
Nicky (♀) and

Gil (♂)
"Hey Nicky, come meet the newest member of the crew."
Nicky looked up when Flutter called her name. Her team member was standing cheerfully beside a young boy, who also looked pretty upbeat, despite his recent demise.
"Hey." She greeted, walking up to the two members. "I'm Nicky."
"I picked that up." The boy laughed. "I'm Gil." He added, almost as a side thought. "By the way, you're hot."
Nicky turned red. "No I'm not." She snapped, unwelcome memories coming into her mind.
Gil frowned. "Jeese, sorry for trying to give you a compliment." He glanced at Flutter. "What's her problem?"
Nicky grit her teeth. Flutter glanced at her apologetically before looking back to Gil. "She has some... not so nice memories involving people telling her that."
Nicky glared at him. "And how are you so chill? Weren't you just beaten to death by one of your parents? How are you so effing happy?"
She growled.
Gil shrugged. "I dunno, it feels like it happened to someone else." He sighed. "It was my brother, by the way, not my parents." He said off-handedly.
Nicky growled again and stormed off. Stupid new kid. What did he know?
***
"Are you sure about this Nicole? I know that you have certain... connections with this town."
"I'll be fine Vito." Nicky said shortly. "And stop calling me Nicole. For the last time, I prefer Nicky!"
The other boy shrugged. "I'm just asking." He defended quickly. "I mean, I don't think I could ever do what you're doing. Facing your past, I mean."
Nicky glared at him. "I'm not 'facing my past'." She snapped. "Dad's in jail, so I won't need to see him, and Keala goes to a different school than mom's new kids. So I have no chance of running into anyone I knew when I was alive." She spoke confidently, but Vito noticed a distinct uncertainty in her eyes.
"Alright then, if you're sure." Vito finally consented. "But if you need anything, Gil is going to be helping a girl named Jamie in the next town over."
Nicky made a face. "Yeah, I'll be fine." She said.
Vito sighed. "I know you don't like him, but he's the only one anywhere nearby."
"What about my brother? I thought he was free"
"Dillon is helping some girl in D.C... Nickia I think her name is? Anyway, she's getting close to joining us and needs a guide, and Dillon was the only one open."
Nicky grimaced. "Fine, I'll... talk to Gil."
Vito grinned. "Great. Well, I have to meet up with Zevin and Ariel. I'll see you later!" He called as he ran off.
NIcky sighed, and turned towards her old home town.
I am not
going to need Gil's help. She thought determinedly.
***
"Hey! You're Keala, right?"
The girl blinked and looked up, clearly frightened, as Nicky approached her. "Y-yes." She mumbled, not meeting Nicky's eyes.
"I'm Nicky."
Nicky did the usual routine, and by the end of the day, Keala was smiling.
After setting a time to see Keala while she was still in the world of the living, Nicky decided to take a walk and see how the town had changed since her time. As she wandered down the street, she realized that she had unconsciously walked to her old house. She stared at the door, suddenly terrified.
She was unfrozen by a painfully familiar voice behind her. "Um, can I help you?"
Nicky turned stiffly. "Not anymore." She said flatly, and then ran, leaving her mother standing in the driveway, confused.
"Dangit." Nicky hissed, brushing away tears. "Why did I take this job?"
"You okay beauty queen?" The voice was teasing
Nicky's eyes narrowed. "Perfect." She grumbled. Trying to hide the evidence of her tears, she turned to face him.
"What do you want Gil?"
Gil shrugged. "I have some time until my meeting with Jamie, and I wanted to make sure you were alright." He grinned. "I see you aren't."
Nicky closed up. "I'm fine!" She snapped.
Gil lost his signature smile, and came closer. "No, you aren't." He said. "And you might say you don't want to talk about it, but if you were really okay, you wouldn't be crying right now." He sat down on the pavement, pulling her down next to him. "Look, just get it off your chest. Trust me, it helps."
Nicky blinked and looked at him. Finally, she took a deep breath. "Fine. Fine, I'll tell you."
It was a long night, but it was the best one Nicky had had in a long time.
The second coupling in my concrete angel group.
