Phone Call to Roxie

[the_next_avenger]

(Occurs during this thread.)
 

Joe stepped outside and called his parents first, letting them know what was going on. He asked them to be extremely careful. Dad asked if he needed help and Joe declined, saying that he was on the case and had it under control. Moreover, he didn't want his parents cleaning up his messes. They didn't sound happy about it, but they respected his wishes.

Once he hung up with them, he dialed Roxanne's cellphone. He was surprised at how much he missed her and how often he'd been thinking of her during the drive already. When this was over, he'd see her again and then they'd talk about a few things, if they were both ready.

He waited for her to answer and hoped she was all right.

Comments

[avengingwarbird]

There was honestly not that much that some good, old-fashioned retail therapy couldn't fix.

Which was why, at that moment, Roxie was standing in Chelsea Girl Couture in SoHo, trying on a vintage Donna Karan beaded strapless sheath from the 80s. It was, she decided, cute, but not quite her.

Though maybe with the right pair of crystal and metal studded booties...

She answered Joe's call on the second ring, her smile growing even wider when she saw how giddy she looked in the mirror.

"How's everything going?" she asked as her smile faded. He'd gone away on a serious business thing, after all. "Did you find anything out?"

[the_next_avenger]

When Roxie answered, Joe's expression softened a little bit and his shoulders relaxed. She didn't sound panicked or upset so that was good. He wanted to smile but he couldn't, not right now.

"Yeah, I did and it's not good. Turns out that Melissa's brother, Jason, the guy that I sent to jail...well, he's been out for three months. Somehow, he got a shapeshifter to take his place and he's been out there, probably watching me and planning his next move. I have to assume it was him behind the knife attack on your doorman." Joe said.

"Have you been followed lately? Has anyone you don't know shown up and started asking you questions about me?" Joe asked her.

[avengingwarbird]

There was a very prolonged silence on Roxie's end.

"Tommy," she finally said. "Tommy was here. Waiting for me outside Avengers Mansion."

[the_next_avenger]

Joe wasn't expecting to hear Tommy's name, especially now. Why would he make contact /now/ of all times? Something about the timing sent up a red flag in the back of Joe's mind.

"Did you talk to him? Was anyone with him?" Joe asked.

[avengingwarbird]

Roxie filled Joe in on how he'd been lurking outside the Mansion and how she'd gone out to confront him, sure that he'd been behind whatever had happened at their penthouse.

"It seemed as though he was really surprised by everything that happened," Roxie added. "And that he felt bad. He wanted to check up on you, and I suppose that your being photographed with me had come to his attention." Pause. "The Daily Bugle and some other publications are going to run photographs of us having drinks at the Paramount," she added. "I lured him there to put him on my turf, and to ensure that we were photographed, so if anything happened, you'd know where to start looking."

[the_next_avenger]

Joe was surprised at Roxie's story and he was glad she told him. He'd deal with Tommy later, but right now, he was worried about her.

"How are you doing? Are you staying at the Mansion right now or at our place?" he asked.

Joe tried not to smile when he said "our place" and failed.

[avengingwarbird]

"The Mansion," she said after a beat. "I just thought, in case of any attacks. Well, we've been photographed together, and it's not that I can't take care of myself? But the girlfri - uhm - the...I'd be the likeliest candidate to be taken to get used against you. So, safety in numbers and all that." You'd have to be eighty kinds of stupid, at least, to just attack Avengers Mansion.

"But, how are you? I've been concerned." All the more so since Tommy's visit.

[the_next_avenger]

"Oh, I know you can take care of yourself. I didn't meant to say you couldn't. I just...I was thinking about how we left things and that I left you alone. I didn't want you to think that I was trying to avoid talking about serious stuff." Joe said.

"I'm okay. I'm not thrilled that Jason is out and about. I called my parents and let them know to be on the lookout, too. But then I thought of you and I needed to hear your voice and know you're okay." he said.

"I know, it sounds corny."

[avengingwarbird]

"Joe, you never implied that I couldn't, so you don't have to apologize," she said.

A salesgirl poked her head in to see if she needed anything and Roxie smiled and held up a finger, mouthing the words one moment to her. She then took a seat on the plush settee in the dressing room and stared at herself in the mirror.

She was probably buying the dress.

"Well, if he heads this way or something, you'll obviously be the first person I contact," Roxie said. "After I bash his head in with my mace," she added.

"And no, I know. The serious stuff...can wait for when you get back," Roxie stood back up and started unzipping the dress. "Also? It's not corny, what you said. I'm glad you called. I'm happy you're okay." And she could rest a little easier knowing that he was coming back. That he hadn't disappeared again. "My thoughts have very much been with you, since you left."

[the_next_avenger]

"If you bash this guy's head in with a mace, I'll buy you a steak dinner." Joe said, chuckling a bit. Sadly, he didn't think Jason would just walk up and let it happen so they could all go home.

"Yeah, you came to mind a couple of times during the drive down here with Sammy. Just car conversation and catching up." he said.

"Just be really careful, all right? This guy might know about what you can do and he might have some back-up. If anything looks weird, sounds weird, call for back-up. Please."

[avengingwarbird]

She'd already been on super-alert since the Kreenapping. This simply meant that she needed to pay attention to terrestrial threats as well as the extra-terrestrial kind.

"Bruce, Jay, Nicky, and the others are here if I need anything," she confirmed. "Which, hopefully, I won't, but three of them are all kinds of helpful backup for a girl," she said lightly. "But let's hope it doesn't come to anything like that."

[the_next_avenger]

"I'm sure hoping not. I have standing plans to take you dancing when this is all over." Joe said, grinning.

[avengingwarbird]

She laughed at that. It was a musical laugh - warm, free, and hearty, tinged with flirtatious zeal. It was one that hadn't really been heard by many of late.

Yes, she thought as she slipped one skinny jean-clad leg into a knee high brown leather boot. She was definitely buying the dress to go dancing in.

"I hope it's over soon, then," she agreed. "Because I can't wait to dance with you."

[the_next_avenger]

"Same here, beautiful. Same here." Joe said.

"I'm gonna get back to work, but can I call you again soon?" he asked.

[avengingwarbird]

Beautiful.

She couldn't hold back the decidedly dopey grin that shone back at her from her reflection.

"The sooner you get to work, the sooner you're finished," she confirmed. "But yeah. Call me anytime." Because unless she was in the middle of another dragon attack, she'd definitely answer.

[the_next_avenger]

"Looking forward to it." Joe grinned. "See you soon, Roxanne."

And then the call was over.