12579/Feliz decimoctavo cumpleanos, Gabby!

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Feliz decimoctavo cumpleanos, Gabby!
Date of Scene: 26 August 2022
Location: Canelo's Auto and Body
Synopsis: Robbie decides to trick out Gabby's ride as her 18th birthday gift.
Cast of Characters: Robbie Reyes, Gabby Kinney




Robbie Reyes has posed:
It's dusk, and the sky's overcast and buzzing with electrical potential from a storm rolling in from Jersey. It's a respite, at least, from the heat during the day.

Canelo's is on a skeleton staff by this point in the evening; the boss is up in the office doing inventory, and Robbie's lean frame can be spotted in one of the garage's two bays, coveralls unzipped to his collarbone, sleeves turned up to his elbows to try to deal with the residual heat. He's sweeping up while he waits for Gabby to arrive, and listening to music with a pair of earbuds.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
It's not long at all before the familiar high-pitched sound of the Honda's engine can be heard approaching. It's not too loud a sound, really, so by the time it's heard she's already cruising into the lot. Pulling up and parking she kicks the stand down, and lifts a hand to wave to Robbie as well as any other staff still lingering around. "Hey Robbie!"

Before heading in she turns to fish around on the basket behind her to pull out a bottle of iced water which she holds up for Robbie. "Hot day, figured you might need this." It's lobbed his way underhanded.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie, connoisseur of vehicles that he is, would know the sound of that engine anywhere. He pauses in his busy work with the broom to look over his shoulder, and out the open bay door. And smiles ever so slightly when he spots the girl arriving on her bike.

"Oye, chica," he calls out to her. The broom's set aside, and he dusts his hands off on the thighs of his coveralls as he prowls on over slowly. "Gracias." The bottle of water is caught neatly, uncapped, and drank from deeply. "Sure took your time gettin' here." He drags tattooed knuckles across the back of his mouth, and winks at her.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"The bike was in Gotham," Gabby explains of her late arrival with a little shrug as it couldn't be helped. "And got momentarily sidetracked with something, but I did say I was gonna be here!" With a broad grin she plants her hands on her hips looking him up and down a time or two. "You don't look like waiting a bit longer did you any harm."

With that she eases closer, bumping up against his side playfully. "Sooooooo." The word is drawn out with a note of restrained excitement in her. "You said something about a gift?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Mmm. I guess I'll forgive you." Robbie cracks a brief, dimpled grin and takes another swig of the cold water before exclaiming, "Fuck, that's good." The once-over confirms he's hot, sweaty and grease-stained, as per usual, and his slightly scruffy curls need a cut.

"Ain't said nothing about a gift, except that I got one for you." He slings an arm around her smaller shoulders when she sidles in close. "You wanna see it?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"You tease," Gabby mumbles when he drapes that arm over her shoulder. It's likely meant about the suggestion of the gift though. The smile she has doesn't fade, it only dimples in a bit more creasing the scars on her cheeks making her look younger than her newly turned 18 years old. Not by much. That youthful appearance just hadn't changed.

"Well if you twist my arm. I *guess* so." Already she's glancing over to the garage, then back to Robbie, questioningly. Finally she relents in trying to play it cool. Her arm slides around his waist to give a squeeze. "Come on I'm dyiiiing!"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"It ain't teasing," Robbie argues, his own smile increasing a fraction as he watches her. "It's.. maintaining the suspense. You think I'm easy? C'mon, then." The squeeze is returned firmly, his hand lingering at her back for a moment before withdrawing. Then the bottle is lifted above his head and upended, cold water streaming over his face and soaking his dark hair before he opens his mouth to catch the last few swallows of it.

A quick shake of his head like a dog, and he ambles off with a gesture to the back of the garage. "Got it right over here."

'It' happens to be several motorcycle parts, lined up neatly on the workbench. All brand new; nothing refurbished or used looking. A high end padded seat for driver and passenger, an engine kit with the gaskets and oil seals all freshly cleaned and neatly laid out, fuel injector and spark arrestor, auxiliary gas tank set on the floor, headlight rack and protector, oil plug and a leather saddlebag.

