The cold wind blows trouble near

Who: Helena and Dodge
Where: Near the Sixth Street Bridge, bad part of town
When: Afternoon

January was an impossible month.

Impossible because of it's depressing cold. It somehow fit with the gloomy, pragmatic nature that had enveloped Helena like the chilled wind that swooped up from the pavement and slapped at her as she walked. She peeked up at the sky, hoping to find a sliver of blue but there was no jewel of color peeking back. It was just as murky as it always was and she couldn't help but think that the more things changed...the more they stayed the same.

She was off again, moving through the streets though she couldn't say she had much of a destination in mind. Her thought had been to get out of her tiny apartment...away from the memories of Eddie that continued to haunt her despite the recourse her murderers would face in due time. The truth was, she wasn't feeling all that ambitious lately because her ambition had been to crush the people that had taken down her hopes for the future. But, like putting down a lame horse, there wasn't much pleasure to be had at the end. It didn't feel as if justice had been served. At least not to her. Helena had been happy at first but as the news continued to unravel and she realized that she had no part to play in the apprehension of the O'Malley's, she also realized that she could never be sure that Eddie had been avenged.

The shoes she had on pinched her feet. They were new and the leather pinched. She loved them for the distraction they caused her and soon the thoughts of Eddie and his death faded away as she concentrated on walking through the pain. They were quite handsome; brown leather with creamy patent leather designs, they were quite high and they curved gracefully with her calves. It was impossible not to feel put together in a pair of shoes like these.

But pausing at a stoop for a tiny adjustment of her toes she couldn't help but wish she was showing them off in a better neighborhood.

Dodge was doing what he did best. He'd gone by the school looking for Jessie, but she was a no show. He'd asked about and one of the kids said she'd skipped that day. Dodge was worried, but he figured she was alright. Jesse James wouldn't let something happen to his baby girl. So he was keeping a close eye on his own streets, watching from a bench. Though if you looked at him, you'd never guess from the pulled down fedora and lounging form.

Someone like Helena didn't go unnoticed in Dodge's world. He'd seen her before, of course he had, but that slow pause to adjust her shoe had him looking. Looking in a way that tilted his head to the side, following the line of her hand, her calf. Not thinking he let out a low whistle.

The whistle was unexpected if not unsurprising. None-the-less, her attention was taken from her toes to the whistler as she searched the streets for the source. Of course the kid on the bench was not her first choice for suspect. No, that privilege would go to the city workers near the steaming manhole.

Curiously they were not looking her way. They were too much involved with their sandwiches, more so than her gams and befuddled she made one last attempt to find the lip musician before moving onward. It took a double take to finally get it. That kid wasn't merely looking but looking...in that way the city workers should have been looking. As flattered as she was, she couldn't help but feel silly for calling attention to herself from the street Urchin patrol. One hand swung up on her hip and she looked over in his direction as if to say There's too much woman going on here...for the likes of you.

Then she realized she'd seen him around. Helena wasn't completely devoid of anything observant outside the realms of a good and looking...man but he was just a...kid.

Dodge couldn't help but grin at the look she shot him. Even if she was too much woman for him, he certainly didn't care, nor did it stop him. Reaching up he pushed the fedora back, showing his face and the grin. "How's it going gorgeous?"

There was a long pause as she sized up the situation as much as she was sizing him up. It figured she attracted all the wrong sorts...kids, criminals...people that got themselves murdered. Still, she was full of grace when, her shoe now adjusted, she straightened up and swept him one more time with her sapphire blues. "You're a confident sort of boy." She accentuated boy, hoping that would throw off any ideas he might be having.

This time Dodge pushed himself up from the lounging position to sitting, elbows resting on his knees. "Confident yes, child no." He flicked the fedora up a little.

There was nothing more she could do but smile and Helena's smile was sweet and sympathetic. It had been a long time since she'd been part of that impetuousness that went with youth and it had been some time since she'd been the target of the swagger that crowned the inkling of manhood. "Oh..." she said, as if she was looking upon him for the first time.

A hand went up and moved some hair from her face, back behind her ear before she shoved it into the warmth of her pocket, "of course." perhaps it came out somewhat patronizing but she was on the precipice of her middle years and she wanted to believe completely that someone so young could still see her as young enough. "Definitely not a child..." she confirmed generously. "but still young."

Moving off the bench with what was almost a dancer's ease he was next to her in a moment. "Young isn't always bad. Some people prefer it." Turning around her in a small circle, he couldn't help but enjoy himself. Being with Maddy had put him in a playful mood, and with Jessie not around to take it out on... Well charming some woman quite a bit older than him was always fun.

"What makes you think I am the type of person that prefers it?" She asked cautiously, not sure if his twirling was making her dizzy or giddy. Helena felt silly despite her conflicting sensibilities and she started to move. Though, she hadn't cut the conversation short, she was just moving it along with her.

