CHARACTER SWAP

[Vixen]

The past few days were something sort of surreal. Not only was she now a Mighty Avenger, with a new alias and costume to hide behind as well, but the world was still dealing with the Stamford incident. Hell, she was still trying to get those images out of her mind whenever she attempted to rest. Then there was also the training sessions here on base, the first of which the God of War dropped in himself only to hear her complaining to Gray about catching her off guard. Honestly, the God had horrible timing because contrary to how her words probably portrayed her, she was not one to complain or make excuses about anything.

Sabre was sitting on the narrow metallic framework that enclosed the balcony to her room, dressed in PJ pants, a tank top and a hoodie as she gazed at the stars for a moment. Her pet cat was also sitting beside her, grooming herself under the moonlight after affectionately nuzzling her mom's arm. At least Angel seemed to like it here already and more than anything, that was crucial.

Filtering out the various voices coming from the busy Avengers Tower, hearing the one she wanted she quietly made her way from balcony to balcony, until she landed on the one belonging to Quartermaster. Her hood was atop her head, and although not likely, as she approached the sliding door to attempt opening it she couldn't look more like a burglar even if she tried.

[Tobias Gray]

{Sabe permission granted.}

Tobias had set up his traps for the night, having taken a preference to the use of electricity. It wasn't especially difficult when you could make virtually any item you'd need to set up the trap, and electricity worked very well as a small, easily hidden; and effective trap. Then he'd gone about his normal night routine. Since it was, in fact, night, and not still within evening hours, he could drink. So he had a bottle of scotch, a glass, his e-cig, and some files to read.

He always seemed to have files to read these days. One light was on above him, and he made the occasional grunt or offhand comment to himself about whatever he was reading. He went through intelligence files from people that were tracking known fugitives that HAMMER may have to deal with at some point. There was some reports on the Stamford incident mixed in here, along with reactions from other known supers. It was a stack of files tonight.

He was tossing one down, just to pick up another, when he heard a sudden burst of electricity coming from his balcony door. Occasionally some bird got up there and set it off, so he didn't think much of it. He simply walked over, taking a large drag from his e-cig. Of course, he immediately made note of the humanoid form laying on the ground, and slid open the door. His sunglasses were put over his eyes, and immediately told him who it was.

"I do have a front door, kitty cat," He told her, sounding amused.

[Vixen]

The second her hand touched the door the resulting shock had her growling in pain as it coursed through her body. When she was finally able to pull her hand away, she unfortunately also couldn't stand anymore and could still feel the effect of the shock that was also causing a few involuntary spasms. His voice didn't cause an initial reaction at first, but soon she managed to meet his gaze and while glaring at him with feline eyes, she also attempted to get to her feet once more.

"A trap...G-Gray? Y-you're an Avenger....W-who would e-even attempt b-breaking into your a-apartment?" Shakily pushing her way past him into his living quarters, she collapsed on the nearest chair before shaking her head with a soft chuckle. "Don't answer that. And f-for the record...I wasn't breaking in."

With the effects finally wearing off, she looked at her slightly red palm for a moment before sighing softly. Sabe wasn't truly angry with him however, it was her own fault for choosing to enter the way she did. She simply felt...overwhelmed by everything.

[Tobias Gray]

"Well, given my past... SHIELD, HAMMER, other Avengers," Tobias told her with a chuckle, "Seriously though, next time? Front door, or at least send a message ahead, alright? Today it was electricity. Sometimes I have a hankering for explosives."

Tobias took a seat on the couch next to her. His furniture always had to be made stronger than normal, and most recliners simply broke under him. He hadn't taken the time to make one yet, as the couch and the table in front of him worked just find for a recliner. There was no TV or DVD player. IT was just a blank wall in front of them. Taking her hand, Tobias wrapped a cool cloth around the burn, that he was literally making as he wrapped. When he was done, he reached up and stroked her hair.

"So what's on your mind lil' vixen?" He asked her, as he picked up his scotch with the other hand.

[Vixen]

Explosives? She would definitely be notifying him before dropping in for a visit again or perhaps simply invite him over to her place. Whichever was more convenient really. "Alright. Next time no 'breaking in'; promise." Instinctively shifting closer to him when he sat beside her on the couch, a soft 'thank you' was whispered as he tended to her hand. It would most likely be back to normal in the next hour or so, but the cool cloth was comforting.

Leaning her head gently against his chest as he stroked her hair, normally the comforting gesture would elicit a soft purr, but tonight as much as it was helping to relax her there was no purr. There was just too much on her mind.

"Honestly? Everything...I'm still trying to adjust to these changes and before I can...It just seems like there's always something else. When I did my own thing I never felt like this; but now..." She didn't mean to drop this on him now, quite certain from the paperwork on the table before them that he was busy. For this reason she raised her head off his chest before starting to stand. They could always talk some other time.

