iamhismummy | (no subject)

It might be good enough for Nancy, but Karolina's hopeful smile fades into worry and sympathy almost immediately.

"This is where you live?"

"Most of the time", she says, casual tone belied by the way she's standing, arms defensively around herself. "Got a couple of other places, for if this one's not safe."

Karolina nods, saying no more about it. They can't all live under tar pits, after all.

"So where do we look for him?"

"Depends. He'd either've been looking for food or chucked-out clothes or in wherever he was sleeping when... whatever happened. I know the usual places they go to sleep when they're not with me..."

Karolina nods. She's trying to not rub her arms against the cold, and it's translated into keeping one arm folded across to rest against the other arm.

"Let's try there then - what's his name?"

"Tommy", Nancy tells her, already starting to walk. "Just Tommy."

"OK."

Karolina is quiet when she walks, but alert, her eyes are everywhere, not looking for Tommy so much as taking in the damage the city's suffering. It's all so sad.

It's good, she reflects, to have this reminder of how lucky she and the others have it, comparatively.

The places they stop at, on Nancy's instigation, don't look much different to some of the places they pass by - bombed out wrecks of buildings - but the kids know which are safe to spend a night in. Which won't come down on their heads at the first movement.

The missing boy isn't in any of the first half-dozen, though sometimes other children are. Nancy knows them all by sight, and usually by name.

Karolina gives each of them a sad smile, as shy of them as they seemto be of her, though the fact she's with Nancy helps a little.

She does kick herself internally for not having brought some food, though.

Nancy spends a minute or two speaking to each of them, and her expression gets graver each time.

"None of them's seen Tommy since the night before last, at dinner", she says quietly. "And word usually spreads quick if one of them gets nabbed. Someone always sees."

Karolina's face falls blank with worry.

"Has there been any bombs dropped since then?"

She just needs to know.

"There's always bombs dropped", Nancy says bleakly. "But... not this close, I don't think. Doesn't mean one still didn't do damage."

Shockwaves can bring down buildings, especially dilapidated ones.

"Right," Karolina says, glancing around nervously.

"Just let me know what I can do."

"Just stick with me", Nancy says, voice low. "Never know when I might need you."

She keeps walking through the ruined buildings.

Karolina nods, and stays close, occasionally rubbing her hands for something to do more than anything else.

She doesn't know what she'll do if they don't find him. She hates feeling useless.

They keep walking a little longer - but suddenly, almost mid-step, Nancy's head goes up like a dog on point.

"Did you hear something?"

Karolina brings herself up sharp, looking quickly to Nancy before unfocusing, trying to listen.

"...no?"

"I think I did. Just for a second. Over there." She starts to move, fast, towards a half-collapsed building.

Half collapsed.

Half collapsed.

Karolina dives forward, passing Nancy in a flash of rainbow light. Once she's inside she pulls her powers in instantly, and ventures,

"Tommy?"

There's a whimper from somewhere in the darkness, and Nancy's at Karolina's shoulder.

"...Tommy? Is that you?"

Silence. Then a small voice. "Nancy?"

Karolina glances around. "I'm going to... can we handle some light?"

"I think so. Just try and keep it low. And as far from the outside as you can."

The trouble is, that Karolina just hasn't managed the art of varying her light yet. She stands as close to the centre of the building as she can manage, and brings the glow up slowly, although she can't stop it from continuing to grow, filling the house up with natural daylight.

Nancy shoots Karolina an alarmed look but doesn't tell her to keep the glow down. She just hurries forward to the little form lying at the ragged edge of the standing walls, leg pinned under rubble.

"Tommy", she bursts out, voice full of angry relief, "what have I told you about coming into these places without telling someone which one?"

"Sorry," Karolina says with a wince, but only breifly. Because then she's running forward to help, cursing herself for not bringing Molly.

"Um, OK, I can probably shift this rubble, though. You'll have to shield your eyes."