Angst angst, and more angst [Rena/Irazehl]

[Deleted]

Nella stood idly brown a magazine rack in Wonderboy's Comics Galore, fiddling with her phone. An old flip phone, that would probably crack cement if she dropped it from waist height. Could be likened to an IEM if dropped from shoulder height, and a full on tactical nuke if she chanced to drop if over the edge of a building. It was a dangerous item to be sure, and was possibly what coated Wolverine's skeleton.

"Your coffee, ma'am," A steaming cup of joe had been brought out for her from behind the counter. Not a normal thing, but it was pretty dead at the moment, and the barista was probably fidgety, needing to move. Without a word of thanks, Nella accepted the coffee, and though it was, of course, fresh, Nella didn't have a problem holding the hot carryout cup, as she had softgloves covering each hand agaisnt the crip outside air. She took a small draw, and while she didn't flinch, she lamented that she should've blown on it first.

An incoming text blipped on her phone, interrupting the worst bowling game that was ever coded, and she exited out of it. From the good doctor, 'Pick up some milk before you come home, if you'll be home by 11'. Sure, of course he'd send her on an errand run. It made sense, Nella supposed, near literally 10 seconds for her, or 10 minutes to an hour for him, depending on traffic. Well, maybe not 10 seconds, walking for once sounded nice, and it's not like she wasn't just killing time. Nella reholstered the plastic bag on her wrist that contained a part of her, shoving the partially free hand into her pocket. The convenience store was just a hop and a skip from here, and if for some reason they didn't have milk, there was the big ol' chain further down.

Nella left the comic shop, pulling her hood against the cold, among the few to walk around in less than a coat. She wouldn't steal it, like she did many things. Or steal money to buy the things she needed. If asked, she would say she worked from home, but Nella didn't really work. After all, super villainy didn't really give you a good resume. She did have a few crumpled bills in her pocket though, from previous ventures. It was a lot more honest than she was... What a pain.

A quick clack, and she opened her phone again, looking for a text to see if Irazehl was on his way at all. She wouldn't blame him, as she knew that her little dorky gamer boy, was the anti hero Nightshade. Whether it was good that the boy and hero had been one in the same, or worst.

[Deleted]

Irazehl was sitting in a vacant booth, seeming to work on homework for uni when the text came. A chemistry textbook was sprawled out among highlighters and pencils and wouldn't-you-know-it a cup of black coffee. He reached instinctively for his Titans communicator before realizing the vibration was coming from his civilian phone.

Oh no, was that today?

Well that was enough reconnaissance for today anyways. He shut the notepad which contained not chemistry notes but a detailed list of vehicles and people entering and exiting the building opposite the diner, which was suspect for human trafficking. It was convenient to be in his casual wear already, slipping into the backdrop of life as an extra that goes unnoticed. It was still a pity that his work was affecting his life, and he couldn't find himself a decent cup of coffee without setting foot in the scum of societies low-lifes. The line of thought made him wonder though; was Nightshade the real second life or was Irazehl? Had his metaphorical mask become a bigger lie than his physical one?

He stuffed his titans communicator and the notepad into the secret compartment of his hip pack, as he stuffed the identity crisis to the back of his head with all the rest of the rubbish and seemingly inconsequential thoughts. Steam rose over baggy eyes as he finished his coffee to disguise his movements as he glanced one last time out the frosted glass to see that, indeed nothing had changed in the building in question.

Scarf first, then his patched thrifted jacket.

He was starting to feel more comfortable with Nella. If he wasn't so suspicious she was Blacklist maybe he wouldn't be so apprehensive; but that's what made it so exciting wasn't it?
But all the same, he didn't feel the need to dress to impress or be particularly suave anymore. Not, at least at this level of dating.

Dating? Ew.

He shuddered uncomfortably at the thought, punctuating his mental train by dropping a few heavy coins on the table, but the fact was undeniable at this point. He didn't have the best dating record but thankfully Nella seemed less clingy than Camille. Whether or not she turned out to be a murderous terrorist like Camille remained to be seen. Irazehl noted his particular fondness of bad girls before telling himself that Nella could still be every bit the girl she seemed.

One hand pushed open the front doors of the diner while the other texted Nella.
>> omw where to meet?

[Deleted]

It wasn't as if she could get mad at Irazehl for forgetting, or being late. Even if she wanted to, she was usually too tired. It didn't helpt that Nella knew what he did for his real job. The hero Nightshade, busy bee watching for a kidnapping string.

<<omw where to meet?

That was habit of his Nella wanted to break, smiling at the reply from him, despite the utter lack of grammar. Then, he might have known she had text size limits. Not that her grammar improved much, mind you.

