Jane had watched Duck space out at the front desk. Or, well, space out wasn't really the correct term for it. He was in a mild sleep mode. There were no clients at the moment and there was nothing to clean. Duck decided to 'rest' at the front desk. This wasn't alarming. Not at first.
She only felt concerned when he started to twitch. She knew that twitch well enough. Nightmare probably fit best with what was going on with him when he was like this. He couldn't remember them, but he knew it was something with his corrupted memories. Jane approached him calmly. Her voice gentle as she spoke. "Duck?"
Duck didn't respond, his twitching only got worse.
"Duck, Wake up, hu-"
Jane touched Duck's shoulder. That's all it took for him to shoot up. His cooling fan going into overdrive. Jane knew that face. That look where he was stuck in his own mind, stuck in his memories. All she had time to do was see his face before he lunged.
Duck wrapped his hands around Jane's neck. His fingers digging into her neck so tightly it broke skin. Jane's eyes opened wide, grabbing the arms around her neck, trying to pry them off.
"D-Duck...!" Jane barely got out through gasps and wheezes.
He wasn't looking at her. Duck's eyes weren't focused. they were unfocused. His eyes were dilatated. His pupils almost taking over his whole iris.
Jane had tears welling in her eyes. Her vision was tunneling, and her heart was pounding out of her chest. She reached out to push at his face, but she was losing strength quickly.
"D...u...c..k." She tried once more.
Duck's eyes focused, his LED yellow, and it took him a moment to process. Jane felt herself hit the floor, and she gasped and choked as air flooded into her lungs. She coughed and sputtered. Her fingers lightly pressed to her throat. Jane could feel the blood. She looked up at Duck, who was looking at his hands. His ears are pinned back and his hands are shaking.
What did he do?
What did he just do?!
Duck's LED flickered red, and his body twitched.
"Du-ck," Duck looked at Jane. Jane was reached out to him.
She was reaching out and tried to sooth him... And he did that to her.
Duck turned quickly and took off out of the office.
"D-Du-ck. Wa-wait...!" Jane coughed so harshly. She tried to get up, but her body refused. She was far too lightheaded to do anything but lay there on the floor.
"The first one is a bit of a trick question so I don't blame you. Also. I'm amused that you put 'She became a therapist' as the answer to the tragic backstory. That got a laugh out of me. I apologize."
Jane greeted the young man once he finally arrived. Her smile undeterred by his demeanor. The tone and the smile wasn't at all fake or condescending. This was a small, mousy sort of woman with freckles adorning her nose and part of her cheeks. Her hair short, wavy, and brown. It looked soft and well maintained. In fact, most of her was very well maintained. With a warm smile that reached her sparkling brown eyes. Eyes that were framed beautifully by her thick blue glasses. Average to a T. But the warmth and welcome this woman radiated was intoxicating to most.
Jane motioned him into her office once introductions were made.
It was a cosy space. All but one wall being a soothing darker blue, with a grey wall across from her desk-- the typical set up there; A desk, a chair, a chair across from the desk, a few shelves holding what seemed to be many knick-knacks and books. Though, the rest of the room had some added features not normally seen in a therapy office.
A couch set against the grey wall. With a plant next to it and pictures hanging above. Said pictures seemingly of friends and family, and perhaps a few clients. Diagonal from that sat two colorful looking bean bags, one red and one blue, and a small little stand between. With a abstract looking carpet sprawled underneath them. As well as more pictures and framed certifications above those. Next to those, was what looked like a mini fridge.
Despite having a lot, the space was used well. Nothing overlapped, with each small section feeling like it's own tiny little space. It was cosy. Especially with the dim light from the ceiling. Jane made herself comfortable on the couch. He was told to sit where he liked, and that there were snacks and drinks in the mini fridge.
She only sat patiently, waiting for him to sit down before she stared.
(I got a little muse bug with this starter. So it's long. lol)
Jane just needed a bit of fresh air to clear her head. It had been a long week, and she was restless. She couldn't focus on her paperwork, nor could she focus on watching anything for long. It was late at night, and she had some things she needed to catch up on before she went to bed. However, she had a sudden need to just, go outside for a walk. Probably because she had been cooped up in her office all week with nothing else to do but talk to her patients, order lunch, and hunch over her desk.
She hadn't even been able to go to her favorite bar after work. It seemed when she got a moment to herself, a patient would call and she was on the phone for hours trying to bring them down from whatever sort of episode they were having. Jane couldn't ignore them, of course, being their therapist and well, her own personal sense of duty to her clients, but it left her feeling stuck for days.
As much as she tired to ignore it, and distract from it, it persisted. She even tried tapping her foot on the floor in hopes it alleviate it in some way. It just persisted, eating up more of her mental state before she just caved.
