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Jada was running much, much later than she intended to. She had gotten everything gathered up and had meant to make her run to the donation center much earlier in the day, but then she'd had to interview someone for a gardener position, and the chef had pulled her aside to inquire about any allergies, and there had been a few other things that had sucked away minutes and hours, and now it was almost 10:30, and her arms were full of bags and boxes and she was, frankly, in a really shitty part of town with her henshin pen still at the house.

Her heels clacked against the cold pavement, and she almost stumbled as one slipped into a crack she couldn't see past the pile in her arms. s**t, and it was cold. She had forgotten how much stronger she was as a senshi- she could probably have gotten all of this in one trip if she had brought her pen. But no; she'd left her pen, she hadn't worn leggings, she only had a half-jacket, and-

Jada tripped, gracefully (or not,) toys spilling out of the box and onto the pavement. Her knees hit the ground, skin tearing, ankle twisting, and she cursed into the cool night air. "I give up. I'm done. Just let me freeze to death." This was absolutely ridiculous- and she still had about 4 more trips in the jag.

She was here. Ankle burning, knees burning, freezing to death on the concrete in the cold, surrounded by the remnants of Christmas cheer. It could, she supposed, be worse. She could think of at least 5 ways that would be worse to go. She could feel her hair spilled over one cold hand like a weight, one curl perfectly placed across her palm, and the concrete scraping the back of her thighs, digging like icy fingers. She should have worn boots. She could have died with her calves warm, and an untwisted ankle.

The sound of footsteps made her groan, firm and quick, approaching her position, and she realized she may very well just look like a lump on the sidewalk, as was only true. But, for her care about appearances, she would, eventually need to open her eyes. It wouldn't do for her to scare a stranger into calling 911 or something when she was just laying here, mortified and cold, slowly freezing.

"I'm okay," she answered, hearing the other person moving around, starting to collect the gifts. A deeper voice, masculine, and she gave a quiet sigh of resignation. "I'll pick those up in a moment, you don't need to worry. I'm just laying here, slowly dying of mortification." But he continued, arranging her boxes before dropping beside her with a thump, and Jada opened her eyes, slowly taking in the figure kneeling next to her.

Oh, holy ******** and sweet silent night. She scrambled up, grabbing for her purse, ignoring the screaming pain in her ankle as she took in the negaverse agent with a genuine fear. s**t. s**t, s**t, s**t.

"Thank you," she had at least told him before she panicked. "Slick, and cracked. I appreciate it."

But now she stood staring down at his bent head, hand scrambling in her purse for her pepper spray- because that wasn't going to do s**t, but if she was going to die here, she was at least going to get in a good lick and a kick to the shin. Under her, her ankle screamed in protest, but held her, for now. She wouldn't be able to run if he attacked her, however.

But he didn't move, keeping his head tilted down and staying in his kneeling position. Jada swallowed, staring down at him, brow furrowing. This was how Chaos tricked you, right? Looking polite, and innocent?

His eyes opened, and this time she didn't flinch, staring into the bright green of them. "You're probably right," she agreed, but didn't move off the ankle, staying as solidly balanced as she could for now. "You- I appreciate the help but- you're one of those terrorists, right? Isn't it kind of dangerous for you to stop and help pick up some packages?"

I'm not a terrorist, he said softly, and Jada paused, looking at him carefully. She was, to be fair, absolutely terrible at knowing when people were lying to her, and as far as being easy to manipulate and probably a great target for an easy energy snack, she would be top of the list. Still, it was hard to put that kind of resigned despair into a lie.

He stood, and she wobbled backwards uncertainly, but her face didn't contort with further fear; he kept his hands up, and the sash remained on the ground where it had spilled from his hands. I saw someone in need and I wanted to help. Funny- that was the words she'd heard from so many of the senshi, and so few of the Negaverse. Then again, she didn't get a chance like this very often. Most Negaverse agents wanted her starseed or her energy.

"I've got those and 4 more loads to move in my car," she said after a moment, still watching him. "I'm going to be on it for a while anyway, getting them moved." one manicured hand reached out, after a moment, taking the coat he offered, she moving to pull it on, feeling the long coat brush almost around her ankles, from their height difference. There was even a hood, and she fluffed out her curls to fill it, shuddering with the chill.

It was strange, wearing it, and knowing it was created by a magic that... "Thank you, Aluminite. I'm..." she paused, considering if she should tell him her name. Well, as long as she was naive civilian... "I'm Jada."

His mouth curled for a split second, and Jada paused, swimming uncertainly in his coat for a moment before tucking her hands into the sleeves and holding it closed as best she could. If a Negaverse agent being chivalrous was their idea of a horrific trap, maybe they actually did need some help.

