15942/Chinese and Healing

Chinese and Healing
Date of Scene:	25 September 2023
Location:	Empire State University
Synopsis:	Bunny and Gabby track down Mark in his dorm room and realize what happened to him at the hands of Juggernaut. Gabby puts two and two together and tries to make Mark see four as well.
Cast of Characters:	Mark Grayson, Bunny Macleod, Gabby Kinney

---

Mark Grayson has posed:
It had started the day after Mark had brought Bunny home after their trip to the West Coast. Mark had texted Bunny he was going to do a patrol and meet her for dinner and video games later in the evening.

He never showed up. Calls unanswered, texts show as unread.

It was a chatty crow that alerted Gabby. "CAIN DROPPED MAN IN DUMPSTER BEHIND SHOP! MAN LEFT!"

If Gabby went outside and checked, the scents of the trash can't quite hide the scent that she's learned is uniquely Mark's. How and why he ended up there is a mystery, but apparently he has crawled off, with his scent heading towards the University grounds if followed.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    There was also a text, long after Mark's lack of appearance at her place had occurred, that Bunny sent to Gabby:

    >Hey! I might need to break into Mark's dorm room to initiate a missing persons investigation. Game for helping a girl out? :Pleading_Eyes_Emoji: :Bunny_Emoji:

    Bunny, meanwhile, had skated to Empire State University, and was wearing a dark gray sweatshirt with dark blue leggings and no tutu skirts -- she didn't own any that were dark colored at the moment. Even her leggings have pink stars and constellations on them. She's hopping up and down nervously as she considers how to Social Engineer her way into the dorm rooms to track down Mark. She was DECENTLY sure she knew what dorm room he was in...

    ... just the problem was she was typically brought there from the outside of the building presents a problem.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Cain wasn't that sloppy. He knew not to mix his personal business with the JLD, so the fact that he had dropped someone so close to the JLD base, and been spotted by their most well-known avian spy in the sky, meant that he must have wanted whoever it was to be found. All the more reason for Gabby to have rushed out to try and find whomever this was to offer aid, or figure out *why* he was brought here of all places.

The blood wasn't unexpected. The first few deep breaths bringing that oddly inhuman scent that she had grown marginally familiar with to her was, however. Mark? What the hell had Mark done to earn a beatdown from Cain? Or Juggernaut? Or even just a mercenary in general? The fact that he was no longer HERE was also worrisome.

She's just about to message Bunny when the message comes in to her. A quickly shot off response is offered only for her to turn back into the shop that she breezes through quickly. Just enough time to grab her Autumn riding jacket (might have to look at a car soon, Kinney) and inform Corvax, "Going out to investigate this, back soon."

The text sent to Bunny is simply 'OMW, might know something. Be there ASAP.'

The little red Honda Trail carrying Gabby along, leather jacketed and all, pulls up to a stop near Bunny who was... not hard to miss. Tutus weren't usually typical garb around campus unless there was a dance or pride thing going on. It was however typically Bunny. She's quick to pull off her Rebel Fighter helmet and stash it on the gas tank in front of her.

"You sure he's here?" She asks sounding more than a little concerned.

Mark Grayson has posed:
When Bunny looks up and remembers to count the windows, there's a lamp on in Mark's dorm room window - but the rest of the lights are off. No silhouette up there in his room, so it gives little inference if Mark is there or not.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
A
    "I have no idea. He hasn't picked up his phone, and he skipped out on a date without telling me anything, but this is the first place to check." Bunny states with confidence. And she takes a deep breath, and hops in her skates again, perched on the toe guards. "His is the one with the lamp in the window." she up-nods to the room in question -- on the eighth floor. "So, do we platform climb this, or try to social engineer one of the people to let us in?" Bunny considers. "... could get some empty pizza boxes and carry them in. Who's gonna stop two college-age girls from bringing pizza into a dorm?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney smiles a little in amusement at Bunny's suggestion more to try and hide her honest concern so she doesn't immediately worry her friend. "Depends if it's a co-ed dorm or not and if it's visiting hours... I don't know. I remember hearing some friends who went to college complain about that before." Or was it someone she just overheard in general? You know what it didn't matter.

"Have you ever tried to use your shields to PUSH yourself somewhere before, Bunny?" It's a suggestion. One she hadn't had to make before now as she looks up. "You know I can free climb that. Getting you up there is the hard part. If it's a co-ed dorm though that would probably work, the pizza thing."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny purses her lips a moment.

