|
  |
It's late, and Thea is finally leaving the free clinic. It's one of her rare days off, but she can't seem to quite give it up. She likes helping those who otherwise might not get help, and there's more than one or two locals who know or suspect her 'secret'. Blonde hair has been shaken down out of its pins, waving wildly over her dark coat, her shoes making noise against the pavement as she hurries towards the park to head home.
One of her recent patients is not far ahead of her, and makes the blonde nurse smile, because it's clear from the walking pace that the work she'd done on his ankle is standing him in good stead.. or it was until two darker dressed strangers jump out of a shadowed alleyway, and try to drag the older, if not quite elderly man, out of sight.
She's a woman, alone, in a rough neighborhood, but Thea doesn't hesitate. Aching feet are forgotten as a shout erupts from her throat, her pace increasing into a run. Her bag is shoved behind her hip, as she descends in a fury on the miscreants. She'll throw a punch, but that won't account for the screams that erupt from both of the men. She barely gets a kick in before they're collapsing to the pavement, unconscious.
*
Someone far more inconspicuous, particularly for her tiny size, was about to spring to action when she spotted the older man getting accosted. But before she can manage the feat, there's another who partakes in heroics who beats her to the punch. Seeing how this is not a competition for glory, but rather a community effort by wouldbe heroes to protect those in need of protection, the Winsome Wasp has a big smile on her face. Not only did she spot another hero in action, but it was a woman too.
Thea is more likely to notice the tiny woman when she gets nearer, thanks to buzzing sound her rapidly moving wings make, "that was impressive!" She calls out at Thea, a beaming smile on her face, "what exactly did you do to those creeps?"
*
Thea is already moving to check on her former patient, jerking with a widening of brown eyes at the tiny…flying wasp woman. Okay, today is just.. uh-huh. She glances down, foot nudging a leg. "Cut off the oxygen long enough to make them pass out. " She doesn't even think to lie, because.. well, why lie to a tiny wasp woman that's fascinating her senses? "This is one of the patients I've seen at the free clinic." Fingers brush over the lump on his head, sealing off the trickling blood before she focuses to reduce the swelling and bruising. Then…she blurts. "I'm sorry, WHO are YOU?"
*
"How did you manage that? Didn't look like you were touching them…did you?" Wasp is quite curious at this point, wondering if she observes unique martial arts application, or perhaps another powered individual. "Me? I'm the Winsome Wasp!" Wasp introduces herself with bravado, not failing at presenting herself as a superhero, despite her tiny size.
*
Thea can't help the grin that comes at the introduction. "Thea Harman. How do you do. And I hit them, but no, that's not how I put them down. I…" There's actually a look around, like anyone in HARLEM is going to be looking at them at this hour. "I'm a mutant. Bio-kinetic. I can heal.. or not so much heal."
*
"Nice to meet you, Thea Harman," Wasp says in a friendly tone, looking like quite the extrovert, the way she's already comfortably treating Thea as a friend. "Ooooo!" She sounds excited at the prospect of Thea's powers, "so you're medicine and poison rolled into one? That's useful on the right person! You seem to have good character…is this the first time you tried being a hero?"
*
Thea bends down to help her patient heal a bit more, and maybe take some invisible measures to keep thugs down. "Heal and harm, all in one." She glances up. "Not exactly. When mutant town got destroyed, I helped out there, I've acted a couple times against weird or evil forces, that sort of thing. "
*
"Sounds like you've got credentials to do the job, would you be interested, given the chance?" Wasp asks as she flutters around Thea, observing her action as she helps the victim of the attack heal. "I don't think I've worked with a nurse before, are you a nurse?"
*
"Credentials and interest to do what, exactly? Be a hero?" There's maybe a note of caution in Thea's voice. "I am a nurse. Which is why I don't talk about what it is I've done here, very often or openly. But I'm sure someone who flies like an insect understands that sort of caution." There's a glance up.
*
Wasp looks incredulous at the thought she was unclear, and flutters over till she lands on Thea's shoulder, and whispers in her ear, "why be a superhero of course! I was on a team called the Avengers, but the government didn't like us, so now I'm working on a new team, the Defenders." She nods sagely, before fluttering away again, "seems what you did just now was defend, I think that fits perfectly with us. Would you be interested?" She grins a winning smile when proven right, "thought so!"
*
Thea likes to be sure of what she's signing on for! She's very still when the little woman lands on her shoulder. "So long as the Defenders will understand I can't be recognized for what I am. I'd lose my job, and I help a lot of patients that way, too." There's a note of hope. "I don't live here in Harlem, though, if that matters. I live over in Hells' Kitchen."
*
The Wasp takes to the air and does a bit of fly around, likely a quirk she doesn't even realize she's doing as she takes a moment to consider. "We are not going to be a shadow operation, we will be out in the light, and proud to defend our fellow citizens. Key word being defend…I guess, we could keep you from all media related activities. But I can't guarantee a nosey reporter won't be on to you sooner or later." She eventually spits out how she views the situation, and then flies closer to Thea's face, "so what do you say? Will you brave the chance or not?"
*
"Well, let's look at this logically. Do I have to show my face, to defend the people of the city from the creeps and the jerks? I can't be proud and want privacy? I have family…well, my mother would be mortified." She crouches down next to the man she'd just protected, looking up. "I want to help people. I…" There's a sigh and a hand through her hair. "Count me in."
*
"You don't have to do anything," Wasp points out, tilting her head from one shoulder to the other like a pendulum. "It's just that there are those who don't want people to be safe. That was part of the problem with the Avengers, I can't repeat that mistake." Wasp flies closer and pats Thea on the cheek in a comforting gesture, "you could wear a mask, you could use a codename, but what I'm trying to say is…sometimes reporters make the choice for you. Be ready for that if you choose to stand up for the little people!" The way she giggles shows the unintentional joke isn't lost on her, speaking of little people while she's so tiny.
*
"Clearly I am not one of those people. I tend to go out of my way to help. It's probably going to get me hurt, someday. So I might as well accept it." There's a smirk at the pat to her cheek, and a snort of laughter at the little people comment. "A mask would be useful. A…codename would be even better. Reporters won't notice me with you around."
*
"Hmph…sometimes people don't notice me at all!" Wasp jokes, "must be a size issue, soooo! Do you have a business card you could give me? I would like your contact information…I'll keep you up to date as I work the logistics of making up this team. Glad you're willing to join us! It's important for people who can help to actually help!"
*
Thea rummages in her bag. "It's not a business card per se, since I don't have a business. But I had some printed for the people in Mutant town that might need extra help.." There's a moment of hunting through things, before there's a little white rectangle with just her first name and phone number printed. "Just my name and number."
*
"That'll do! I'm the Winsome Wasp, expect a call, Thea…I'll be seeing you!" Wasp announces jovially, taking the card with both hands as she flutters up into the skies.
*