Look Before You Leap....(RPG)

The moaning of street cars and police sirens as their vehicles raced through the streets were the first sounds to enter her ears. Without even opening her eyes she could already picture what her surroundings were, she laid on a doubt bed mattress that was probably placed within the centre of a cheap hotel room. The walls like many establishments were probably a dull cream and no doubt there were narrow pathways that lead into either the kitchen or living space, depending how cheap the room really was. The blanket was cotton and she was unsure of the colour but suspected it was a simple cream either matching the walls or a dirty brown matching the carpet which no doubt was a shade of brown, she could detect by the smell of the cotton and presume the most determined shade.

Her eye lids battered against one another as her hands slid against the cotton fabric. The first thing she saw was…blue. a dark shade of it as she realized it was the blankets. Coughing to ensure that she was not dreaming she noticed that her throat was dry as if she had been crying through the night. Moaning as her mind soon caught up with her body she remembered the moments before losing consciousness. She remembered the icy wind, she remember the helicopter that laid only a few feet away from her. She recalled the blood essence that was laced on her body and she remembered him, but no doubt it had to be a dream, for how would she have gotten here if it was not so?

As her eyes began to come into focus she found them staring at a large object that laid before her at the edge of a bed, it was a shade of yellow, blond she might have said. As the haziness faded she almost thought it might have been golden dog, but the moment her eyes fully became adjusted to the dim green light she got the fright of her life. Like a wild animal scared off by lightning she leaped backward stumbling off the mattress and bounding her back into the hollow, and very cheap produced wall behind her. Racing like a water fall was her heart, pounding with in her chest. If she could only look in the mirror she could only imagine that her hairs were standing on end.

Breathing deeply in and out as she inhaled the city odour that entered though the slightly agar window. She could smell the essence of cocaine maybe heroin and those pills that clubbers took, which the name escaped her obviously. The smell of cigarette smoke and of things that Laura could only regret she knew the smell of. Nevertheless through all this commotion and nearly braking through the wall her eyes remained focused upon the figure laid hunched over upon the edge of the bed. Sliding her hands slowly against the wall silently as a mouse she staggered to her feet still using the wall as an anchor for her now trembling body.

 War Killer, she would notice his lush blond toned locks with a partial hint of brown strung with in each strand. In the sheer day light they would shimmer golden but at night, in darkness they took on a dirtier look. For a second she thought him dead, but the reassurance of a deep inhaling breath calmed her fears. Like a timid doe she approached the opposite bed side and leaned over outstretching her hand toward his shoulder.   Her emerald eyes remained locked on his posture, his movements. He was in a deep sleep, he had to be for her commotion to not have woken him. Gliding her hands upon the blanket she slid it through his hair upon his forehead feeling his temperature to assure that he was in good health, and only exhausted.

 With that she removed her hand and herself from the bed as she pulled the blanket across his body and shut the window to silence the noise, and smell that the outside had to offer and she just stood. The dim green shade of lighting lingered in the room giving it a very lazy and relaxed tone, yet at one point Laura was so frustrated that she simply severed the cable of the lamp and let darkness take its toll. The only light was that sliding through the drawn mustard curtains of not the moon but a street lamp not too far off. Laura hated the city; she hated it more than anyone knew. Not because of her heightened sense for in truth that was a partial reason but not the core of it. It was because she grew up in a city…was a prostitute in a city, she had lived so many different lives had so many different jobs that they all seemed to fade into one, but her time as a prostitute even for those months they remained, her scarlet letter remained.

Brining her hand upon her chest she tightened her fist upon it as a sigh escaped her dry faded lips. “How could you affiliate yourself with a piece of trash….” she whispered as she turned on her heel away from the room as her eyes focused on the door way that laid before her. Passing through it she entered into a small yet combatable living area that lead to a clear view to the kitchen. The carpet was cream to her mistake but she didn’t care much of it now. Oddly enough besides the young hero’s scent there was another one, one that was strangely familiar to her.  Running her hands through her hair she walked into the bathroom to get a look at herself. Blood stained her cheeks and her once clean uniform was now tattered and had remnants of smell from the sewer water.

Attempting to tidy her hair to a state of presentation she soon left and approached the door leading out to the balcony and stair way that lead to the parking lot which lead to freedom. As her hand tightened against the door knob and the creaking of the door as it was opened resonated she turned back peering down the corridor she could see a glimpse of the young man’s body fast asleep with half of himself on the bed and half seated on the chair. As she turned to look away her locks slid against her face as she didn’t tie them back. She might have cried but she had, had enough of her futile emotions, she needed to get control back! And with one final thought she pushed past the door walking through it and silently closed it behind her. Instead of walking off her back remained pinned to the door. She could hear his breathing; no doubt he’d awake in a few hours to discover she was gone, and then give up…at least that’s what she hoped.

As the minuets passed by eventually she found the strength within her to brake from the wooden doors grasp and walk down the empty balcony toward the stairwell. As she slid her hand against the icy metallic banister she looked at the surrounding buildings of this area, it was a typical down town location of some either major city in the US. No doubt the young hero took whatever he could get, how could she blame him, with over a 100 pounds worth of body weight stained in blood and a helicopter that he needed to park…actually how did she get here? He could not have parked the helicopter nearby it would have been too risky. And the nearest sky scrapers were at least a few miles…no he would have had to carry her or find some other means of transport.

Trying to push away these thoughts she slid her hands into her pants pockets that both had holes in it. Walking down the dim lighted streets she kept her eyes focused on the ground, she didn’t care where she was going she just had to get away from it all, just for a moment she needed to get away from him. She was always unable to think straight when near him, so this was why she left. As her feet slid against the cold concrete and her figure slid in and out of the shadows of street lamps the smell was getting stronger. The smells those were all too familiar to her, the smells of heroin and cocaine and no doubt other drugs that had been invented after her leaving, she had forgotten the name but in the past Laura preferred the Drugs that to take effect needed to be injected, the ones that would make her gain control, opposite effects obviously on humans.

This is how it worked…the people in charge or simply “pimps” would get their girls addicted to some type of drug making the chicks dependant on the pimp on the guy, and so in return for prostituting themselves they would get their dosage of the drug that they had gotten addicted to. It was a messy business but Laura had worked her share 1 and a half years in it, too long. As she raised her emerald eyes she saw some of the girls ages between probably 14 and 19 she remember even in this dark time she had one friend. Pushing past the rusty door and hearing the same creek it had over 3 years ago brought back memories, her first night the nights after back then it was just a job now she was disgusted of it.

“Dirty…” she whispered to herself as she slithered up the wet stair well. There was practically no lighting at all and the smell…the stench it was unbearable. Her head hunched down she eventually reached the second floor and in front of her was a faded blue door. she could hear the moaning on the other side of this barrier and she almost wanted to vomit not because of anything other than the realization on how far she went how far she was willing to go back when…”there were no emotions.” Without hesitation or knocking she raised her foot and instantly preformed a powerful kick with the palm of her foot braking the top right hinges of the door and allowing her to brake the other with her mere hands. The sight before her was swiftly shattered as she grabbed a piece of splintered wood and aimed it toward the man that laid situated upon the bed before her.

The wooden stake hit him in the heart and caused instantaneous death. She had no pity for these types of people. “Laura...” a timid voice whispered under the bedding, the fact that this young girl had just killed a man still didn’t shatter Stephanie.   “How can you put up with this…” she stopped her tongue grabbing the dead body and flinging it out the window for it to only land directly in a dumpster. “Is that really you? Laura?” Her jade eyes looked over to the pale 18 year old with a weak smile but it soon faded “How can you live like this…” The young woman’s face changed from astonishment to annoyance “Laura…you and I both know you committed acts in this business better than anyone…don’t judge me.” her voice was broken and distraught Laura could tell.

“I’ve come for a reason…I need to know if you have any…leftovers I don’t care if they’re clean or if not I can heal.” but just as that sentence left her mouth the icy hand of the Stephanie pillaged her cheek.   “You can heal! Is that your line to justify your actions…your desires!? Why on earth girl would you want to return to the place that you escaped years ago?” Laura could not help but smile she didn’t have to say what she wanted for Stephanie to know what she was here for. Rubbing her heated cheek a few moments she replied lightly “You don’t understand.” once again her opposite cheek came in contact with the cold yet firm had of the young prostitute. “Okay stop it!” Laura said grabbing Stephanie’s wrists and staring at her.

Eye to eye in silent Laura admitted “I can’t control my reactions anymore…I’m saying things without thinking and I’m doing things without even calculating the results! I need this…I need control even for a moment to think clearly.” a deep sigh escaped Stephanie’s lips as she broke eye contact with the emerald eyed girl. “Laura you should know those things don’t make you think clearly.” She could see the tears swelling in the young woman’s eyes as for some reason her eyes fell upon her arm, it was littered with needle marks causing Laura to cringe slightly. “Why would you want to addict yourself again?” “I heal.” Laura whispered “I’ll get over it I just...” but before she could continue her wrist was grasped and arm exposed in the dim lighting of the room. “Look Laura!” and Stephanie pointed “Look those marks…they haven’t healed!”

Reluctantly the betrayer of the OSC peered down at her arm, it was true. Despite Laura’s healing factor her arm still retained vague and slightly faded but visible if looked upon scares. Of the injections she was given she had given herself. “They haven’t healed”. It almost sounded as if the young woman was pleading, but ignoring this Laura pulled her arm away and got to her feet “I don’t need your permission…” With that she entered the kitchen searching through several draws she finally found the one she was searching for. Staring at the syringe intently for a moment she would have injected herself with as large a dosage as she could but once again her friend almost shouted “Think before you act girl! How will this help you in the long run? When that stuff wears off you’ll be stuck in whatever whole you were when you started!”