    "You mean like a spring in Sonic or like an elevator platform? Usually I just vertical platform climb like the Ice Climbers but... uh... eight floors is a bit much if I Oops." Bunny replies, looking to Gabby a moment. "Pizza Party infiltration?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney stuffs her hands into her pockets with a sigh as she keeps her head tilted up. "Okay, fine." She leans her head to the side in a 'come with me' sort of gesture as she starts to stalk around the building. "We're going to do this quick and messy because ... I think he may be hurt." A guilty glance is cast over toward Bunny with her lips pursed tight together. She knew something she wasn't sharing. Yet.

"You good to run up a bunch of stairs quick?" The question is asked as she comes to stop in front of a fire staircase door leading out. One hand withdraws from her pocket to flick out her claw with obvious intent to what she planned. They were getting in one way or another and a lock wasn't about to be a issue. Though it might trip the fire alarm.

Provided some industrious students hadn't already rigged it so it wouldn't go off to ensure they could sneak in and out without getting caught past curfew.

Mark Grayson has posed:
When she pops the lock and she opens it, she is proven right. There was already a couple of students about to step out when she opened the door. "Yo! We were just stepping outside for a vape. Wanna join us?" the two guys ask, seeing two girls coming into the dorm.

It may be a co-ed dorm, but they're still shooting their shot.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny gives a smile. "Already did." Bunny gives a wave, to the two guys as they make their way outside, and takes a deep breath as she looks up.

    "Eight floors." she states, and turning to Gabby she points up.

    "First one to the seventh floor has to carry the other the final flights?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The claw disapears just as quick as it appeared. No need to freak out a bunch of college students who were looking for a way to de-stress in the first place. "Sorry guys, visiting someone specific. Maybe another time," she offers with a chuckle, and quick wave. "Oh, stand over there if you do," she suggests pointing a bit down the side of the wall. "Wind picked up and nearly got us caught by a teacher smelling us smoking nearby in the other direction." Of course one can guess WHAT they were smoking, right? Right. At least she's trying to be helpful.

With that she steps inside joining Bunny only to give a nod of amusement. "I mean, I don't want you to hurt your back carrying me," she remarks only to take off up the stairs two at a time.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Thanks!" the two guys offer to Gabby before one looks at Bunny. "You're too short anyway." he snorts, before they head outside.

It seems that noone else is using the fire stairs at the moment, at least as they make their way up, the coast is clear.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Yeah well there's a length requirement." Bunny mutters to herself as she takes a breath -- and she races Gabby, with the handicap of 'wearing skates on stairs'.

    And the last flight, of course, ends with Bunny, with a koala'd Gabby, huffing and puffing on the last couple of stairs. Still stubbornly wearing skates.

    "You're not... that heavy... it's just... different muscles... from skating --" Bunny huffs a moment, grabbing onto the railing so she can catch her breath and stay upright.

    Just the little bit of levity because otherwise she WOULD be worried enough about Mark that she'd lose her cool. And no one wants to lose her cool.

Mark Grayson has posed:
As the pair open the doors to the eighth floor, a guy that was walking down the hall, wearing a towel around his waist, toothbrush dangling out of his mouth and shower shoe flip-flops on is walking down the hall.

Upon the two girls' appearance, he yelps, dropping his toothbrush and runs into his room. Do they need any further proof that they're in the Engineering dorm? If they do, there's the room to their immediate right, where two guys are currently surrounded by pizza boxes and playing some fantasy game.

Another room is a guy working on a ridiculous computer rig that has multicolored water coolers and a disco-light graphics card.

When they get to the room marked Grayson, M, they'll find the door locked. If knocked upon, there's no answer.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Wow, Bunny, when did you get sass?" Gabby quips back after the length requirement remark with a bark of laughter. Concerned or not that was a good one. Though it did give her a momentarily awkward thought about Mark to begin with that she does her best to shake out of her brain by racing up the stairs.

Once there she takes several quick, deep breaths forcing her racing heart to get back to normal-ish for her. Bunny's far more winded. That's not to say she's not out of breath, either, but her recovery rate was a bit quicker. Also she totally wants a burger later.

"Need to catch your breath a bit more?" She asks looking Bunny over. "Otherwise... We can get to finding his door. Should be easy." Her head tilts to the side regarding the door leading out onto that floor to try and mentally map out where the light in that window was versus the building itself. Not a hard trick for her. Though she could also just sniff him out.

Ooooooor walk right in and find the obviously busy common areas filled with people. Great one, Kinney, focus so much on the task you forget to listen. She was getting rusty. Don't let Laura fidn out or The Training shall begin anew.

"Sorry," she calls out lightly to the guy that booked it only to shrug heading for his door. Which she does knock on. Then turns her back to block the path as her claw comes out again to jam into the space between door and lock to push back the bolt.

