Sidestory:
Getting To Know You

by Angie and Morgan

"Thanks for the number, Leta."

Hedy chewed on her lip as she placed her white and polished brass rotary phone back on the hook. She knew she should call him. She really needed to understand what was going on from the only who seemed semi-sane on the team. It was just...

Calling Jack, Reilly wasn't it?, was not exactly high on her desired list. From what Percy had said, where Jack went Jace followed like a glowering shadow and if she could help it she would avoid as much time around the red-head as she could. -Being rude to poor birds is so cool after all- thought Hedy to herself as she looked from paper to phone. Well, if she was going to figure this out, she needed to talk to him. Leta was real nice, but she didn't exactly trust her in understanding it far too much.

Sighing, she picked up her phone and dialed the numbers, twirling the cord around her finger in an expression of her boredom. After four rings, she made to hang up the phone when she heard someone answer.

"Hello?" The voice was low and velvety with the faintest of drawls; it almost sounded sleepy.

"Eh. Jack?" asked Hedy, snapping out of her bored stupor. She looked up at the peeling paint on her ceiling and steeled herself to asking him, it wasn't like she was asking him on a date. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Hedy? 'Course you can."

"Hey. Listen, I'm still a little confused about everything Jace and you explained to me. I understand why and how in Percy terms," she paused and snorted softly, "but for some reason I think someone in the thick of it would know better and it didn't seem like Jace and I got off to an exactly excellent foot... so, can I persuade you to have coffee with me say tonight?"

Hedy rolled her eyes at herself from behind the phone. She sounded so needy and she was babbling. It was for a good cause, though. Either that or maybe fleeing the country.

There was a short pause as if the person on the other end was absorbing and considering the rush of words. Then a soft chuckle, barely there, echoed down the line. "Sure. Sounds okay to me. I'm not much of a brain about this stuff, though," Jack cautioned.

"Huh. You'll do," she paused and added, "not that I mean you're, er, shit. I just dug myself a hole with that one. Here. Do you want to meet me somewhere or have me pick you up?"

"I can meet you. I live downtown so I pretty much walk everywhere. You got an idea?"

"Yeah. It's this little coffee shop on Beech. The /best/ espresso you have ever had, believe you me. It's called Cuppajoe’s, right? Meet you in an hour?" asked Hedy, once again back to her bored stupor as she played with the edge of her pillow lace.

"Right. See you then."

As she hung up the phone, she turned over on her stomach and glanced over at mirror. -Ugh- she rolled to the floor, her bare feet leaving imprints in the fluffy white carpet from the force of impact. -A few hours with some guy who hit on me and a redhead who acts like I'm scum, won't this be fun- she thought to herself as she pulled her shoes to her. She looked down at her watch; she'd have to leave soon if she was going to swing by Bobby's to pick up her things, too. -What a great night.-

An hour later, Jack Reilly eased himself into a chair near the door of the coffee shop, extra large jolt of caffeine in hand as he expectantly watched for the blonde. It was a horrid thing to admit to himself but he was glad that he hadn't told Jace of this meeting; she had far too much on her mind and it would have just been a repeat of the unpleasantness of earlier. He sighed and rubbed at his chin. What a huge mess. Poor Jace and poor Hedy.

"Alright, just give me my stuff, Bobby. I /have/ to go. I'm running late." Hedy frowned at her ex-boyfriend as she looked from her watch to the front door. She didn't like being late and especially not when it was someone she barely knew.

"Hedy, we need to talk, I mean you can't really-" the boy, obviously Bobby, said in response to her; his voice slightly whiney.

"Fine. I'll pick it up another time. We'll /talk/ another time." She stood abruptly from the couch and opened the door to his house, her mood dropping from mild to foul. She was not in the mood for Bobby. She looked down at her watch. Great, she was going to be at least thirty minutes late.

"HEDY!"

On his third cup of coffee and fifth doodle-covered napkin, Jack looked up at the sound of the door's bell, wondering if it was her this time.

Hedy stormed into the coffee shop as she snapped her cell phone to a close. Bobby and his conversation had turned her mood from foul to hideous and now she got to deal with that awful red head. She stood in the doorway for a moment, her grey eyes flashing as she surveyed the tiny cafe for the boy she was meeting.

Oh, she doesn't look happy, he thought with an internal wince. Slowly, he raised a long-fingered hand. "Hedy?"