"Well." He digs his teeth into his lower lip, still dripping from his impromptu little shower. "What do you think?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney steps away when that bottle is tipped over so that she doesn't accidentally get some of the splash from it. A little chuff of laughter comes while watching his puppy-like way of drying off. Or mostly drying off. "That's one way to shower. Just use soap later," she teases while following after with an excited bounce to her step.

She stops to walk normally once inside the garage though. There was enough here to be slippery if she wasn't careful even if the garage was well cleaned and maintained. A glance is cast up toward the office where she knows Canelo likely was, and she lifts a wave in that direction in case he happens to look down at them. That's all she does before her attention is drawn away to fix on the parts.

For a moment she just stares. Green eyes flit over each peice taking it in as a whole. They were upgrades for her bike, nice ones. The realization hits quickly. Without thinking how it might look she claps her hands together with a delighted squeal. "OMIGOD this is awesome! Thank you Robbie!"

In an instant she goes from hand clapping, bouncing in place, to hugging him tight clearly having forgotten his currently damp and messy state.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Canelo sends a wave her way, being familiar enough by now with the girl to recognise her on sight. He looks pleased, even, to see her here; Robbie's been a bit of a space case lately, maybe she can help bring him back out of his shell.

Setting aside the empty bottle, Robbie rakes his fingers through damp hair, and watches Gabby as she checks out the bike parts. "I'm gonna install them for you, of course. Get that engine purring like a kitten." He tries to hide his smile at the squeal, but isn't entirely successful.

"So you like it, the-- oof." The hug would seem to suggest that, yes, she does. He wraps his arms around the younger woman, dares a kiss to her cheek and whispers, "Happy birthday."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney allows the hug to linger a moment giving him a good, solid squeeze in response to the question of 'does she like it.' Ftt. "Of course I do this is awesome...!"

She starts to gush up until the kiss on her cheek. That causes her to pause with a little bit of a blush in response as she steps away to glance up at him. One hand slips away to reach up and flick a bit of his damp hair out of his face instead. "It's really great, I love it, seriously." The hand in his hair tightens at the back of his head to tip his head forward as she pushes up onto her toes. Not to kiss him, but to bump her forehead against his. "Thank you Robbie."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie tenses up slightly when she pulls away, like he's worried he's done something wrong. The cheek kiss was fairly chaste, after all. But then it's his turn to redden under his smattering of freckles when Gabby grabs his hair like that, and leans in for that little forehead bump. He's quite a bit taller than her, of course; so meeting her eyes requires looking *down*.

"Gonna look a lot better once I'm done with it." He flashes a grin, and she can *feel* the unnatural heat rolling off him. The sharp scent of brimstone that leaves no question as to the nature of his passenger. Softly, "You mind leavin' it here for a day or two? Drive you home, if you like."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney steps back after the forehead bump to give him some space as she felt that heat rising off of him. Just in case his passenger was peeping through trying to be a pain in the butt again. He had mentioned Eli had been acting up a lot lately after all. It's taken in stride while she flashes a quick grin.

"Sure, I don't mind doing that. I don't have any plans to run around much in the next few days so should be good without it for a bit. I can always borrow another vehicle if I need." Wait. Did she mean 'borrow' or 'steal'? Surely not that.

"All right! It's been awhile since I rode in the Charger. You need to finish closing up?" A quick glance is cast around curiously. It didn't seem like there were any other customers around currently to finish up with.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Eli's *always* looking for opportunities to be a pain in the ass. It's kind of his schtick, even when he isn't trying to wrestle control away from his host.

"Yeah? Figure you just turned eighteen, you gotta have all kinds of plans." He flashes her a crooked smile, watching her a moment or two before nodding toward the shop proper. "I need to cash out and change, only take me a few minutes. You wanna bring your bike inside before I lock up? You leave it out there, some punk's gonna take it for a joyride." He heads for the short flight of stairs that leads to the main shop, unzipping the front of his coveralls as he goes.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The suggestion of having a lot to do only earns a small shrug from her in response. "A few ideas, but mostly I'm just gonna try to catch up with folks I haven't seen in awhile. Seems like a good time. No huge party for me this year with everything going on. I'm not sure I could handle a huge party right now, anyway." Not with her new improved enhanced senses. Though with it being people she knew and liked maybe it would make it easier.

