I'm helping them. [ karen is his equal in height when she has her heels on, giving neither the higher ground in the battle of wills and hardass stares. up close, the bags under her eyes are evident under the smears of makeup that have thinned throughout the day. she's working her ass off. no surprise, but a kick of admiration for which he continues to refuse to designate a space inside himself. his gaze drops to her feet, brown grime creeping over the toes of her shoes. ]

You get that? Right now, you're not a target. The second you are-- [ fists flex on their own. he swallows with a jumble of words in his head ricocheting like gunfire. he focuses his eyes on hers, lines up the sights, makes it easier for breathing. ] These guys, they've got no stake in this city right now. They've got nothing to lose.