The amount of times Tony spent losing himself in nameless bars in seedy parts of the city had dwindled since his teen years. Never the less – sometimes it DID happen. He just needed… The anonymity for a bit. Even if he didn’t waste shitloads of money on alcohol, he’d spend it enjoying the chaotic atmosphere in other ways.
This was one of those days when he needed that escape.
So here he was, wandering the streets of night New York having just exited some unnamed bar in the middle of nowhere. The streets were only half lit – some of the light outright missing or broken, and he would bet that in those corners where the light did not reach trouble waited.
He snorted.
How obvious. Not a shred of creativity – just old cliches that demanded neither brain nor creativity – just sheer brute force. Steer away from the hot spots and they will stay away from you, too much of a coward to step into the light and attack the nameless passerby in plain light.
And thank you, Life. Now it was raining, too.
Wincing at the sudden cramping that started in his wounded shoulder – pulled probably, from some smartass back at the bar trying to drag him into a fight after the genius won a bit too much at the pool table – not recognizing him at all, and too drunk to land a hit on him.
Lost in reminiscences, Tony wasn’t really looking where he was going – simply intent on reaching his car, parked safely a few blocks away – and was suddenly stopped by a figure that suddenly was blocking his way. Cursing, Tony quickly composed himself, “Sorry” and he meant that, for once.
She’d been looking for trouble honestly, for once. Depressed and frustrated, angry for no particular reason, and itching for a fight.
Her taekwondo master would be ashamed of her.
Summer just latched on to the dark beacons of similar anger and went hunting.
But she’d sated that need, leaving a few bodies sprawled in the darkness of unlit corners, aching and unconscious and unburnt for once, and she was deep into regret now. Regret for losing control, giving in to the shadows that haunted her heart. Not at all paying attention to anything much around her until she walked right into someone else.
“Sorry,” the figure muttered, sincerity sliding off the word.
“You might want to look where you’re going, place like this,” Summer replied mildly, half admonishing herself as well. “It’s not safe.”
