Unmasking

2. Anger

The next day and the day after weren't easy. While Nina has managed to avoid getting herself into some real trouble she could see the tension rise. She had both tried to calm the protestant so that no one would get hurt and protect them from being unjustly attacked by the police. How come they were ready to beat the shit out of them - people who wanted to march peacefully, but seemed to do nothing when theft occurred?

Her helmet was now constantly on, and the stick of the banner turned into a baseball bat for it to be used in case of emergency. She hated the tension, that one of imminent danger, but that just fueled her determination.

While she made her best to be always in the front of the protest, she did earn herself a few bruises here and then, from being pushed harshly by cops. She didn't mind it though as long as everyone around was safe. As long as they could keep the violence at bay. But a day later things would change.

"TEAR GAS!" Someone in front of her screamed and for a second the woman froze. How dare they... HOW DARE THEY do this on a peaceful march. While everyone was running back she moved on forward, taking of the banner and revealing her baseball bat. The adrenaline made her hands shake lightly but god knows she was ready to release some pent up frustration. Some protestants were already on it, with cones and water to extinguish the fuming cans. But Nina has other plans. The moment she saw that small item flying through the air she aimed and sent it right were it came from.

"WE WANT JUSTICE NOT VIOLENCE! STOP!" She called out into the dark see of uniforms, but never got any reply, no matter how long she screamed. After a moment the small "grenades" stopped flying, but that didn't make her feel any safer. On the contrary. She quickly turned around scanning her surrounding.

There were few protesters left some attending to those who got the substance in their eyes. She herself moved to a young man in a mask. He was for sure taller than her, but he did look like he needed help right now.

"Hey, can you walk?" She asked kneeling lightly next to him. That's when she noticed her was wearing a well know to everyone mask. A Fawkes one. "Come on, we need to get you out of here" She spoke again carefully placing her hand on the man back and coughing lightly. The helmet didn't protect her completely.

The man let out a groan and Nina understood he was trying to blink and catch a gulp of air. After some time he only nodded. "I'd be thankful" Nina smiled setting the bat behind her belt and placed his arm around her shoulder.

"I will need your help with standing" She spoke in a soothing tone and pulled up. Thank god the man stood mostly on his own. Now that she looked at him he was really tall... Then again she was small, so she couldn't judge. "I'll give you some water once we're out of this mess. Try to keep your eyes closed." She spoke to him not wanting to keep walking in silence. She needed distraction as much as that man.

"You know you're pretty strong for someone so small" Chuckled the stranger from behind his mask. "By the way it's nice to meet you" He added in a soft voice. She couldn't see much of him, but Nina felt like he was a kind and cheeky person, even though he did just avoid telling his name. She noticed, but she wouldn't ask for it.

"Nice to meet you too, although I'd rather have me-" The air got punched out of her lungs and she tumbled over pulling the stranger with her. It hurt. IT FUCKING HURT. It took her a moment to understand what was happening around her.

"THEY ARE SHOOTING AT US? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" Screamed the guy in the mask before looking back at Nina. "Hey, please talk to me. I'll carry you just say something" He begged silently and after blinking a few times Nina nodded.

"I'm fine" She chocked out even though she felt she was the opposite of fine. She was in quite the amount of pain AND she needed to punch someone soon or she would probably die suffocated by the rage roaring in her chest. "Let's keep it low now. Are you hurt additionally?" She tried to joke lightly as they moved forward and into a side alley.

"Well if you look like this when you're doing fine I can't imagine how you look when you're not. But yeah still at the start line. I guess rubber bullets avoid me" He joked just as weakly as they finally emerged into a rather calm street. Still a lot of police, but no smoke and no screams.

Nina finally set the man next to a wall and crouched by him letting out a hiss. What the hell was that? Where she came from something like this would have never happened? She took out water from her backpack. "Can you take you're mask off? I just want to wash your eyes" She spoke in the same soft tone.

"Are you a nurse or something?" Asked the man, but then pulled his mask half down, half of his face was till hidden though. Nina payed it no mind - it wasn't any of her business and instead poured some water on his eyes while he started batting them to try and rinse the gas residue out of his eyes. Nina kept silent for a moment until the bottle was empty and immediately reached to give the stranger a new one to drink from.

"I'm the mom friend back home" She chuckled and flopped on the ground next to him holding her side lightly. And even though her tone was as soft as she could make it, her eyes hidden behind the helmet shone with anger.

"You know... you should go back home" Spoke the man

"So should you" Huffed Nina and then they both chuckled in unison. "How are your eyes?"

"Better. At least I can see now." He replied pulling his mask back up and this time exposing his lips and jaw to drink some water. "I'm sure it will get better in no time. Your ribs though? Like I can see you home if you want. Or at least get you into the subway. You really don't seem well. And I am also the mom friend so don't argue"

Nina actually laughed which quickly got her whimpering, because god it hurt so much. Not that she was going to go back home to rest. First she needed to either beat someone up and scream out her anger in another part of the city where protests took place. "I told you, I'll be fine. I'm not done yet" She mumbled.

"Well if you're staying I'm staying" Replied the stranger with a shrug.

"That's blackmail"

"That's what you get for helping strangers" You both chuckled.

"Alright. Then subway it is" Smiled Nina. She felt a bit bad about lying to him. But she wasn't going anywhere. A few more bat swings and she'd be able to go to sleep more or less peacefully. But for now she had to make sure he'd rest and her self destructive self was back standing her ground and venting some anger.

They walked a bit more chatting, although the stranger kept talked more. They really got along well and at the end...

"My station is the next one" Smiled Nina.

"Uhm... before we leave can we make a selfie?" Asked the man. Nina though for a moment. "I mean in masks... helmets? I will send it to you via Airdrop if you want" He quickly added and at that Nina nodded. That would be nice. One good memory in all the chaos and violence surrounding them. She leaned in closer trying to watch out for her side and subconsciously smiled even though no one would see it. Also she did notice how careful the other was not to get to physically close to her, his hand hovering bare milometers above her shoulder.

"Here. I guess you can't fuck up a selfie when we're all covered like that" He snickered typing something. "Oh sorry I completely forgot to sen it to you!" He apologized and soon the photo was in her art gallery.

Nina smiled lightly. "Well for all it's worth this day didn't turn out this bad so far" She added standing up as the subway slowed down. "It was really nice to meet you fellow mom friend"

"Same here. I hope we meet again" Waved the man as you got off. Once she was sure she was alone again, Nina took the next metro back into the city.

She was going to stand her ground. Even if she would end up with broken bones she would stand and stay as long as possible.

"I will not back down" She growled lightly emerging back into the city.