"Oh Hey Mark," she 'greets' while opening it just enough to let Bunny and herself in before quickly closing it again.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny gives a casual wave to the guys in the common room -- first rule of Social Engineering, walk in like you're supposed to be there.

    Or in her case, skate.

    The guy who almost drops hhis towel earns a wince, and she rubs the back of her head a moment as she glides up to the GRAYSON- M door.

    She knocks.

    No answer.

    Knocks again.

    No answer.

    Knocks a third time, and then really gently tries the knob, before she pulls a pair of hairpins out of her pigtails.

    -- but Gabby's got it settled, and then they slip in.

    "Mark?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Oh Hey Mark,"

The table lamp is on. On the desk, several bloodied bandages, empty antiseptic and alcohol bottles and scissors are scattered.

What's /left/ of his costume is sprawled on the floor. The goggles are smashed in. Both arms are frayed and torn. The right pant leg is covered in blood.

Sprawled on his bed, currently unconscious, Mark is sleeping hard. His face is still bruised and battered, but has had time to heal from the ten plus direct punches from Cain that he took. His right leg hands outside of the sheets, heavily bruised, no longer broken. The healing factor is working.

His chest is bare, a sheet spread across his middle and lower half to at least cover his modesty, no need to embarass Gabby.

His chest is bruised as well.

When he hears the door open, Mark starts to stir, a loud snort of breath, staggered with coughs. Lungs are nearly healed?

Gabby Kinney has posed:
A quiet sigh comes from Gabby at the sight. The SMELL hits her immediately... but the sight is what has her pausing. It wasn't good as she feared. "Sorry, Bunny. Apparently he got dumped near the Candle by a mutual I know. I think they wanted me to find him but..." But he was already gone, clearly.

She steps further into the room kicking at some of the soiled bandaging to get it further away from the bed. The costume is spotted of course. Hard to miss that, and an eyebrow lifts as she look back toward Bunny. "No wonder he didn't smell human to me. Anyway, you mightw ant to er..." Her hand waves toward him on the bed. "Cover." She's giving Bunny the chance to at least cover him up some more before asking, "You know how he .. heals? I mean. I saw he can heal but it's not the same as me so I don't know if there's anything we can do to help." Feed him?

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "He takes longer to heal than you do, but he does heal really fast. I've seen him regrow TEETH. It is *weird*." Bunny whispers, but she takes off her skates at the door and shoves them to the side. She has clearly been in ihis dorm room before, she knows where things are. Boxers. Soft T-shirt. More medical supplies.

    "Which mutual was it?" Bunny asks quietly as she works.

    Mark's mini-fridge, grab the ice tray. Wrap ice in washcloth. One of Bunny's shirts was hanging in his ensuite bathroom (because it is way too small for Mark, and also pink and sparkly).

    "He'll recover from this, might... just take him a week. Unless you know a healer who makes housecalls." Bunny murmurs quietly, coming back to a skid to kneel at Mark's side.

    "Mark?" she whispers softly, bringing her hand to his shoulder.

    "And... yeah. He's not human." Bunny has to answer.

Mark Grayson has posed:
One eye opens, the eye bright red with blood, and the panicked look that was on his face starts to subside. "B-Bunny." he manages, immediately trying to fight to try to sit up.

A number of bones /pop/ loudly as he sits up as more healing has kicked in and he draws in a labored and shaky breath. His face clearly took the brunt of it.

Whoever it was, they did not like how he looked. "...Gabby?" he manages, peering in her direction as his vision tries to correct itself.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The mention of healer causes her to wince a bit. "I do but... he's currently unavailable." Get Josh's phone number she tells herself. For the future. Right now though she waits until Bunny's helping tend before she moves to the medical supplies to start looking through them.

"Juggernaut," she states simply. "Which means he was either stopping him from doing something, or someone hired Juggy to ..."

Mark was up though.

She looks over from where she'd crouched to flash him a smile. "Hey Mark. Guess I finally figured out why you don't smell human!" She quips good natured before gesturing at him. "Lay down. You got any transfusion supplies around here?" A deep breath is taken, and she explains, "My... genetic donor used to give transfusions in WWII. His healing factor would speed up their recovery. I don't see why we can't try it here."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Lay back. You're still all sorts of looking-like-Hell." Bunny states, putting her hand on Mark's chest." she warns him, and she grabs his sheet to make sure he stays covered.

    "I got worried when you weren't picking up. So I asked Gabby to help me break into your dorm. Sorry." she whispers with a wince, and she smooths her hand over Mark's forehead and into his hair.

    "Blood transfusion?" she asks and she makes a face "I... I don't know how that would react with his own healing or his... y'know. Not-being-a-human-ness." Bunny states. "He *will* heal up on his own, just looks awful now."

