A Day in the life of... with makeachoice

[red_room]

A body collapses on the mat laid out on the safe house floor.

"Ten more." Natasha urges, her back turned to the figure collapsed on her floor. Any groans of protest are promptly ignored. "I've got all afternoon to stand here and we're not eating until we're done." Natasha's got her hair up in a messy bun, black tank top and shorts as she examines her arsenal laid out on the desk in front of her.

"You're getting better at cleaning these. Good job. We'll head out to the shooting range after we eat."

It's a simple arrangement, really. Christopher keeps the apartment tidy (not that there's ever much of a mess unless he makes it) and cleans her gear, and Natasha lets him live there rent free in one of the safest places in the Nexus. She's also taken up becoming his personal trainer. She admires the spirit the kid has, even if she doesn't know him very well, yet.

She looks over her shoulder, a tiny glance and the barest hints of a smile on her face. Natasha still isn't sure why she brought Chris home with her, but she's finding that she doesn't mind the coompany as much as she thought she would.

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[makeachoice]

Ten more? One more and he might actually die. But the prospect of going to the shooting range perks him up, and he pushes himself to follow her command. Also, being trained by The Black Widow is an opportunity that many could never even dream of having, especially one as himself who lives in a world where her existence lies only within comics and movies. He should want to work hard, even when he's drenched in sweat and struggling to move. This is what he wanted, after all.

"...eight...nine...ten." The last word comes out in a huff, and he immediately collapses once again. He could probably lie right there with his face pressed into the floor for the rest of his life. He never wants to move again. But he will, of course. He will, and he'll end up doing this exact routine and finishing it with similar thoughts of wanting to resign to live on the floor. "I think I'm actually dead right now."

[red_room]

"Maybe." Natasha has turned around, leaning against the table and giving the blonde a tiny smirk. "But a month ago you couldn't even do five push ups, and your mile run was okay at best. You're improving."

It's a moment before Natahsa sets a bottle of water down next to him and tosses a towel onto his head.

"Stretch a minute and then go clean up."

[makeachoice]

Improvement. Right. At least there is something already to show for all of this, even if it's just a small amount.

When the towel hits his head, he grunts in protest, but shifts into a sitting position, so he can graciously accept the water bottle. He downs it in seconds, the plastic crackling in protest as he sucks it back. "Hah--" Okay. Got some energy back. He stands and rolls his shoulders. "Be right back." As much as he'd like to take a hot, forty minute shower, that'll have to wait.

Rather, he's back in about ten with fresh clothes and a face that is no longer beat red. Also, he doesn't smell. That's a plus.

[red_room]

Work out sweat beats the hell out of 'what just exploded their insides all over me' sweat but his not smelling like it is definitely a plus. Nat's got a couple plates of sandwiches and a bowl of soup apiece for the both of them set up when he gets back. She hasn't waited for him to start eating hers, gaze flitting over a tablet she's poking at every few seconds.

"Feel better?" She doesn't look up when she asks.

[makeachoice]

"Totally. The light said it wasn't my time yet, and it told me to come back here to fulfill my life duty of eating the sandwiches you made." He's smiling at his own comment as he moves to take a spot nearby. "Seriously though, thanks for the food." And training him. And housing him. And everything else.

[red_room]

"Careful, wording like that makes it seem like your life is pointless the moment you're done eating."

This time she does look up from her work, the barest hints of amusement on her face.

"Any luck on finding a way home?" Chris hasn't spoken much about his past since arriving, and Natasha hasn't asked. Directly. She's done an awful lot of digging and questioning to people he and his crazy friend have spent time with, though.

"You don't seem as worried as you did before."

[makeachoice]

There's a pause at that question, and the steady smile that had been curling against his mouth falters. "Yeah, I dunno. I figured I'd just wait until a way back sort of popped up. I guess I'm just not really in a rush to go home anymore."

[red_room]

"Because of....your friend."

Natasha has to bite her tongue to keep from describing the young man in a light that would indicate she has done some digging into his past and spying on him.

Which she totally has.

But Chris doesn't need to know that. In fact, it's better if she didn't. He'd just get upset. She knows how people are about their friends.

Blind to the truth.

"It wasn't a suggestion if that's what you're worried about. You do good work, I'm not looking to get rid of you."

[makeachoice]

He clicks his tongue. "Well, yeah, but there's other stuff too." And there is. Christopher has his reasons for being wary of what awaits him at home. There are police interviews, worried parents, scarred friends, and monster that creep on the mountain. Here there are impossible things and impossible people that make life much less dull. He's free from the bombardment of questions that'll haunt him upon returning to him. And there's Josh. Chris does intend on going home. This place isn't forever. But he doesn't want to leave now, and he certainly isn't leaving Josh behind.

