- Evelyn -

"Evie. You're sure these are only ones?" Eshe asked pointing down with a single bony index finger towards my bruised knees, now wrapped tightly in cloth bandages. I nodded quietly and continued staring down at my bandages, avoiding Eshe's suspicious gaze. I knew she wanted to yell and demand where I got my wounds, I could sensed her heart beating faster than usual as the anger pumped through her veins. But there was also fear for me swelled inside of her like a tea kettle about to whistle as the steam poured out.

I heard Eshe let out an frustrated breath as she cleaned the blood-soaked paper towels that she used to wipe the blood off my legs and stood up to pitched them in the trash can in the kitchen.

I glanced up at the red analog clock hanging on the wall, above the old wooden bookcase that Eshe brought with her from Wakanda. I guessed that I have been at least an hour or two since the incident, it felt like it was decade since I helped that little boy's life. By accidentally destroying a truck and couple of cars in the process.

I stared down at my bare hands, they were filthy and red from scraping them on the pavement of the street. I didn't have my gloves, I might have left them at the accident when I fled.

I scoffed at the word. Fled. I fled the scene without checking if the boy was alright, what if the boy got hurt? I would never know because I fled.

I jumped as something plopped into my lap, it was two rubber gloves. I looked where Eshe was sitting in her late father's recliner next to the couch, drinking her usual relaxing, chilled bottle of orange cream soda held tightly in her left hand. "Put those on, so you don't accidentally explode or catch fire to anything," She said taking a long slow sip, never taking her eyes off me.

With slightly shaking hands, I slipped my petite hands into way-too-big gloves. I wriggled my fingers, my hands swam in the rubber gloves. I frowned, letting a knot in my throat sit there.

"I heard over the radio on my way home that there was an incident in Lower Manhattan around 10th and 32nd. It happened about a hour ago," I tensed up at steel in Eshe's accented voice. The cool and neutral tone she uses for work, I hated that tone because it reminds of the way Dr. Flintlock spoke, that emotionless tone that he used to masks his true cruel intentions.

Eshe's dark eyes bore ugly holes into the left side of my face, I knew she was trying to make me confess, about why I showed up to her apartment about a hour early, gloveless, out of breath with blood dripping down my calfs.

She let out a controlled breath, she was trying to stay collected which was probably the only reason saving me from a severe scolding. Eshe leaned back in the recliner with her legs and arms crossed. I would have laugh and teased her about leaving the glaring for the clients and for that one blind cocky lawyer she hates so much. But this wasn't the time, It was never the 'time' anymore since Abe left.

" Evie...I know." Eshe breaking the silence that I wasn't aware of. Then, for the first time in the whole time I was there, I looked her in the eye. Eshe shot me a ghost of a smile " I know it was you who saved that little boy's life. God, Evie what were you thinking!" Eshe's voice shifted from the soft and quiet tone to one filled with pure angry as she jumped the recliner, almost knocking her cream soda to the floor as she paced back and forth like a raging lioness ready to kill.

"You could have died! Or gotten hurt! What the hell were you thinking, now your stunt is worldwide viral! And what if anyone from Dr. Flintlock's crew recognized you? Just...Christ." Eshe huffed out harshly, standing in front of me.

I didn't respond, I know that if Dr. Flintlock found out, I've been hiding in New York for the last several months, they would tear the city apart, looking for me and possibly send the silent soldier to retrieve me at any cost. "I know...Eshe. But I couldn't..." Then, everything inside spilled out, all the pain and sadness I felt when I found that Abe was gone, poured out as I began to cry.

"I couldn't.....I couldn't watch him die! I...I wanted..needed to s-save him, Eshe!" I choked out through bitter tears, placing my hands on my face. I breathed in the chemical scent of the rubber gloves, as my cupped hands covered my reddened eyes, I suddenly felt a warm soothing hand on my back between the shoulder blades as Eshe rubbed my back and wrapped her arms around me.

She held me close to her body, I hear the calming drumming of Eshe's heart as I rested my head farther in the warmth of Eshe. "Ssssshhhh...you're alright,  Everything is okay Evie." she cooed, her hand combing through my blond tangles. She rocked us back and forth, the chair groaning softly with every movement. Its squeaking and Eshe's comforting muttering lulled me to sleep, a very fitful slumber.