for Gabe," she points out gesturing toward the door out. "I know a lot of people." She really did. Either way she pauses again before letting out a sigh. "I'm uh. Sorry to see you go your own way but I can understand it."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Those guys out front won't hassle you," he promises. "Not if you're with me." Trying to jump him on his way home from work one night, he sent two of them to the hospital with a concussion; the third pissed his pants and has refused to discuss the incident ever since. Suffice to say, they don't fuck with him anymore. "Shut the door behind you."

He's already wandered back into the kitchen, grabbed a wrench and bent over the sink again while he tries to get the leak fixed. "Ain't nothing much to tell, really. I don't remember most of it. Eli had some business to take care of, so we took--" He grunts, yanking out a rusted washer. "--care of it." A glance over his shoulder when she mentions someplace better. Then his eyes flicker away again. "Yeah, sure. Can't be worse than this place. I gotta carry him up and down the damn stairs."

More wrestling with the plumbing for a minute or two, before he asks, "Can you?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney does turn to lock the door behind her. She knew better than not to, even when it was somewhere safe. Even when she was visiting Thomas who had the wonderful security of a live-in tiger to threaten away people.

"Yeah. I can't imagine what business Eli has... Okay I can, but I'll try not to." Was that a joke? A little one at least.

Following into the kitchen she hops up to sit on the counter beside where he's working, watching what bit she can. "It's not a bad place at all. Few friends of mine have been renovating it. It's in the outskirts of Bushwick so not the greatest neighborhood either, but the entire place is set up for free wifi and people look out for each other there." Granted, most there were mutants, but she doesn't state that. There was nothing saying non-mutants couldn't live there and they DID look out for one another.

The question has her leaning over looking mildly confused. "Can I... hook you up with that guy? Or do you need a tool?" she reasons looking around.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
He watches her for a beat or two when she wanders closer, and climbs up on the counter. Then his gaze trails down and away slowly, expression shifting to one of consternation as he resumes his work with the sink. "Mmm," is his non-committal grunt when she tries to inject some levity about Eli. "You sure know a lot of people. And yeah, hook me up with him."

He digs his teeth into his lower lip as he considers something, then drops down onto his knees to start fussing with the pipes under the sink. A light sweat's broken on on his back, and traced through his loose curls, which have grown long enough to need tucking behind his ears of late. "But I meant what you said about.. understanding why I had to leave." His voice goes a little funny there.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
That was true. Gabby's quiet a moment in regard to it, before she explains. "My sisters died in the sewers in New York. They don't have a grave except for what I made down there. I'd sneak out from the school a lot to visit. Just kind of wandered after." Aimlessly, mostly. Though she was trying to take a different route each time to ensure that they wouldn't be disturbed as well. That was her logic at the time. "I met a lot of people. Some other crime fighters. Some... not. So, yeah. I know a lot of people."

Lightly at the other question she glances up toward the ceiling contemplating how to answer, or if she should. "I don't know the exact reasoning you had, but if it were me, and I found out the person I was in a relationship with was replaced by someone else and I didn't *realize* it... I don't know if I could feel like I trusted the relationship at all after that. Even with the person back." Looking back down to Robbie she can only shrug a little. "Maybe your reason is different, but I know that would shake me up a lot."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Mmhm." It's his only acknowledgement that she's spoken, for a long while. Something under the sink is wrenched loose with a loud THUMP and he mutters, "Fuckin' finally," before tossing it aside and wiping his hands off on the thighs of his jeans.

"Nothing wrong with knowin' people. Most of the people I know are the ones I've killed." He looks wry at that. "Or.. they don't stick around for long." He swallows slightly when she indirectly mentions Rien. "Yeah, that was a.. a mindfuck, for sure. But I don't know-- I.." A pained look crosses his face. "I don't think I was really ready. For that. You know? It was all so fast, I--"

Abruptly, he gets back to his feet. "You want something to drink, or?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney watches and listens with that quiet manner she can take on when actually paying attention. Green eyes follow him as he speaks, then gets back to his feet quickly. Her head tips back to look up toward him with a small, half-smile and a nod. "Love a drink," she agrees simply. "You don't have to explain if you don't wanna. If you need to sound it out though you know I'm a good listener." Really she was, even if she didn't always seem it.

Pushing herself off the counter to her feet she comes up a bit closer to Robbie to reach out and give him a quick hug. Just enough of one she hoped to help him out, without seeming inappropriate. She hoped.

