Lucas was finishing shaving and contemplating how the inventor of the shower deserved a Noble Peace Prize when he heard the faint sound of a spoon stirring coffee in the other room. Noel had gotten up and found the breakfast left for them. He would need to hurry now in case she wanted a turn in the bathroom as well. He hadn’t really needed the shave but figured with having time to burn and not knowing when the next chance would present itself that it was a good idea. Now that a line was starting to form outside, he picked up the pace. Speeding through the last few razor strokes, Lucas finished up by washing his face and throwing on his jeans. On his way out he grabbed his ratty, gray T-shirt off the side of the counter and quietly opened the door.

His eyes were greeted by two angel wing tattoos as they were being covered by the dark T-shirt Noel was pulling on over her head. The two dimples at the base of her back winked at him seductively before disappearing under the cloth as well. She had dressed while he was finishing getting cleaned up. Lucas wished he had skipped the shave now as he admired the way the shirt hugged the woman’s form.

Noel stretched like a cat as she reached over to the bed and grabbed her pistol harness. Lucas leaned on the door frame and watched her as she put it on and adjusted the straps, oblivious to his presence for the moment. The determination in the small woman had returned to her posture as she placed her gun into its holster. The agent was back in charge now. The scared girl could no longer be seen.

Glancing to beside the bed, Lucas noticed the note was now lying on its side which meant Noel had seen it and read it upon awakening. If she did not remember him from last night, she had an idea of who he was at least. He knew he had to take it slow until he could figure out how much she remembered.

“You look pretty good for someone who just rolled out of bed.” Lucas said with a devilish grin and fire in his eyes. “Wish I caught more than just the end credits of that performance.”

Noel snorted a quick laugh. "Perv. Come eat your eggs." She didn't seem particularly miffed at his comment, though, when he came within arm's reach, her hand whipped out to bop his head bunny foofoo style. "For looking." She shrugged now that they were even and retreated back into her mug of coffee. She had to work her way up to food. Coffee first.

And since she wasn't eating right off the bat she could get down to other things. "Wasn't there a-? Ah." She grabbed the inventory list and sat down behind the cart with her mug to raffle through everything in the laundry bag as she transferred it back to her own duffle.

This was like Christmas! All her clothes were folded already. Her lock box was still in tact. Her wallet still on the counter next to her ankle pouch. Noel did a quick check of the contents of her ankle pouch and noticed new things that hadn't been on her initial list… a photo of herself and Lucas in all their bathrobed glory along with a note in the photo and then the note itself. She had already amended the note to add his last name. Now she added that he was her trusted kissing friend and folded that up before he would have a chance to comment on her choice of descriptors.

And yet there was still something that felt off. Some thought that had her sipping at an empty mug before she realized that she had drained it.

Oh. That was it. She had clothes and a bit of cash, even her gun. It was more than Lucas had. Noel scrounged around in her wallet for what she thought wouldn't offend Lucas and snatched up one of his shoes from under the desk. She scribbled a note on the first piece of paper she pulled out of her bag: a receipt for the dry cleaning.

Buy yourself a phone. Call me. That was all that there was space for on the little slip of paper. It would have to do. She folded the receipt over the bill and crammed the wad as far into the toe of his shoe as she could before ditching the shoe as nonchalantly as possible and hopping back onto the bed so that she could grab a biscuit off the tray. With the room service cart between them, surely he didn't notice, right?

Boys were stupid sometimes. This wasn't charity. This was selfishness. If he had a phone, he could call her. So what if it would also help him find a job better if an interviewer had a number where he could be reached? And so what if she didn't quite know where her phone was at the moment? She had one, in theory. If he played his cards right, he could make that one bill stretch a lot further than just cell phone coverage. She wouldn't mind that either.

"You wanna add Date #2 to this?" Noel put her red painted toenails in Lucas' lap so he could get the map out of her ankle pouch. Ah! On second thought, she pulled her foot back and retrieved the map herself. There were notes about him in there and, of course, the RUPERT paraphernalia that she didn't want him to think too hard about. "Here." She tossed the map on the bed between them and went back for bacon.

“You wanna add Date #2 to this?” Noel said while she draped her feet and sparkling toes across Lucas’ lap, revealing her ankle pouch and casually toying with the man at the same time. He paused his reach for a piece of buttered toast and decided breakfast could wait, turning his full attention to the feminine leg that rested on his thigh. Before his hands could find purchase, the temptress pulled her legs back from the young man’s touch and reached down herself, pulling the map out and casually tossing it between them on the bed. “Here.” She added dismissively and reached for some bacon from the breakfast tray before them.

