if you say it enough times, you might just believe it

[forhawkeye]

Yesterday's message had been loud and clear. For all that I felt uncomfortable in my own skin, I made those around me feel even worse, convincing them that I was somehow wrong and that the Island was playing its tricks again. Contradicting them hadn't been an option, not when they presented me with such incontrovertible logic. Nate's in particular

Comments

[lionelthayer]

"That looked like it hurt," Lionel comments, stating the obvious as he steps into the clearing just in time to wince on the girl's behalf.

He's been spending most of his time trying to stay away from people as much as he can, wandering just far enough off the paths in order to do so. Every so often, though, he still runs into someone.

[forhawkeye]

My lips pressed together in a thin line, I nodded curtly in lieu of answering, unwilling to speak at that moment for fear of crying in front of a complete stranger. I had a reputation, supposedly, that I needed to maintain, even though I didn't much feel up to the task.

[lionelthayer]

Despite not knowing who she is (and maybe because she's a stranger he can't be freaked out by her), Lionel's concern grows, and he starts toward her. "Did it cut you?"

[forhawkeye]

"I think my shirt bore the brunt of it," I said in a rush, wincing, "but it still stings." Normally, I thought, I might have come up with some clever sort of comparison, but I couldn't think of anything appropriate and so I left my explanation simple and unadorned.

[notawastedlife]

"This is exactly what I was afraid of," said Tony, shaking his head.

That he'd been afraid of it since about yesterday he did not deign to comment upon. The point was he'd realized now.

[forhawkeye]

Cradling my arm against my chest, I looked up at Tony with wide eyes. In retrospect, I couldn't understand how I ever treated him with such a lack of deference. Regardless of the fact that he was from a different universe, he was Tony Stark, Iron Man. The man was an Avenger, a living legend, and I'd treated him like a glorified punching bag. The thought alone filled me with chagrin. He was as important, if not more so, than Captain America. He was an inspiration to heroes everywhere.

And he was talking to me.

"Afraid of what, Mr. Stark?" I asked, before taking in a sharp breath. Then, upon realizing such a level of respect might raise some suspicion, I quickly corrected myself. "I mean...Tony?"

[notawastedlife]

Tony peered at her. He wondered if she might be getting heat exhaustion or somesuch. She'd never called him 'Mr Stark' before.

It did set up an age-appropriate relationship, though, maybe he should tell her to go back to that.

"You, injuring yourself," Tony said. "I mean, if that can happen here, imagine if it'd happened out with the dinosaurs? I don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't, clearly."

[forhawkeye]

"You were thinking you needed back-up?" I supplied helpfully through a wince, adjusting the pressure I was applying to my arm. "At least, that's what I thought," I added, frowning a little with uncertainty. I agreed with him, though I knew I shouldn't. If I recalled correctly, I was generally very disagreeable. I wondered how I had any friends at all.

[oscaroscaroscar]

"Ooh!" Felix exclaimed with a wince when he saw the string snap back. "You alright there?" he asked, mild concern coloring his voice as he ambled his way over to her, absently adjusting his baseball cap.

[forhawkeye]

"I'm fine, Felix," I said in a strained voice, brows furrowing, as I tried to keep my tears at bay. I had never seen him wear a baseball cap before, but then again, I hadn't been convinced until this very moment that he wasn't a construct of my imagination. Suddenly, the thought alone seemed absurd.

[oscaroscaroscar]

Felix would have let it go at that, but she certainly didn't seem all that fine. Better give it one more shot before dropping the issue.

"You sure?"

[forhawkeye]

I knew I should have said yes, but the pain was significant enough to challenge my resolve, and I found myself shaking my head. "No," I admitted, a lone tear making its way down my cheek.

[with_diamonds]

Lucy didn't know Kate well, but she knew her well enough -- especially after Ryan's recent encounter with her -- to know that for her to be standing there on the verge of tears like that, whatever the cause, wasn't anything normal. Either something really bad had happened, she decided quickly, or, more likely, she was one more of the people not themselves. Sometimes, this place really did drive her crazy. She was just grateful that she, her boyfriend, and her brother had been left unchanged this time around.

"Hey, Kate?" she offered cautiously, approaching with a worried look on her face. "Are you okay?"

[forhawkeye]

Lucy Carrigan was asking me a question. She stood before me looking radiant, her blonde hair gleaming under the high afternoon sun, and I once again found myself fighting against my own inadequacy. It was a battle I was sure to lose.

My mouth set in a thin line, I nodded in what I hoped was a firm manner. "I'm fine," I lied.

[with_diamonds]

"You don't look fine," Lucy said, moving a little closer so she could wrap one arm around Kate's shoulders, looking down to try to get a glimpse at where Kate had injured herself. "Seriously, come on, it's okay. What happened?"

[forhawkeye]

Hesitantly, I lifted my hand from my arm, wincing as I did so, to reveal the welt my bow string had left. Logically, I knew it wasn't the most pain I'd ever experienced, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

"I wasn't wearing my equipment," I mumbled.

[alas_yorick]

"Hey, fuck, you okay?" Yorick asked, jogging the rest of the way across the field to join Kate. He stopped at her side, reached for her arm but didn't touch. "I saw what happened, yikes...my sister used to shoot rubber bands at me and those stung like a bitch, so I bet a bow arrow's ten times worse. Do you need some ice?"

[forhawkeye]

"Yorick?" I said, blinking up at him confusedly. For whatever reason, I had never noticed just how incredibly handsome he was. He had dark, brooding eyebrows and a head of magnificent hair that was effortlessly windswept. I was so startled by this sudden development that I nearly forgot about the pain in my arm. Blushing, I quickly averted my eyes. "I'll be fine," I lied, not wanting to impose myself on him.

[alas_yorick]

Yorick paused in what he was doing, giving Kate a quizzical look. He just shook his head and gently pushed her hand away to see the mark the string had made on her arm.

"At least it isn't bleeding, huh?" he said, looking up with a reassuring smile. "You sure you don't want ice, though?"

[forhawkeye]

I nearly melted in the face of that smile. I immediately felt the familiar rush of shame, my cheeks turning crimson. I had Nate, after all. What would he possibly think of me if he knew I found another man attractive?

"I'm sure," I squeaked.