"Wait a second," she mumbled, not noticing the red-haired girl with him. -Perhaps she is in the bathroom?- Huh. She made her way to Jack through the crowded tables and said, "Jack? I'm so sorry I'm late. Jesus. I'm sorry. Is Jace here?"

Shaking his head, Jack pushed a chair out for her with a foot. "Nah, she's... Not up for coffee," he murmured delicately. "You just get me. That okay?"

The look on Hedy's face was enough to express her feelings on that without using words, but regardless she said, "Perfect. Can I get you a cup of coffee? To apologize. I feel terrible."

"No worries," he assured her. He lifted his still half-full cup. "I've got enough. Wanna relax for a bit first?"

She nodded and dropped into the seat across from him, her shoulders drooping as she put her head in her hands and said, "I'm sorry it was such short notice. Thanks for coming. It means a lot."

Jack shrugged expressively. "We're in the same boat here. 'Course I'd be here."

Hedy glanced at him and shrugged, "Only you have the foggiest about what is going on. ...did you try the espresso?"

"Not yet. I'm a straight coffee kind of guy," he replied softly. "You want something? I can get it for you while you chill."

"You would?" asked Hedy, visibly surprised at his response. Maybe she had been a bit wrong about him, he seemed like he was just a nice guy. "Here, let me get you the money," she said as she reached into her purse for her grey tweed wallet and extracted a few dollar bills for him. "Right. There. Would you like to split a bagel?"

"Can do. Haven't eaten in a while." He stood, pausing to stretch out his long legs. "What would you like?"

Hedy bit her lip. It seemed awful rude to send him off to get her things. She stood up and said, "Lordy, you're bloody tall," she gazed up at him and shook her head, "Cripes. They have awesome bagels, too. They have this great homemade recipe for both their bagels and cream cheese. Seriously. It's mad good."

A slow, easy half-grin appeared on his lean face. "Sounds good to me." Then he tilted his head slightly. "I'll just go get. You rest up and I'll be right back, okay?"

"I'm already standing. We'll go together," she paused and grinned at him, "Do you like mint? They have this one espresso that is /heavenly/. You have to try it. I'm going to force you. It's my favorite."

"If you like." With another small, half-smile, he turned to lead her towards the counter, tailoring his long strides so he didn't outpace her.

Maybe she had been unfairly biased towards him. One meeting before couldn't have determined anything, nor should she have let her mood over Bobby influence her attitude. She shot a sideways glance at him. "I'm sorry I've come off as somewhat arrogant. I'm going through a pretty shitty time and this on top of it is not what the doctor recommended. I'm just really confused and taking it out on the wrong persons."

So she was just nervous, he thought. Confused. Makes sense. Aloud, Jack replied, "Well, sorry 'bout this timing then. Must really stink. I'd take it back if I could."

She shrugged. "Everything happens for a reason, don't you think?" Turning her attention to the bored looking boy at the register she said, "Right. Anthony? Two of the sun dried tomato bagels," she glanced at Jack for his approval, "cream cheese and ooh, two grasshoppers. One vendi and one grande."

Jack's hand immediately went to his pocket, fishing out his wallet.

Hedy laid her hand on top of Jack's gently and shook her head. "I invited you. I pay," She grinned at him and then at the register boy, Anthony, "How much did you say? ...Right." Handing him the bills, she gestured for Jack to pick up the plates while she grabbed the drinks.

Obediently, Jack gathered the plates and led the way back to the small table. "You sure?" he asked softly. "You didn't have to, y'know."

"It's my pleasure. Consider it an unspoken apology, okay?"

Again, the brunette graced her with one of his lop-sided half-smiles. "No apologies needed, okay? If they were..." He hesitated, his eyes dropping to the plates briefly. "I'd have to apologize for Jace and Percy."

"You can't apologize for other people, Jack. They act on their own accord. It's not a big deal. I like Percy; he's just a little..." she paused and laughed, "So, let's get to the meat of things."

"Right, right. Your new... Whatever."

"What a /great/ explanation. It is all clear now!" teased Hedy, keeping her tone light enough to express the fact she wasn't intending on being rude.

Chuckling, Jack shrugged. "Sorry. Everyone gets it different, the way I follow it. I'm not, well, big on my deal sometimes."

Hedy arched an eyebrow and asked, "What's up with your deal?"