See because of Laura’s complex biology the taking of drugs does not let her lose control but in truth gain it. It helps aid the control what she is constantly struggling with especially with her emotions. And in this time where her emotions had caused her to forsake everything and everyone she thought that it was time to take drastic measures. “Laura just think…please…just think.” A cold stare was all her old friend received before Laura tightly clenched the syringe and walked out the already broken door. Running down the stairs she pushed aside the front door and ran as far as fast as she could. Her hair blew in the cold night wind as her fingers remained tightly wrapped about the dosage that she was pondering on taking.

Eventually when she managed to stop and look around to figure out where she was, to her amazement she was back at the hotel. What felt like an eternity passed before she gathered the resilience to walk once again up that flight of metallic stairs to walk down the balcony and once again stand before the door that she had desires so much to remain closed. Breathing weakly she wrapped her hands around the handle and slowly entered, a smile came to her face as she was slightly amused at the fact that War Killer was still fast asleep. “Men sleep through anything…” she thought subtlety as she closed and locked the door behind her. Brushing aside her black locks she entered the bed room and sat herself across from him on the opposite side of the bed.

The injection still remained in her hand but slowly as she stared at him she lost her grip and allowed it to roll onto the bed. “I don’t need this.” her words were uttered just below a whisper. A smile came upon her lips as she heard a slight snore escape him, in truth she hated sleep and honestly didn’t need more than 3 hours a week to keep her body fully functioning, but she’d never watched someone sleep before. It was a new experience, one which she still found fascinating. “How could you have managed to lose consciousness know I might possibly awake before you?” she said laying down on the bed staring up at ceiling. His breathing was in sync meaning at least he was sleeping peacefully, because when he woke up he’d return to the chaos, meaning her.

With a thoughtful look on her face she slid her arm across the bed and turned to stare at him once more. “Young hero you don’t know much I…” she paused and let out a deep sigh escape her thinking over her statement she finished “…hate you.” A brief chuckle resounded from her throat as she sat upright shaking her head with a sigh in heart. With her legs folded and sitting upright on the mattress she moved her hands back toward his face, gliding the tips of her fingers against his cheek. Quickly pulling away as her teeth sunk into her lower lip she slowly and silently removed her presence from the bed as not to wake him. “I can’t just sit here.” she thought to herself as she walked toward the door.

 On leaving she pulled the door not shut but so that it was for the most part closed by this time she had forgotten that the injection still laid on her end of the bed. A deep sigh escaped her as she entered the kitchen and leaned her elbow upon one of the surfaces. Bowing her head she thought a moment of what to possibly do while she waited for the young man to wake. Her hair slung over her face concealing it with the many jet black strands that slithered down her face. She could not go back to sleep as tired as she was…it was not safe. She trusted War Killer that was not the question she just had too much to think about and going out and it only occurred to her now that, what if someone other than Stephanie saw her murder that man, who was the man to begin with? But those questions soon died down as bigger ones entered her mind

Thinking through the next moments she had these suggestions: One, she would sit on the couch and wait for him to get up, two she would wake him up and just get whatever was to happen, happen and go on her way or three…A sigh escaped her as she turned her eyes to the small fridge situated to her right. It was a cream colour and she could already smell there were nutritional supplements within its grasp. “I’ve been trained as an assassin in the arts of obviously assassination and there are many ways. Way one: Up close and personal mostly with hand to hand combat or knife. Way two Distance by using a gun or any type of rifle even a vehicle. Or Way three Poison” and Laura knew her way around the arms of cooking and inserting undetectable poisons into the most simplest or complex food. Though now a days she hardly used this hobby…at least that’s what people thought. Every now and then she would test her skills making sure they were always at the peak of perfection.

From the scents she was getting there were uncooked eggs, some ham and if needed she could always go threaten some of the other people lodging in this are to hand over food necessary to make an omelette. Or she could leave for a moment drop down to a side store and get him some food, but she knew it was too dangerous. In truth she had left him before but that was before people had seen her, before she had killed someone. Even though there was not much risk she knew it would be best to stay near him….anyways she wanted to and the excuse of danger was always useful in her line of work. So getting up she cracked her knuckles a moment as she approached her arch nemesis she had yet to conquer, cooking and prayed that she could overcome it. 

U.S. Air Space…

Shinning through the windows of the cockpit, glaring upon Charles’ face as his hands gripped the controls of the helicopter that it flew through the night sky. His eyes becoming heavier with each passing moment as he was exhausted after early escaping the headquarters of the OCS, and from the literally grips of the man known as Gambler, escaping not just with his life, but with…her. Turning his head away from the passing clouds, he looked back at Talon who was sitting in one of the passenger’s seats behind him, right where he had left her after she blacked out right before they were able to make out of France.

He began to shake his head in disbelief as turned his attention back towards the moonlit sky, still trying to figure out how horrible a rescue mission could go….but then correcting himself as he remembered that he knew the answer, and the answer was him, he let her go in Vine City, and told himself that he wasn’t going to chase after her, and yet….he still did and because of this, he now has a poor girl, her face stained in blood, now with nowhere to go.

“…I’ve lost everything I don’t know what to do…please take me with you.” Her words played over and over again in his mind, which only made him even angrier for putting her in this position. It wasn’t long before the helicopter entered Arizona air space, slowly deciding towards the ground, protected by the darkness of the night, landing behind a few rocky mountaintops for maximum cover, as the copters rotors began to slow down, eventually spinning to a complete stop. Taking a deep breath, he lowly leaned his head back against the pilot seat as his eyes began to slowly shut; quickly seeing those tear filled emerald eyes shining in the moon’s light as she begged him to take her with him. Quickly opening his eyes as he began to rub them, trying to stop any tears from escaping.

Standing up, he moved his way over to where she rested, taking her in his arms. His shield now strapped around upon his back, he began to walk away from the helicopter, leaving it where it was since in truth he really didn’t care what happened to it, because he knew by the time anyone found it they would already be long gone from the area. Making his way up a small hill, he could see a road that went on a few miles where he could see a few lights off in the distance, most likely a city or at least a small town, and possibly somewhere to stay the night.

With her still in his arms, he made his way closer towards the light, not really sure at all how far away they were, maybe a mile or two, or even five miles, he wasn’t really every sure, but chose to make the journey either way. His feet dragging across a city sidewalk, he found himself moving towards a large neon sign which read “Motel 9.” Upon entering the motel, he made his way to what appeared to be the front counter, after ringing the small annoying the bell on the counter; he was approached by a boy who had was wearing a few piercings all over his face, appearing to be in his mid to late teens. “Yeah, can I help you?” The boy asked as he shook his head up in down to some type of rock music that was blasting loudly from his black headphones. “…I’ll take whatever room you’ve got” Charles said as he reached into his pocket, not really sure how much he was actually giving the boy, only noticing what appeared to be twenty dollar bill and a maybe a few single bills.

Once entering into the room that the boy had given them, Charles made his way through the room with was fairly big, from the door he walked down a narrow hallway where you’re quickly find an entrance to both a small kitchen and a door which led into the bathroom, moving further down to the end of the hallway which led into small one bed room. Gently, he laid her body onto the mattress, pulling the bed sheets over her, slowly moving his hand across her forehead, brushing her dirt filled hair out of her face, revealing her blood stained cheeks along with small streaks of tears, which upon seeing caused him to let off a short chuckle as he still couldn’t believe that someone who was filled with so much confusion and fury could be sleep so peacefully, “Sleep well...” He whispered as he moved away from the bed, sitting his shield down against the wooden dresser which sat a few feet in front of the bed against the wall, making his way towards the window which opened off towards city.

Leaning on the edge of the open window, he pulled back his mask as a small gust of air blew into the room. Trying to stay awake, he began to think about what their nest move was, he needed to get back to the VT Jet that he left at Grand Canyon, he could have gone straight to the Tower back in Maple City, but wasn’t sure how he was going to explain why he took one of the team’s jet without telling anyone, went on a suicide mission that he still doesn’t know how it ended for his team, or how to explain how he now has a girl covered in blood with him. But in truth his main priority was to keep her safe, no matter how much trouble gets into with the Titans.

He could hear a police siren off in the distance as he moved away from the window, pulling a small chair up next to the front of the bed, he needed to get out there, just to get some fresh air, or at least try to clear his head. But looking back up at Talon as she remained asleep across from him, his eyes becoming even heavier, he didn’t want to risk leaving her alone, even if Gambler banished her, he could still be trying to keep an eye on her, and the last thing Charles wanted was for her to go right back to that monster, but before he could even think about that, his eyes closed.

With sharp gasp, his eyes shot back open as his hands gripped the soft fabric of the bed sheets, finding half of his body spread out over the front of the mattress. Slowly lifting himself up, back into the seat, he began to wonder how long he was out, but as he quickly became blinded from the light of the morning sun, he guessed that he had only been asleep for maybe only an hour or two. Looking back at the bed, his focus zeroed in on the fact that Talon wasn’t asleep anymore, figuring that she most likely had awoken while he was still asleep, but as he began to hear noises from where the kitchen was as his nostrils were then filled with a slight aroma, he then quickly made his way out of the chair and down the hall.

