Stuck

[Rob]

"Wait, hold that door!"

Munin squeezed her herself into the elevator just before the door closed. Stepping back, Jericho Cross narrowly avoids being hit by the rushing young Lady of the Colisseum.

Jericho: Munin?

Munin looked up with a surprised smile. Her two handfuls of shopping bags hanging at her sides.

Munin: Hey, didn't expect to see you in a mall elevator.

Jericho: I needed something to do with all this time still to go.

Before they could say more the elevator had reached it's next stop, and what seemed like ten people piled in. Inadvertently pushing Munin back into a corner with Jericho.

Munin: Well, that makes sense...

She wiggled a bit to maneuver enough room to set down her bags.

Munin: Ha, talk about close friends...excuse me. I promise I won't step on your feet.

Jericho: And to think earlier on, I trapped you in a corner.

He smirked, trying to get some humour out of the situation.

She began to twists her string pearls in an uncharacteristic sign of nervousness. She couldn't say why she felt on edge standing so close to Jericho's larger form. It wasn't as if she felt threatened or uncomfortable around him. It was something she just couldn't quite put her finger on. A sort of static force field around him that made her skin tingle. Perhaps Jericho was secretly a super hero from another planet.

That thought actually brought a smile to her face. Jericho would be so much more bad ass than Superman.

Munin: Well I'm sure I smell better now than I did then.

She smiles up at him, and promptly drops her beads to brace herself, as they are jostled once more.

Jericho: I can't argue there.

And he couldn't. His every breath was filled with her sweet scent,whether he wanted it or not. Never in his life has self control seemed so much like torture. Of course, having her so close and smiling at him didn't help Jericho. He came here to give himself other things to think about. He wanted nothing so badly as to feel her lips against his, to hold her lithe body close to him as he did so.
But he knew that now probably wouldn't be the time for that. Finally they come to their next stop and the fellow passengers ushered off those who were leaving with blunt cries of "Move forward, get off, and make room" in Chinese. At last the two friends were allowed enough room to move apart. It was a shame because Munin was really starting to like the smell of woods- no stop it.

With slight mental effort she steered her brain towards less complicated trains of thought. Like the two Chinese Lolitas that were giggling nearby. They didn't quite try to hide the fact that they were stealing glances of Jericho between giggles. Finally, the one wearing a blonde curly wig mustered up the courage to address him.

"Nĭ shì Mĕiguórén ma?"

She was obviously trying to make her voice sound as adorable as possible much to Munin's disgust. Not that she was sure why she found it offensive as she typically found it amusing.

Munin: She wants to know if you are American.

Jericho shakes his head for the local woman's benefit, unable to speak the language himself.

Jericho: No. Scottish.

Munin translated for him, though it was pointless. Both girls had melted into giggles at the sound of his accent. Just as she was about to say something slightly scathing the elevator came to a jolting halt. As the doors opened, the two left, still giggling to themselves, leaving the two Globalstars (one past, one present) alone while the doors closed.

Jericho: I forgot what that was like. You could tell them their puppy died and they'd still giggle. Weird, sometimes.

Munin looked at him dead panned for a moment. Did he really not get it.

Munin:Yes well, I believe teenagers have a license to be od-

She broke off once more as the elevator came to a halt, but this time the doors did not open.

Munin: ...Jericho?

Jericho: Hmm?

Munin: Why are the doors not opening?

He hadn't been paying attention, letting himself stare into space. Now looking at the door, his brow furrows slightly.

Jericho:Hang on.

Walking to the door, he manages to pry it open enough to see the problem.

Jericho: Ah.

Munin: "Ah?"

Jericho steps back, letting the doors shut again as he looks at Munin.

Jericho: We're stuck between floors.

Munin: As in stuck but we can squeeze out or stuck as in not going anywhere till this thing moves?

Jericho: All you'll do if you squeeze out is hit the wall. We're fucked for now, I think.

Munin sighed but otherwise seemed rather calm, as she opened up the emergency panel. She pressed the button sharply, but there was no sound. Looking up she met Jericho's eyes, and repeatedly pushed the button to no avail.

Munin: That can not be good...

She picked up the receiver only to receive no dial tone.

Munin: You're right we're fucked.

The receiver clanks as she returns it to the cradle.

Jericho: Well, shit.

Looking up at the ceiling, he sees nothing of interest. Jumping up, he hits the middle. It doesn't budge.

Jericho: No hatch. Well, we're stuck here. How do we pass the time?

Munin: We get comfortable I guess.

She said this while settling down next to her bags. Seeing no other option, he sits next to her, pulling a knee up while setting his left leg out flat.

Jericho: At least we have a break from signing autographs.

Munin gave him a cheeky grin at that comment.

Munin: And signing body parts?

He grinned from ear to ear. It had been a while since he did something that daft. Of course he found it funny.

Jericho: Heh, that too.

Munin: How long did it take to get that permanent marker off?

Crazy as it was she couldn't deny that she smiled every time she thought about his stunt. Turning his head, he gives her a look as an eyebrow raises.

Jericho: So that's why it took so long!

Munin: What can I say I like to leave my mark.

Jericho: I'll remember that.

Still smiling she leaned her head back against the wall.

Munin: So what have you been doing Jericho. You know what I've been up to, but you've been out of the camera's eye.

Jericho: Healing. Letting myself become normal. And medicated. I'm in a much better place now.

She looks at him from the corner of her eye. Healing and allowing yourself to become normal were two things she could relate to.

Munin: Hmmm...sometimes I wonder if you ever fully heal. Maybe its better that you don't, even with the nightmares.

Cross gives out a short "Heh", not so much seeing the funny side as he was seeing the futility of such an idea.