    "Don't try to talk. Lemmie get you some water. And we can try to sit you up *slowly* okay?"

    Bunny is trying to keep the voice she usually reserved for younger siblings nice and even. Although usually that was because of stomach bugs and not 'beat up by Juggernaut'.

    "... but I thought Juggernaut was okay? He helped the Young Avengers a couple days ago when we were attacked by some blue aliens."

Mark Grayson has posed:
There's a shake of his head. "Skin can't be pierced, Gabby..." Mark'll deal with the whole 'Gabby knows my secret' thing later. Wasn't like he wasn't planning on telling her anyway. "Juggernaut. Said he was hired to do it..."

It's surprisingly easy for Bunny to push him back onto the bed and his hand settles over Bunny's. His knuckles are bruised, proof that he had been hitting with everything he could muster.

"...I'll get him next time."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney glances down a moment with lips pursed. "Cain's trying to go down a better path, but he's still a mercenary as well. When he's on a job he just does the job. It's an understanding I have with a few people," she explains quietly, though not so quiet that Mark himself couldn't hear. Plus his own words attested to that. "Yeah, that's what I figured. He dropped you near where I stay. I think he wanted me to find you to get you help sooner, but you were already gone by the time I got there," she explains with a little sigh.

"Okay so you've got the stupid Kryptonian impregnable skin thing, but you aren't Kryptonian. That pretty much sucks. Especially since the rest of your skin looks all squishy," she points out in an attempt to be slightly funny. Though right now laughing might not be good to begin with.

"All right. None of that then. Sorry." She shifts a bit awkwardly looking him over. "... Would soup help?"

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "You have enough holes in it that we probably could." Bunny mutters as she sticks the makeshift coldpad against Mark's face.

    She stands up, and takes a breath. "Who do you think would hire *the Juggernaught*? Think it was Manners? Or... or someone else?" Bunny considers, trying to figure her way out around the injuries in consideration of putting boxers on Mark, but then decides -- eh. Probably nothing Gabby's never seen before realistically speaking.

    "... that's a good question -- would soup Help? Should I engage one of the guys building their own computers to run and get us pizzas if I buy one for him too?" she searches around Mark's room for a water bottle or tumbler.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Outside is impregnable... inside... not so much. I'm new as a Viltrumite." Now she knows a name to put the scent. "My father, Omni-Man? He could handle Juggernaut." Quite easily, he imagines. "Will be that level. Someday. With lots of practice."

As Bunny helps him into a seated position, Mark shakes his head. "I don't know." he murmurs, pressing the ice pack to the side of his face and closing his eyes as he enjoys the cooling effect on his skin. "Haven't eaten since the fight... threw a Starbucks at me. Noone inside."

He gestures over to his desk. "Wallet is in top drawer. Bribe them with they fly, you buy. Get here faster."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Food always helps. Healing uses up energy and resources in your body. And even if it didn't, a full stomach is better than an empty one when you're feeling like shit," Gabby reasons as she glances over toward the wallet gestured at with a single nod.

"I'll tell them you have the flu if they ask," she suggests. No need to really explain if they didn't but it was still a legitimate thing.

"Ah, yeah, he's been pissed at the pumpkin spice latte thing... Not surprised there."

At least she doesn't do the 'he's a nice guy, really' line. That would just make it worse.

The wallet is snagged and raised up while striding to the door. "I got it. Make sure his wounds are properly cleaned. I don't need to be seeing more than I need to," she teases lightly.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "He *threw* a *starbucks* at you?!" Bunny asks incredulously, and she winces, and gives Gabby a thumbs up as she grabs the remainder of Mark's medical supplies, and also takes some out of her own backpack as Gabby goes out the door.

    "It was *my* turn to pay for the food, gosh darn it. You can't just get almost killed to get out of it." she chides gently, but leans over to press a soft kiss to Mark's forehead.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Yeah yeah, you're the one playing nurse." Mark responds, closing his eyes to the feel of Bunny's lips on his forehead. "Got my attention. Chided me for rushing him... and proceeded to pound everything he could get his hands on until I..."

He closes his eyes and breathes out. "Came to in an alley. Didn't know where I was, just had to get out of there. Thought he had dumped a body. Would come back to check."

He sighs anew, a shudder that crosses over his whole body and his hands hold onto Bunny. "Sorry for scaring you."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "I was worried that I'd embarrassed you or something and you weren't coming back. So of course I did the natural and sensible thing and broke into your dorm with Gabby." Bunny replies as she pulls the sheet down and makes a *face*. "Ohmigod did he rupture your organs? That looks like ruptured organs." she mumbles, but begins applying her own spray antiseptic to things.