It figures the city workers with their bellies full would finally find their gaze directed her way. Feeling more like a mother than a temptress she pulled her jacket tighter together and gave the belt that cinched it a grumpy tug. "You're sweet but I've got places to be and I don't need the trouble..."

Dodge followed along with her, tipping his hat towards the city workers who shook their heads and turned away amused. "I'm not trouble, promise. But a lady like you should never go anywhere unescorted." Leaning in close to her ear he dropped his voice to a whisper. "Plus there's far too much filth in this city." Dodge gestured towards the city workers, with a shameful nod. "You're in the presence of the Prince of Thieves, beautiful. Allow me to escort you through my kingdom."

Helena would be lying if she said she wasn't slightly obsessed with her appearance and a statement like a lady like you was hard to let go of. Even as she held on to the possibilities of that statement she was deciding she should be kind. "The Prince of Thieves..." She let the word linger between them, her own breathless statement merely a whisper, "What sort of lady do you think am?" she asked, hugging the purse that dangled from the crook of her elbow closer to her shivering form.

She could tuck that purse as close to her as she wanted, it certainly wouldn't hinder Dodge any if he wanted something out of it. "Royalty of the Sixth Street Bridge district," he confirmed. "For now of course. I have an idea to run the whole city one day." He pulled himself up to his full height, doing his best to look the part. "What type of lady do you think you are?" he asked, turning the question back around on her.

Luckily for her then she didn't have much to steal...unless he was into hairpins, lipstick and rhinestones. "Does that make me one of your subjects?" she flirted harmlessly, before he turned the tables and she laughed lightly, "Confused...and certainly not the type to cavort with thieving Princes."

"You don't look the part for our district, but we'll gladly take you in. We need more beautiful on these run down streets." Dodge enjoyed playing this game, more than most. He couldn't help it, this was his part, his persona. All the other issues aside this was who he was meant to be. "What prince isn't thieving? At least I'm honest about it."

"Should I trust an honest thief? That sounds like a contradiction to me." She said to him with a wink, her ruby colored mouth flickered into a smile as they walked along, her in the shoes that were still pinching her toes. Helena enjoyed being called beautiful. He'd certainly found a spot of weakness for her and against her better judgment she decided this kid was alright. Flattery was an easy way into Helena's good graces.

"Well...What should I call you then? You must have some Princely nickname." She prodded, not wanting to refer to him as kiddo or junior. She felt that would be a slap to his pride.

"Dodge," he offered, pausing to give her a sweeping bow. "Though it's not a nickname. It just is." He grinned again, a smile that hinted at something less than innocent. "And there is such a thing as an honest thief. I never take from those who don't have enough to give."

"You wouldn't be an archer would you?" She asked him with a subtle inflection of her voice...but it faded as she stopped and offered her hand politely, "Well Dodge. How do you do?" Helena said with a gracious lilt in her voice that was practiced and intentional, "I'd be Helena." She decided to spill the grapes and added, "I've seen you around you know. I live around here." which was an admission as much as it was fact. She was never very proud of her poverty...and not even him being a kid made this reveal any easier.

Dodge took her hand kissing it gently. "I know," he told her. "I've seen you as well. And a good prince always knows his subjects." Because he had known. Not a name, but he knew she was from here, he'd seen her before. "At least now we're formally acquainted."

She'd expected a shake but had gotten a kiss. This kid was something else....He was charming yes and if she was 10 years younger she may have considered him in a whole different way. "You're really holding onto this princely thing ey?" she asked him hypothetically, realizing that she was some part of some bigger game. "Alright. I'll play." she was done pitying him. She had a feeling he was better off than she.

There was something enjoyable about being noticed but her vanity wouldn't let her play up the modesty that would have made her cheeks blush when she was his age. "Are you from here?" She asked the Prince of Thieves. "or did you conquer the neighborhood?"

"Grew up on the streets. Rose from nothing to the loving and caring monarch I am today." He liked phrasing it that way. It had a very Arthurian legend bit about it, the useless squire being dubbed the child king. "And you?"

It broke her heart...all these kids on the streets. She knew they were independent and wouldn't want to hear a bit about the pity that was flowing from her emotions but she knew how it felt to grow up with two vacant parents. Helena felt she could understand what it must be like to grow up with no parents at all. She just wasn't sappy so she kept all this within her depths. "No. I didn't start out here. I've gone from riches to rags I guess." She shrugged her delicate shoulders. She felt like a widow then. In many respects she was.

Helena had never been wealthy but there were times when she didn't struggle quite so much. "Maybe if I was younger you'd rule my heart. But...shouldn't you be following girls your own age?"

Dodge merely nodded sympathetically at her plight. He didn't feel like the normal rules to society applied to him, considering himself rich even though he had little in his pockets. "Who says you're too old for me to rule your heart?" he asked with a playful smile that didn't quite expect an answer.

And she didn't bother with one. It was perfectly obvious, at least to her, how ridiculous it would be, but she was also perfectly aware that she was a beautiful woman. She could understand what sort of thoughts a teenage boy might have about her.