"Yeah, drink. Whatcha got?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Drinks. Drinks are good. Drinks give him something to do with his hands, and are good for lubricating social discourse. Just don't think about the word 'lubricating' too hard.

Too late. He's already blushing under those ridiculous freckles, even as Gabby goes in to hug him. "Hey," he murmurs, sliding his arm around her smaller frame, and giving her a tight squeeze. "Thanks. For checkin' in on me." Then he peels away after a moment, and hauls the fridge door open so he can retrieve a couple of bottles with a *clink* of glass. "Beer," he tells her flatly, and hands one over. Mexican beer, by the look of it. He watches her eyes like he's wondering if she'll be a good girl and refuse.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Refuse beer? It wasn't really her drink of choice but it wasn't as if it would bother her either. Without hesitating or even questioning the offer she reaches out to pluck one from his grasp to twist the top off with a practiced motion. She could have been all 'claw pop and pop the top' but she's avoiding doing too much that might remind him of someone else at the moment.

"Well if you insist." A little impish grin comes and she tips back the beer for a quick gulp. It felt good and cold going down at least.

"Course. Not a problem, Robbie. Been wanting to get out more lately as it is so checking in on people is a good excuse as any." Right, that's it. "Gabe doing okay too?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Well, I sure ain't drinking alone." Cap popped off with a flick of his thumb, Robbie leans back against the counter, broad shoulders slouched, and tips the bottle back for a long slug of his drink. Once he's swallowed and dragged his knuckles across his mouth, he glances back up at her in time to spot the grin. Looks for a moment like he wants to return the warmth, but the smile doesn't quite take hold.

"Gabe's.. probably been better. He's not takin' things too well. Eli tried to get to him, too.. it's been a real shitshow. But we're here now. And he's gonna be okay." He lifts his gaze again, meeting hers. "How 'bout you? And don't fuckin' coddle me, either. We broke up, I'll get over it. You wanna talk about her, talk about her. She's your sister, and I still-- still care about her, too."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Didn't know that," Gabby has to admit with a downward glance as she's informed of Eli going after Gabe. That was very, very troubling to say the least. Her mouth opens to offer some attempt at consoling him over it... but nothing makes it's way out. Instead she takes another sip of the beer giving a small nod of apparent understanding.

"Not trying to coddle you. I'm just trying to avoid making things worse. Things have been a bit weird with her and me since that incident, too," she points out with one hand lifting to bump the back of her hand over her nose. "Or maybe I'm just focusing on my own issues right now too. She's drinking a lot. Hasn't mentioned things otherwise," she points out with a shrug as she at least lets him know Rien is doing okay.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Well, you don't spend months involved with someone in a whirlwind of a romance, move into their stunning beachfront residence in the Hamptons, and start planning out wallpaper and trips to Disneyland without being pretty darned in love. Those feelings don't simply get switched off when things end, either. He frowns slightly when she mentions things being 'weird', and the drinking a lot. But he doesn't question further.

"Well, enough about my nonexistent love life. How's yours?" He gestures to her with his beer bottle, dangled between an inked thumb and forefinger.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
That earns a little bit of a laugh from Gabby along with a shake of her head. "Also non-existant," she responds with one shoulder lifting in a shrug. Shifting her weight back she leans into the counter behind her so she can cross her arm over her stomach lightly cupping the elbow of her opposite arm. The one that still has the beer held in her grip. "I.. had that nightmare myself. Since then I just feel like I'm sifting through memories that aren't mine. And my hand," she adds lifting her left away to flex her fingers. "Feels weird. It was missing in the dream. Feels like a phantom hand only it's actually there still. Have to keep reminding myself."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Yeah. You told me about it. The nightmare." The look of concern on his face remains, and he sighs, and downs some more of his beer. "Still get bad dreams about that time I got forcefed a few billion years of existence in however many seconds it took that copy of Michael to go to pieces." Glittery pieces, as angelic constructs apparently do. "Anything happen to you since?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney shakes her head a little bit at the question of further issues. "No. I've been hunting down the Not-Rien. Found where she's hiding... but I haven't passed the info on yet. Not to be paraoid, but we're all a little touched by this thing. I don't want to let the info out until time to use it. Though," she adds with a wry grin and gesture of her beer, "I've made sure there is a way to get the info in case something happens to me, too. Not putting all my eggs in one basket."