    "He really did a number on you. I'm glad he left you in a dumpster at least. Instead of like, out in the open where someone could have picked you u and labbed you."

Mark Grayson has posed:
There's a long pause from Mark as he looks up at Bunny. "Why would I do that? I'm not embarassed of you. I'd never be. You do some crazy things, but it enriches my life just being near you. I love you endlessly too, you know?"

Mark pulls her down into a lingering kiss, breaking it before Gabby busts in on them with a fire hose.

"Probably why I haven't eaten." he admits as he looks over his injuries. He lifts the sheets to check something. "Okay, he didn't hit me there at least." he mutters. "Another good night's rest and I'll be mobile again."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney gives a quick knock to the door before entering again. There's a breif pause between the knock and the time she opens the door itself in case they needed to recover Mark, or ... or stop smooching or something. Though really she could handle kissing. The courtesy was being extended so as to keep Mark from feeling more embarassed.

She does slip back inside with a nod as she looks down to her phone in hand. His wallet is placed back on a dresser or other such surface in easy sight. "Okay, they apparently were being brats and saying they were tired of pizza so we're getting Chinese takeout. Rice might be easier on the stomach anyway. I just ordered basics. General Tso chicken, lo mein with veggies, and they're getting a family platter or whatever. Made sure to get lots of protein for you to rebuild cells, blah blah. Had a doctor explain it to me before."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny was about to answer back when she's kissed! She gives a soft squeak of a breath through her nose, and then she straightens up. Red. Ears pink.

    "No, no that was the *first* thing I checked down there." Bunny states dryly before Gabby comes back in. She puts his sheet back down as Gabby knocks and calls out "Room's clear." and then gives an 'ooooh' "Chinese is also good. I hope that's the little place on the corner with the big green sign and the Tobasco bottles that were filled with Sriracha instead." she comments brightly, giving a grin up to Gabby.

    "OK, and as the one person who *doesn't* have accellerated healing in the room -- it is *so weird* to listen to your bones snap back together. Like, for real."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Chinese is fine." Mark agrees with the consensus and arches his brows and looks at Bunny when she mentions his healing bones.

"I'll tell them to be quiet. I know you were weirded out by my teeth growing in." Mark responds. But now that every seems to be safe at least and he's upright, for the most part, Mark's fist digs into the edge of the bed.

"You said that you know him, Gabby? Tell me everything." Another tremble over his body and a grumbling growl from him suggests that this was only round one for him.

He can be really stubborn.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney draws a really deep breath while still holding and glancing down at her phone. Whatever was going on has her attention, though she's also keeping an ear out on the conversation. Obviously. "Oh, yeah, the bones are kind of annoying but can't really do anything about it," she has to agree with a wry smile cast toward Bunny.

Then Mark being oh-so-serious has her expression shift to a more serious one.

"... Okay, but it requires a little back story. I'll make it quick all right?"

"I'm a clone. Lab made, grown, whatever. My sisters and I were made from stolen DNA and when the majority failed to show the mutation they wanted, we became guinea pigs and trained 'security' for the labs." The way she says security though? It doesn't sound as if it was a good thing.

"When I first got out there were people who helped me. Some good, some... not. He was one of the 'not so good' ones that helped me so I have a soft spot for him. I've tried to work with him over the years to ease away from being a full on criminal." Tried. "He's currently a mercenary. Which is why he can't tell me who hired him," she remarks holding her phone up. Was she texting him *right now*? Apparently.

"But he confirms they may be someone close to you, they didn't want you dead just messed up, and I'm going to suggest as soon as you feel better we move you somewhere safer."

The phone dings again drawing her gaze down only to clear her throat. "He says 'learn to dodge.'"

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Just an observation! I'm sure it's weird listening to my stomach when I've had too much dairy!" Bunny protests at Mark, and looks a little hurt and apologetic at the dark-haired heroes, and then her eyebrows draw up at the conversation. The story of Gabby's past she knew -- bits an pieces of -- but she leans back on her heels a moment, and then she holds up her hands "As a note you both promised me you wouldn't fight each other like Scott Pilgrim even if I'm a manic pixie girl." she states, not wanting Mark to get worked up.

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark knows that Gabby runs in all types of weird and mutant circles. He shouldn't be surprised that she knew his number and was texting him. He honors his word, he's not going to fight Gabby just because she's texting.

"Bunny and I were talking about moving in together at the of the current semester. We could speed that up."

The comment about dodge more draws an angry snort. "I couldn't let him start flattening other building in the city. Though he's hung up on something. "Someone close to me?" A glance to Bunny in confusion. She never would.