"I feel like I'm a passenger. If that makes sense. I've been doing this a while but it's still... Strange. The power is... Not like anything out there." A rueful smile lit his face and then was gone. "Well, not anything I've tried anyway."

"A passenger?" echoed Hedy, obviously a bit confused by that statement. She looked at him, her grey eyes searching his green eyes for the meaning behind what he said, "At the risk of sounding moronic, I don't think I understand."

"You and me both." Jack shrugged. "I'm just... Different when I become the other one." He chuckled softly. "Jace says I become a manslut. I don't know. Don't think so really."

Hedy laughed at his choice of word. "A manslut, eh? Come to think of it, I felt a little different that first time I transformed. Like a part of me I never knew of woke up and I don't think it was a part I rather liked," she shrugged at him and said, "How's that drink?"

"Huh? Oh." Quickly, he drank. Unfortunately, it proved too hot for the huge gulp he took and his eyes widened as he tried to suck in some cooling air while managing to swallow it. "Uh... Good," he finally gasped, cheeks faintly flushed with embarrassment. "Really."

Hedy put a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter at the look on his face. He looked exactly like a comical character would had they done the same thing. "I'm.. sorry.." she managed to stammer out between her laughter.

"No worries." Carefully, Jack wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand before picking up a napkin to finish the job. "Didn't think."

"Regular coffee drinker, eh?" She grinned at him, finally starting to really relax. Lazily, she stretched her arms in front of her and took a sip from her glass, "I hope you don't choke on the bagel."

"No, bagels I can do." He half-grinned. "Just smack me if I forget to chew, okay?"

"With pleasure."

Hedy yawned as the conversation lapsed into an awkward silence. So far, he seemed like a nice guy. She just wished he could tell her more, after all that was the point of meeting him.

A faint frown appeared between Jack's dark eyebrows. "Tired, Hedy?" he asked, concerned.

"Long day," responded Hedy curtly, drumming her fingers on the table. She looked at Jack and sighed. "I just don't understand why. Is it our sole purpose to kill?"

"Oh." Sighing, Jack picked up a napkin and folded it neatly, once and then twice. "I'm not sure on that one. I know part of it is kill or be killed but... Beyond that, I'm not sure."

Hedy watched him fold the napkin, her gaze traveling from the napkin in his hand to the napkins piled next to him. Reaching a smooth hand out, she placed her fingers on the closest napkin and drew it towards her. "Did you draw this?" she asked, looking from the napkin to him.

He hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah, while I was waiting."

"I should've kept you waiting longer. It's fantastic," It was Hedy's turn to hesitate, "I've always wished I could draw. Unfortunately, I'm artistically challenged."

"But I bet you can do other stuff that I can't... In fact, that'd be a sucker bet."

Hedy tapped a finger to her chin in mock thought. She glanced at Jack and said, "You willing to take that bet, that is, if I choose to bet on it. Chance pitted against luck. I wager I got the short end of the stick."

"Funny, isn't it?" Jack shrugged. "I didn't even know there was someone out there who kinda was like me. It's... nice to know."

"Huh. We can always team up forces, y'know. We'd be near unstoppable, I reckon. So, er, who else is there? I know Leta, Jace, Sophie, and you. Is that it?"

"Wilma," he answered promptly. "Rhia and Zach."

She nodded thoughtfully. So, they had a team. It was beginning to fall into perspective. It wasn't kill or be killed as much as it was protect those around you. She looked down at her tweed purse, the sound of her cell phone interrupting her thoughts. She smiled apologetically as Jack as she answered the phone, turning her body away from Jack as to be polite, "Hello?"

Her face darkened immediately. Standing from her chair, she walked off without a single word to Jack, muttering something not so pleasant into her phone.

Jack looked up from another doodled napkin as Hedy returned to the table, refolding and pocketing her cell phone. He had done his best not to listen but he had still caught leaked words and the general aura of anger. He studied her compassionately as she took her seat again. "You okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine," she snapped. Noticing the look on his face, she looked down at the floor and fiddled with her hands. "Sorry, it's just... it seems like this is a punishment for breaking up with Bobby. I have him on own side pulling me in every direction and this now, at the same time I split with him. It seems so linked and I /hate/ it. I can't do it. I can't kill someone, but I don't want to be killed. I can't go out and act like this is some sort-of blessing because it seems like a curse. I can't go out there and want to do it because I don't."

