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[Ward's throat still feels like shit and a half, but he's managed to process the following. He's no longer in jail (that's a plus), he's got super powers (he's unsure if that's a plus or minus) but he arrived and avoided the network for a few days out of fear of breaking the damn thing. He's decided long since then that he can't let Skye intimidate him.

She's here. And she's been here for awhile. She has home team advantage.

The only problem is they have a record of him. This whole registering thing was crap - what was the point of being given a second chance if he really couldn't leave Grant Ward behind? For the first time he wants to.

So time to test the waters. He's been to the ceremony, he's been sworn in, he's had a dramatic reunion with the woman he'd thought he cared about.]

New arrival here. Roomba salesman and repairman. Anybody else get a completely shit job? I know nothing about Roomba's. Assuming Roombas here are the vaccuum robots. Y/N?

Also feel like shooting myself in the foot here, but is there some kind of a "so now you have super abilities" support group? Any help or advice appreciated.

[Reading over it two or three times he nods, satisfied that it's not incriminating, that it's blaise enough that even if people decide to ask him questions he can think up enough to talk about without screwing up.

He'd been in worse situations.

His roommates might have noticed that his doorknob on the outside was significantly bent and someone has been closing doors in their apartment very, very quietly.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You make a good first impression, that's for sure.

[ There's a hint of sarcasm in his tone, but it's still not condemning. ]

I just got here too, sorry -- no trade secrets to offer. There's always fast food.

...I'm sorta backed into a corner as you can see. I don't like all my cards played before I get a chance to really understand the game.

[no. no]

What, 'cause of what that chick's saying about you? It's not like she can prove it, can she?

They've got doctors and all kinds around this place -- probably someone'll want some help if you can even do anything. I don't think you gotta worry about background checks.

[Reggie, in his being thrown out of jail, into freedom, and suddenly into superpowers, into his feelings about suddenly becoming...inhuman. In more ways then one, he'd completely forgotten about that.

That makes him smile.]

She really can't.

[Congratulations he likes you.]

There are ways to get around that even if there were background checks. They seemed pretty glad to have me- what's going on with that? Why so many heroes wanted signs hanging out? Hear anything?

[ Score.

Reggie wouldn't be himself if he wasn't always keeping wise to the best ways to dodge blame. Or at least hang onto plausible deniability. ]

Innocent until proven guilty, that's the way it's meant to be done here in America. Even this bizarro America we're killing time in, I bet. [ He's just assuming. ] They welcomed me in too, and I'm not even out of high school yet. Go figure, huh? Must be too desperate to be pointing any fingers.

[ He pauses. ]

All the heroes they had died or something?

[Consider yourself an ally kid. Or at least - a possible one. not that Ward would ever really ally with anyone. Especially now. Switching to video, Reggie might notice there's a pretty big fist sized hole in Ward's wall.]

You know with the shock of arriving here? I'd forgotten about all of that. It is America. And what she's saying...

[His smile's tight] I remember high school. I went to military school. Hard to forget it.

[He laughs] no. ah...we're sort of - they're rare. They exist but they're rare. That's what I did. I monitored heroes as part of a government organization.

[Is there a note of "be impressed"? Cause you should be impressed. He'll just keep touting that]

[ Reggie seems a bit surprised by the change at first, mostly because he himself is caught off-guard; he's just sitting out in his yard in a t-shirt, one eye still discolored with bruising. ]

Can't say I blame you. This whole thing even gave me somethin' of a start. [ An understatement. ] Probably'd be even worse if I came in to someone shrieking about me being some kinda criminal.

[ He's tempted to ask -- "What'd you do?" -- before deciding he is probably better off not knowing, if it's true. Military school, though; that and the government affiliation is indeed impressive, or at least intimidating. ]

Monitored like they're doing to us now?

I can't say. I don't know what's going on here.

What happened to your eye kid? [he points] I just figured, you know. You seem to have a handle on what's what.

You seem to know what's going on.

Figured I'd owe you a straight answer too.

Oh -- nothing. [ His fingers move as if to cover his eye from view, though he lowers his hand before they quite make it there; no point, he decides. ] What can I say, I'm pretty popular, too.

[ But he has to shrug his shoulders, as loathe as he is to admit he's just as much in the dark as Ward is. He just likes to think he's so smart and above it all. ]

I might've just got here, but I'm a quick study. Maybe they'll give you a job being one of our keepers too, then, since this is apparently a government operation.

[Somewhere deep within him Wards hates himself. And somewhere in hell John Garrett laughs because the first thing that Ward sees when he sees the kid is opportunity.

And Ward, what little remains of Grant Douglas Ward - and there's still some there buried beneath the man rubbing his throat with a dark gaze, hates himself then and there.

It's like looking into the past]

...You need to be watched? [He oozes skeptical] I'd like a chance to use what I can do.

But not to police people. Not anymore. [he'll spread his hands]

Although for the record the majority of the people I ended up dealing with were pretty bad. And they were only recently...different.