“You keep that up and another bop on the head will seem a small price to pay for what the perv does next twinkle toes.” Lucas threatened coyly as he grabbed the piece of toast he had eyed moments earlier. Taking a fork from the edge, he pilled some eggs and bacon upon its surface and closed the sandwich with the other triangular half of bread. Taking a bite, he enjoyed the breakfast creation as he turned to bring his attention back to the map. Unfolding it on the bed beside him, he located Battery Park easily. Noticing the pen on the desk beside Noel, he motioned for her to toss it over. She did and he caught it easily between his fingers and pushed the button to free the ink from its case. Bending over the document, Lucas marked the date and time of their future meeting under the park’s name and paused before continuing.

“Did you want me to jot down what we will be doing or is it going to be a surprise?”

Looking up, he watched her as she chewed away at her bacon. She didn’t seem to catch on to his meaning right away so he figured he would spell it out before she came to the conclusion on her own.

“As you asked me out, it only seems logical that you had an idea of what we would be doing. Should I write down your idea or did you plan on surprising me then?”

Lucas didn’t think Noel had really considered the date past the initial planning stage. He did kind of force her into asking in an unintentional way. However, the attractive woman sitting across from him had knocked him on the head for admiring the view earlier and teased him further with her foot-fuelled flirtation. There needed to be some kind of retribution for these crimes. A little sudden social pressure seemed a reasonable cost for past transgressions.

“I really do like surprises.” Lucas said playfully as he put down his sandwich and started to put his t-shirt on. As he got both arms into his sleeves and started to lift the cloth up over his head he realized that this idea was actually much more devious than was meant. By forcing the woman to think about the second date, there was a better chance she would remember it altogether. She might even need to think up a good idea during the week which would be ideal. The more the thought was forced to bounce around inside her mind, the better. If he ever figured out how to harness his powers of bulls#!+ luck, he would be a rich man.

“If you need some more time to think it over, that is ok too. You can just let me know later. I’m pretty easy going.” He added with a bit of a smile as he picked up his sandwich and took another bite.

Looking about for his shoes, he discovered them strewn randomly on the floor nearby. Finding it an odd resting place for footwear did not bother him enough to ask questions. Lucas popped the last corner of his sandwich into his mouth and went to collect his wayward sneakers.

Noel nibbled her bacon thoughtfully. She didn't really have a reference for what should happen on a date outside of what she had seen on TV and that usually meant a montage of activities set to music befitting the type of TV show. But what type of TV show was she in? Pretty much anything besides a drama would be best. She didn't much feel like getting run over or getting into a fight because she just loved him so, so much. Noel hardly even knew the guy.

She remembered getting dressed up for a few dates. Noel could do that, assuming she would have access to a dress. But then again Lucas was homeless so he probably wouldn't be in tails any time soon… not that they would have any where fancy to go… Hmmm. Something simple. And cheap.

"If I think of something, I'll be sure to write it down otherwise it might be a surprise to us both." She wasn't making a joke. Just getting to an appointment on the right day and at the right time was going to be hard enough. But she could think of something. Lucas made it seem to be her social obligation to do so, so she would.

Noel made a cursory check of her things before slinging the duffel over her shoulder and slipping her cute toes into her entirely-too-sensible-to-be-sexy heels. "So I guess this is goodbye. Maybe. I mean, I'll see you next week, I think." It sounded just as awkward when she said it as when she had thought it. Bleh. "Thank you. For helping me." More sincere, but also lame. Should she just go now? Yeah. Maybe that would be best.

She was going to have to find a bus locker for all this crap so she didn't have to carry it around all day.

"So I guess this is goodbye. Maybe. I mean, I'll see you next week, I think." Noel said awkwardly while she looked about the hotel room to avoid looking at the man sitting on the bed. "Thank you. For helping me." She hesitated while she stood there, her duffle bag hanging from her shoulder. She looked like a girl waiting for the bus before her first day at a new school.

Lucas stood up and crossed the distance between them with a single step. His heart started to race as he stopped within inches of the woman. Raising his hand between them, he gently urged Noel’s chin upwards so he could look into her eyes. The young man held her gaze as he admired those dreamy hazel pools.

“I guess it is about time we both get going. We both have lots to do. So, yah. It probably is good bye for now”

He glided his fingers along her jaw bone and then down her neck, shoulder and arm to find her hand. Noel’s cheeks blushed softly after his caress had passed and her lips parted slightly…invitingly.

“ It was my pleasure to be of assistance and I’m glad I could help you.”

The other hand came up and brushed a few stray hairs away from Noel’s face as he moved her bangs behind her ear. His fingers continued on to her other hand and grasped it as well.

