Unmasking

5. Moving(pt2)

Nina sighted lightly. "It does hurt" She admitted.

"And just prey tell why you didn't tell that to him?" Asked James and she could hear a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Do you really think he wouldn't do everything in his power to keep me away from protests including tying me and frowning into a cab back home?" Nina looked back at him. The man didn't react but nodded after a moment.

"I give you that and just make it clear it's because you're injured. That being said I don't think you should go either. I know you would tell that to anyone else around you." He sighted sitting in the subway car next to her. After a moment Nina still stood up. The shaking didn't make her ribs hurt any less. "You see that's what I mean" He pointed out and looked at her with those green eyes she wished she could paint.

"I'm going to rest tomorrow. Get the battery to zero before changing them, you know?" She smiled lightly before realizing something. "My bat! Shit!" She looked around slightly panicked until she felt something poke her helmet.

"I thought you'd never ask" Once again his voice changed into a cheeky one. The only nice thing about that mask was that she could focus on the warm low tones. And it showed her what he felt maybe even better than his expression would. She took the bat into her hands and placed it under the jacket.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier!?" The woman huffed.

"I just wanted to see how long it would take time for you to realize something was missing. Maybe without it you wouldn't be jumping straight into a war zone to rescue some stupid IT guy who I might just murder when I go back" Relied James amused by the situation. In his eyes she was like a cat. Not a kitten, you never worry about your safety with a kitten. She was a cat and he wasn't sure if she was a home cat or a puma on a hunt. Still adorable and he couldn't help teasing lightly.

"You know I just might go against your words" She huffed and James suddenly stood up, his arm gently holding her shoulder as they stopped.

"Do not Ni-Noemie. I am telling you that for your own good. Me and Michael are leaving and I'm not sure if you'll be lucky not to end up in a hospital now." He replied his voice deep and serious as he gently nudged the speechless blonde to the exit. All this time his hand was around on the woman shoulder and it took her a while to realize that this way no one could bump into her.

There was a crowed again at the protest and Nina was already heading toward the front when she felt someone grabbing her helmet. "And where do you think you're going." Huffed James. "Seriously, do you have any self reservation instinct in that head of yours?" He asked letting go. "Come on, Michael said a safe spot I'm giving you one. And if you dare to go to the front I am gluing you to the wall." He spoke once again holding her closer.

"Kinky" Was all Nina could think of as a reply and James exaggerated sight made her giggle.

"You know what. I will miss you a bit. You're like that annoying mice I never had" He spoke looking ahead.

"I will miss you a bit too. You're like that annoying tree I never had" She retorted chuckling as he shook his head. Finally he found a spot he seemed to like. Most protestors were sitting and he believed she wouldn't move from here. "So you have everything? Bat, water, brain?" He asked helping her get comfortable on the bench.

"Wait a brain? What is that?" She smirked then carefully raising her hand to hug the man. James obliged and leaned down. It was more awkward than with Michael because she now had the helmet on and yet somehow she felt James was even more careful than the other.

"You take care and don't do anything stupid. Something happens call Michael, ok?" He made sure kneeling so he could look her straight into her eyes. Nina smiled softly.

"I will. You too James. Look out for yourself. And for James. While I believe Michael is the mom friend I can see you in a dad r-" James closing her helmet stopped her from finishing the sentence.

"Seriously. I don't know what to do with you anymore." Chuckled and gently tapped the helmet. "See you around Nina"

"I hope we meet soon!" She looked at the man as he walked away, but then a though stroke her. When did she ever give them her first name? "Wait- WHAT???"

_____________________________________

There was chaos again. And that time it didn't erupt from the cops side. And that scared her just as much.

She did stay put all through the day and most of the evening. Things weren't exactly calm but not as nearly dangerous as the days before. That and she wasn't planning on fighting anyone today, she was in too much pain to even try. But when it got darker ... Things got more violent.

On her way back home she had witness a store robbery. The man didn't still get inside and she just... she couldn't be another by stander. She just couldn't because this wasn't how it was supposed to be. Because she was scared what that course of action would lead to. So no matter how small she was she wasn't scared to stand up to someone. If they kill her it will be some foreigner blood on their hands and she would make them regret what they did from beyond her grave.

"What are you doing. Stop!" She yelled getting herself between the robbers and the entry doors. Of course they started swearing that much didn't scare her. "Do you realize what you're about to do! How much others this will cost" She tried to be diplomatic but it was hard. She was tired they were violent and just then she realized just in how bad of a position she was. May her passive aggressive attitude that made her do combats sports to relax be blessed. It did come handy now but not handy enough. She didn't have any black belts and while she could swing well, she wasn't the type of person to easily hit another with full force that easily.

Luckily at some point someone trying to stop the fight. Unluckily that moment of hope filled distraction cost her a elbow and kick to the ribs. And that's when she both heard and felt it. A loud crack. Like that bubble wrap sound but ten times louder for a moment her vision was white. Someone pulled her out of that fight as she gasped for air. Nina did her best to keep standing but she fight to keep on breathing. She couldn't even cry and she fell backwards when she heard his voice.

"Nina? Shit..." James rather panicked voice came to her as he carefully lifted the woman getting her to choke out a faint cry. "I am not panicking alright. Just talk to me" She could feel he was carrying her somewhere probably to a cab.

"I swear... to god... if you take... me to a... hospital... I will..." She wheezed out until James interrupted her.

"Is this really what you're worrying about right now? Just... Just stop talking then" He spoke and she could hear the slide of a car door. Or was it a van.

"How is she?" She could hear Michael voice. Or was it James? Who was the one that called her name? Why did they know her name?

"Stop asking stupid questions. We need to take her with us" Her helmet and jacket were removed, the bat forgot somewhere in the crowd. Thank god it was one she bought herself. And why was she thinking about the most random thing now?

"Nina, hey Nina, look at me. I need you to stay awake." Warm hands were holding her hand as the van started and the woman let out a strangled cry her eyes full of tears.

"We can't take her with us!"

"I dare you to tell me you'd rather leave her in front of an ER!"

"I wou-"

"S-toP!" Her raspy scream made the car go silent. "please..." She tried to take a deep breath but that just made breathing so much harder.

"We're sorry Nina. Everything will be fine. Just please keep your eyes open." Wait were her eyes open? She didn't see anything? "Nina?

"Nina!"