There was an uncertain pause and then Jack reached across the table to touch her hand lightly with sensitive fingers. "I'll tell you this, 'kay, Hedy? It's not linked and it's not your fault. This stuff... Just happened to some of us... And I'm not that crazy over killing someone either but it gets nasty out there and stuff happens." He looked down at the table, mouth slightly turned down. "But we can try to not. You know?"

She rolled her eyes. Great, now she had him trying to comfort her. Regardless, a part of her softened under his touch. "...Yeah. I haven't much to worry about it, turns out that more than half the time my powers won't work." She smiled ruefully, "I just feel punished. Maybe what my father says is true, maybe I do deserve the things that happen to me. I've even been awful to you and all you've been is kind."

The brunette looked up at the word "father" and a strange look passed over his face. Just as suddenly as it had appeared, though, it was gone; his face once more smooth and thoughtful. "A shock. No worries."

Her eyes narrowed on impulse, but she shrugged and let it pass. "Huh. Yeah. Well, so, the question we're all dying to know... /WHO/ is Jack?" she asked with a mischievous smirk on her lips. For the rest of time they had left, she might as well try and get to know the only teammate who seemed sane thus far.

He blinked at her and a slow half-smile grew on his lean face. "Just a working schmuck who doodles and hangs out with talking animals and girls who can kick his butt..."

"I'm telling you, Spiderman owns all of the other cartoon heroes. He has it all. Good looks, beautiful girlfriend, moderate money, smarts, AND he can shoot webs from his hands. You can't beat that," she held up her hand and added, "And don't go into specifics about John Constantine. The little of comics I know is from my brother Toulouse and Sunday morning funnies in the paper and telly."

Before she was even finished, Jack was shaking his head. "Spidey's cool, yeah. Much better than a lot of 'em but Constantine'll make it out quicker. Spidey has morals and he's a -hero-. Constantine? Heh, he's just the nastiest guy around. He got himself cured of cancer by the -devils-, right? Not messing with him."

Hedy shook her head, "No, no, you got it all wrong. If we're talking super villains, neither Constantine or Peter are going to step up to Sabretooth from X-men. He'll regenerate himself before either can have a chance to kill him off, foo'."

"Darlin', Constantine would find someone -else- to off him."

"Darlin'?" asked Hedy, arching an eyebrow and squirming her way out of the comic book character chat at the first possible exit. She had to face it; she simply was not up to par with Jack on comics. Then again, the least time she cracked one open was over ten years ago.

He looked at her blankly for a second and then dropped his gaze, embarrassed. "Sorry. New habit."

"For the longest time I had the habit of calling /everyone/, even my parents, Bob. I apparently thought it was cool in seventh grade." supplied Hedy, trying to take the embarrassment away from him.

"Why Bob? Why not... Sam?"

"Really. I don't know. I think because I had a classmate named Sam. ...but no Bob. It was terrible."

Jack nodded. "Makes sense, though. Well, to me. Which might not be reassuring." A lop-sided grin appeared on his face.

"Well, we're a match. You're luck, I'm chance, and we both have a nasty tendency to pick up weird word habits. We'll definitely be friends."

"...That sounds great to me, Hedy. Really."

"Rad. Well, I had a good time. You're a lot different than I first expected."

He chuckled softly. "That's good, right?"

"Of course not. It means I like you and that means you're suckered into a friendship with me and that's never good." She nodded sagely, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips as she stood up and wrapped her vintage pea coat around her frame.

Jack stood immediately and nodded. "I'll live," he assured her as he snagged his own coat, a beat-up leather jacket, from the back of his chair. Then he paused to jam the various doodled napkins in his jeans pocket. Looking up a bit shyly, he asked, "See you around soon?"

"Hey, did you walk here?" asked Hedy on impulse, half turned around as she did so. She glanced at him, her eyes soft as she gestured to the window, "If you did, let me take you home, it's raining."

He hesitated. "Wouldn't wanna bother you," he murmured. "I'm only about ten blocks away."

She reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him into her side as she said, "It's not a bother, really, and I can't let you go before I rack my brain for the rival to Constantine. People don't beat me." She grinned and pulled him towards the door, silently asking him to take her offer.

Chuckling, he finally nodded. "Okay, okay. If you really want to..."