Lightly she clears her throat giving a shake of her head. The beer is swigged from again. "Otherwise I've just been catching up with some old friends. Found out Thomas is with Megan now. Amusing given he was all up in arms when I joined the Outsiders."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
He looks curious.. but again, does not comment on that enigmatic answer she gives. What the JLD does is not his business any longer, really.

"Thomas? Name sounds familiar. So does Megan." He shrugs his shoulders. "Don't know either of them, though. What, are they fucking? Why was he up in arms?" As if he's ever minded his mouth, or has any plans to start now. With Robbie, you pretty much get what you get.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The change of topic was perhaps why she brought them up and she grins as it seems to have worked. It's far easier for her to talk about them right now too. Gabby just gives a shrug a bit. "Thomas is... Well, Catman. A criminal out in Gotham. I met him years ago when we found out we both had issues with the labs that made my sisters and me. For awhile," she adds reaching back to idly sweep her hair behind her ear, "He took care of me in a way. Taught me how to break and enter, pick locks. Deal cards. We're friends. When I joined an actual group that he might risk fighting one day he got upset. I mean rightfully so. I wasn't planning on fighting him but I wouldn't help out either if that came up just because... I mean it's difficult. He asked me to keep my distance for awhile so it wouldn't be an issue."

"Megan, Pixie, she's also in the Outsiders. He didn't know I guess. Anyway I stopped by to visit the other day and yeah she's there. They're an item. I'm not asking how much of an item but I know he has a rep for fucking around. I've, uh..." It was her turn to look embarassed. "I've walked in on him a few times by accident."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie doesn't look particularly bothered when it's confided that the guy's a criminal. Like he's going to judge, when he regularly lights his head on fire and murders people in cold blood. Most of them have it coming, sure. But not all. Not by a long shot.

"Pixie. Right." That's why he recognised the name. "You what? How the hell is you walking in on people having sex a thing, Gabby? He ain't the first guy I've heard this story about." He looks amused, slightly, and tosses back the remainder of his beer before pitching it into the recycling box across the kitchen with a noisy CRACK as it collides with a few others. Rien's not the only one who's been drinking a little.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney tips her beer toward him with her face gone quite red. "It was him I was talking about in the past!" she points out, blurting it out with a shake of her head. "Well him and Terry. Together. It's not my fault they were in the livingroom! I wasn't peeking in bedrooms or anything, just came in the front door and bam. Naked guys." The beer is drawn back to gulp down another mouthful. Though she was drinking she was probably only halfway down the bottle unlike Robbie.

"His old girlfriend was a succubus too so she had this thing where she liked to show off. Pretty sure she tried to get me to catch them a few times," she mutters shaking her head. "And I kind of lived with them at the time. I mean. In a way. I had a room there and if I needed a safe place away from like... everything... I'd go there."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
That, at least, draws a rare grin out of him, weary but sincere. Dimples and all. "Okay, okay." He holds a hand up, palm facing her in surrender. "I'm all caught up now. I remember the succubus girlfriend, too. So.. what. You got the hots for this guy, or..?"

Fingers raked through his curls, he pushes off the counter and goes to grab a screwdriver from his toolbox. It's given a little toss, and caught by the handle. Then it's back to work on the sink.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney pffts with amusement at the very thought of it. "He's hot as hell but no. No, I've known him way too long. He's like an older brother or psuedo-dad, or something. It was good to catch up with him though," she adds quieter looking back to her beer. "I care about him but not that way."

"So what's wrong with the sink anyway?" She asks as she tips back the beer to finish it off. Unlike him she doesn't lob it at the trash so much as plunk it down on the countertop once empty.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Leakin' like a.. well, like a leaky fuckin' faucet. Pipe's all clogged up with fuck knows what." Probably best not to think about what the last tenant was putting down it. "But I think I got it this time. Been havin' to buy bottled water the last couple days." More thumping and clanging from under the sink.

"So you just told me that story to distract me, huh?" He looks up and over his shoulder with a flash of amusement, then finishes reattaching the drain pipe he'd been working on, and shoves back to his feet. "Time to give this a go." He cranks it on.. and observes the floor of the cabinet to see what'll happen.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney spreads her hands out in a completely innocent sort of shrug while she gives an amused grin as well. "Maybe. Worked didn't it?" she points out with a laugh. "I mean I could think of other things to distract you but..." The sink is turned on, and she turns her attention to that watching what the results might be of his work.

