Nothing Yet

"Any ideas what could have happened?" she asked as they made their way down the bustling streets, dodging cars and motorcycles and raggedly clad people that were twice as dangerous as the mechanical vehicles combined. 'Pushy' did not describe the sheer determination and indifference of the pedestrians in this city, whatever it was. One experience in particular, and the resulting skinned palms and tense jaw, coached her to stand almost behind the boy as they walked. As much as it pained her pride, it was better for her if he took the brunt of any attack. He was big enough and ugly enough to hack it.

"No idea."

"Well, that's helpful," she sighed, rolling her eyes and tucking an irritating brown curl behind her ear, before swinging her hand in an arc to point out the tide of blank faced civilians milling along sidewalk. "So is everyone around here. How are we supposed to find this building if no one will even talk to us?" The key was the only lead they had. At least there was only one of it.

"We just haven't asked the right person yet," the guy said with unfailing – and, she thought, sarcastic – good cheer, the cocky grin pride of place on his face as he tapped yet another innocent bystander on the shoulder. "Hi, we're a little lost. Can you direct us to –?" The 'innocent bystander' was already half way down the street. "That's starting to get a little annoying," he grimaced, and stuffed his hands into his jacket.

"Starting to? A little?"

"Well, it was kind of funny the first fifteen times it happened."

"Maybe I should try," she suggested hesitantly, tapping her fingers against her thigh as she contemplated the thought, and her possible reaction if she got the same results the boy did. She didn't think she had the same amount of patience. And besides, she just didn't feel right talking to even more strangers before she knew what was going on here. Before she had her memories back. It seemed completely surreal that no one had noticed her state. I don't know who I am, she thought, testing the concept out. I don't even know my own name.

"Yeah, go right ahead," he said, and she tore her brain away from her own elusive identity, to him. He was hunching his shoulders and tipping his head back to stare at the sky, a complete stranger that she'd woken up with, and decided to trust without question. Who was he? Who was he to her The only answer she got was a clap of thunder, and a spike of lightning from overhead. It was darkening ever further by the minute, looking like it was going to start pouring the second they least expected, or needed it to. He missed her decision to put the scary queries on hold, her nod, the squaring of her jaw as she built herself up to approach a middle set, nondescript passer-by, and the deliberate softening of her whole demeanour once she reached their side. He couldn't miss her coming back with a wide smile, a glow of satisfaction and easily followed directions, though.

In return he just raised his eyebrow again. She had a feeling that she was going to be seeing a lot of that look if she spent a great deal of time around him, and probably had seen far too much of it in the past, if the faint edge of exasperation, and urge to smack him on the back of his big head was any indication. Or maybe that was all her now, as well as his refusal to take their situation seriously. "I'm impressed."

"Yeah, yeah. You ain't seen nothing yet." She glanced at him, eyes lit up with the lightning branching over the horizon. "You coming or what?" she tossed over her shoulder, legs eating up the pavement as rain chased their steps.

Thanks to Trinity Day for all the encouragement. XD