>>Elks Diner? Fresh grounds, cheap food

A near literal hole in the wall diner with a couple tables, a large counter for additional spaces to eat, and quick service, and good coffee. Not the best eats, but truckstop styled food was good at time.

"Er, two coffees please," Nella placed her order looking up at the large man. It was times like these she lamented being as small as she was, besides looking like she was some teenager.

"Sure," the man grunted, turning his back to prepare the pot of coffee and two coffee cups.

There was another reason, only for a twinge of a little innocent twisting, that Rena so enjoyed. The place had been the last siting of two of the missing persons that were likely tied to the same kidnapping ring that Irazehl was shooting ball with.

She didn't particularly care, but a little more caffeine wouldn't hurt her sleep depravated self. Her cup she'd gotten at the comic shop was running dry. She dipped it into the trash. Nella yawned, not bothering to hide how tired she felt. He already knew how little 'Nella' slept anyways, nightmares and whatnot.

The kidnappings, were not why she was here though, pulling a little more than usual to have him come now, by the additional text. Bigger fish to fry, dorky gamer boy. If she could keep herself from being tongue tied around him, she actually had important things to say. So much for being one in the same to the Blacklist that stood up to great odds.

At least she could make him feel at home, best she could. Nella chose the 2 person table, sitting with her own back to the door. She knew he'd more likely be comfortable able to see the exits, and with his own back to a wall to stop the unlikely person trying to sneak up. It was the natural perch of an antihero.

[Deleted]

One seedy diner to another.

It was convenient that she happened to choose Elk's diner, seeing as it was the next stop in his recon work; however, he had already made the mental commitment to set his superhero life aside when around Nella. Actually getting a bite too eat instead of occupying an entire booth with a single cup of coffee wasn't too terrible an idea, and he could never do with too much caffeine given his lifestyle. Seemed like an agreeable plan, if he could get his mind to stop analyzing and criminalizing the employees.

He hopped off the back of the moving bus he had caught a ride on the back of, here in the shady part of town. It wasn't quite as bad before night had fallen, having to step over only one doped out junkie in the alley and being solicited by a prostitute only once. He couldn't help but ponder whether the kidnapping ring was supplying the local pimps with their fresh meat, or if that junkie was the product of a new drug den popping up. God damned animals, preying on the weak. The real evil that lurks in everyone, ready to turn us back to beasts.

Stop.

He had to put these trains of analysis at rest, as the blood rush of righteous fury began filling him. He was Irazehl, just a nobody. No need to concern himself. Getting a cup of coffee and maybe a sandwich with a good friend he happened to want to bang. Normal person things. If he was capable of a normal life, that is.

He spotted the back of Nellas head as he entered, before placing his coat and bag on the back of the chair opposite her. As if on cue, the waiter brought out two steaming cups of hot black coffee, or whatever hogwash passed for coffee in this place. He settled, leaning back comfortably in his chair as the coffee was lain out before him, looking up from it to Rena's face.

"I made it, glad I could squeeze you into my incredibly lax schedule. Hope this place is good, I've never been" He opened a bit plainly, before eyeing his cup suspiciously. He wasn't fond of terrible coffee, and he was skeptical of 'fresh grounds' being found east of the tracks.

[Deleted]

"'incredibly lax' my ass" Nella teased, putting a little too much emphasis on imitating him. Not perfect in any sense, but just enough to be obvious. Nella picked her cup up, keeping her right arm, which beneath the sleeves still were wrapped in the bandages at her side.

"How many allnighters this week?" she asked, staring into the blackened liquid in her cup. Piping hot, fresh, and while the aroma wasn't speciality coffee shop glamorous, but for diner coffee, it was certainly a grade above gas station.

Nella took a sip from the cup, enjoying the bitter taste in her mouth, letting it sit for a moment to savor the taste. Maybe fresh grounds had been a bit of a stretch to say, but it was strong, and tasted nice.

"Never mind, dont' answer that, saw ya the other day, papers everywhere, and enough coffee to solve California's drought." The shadow of a smile passed her lips. She knew the story, it came with her contacts, but she wandered as Nella mostly now. Blacklist even now, would draw in a lot of attention.

"But uh, is everything okay, though?" She asked, taking another drink. The question was aimed both at him personally, if he was doing okay, with a probable 'no'. And if the Titans knew anything about what was happening. Not what happened with that other Shift.

She had no other word to call it, besides other. Similar scars, same voice, and even smell, though less showers. This... Changeling also concerned her, trying to kill her for no other reason than confronting her. And she gave me, ME the heebie jeebies.