"Who the hell is that close to me, that has that much money?" He doesn't grasp that, instead, he sort of deflates. "It had to have been some villain. Maybe Machinehead?" A pause and then, "He's a mob boss with a super computer for a head." there's the clarification.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney just gives a broad shrug helplessly at the suggestion from Bunny. "I was *joking* when I brought up Scott Pilgrim! I figured it'd be less embarassing to tease that than to ask if he was up for sharing, but I mean, I got to get at least a little teasing in! It's *me*," she points out with her tongue stuck out oh-so-seriously at Bunny.

More seriously she adds, "He's also a member of the JLD. His power comes from a magical artifact that merged with him. He's essentially the mortal icon of an old and angry god. Which is why I can't get involved directly in his mercenary stuff, I mean..." She deflates a bit with a glance down at the floor. "... I know several mercenaries. A few are my sisters. It's not an easy thing to balance out, and I don't expect either of you to have to deal with it. Just." The words actually stop coming at that point so she just raises a hand to scrub over her face a time or two.

"I more meant like a safe house for a bit. One of my half-sisters family has a place out in the Hamptons I have access to but haven't touched since she left the JLD. I don't think anyone would consider you getting help from your girlfriend's ex's sister."

"Also, solid name for a villain. Much better than Condiment King."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Gotham villains are *weird*." Bunny agrees in spite of the fact that she and Mark recently fought a very polite terrorist named Mr. Manners. "But Machinehead sounds like a Daft Punk knock-off band." she admits quietly, taking up some real estate at the end of Mark's bed and drawing her knees up so she can sit her chin on them. "Who would want you to be beat-up and left only *mostly* dead?" she questions.

    And she looks at Gabby, then over to Mark "If you need to go into hiding until you're healed up, I understand, but no one has my address except our usual pizza delivery guy and Art."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I'm not sure how'd I responded to sharing back then." Mark admits. "But now, not a chance." He makes a face at Gabby, and sighs as he settles back on the bed. A knock on the door announces the arrival of food. "Hey! We got that food you asked for! So..." he calls out. "...which one of you is dating Mark?"

"If you put me into hiding, won't he know as well?" he asks reasonably. "Or is that kept seperate as well? And I'm not going to leave Bunny."

"I don't know, that's what doesn't make sense. A villain would want me dead? Did I piss off someone on New Krypton?" he furrows his brow and shakes his head before lifting his head to call out as the door is knocked on.

"Someone will be there in a moment. Chill!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"The point was to make you super embarassed, silly," Gabby points out with a chuckle at the talk of that, though she does dip her head in acknowledgement of his current stance on such a topic.

The talk of knowing where he went though? At that she flashes a grin in amusement. "He doesn't know about it. Only my sister and her boyfriend at the time and I knew. It's MY resource, not..." She takes a deep breath. "He knows I might hide you but he doesn't know where, or how. We keep secrets. We have to."

The knocking on the door causes her to roll her eyes as she pushes away from where she had taken up leaning against Mark's desk. She leans in the doorway opening the door just enough to reach out for the food with a wink toward the guy.

"The hot blonde is," she explains. "I'm just here because I like to watch." She stares at the guy a moment without blinking apparently messing with his reaction before letting out a laugh. "I'm teasing, I'm just hanging out, they're friends. Thanks for grabbing the food!" And the door shuts again.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "uuuugh I'm dying on account of embarrassment." Bunny mutters from her perch on the bed, and then Gabby answers the door.

    ANd with the 'I like to watch' bunny puts her face into her knees and screams in horror, it might have been a curse word. It's hard to say. But she screams all the same, and then very carefully just tilts over and flops to Mark's bed.

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark is turning a new and interesting shade of red as Bunny lets out a scream, he sits up a little more fully on the bed and as Gabby closes the door, the guy grunts. "Lucky ass." he mutters as he departs.

Mark turns his attention back to the conversation, his fingers brushing through Bunny's hair. "She just doesn't want you to see what I'm packing."

"I should be fine in a couple of days. Can you ask him how long the contracts for?" comes Mark's suggestion. "I assume when he's fufilled it or whoever did it doesn't pay him, it will stop, if this is truly mercenary work and not him getting his rocks off by beating on me."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney turns back with the bags of Chinese food in hand in amusement. "Got our minds off the topic for a minute at least," she reasons lightly. "And I've been taking care not to peek, Mark, don't worry." The bag of food is handed over to Bunny since she's right there and has more hands free than Mark at the moment being injured.

The question though? That causes her to raise an eyebrow at him looking confused. "It's already done, Mark." Her now-free hand gestures at him pointedly. "You're messed up, aren't you?" She's pretty sure at least, but after a moment of thought she fishes her phone out of her pocket to shoot off another text just to check.