Dawn would soon be approaching any moment and the curtain of darkness would be pulled aside and withheld for a period of time though Laura was too busy to watch this spectacular phenomenon that occurred each morning. Her emerald eyes were fixed upon two weapons of mass destruction two things that if altered and enhanced could be used to create an atomic bomb perhaps, for the base substances were similar. As her hand slid against the metallic hilt she let a deep sigh escape lips as she places it once again upon the counter top and picked up plastic implement. Glancing between both the one in her hand and one of the kitchen surfaces she pondered if maybe she was better off going to a nearby Papa Jones and just getting food there.

 The frustration and annoyance filled her like a bubbling volcano at the brink of a huge explosion.   What was she thinking cook? For him? What would that imply? She had seen many….movies where the similar was done and it was always done to show care and compassion…she didn’t want to show either she just didn’t need him losing consciousness because of him lacking nutritional substances for who knows how long he’d be out if that occurred. But could she risk the possible of the portrayal of something of an emotion that she didn’t have and him perceive it? Could she literally afford a misinterpretation at this very delicate stage of…well whatever stage it might be?

Running her fingers through her hair she could feel the chipped edges of her nails she had been mauling through for the past 5 minutes while pondering what action to take. It got to such a state that she just slumped upon the cold kitchen floor her back hunched over as her legs were bent upward. She looked like one of those frighten children in horror movies that awaited for some kind of angelic help to save them the only thing that would make this even more mirroring the situation was if she called the infamous line “is anybody there?” Taking in one deep breath after another she slid her hands around her legs in a way of not comforting but conceiving. She never thought she’d be in this situation and as much as she’d deny it and fight it she was terrified.

She hadn’t been this frightened in her life, in truth all she was a little girl afraid of what laid with in the bed room. How could she face it when it awoke? How could she face him what would she say what out he say what would he do? A slight growl of annoyance resonated from her throat as she banged her head against the cupboard lifting it. There was a window in the right corner of the small make shift kitchen where she could see the rays of sunlight beam over the tall sky scrapers that littered the area ahead. Along with that she noticed a few mountain slopes that she no doubt was too busy to notice last night.

The silence was maddening to a point that she needed to continuously check the bed room to ensure that War Killer was still breathing. The feeling of dread whenever she’d hear no sound from the room was pushing her sanity beyond itself. She needed to calm down to occupy herself for standing around would do nothing to aid her. So making a final decision she hoisted herself upward and approached the window unlocking it and sliding it up as far as it could go. The moment she did this a strong cool mountain scented breeze swept through the stuffy abode. Inhaling as much as she could she eventually committed herself to climbing out the window.

It was tedious process that she found amazingly aggravating to the least. As she slid her legs through and then her upper body she managed to balance herself upon the windows outside ledge. Gladly it was still dark for the most part and the only people wandering on the streets were most likely drunk, no worries in that sense. As she stood there balanced perfectly she proceeded hand her hands gripping onto the slight indents in the stone. An icy wind battered against her forehead as she removed her grip from the stone wall and her body glided toward the ground. The feeling of dew drenched blades of grass slid against her bare feet as she realized she still was retaining her bloody attire.

As she stood there a moment she noticed someone standing across the road from her. Her jade eyes focused though when she blinked the figure disappeared as if it was never there. Laura would have assumed insanity but her nose didn’t lie, there was a scent. “Ugh come on!” she growled gritting her teeth as she tightened her fists. She was angered at the fact that no matter what she decided to do no matter where she went something suspicious would always occur. “I sometimes wonder…” she whispered turning to the window behind her. The blinds were drawn and no doubt whoever was lodging was asleep still. Silently her twin blades on her right hand unleashed as she cut the glass from the edges attempting to remove the entire glass window.

Succeeding she removed the glass and set it softy against the wall before climbing through. It almost felt as if no one had been here in ages for dust lined all the surfaces even the floor. As her feet made their imprints upon the wooden surface she could hear her mind or better what was in it, the voices of ridicule that had judges her, her entire life. For from the lips slithered the truth her faults all of them brought before her eyes . Placing her hand upon her head she whispered through her teeth “Silence…” ever since she was a child she had voices in her head weather another personality or her own demon she never knew but it seemed to speak louder, it seemed to scream inside her head.

“Your weak…your worthless…your meaningless” that was its continuous song and she had grown use to it and through it voices its insults she had started to believe it and think of herself as something that was worthless that could simply be used. The darkness seemed almost unnatural as her emerald eyes moved from one part of the living room to the other. By now curiosity had grasped a hold of her as she wondered if anybody lived here. As her hand slid against the cold door a back stabbing creek resounded as she pushed aside the door. The layout of the room was similar to her own above, there was a bed and a small desk but it lacked a window.

Swallowing deeply she wanted to leave and go search for food elsewhere but she entered the room. Beside the bed there was a small complex of draws one of them partly opened. Slowly approaching as her feet trod upon creaking floor boards she eventually pulled the draw all the way out to reveal a dust laced book. Picking it up with both hands she saw herself down upon the floor as she pushed the dust aside with the tips of her fingers to reveal a sentence in golden text at the bottom “Places by the Gideon’s” Her brow raised as she wondered if they were possibly a sect but pushing this thought aside she continued to eradicate the entire book of the dusts clutches.

Her eyes narrowed on the title for a moment as she was familiar with it. Turning the thin word littered pages her eyes fell upon   page 1211. At the top of the pages there was the name of a man but her eyes eventually fell upon the actual text in chapter three no doubt verse 16. Her brow   continued to raise as she scanned the words “will not perish but have…” shaking her head she closed the book and tossed it on the bed. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned her back and prepared to walk out of the room. But just as she was about to walk through the door a presence gripped her as she heard the final words played over in her head “eternal life”.

“I am going insane.” She whispered walking through the door running her hands through her entangled hair she knew she needed to clean herself up but suspected that the young hero would awake the moment light entered his room leaving her with little to no time at all. Walking into the kitchen she expected either old mouldy food or an empty fridge. But both those thoughts became mere memories as she opened the fridge door and not only found food but in truth found exactly what she needed. “Okay….this is getting...odd..” she whispered as the cold wind sent shivers up her spine. Taking in a deep breath she found a nearby plastic bag and placed the nutritional supplement into it. Rejoiced to be leaving she slid back through the already opened window and slid it back into place as if it had always been that way.

Slowly holding the bag in one had she scaled up the wall. The light day now shone brighter and a slight fear resonated with in herself “What if he was already awake?” she denied it though and continued to climb up to the window she had left only minutes ago. As her one hand wrapped around the ledge the managed to hoist the bag over leaving her the only thing that still needed to get inside. Sliding her hand across the ledge she hoisted her leg through and gracefully but painfully slid through. Feeling the icy tiled floor brought relief to as she brushed aside her hair. She managed to check if he was still asleep and to her surprise he was.

With that she placed the pan on a stove cracked and scrambled a few eggs as she grated some cheese along with slicing up a few onions. She felt like one of those stay at home mothers that tended to their children cooking them lunch. Obviously she didn’t think of the young hero as younger than her for they were a similar age…well at least she thought. At that point it astounded her how little she knew of him heck she didn’t even know his name age anything! For all she knew he could be an agent assigned to seduce and capture her she wouldn’t know!   But she was going to find out the moment she saw him she would ask him questions no distractions.

As she poured some oil upon the frying pan and added the egg a hissing sound emerged due to the chemical reaction of the egg substance and oil. It was at this time that the young emerged from his slumber and entered the room. Souly occupied upon the food and not paying attention the young man’s words were drowned  out and in truth Laura had temporarily forgotten he was even asleep. But what she did hear was the closing of the bathroom door down the hall. She froze moment crouching down grabbing a pan from the cupboard. Getting to her feet she slowly approached the bath room door hearing water of no doubt the shower resound.

Sighing regretfully she rubbed her forehead whispering “I don’t need this…” taking in one deep breath she without warning broke down the door with her foot. Her hand was clasped against the metallic pan as her other hands talon’s emerged from her knuckles. Swiftly and in great precision she entered the mist filled room as she drew aside the shower curtains. As slowly the shrouding fog lowered she saw who it was and instantly wanted to die. Before stood drenched in water the young hero, his mask removed along with all his attire. She could not help but notice his drenched locks of hair that slid across his face. “I…uh…” was all she managed to saw she soon realized that she was staring but only at his face.

In her mind she wanted to run and knew it would probably be the best action. As the seconds felt like eternity she stepped slipping upon the young man’s cloths and falling upon her rear. Staggering up trying to regain the composure that she had lost the moment she broke the door down she instantly used her pan as a way of blocking the view of his lower exterior. Staggering to her feet her legs entangled with his attire she tried to find balance. “I…was….um I didn’t…I..”   she continued to try and formulate a sentence but her tongue would not allow her that pleasure. Finally dropping the pan she grabbed the unhinged door and placed in front of War Killer in replace for the shower curtain that she torn down. As she prepared to leave she tripped once more over the step that lead into the living area. “I’m going…now…” she said as she got to her feet and walked as swiftly as possible into the bed room shutting the door behind her.

The amount of embarrassment that surged through her undeniable. She could barely believe that she did that, now for sure the young hero would grab his garments and get changed. As she thought her eyes lowered to her feet and she realized that her legs still retained his now very untidy uniform. Bending over she slowly picked it up observing its very tattered state for a moment. Her eyes dwindled on it before she realized that she had obtained the only clothes he had. A low growl emerged from her throat as she clenched his uniform and opened the door marching back toward the bathroom that now lacked a door for it was hunched up against the pole that held the shower curtain.