That wasn't even starting with the other one, that fake Tinker she heard about. It wasn't until the red furred wannabe, that she put any stock in it. The name was free, and it's not like she cared if someone took up some 'martyrs' mantel. But a new Tinker, and a new Shift. Both were coincidences that don't happen at the same time.

Taking care of that was next on her list, after she made sure Irazehl was going to be cautious.

[Deleted]

Irazehl suppressed a chuckle when she inquired how many all nighters he had been up to. A better question would be how many chances had he had a good nights sleep. This week was a fat zero. Instead of answering he gave her a blank stare over baggy eyes to accompany a half smirk. He returned his attention turning over the still hot coffee mug in his hands, spreading the warmth over his cold fingers. She got the hint.

"Never mind, don't answer that, saw ya the other day, papers everywhere, and enough coffee to solve California's drought."

Yup, sounded like him. It had gotten bad enough that he couldn't tell which day she was referring to. He dulled out whether to tease her for stalking him or try his hand at awkward flirtation. It was weird trying to be nice, teasing and banter being his bread and butter for piquing a girls interest then drawing in the ones that reciprocate.
"Spend enough time with me and you'll find yourself up all night too"
Normal flirtation won out, and he congratulated himself early for what he thought was a smooth verbal maneuver. However, in reality, it could very well have been closer to sandpaper. Maybe it went over her head.

"But uh, is everything okay, though?"

HAHAHAHAHAHA. No. Shit was fucked up. The city's falling apart. New mafia forming, new kidnapping ring, the police force was on an all time high for apathy, there is evidence for new drug dens Mathew hasn't done shit about, there is only so much one guy can-
"Haha, I'm fine. I've lived through worse. Once finals are over I'll be able to relax" He faked a smile convincingly.
"How about you? What's eating up your schedule?"

Don't say robbing a bank. Don't say robbing a bank. Don't say robbing a...

~~~~~~~
Edit: Spelling

[Deleted]

Nella blinked, momentarily caught off guard. It seemed she wasn't the only one that could catch her date off guard. Probably why she found it hard to get him off his mind. When she was Blacklist, during the... war, and even now. It had eased her own burden, knowing she could do this, sit with him, without the sense of hostility, that was. Still a bit of a 'cat and mouse game', or more like, 'cat and cat game'.

"eh heh, I'll... I'll take you up on that," She said, seeming to make her mind up as she kept talking. It helped just how awkward the boy was. So confident up against walking gods, and those that rose the literal dead from their rest, but had a stammer, and a crack to his voice. There were a couple things needed to be taken care of first though. Can't exactly enhance a relationship without giving up a few secrets, and she had a few. The scars on her body would have to be explained, even the ones she hid beneath the bandages, even as Blacklist. And if she could even, anymore. She should find out.

Playing hardball, but that's how Irazehl usually was. That's how Nightshade usually was. Didn't like to give away information that he didn't need to. Like everyone though, he had tells. It wasn't about school, she figured he saw the inside of a classroom about as often as she did. Which meant that she knew how to read and write because of Athena. Even Nightwing training her, didn't bother much with that, since it was backburner material compared to trying to make his own version of a Robin. He was worried about something, and it likely might be linked to the doublewhammy doppelgangers going on.

"Avoiding a lot of sighs." Nella said. Basically nothing aside from making herself scarce around sirens, despite any sort of curiosity. She didn't need to run into Nightshade or Shift. Especially the latter, considering the whole problem with scent. She never even bothered to say she had any real job, just odds and ends here and there, when asked. "But I'm serious here." she said, setting her cup down, part way gone already.

Her shift in attitude was apparent. Nella despite her reciprocated flirtations, even of the less innocent variety, was done with that topic.

"Something real bad is going down. The exploding mall, is one thing, but there's something else. Did you hear the rumours of evil heroes?" Nella asked, deciding she would call it a rumour. Sure it was pretty flaggy, but she wanted to make sure he was cautious. Much moreso than usual. If there was some suped up evil counterpart to him, too, then that would be pretty bad. "The doc said he heard word of a red shapeshifter, like that green one, on steroids, attacking people." The doc, was of course her roommate, whom usually made himself scarce whenever Nella brought Irazehl over, if he was even there in the first place, as his work had him on call at all times as a surgeon. And in a town full of heroes, villains, and collateral damage, not really hard to stay busy.

Not the best analogy, but Nella, as Nella, had toed with this red shifter, and had noted the eery likeness to 'Thena. Aside from being smarter, faster at shifting, and well, stronger. Even dodging a bullet, something 'Thena had failed to do on several occasions. "Even me." she said. The red shapeshifter, had attacked Nella.