"Might want to buy a filter at least. Who knows what is in these pipes?" She leans over to peer beneath the sink as well causing her hair to fall down over her face in the process. Woops.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Probably. Yeah." Most of his attention is on the bottom of the sink, though. The replaced pipe seems to have done its job, and he blows a tired breath out his nose as he goes to wash his hands off with soap. "Huh?" He mentally circles back to the first thing she said, and.. sticks his tongue out at her with a flash of silver piercings.

"Anyway, thanks. For stopping by." For giving a shit about me, is left unsaid, but strongly implied by the way he's watching her with that shoddily disguised fondness. He even chuckles at the Cousin It impression.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney scoots off the edge of the counter again landing solidly on her feet. Her hair flips back, and she responds to the tongue sticking out with eyebrows raising. Only to take a step toward him close enough the heat from his body could be felt near her own.

Rather than subject him to the normal hug she might do, she instead dips down to crouch in front of him. Her hand stretches out to the side to pick up the screwdriver he'd left there while she crouches just in front of him. Her head tips back to peer up at him from ... far too close. It's only then she sticks her tongue out at him in response to his own teasing.

Then she pushes to her feet again, bringing the screwdriver up to tap the handle lightly to his collarbone. "You're welcome," she offers simply with an impish grin.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Normal people exude heat that's noticeable on near-contact. Robbie doesn't just exude heat; he's like a raging inferno housed and simmering just under his skin. It has a scent, a taste, and even -- almost -- a sound, just under the range of human perception.

He doesn't move a single muscle when she settles in close to him, though it's like being aware that you're suddenly mere inches away from a predator; there's a part of him that's always, always thinking about what it would take to subdue and kill. And that part has grown so much stronger, of late. But he doesn't move; just a slight twitch of his lip like he might smile, when she sticks her tongue out at him. "You keep that up and I'll take it," he warns.

He rises, then, as she does, and reaches for the screwdriver after a moment's pause. "When's your birthday, again? Gotta be comin' right up, huh?" The screwdriver's tossed back into the toolbox.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney bites down on her lower lip to repress the smile that came from teasing him. Just a bit. The screwdriver is relinquished when he reaches for it not seeking to play tug of war with the tool. "Hmm? Oh yeah, it's this Sunday. I mean that's the day I chose." A little shrug is given. "Had to pick a day and figured the 21st of August was as good as any." It wasn't as if she was traditionally 'born' after all.

"Why you getting me a present?" The suggestion comes with a little chuckle as she finds herself finally taking a step back. She could only take her teasing so far after all, and right now she felt like she was losing a game of chicken.

"I guess I should get going and let you finish your work up. Though it looks like it's holding," she has to admit with a glance cast back to the sink again.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"This Sunday." His brows furrow slightly, then smooth. The toolbox is closed, and he folds his arms across his chest as he watches her back off. "You weren't gonna tell me, were you?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney actually pauses at that to blink a time or two. Her shoulders sag just a little bit as she offers a small smile back to him. "It's not like that," she murmers with a shake of her head. "I honestly had to think for a second. There's been so much going on my birthday just seems kind of, I dunno. Not as important." A deep breath is drawn and let out slowly as she reaches up to rub the back of her neck feeling a little awkward now.

"I haven't even made plans for anything to do for it yet, to be honest. I probably should."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
There's no real accusation in his tone. More.. hurt than anger. And even that is quickly shoved back down, because who the hell is he but her sister's ex?

"It's.. really, it's fine." He tips his head toward her and tries to smile. "You want some company on your special day, you let me know, huh?" The smile fades, replaced by an odd tenderness in his voice. "I'll be there for you. Whatever you need."

And then, because these types of conversations feel rather like treading water naked while juggling angry cats, he abruptly steps past her and heads for the door. "Here, I'll let you out. Thanks again for stopping by."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney clears her throat lightly while giving a quick nod. "Yeah. Thanks, Robbie." There's a pause before she offers as a bit of an attempt to lighten the mood again, "You did promise me a ride at one point. In your car." She hastens to add with a chuckle.

Turning to follow toward the door she adds, more seriously, "I'll let you know if I come up with any plans. I've been kind of ignoring it myself I guess. Much as I've been looking forward to it. Anyway." she pauses by the door, and leans in for a quick innocent hug once more. "Don't be a stranger, okay? Say hi to Gabe for me."