"Right, I'll get it in!" For a moment she watches him head to change. Just a moment, then she turns away to step outside so she can wheel her bike in through the open garage doors. There was no need to turn it on at this point so she just brings it over near the table he had the parts arranged on so they would at last be near to one another.

"Ready whenever you are!"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Nothin' wrong with that. Ain't a fan of parties and people, myself." One last glance over his shoulder, then he disappears into the office. A couple of thumps follow as his boots are kicked off inside, and the work clothes apparently changed out of.

Some five or ten minutes later, he emerges dressed in his usual street-scruffy duds, and tugs his jacket on before locking up. With the bike secured inside, he closes both bay doors and padlocks them as well, after shooing Gabby out.

"So where am I takin' you?" he wonders, tossing and catching his keys as they head for his car. "You find yourself a place of your own yet?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney scoots outside when shooed out knowing he has to set the alarm. No sense in setting something off by accident when it's easily avoidable. Already she's moving around to the passenger side of the car when the question comes. "Not really. I was looking at some places but stuff came up." She shrugs a bit in response. "You still at that same place? I know there's some openings I mentioned to you in Bushwick. That's where I had been looking, too."

Sinking down into the passenger seat she leans back reaching for the seat belt. "I've been crashing off and on at my friend Thomas' place lately. He's got guest rooms and I used to have a room at his old place. He owes me a birthday dinner still so you could drop me there."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The 'stuff' that came up gains a sidelong glance from the mechanic, but he doesn't press. Instead, the driver's side door is unlocked, and he swings inside and leans over to pop Gabby's door for her. "For now. Yeah. Feel like Gabe needs some stability at the moment, you know? I don't wanna move again unless it's the right place."

The first few flecks of rain on the windshield draw his attention; he cranes his neck to gaze skyward for a moment, before dropping back in his seat and keying the ignition with a low, throaty rumble.

"Thomas.. that's the guy with a girlfriend that you got the hots for, right? I ever tell you this sounds like a pattern for you?" He dimples a grin at her, slings an arm around the back of her seat, and pulls out of the lot in reverse.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney rolls her eyes a little bit at that. All it earns is a shake of her head in response. "I don't have the hots for him. I've known him since I was like, fifteen. He's like an older brother or something and I'm pretty sure he feels the same. But yes, he does have a girlfriend," she agrees.

Reaching out she jabs a finger into his arm lightly. "Besides, *you* didn't have a girlfriend when I was into you. Not at first. So that's not my fault, y'know?" Regardless she turns to glance out the window at the rain starting to pour down. "Just in time looks like. Would have been a pain to ride home in this."

Growing quiet she doesn't seem as if she'll say more. She always does though. "Thomas is dating Pixie. He's worried about her with the nightmares," she explains. "And worried about me because..." Here she trails off with a little shrug. "Staying close doesn't seem a bad idea right now."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Relax, I'm just givin' you a hard time. Part of the job description." Which job, he doesn't specify. "Ow." That's deadpanned for the jab in the arm, and he swats lightly at the top of her head before shifting gears and swinging out onto the street with a spray of gravel as the tires briefly skid.

The next question he has for her seems to take a while to come out: "He good at taking care of you, then?" Eyes forward, expression solemn, he appears quite serious about that. "I mean." He hesitates, and his hand tightens on the wheel a fraction. "I worry about you, too."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney looks back toward him watching the grip on the wheel with a little bemused smile. Maybe a little sad. "... He's trying. Without crossing lines, of course." Looking down to her hands in her lap she considers a moment only to shake her head a little uncertainly. "He's worried I don't have anyone I can lean on. Like... Pixie has him. Rien... Well Rien had you before everything. Jon and Cael and all of them have each other. All I got are teammates that are rarely around."

