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It is a miserable night. The predicted storm had hit the city hard: rain coming down in buckets and running rivers down the streets. Marlene certainly isn't dressed for the weather. If it was up to her, she'd be at home with her dog, dry and warm. But she had late shift; she needed the money to eat and all that crap. So there she found herself, hands in pockets and hunched against the wind.
The lights on the street barely pierce the darkness, creating dim pools of illumination on the concrete. She hops from spotlight to spotlight, trying to stay out of the worst of the puddles. Marlene is already soaked through to her soaks, but she is trying anyway.
She tilts her head. A little ahead of her, in the shadow of a car, stand two men. They stand too close to be anything but lovers, with one man's hand brushing something off the other's cheek. The older one holds an umbrella above the two, somehow looking like he could step right into an opera despite the setting.
Marlene steps on the outside of the car, giving the couple a wide berth. She tries not to make eye contact; in these parts, just a single glance can be taken as an invitation.
As she passes, she hears snippets of a conversation. "You really didn't have to," says one, the younger. "He wasn't that bad; it was barely a nudge and clearly he was having a bad day."
"Oh, but of course I did," replied the other. He reaches out, curling his hand around the back of the man's neck. "He was rude to you, and that is not something I will stand."
Through the car window, Marlene catches the soft grin that crosses the first man's face. "You spoil me."
"Always. Now come, we need to attend to our ... guest. It would be rude to keep him waiting."
And with that, Marlene is out of earshot. Weird guys, but not the weirdest she has encountered during her late night commute home. At least these ones left her well enough alone.