"I do. Call me Goodwill Ambassador Hedy Montmorency, but I don't let friends walk him in a storm," as if on cue, a jolt of thunder rocked the sky, "Roanoke and its crazy weather, I tell you."

Again he nodded, seeming content to listen to her justify her reasoning. As the rain began to really pour down, though, he edged closer to her and slid an arm out of his coat, holding it up and over her as best he could. Sometimes being tall helped, he reflected.

She laughed and muttered something akin to, "What a gentleman." as she unlocked the door to her restored '65 Mustang. She flashed a grin up at him as she opened the passenger door and said, "In we go, rule of thumb is the door is stuck, so you need to really pull on it to get it to shut."

"Right, gotcha." He hesitated only a brief moment before sliding in and following her directions, banging the door shut with a slam.

She shuddered at the sound of the door slamming; regardless of the door being stuck it still drove a wedge through her heart hearing Bernard, her car, treated like that. As she opened the door to the driver's seat and popped her head in she said, "Remind me to get that door fixed. I suppose under the new circumstances we'll be seeing a lot of each other, eh?"

"Hope so."

"Flattery," She pinched he cheeks for a moment and added, "There, you can't see me blush now."

"Yeah? Shame. I kinda have lousy night-vision," he admitted. "Well, at least it takes me a while to adjust my eyes, right?"

"Hey, we each have our own faults. Where exactly am I going?" asked Hedy, glancing over at him.

Jack chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Right. Six blocks thataway on this road and then a left for a block and then a right for three blocks. It's an apartment place. No missing it."

"Right," She paused and snapped her fingers, "Darkseid."

"Huh? Oh. Villians... Yeah, he's good."

"He owns his own planet and has brainwashed all the inhabitants to do his bidding. Not only that, but he could wipe out the /whole/ DC Universe in a blow. Ultimate power and powerful minions. Devil or no devil, he's in a league all to his own. Bow chukka bow!" Hedy grinned at him, obviously pleased with herself for having remembered that much from her youth.

Jack leaned back in his seat, absently fiddling with the seat belt strapped across his chest, and looked upwards. "Yeah, that might do it."

“Something wrong?”

“Hmm? Oh. Naw. I mean, no, I’m fine.”

"You're fidgeting and people only fidget when they're nervous." stated Hedy matter-of-factly as she turned the left and eased to a stop on the wet ground.

Jack glanced down at his hand on the seat belt and grimaced faintly, carefully removing it. "I'm fine, Hedy. Really."

"... ..." She stared at him, obviously not convinced by his words, "Your choice to tell me."

"... I'm not a big car person," he finally admitted, voice soft. "I was in an accident a couple years back."

Something told her to drop the subject, but nonetheless she placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly and said quietly, "I'm sorry. It must have been terrifying. ...Well, I had a nice time. We'll have to, er, do it again."

Jack nodded quietly but a faint smile was again on his face, reassuring her that he was fine.

Hedy waved at him, "Hey, I don't normally do this, and maybe it's the post-trauma break-up talking, but would you want to go with me to my father's banquet? It's an unspoken rule I bring a date, could I talk you into a night with obnoxious men in suits? I promise Ben and Jerry's after for ice cream, on me."

"If you think I'm okay enough," he replied softly. Then he nodded. "'Course. Be my pleasure. Uh... Is it a tux thing?"

She winced, "Black tie. Yuppity of Roanoke and surrounding area pretending to care about an issue," she sighed, "they hardly notice what I'm wearing, so don't worry too much. Their children mainly wear nice pants and shirts, nothing /too/ fancy, and... I'd like it if you came."

"I'm there if you want me." He suddenly chuckled. "Might wanna pick out my outfit, though. Just in case. Jace says I dress like I pick out my clothes in the dark."

She grinned, looking as if a weight of near a ton had been removed from her shoulders, "Sure. I'll stop by the day before. Great. Thanks."

“Welcome. No worries.”

"Good night, Jack." She leaned over and gave him a quick hug, "Thanks for dealing with me tonight. I've been a prat, I know."

"No way." His hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment, rubbing it reassuringly. "It's a lot to handle." Then he quickly undid his seatbelt, opened the door, and hopped out. He paused, though, to lean back in a bit and smile, full-on for the first time all night, at her. "I'll see ya around, Hedy." With that, he backed up and closed the door with the obligatory slam and loped up his front steps, soon disappearing into the building.

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