"He's not the nicest guy, but he's protective of his friends. Always liked that about him." Lightly her throat clears looking up again. "Only so much 'taking care of' he can do but it is nice to have people around."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie makes a thoughtful little moue while he listens, and occasionally slides his gaze over to watch the girl seated next to him. Maybe he catches the melancholy in that smile; maybe he doesn't. It isn't remarked upon. "Mm, nice can be overrated. Ain't got nothing to do with good. And he sounds like a good guy, the way you talk about him."

He falls silent for a while after that; one hand remains on the wheel, while the other rests loosely over the gear shift. The streets, at least, are quiet this evening. Possibly due to the weather.

"Well," murmured eventually, "You can lean on me. If you want."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney allows herself a little bit of a smirk when Thomas is called a good guy. "He'd argue that with you left and right. He is though in his own way. When he's not busting heads at least. But ... I mean we kind of all do that to some extent."

Her gaze sweeps out over the streets as they pass realizing after a few moments she hadn't even told him where to go yet. Just as she's about to speak up, she hears that murmured offer. Reaching over she places her hand just over his on the shifter to give a little squeeze. "Thanks, Robbie."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Me? Bust heads?" He makes an exaggerated snort, and rolls his eyes. "Never happened. Though if you tell anyone *I'm* a good guy, I'll bust *your* head." It's an empty threat; he has no intention of doing so.

His hand stills under the contact, and the amusement fades from his face, reverting it back to its oft-severe, hawkish profile. "Hey, I mean it." Another flick of his gaze to find hers, briefly; then eyes on the road again. "I know I ain't the most.." Personable? Easy to talk to?

"Well, you're important to me. Where the fuck am I going, by the way?" Looks like he's figured it out, too.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney gives one last little squeeze before drawing her hand away again to rest in her lap with the other. "You're you. If I couldn't deal with you I wouldn't bother trying to be your friend. Besides, I've got family who get angrier than you do at times," she points out with a chuckle.

When the question is finally asked she gestures down the road in a particular direction. "Happy Harbor. He's got a new place out there since he lost the last one to his ex. Well, I say 'lost it' but more like he decided to leave it to her so he wouldn't have to deal with the imps in the basement. They were kind of annoying at times."

"Don't stress too much over me though. I know you've got your own things to deal with, too. Gabe, and work, and everything. I'll be okay."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"You've mentioned that before," Robbie points out. "And I'm pretty sure Eli could outdo Logan. Just don't tell Gabe that, the guy's his fuckin' hero." He looks briefly amused.

"Happy Harbour it is." He hangs a left at the intersection and guns the engine again, rainwater kicked up behind them in a fine film. "And don't tell me what to worry about. You don't want me in your business, then say so. But if I tell you I care, it's because I fuckin' care. Entiendo?" His hand leaves the gearshift, tattooed knuckles rapped lightly against her thigh.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I dunno, I've heard things about my dad when reeeeally ticked off... but maybe. It'd at least be one hell of a fight," Gabby puts forth only to shrug it off. It wasn't as if she was really trying to play the 'my dad can beat up your demon' game. It was just how she'd always heard him spoken of.

Looking over at him she purses her lips in a small frown. "I don't want you out of my business, Robbie, I'm just trying to figure out how to do things in general. I mean," her hands spread in a small shrug taking care not to get in the way of his driving with the gesture. "I know I'm a touchy feely person, but I always kind of held back around you because of Rien, and now I'm not sure how to act? If that makes sense." A deep breath is drawn and let out, "And I don't want to be a pain. Guess I'm being my own enemy in that aspect though. So, I'll try. If you can put up with me being stupid at times."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
That earns a low, warm chuckle from him. Just a little bit rough, probably from smoking too many cigarettes in his twenty-two years. "Okay, you got a point," he concedes.