”I will be at Battery Park next week at noon. I’m looking forward to a date where we don’t have cars being thrown at buildings or us. It should be fun.”

Raising both of their hands up between them, he put her arms around his neck. It took all of his self control to keep from shaking.

“Is there anything else you might need before you go?”

A confident smile on the outside hid the nerves deep down in Lucas’ stomach. He felt like he was thirteen at his first school dance with a girl he had a crush on. Dropping his arms back down, he placed a hand on each of Noel’s hips. Not to keep her from escaping but so he could wrap her up in his arms at the slightest hint that she wanted him to proceed. Lucas knew they had to leave but one more kiss wouldn’t hurt.

With any other girl, he wouldn’t hold back but with Noel, things were different. Lucas would never be sure how she remembered him, if at all, from day to day. To kiss her now might not be what she wanted as she could see him as a stranger. Instead, he would lay the ground work, letting her know what he wanted as clearly as he could and leave it in her delicate, feminine hands. He would put himself out on a limb and wait to see if she would extend a hand or cut it out from under him. It was the only way he could see this working. If she gave him any sign he would take control, but he needed to know she was comfortable with it first.

Of course, that didn’t mean he couldn’t push her in the right direction a little bit.

He touched her and a thrill ran down her spine. He talked and posed her like they were dancing middle school style. Noel really was okay with walking out the door after a handy, awkward goodbye. She swallowed and it sounded so loud in her own ears that Noel was afraid Lucas might have heard it too. Apparently a wave at the door wasn't in the cards.

"It should be fun." She echoed the words a little less enthusiastically. The red in her cheeks somewhat sapped her sassability.

Cough. "Need is a strong word." Had he used any word besides need, she might have had a harder time going on tippy toes, leaning in close, brushing her nose against his and then giving him the most sisterly of pecks on the cheek. She pulled away until only her hands was left in his.

"I can't need anything, Lucas. There's no guarantee it'll be there tomorrow." She wasn't meaning to tease. It was absolutely not her intention. He just had to know how things worked for her. She lived in a world where things were constantly being taken away: memories, friends, co-workers, even something as simple as thinking one thing was in one place only to find it had been moved. Nothing was for sure enough to rely on, losing her apartment had only confirmed that fear. "I might not be there, even if I want to now..." She let his hand go and hefted her bag.

"Are you still sure?" 'Cause the King said only fools were sure... not that Noel took all her advice from Elvis.

Things always seemed to go so well until Lucas opened his mouth. He felt the branch cracking under him as Noel hacksawed away at the limb he had put himself out on. Women could be so difficult to understand sometimes. The simple use of a verb in his playful banter had sunk the ship before it left port. Lucas knew that Noel was strong and independent. It was one of the things he found attractive about her. Using the word ‘need’ was not meant to make her seem weak but it had been interpreted that way somehow. A single little word. What a difference it could make.

Now, it felt like Noel was trying to let Lucas down easy. A simple peck on the cheek. A warning how she might not be there. Asking him if he was sure. If she had asked a minute earlier the answer would have been very different. Everything had been turned around. Noel had told him things would be easy at the beginning. It seemed they were passed the beginning now.

How could he be sure? They had only known each other for half a day. What was she looking for from him? Did she want a lifetime commitment before they even really started dating or was he missing the point of the question? The woman before him was complex, and though the question seemed simple, maybe it wasn’t what she was really asking. She had warned him several times that dating her wasn’t easy. Lucas was starting to understand. It wasn’t the memory loss that was the obstacle. It was the self doubt and reluctance to commit to another that was the true barrier. She was scared. Scared to rely on someone else and have them let her down. Was she really asking him if he could be counted on? There was nothing he could say to take that fear away. It would take time for her to learn to trust him.

“I’ll be there at noon.” Lucas answered. He wanted to tell her he would be there to help her if she wanted him to. That it didn’t matter if a relationship blossomed between them or not as they could always be friends. It would have been a lie. He couldn’t make that promise. No one could. That kind of commitment took both sides and Noel just didn’t seem ready to accept that and let someone else into her life. Being honest with himself, Lucas wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment either. He wanted to be near the woman if she let him but they really didn’t know each other yet. That was what dating was for. Now he understood how much her fear would prevent her from letting someone get close. He hoped she would find a way to get past it. Eventually, Lucas would need something more.

It was such a little word. What a difference it could make.

He seemed to sober up with her warning. His seriousness eased a tension in her chest. He would be there. She could tell that he meant it. "Good." She didn't want to get used to relying on anyone else if they weren't going to be reliable. Noel gave his hand a squeezed and then took that back as well.