It was time to change the subject.

"Hey..." She said suddenly, turning the page, "I don't know if you would know her but...I met a girl name Pepper awhile back." Her hands fidgeted in her pocket. Maybe she was afraid of the answer. It had been a cold couple of weeks, "a few weeks ago actually. Do you know her? Is she alright?"

"I know everyone," Dodge reminded gently, but shifted to a small smile. "But yes, I know Pepper. She does well." Or she did well now that Dodge had gotten her space back. He wasn't sure how she'd managed those few days without the space, but she seemed alright.

"oh good..." She said, not sure where else to go with this line of questioning. She didn't want to seem too prodding but concerned, she figured, was alright. "You say you know everyone?" Helena allowed the possibilities of this to bloom within her and she cautiously proceeded because there was only one other person she had been worried about. "What about Jesse James and his daughter?"

"Is there ever a reason to worry about the James'?" Dodge as rhetorically. "But no, they are good. Just saw JJ yesterday actually. Walked her home from school." Of course she'd been really upset about the whole locket and her mom thing, and Dodge had tried to kiss her, but she had been alright in general. "Do you know Jesse?"

"Are you kidding?" She asked him, wanting to laugh. Every time Helena saw Jesse he had a black eye, or was concerned about this one or doing something for that one. He had a whole heap of problems, that she knew she was a part of. This was why she had removed him from her life for the time being. She thought it was the most merciful thing she could do for the James'. "I do..." she answered mysteriously.

"If anyone can hold his own in this world besides me, it's Jesse James." The way he said it showed Dodge meant every word and respected the legend of the man. Who couldn't? "Do you now? Are you going to share how?"

"Probably not." She told him and then didn't bother to explain all the reasons she had to BE worried about Jesse. She ran her hand over her blonde hair in attempt to tame the strands, she knew, had gotten away from the rest. It was a small gesture, her desperate attempt to control something that could be controlled before her emotions got the best of her. Her hand went down and rested against her heart, pausing a moment before she bothered to explain, "I don't want to think about that today." because it always came back to Eddie.

"I understand," he told her, giving her an understanding face. If anyone could cater to others, it was Dodge. "We shouldn't talk of things that make us upset." It was obvious that that's what she was. Her composure had shifted a little with that last comment, the way she smoothed her hair and everything else.

"Good." She said shortly, unaware that her discomfort had been completely obvious by her body language. This was when it got more uncomfortable because she wasn't exactly sure how to behave with a teenage boy. Helena didn't have any idea what to talk about. "So...are you Jessie's boyfriend?" She asked curiously.

Dodge chuckled lightly at the question. "No," he reassured Helena. "JJ seems to think she doesn't need a boyfriend, so I'm out of luck there. For now we're just friends." Not that he was entirely sure he wanted to be the boyfriend, but he did want to make Jessie feel like she was a princess. She deserved that.

"Ah." Helena said softly. Jessie was a nice girl. She didn't know very much about her but she knew that Jesse was raising her right. He was a good father. She was very much loved. "She probably doesn't need a boyfriend but everyone needs friends." She shrugged, her dangling purse swaying at her elbow. "Be good to her Dodge."

"I'm always good to mine," Dodge promised, thinking of Maddy, Pepper and his boys alongside Jessie. "Always."

"I bet you do." Helena spoke but was distracted, she stopped outside of a store suddenly. "I need to go in here. I need some buttons." She told the boy. "I am making a coat and my customer requested brass."

She wasn't sure if he'd wait for her and she wasn't going to ask for him to. What sort of young man would want to loiter, waiting for a lady in the fabric store? Her life wasn't very exciting after all...not lately. "You don't have to wait..."

She'd stopped so suddenly Dodge walked a couple steps past her before he realized she'd stopped. Doubling back he eyed the store and then Helena. The quick change led him to believe she wanted to get rid of him, and ducking to the store was the perfect excuse. "I'm afraid I can't actually," he told her with a regretful tone, eying the sky as if to make out the time of day by the sun that was well obscured by clouds. Taking his fedora off and crossing it over his chest he bowed slightly, ever the true prince. "I'll have to bid you a good day."

"Well that's too bad." She'd said, regret apparent but not deeply. It had been strange to her that he'd followed her this far. She wasn't sure why he would have. "I am sure I'll see you." She told him. Helena was looking forward to getting away but only to duck out of the cold of this solemn winter day. At least he had made it less sullen and had been a welcome distraction for her woes. "make sure you say hello." she said, her pretty smile parting enough for him to glance the white of her teeth. "Good afternoon then...Dodge."

Dodge settled the fedora back on his head, perched just so for the proper effect. "Of course you will, and I'll be sure to greet you," he told her, nodding with it. "Good afternoon Helena." Dodge's grin matched her own, but bore that playful wickedness that fit his features so well. Turning on his heel with ease he strode on down the street, whistling to himself as he went.