Another left, then a right and over a bridge, and he's glancing over at Gabby for further directions as they cross into the outskirts of Happy Harbour. "Not sure how to act? I don't know what you mean. I ain't made of glass. What do you mean, held back?" He gives her a weird look, like *girls are confusing*.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney glances back toward Robbie with a little grin of amusement. "Well," she starts only to leeeean across toward him. It was an awkward angle with the stick shift in between the two seats, but she manages to bump her cheek against his shoulder. "I'm usually pretty cuddly and like to be close to people, but only if it's okay." She sits back with a little chuckle. "Figured that'd be awkward given everything. But like with Thomas, we snuggle on the couch, I use him as a leg rest, whatever."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie observes her slantwise for a second or two as she starts to lean in closer. Then returns his attention to the road, right as her cheek makes contact with his shoulder. The hand on the gearshift tenses, then slowly relaxes again. "Given everything like what? Breaking up with Rien doesn't mean I don't still care about you. You ain't some package deal like that, chica, you ain't some kind of scorched earth. I just.. couldn't be with her. You know?"

He pauses at a four way stop, watching the rain coming down on the windshield, the street empty of vehicles. "Anyway, I like cuddling." Says the six foot tall punk with the gang ink and pierced tongue.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I get it. I just don't want to be the one to always remind you of her, either," Gabby states quietly. The fourway stop has her eyes skirt around looking at the empty streets out of habit. It wasn't as if she were the one driving right now.

"Okay. So. Fresh start, then? Including being cuddly and huggy and all that girly shit I tend to do on occasion." Her hand stretches toward him curling into a fist to bump. "Deal?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The indicator's switched on with a *tick, tick, tick* as he listens to Gabby talk. And snorts when she suggests she might remind him of Rien. "Hate to break it to you. But you're nothing like her. Don't think that'll be a problem."

He turns finally, and the Charger's engine briefly stirs from its drowsy idling. "Point me at his house. I still don't know where I'm fuckin' going." Then a little double-take at her proposal. "Fresh start?" He looks her up and down, making a show of it. "Okay." A quick tap of his knuckles to hers. "You got a deal."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney laughs warmly in spite of the fact she could take that as an insult. "I just meant cuz I'm related to her. I know we're nothing alike. Obviously I'm way cooler," she adds tossing her dark hair teasingly over her shoulder. "I get pop culture." Not that it was such a huge thing to brag about. It's an attempt to joke though. When he taps his knuckles to hers she grins again.

"Not that fresh of one but you know what I mean." Glancing out the window she gestures toward a row of houses. "Fifth one down. The one with the pool out back," she explains. There's still a few lights on in the house though it looked quiet otherwise. Maybe he just kept some of the lights on no matter what. "Thanks for the birthday gifts, Robbie. Honestly I'm really excited to see how it turns out," she admits leaning forward in her seat with a broad grin.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
He seems to have meant it quite literally; there's no implied comparison there where Gabby comes out behind. But she and her sister *are* quite different from one another, and he'd be hard pressed to mistake one for the other.

"Well, you're gonna be about eight times cooler once I'm done makin' those upgrades to your bike," he teases, pulling up in front of the indicated house. Leaning over, he scopes out the place with a low whistle. "Not bad." Well, anything's better than the dive he's currently staying in. "De nada," he murmurs in response to her gratitude, dimpling a small smile. "Happy birthday." Then after a moment's hesitation, he leans over to try to kiss her cheek.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The happy birthday causes her expression to soften a bit in response, and she smiles broadly. When he leans over to kiss her cheek she brings her hand up to catch at the back of his head just giving a little squeeze to the back of his neck while accepting it. There's no attempt to turn in to make it a real kiss, but she gives that little fond squeeze.

"Thanks, Robbie. I'll come visit, or you guys can probably come visit here too. Just give a heads up, okay?" Pausing she adds, "The tiger usually roams free and uh... Yeah." Chuckling she turns her head to give his cheek a quick peck of a kiss in return.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Tiger? That's news to him. But Robbie's heard of weirder housemates, so all she gets is a funny expression as he drops back into his seat. "Text you first. Got it." He doesn't really seem like the type to drop by unannounced, anyway. "Take care of yourself, okay?" He cocks an eyebrow at her as he makes the request.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney smiles as reassuringly as she can giving a nod of agreement. "I will. And yes, actual live tiger, eats a ton of steak." Chuckling she turns to duck out of the car calling back, "Have a good night, Robbie! I'll catch you later!"