A nibble is taken off an egg roll she purloined from the bag before handing it off. "Mm, yep, one time beating to toughen you up."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny sits up to accept the food, and breaks out the chopsticks immediately. Like any red blooded new yorker she takes her Chinese food seriously.

    Even though she did enjoy having Mark's fingers through her hair.

    "At least if anyone in class asks about the bruising while you're healing you can just say we got a little too energetic. THANKS GABBY NOW THINGS ARE STUCK IN MY HEAD." she accuses her bestie gently, and stirs up some of the food and hands the container to Mark.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"If you saw, you saw." Mark is at least trying to loosen up around Gabby. He's coming to understand her humor, and she really is a good friend to have if you earn it. He releases Bunny when she sits up and waits for the other two to eat before he makes his own plate.

And then Bunny's statement makes him sputter and he blushes anew! "...I didn't know that's what you were into, Bunbun." he comments dryly and accepts the food from Bunny with a smile before digging in, apparently well-versed in chop sticks.

"Off topic, since now we know he's done and I can go out again -- and not worry." he comments. "I'm sure you have questions, Gabby. I'm not from Earth. Well, I am, my father is not. His home planet is not even in this galaxy. There is another like me here, her name is Sunny. No relation." And he'll let her whatever questions she wants to ask next.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "UUURRRRRRRRRRRGGGH!" Bunny puts her head back down to her knees, this time pulling her sweatshirt up with one hand, holding her plate in the other as she totally just gives up.

    "SOmeone just drop a couple noodles down the hoodie opening for me every couple of seconds. I'm staying here until I turn a normal shade for a human being."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney tucks the mouthful of eggroll into her cheek causing it to puff out chipmunk-like while Bunny withdraws into her hoodie. Another grin comes as she watches with a small shake of her head. Even if it was amusing there's still a fondness in her gaze for her friend, all teasing aside.

"Ah, that's cool. I know a few Kryptonian clones, and half-human kids. Okay one half-human kid," she corrects herself with a little shrug. "I mean... I guess I'm curious what your powers are, or will be? Sounds like you're still growing into them from what you said earlier. Past that?" A shrug comes, and she dips her egg roll into one of those too-red sauces. "You grew up on Earth so I don't think there's much difference besides genetics. Not like we have to teach you pop culture."

Looking up again she points out, "Which *I* had to learn because labs until I was 15 so you're already one up on me."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Yeah, it's not like a Kryptonian, where they just have them." Mark comments. He takes out an egg roll and dangles it over the opening of the Bunny hoodie without dipping it within to coax her back out. "Do you know of a hero, about twenty years ago? Went by Omni-Man. That is my father. Bunny met him recently."

Dangle dangle, dangles the egg roll some more. "He was damn indestructible. Once moved and then smashed an asteroid the size of Texas. He flew from another galaxy to this one. He doesn't have lazer vision or xray eyes, but strength and speed wise? He's on par with Superman. Easily. Without the weakness to a certain green rock, or magic."

"And he's convinced that with experience and time, I will be there as well." Mark finishes, waiting to see if Bunny comes back out. "Yeah, from what he said, Viltrum -- that's where he comes from -- where they are all like him, they send out their best to make contact with inhabited worlds and help better their society. This world already had plenty of heroes, though. He has no idea how he lost his powers. He just ... one day, didn't have them."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    There's a surge of movement as Bunny both hops to her knees *and* pulls down the sweatshirt to bite on the eggroll like a crock onto a chicken on a pole. There's a CRUNCH. She almost gets Mark's finger in the process -- unless he doesn't move his finger fast enough.

    "Mrmrblcb frtugt frr nergolls." comes out of Bunny's mouth. MONCH.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney aahs softly to herself. Partially because her mouth was full of finishing off her own egg roll, partially because she was listening. And nodding in apparent understanding of things. Her own chopsticks are picked up at this point to swipe up some lo mein noodles from the 'plate' she'd made for herself out of the goodies here.

"Ah, I get you. Yeah my older sister used to do something similar to help me 'keep on my toes'. Once in the forest near my school she perched as a sniper in a tree forcing me down a corridor she'd created to funnel me in toward her pit traps. Then there's the times she kept testing my healing factor by slipping different poisons into my food-- Which," she adds quickly jabbing her chopsticks toward the pair, "Is part of the reason I tell everyone to avoid her cooking. She likes to test *herself* too."