"I-" For all he had told her about himself last night, she had gotten away without having to put too much of herself into things. And she wasn't sure if she owed him any more explanation than she had already given. "I'll see you around."

Out in the hallway, she waited for the elevator. Noel just wasn't sure. It was hard to make any decision about any kind of permanence that had no outside factor driving it. Nobody was making her have a trusted kissing friend. So she didn't have to. It wasn't like he was assigned to her by the FBI or something.

Ding! Noel slunk into the elevator and pushed the door closed button hopefully before Lucas decided it was safe to come out of the room. He was nice. But a lot of people were nice at first. She liked him. But a lot of people were likable. Well, maybe not in the way that she liked him.

With a sigh, Noel realized that relationships were messy and few lines were clearly drawn. She stopped by the front desk to check out and settle accounts. Apparently the city wasn't picking up the tab for room service, though they did cover her dry cleaning bill and the actual cost of the room for the night. She had no idea where she would be by this time tomorrow.

That was one serious upside to Lucas. For all his joking, he thought ahead. He had the photo, he took his time and he wasn't crowding her at all. So… why did she feel like she was running away?

"Can I leave a note for Lucas of room 317?" The sleepy clerk nodded and handed her a notepad. Apparently this wasn't too uncommon a gesture.

Noel was not good with words so she kept it simple.

Lucas,

Wear tennis shoes and be ready to sweat.

<3, N

Vague. But she had an idea of where she wanted to take him if they met in Battery Park. Or… when. She needed to think of it as a when and make it important in her mind so she could hold onto the thought. It helped that he had painted her toenails. That was something physical that only time or intention could take away. She just had to associate her date with her nails. Viola, a trigger to remember.

Just like that, she was gone. No dramatically romantic moment before the credits rolled. No happy ride into the sunset together. Just a simple ‘See you around’ and…..gone. Lucas stared at the back of the door for a moment longer as he listened to the sound of her walking up the hall towards the elevator and felt alone. The only person he knew in the city had just left and he was having serious doubts he would see her again.

Lucas had thought there was a connection there but did he make it up? Was she simply taking pity on some homeless guy, not knowing how else to tell him to get lost after he had helped her? It was possible but unlikely. She had kissed him last night as well. Sure, he had pressured her a bit but….

While wrestling with his thoughts, Lucas had grabbed his shoe and begun to pull it on. Something had been shoved into the toe and made the wearing of his shoe uncomfortable, shaking him from his internal monologue. Removing the sneaker again, he put a couple of fingers in and pulled out a twenty dollar bill that was crumpled up with a note. Andrew Jackson’s face looked at him with those sorrowful eyes of his, as if he felt bad for the young man. It was no consolation for the feeling that came out of the sneaker with the bill. Noel had stuffed some money into his shoe so he would find it after she left. She had looked at him and seen some homeless guy instead of the man that she made him feel like.

It felt more like a truck had hit him then a taxi and he felt the tears roll down his cheeks. He had told her about his life, his dreams and who he really was but in the end, Noel couldn’t see past some bum who needed a place to stay and a warm meal. He didn’t need to read the note. Whatever platitudes were inside would only hurt more. He chucked the paper into the waist bin beside another crumpled half written letter and put the money in his pocket, feeling ashamed but knowing that he couldn’t pass up the charity.

The worst part was that he knew that she was right to see him that way. A man is not defined by what he wants but by his actions. With his grandmother’s death, Lucas had fallen down the rabbit hole and hadn’t even noticed. His sadness and depression was ruining him and consuming his soul. He had accepted the street as his life and was afraid that he wasn’t good enough to pull himself back up….or maybe didn’t even want to.

Noel had shown him what he could be but failed to achieve. She faced her limitations head on and refused to bow to them while Lucas hid in alleys from his pain. A woman like that didn’t need some homeless guy dragging her down. She had given him a gift by showing him what he had given up with his own self anguish. Now, it was up to him to make a choice. The young man knew he could not face her again as he was. If he was to meet her in a week, he needed to be someone else. Someone he was not ashamed to be. A man, not some bum who would slink out the back exit of a hotel to avoid paying the bill from the night before.

Going to the bathroom, Lucas pulled the garbage bag out of the can and returned to the breakfast cart. Looking at all the unfinished food, Lucas felt disgusted with what he knew he was about to do. Reaching out, he began to take the uneaten portion of their breakfast and put it in the plastic bag. He wanted desperately to change his life and be the man he was when Noel was around him but he was also practical. He would have to eat, and the leftovers would keep him going for at least another day or two.

((OOC: Continues for Noel in Non Compos Mentis))