Jane decided to walk to the convenance store. It wasn't far and she could get a snack, and maybe a coffee.
It was a brisk night, causing Jane to pull her coat in closer to her neck and shiver as she stepped out. Her hand held tightly to the strap of her bag as she made her way down the sidewalk. despite the chill, it was a nice night. The moon was in a waxing gibbous, and though it was a bit cloudy, the stars were visible, or as visible as they could be with all the light pollution. She could feel the restlessness start to fade already, and a small sigh came as she enjoyed the calm night.
At least until she heard to footsteps behind her.
They were soft, attempting to be quiet, but occasional crunch of the snow and slorp of slush gave them away. Jane felt her heartbeat quicken, as this wouldn't be the first time she was attacked. Though, that time was in broad daylight. Even then it was lucky someone arrived in time, and she pulled through. This time, the chances of someone being around and willing to help her was slim. The trauma from that never quite healed right. It took everything in her to remain calm and think rationally.
Jane tried to rationalize it. Maybe they were going the same way as her, but, she could hear the footsteps getting closer. They didn't quite gain speed, but they were closing in on her quickly. Jane calmly put a hand in her pocket, holding into a small canister of pepper spray.
Just in case.
It seems her instincts were right this time, as one rounded in front of her, and the other held a knife to her back. Jane willed herself to remain calm, despite hearing her own heartbeat in her ears. Despite the trembling in her hands.
"Well, hello, gentleman," She chimed. "Nice night isn't it?"
Her calm demeanor seemed to help her, as the thugs looked at each other. The one in front of her was confused, and she only assumed the other one behind her was too. Jane took this moment of confusion, kicking the one man hard in the knee and turning to spray the other one in the eyes. He swung wildly as he yelped in pain. The knife caught her arm, slicing through her thin jacket and straight to her skin. She hissed, but didn't pause a moment and took off running, back to the safety of her office.
"Hey! Get back you, you bitch!" One of them screamed. At least one was sprinting after her, with the other trying to follow. Both of them unable to really run at first, but soon enough at least one of them was gaining.
Jane wasn't fast, she wasn't athletic, and the only thing keeping her running now was pure adrenaline. Adrenaline could only get her so far though. She was already huffing, and she was barely a block or so away.
Not again.
Please, not again.
Someone, anyone,
"HELP! HELP ME!"
Jane was surprised by her own voice. It almost didn't sound like her. The desperation and terror almost felt unreal to her. When was the last time she was actually this scared?
Probably the last time this happened actually. Though, given this happened once already, the terror felt worse. So much worse. Almost cripplingly worse.
Elijah seems very quiet today. He needed an emergency visit today. He needed to see Jane about this. Part of him didn't know who else to talk to.
Jane had managed to fit Elijah in between two other appointments. It was tight, but she worked with a tight schedule before. She greeted him like usual, though omitted the part about food. Whatever it was seemed serious. And he would probably want to get too it as soon as he could. Jane was sitting in the beanbags today instead of at her desk. The laptop previously on her lap was set aside when he came in. She stood up once he entered.
Connor hadn't even noticed the car. The walk signal had changed to allow pedestrians the right of way. One foot had stepped off the curb before he felt the tug on his arm. Immediately he stopped, suddenly registering the speeding car.
His LED flashed red as he locked up. Though he didn't move forward into the path of the car, he didn't move back either. He stood frozen in fear as system warnings flared up in his vision. His thirium pump sped up as if his heart was racing.
The unpleasant memories of the highway came bubbling up to the surface. Kara shoving him away, him unable to get out of the way in time, the crunch of metal against plastic as he was struck by a speeding car, the way he rolled up and over it, landing dead on the roadway as he awoke in a new unharmed body.
As the barreling car passed them, the detective android's legs gave out from under him, falling to his knees, hands pressed against the concrete to keep him from collapsing completely. He sat there for a moment, trying to catch his breath. Though he wasn't actually breathing. It was his external cooling system trying to pull in air to cool him from the sudden shock he'd just experienced.
Jane sighed in relief once the car sped past and the man was still standing. That was far too close. Her grip loosened on his arm and she opened her mouth to speak, but Connor was on the ground before she could get her words out.
Jane rushed around him, kneeling on the ground and setting her bag down next to her. She was closer, but made sure not to touch him, just in case that would overwhelm him. She just planned to be a buffer if another car happened to come by.
He didn't look injured, which was good, though it was clear to her that he was frozen in shock. The LED is noticed, her eyes glanced at it, but otherwise isn't given anymore attention then that. That wasn't important. What was important was getting him grounded.
"Hey, Hey hey. You're alright, hun. Take deep breathes." Her tone was warm, sweet, keeping calm despite the situation that just happened not a moment ago.