"My eyes..." she murmured as she finally stopped several feet from the bathroom entrance. Aiming precisely she threw his attire from an angle hoping for it to land where she had found it on the floor. But sadly to her embarrassment even further it landed partly in the toilet. Raising her hands over her mouth she gasped walking backward slowly. “He’s going to kill me…” she whispered to herself as her back finally pressed against the wall. 

The sound of running water soon appeared within the small motel bathroom, letting what warm water he had run over his face like a mini waterfall. Running his hands through his brown hair, trying his best to wash out whatever muck from the sewer now resided within his hair. Moving his hand slightly across his face, feeling small cuts and bruises, some which would most likely leave scars, but Charles didn’t except anything different from fighting ninja’s, especially ninja’s as well trained as the one’s he faced back at the OSC’s base, moving his hand a few inches higher, he felt a small bump on the top front of his head from where he received a head cracking blow from Gambler himself.

Putting one hand up against the white tile plated walls, he leaned his body in more, letting the warm water rush over his back, “Okay…so what’s the next move?” He asked himself, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do now. What was he going to do? Once again he had found himself acting before thinking, making a move without thinking on where that move would lead him, and not being sure how he was going to fix any of the mess he had made, fix them or make it worse he wondered, he wasn’t quite sure, but at this point, he wasn’t quite sure of anything anymore, at least not when it comes to…her. Lifting his head, he looked over through the shower curtains towards the wooden bathroom door, remembering that she’s in the next room, remembering the mess he’s gotten her in.

Rushing his hands up over his face, moving them through his now soaked hair, pulling it back out of his face, “Alright…time to make the next move, Barnes….” he mumbled to himself, moving his hand over to turn the water off, only to freeze in place upon hearing the loud crashing sound of the bathroom’s wooden door being broken down. Not even being able to act, he in split second found himself, his fully naked self, now staring at a completely shocked Talon who had just ripped down the shower curtains. Not moving a muscle, he simply watched as she began to back away from him, both shocked and seemingly embarrassed at what she had done; only making the confused boy wonder if she had just completely lost it now.

Trying to make out what she was saying, only able to tell that she was shocked by what she had just done. Only to have his complete view of her cut off as he now found himself staring face to face with the wooden door which had just been literally ripped off of its own hinges. Looking forward towards the tiled wall as the water, which was now no longer warm, continued to run over his body as he tried to figure out what the heck just happened, “Well….at least this day’s turning out better than I hoped…” he said as a slight awkwardly grin appeared upon his face as he then lifted his hand, then slightly tapping the wooden door, which now acted as his new curtains, with his boney knuckles twice, “…knock on wood.” He then started to listen to the racket which was unfolding beyond the wooden door, most likely, he figured, it was Talon making her way out of the room still embarrassed.

Water slowly dripped from the shower head to the, also tiled, floor as he made his way out of the shower; looking towards the ground to where he had left his uniform when upon first entering the shower but not finding it there any longer. Hearing foots steps once again approaching; he quickly grabbed the nearest towel, putting it around his waist so he wouldn’t startle the girl for a second time. He then looked on as she reentered the bathroom, his uniform in her hands, and with slight throw, Charles watched as his red, white, and blue uniform flew through the air, watching, as if time had suddenly began moving in slow motion, as his uniform then splashed into the toilet. Walking slowly over to the toilet, he lifted the now half soaked suit out of the water, “She did not just-?” He began to think, but then quickly cut himself off as he began to look over at Talon who had now back herself up to the bathroom wall as she held her hands over her mouth in even more shock.

Looking back at his uniform, he took a deep breath as he closed his eyes for a moment, then reopening them as he moved over towards the sink and simply he turned on the water, letting the sink fill about half way full of water as he placed the now even more dirty uniform in it to soak. Turning back to her, holding onto his towel with one hand, he began to approach her, “Hey…it’s okay…it’s okay.” He whispered to her softly, forming a slight smile on his face, trying to possibly calm her down while placing his other hand cautiously, but gently, on her shoulder.

Taking his hand off her shoulder, he began to notice her own uniform, seeing all of the blood and cuts, the tears   and rips, then looking back at his own uniform, seeing the dirt and muck mix with the semi-clean motel water as his uniform just sat there. “…Alright, come on. We can’t just run around in half torn and blood soaked cloths now can we?” He said as he made his way out into the hallway.

Thankfully, he had remembered seeing some type of clothing store across the street from the motel that morning they arrived, even though it was closed then, it would have just opened since it was almost noon by now. “Uh…can I help you….sir?” A woman asked Charles upon entering the store. He wasn’t surprised that the girl was a bit shocked at seeing him; he figured it’s not every day someone just comes into a store wearing nothing but a towel and a pair of boxers. He also knew he was running low on cash, and figured he should save it for food, at least until they returned back to Titans Tower or wherever the heck they were going, but he had enough to spare for a few pair of cheap cloths for both him and Talon. “Yeah, just point us to where all the stuff that’s on sell is, please.”

After a couple of minutes of looking around, he finally manage to find a pair blue jeans in his size, along with a thin blue t-shirt that fittingly had an American flag on it which he thought both looked alright, though he didn’t look for any shoes since he could simply wear his boots that were back in the motel with his uniform. He then made his way to one of the empty changing rooms, leaving Talon to find whatever she wanted…that was affordable.

About almost an hour later, the two began to make their way back over to the motel. Making their way towards the stairs, Charles noticed two men talking to one of the cleaning ladies who obviously worked at the motel. Both men looked like they worked out, one had long hair along with a beard that didn’t look like had been washed in weeks, while the other had a shaved head, a few tattoo’s, one on his shoulder that looked like your typical tattoo of a heart with some name of maybe a loved one or girlfriend, and another of a red dragon crawling up his back and around his neck, in short, they looked like your average everyday street punks.

Still watching them, he could tell that they were looking for someone, apparently asking the lady if she had seen him or her, one of the guys held his hand up showing how tall the person may be and showing how big they might have been, at first Charles didn’t really care, thanks to his training by his parents and his master, Chun Yu, he was always paying a lot more attention to his surroundings then most people would have guessed, but when he noticed the lady point over towards him and Talon, he started to notice that Talon was about the same height they had shown. But as they made their way back to their room, he decided not to mention it, not yet anyways.

Deeply inhaling and exhaling the air that swiftly seeped into her throat through the gasping as she attempted to calm herself control herself. She had been in many awkward situations before where the book of protocol had to be thrown aside but breaking down a door, tossing aside a shower curtain and missing when she threw? Had she literally thrown the book out the window and burned it? She instantly noticed as the young man now had a towel wrapped around him in front of the sink no doubt cleaning his clothes. She wanted to speak to apologize but the moment her mouth opened she could form no words to pass through her lips. For a moment she considered running but she firmly stood her ground. She might have been many things but she was no coward.

As her back rested calmly against the wall she was slightly stunned as he turned around and whispered calmly as if soothing a lost deer “Hey…it’s okay…it’s okay.”  She wanted to reply but she thought it best after all the trouble she had caused to just keep her mouth shut. As he slowly placed his hand on her shoulder the warmth of his shower was strongly detectable. Though that delight was soon taken from her as he retracted his stance and presumed to speak “ …Alright, come on. We can’t just run around in half torn and blood soaked cloths now can we?” “why not…” she thought to herself remembering the dozen times she had run around in a more than slightly worn uniform. Nevertheless this man was a hero his standards of appearance were probably much higher than hers…along with other things.

Rubbing the back of her neck she watched as the young hero flung himself into the hallway and continued walking. For a moment Laura’s feet remained rooted in the ground. She didn’t need to cause attention with people possibly already knowing she was here War Killer’s life was in danger and now he was walking toward a store in nothing but a towel? What did he except to do if someone ambushed him…show them that he was a master in towel-fu? Yet if the towel was slightly damp it no doubt could be a dangerous weapon. Getting her mind back on track Laura swiftly ran after him and leaped over the banister and landed perfectly on her feet only a few feet away from him.

As he crossed the road before her his wet locks sticking to his face she could not help but form a cooked grin as she remained in a crouched position. Standing up right she crossed the road after him and nonchalantly entered the store seconds after he did. Her eyes swiftly fell upon the security cameras as she followed the leads with her eyes. She had the uncontrollable urge to sever these instruments of spying but she held back for his sake. “Uh…can I help you….sir?” A young girl said with slight hesitation the half clad hero replied    “Yeah, just point us to where all the stuff that’s on sale is, please.” She pointed him to the direction and Laura was about to follow if not for the young girl grabbing her wrist gently with a devious smile “rough night?” shooting a glance at him a moment before she returned her attention to the shop girl and replied “More than you can imagine.”

Walking by she noticed a nice plain black shirt and deep blue jeans she took them but her eyes instantly fell upon the leather jackets that were places around the back of the store. Slowly approaching the rack she slid her fingers through it feeling the quality. Smiling satisfied she took one off the hanger and prepared to return to the cash desk when she noticed another jacket of same texture but for a young man no doubt War Killer’s age. Swiftly grabbing it she cashed out before her hero left the changing room. Laura might have been a trained assassin but she had gone to a high school once, she had owned a job once as a waitress yet the question of how she recently got money was unknown to everyone but her. She didn’t steal for that was a petty act, but she had her ways.

