#◇ threads: theo & maria 002 ◇

[dxrknessexplored]

Theo watched as she moved about and showed a few things into her bag. The gun didn't go missed, and at least he knew where it was if he needed to grab it for any reason. Or if God forbid someone ended up grabbing her. Hopefully, if that was the case, they wouldn't immediately go through the bag. No, likely the thought would be using her as leverage against him rather than just a random grab.

The parroting back ended up making him smile just slightly. He actually believed those words, trusted that she would do as she said. One of the few people in the world that he could extend that trust to, though he wasmg about to say that. Not in this situation but in general, either. A small nod was given and he opened the door again. Gun back in hand, he led her slowly along the wall towards the entrance of the shop. One hand remained behind him, keep her close. Additionally, it served as a reassurance that she was there.

They came across no one yet. It seemed that their luck might just hold. Glancing out the front of the store, the street was still. He motioned for her to follow him out. The movements remained slow, calculated and purposeful as he picked their way along the route that he had found.

She felt a little embarrassed with her show of affection, she should have reined it in but his arm wrapping around her made her feel safe, made her feel comforted. She nodded and looked around the room, there wasn't much and she wasn't sure what they needed.

Still she grabbed her bag, slid two bottles of water and some snack bars into it, then she grabbed the books off the side and stuffed them in too. She ignored the safe entirely, there was nothing in there but money and money was hardly important right now. She did slide the other gun into her bag though.

"Everything you say." Maria nodded. "I'll be quiet as a mouse and hopefully as invisible." Maria said giving him a soft smile as they moved towards the door. She wasn't entirely sure she was ready to head out into the city but she had to be.

[dxrknessexplored]

He wasn't going to take any argument. She needed to run and get somewhere relatively safe. Then, she could be found after he took care of the mess that they currently found themselves in. His eyes hardened as he took in the group and the recognition that seemed to pass. Anger curled up his spine, causing his fingers to itch but it wasn't the right time. If they thought that they would get anywhere close to harming a hair on Maria's head, they had another thing coming.

"You might want to listen to the voice of reason over there. If you all don't want to end up just another unfortunate casualty of the overrun city." The threat was clearly evident this time around, an edge to his voice that he hadn't shown around Maria before. The sort that promised violence and bloodshed, the one that swore he would get his way. This wasn't a time to toy around. Which threat was the biggest? The woman was closed to Maria, which meant she was going to need to be taken out first.

More laughter, an obvious sign that they weren't taking the threat seriously as two of the men closed in on Theo now.

"And just what do you think you're gonna do about it? It's six of us versus one of you. Do you even know how to shoot that thing?" A near patronizing smile came to Theo's face. If Maria wasn't here and wasn't threatened, he might have enjoyed this moment. It was always amusing to watch the switch, see the dawning realization that they had fucked with the wrong man and now had to pay the price. Almost without looking, and in the blink of an eye, the gun was raised and fired, sending the woman that had touched Maria dropping to the ground.

"Go!" At the same time, he shifted to shield the smaller woman, blocking off access to her before his aim was moving to the next target. It took a second for the thugs to respond, the shock of the moment quickly wearing off to turn their rage on Theo.

Theo was focused intently on their surroundings, gun held at the ready and making sure that Maria stayed close. It felt like every noise was amplified, every step that they made echoing and calling out to any and all in the area. They just needed to make it a little further before he could relax some.

His jaw clenchednas he spotted the movement, and then Maria was speaking softly to him. Shit. Quickly counting the bodies, his brain was racing to formulate a plan that would keep them both as safe as possible. He needed a little open room to move so he couldn't back them up against a wall, even if the opening left him vulnerable for another attack.

"When I say go, you run." A low murmur of the words, just loud enough for her to hear as he looked between the groups boxing them in. There were enough rounds in his weapon to take them all out, but he had to be precise, and he had to wait for them to close in a little bit more.

"We don't have anything of value." This time, his voice was strong, addressing the others. "Let us move through and there doesn't have to be any trouble."

"Nothing of value, huh?" There was amusement that came from the opposite side than those that had previously spoke, the man watching the unease rollover the two with a grin. "Now, I don't think that is the case at all. What are you going to do about it, old man? Nothing. We are going to take what we want. And maybe we will let you live and walk away."

