King Tide: Matt and Longshot

[x-daredevil.livejournal.com]

Bruised, banged up and bandaged, Matt runs into a curious sort of quasi-volunteer.



He had managed to shed all of the usual entourage for these sorts of stunts save one photographer. Luckily Jimmy knew both how to be discreet and how to capture the "actor's" best side. Arthur reflected on the psychological implications of using air-quotes in your own personal narrative as he checked his hair in one of the many, bulky shiny surfaces near the Red-X basecamp. Appropriately tussled? Check. Kind, charitable smile with just enough charm? Double check.

Arthur readjusted the be-logoed bag of relief supplies over his shoulder and smiled blindingly at Jimmy. If there was a man alive who could ping when he smiled, it was Arthur Centino. "Let's go win some hearts."

For his part, Matt was not looking remotely charmingly disheveled or anything close to that. He looked like something the cat might've dragged in half dead, though he did feel better than that, barely. His hair was dry again because he kept it short, but his wet clothes were still wet and still clinging in uncomfortable and unpleasant ways to his body. That was why he was outside in the sun hoping that they might dry a hair faster that way. The palms of his hands were also slathered in antibacterial mess and wrapped in gauze. After burning them, scraping them climbing trees and then exposing those wounds to flood waters, that was the least he needed. Dr. Jean also put him on antibiotics just in case.

Swinging his arms around outside the command tent, Matt pulled off his jacket and t-shirt. The sun felt good on his clammy skin.

The previous pair moved quickly in a wake of smiles, handshakes, and energy bars (although the majority of the smiles were Arthur's). Luck would have it that they hadn't run into anyone with authority to kick them out. Fortune again allowed to them to round the command tent in just enough time to encounter Matt and his poor, beleaguered hands.

"Jimmy," Arthur added while not really paying attention to the ballcapped photographer, "I see we've run into another hero." There was a dazzling smile paired with this, but also genuine kindness to offset the cheese.

Hero? What? Matt? Nah. He didn't think so. He was just another volunteer helping out. Turning, he realized a moment later that he didn't recognize either person approaching. Granted, there were more people here (and arriving) than what he recognized and knew directly, but it still seemed odd. They were a little too clean given the tsunami and everything going on. He had been oblivious to the glad-handing going on, mostly because he was too lost in his thoughts and in trying to will his hands to stop throbbing. They'd be fine if he would stop focusing on them. "Come again?" he asked, confused. He didn't hear anyone else's heartbeats around.

The man with the bright smile wasn't the sort to let something like confusion deter him. "Service to others is the most commendable sort of heroics." He held up a water bottle. "Refreshment?"

"Is it soda?" Matt asked. He wasn't a fan of soda, carbonation was weird. Water on the other hand would be much appreciated. The problem was, telling the bottles apart. Plastic was plastic and he couldn't smell through them. They sometimes even felt the same in terms of shape, depending on the size and brand. "But uh....thanks."

"Nope! Pure water gathered from a high mountain peak somewhere in a marketing campaign." The water was proffered happily, and Arthur leaned in as to share a state secret, "Although you really should be observant when judging water sources in the wild. I can assure you that this was only overpriced."

Taking the offered bottle, Matt opened it with only a wince of pain. Sniffing it, he took a cautious sip, "All the water here's contaminated," he replied, drinking more, "thanks to the tsunami and the flooding," he could smell the rot in the general water, it permeated everything right now and would throughout a good deal of the recovery process. "Thanks. This is good." And needed despite the water he'd already had.

"Oh, well you'd want to be hesitant around saltwater and this much civilization irregardless," the older man mentioned casually as if talking about the weather, "But I recommend that you always carry some means of purification even if you are super confident. Flood survival is a tricky subject."

He perked at the thanks and deftly retrieved a small, wrapped package from the bag at his side. "Would you like an energy bar? Contracts dictate that I give you a tagline, but let's let this be our little secret."

Contract? Tagline? "What contract and tagline?" Matt asked, slightly suspicious, but more curious. Sniffing lightly, he realized that this guy was way too clean. Way, way too clean, "Who are you?" Matthew, do not take water from strangers, even if you did open the bottle yourself and can't taste or smell any chemicals in it!

"Oh, you know," Arthur stated as if this were the most boring subject in the world, "Sponsors like to take every chance they can get to slap their name on things when there's charity and money involved. Me?" He paused for dramatic effect, "I'm here to celebrate all of the good work you people are doing. Pitch in where I can."

Now that Matt was paying slightly more attention, there was something...off about this guy. Off and at the same time, slightly familiar. He didn't think they'd met though, that was a heartbeat he did not recognize. Hmmm. "Sponsors..." Matt repeated, "Do I know you?" he finally asked. There was something going on.

Arthur graced Matt with another dazzling smile as he foisted the energy bar into the boy's grip. "Don't worry, they're all natural and high in protein. Good for another five hours of energy."

And then, over his shoulder paired with a wink and a finger gun gesture, as he turned to move away tower more volunteers, "Remember that we all make our own luck."

OH! Oh oh oh! That show Clint watched! Yes! Matt sometimes watched with him! Huh. Well. Opening the energy bar, Matt grinned. "Thanks!" he called. Who would have thought the survivalist guy was here?

Ah, there it was. The survivalist guy's smile broadened even more — particularly ear to ear now — basking the brief recognition. He managed a "Keep up the solid work," before he and his escort were around the other side of the tent and greeting more volunteers.