Lucia's grin came and went as she looked at Ash as she joined Leon.
"Aw come now, I can't be that bad can I?" She laughed half-heartedly and twisted a screw that had been giving her problems.
"True I have my.......BA-d points...but YOU CAN'T....Grah!!" It came loose and almost popped her in the forehead.
"...You can't judge people by their weak moments can you?"

Lucia's grin faded all together.
"Oh..." She ducked back underneath her bike, silent as she banged her wrench against her tailpipe. Strife didn't bother her...if he wanted to resent her for being a TURK she would expect it.....but to have to....work with....she slid back out, her smile plastered on.
"That's fine by me, I've got to get home before I do anything about him anyway....eh heh...one thing at a time right?" She couldn't hide the tears on the edge of her voice, but she kept them held away from her eyes and she rolled back under before they started falling...this was too much...she needed to take some time off.....even before she started work.

She waved a hand out from under her bkie staying hidden.
"I told you I'll be fine, don't worry." She jerked her hand back under and swiped away fresh tears all the while rubbing oil on her face and along her eyes. She swiped her hand on the pants and then reached out hunting for a screwdriver.

Lucia looked out through the gears and blushed a little nodding.
"Thanks..." She took the napkin and dissapeared from veiw making sure that no one else could see her.
"Hey Ash, mind handing me the biggest screwdriver that's in my tool kit?" She was still fumbling around from under the front wheel.

Finally having something to take her mind off her situation she nodded.
"They had a lot of stuff that I'd never seen before. Most of the things were enven better than my TURK gear, at least they had my rounds." She took the screwdriver and tinkered around on the front wheel.
"Say Ash..." She whispered.
"What's the big deal about Stife being here? Wasn't he a good friend to Red, Yuffie and Aerith? Red acts like he's never seen him before."

Lucia slid out, handing Ash back her napkin.
"Here, I think you need this more than I do." She sniffled and chuckled, swiping her hand along the bottom of her nose, leaving an oily moustache behind.
"I wouldn't worry too much about Strife...from his files in Shin-Ra he was a pain anyway....Rufus never did like him I think."

Lucia looked up shielding her eyes, and shook her head.
"No, not that I know of....I don't remember even seeing him...Red smelled him and after that I didn't pay attention...why?"

She shrugged and quirked an eyebrow.
"Then what's the problem? You want for me to find out what's going on in Spiky's head? See what his problem is?" She chuckled.
"I can tell you that right now....his shorts are a little too tight, cutting off the blood flow to his head." She touched her finger to her temple and wriggled back under the bike to finish the repairs and once she had, pulled out from her position and wiped her hands on her pants.
"That should do. Give me a little more gas mileage anyway."

She grinned placing her hand over her stomach.
"That sounds great..I'm starving." She smirked back to Leon.
"Dude....close your mouth...you look like a fish." She ran a thumb under her nose and headed inside.

Lucia was beginning to find her place in this strange world...she had overcome her hatred of sadness and loss, and embraced the strength she'd found there...she was growing closer to those around her, but she still felt at a loss for those she'd left behind. She complimented Aerith on her cooking...albeit odd, it was still good. She had no idea what she would do when faced with a job with Sephiroth or Cloud...but she set her mind and decided she would deal with that when the time came.

"That reminds me!" Lucia spoke up just now thinking of what she was going to talk to Leon about.
"When do you think I'll be able to start? Funds and rounds are running low as I've explained."

"Right now if not sooner." She smirked around her sandwich.
"Anything that's open? Can be done quickly without too much firepower?"