"Glad you like my company. It would suck if you didn't, 'cause I don't really plan on leaving soon."

[red_room]

"Oh really?" Natasha's got an eyebrow raised, but that's just one of the things she likes about Chris. He's stupidly optimistic and doesn't realize the reality of a situation he's in.

Or chooses not to.

He reminds her the idea of innocence isn't a fairy tale. When he's not also being a colossal idiot.

"What are your long term goals?" This is a good topic to get on. If she knows what he's intending to do, she might be better able to help.

[makeachoice]

"Aside from surviving your Spartan training?" He quirks a smile at her, the ease within himself returning. "I guess make enough to get an apartment. Being here is cool, and I really appreciate you letting me crash here, but a place with Josh would be awesome. Been a dream of ours since we were little to do that." Back then, it was the prospect of having nobody tell them what to do, and they could stay up all night playing video games and eating junk food without a care in the world. Now, it's sort of that plus being more of an adult and being around for the other as he heals-- as they both heal.

"And eventually find a way home, too." That might be it for long term goals - for now, at least.

[red_room]

"...Are you sure working doublehard to support yourself and your friend will be good for either of you?" Natasha has kept her mouth shut on the matter. The first time Chris brought Josh home to let the other clean up Natasha had nearly pulled a gun on the stranger in their safe house the moment she returned.

After a lengthy chat with Chris over not bringing folks to her place...and relenting to Joshua being welcome over once in a while to use their shower and washing machine for his meager possessions, she hadn't brought him up again. But she had watched him. Closely. Enough to see him slip. Enough to see him raving, getting beaten bloody and left in the Plaza.

She's watched the Captain get himself nearly killed for a broken friend. Somehow, she doesn't expect Chris to be that indestructible.

"You should be more careful, around him."

[makeachoice]

And just when he thought this conversation could have been steered towards a light hearted route. "Look..he's-- he's doing his best, okay?" It's not as if Chris is left to ensure that they're both surviving. Josh has his difficulties, but he's been taking care of the blonde just as much as Chris has been looking out for him, he believes.

A tightness in his throat swells. "Why?"

[red_room]

She knows that reaction. The way his heart rate elevates and his shoulders raise. He won't hear a word bad about the man. It's Rogers all over again. Natasha can't help the sigh that escapes her as she finishes her bowl of soup.

"You know why. You wouldn't be getting defensive if you didn't. ...I've watched stronger men than you lose everything because they let sentiment blind them from reality. It'd be a waste if that happened to you."

There really is no point in talking to Chris about this. Natasha sees that now. She'll have to go to the source of her concerns if she wants to change anything. Natasha pushes her plate aside gently.

"It's not really any of my business though. Just...trying to look out for you." He'll either argue or take the out, but Natasha isn't going to provoke him further. She knows a losing tactic when she sees one.

[makeachoice]

The concern is understandable, coming from someone with an outside perspective on the matter. He gets it, but, at the same time, he doesn't want her to have that mindset of Josh, that he's a person to be wary of. He, who's spent the last thirteen years of his life with Josh, who knows that this is the first time he's slipped so dangerously far in dealing with his mental illness, does not need someone who knows so very little to try and convince Chris that Josh is dangerous.

"I'm not getting defensive because I know why," he attempts to explain with an even voice. "I'm defensive because you and everyone else is seeing him at his lowest, and I know people are making assumptions" Then, quietly. "He's sick, Natasha. I really appreciate you looking out for me, but-- you need to trust me on this."

[red_room]

"He is." Natasha agrees with Chris. Nods along. Even looks like she might understand.

And she does. Being sick isn't anyone's fault. It doesn't change the fact that said sickness makes men like Joshua Washington dangerous. Certainly not as dangerous as he could be, but enough to put those close to him in danger. Chris is already teetering on the brink of a very unhealthy relationship with the man, in Natasha's opinion.

Giving everything to help his friend, while receiving nothing in return but more broken promises, lies, and anguish.

"Alright. Unless it's an emergency, I won't bring it up again." With you.

She has a certain hobo shelter to pay a visit to, when she gets the opportunity.

A certain man to pin to the wall and promise every kind of torture to if he hurts Christopher. If he slips too far. She'll put him down. It wouldn't be the first time she's played the Bad Guy in order to do what's right. Wouldn't be the first time she's verbally tormented someone with information she shouldn't have, gotten into their heads and left them a sobbing, broken mess on the floor.

Stronger men than Joshua could ever be have crumbled before her. And the Black Widow has something to protect. He should be grateful he's getting a warning at all. If Chris won't listen, she'll talk to Josh. And if Josh doesn't listen...well. He'll have to conveniently trip into a portal to another world. One where the AV field doesn't apply.

"I promise." Natasha Romanov gives Chris a small smile and begins clearing the table. "Now, to the shooting range?"