Cashed out and done the two returned to the motel. She could not help but wonder what her next move was, she was done with being miss spontaneous and it was time for a simple yet logical plan. She’d return to the motel with him say her goodbyes with him them see him off and...But before her thought could finish she heard the star spangled hero speak once more “Hey, I’m going to go ahead and start packing up what we have, we probably should get moving soon anyways.” She stared at him in disbelief as he walked or better described skipped over to the door and briskly entered. Laura didn’t enter but remained perched next to the door. “We?” she whispered to herself thinking it over.

He had mentioned that word twice. Why was he helping her? Was he on a mission a mission to ensure her capture by slowly yet persuasively befriending her? She wanted to ask him to ask him who he was, it appeared as if every moment she had with him her mind drew an utter blank when she could have been asking him thousands of questions. Yet one thing defined him from everybody else. His scent, the thing that did not only dazzle her but caused her to wonder if he was life her maybe. Who was he, where was he from and what were his intentions? “Does it even matter?” she whispered to herself a moment before banging her fist against the wall only to create a hole.

Stepping back she mumbled “What are you talking about it does matter.” shaking her head as if trying to regain some sanity she reconsidered a few thing. She was alone no doubt Gambler would go after her and he would go after this young hero. She could not allow that and she needed to make sure that War Killer knew the amount of danger he was in with just being seen with her. Yet as her thoughts continued her eyes drifted down the hall way for a moment as she noticed the same man no doubt the young hero saw when they were returning to the motel.

A dubious smile formed on her face. Laura might have been distracted by his presence but she still had her animal like senses. She recognized the man instantly and by the sound of War Killer’s voice if anything she was assured that he had seen them the moment he opened his mouth. Her eyes fell upon the bald headed man as he stood across down the hallway staring at her. For a moment she was curious as to why he was just standing there. She would have thought him just “checking her out” in the American colloquialism but he had this devilish smile on his face, one that sent shivers up her back.”Who are you.” she called out tightening her fists as she prepared herself for a fight. The man didn’t reply only turned and left Laura standing posed to attack.

War Killer’s sudden call almost caused her to leap up and cling to the roof like a frightened cat. Taking in deep breaths she sighed as she pushed past the door to their room knowing she was over paranoid. “Hero…I don’t have time to explain but we got to…” she uttered as she entered the bed room only to fall silent as she noticed the thing he held in his hand.A deep silence overcame the two as Laura wanted to push this aside and just leave but from the look of confusion on the young man’s face he wanted answers. For a moment she didn’t know what to say . What could she say, all her life she had been doing things knowing they were wrong and was never accountable to anyone. Now she was and the evidence of her obvious past actions or intentions were right there in front of him!

Opening her mouth she was about to speak but then remained silent. She didn’t know what to say once more, she didn’t know why he bothered sticking around with her. He’d seen her past he’d seen what she had done to others and herself. And now he had seen what she would have possibly done to herself. “I needed control.” she said solemnly standing still as she stared at him. She wanted to reassure him that she had no intentions of hurting herself no intentions of doing anything of what he was thinking to herself but why would he believe her? Why would he trust her? The girl that had caused a bounty to fall upon his head by the ultimate villain known as Gambler? Any hopes she had of ever being anything to him she had forced herself to dash it upon the rocks of make believe.

“I just had to…control myself…my body does not work the same way yours does.” she said seating herself on the edge of the bed. Her hair slung to either side of her face hiding her emerald eyes from view hiding the frustration behind her face. She wanted to explain to him why in the first place she had chosen to be a prostitute she wanted to tell him the mysterious and magical story but she held her tongue “Basically drugs…while I was still part of the prostitution business I realized that drugs certain kinds didn’t have the same effect on me. They…didn’t make me lose control but instead gain it so you can probably see it was not hard for me to get addicted.” running her hands through her hair a moment she laid her back against the bed while staring up at the roof.

She needed to say something that made sense. She was almost certain this young hero knew nothing of how things worked. “But I got off when my mission was done and so…I just I was fine.” she said as she calmed her breathing “Until I met you…” her eyes focused once again on him as she sat up right her eyes darting to the floor. But her statement was true ever since she had met him ever since he had shown such kindness to her she could not control her actions her responses like before. She was acting…normal and for once in her life she didn’t need that right now. As she thought of what to say next the noise of a car door slamming shut caught her attention.

Getting to her feet she straightened her clothes as she approached the window to look out. To curiosity a car was pulling out of the parking lot carrying the same two men she and no doubt the young hero had noticed on their way in. “Why are they leaving…” she thought to herself but quickly glanced over her shoulder with a reassuring smile “Don’t worry though…I’ll be adequate no need for…worry on your end.” As she remained there perched over the window sill her hears suddenly detected a beeping from down below no doubt the deserted room below theirs. A distinct ticking was detected.   Swallowing deeply Laura turned to him her emerald eyes searching the room.

 Taking in a deep breath she whispered “Do you trust me….” No later than she said that she leaped over the bed and grabbed the young man’s wrist pulling him toward the kitchen. the ticking of the device down stairs resonated in her hears what did she have? 5 maybe 30 seconds tops? Opening the fridge a sigh of relive escaped her lips as she ripped the editable shelves and food from it. Eventually when it was all cleared out she looked at him with a brave but nervous smile. “…Because I trust you.”

With that she pushed him into the metallic fridge not listening to anything he was going to say. Placing her hand over his mouth she stared at him dead serious as she whispered “Within a matter of seconds this area is going to explode. You will be safe in here I will not and probably due to the blast lose consciousness or am bleeding internally” pausing as she realized she was losing time. Handing him the syringe she had grabbed from his hand she finished “Inject me with this….it holds certain chemical properties that no doubt will aid my healing factor even though for a while…” Stopping herself with force she shut the fridge door.  Grabbing wire from the kettle she sliced the cord and used that to tie the door shut so he would not try and be heroic.

Taking in a deep breath she took a few steps back and sighed. “This is going to hurt…” with that the beeping stopped and there was a moment of silence before instantly without alert a bomb was set off below shattering the floor and causing the whole east side of the motel to collapse. Because the hero was inside a fridge made out of a of lead either way it was a minimum explosion and War Killer should be alright no doubt he would be bruised and a tad bit burnt but hopefully not too bad. Talon on the other hand had no protection and so the flames consumed her. The Pain was immense nevertheless she stood it as her body was crushed under the floor as she fell. Large amounts of flames were growing when she finally regained a sense of consciousness slightly dazed but enough.

The skin on her arms were charred and Burt badly as of her legs as well. Pushing aside the rumble she staggered to her feet regaining some balance as she looked around for any singe of the fridge. She forced herself not to conclude the worse because it was very possible that she was wrong and he could be dead. Her legs eventually gave way to the pain as she attempted to detect a scent but all she could smell was the blood rushing through her nose. Turning herself around she climbed over the rubble and was so utter relieve when she felt the blades of grass bounce against her skin. Falling flat on her stomach she laid there trying to scan the area looking for him but saw no singe for the smoke to was too much. Tears began filling her eyes as she started to slowly assume the worst. The Pain didn’t matter she had felt it all before but the pain of losing someone and it being her fault that was something she could not deal with again…and at that moment Laura did the only thing she could…..she prayed. 

His eyes turned down at the drug as it laid in his nervous hand, “Why now?” he wondered to himself as his fingers slowly curved in, grasping the syringe tightly in his hand. “Why out of all the times, out of all the things she could have done, why did she go after….after this!”The thoughts continued to play out in his minds, the questions, like why drugs? Why bring them back to their room? Why do something so stupid?!?

He could feel the sweat in his hands as he continued to grasp the drug tightly in his hand as he thought about just throwing it out the window, flushing it down the toilet, anything he could do to get rid of it! Obviously he hated drugs, in truth he never had to deal with this kind of problem growing up, being homeschooled most of his young life he never had to deal with kids doing crap like this at school, but even then, his parents didn’t baby him, they didn’t hide the dark side of the world from him, not to hide their own past of both being brainwashed, being subjected to powerful drugs that were to keeping them under control, Charles was thankful that they were able to beat the mind control, to break away from those lives and become two of the greatest from his world, but even so, like most heroes he came to hate drugs, not wanting anything to do with them, coming close to them only when he was punching the punks face in that was selling them. The thoughts continued to swirl around, to spin in an endless whirlpool of questions, all just simple asking “why?” But when his eyes looked up at her, seeing her as she stood across the room from him, when she finally opened her mouth to answer the question she knew he was going to ask, all thoughts he had were silenced…

“I needed control.” Her answer silenced every thought he had, causing complete silence to enter the room and rule over it like a kingdom. His eyes widen upon hearing his answer, but then quickly looked down at the floor as he felt the anger beginning to build, “That’s why?! That’s your excuse?!” He yelled out in his mind, trying to keep himself in control, not lash out, to yell at her…not her. “I just had to…control myself…my body does not work the same way yours does.” She continued to answer, moving herself towards the bed as she laid face up on the bed staring up at the ceiling, going on to explain to him while he stood there trying not to explode, explaining how she came into using them, it…drugs during her time as a prostitute.

“But I got off when my mission was done and so…I just I was fine.” His eyes began to wonder as he listened to her he explanation, trying to keep his mind, his voice under control, trying to not make eye contact with those eyes, those emerald green eyes. “Until I met you…” His mind quickly darted back to when he first met her, met “Fulcrum.” When he first saw the hero she was, but quickly returning back to the room, and beginning to question if that was the same hero he was now focused on. His mouth didn’t open though; he didn’t have the will to ask any questions, but only to hear her side of the story.