[Tobias Gray]

"Before I agreed to come here, I was constantly hunted by the military," Tobias told her, lifting his feet and putting his heavy boots directly on top of the files, "Wasn't precisely the most easy adjustment, learning to work with the same kind of people that'd been hunting you not that long ago. Still have the occasional issue with it as well."

Gray wasn't one to say he liked much of anything, or anyone. The fact that he had issues with some of the people here? Probably not remotely suprising. Still, he got along with her. Sort of. They'd had some serious issues to work past at first, and even now he said things that made it quite clear he wasn't even remotely a sweet talker. When she went to stand up, his fingers grabbed the back of her pants and jerked her down.

"It's not so easy for some of us to adapt as it will be others that were looking for this sort of thing," Tobias told her truthfully, taking a gulp of his scotch and absorbing the empty glass, "So spill. You at least have someone to talk to, even if I know I'm not the kindgest gentleman in the world."

[Vixen]

He probably didn't even realize it, but by using his example he'd inadvertently pinpointed just what was weighing on her mind so heavily. After everything he'd been through on the run for so many years, he was still able to adapt. Why couldn't she? Was it simply in her nature to be a lone 'Tiger', so to speak?

She didn't protest when his pull had her seated beside him once more because really, he and Angel were still the only ones she could talk to. "I just...I don't want you to look at me differently, you know? And I don't want to make excuses. I should be able to adapt to this Toby. Even Angel is at home here, but me..." Sabre was sometimes harder on herself than anyone could be and often it was needed. Hell, for all those years alone after she'd gotten her powers, it was how she survived.

[Tobias Gray]

Tobias chuckled at her, "So what if you don't adapt all the way? I never did. I still think of this as more of a job than a calling. IT's something I have to do, not something I particularly want to do. It's very rare the two ever coincide. I still don't have friends amongst the rest of the Avengers, and I don't particularly want them. So how are you having any worse effort adapting than me? You've at least made one friend."

The soldier's hand continued to stroke through her hair. He took a long drag from his e-cig and breathed out the smell of fresh rain. His fingertips moved through her curls and then he ran his thumb lightly against her cheek. She was basically having a form of chronic anxiety, really. Or at least, that's how it seemed. With time she may get over it. With time, she may not. It was debateable. All he could really do was try to ease her doubts.

"Besides kitty, you're habitually harder on yourself than most people," Tobias told her truthfully, gray eyes looking at her, "It's quite possible you're expecting too much of yourself too rapidly. Cats, for all their aloofness, are comfortable whereever they can plop their asses. People? Doesn't really work the same."

[Vixen]

Somehow she transitioned from simply sitting beside him once more, to having her head resting against his shoulder this time. It didn't surprise her how naturally it came given all they had been through together during the short time they knew each other, nor did the soft purr he was somehow able to cause. Leaning into his touch when his thumb was felt on her cheek, brown eyes looked into his slightly confused.

He viewed his job on the team as only a job, for the most part? Considering they never really sat down and talked about his work, and why would they? This information was only surprising because of the way she'd seen him during his time protecting her in their witness protection program. His skills all came so naturally, she assumed his job was like a calling for him. Perhaps she was simply expecting too much from herself with this new team? It was possible.

Her feet were brought up into the couch as a hand went to his hair, messing it up a bit. "You're wrong you know, about not having any friends among the Avengers. I'm an Avenger now and...you have me. Unless, of course...you don't consider me a friend?" With him, that wasn't impossible to believe.

[Tobias Gray]

Tobias chuckled softly, "If I'm regularly buying a girl dinner, an apartment, and regularly having orgasmic escapades with her... She's not a friend. She's not a playmate either, as I generally don't stick with them very long, let alone buy them apartments. So... I guess that means I'm in a relationship. Seeing as, so far as I know, I've never had a relationship; I can't say I understand them much. But I do know that a woman you're in a relationship with, you generally can't take to the bar for a few beers and football. Or if you can, that somewhat ironically pushes her even further out of the friend area, and even more firmly settles her into the 'serious relationship' area. Let's face it, what man in his right mind would let go of a girl like that? So no, still no friends here. Not that I'm complaining."

His hair being mussed didn't really phase him. When was his hair clean? Even when he went in for press conference, or whatever, his hair was always a mess. He didn't even bother with it, really. He took another heavy drag from his e-cig, the fresh rain mist floating from his mouth in whisps. His fingertips had resumed their stroking through her hair. His blue eyes, were staring ahead, as if he had a television there.

"For the record, I hate football. Both versions. And basketball. And baseball," He told her, intent on cutting any thoughts she had of him going to watch any of them out of her mind early, "Women's volleyball's alright, though."