It was strange, to say the least, seeing what he assumed to be a girl bundled up so. It was well approaching Summer time in Jackson, and Tobias himself was sweating beneath the green jumper that was his uniform; and it was not even noon yet. Had he not the issue with his scared shoulder he probably would have had the upper half of his jumper down and tied about the waist. Ignoring her strange attire the fact that she was confused about where she was, lead him to believe she was a run away. She was sure small enough to be one of the many teens that made their home on the streets, poor thing probably had not eaten in a while too.<br/><br/>Tobias sighed setting the bags of trash down, looking over his shoulder to check on the guy he was partnered with today. Seeing him relaxing reading a magazine, Tobias figured he had enough time to deal with the runaway before he got in trouble.<br/><br/>â€œUm...well...â€ he began, removing one of his work gloves to scratch at the back of his head while he thought. â€œWell this is 42nd and Cherry avenue. Are you lost?â€ he asked, his bleeding heart making him want to help. â€œThis is really not the place for a girl to be out on her own...â€<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">His sigh didn't help to put her at ease, making her feel all the more like a burden for simply asking where she was. Her brow furrowed, the wrinkles reaching betwixt her eyes as she shot a glance over at the truck by the end of the alley. "...42nd, and Cherry..." she repeated, blatantly ignoring his last remark. "...And what city?"</span><br/><br/>Tobias frowned, â€œJackson. Look, this place is really not the place for you. I get the whole running away thing, but I am sure that your parents are worried about you...â€ he patted himself down, checking his pockets for something, his eyes looking up to the sky as he did so before he smiled and retrieved his cell phone from the pocket on his chest. â€œHow about I call them for you?â€ he offered looking down that the small electronic device wondering again why he let his therapist talk him into getting one of these things. â€œSometimes a nice phone call is all that is needed to mend thingsâ€ he smiled at her genuinely as he fumbled with the simple unlock feature on the screen.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Parents...that's a laugh, Lily thought to herself before shaking her head. Her eyes darted to the phone in panic for a brief moment before realizing she didn't have any immediate threat. No one would be coming to collect her until they got a new boat, and she didn't have the number for them anyway.<br/><br/>"No," she finally replied with a shake of her head. "I'm not running away from my parents. I'm an adult, trying to get my bearings." Even as the words came out of her mouth, she didn't feel the conviction in them, any confidence to back them up. Her eyes dropped as she gathered her wits, only to rise again, hardening as she tried to portray some semblance of backbone. "As I said before, I'm simply lost. No need to be making any phone calls."</span><br/><br/>Adult? Tobias looked her over again, then gave a mental shrug. He had to stop measuring people up against him, just because he was a brute did not mean everyone else had to be as large. Though that still did not shake that gut feeling that she needed his help. One thing being in the marines had taught him was to follow those feelings.<br/><br/>With amused eyes he watched the slight shift in her posture, noting how she stood a bit straighter, taller, squarer, seeming to try and get her confidence together. Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he smiles, â€œAlright. I can respect and understand that. This place can get tricky...â€ he looked up and down the alley for a second then back to her. â€œWhere are you headed? I could help you better if I knew where you were going?â€<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">His question had her pausing, her mind blanking on anything that she could have tried to pass off as truth. It wasn't as if she'd had a set plan; Only the stories she read about in books. Stories she was almost certain were written in places that didn't exist, or at least weren't called "Jackson". Lips pursing, she could feel the sweat beginning to make itself known against her skin, beading and soaking through the first layer.<br/><br/>Eyes fluttering closed, she let out a shaky breath, before a vulnerability passed through her eyes. Though fleeting, it'd been there, the fire of uncertainty, the fear of the unknown. Then, just like that, it was gone, replaced by her earlier bravado.<br/>"I'd no set plans on my trip," Lily explained, fingers crossing in her pockets. "Went out on a whim and seeing where the currents take me." See? You answered his question truthfully. Just breathe. Granted, her answer had been a bit literal, but he didn't need to know that. She wasn't even sure why she was still talking to him, not sure what he could do...But she didn't have anyone else, so what did she have to lose?</span><br/><br/>Cocking his head to the side slightly, he took in what she just said, noting the brief moment of fear that was gone just as soon as it shone in her eyes. Then just like that he nodded, â€œAlright. Well how about I at least take you to some place that has, people and stores? That way you are not in danger from the thugs and other low life filth that roam this section of the cityâ€ he bent down and scooped up his bags of trash turning from her just as the horn to the truck was sounded.<br/><br/>â€œCome along. It is nearly lunch time so we can grab a bite together..â€ though he stopped in his steps, to look back over his shoulder at her. â€œOh, by the way, my name is Tobiasâ€ he smiled and turned back to heading for the waiting truck. Not really expecting her to follow, but he had a hope that she would, if to only get out of the rough section of the city.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Thugs and other low life filth was something she'd not anticipated when she'd set out to see the world. If she were honest with herself, she acquainted that part of life with pure fiction, thinking the hero would always swoop in to save the heroin of the story before any harm befell her. Generally those scenes were at night, or rain after the heroin left some party, or had a falling out with the hero. And, like clock work, the muscular men would carry their lady away to safety.<br/><br/>Subconsciously, her eyes flitted up and down his form before coming to rest back on his face. While she couldn't see any true definition under the trash man's garb, she could see enough. The truck's blaring horn had her jumping, hands out of her pockets as she clutched herself, eyes wide. After a few breaths, and his reassuring words, she had to make her decision.<br/><br/>Well...he's been kind so far...and seems genuinely concerned...But he is a stranger...though, everyone out here would be one, nimrod,  Lily argued with herself before taking a hesitant step in his direction. "Tobias..." she repeated. "I'm ni-" Stopping herself mid-answer, she let out a small sigh of frustration. As Lily wasn't her given name, but one she called herself, she'd almost answered with her formal number, which would have sent up red flags, flags she didn't want going off just yet. "I'm Lily."</span><br/><br/>â€œNice to meet you Lily. Come along, stay to my left and Frank there won't see youâ€ he winked at her as he lead the way to the back of the truck. As they walked side by side he wondered again about her strange attire. She was making him sweat just by looking at her and he had served time in the desert so he knew a thing or two about the heat. Sweat was literally beading on his brow just from thinking about his time back in the desert, though before his mind could start wandering down that rabbit hole, he distracted himself with a bit of physical labor. Intentionally using his weaker arm, wanting to feel the pain, needing to feel it to take his mind off of even more painful memories.<br/><br/>Gritting his teeth as he as he lifted the bags, one at a time and tossed them into the back of the truck he kept a casual eye on Lily. Studying her as he would any new assignment, learning whatever bit he could about her, in hopes of being able to help her better. When the trash was loaded, he wiped his forehead with the back of his arm, â€œGoing to be a hot day todayâ€ he said somewhat to himself, though it was his poor excuse of a way to try and make small talk with her.<br/><br/>â€œAlright. You need to hang on over here...â€ he instructed, showing her where to place her feet and how to hold on. â€œStay pulled in close to the truck, helps with the bumps and Frank's poor driving. Make sure you hold on tight too....falling off the back of a garbage truck.....is well...not fun. Trustâ€ he chuckled at his own personal memory. When she seemed to be up on the truck well enough, he hopped on the other side and patted the side of the truck, giving Frank the go ahead. â€œThe city gets...better looking..in like a block or two. So, you may actually enjoy this rideâ€ he smiled to her as the truck rumbled along.