His eyes followed her across the room, as she made her way towards the window. “She wouldn’t actually try to jump out the window, would she?”Shaking his head as he wondered if that was what she was thinking of attempting, how she could use that to get rid of her problems, but only turning back to him with a simple smile, “Don’t worry though…I’ll be adequate no need for…worry on your end.” He couldn’t help but to roll his eyes slightly, wanting to tell her that it was already a bit too late to tell him NOT to worry.

“Do you trust me…” His eyes shifted over towards her again, looking at her with a confused look upon his face as he tried to figure out what she about to do. Without any warning, Charles was caught off guard as Talon then leaped over the bed, causing him to wonder if she had finally lost it and was not going to finish off what Gambler had started, but as she then grasped his wrist, “…Because I trust you.” And then began to drag him into the kitchen, then beginning to tear everything out of the fridge, “Okay…she has lost it.” But upon seeing the nervous look on her face, he was quickly begun to realize that there was something more going on than he was aware of.

He then found himself now being pushed into the fridge, Talon placing her hand over his mouth, making it so he could not speak, only to listen as she looked straight into his eyes, “Within a matter of seconds this area is going to explode. You will be safe in here I will not and probably due to the blast lose consciousness or am bleeding internally” Trying to speak, to ask her what was going on, only to have his mouth still muffled by her hand as she then placed the syringe back into his hand, “Inject me with this….it holds certain chemical properties that no doubt will aid my healing factor even though for a while…” Still not giving him any time to speak, she slammed the fridge’s door shut.

Pushing on the door, he quickly guessed that she had made it so he could break free, to try and spot her from killing herself. But silence suddenly filled that small, cold, metal box. Hearing his heart, beat by beat, he began to listen, trying to tell if he could hear any noises--

It started with small rumble, which then grew into a large shaking feeling, like a small earthquake, as heat could then be felt all around the once freezing ice box. Everything then began to shake, Charles found himself trying to grasp on to anything he could inside the fridge as it began to shake, roll, and get thrown, his body slamming against the enclosed metal walls of the fridge, his head slamming back and forth. But within seconds everything…stopped. Forcing his legs forward, Charles managed to kick the fridge door clear off, allowing himself freedom. Holding his head as he tried to focus his vision better as his mind continued to spin and almost making him want to throw up. As his vision began to become clearer, he quickly began to look around, seeing all the smoke and flames, seeing that half the building was literally gone when it was just right there five seconds ago. “LAURA!!!” His voice crackled as he tried to shout out for her through the building smoke, dragging his body through the rubble and flames, finding the whole building collapsed and utterly surprised that he was able to survive….thanks to her. Smoke began to fill his lungs as he continued to look for her, hoping, just begging to God that she was alright, that she was alive.

Letting out another shout into the burning flames and blinding smoke, “LAURA!!!!!” His vocal cords manage to actually form a yell this time as he began to move and push aside everything in his way, continuing to shout and yell, trying to just find her! Looking deeper through the smoke, he managed to spot a figure, a body, it had to be hers! Quickly, he ran towards her, leaping over some debris. Her body was burnt badly, her skin…what skin? He could only think, seeing her charred body within the wreckage, he wasted no time, using every bit of energy he could find he slowly picked up her body, now in his arms, he began to scan the destroyed motel, trying to find any type of escape from the flames and smoke. “There!” His eyes zoned in on a small area that could be seen through the smoke and debris.

Making his way around the flames and through the smoke, he was able to escape the flaming motel of doom and was now standing far enough now where they were safe…that she was safe, seeing other people, no doubt other guest at the motel and it’s workers quickly rushing out of the building along them. Falling to his knees, he held her fully burnt body in his arms, he knew her healing factor was still working, but as he saw the blood running from her ears and noise, what she told him to do before the explosion echoed in his mind, “Inject me with this….it holds certain chemical properties that no doubt will aid my healing factor…” Still holding the syringe, he looked upon it, remembering how much anger he had over just seeing it, but then looking at Talon….he closed his eyes for a split second as he then opened them slid the syringe into her left arm. “Come on….come on…..” He began to whisper over and over again as he continued to hold her in his arms, “Come on, Laura….don’t die on me now, please don’t die on me….!” Hearing the sounds of sirens off in the distance, most likely the towns fire department on their way to put out the burning motel, he just sat there on his knees, not letting her go…not letting her go until he knew she was okay, “….Don’t die on me, Laura…..”

 When you die you don’t except to hear voices beyond the silence and moaning of nothingness. But there was a nagging in the back of her mind telling her to fight, fight for her life. “Why?” she thought to herself. After all the actions she had committed would it not have been best that society let her go? What could she possibly have left to fight for to hold onto? Her family: She didn’t have one anymore. Her adopted father hated her and her real father was no longer in the picture he no doubt had abandoned her and who could blame him? All the trouble she had put him through it was a miracle he never killed her. Fight for friends? they were no doubt better without her. The trouble she had caused each and every one of them did she have to put them through more trouble?

Still the voice in the back of her mind it was getting louder. She wanted to ignore it to pull away and just return to the oblivion from where she had came from.   Who would possibly want her to live what gain would they possibly achieve? “What?”Eventually she realized it was not a moaning of a spirit but a voice a real human voice. She wanted to keep her eyes closed not to wake up, no one needed her no one needed her to live! She didn’t want to live, she had ran a race and all this time thinking she would finish only to discover after every turn there was another and then eventually a cross roads and each one she always took the wrong path and she was tired! She was tired of being a failure of wanting to be worth something wanting to be worth more than she was.

Eventually the voice became audible: It was her name. “Who” she thought over and over again. At first she had hopes it was her father but that hope died as the voice was much younger that of an adolescent teenager, a youth but a man nonetheless. The Hunter? But why would he after all this time call her name, he hardly called her by her real name by: Laura. Eventually the voice became so loud it was unbearable. She wanted to block it out but it persisted. It kept on playing over and over and over again like a broken tape that no one was bothering to stop. As it continued she realized she knew the voice and all at the same time was shocked to hear him call out her name. It was not a friend or a family member…it was just him. War Killer shouting her name with what seemed as pain and agony she could not bear it!

Instantly a stabbing pain coerced through her body as it surged through every aspect of her. “Where” She wanted to cry out in pain to unleash her claws and strike he which was responsible for it. But how could she strike him? And all at once the final decision and revelation hit her: She needed to fight, if not for anything else but for him. If she was to die right now he’d be left with the guilt that she had been carrying from so many deaths all her life, she could not allow herself as his….friend to inflict such pain upon a young man a young hero. She needed to wake up and face the real world she needed to wake up as soon as possible. But when was that when would she just brace the world around her to return to live? “When” was that time? It was now.

As if pushing herself from being deeply submerged under water she gasped filling her lungs over and over with the air that had been denied her. Still in shock she tightly clasped onto War Killer that now held her in his arms. His warm touch slightly calmed her and reassured her that she was safe. Nevertheless she held onto him for dear life. As if she was to let go she would once again drown in her own doubts her own thoughts. Her breathing was erratic but eventually she tried and steadied it. Taking in one breath at a time she leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes a moment as if trying to regain the strength that she appeared to be lacking. And so she stayed like that holding him clenching onto his shirt for a few moments before she realized what she was doing...

Her emerald eyes shot open as she broke away from her hold on him and backed away like a frightened animal. Swallowing deeply she stared at him her eyes not being distracted. The noise of her surroundings were silenced as she just looked at him with an unknown expression with an unknown feeling. Them Smack!! The palm of her hand sliced against the young heroes cheek with as much force as she could: Which was not much due to her still weakened state. Breathing in and out as if it had become a second option she leaned over to him and said through gritted teeth “If you ever risk your life for me again I will kill you”. Now the most probable thing for her would be to pull away but that was not the case.

No she remained that distance that close to him just staring into his deep eyes. She could see that he was sweating no doubt due to the hot flames he had battled to find her. She noticed that gladly he was not wounded too badly but she didn’t want to put him through anything like that again! She needed to be strong why all of a sudden did she become the damsel in distress while he was the charming Prince? She didn’t want to pull away she wanted to just stay like this ignore the outside world ignore the flames and not ask questions. Her face was only a few inches away from him there was so much she wanted to tell him but how could she? She knew he didn’t he couldn’t feel what she felt toward him she would not allow him, so she needed to stop pretending and wake up.

Biting her lower lip she returned to her position her eyes now on the floor, she had to say something silence was always her friend but she had so many question so much she wanted to ask to know about this man that appeared to be some kind of guardian angel. “Hero…what is your…” but as those words escaped her lips so they were distracted by a woman screaming pleading “My daughter is in that building!! “ she said over and over running to any one she could see. Laura instantly remembered the time where War Killer heard a similar statement on their first meeting. He was the one to rush in the face of danger while she remained watching. She knew that War Killer being a hero would be inclined to get up and save the girl. But she knew he might not survive it.

The whole motel was consumed in flames and with his current injuries and no healing abilities he’d not stand a chance. Nevertheless she also knew there was nothing she could say to him that would stop him from saving a life. And so she did the only thing she could do. Running her burned fingers through her hair she glared at him with a face so cold so enraged she didn’t think she could hide it. Her emotions were fighting a battle a battle she could not win. “I’m no hero…” she said to him and leaped up. Like lightning there one moment gone the next she found her feet running toward the flame consumed building. She didn’t stop she knew time was running out so she charged full on into the flames.