I can watch my own back.

[ That's probably not what Ward meant, but Reggie will interpret it how he wants to.

That's not to say he isn't listening, though; it isn't opportunity Reggie sees, exactly, but an easy way out of thinking about anything serious. The best way to avoid having to reflect or feel guilty about anything is revel in being an asshole until he can fully buy into himself, he's learned. ]

You definitely did get the short end of the stick -- lousy job, lousy welcome party. If it was me, I'd figure out what I needed first. Then what I wanted.

...Good. I'm tired of babysitting people. Holding people's hands and making people feel good about themselves.

[His smile however is at least friendly.]

I know what I need. What's step two?

That makes two of us. Don't worry, I'm real mature for my age; last thing I need is a babysitter.

[ It's a match made in... somewhere terrible. Mean asshole teenagers make for easy accomplices in this sort of situation, the liars and scumbags make better company than the ones with hero complexes.

All right, Reggie might have some unchecked issues going on.

But he pauses, not having that far ahead -- he's more a schemer than a planner. ]

Uh -- do what you need to do to get it. Even if it takes you a while.

...That makes you a survivor. [he smiles] That's useful. I mean that's real useful.

I was a lot like that when I was a kid.

True. [He nods] Kinda hard to do that when people are calling me out like this.

[ Reggie smirks at that, but it's one lacking humor, a bit uneasy; a survivor, yes. That's the perfect word for it.

The word "useful" makes him question -- briefly -- if he's making a big mistake right now, but Reggie waves that thought away. All he's made lately are mistakes, and it's not like he's in any position to redeem himself, anyway. No one's here to apologize to, he can't rewind time and save anyone. ]

Could be useful. Does that mean you want my help?

Yeah, no kidding -- whatever you did must have been some kind of next level dick move. Try maybe lying low 'til some of the heat is off, for starters.

It'll be fun.

[And Ward feels and practically hears a ringing in his ears when he says it.] I need to make some friends.

But you're right. I think laying low will be the best idea. Get the lay of the land.

[Practice control.]

With a friend like me-- [ Who needs enemies!! ] Critics learn to shut up, and fast.

[ Granted, he's only seventeen, so no mastermind, but that's still old enough to know a few things about PR spinning (it helps that his dad is a news editor). Especially when you act too unflappable for prolonged confrontation to seem worth it.

He adds, just to feel more confident: ]

Assuming it's worth my while.

[Ward was 17 when Garrett took him under his wing, broke him out of jail, made him what he was.

Ward laughs aloud, driven and angry and hurt all at once.]

...What would you like?

[ He considers that question, a little surprised it's being taken seriously. But it's so nice to be taken seriously. ]

If you get a better job, I want a piece of that action. Mine's okay and all, but I don't know if "okay" will cut it for long in a place like this.

[ Not that he's scared or anything. Certainly not. Go big or go home, that's all. ]

[What's scary to ward is how everything from this kid's manner to his behavior reminds him of him.

So he responds to this after his talk with doctor Chilton at the office.]

...It might require training on your part if you think you can cut it.

[Hey Reggie. Wanna learn some awesome fighting moves from an actual super spy?]

but I have something lined up.

[ Scary indeed; Reggie isn't necessarily gunning to turn out like Ward, but the similarities in the moment are strangely comforting. Sticking to the familiar seems like a good idea right now, it helps avoid thinking about everything else.

And, uh, hell yes. ]

Of course I can cut it. I have a whole athletic resume to back that up, too. [ Which he almost rattles off right then and there, but miraculously resists the urge to brag. He's not really feeling it right now, or lately. ] What sort of something?

Security work. If you can prove to me that you can cut it.

It might require you to get a little more physical. Hurting others in a... more serious manner.

[Chilton wouldn't maybe object if he ended up needing a staff right? some extra help? Either way, having an ally like this...

For the first time he gets why Garrett chose him.

And his chest aches.]

Either way it's training I'd be willing to offer. Any experience with self defense? Hand to hand combat?

Security--? [ It's not quite his bag, but he won't say that. Reggie knows better than to shoot opportunities and connections in the foot recklessly. ] Who got you that gig?

Look, I'm no wimp, I can do it. [ Probably. Maybe. ] ... Yeah, some. Does football count as experience?

...It's good work. [He nods] I know, I'd prefer something different too, but they seem reluctant to hire people like you and me for anything that actually ...makes sense.

[At that he smiles. And it's probably the most genuine smile] I used to play linebacker believe it or not. For my school.

Okay, okay. I'll give it a shot. [ At least temporarily, though he's hesitant if only because it's not clear what kind of "security" work is being discussed. Reggie's not quite a sadist, but it's true he could use whatever tips he can get when it comes to fighting; the black eye's proof of that.] When you say hurting people, how bad are we talking?

[ But, on the slightly more neutral side of this conversation: ]

Running back.

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