She exaggerated her own slight accent a bit as she replied, “We might be kin.” She winked. “Let it be Miss Summer, then, not to outrage your pop.” A couple blocks was quickly walked, even in busy New York City. She paused at the corner across the street from her destination and pointed. “Stark Tower. Come on, before the light changes!”
Tag Archives: thehomelessmind
“Yeah, Mikey’ll be fine right here for a while.” Dustin said, mentally scolding himself for sounding like a cowboy. “I really appreciate this ma’am if there’s ever anythin’ I can do to pay ya back I’ll be glad to do it.” he smiled. “Lead the way Miss Rainault.”
“Oh, god, please stop calling me ma’am and miss. That makes me feel /so/ old.” Summer shoved her hands in her pockets, cocking her head at him. “Professional poor man, huh? Sounds unhappy. You wanna talk about it?”
Dustin suddenly felt kind of stupid. Should he have recognized her? Was she some celebrity? “I…uh. Sorry ’bout not knowin’ who you are miss Rainault.” His southern accent kind of peeking out as it tended to when he got nervous or excited. “So Jarvis ain’t some dude that’s gunna hit me or somthin’?”
“Jarvis hitting you would be a neat trick. Butterfingers might, if I took you down into the workshop, but I doubt we’d even be able to get in.” She laughed, looking up at him. “I’m not like Tony, I don’t expect people to know me. Don’t feel that way about it. If your car’s gonna be okay, we can just walk to the Tower, it’s not far.”
“No allergies that I’m aware of.” Dustin grinned, reaching into his car to pull out a couple bars of chocolate handing one to her. “Dustin Winters. Professional poor guy.” he said with a lopsided smile. “And you are? And Jarvis is?” He asked curiously.
“Keep those for a rainy day, Dustin,” she told him. The corners of her mouth quivered in a suppressed smile. “I suppose I can’t expect to be recognised on the street yet. I’m Summer. Summer Rainault. Jarvis is … well, Jarvis is the most advanced AI in the world.”
Dustin smiled a little shyly. “I sure would like a real home cooked meal. I mean if it’s not too much trouble. I have a coupla candy bars in my car so I can supply dessert.” He chuckled with a slight blush.
“I’m not a great cook, but Jarvis keeps me from making too many mistakes.” She grinned. “Come on. You got any allergies or anything?” She turned around and started back the way she’d come, beckoning.
Dustin’s eyes lit up. “Ah Ma’am I’d really appreciate it but i couldn’t put ya out like that. Plus someone as pretty as you probably doesn’t wanna be seen with a bum like me.” He shrugged. “I guess I couldn’t say no to a burger though.
“I wouldn’t offer if there was going to be a problem. Would you rather I cooked, instead? I mean, it’s no bother either way. You could have a shower or something while I cooked.” Summer folded her arms and cocked her head.
“Hey ma’am I hate to ask but do you have some change you wouldn’t mind parting ways with?” Dustin hated begging but it was usually the best he could do. “I don’t need a lot just what ever you got jingling around in your pockets is more than enough.”
“I don’t actually carry cash,” Summer answered automatically, half-apologetic. Habitually, she assessed the boy. He was honest enough, in his way; not in any way a danger to her. “How if I take you for something to eat instead?”