She was putting her healing factor into over time she needed to be faster! With flames all around her and gaps to small for her to fit through she saw no way to save…anyone in this building. But the scent of a little girl was detected beyond and she was still alive. “I have to do this.” Laura was the adopted daughter of King of the Lycan underworld, she was a Lycan she could be a wolf. It didn’t matter the more she thought it through the more crazy it was, if War Killer thought she was crazy now seeing her as a Wolf…as a Lycan would destroy whatever friendship she had with him whatever friendship she might have wanted with him, but she had to do it.

The reluctance of the moment surged from her as she shut her eyes. Falling to her knees hair sprouted from her back as a tale soon emerged. Deep night coloured fur emerged consumed her entire body. Paws soon formed from her fingers as she took on full form of a night fall wolf. Shaking off the residual disorientation bracing her back legs she pounced into the flames before her. Her body surged though the fair as her fur was slightly singed when her claws dug deeply into the ground. Her feral jade eyes scanned the area until they fell upon a small little figure almost the size of a doll. It was the girl. Running in a strait motion she was relieved that the child was still breathing.

Digging her teeth into the back of the young girls shirt she pulled her avoiding the flames as best as she could to find an exit. As she did this she soon noticed the bag that she had placed her leather jacket in. With great effort and work she managed to pull one of them out and drape it over the girl as to avoid her skin coming in contact with the fire. The flames  roared all around her and for a moment she thought that it would just consumed them both and they would die here, but then she saw it. Having her teeth as tightly as possible on the girls shirt she pulled the body toward a winding stair well that lead toward the lower vacant room she had stumbled upon previously in the last night. Flinging the girl’s body upon her back she slowly walked down the stairs avoiding the parts of roofing that feel in front and behind her.  Eventually reaching the floor she avoided the pits of fire that remained scattered. The loud noise of the stair case as it fell and burned to the ground encouraged Laura that within seconds the whole establishment would fall upon her head.

Racing now, leaping over burning planks and over turned chairs avoiding falling rubble and shooting sparks she ran on all fours. Eventually the window was visible. Not thinking not waiting once again bracing her back legs she shot forward like streaking bullet and broke through the glass, which cut herself greatly. Her grip on the child relinquished as her Wolf like body rolled upon the grass slowly shifting into her human form. Her body reeking from shock she grabbed the jacket that now laid between the two of them and placed it around herself. It was a trench coat and there for long enough to cover Laura’s naked body. For whenever she shifted into her wolf like form her clothes would always be the first to go and that was mainly why she hardly ever did it.

Laying now on the ground gasping for air she whispered “Now I remember how painful transformation was.” Her body ached and pained also the cuts that littered her arms and legs due to breaking through a glass window added a bit more agony. Rolling upon her stomach she looked at the body of the girl and noticed that she child was no longer breathing. “Do not you dare…” she started as she heard the mother in her sob filled cries run toward her. Laura placed her aching scorched hands upon the young girls chest as she pressed upon it repeating herself “Come on please!” she could feel tears which was not natural she didn’t know the child and yet the girls life seemed so important the fact that this little girl has to live was so important to her!

Lowing herself she breathed into the child between pressing down upon her chest in attempt to make her wake up but there was no change. Pushing herself away she looked up in despair. Until it hit her. The mother was now on her knees at her child impatiently Laura snarled “Get back and do not do anything.” Leaning over the child and cupping her head in her one hand and whispered “You will hate me for this…but I can not allow you not to live…” Instantly all the memories of The Hunter flooded through her head their first meeting that eventually lead to him biting her and making her become…a Lycan. She didn’t if it would work the same way but she had to try she needed to try.

Lowering her head she prepared to sink her teeth into the child’s neck but then the girl gasped for air and her hand wrapped around Laura’s neck and she tightly clenched it. A deep sigh escaped the emerald eyed girl as she removed the young girls hands from her neck and handed her over to her mother. The mother clenched the child with great love as she repeated thanking Laura over and over. “You’re welcome.” was all that she said as she staggered to her feet and tightly focused her jacket. As her eyes finally began to search for War Killer she saw his figure a distance from her, she would have walked toward him if not for the overwhelming nausea that grasped a hold of her stomach. Pausing a moment as she shut her eyes giving her body an order she needed it to obey.

Raising her hand over her mouth she gagged a few moments eventually realizing that sometime your body didn’t listen. Running behind an un touched tree she then took the liberty of throwing up and the continuous gagging relax that didn’t hesitate to make itself known. Due to her healing factor she was totally unprepared for this for she’d never done this before the execration of nutritional supplements through the mouth was something as alien and scary to her as anything.  Steadying herself with her hand against the trunk of the tree she eventually stopped spitting out the remnants that lodged itself with her mouth. Taking in several breaths as she pushed her back against the three she closed her eyes as a smile appeared on her face for a moment “This is what happens when you take drugs.” she could already hear War Killer saying that to her and in truth he was probably right, her body could no longer deal with it and so it needed to get rid of it at least she told herself that.

Frankly something was wrong, her external wounds had healed yes but inside her body she ached and pained.  Her body felt as if it was raging a war inside and though on the outside her scares and burns had all disappeared she still felt the same. Her healing factor was slowly down, always her outside wounds were the first to heal and after that her inside would heal itself but it was not doing that. Either her body was still in shock of the pain and it would only take a few moments to return to its normal state or her healing factor had stopped working. Though she could not voice her concerns to this young man she could not let him see her in such a position of weakness.

The sound of sirens surrounded him as he sat there on his knees, his shirt and jeans were now slightly torn and burnt, his face covered in sweat and smoke after just barely escaping the burning motel, but right now none of that even mattered, nothing mattered at that point, the only thing that did matter to Charles was the girl he was holding in his arms not going even thinking about letting her go, the girl who had just risked her life for his own….she was the only thing that mattered to him now. “Please….” He whispered as tears began to build in his eyes. Closing his eyes, he did his best to hold them back, to not let himself cry, to be strong, but as he saw how hurt she was, the burns and cuts, all he could do was pray that she would just open her eyes and be okay, that she would come back to this world, back to him.

His eyes quickly shot open as he felt her hand grasping on to his shirt, hearing her began to breathe again, causing a slight smile to appear on his face. But like a frightened child, she swiftly leaped from his arms, moving just a foot or two away from him. “If you ever risk your life for me again I will kill you” She said to him, sending a swift, striking slap across his cheek with her palm. Still on his knees, he turned his head back so that he was looking face forward at her once again. Her face only inches away from his own, he continued to stare, looking into her emerald eyes, not saying a word, not angry at her for slapping him, not paying any attention to the people around them or the burning building, to the sirens…only focusing on those beautiful emerald eyes.

He wanted to say something, to break the silence, to speak to her, to at least ask her if she was okay, but for some reason his mouth wouldn’t open, words wouldn’t form, making him only wonder why, why couldn’t he say anything? But like she always does, she does what he never seems able to do, biting her lip she began to ask him something, “Hero…what is your…” Only to be cut off by the sound of a terrified woman who began to screaming in fear near them. “My daughter is in that building!! “ Jumping to his feet, his first instinct was to run in, back into the burning building that he just barely escaped only minutes ago. Looking back at Talon, she knew he would run in after the girl, be the hero he was always trying to be, even though he was honestly exhausted, what other choice did he have? Answering that question for him, with a cold look upon her face, Talon quickly jumped up onto her feet, “I’m no hero…” She said as she jolted off toward the flame engulfed building. Moving forward, he began to move his arm towards her, to stop her from doing something reckless, something that could get her killed, but he held himself back, knowing full well that he couldn’t stop her, all he could do was stand there, the woman from before screaming and crying even more next to him, watching as Talon leaped into action, “….Yes you are, more then you may ever realize.” He whispered, commenting on what she had said.

All he could do was stand there helplessly, not able to do anything but wait. After only a few seconds, his clinching his fist tightly, he continued to watch as the flames began to move from the end of the building that it had started to the other, “You shouldn’t have let her go in there!” He told himself as he still waited, hoping that she would make it out okay…that she would be okay. The woman stood behind him, crying and weeping as she watched on as well, he could hear that voice in the back of his head, telling him to go over to her and try at least to clam her, to tell her that everything was going to be alright, but he didn’t, whether it was selfish of him or not, all that mattered to him right then and there was that Talon came out of that building alive.

“Come on…come on…” He muttered. A small fire ball then suddenly burst up from the flames, most likely caused by the fire coming into contact with some type of gas line, erupting into an even larger explosion of flames and debris, “NO!” He shouted in fear as the explosion caused even more of the motel to collapse in on itself, sending more dirt and smoke into the air, partially blocking out the sun. In the corner of his eye, he saw as the woman began running towards the building, “What is she doing?!” He thought, thinking that maybe she had finally lost it and was going in after the child herself. But this thought was revised as he saw that she was running towards Talon and her child who had just come crashing out of one of the building’s windows.

Following swiftly behind the woman, he stood a few feet behind her, watching as Talon began to perform CPR upon the child who was not breathing. As she did, Charles could hear as the woman began to cry even more, lowering his head he closed his eyes slowly, knowing that child most likely wasn’t going to make it, wondering why this had to happen, why to them, to this poor woman and this child, he knew it had to be their fault…no HIS fault, he remembered those men, that they were looking for them, for Talon for whatever reason, that if he hadn’t of brought her there, they wouldn’t be in this mess and this poor woman wouldn’t have to watch as her child dies in front of her. Opening his eyes, he started to turn away, knowing that it was over, that the girl was dead and the woman would then break down, he didn’t want to see that, to see a poor soul fall apart knowing that she wasn’t going to see her baby girl alive again, see her smile again.