He shifted, and this time Jada didn't flinch and curl in on herself. "If you are really feeling the Christmas spirit, I suppose you can help. Who am I to turn you down? But...." she gave him a wry smile. "Please don't stack me up with all those boxes. I'm not doubting you being able to do it, but I know my balance tonight, and I would probably fall off the pile and twist the other ankle."

Most of the rest of the boxes were still in her car... "Thank you," she responded to him, surprised at how... mannerly... he was, and pushed a lock of hair out of her face. Her ankle wobbled, and she shifted her weight with a visible wince. "I'll show you where my car is, but maybe you could help me sit down first?" she gestured to the curb, not trusting herself to manage a seated position without breaking her other ankle.

Or her wrist.

What else had he had in mind? Which of the things she had said did he have an alternative in mind for? She pulled her lower lip into her mouth, worrying the corner as she gazed at him, before she jerked her chin up. She was Jada right now, not Scylla. There was no reason for Jada to continue to be completely afraid of a terrifying terrorist (hah!) or to cover her chest defensively the way some instinct told her to- make it harder to be preyed upon, perhaps.

"It's just a sprain, I'm sure," she demurred, but didn't pull away. Dark hair pushed out of bright green eyes, and she did the same with her own mess of curls. She didn't pull away as he approached, and when he slid his arm across her back, she leaned into it slightly, pulling her wounded ankle off the ground.

Tilting her head up (and up, and up- he was so damn tall) Jada eyed her surprising rescuer, considering. "You can carry me, but it might be easier on you to hobble. I'm not as light as I look, and this dress weighs a lot." She was sure, knowing what she did, that it wouldn't be a problem, but- "You could just help me hobble instead." she slid her oen hand over the one on his hip, her other one reaching up to grab onto him, which let the coat fall open and the cold rush in.

Damn it, next time- next time she was wearing jeans. "I'll defer to your judgement, though," she said at last, after trying to hobble on one heeled shoe. "Or I need to go barefoot."

Jada really wasn't expecting him to actually pick her up, and the ungainly squawk she made when he did, startled even her. She grabbed at his shoulders, violet eyes wide. "You don't have to!" she protested again. But he clearly thought that was the most effective way to get her moved, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. If anyone could see her now, they'd either chastise her for carelessness, letting the enemy that close, or they'd grump that she'd put herself in such a compromising position this late at night.

The last time she'd been picked up princess-style, she'd been bleeding out in the snow. Why was it she was only a princess if she had an injury? Clearly, she needed to up her level of accident-prone. This princess carry was impressive. Then again, she hauled around a little girl a foot and change shorter than she was all the time, so maybe it came with the height territory.

"Short people will take over the world," she assured him, "Given time and resources. Tall people like you won't see us coming until it's too late." As for her weight, she wasn't going to argue with him. She'd dropped, due to her modeling and some of the past habits she fought hard to break, and to now stave off. Jada had used to weigh a solid 140; now, she was lucky if she was 110, plus hair. But at only 5'2, it wasn't an unhealthy weight, just one that cut into her polar-bear cold protection.

She pursed her lips, looking up at Aluminite, considering. "For now, just that ledge. I'll prop it up. Once I get home, I can bandage it. I can feel my toes, so I'm sure it is just a sprain." and even if it wasn't, the speed at which her ankle would manage to heal from so minor an injury was something she didn't want to explain to a potential Agent of Evil.

Regardless of what she knew him to be (Negaverse), being in a strange man's arms like this, especially this late at night, would be a little uncomfortable for Jada; she couldn't hide the stiff way she rested in his grasp, wide eyes darting in every direction, including his face with its unreadable distance. How quickly could she get to her pepper spray? Would she be able to break his nose if he went for her chest? Would she be able to get to her car before his hand was in her chest, ripping and tugging, or he drained away her energy and left her completely defen-

Aluminite actually setting her down gently was the least of the things she expected him to do, even with his gentle manner; Jada visibly jumped as the cold cement pressed to the back of her thighs through the bottom of her borrowed coat. Hopefully, her companion would take it as surprise from the cold. It was, after all, almost as startling as the fact she wasn't dead yet.

Then again, how much had Jada learned about the Negaverse? They killed people (like senshi), drained energy (for what purpose), and some of them thought they were defending Earth from hostile alien invaders? They had feelings, and affection for their families, and friendships. They were people too. He settled beside her, and she gave her leg to his lap, leg twitching as his long fingers drew over her ankle, giving an involuntary hiss.

"I'm glad it isn't," she told him with a wry smile. "It will be hard enough getting home as it is." Home. The twins. She couldn't even ask him to drive her home, because what if he came back to check on her healing? What if he caught her powering up? Scholomance had his home set on fire for mere suspicion- what if-

"Why do you do it?" she asked, and knew it came out startled and short, inappropriately probing. "Why do you put on this... coat?"