[Opposite Plot] Pre-Play

[forhawkeye]

Everywhere I went, people stared; I could feel their eyes trailing me all day long, as though they were paparazzi for the utterly unimportant. Much to my chagrin, changing into an unassuming outfit of a purple plaid shirt and a pair of ratty jeans hadn't convinced a single person to look elsewhere. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin and, as the

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[sink_nor_swim]

Had it been up to Mikal, she wouldn't have even left the hut. There was no telling what could have been out there lurking in the jungle, and even if she made it to the Compound in one piece, she'd never been comfortable in that building; it was so cold and so full of people that there was no way for her to trust it.

Eventually, though, going out became a necessity, and she regretted it immediately, fully convinced with every step she took that it would be her last and she would wind up dead again. She shouldn't have just been wandering alone, anyway. For all she knew, going out and doing something that led to her getting killed would be considered a suicide again. She'd have rather died than go back to that place.

...or not.

The last thing she'd wanted was to draw attention to herself, but she had been certain that the noise she heard from behind her was some vicious creature, ready to spring out and attack. Instinctively, she'd turned to look over her shoulder, and in doing so, had found herself running straight into Kate.

"Oh!" she breathed, eyes widening, a step away from filling with tears. "Oh, my gosh, Kate, that's - it was completely my fault, I am so, so sorry." Hesitantly, with one trembling hand, she reached out to lay her fingers gently on Kate's shoulder, not wanting to intrude if she wasn't welcome to. "Are you okay? You aren't hurt or anything, are you? God, I'm so stupid."

[forhawkeye]

I couldn't understand why Mikal's mysterious, dark brown eyes shone with unshed tears. What could she possibly have to cry about? She was exotic and beautiful, like a rare and elegant flower plucked from the land of the dead, given a second chance at life. If she cried, I was surely doomed. I glanced at her hand in amazement, shocked that she would touch a freak like me.

"No, of course not!" I exclaimed, eager to take all the blame. It was only what I deserved, after all. People like me were made to take the blame. It left the perfect free to worry about other, more important things. "I was worried about you. I practically ran you over."

[sink_nor_swim]

"Only because I wasn't paying attention," Mikal insisted, unable to help looking guilty at Kate's persistence on taking the blame. Someone like Kate -- a bona fide superhero, back home -- shouldn't have had to worry about things like that when she herself was the one wandering around like an idiot. "I mean, really, it was just a stupid -"

There the noise came again, though, a rustling in the bushes, and instinctively, she moved closer to Kate until she could stand behind her, hunched down a little bit. "Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice hushed. She couldn't risk giving away their position, not if whatever it was didn't know they were there. "What is it? Do you think it's something dangerous?"

[forhawkeye]

When Mikal moved to stand behind me, I stuck an arm out to protect her. After all, I wouldn't be able to handle anything happening to her and that alone was enough for me trust trained instinct, even though it came from the kind of life where questionable wardrobe choices were a requirement. Unfortunately, I had left all of my weapons back at the hut. Walking around armed had seemed like an invitation for oglers.

"It can't be a dinosaur," I assured her in a low voice. "But that's not to say it couldn't be something else."

[sink_nor_swim]

"What do they even have around here?" Mikal asked, her eyes widening a little, breaths coming more rapidly. "I mean, with the way this place is, there could be things we don't even know about, right? Some... weird island creatures, or something. They could even be indestructible!"

Suddenly, she wondered why she'd thought the hut would be safer. For all she knew, that was more likely to get plowed down by some strange monster or whatever than they were standing in the middle of the path. She sure as hell felt a lot more vulnerable where they were standing, though.

[forhawkeye]

"Wild boar, if the kitchen is anything to go by," I said, crouching down slightly in preparation of the unknown. "We might have to run, Mikal. I'm not sure I can take it on."

[sink_nor_swim]

"No, no, you can't," Mikal insisted, shaking her head fervently. "Not that - not that you couldn't, but I can't risk it, you know..." Her voice lowered before she continued speaking, eyes moving from side to side to scan the path in front of them, as if looking for a sign of movement from what was undoubtedly there. "Hurting you."

[forhawkeye]

"Let's run, then," I agreed, catching her hand in my own. It was very forward of me, but I couldn't risk whatever was out there hurting Mikal, either. "On the count of three. One. Two --"

[sink_nor_swim]

"Three!" Mikal finished, then darted forward, still clutching Kate's hand. God, she didn't know what she would've done without someone else there with her. She'd probably be dead again by now, if Kate weren't there to save them both.

[forhawkeye]

"My hut's not too far!" I said in a rush. I couldn't bring myself to look behind us, just in case we were being chased by a very angry wild boar -- or worse.

[sink_nor_swim]

"Thank god!" Mikal called back, just as quickly, obviously breathless. She paused a moment then, though, even while still hurrying alongside Kate. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

[forhawkeye]

"Of course not!" I admonished, unable to conceive a reason where I could possibly mind Mikal staying in my hut. "You're my friend! I can't just leave you out here for the monster to get you!"

[sink_nor_swim]

"Oh," Mikal said, as if this were an incredible revelation that hadn't yet occurred to her. "You really do like me? You mean it?" Running from the monster might've been her top priority, but this was startling, too much so to ignore. It meant a lot, if someone like Kate could actually consider someone like her a friend.

[forhawkeye]

"Yes!" I assured her, though it was more of a grunt due to our continued exertion. We turned a corner and my hut finally came into view. "We're almost there!"

[sink_nor_swim]

"Thank goodness!" Mikal cried, and though winded, hurried forward with a fresh burst of speed, absolutely certain that the monster was right at their heels and too afraid to turn and look. "Come on, get us inside, quick!"

[forhawkeye]

I flung the door open, allowing Mikal to get in before I slammed the door shut behind us. Doubled over, I rested my hands on my knees, panting heavily.

"That...was...close."