[dxrknessexploredarchived]

At least she had listened and waited for the knock to be complete before opening the door. Stepping through, Theo had to catch her weight, the action entirely surprising him as his arm wrapped around her, making sure that they both remained on their feet. After everything, it shouldn't have come as a surprise. She wasn't built for this sort of thing.

"I'm okay," he promised before drawing back. "Grab whatever you need. We are going to have to move quick, okay?" He had a plan thought out, had plotted it the entire time he had been out to ensure her safety at the very least. He could scrap by in the warzone well enough. "I'm gonna need you to stay quiet and listen to everything, I say." Just because it had been quiet while he was out didn't mean it was guaranteed to stay that way. He was nervous about it but it would be fuel for the fire.

He kept a careful ear to the door, waiting until she was ready before evening thinking about opening it.

"Stick close. Just because things seem quiet doesn't mean that they are. I'm going get you outta here safe, Maria." Seemingly a promise, spoken out in the open.

"I got how Gotham is, but it's not like this is something anyone is really prepared for," he retorted with just a hint of amusement. Maria was different from everyone he had ever really met. A constant state of optimism and believing the best. Like she did about him. It was that thought that had his stomach twisting just a little bit. He was hardly a good man. More likely on par with her father than anything else but she never saw that side of him. Careful construction on his end but also her general disposition.

Giving her a smile that was meant to be reassuring, he grabbed for his side arm and turned his attention to the door. Looking away from her allowed himself a second to remember that he had to be the guy she didn't know about in order to get them out of this alive.

"Remember, don't open the door unless you hear the knock." One last reminder before he opened the door and slipped out of the safe room.

He was gone nearly an hour before he was back and knocking on the door. Things had quieted a bit and he had a feeling that they would be able to get at least to his home for a better chance at making it out of this all out warzone.

[dxrknessexplored]

Theo was focused intently on their surroundings, gun held at the ready and making sure that Maria stayed close. It felt like every noise was amplified, every step that they made echoing and calling out to any and all in the area. They just needed to make it a little further before he could relax some.

His jaw clenchednas he spotted the movement, and then Maria was speaking softly to him. Shit. Quickly counting the bodies, his brain was racing to formulate a plan that would keep them both as safe as possible. He needed a little open room to move so he couldn't back them up against a wall, even if the opening left him vulnerable for another attack.

"When I say go, you run." A low murmur of the words, just loud enough for her to hear as he looked between the groups boxing them in. There were enough rounds in his weapon to take them all out, but he had to be precise, and he had to wait for them to close in a little bit more.

"We don't have anything of value." This time, his voice was strong, addressing the others. "Let us move through and there doesn't have to be any trouble."

"Nothing of value, huh?" There was amusement that came from the opposite side than those that had previously spoke, the man watching the unease rollover the two with a grin. "Now, I don't think that is the case at all. What are you going to do about it, old man? Nothing. We are going to take what we want. And maybe we will let you live and walk away."

Theo watched as she moved about and showed a few things into her bag. The gun didn't go missed, and at least he knew where it was if he needed to grab it for any reason. Or if God forbid someone ended up grabbing her. Hopefully, if that was the case, they wouldn't immediately go through the bag. No, likely the thought would be using her as leverage against him rather than just a random grab.

The parroting back ended up making him smile just slightly. He actually believed those words, trusted that she would do as she said. One of the few people in the world that he could extend that trust to, though he wasmg about to say that. Not in this situation but in general, either. A small nod was given and he opened the door again. Gun back in hand, he led her slowly along the wall towards the entrance of the shop. One hand remained behind him, keep her close. Additionally, it served as a reassurance that she was there.

They came across no one yet. It seemed that their luck might just hold. Glancing out the front of the store, the street was still. He motioned for her to follow him out. The movements remained slow, calculated and purposeful as he picked their way along the route that he had found.

