Kodachi wasn't certain whether the sloppy prepartion or just the base nature of the dish was to blame for her doubts about it, but she was now regretting ever purchasing the item.
"Something wrong with your cheeseburger?" a voice asked, drawing her eyes upward.
The speaker was a tall man with very broad shoulders and thick blonde hair. He was at He was looking at her appraisingly in a manner that made Kodachi blush a bit, but she recovered quickly.
"I'm just doubting whether or not such a thing as this is edible," Kodachi said.
"Don't tell me you've never had a hamburger," the man said, sitting down at the table with her, not waiting for her to invite him to do so.
"No," Kodachi said smiling slightly. "I tend to prefer cuisine that won't make me feel like taking a shovel to my own blood vessels."
"Then why did you order it," the man asked.
"Well," Kodachi paused for a moment. "Excuse me, I seem to have forgotten my manners. I'm Kodachi Kuno, and you are?"
"My name's Eddie," the man said. "Eddie Brock."
"Well, in answer to your question, Mr. Brock," Kodachi said.
"Call me Eddie," Brock responded.
"I hardly think it is appropriate," Kodachi said. "You must be eight years my senior, at the least."
"Do I look that old?" Brock asked. "I'm only twenty-five."
"Well," Kodachi said. "I'd make that...seven years, then." Remembering the age she was supposed to be.
"Don't try to fool me," Brock said shaking a finger. "No teenager could look as beautiful as you do."
Kodachi felt the flush rise to her cheeks and smiled demurely as she arranged herself to better face her unexpected visitor.
"So, what are you doing today?" Eddie asked.
"Oh," Kodachi said, suddenly, laughing briefly. The high pitched sound attracted a bit of attention, but she didn't notice, nor did she notice the brief wince Eddie gave at the sound. "I never answered your question, did I?"
"No," Eddie said. "You didn't, heh, I almost forgot myself."
"Well," Kodachi said. "To tell you the truth, I'm merely experimenting a little. I haven't had quite the normal childhood, and I'm making up for lost time, as it were."
"So what was going to be your next stop," Eddie asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Kodachi said. "I thought, perhaps, one of those establishments where children sink their allotted funds down the slots of a number of predictable exercises of hand-eye-coordination."
"An arcade, then?" Eddie asked.
"I believe that was the term," Kodachi said, laughing again.
"I can take you to one if you want," Eddie said, showing his hands a moment later. "Only if you want, no ulterior motives."
"Don't worry Mr. Brock," Kodachi said with an amused smile. "I am well capable of protecting myself from unwanted attention."
"And how about wanted attention," Eddie asked meaningfully leaning forward.
"Now that I've been sorely lacking," Kodachi said sighing regretfully. "But I should check myself now."
"Huh?" Eddie asked. "What for?"
"I have a history, Mr. Brock," Kodachi said.
"Call me Eddie," Eddie responded.
"Mr. Brock," Kodachi repeated firmly with a friendly twist to her voice. "As I was saying, I have a bad history of leaping before I look when it comes to romantic involvements, so..."
"Who's looking for a 'romantic involvement,'" Eddie cut in. "I'm only saying I'll show you where to find a good arcade. Wait, you thought I was flirting, didn't you."
"What?" Kodachi asked, flushing brightly again. "Of course not, flirting with someone as young as me, perish the thought."
"Not that you aren't beautiful of course," Eddie said, producing a predictable reaction from Kodachi.
"Why thank..." Kodachi paused as she felt an unwelcome sensation.
She glanced toward the direction of the danger and saw truck sitting in front of the store across from the diner she was sitting in. The engine was still running and a man was sitting in the front seat of the vehicle.
"Excuse me a moment," she said apologetically. "I have to attend to some business in the lady's room."
"Huh," Eddie said, looking to the uneaten cheeseburger as Kodachi excused herself and walked towards the restroom in the back of the building. "Hmm, must be the soda."
He shrugged and hoped he hadn't said something to set her off. There was a story here, he could just taste it. People had a reason when they invited the press to their events. There had to be an agenda. If nothing else, there was a very interesting human interest story to be run on a Japanese girl buying an estate in the rich part of town.
Then the alarm blared, and Eddie Brock was front seat for Spider-Rose's second appearance.
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(Posted Sat, 26 Jun 2004 22:14)
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