Jericho: I've no illusions of fully healing. But I've got enough to know I'm a lot better off than I was. I'll take that.

She leans towards him slightly with a conspirator's smile.

Munin: I wasn't necessarily speaking specifically of you. Confession, I am mentally going insane being trapped in this room. If I wasn't with you I would be lodged in the corner.

She settled back into her former spot with a sigh.

Munin: I don't mind small places I just hate being trapped. In my nightmares I'm still trapped in a concrete room, but hey-

She shifted to pull down the material covering her shoulder. Revealing the circular white scar that she rarely revealed.

Munin: I personally think scars are sexy.

Taking a close look, he smiles slightly. He couldn't help but wonder where it came from, how it got to be that shape. For some reason, it fascinated him.

Jericho: How did you get it?

Munin covered the scar back up looking away with a dry laugh.

Munin: I guess you didn't see it when it was plastered everywhere. Not a bad thing, the fewer people that know or remember the better, to me...I was nailed to a wall when I was kidnapped.

Jericho: That's fucked. How did you get out?

Munin smiled, and it was a feral grin.

Munin: They thought I'd stay there and got cocky.

Many would likely find it odd, but Munin actually warmed inside at his lack of reaction. Sometimes when people saw it they over reacted and got all emotional, and sometimes they treated her like she was a freak, or someone fragile and slightly touched in the head. His lack of reaction just made her feel accepted.

He nods slowly, knowing exactly what she meant. He had to approve too. Not many try to escape.

Jericho: So you like scars, hmm? I could show you some. Besides these ones, I mean.

He gestures by circling his hand over his face, referring to the two he has there. Munin laughs and wiggles her eyebrows at him in a mock leer.

Munin: Oh I'm sure you do oh king of the barb wire.

Jericho: Here.

Standing up, he turns away from her. Pulling off his t-shirt, he exposes the unbelievable mass of scars on his back. It resembles a mosaic of different sized tiles all of the same colour, save for the small round ones. There is barely a patch of smooth skin left.

She quietly and gently reached out to trace his scars with the tip of her fingertips.

Munin: What is this one from?

Jericho: That long one?

Munin: Mhmm

Jericho: Slashed with a knife. On my body, if it wasn't glass or barbed wire, it's a knife wound.

While some people would have found his scars disturbing, Munin thought they were fascinating. It was like a story book of his pain, his struggles, and his triumphs. She hesitated only a moment before pulling her hand away from his warm textured skin. Her touch was gentle, pleasant to him. He wouldn't say anything, of course.

Munin: You were a very busy man Jericho.

This is said with a warm smile and teasing eyes. Its then that she suddenly realizes how common that expression is becoming around him. Did she smile at all when not around him and Travis? She hadn't really had anytime to spend with Eva lately.

Jericho: You could say that.

Turning to face her, his eyes fall on her smile, also exposing more scars on the front of his torso. Between it and his back, he looks like he'd been ripped apart. His chest and abdomen, however, were nowhere near as bad, though still showed signs of many cuts.

Munin: You should come back to the company, so that they can use your sexy bod for promotions.

Her tone was light and teasing as she looked away to dig through one of her bags. Secretly she was thankful that Jericho did not have superhuman hearing. Otherwise he would have heard her heart racing.

Munin: If those Lolita wannabes had seen you without your shirt, they may have thrown themselves at you.

Jericho: Thanks.

He stands there for a moment, sgirt still in his hand.

Jericho: Though. I'm sure there are other bodies they could use.

She mentally berated herself for her reaction. What was wrong with her? The man was her friend, and saw her as a little sister at best. Not to mention she was coming out of a longer term relationship gone bad. Munin snap the hell out of it...and don't forget to breathe. She used a heavy sigh to disguise her sudden need for air.

Munin: Yes but your body is far more interesting than most. Now where is that bag of rice chips?

It's a natural reaction, a healthy reaction. Any woman would have that reaction to a shirtless Jericho, it didn't make her a wanton hussy. She was heartbroken not dead after all.

Besides wasn't he snuggling into Amanda's arms for comfort? Not that she wanted to snuggle in Amanda's arms.Jericho had nice arms...damn it.

Her mental ramblings finally came to an end as she found the chips.

Munin: You have nice arms!

Munin: I mean...yay I found the chips...damn it.

There was an awkward pause as she froze with the chip bag held proudly in the air. Jericho smiles. Something about the sudden outburst amused him.

Jericho. Thanks. You ok, Munie? You seem flustered.

She sighed and lowered the bag. Her smile was rueful, and she did her best to keep her good humor intact.

Munin: Yes, I'm sorry I guess I just got caught up in my thoughts.

Jericho: Ah. I do that too.

Putting his t-shirt back on, he walks over to get a rice chip. He never did get round to trying them.

And just like that she relaxed once more, her mind settles into an odd peace. She didn't quite understand what just happened, or how Jericho managed to relieve her of the constant pain she was feeling lately, but she decided to enjoy it while he was putting up with her. She was likely going to be either miserable or numb later, healing took time, and a broken heart wouldn't heal overnight. Yet somehow she felt like she was already starting to heal.

Munin: How are they?

Jericho: Not bad, not bad. I'm in the mood for noodles, though.

Munin: Oooo noodles do sound good.

Jericho: Yeah? Come get noodles with me then.

Munin: That sounds like a plan, except for one thing...

She paused just for effect.

Munin: We are stuck in an el-

She broke off as the elevator suddenly jostled to life. Cross looks up as the lift begins moving again, before looking back to Munin.

Jericho: Problem solved. Nice!

With a laugh Munin stood up and gathered her bags.

Munin: So it is, noodles it is then.

Finally, the elevator stops and opens its doors, letting the trapped pair go free. Stepping out, their quest for noodles begins.