[dxrknessexploredarchived]

"I got how Gotham is, but it's not like this is something anyone is really prepared for," he retorted with just a hint of amusement. Maria was different from everyone he had ever really met. A constant state of optimism and believing the best. Like she did about him. It was that thought that had his stomach twisting just a little bit. He was hardly a good man. More likely on par with her father than anything else but she never saw that side of him. Careful construction on his end but also her general disposition.

Giving her a smile that was meant to be reassuring, he grabbed for his side arm and turned his attention to the door. Looking away from her allowed himself a second to remember that he had to be the guy she didn't know about in order to get them out of this alive.

"Remember, don't open the door unless you hear the knock." One last reminder before he opened the door and slipped out of the safe room.

He was gone nearly an hour before he was back and knocking on the door. Things had quieted a bit and he had a feeling that they would be able to get at least to his home for a better chance at making it out of this all out warzone.

"You don't have to be sorry," he offered softly and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze before beginning to rub her arm in an attempt to help warm her up more. There was something about the woman that had worked passed a lot of those walls that he had built up around himself. A genuine feeling that he was no longer accustomed to experiencing in the least. He would have to get her out of her eventually, it was just a matter of deciding the right time.

"Your father is a smart man, I'm sure he is more than okay through all of this." As far as his colleagues, well, that was another beast entirely. "It's all gonna be okay." A promise that he would do his damnest to make sure was seen through. Why? He didn't entirely know, but the shivering woman beside him was trusting him to make sure that happened. Something that had never made a difference before, but Maria somehow did.

"That doesn't surprise me in the least," he offered back with a gentle chuckle. "I'll be okay, I can handle myself. It will be far safer for you. So there isn't going to be any questioning, okay?" He wanted to make sure that she listened. Otherwise it could turn into a disaster.

Only after a period of time where it seemed to calm down further, no more rumbles and no other obvious sounds of violence, did Theo carefully pull himself away. He made sure his blanket was wrapped around her tightly before moving to the door.

"Wait here and I'll be right back okay. You only open the door if you hear this." He offered a special knock so she knew it was him.

[dxrknessexploredarchived]

"You don't have to be sorry," he offered softly and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze before beginning to rub her arm in an attempt to help warm her up more. There was something about the woman that had worked passed a lot of those walls that he had built up around himself. A genuine feeling that he was no longer accustomed to experiencing in the least. He would have to get her out of her eventually, it was just a matter of deciding the right time.

"Your father is a smart man, I'm sure he is more than okay through all of this." As far as his colleagues, well, that was another beast entirely. "It's all gonna be okay." A promise that he would do his damnest to make sure was seen through. Why? He didn't entirely know, but the shivering woman beside him was trusting him to make sure that happened. Something that had never made a difference before, but Maria somehow did.

"That doesn't surprise me in the least," he offered back with a gentle chuckle. "I'll be okay, I can handle myself. It will be far safer for you. So there isn't going to be any questioning, okay?" He wanted to make sure that she listened. Otherwise it could turn into a disaster.

Only after a period of time where it seemed to calm down further, no more rumbles and no other obvious sounds of violence, did Theo carefully pull himself away. He made sure his blanket was wrapped around her tightly before moving to the door.

"Wait here and I'll be right back okay. You only open the door if you hear this." He offered a special knock so she knew it was him.

Theo hadn't anticipated a complete and utter breakdown and everything that held the tides from overrunning Gotham. But here they were, stuck in the middle of a mess. He couldn't exactly offer to bring her to one of his safe houses. Maria still had no clue about what he did outside of his role as a detective. So, they were stuck in the cold office that seemed far too reinforced to be just an office. Confirmation that Nicholas had been looking out for his daughter. Nothing to be complaining about at the moment given it was their saving grace.

Theo checked his issued firearm. A full magazine. Along with his back up and then the unregistered one. A calmness was settled over him at the prospect of needing to head out. He could keep himself safe but would he be able to do the same for her without raising too much suspicion?

"Come here," he murmured gently but didn't give her time, instead shifting closer and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His own blanket was wrapped around them both, hopefully providing some extra warmth. She looked freezing. "Let's give it a little more time before we go out there, okay? And when we do, I'm going to scout it out first before you follow me out." He wasn't going to take no for an answer there. Maria would be kept safe.