Mark Grayson has posed:
He's glad that Bunny didn't get his finger, he'd hated to mess up her cute little bucktooth smile. As Bunny rejoins them, Mark turns his attention back to Gabby, listening to the story. "Yeah, my dad talked alot about how he was disappointed that he couldn't train me himself. He had hopes we'd be able to fly together and play catch by throwing a baseball around the world." There's a small sigh at that. "Your sister sounds a little cruel." comes the admission as she explains getting poisoned and other things.

As he takes a few more bites of his food, and then he scowls a little. "You're not suggesting my dad set this up, are you? Bunny and I just had dinner with him a few nights ago!" It's a protest, a frown as he shakes his head. "My dad wouldn't do that. He has contacts with other heroes, he can just call them if he wanted me to get help!"

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Yeah. Her sister's hot sauce almost killed me when she used it to make a map on a pizza when she contracted me to make a delivery of some romance novels to... ah... herself." Bunny shruuuuuuuugs at that. "I guess she wanted to make sure I was trustworthy." she replies thoughtfully.

    And she monches the second half of her eggroll. "And he's right. His dad still has contacts, but he writes scifi and travelogues now." Bunny swallows.

    "He IS still really intimidating though. Almost as intimidating as Laura."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney claps a hand over her face with a little groan upon hearing this. THIS she hadn't heard. "Oh god she did? Ugh. At least she didn't test you out like that guy I saw awhile in Highschool." She doesn't get into that. At all.

A concerned, perhaps uncertain and worried look turns back toward Mark while she chews. Quietly. Thoughtfully. Only to gulp the bite down. "I don't know your dad to say one way or another, Mark. I just know that my own family is a bit unconventional and 'in the biz' so our methods are usually a bit..." She trails off a moment. "She's not cruel. She honestly thought she was helping me to improve. It was her way of showing love and care... A weird way, I know, but she had it worse than me in how she was brought up. Wanting someone to get stronger and better is kind of the best way she knows how to show it."

"If it had been someone *else* doing that stuff to me, she would be there in an instant to take them out."

"Just. The phrase he used. 'To toughen you up.' Do you know anyone else that's concerned of how to help you get stronger?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark pushes himself to his feet, sheet falling away as he reaches for his boxers. "He wouldn't hire someone, just to try to toughen me up. He's been encouraging training, saying I could get there faster if I went harder." Pulling on the shorts, he's moving around gingerly, trying to find his clothes.

"I'm going to fly out there /right now/ and find out if that's the turth or not!" His voice is strained, hurt, fists clenched as he digs out a shirt to put on.

"...what happened with Juggernaut was a fluke! I can do better next time!"

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "The Heck You Are!" Bunny states, and she brings her hands up and puts a shield over both his window and the door.

    "Mark Grayson your leg looks gross, you ruptured organs, your eyes are still bloodshot, you can't even stand up straight and you put your boxers on backwards!"

    And it doesn't matter if he did or not, she's still saying it because him checking might buy a few seconds of time.

    "And right now it doesn't matter if he did or if he didn't. You're in no condition to fly out. Your costume's in shreds, you still need *time* to Heal!" Bunny pleads out. She's trying to balance her plate between her chest and one leg.

    "/Please/ Mark -- give yourself some time!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney stands up when Bunny does, and clears her throat. "Hey. Don't." It's quiet, but said firmly, while still looking concerned. Bunny might have better luck.

"First off heal up. Secondly... If I'm wrong, and I'm not denying I could be, accusing him of that could really hurt your relationship with your dad. I'd say heal up, keep an ear out, maybe try to figure it out?" She wasn't entirely sure.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I..." Mark feels his shoulders slump. "Fine." He's not going to fight. But at least he has some clothes on. He moves to sit back down next to Bunny. "I'll look into it."

He starts to tuck back into his food again, shovelling the noodles into him and he closes his eyes. He's not going to cry. The thought that his own dad would hire a hit on him...

...it's a heavy thought.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny lets down her shields. She takes a deep breath, and then leans against Mark.

    "You want me to stay here with you tonight?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark looks to Bunny and gives a nod of his head. "I do." he admits quietly. "But Gabby may not want to stay for that." A wane smile. He's trying to recover!

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney rolls her eyes. "Point taken. On that note, byyyeee," she sing-songs only to head for the door. She could take a hint!

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "I'm going to sleep above the covers, 'cause YOU have to heal up more." Bunny states sternly, and brushes a kiss to Mark's cheek.

    "Thanks for the help, Gabby. Be safe on your way back to the East Village, yeah?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Thank you, Gabby. Even if it turns out it's not true, I need to investigate it." Mark admits. "I'm not bringing Bunny with me for that, however." Just in case Gabby /is/ right and there's trouble.

"Be safe." he echoes Bunny on that. "And put a sock on the door handle on the way out?"