But as the little girl began to cough and gasp for air, a small smile grew across his face as he was reminded that miracles still happen. Watching as Talon handed the child back to her mother, he just stood there watching a girl who has so much doubt about herself be the hero she doesn’t believe she can be, and it’s a sight that can only brings a smile to the young hero’s face, only for that smile turn into a look of worry as she began to hold to her stomach, and then running behind a nearby tree. Trying to not listen to her gag and throw up, he looked away, giving her a moment or two. Looking back, he saw as she was now leaning up against the tree trunk as she began to take deep breaths. “I’m no hero….I just do the right things…sometimes.” She then said to him as she began to limp over towards him.

Shaking his head he started walking towards her as he let out a slight chuckle, “You’re not a hero? Really? I bet that woman over there would disagree, or maybe that girl who now owns her very life thanks to you. Whether or not you believe it, what you did here today was nothing short of heroic.” He said as he put his hands calmly on her shoulders, trying to help her from fall face first into the dirt. “And even if it kills me, I’m not going to lie and tell you that it wasn’t….” putting his hand on her cheek, he slowly moved her head, making it so that her eyes were now looking right into his own, “…my only question is, when are you going to give up this big lie, to just face the truth, to stop letting your thoughts and your past hold you back, and finally accept the thing that you keep telling yourself you’re not, that you can and do make a difference in this world, that you have a chance to make something more of your life…that you are a hero, Laura…” slowly stepping back, he continued to look at her, ignoring the world around him, only focusing on her, “…when are you going to stop running?”

 In Laura’s life she had three rules three simple rules that she was commanded a long long time ago by someone very near and dear to her. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t form any attachments to anyone. And if you think you’re forming an attachment to anyone: Kill them. Plain and simple nothing wrong with that logic except one thing: After a while eventually down the road someone’s going to come whom you just without thinking begin to trust, who eventually you form a bond and become protective over and the thought of killing them turns your stomach inside out, and War killer was that person. She could barely stand him he was annoying, headstrong and adorably heroic but stupid and slow! He was all that and still she could not build the power to beat him senseless or to just kill him. And if anything posed any danger whatsoever to him she had to kill that and make sure he was safe, she felt like an over-protective mother and truthfully it was embarrassing for her.

Standing before him she excepted a harsh reprimand maybe a little bit of a look of disgust since she basically excreted any nutrition that was in her. But that was not him, that was not who this hero was. “You’re not a hero? Really? I bet that woman over there would disagree, or maybe that girl who now owns her very life thanks to you.” As he said that her emerald eyes fell upon the mother who was now cradling her little girl in her arms. It was a sweet and beautiful picture for most people but when Laura looked upon this loving scene all she felt was a deep stabbing pain in the pit of her stomach. Turning her attention back toward the adolescent hero’s words “Whether or not you believe it, what you did here today was nothing short of heroic.”  

Folding her hands over her waist like a child that had recently been told she was going to detention, Laura felt unsatisfied with his statement. Sure she saved the girls life but it was no big deal she can heal well could heal and there was not much danger, anyway she had been faced with worse. “One act of goodness does not make a hero.” she murmured as her eyes dropped to the ground a moment to avoid eye contact with him. She was not a hero! She couldn’t be it was not…it was not her not her nature she was not trained for it and because of that she knew she would ultimately fail like everything else. But then when she found herself drowning in her own created doubts she felt his reassuring touch upon her shoulder which snapped her head upward. “And even if it kills me, I’m not going to lie and tell you that it wasn’t ….” She wanted to tell him that he was wrong, she wanted to show him logic to try and make him understand he had no Idea of what she’d gone through…well okay maybe he knew everything she had gone through but still he couldn’t understand!

His light warming sensitive touch on icy check made her froze like an ice cube. The fidgeting of her fingers ceased as her eyes locked into his deep jade eyes. She could tell he was tired no doubt escaping death dose that to you but there was something else with in those eyes. Sincerity, kindness and truthfulness. He meant what he said before when she had just met him she always thought he must have had some magical reason to want to be with her to continuously pursue her. Gosh for a moment in time she thought him to be some dark shadow from her past but looking into this eyes, she saw nothing that could possibly want to hurt her to threaten her. She felt safe she felt she could actually talk to him despite everything, he knew her past and yet he was still here still helping her.

“…my only question is, when are you going to give up this big lie, to just face the truth, to stop letting your thoughts and your past hold you back, and finally accept the thing that you keep telling yourself you’re not, that you can and do make a difference in this world, that you have a chance to make something more of your life…that you are a hero, Laura…” As the silence trailed off and he took a step back she didn’t say a world because she could not defend herself to the words that he recently forced into her skull.  He was right but at the same time she knew she could not believe him. She was a murder a cold blooded monster who felt most combatable covered in blood with bodies of the dead surrounding her. At least that was what she had forced herself to believe.

“Do you think I do not want to be a hero?” she finally said her eyes cast down at the ground as she let out a deep sigh coughing into her hand. “It is not that I do not want to it is not because I do not believe that if I tried I would not do it.” Shaking her head trying to think up a stable and well put together replied she sacked the logic and just spoke. “I have betrayed so many people I have double crossed deceivers and outwitted the most eloquent speakers. War Killer!” she said with great emphasis as it if trying to convince him of something “My past in this world it is stained with betrayal, mutiny and murder! Hero I want to stop pretending you do not know how much I want too but even if I did….they would never accept me.”

 Turning her head away as she observed the last remnants of the flame consume the building she realized that the fire brigade had finally arrived. “No one would trust me...and I would not blame them…” she whispered keeping her eyes on the scene before her. A slight wind caressed Laura’s face as it blew her hair frantically. But once again her lips parted “I am not like you, I do not know who you are hardly anybody dose and that is what makes me envy you. People in this world know not much about me either but what they know causes them to judge me and criticize me and I hate it! I will not lie to you and pretend that what people think and say about me dose not affect me!” Taking in a few deep breaths she brushed her hair out of her face and behind her back. Slowly outstretching her hand she clasped lightly upon the young heroes hand as she brought it up.

And with all the innocents of a child she said calmly “But you are not like them.” Staring into his deep eyes she wanted to say so much more as she realized how open she was being with him. Removing her hand from his grasp she slid her hand up her arm as her faced was puzzled with confusion. “No hero would trust me enough to let me join their team! But if they did…to bluntly state it “like hell” I would accept.” with that she turned away from him a moment slowly closing her eyes. Her headache had gotten worse as she could still feel the wounds with in her body healing slower than before. She regretted with being so blunt so forward with the hero but she was tired of beating around the bush of keeping herself calm and controlled, she had a right after what she had gone through because of him to get a little bit annoyed.

Clenching her fist she spun on her heel to face him again “I apologize I spoke…brusquely and without thought. Forgive me” lowering her head she was about to run her hands through her hair as she noticed that when she had coughed into it, blood had escaped from her mouth upon it. Her brow rose in curiosity as she looked up at and then at the place in ruins. She walked a few steps away from him dragging her feet on the scorched and burnt up blades of grass that snapped as her foot brushed against them. She was almost walking in a pacing manor thinking over a few things. She knew that in all logical sense with War Killer safe and some people trying to kill her it would be best that they parted way, but that didn’t sit well. Call it questions she needed answered or just pure loneliness she didn’t want their ways to part just yet and so…”Are you hungry?” she said rather oddly her head turning to look at him.

Walking back up to him she rubbed the back of her neck not really waiting for a response. “Alright here is the…uh…deal, right now the next 24 hours will be the most crucial in your life, those thugs were not after me they were after you and I suspect within the next day they will attempt to kill you.” Walking away from him a moment she crouched down scooping up the dirt that had been dented into a car tracks she sniffed it. She noticed the tire tracks to that of the car type and as she deeply inhaled the scent it gave her the several locations of this Cars driving rout.  Using her sense she detected that the most vaguest scent would most likely be where they would be returning to.“Hero get a drink and what food you can afford…actually…” she said walking up to him as she looked at him cautiously sliding her hands into his pants pocket and briskly pulling it out. It was very uncomfortable on her part but she knew her intentions were sound and hoped that he would not be offended. “Use my card it has unlimited amount spending money.”

Starting to walk away she finished by saying “We leave in an hour get freshened up we’ve got a long drive.” Pausing a moment she looked back seeing the curiosity on his face before flashing him a sly  smile “We are heading to Las Vegas…” 

“No one would trust me...and I would not blame them…I am not like you, I do not know who you are hardly anybody dose and that is what makes me envy you. People in this world know not much about me either but what they know causes them to judge me and criticize me and I hate it! I will not lie to you and pretend that what people think and say about me does not affect me!” Her hair began to move with the wind, her black locks flowing with the breeze, only to then drop back into her face. “But you are not like them.” As he heard this, he was caught off guard as she slowly grabbed a hold of his hand as she moved her hair out of her face, revealing her emerald eyes once more. He could feel the burn marks she had received from the explosion upon her hand, as she then found himself staring into her eyes again, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say more, yet for whatever reason stopped herself from doing so. Quickly she broke their eye contact, removing her grasp upon his hand, letting go as she moved her hand up her own arm, her face filled with a look of confusion.

“No hero would trust me enough to let me join their team! But if they did…to bluntly state it “like hell” I would accept.” She quickly turned away from him as she said this, and as she did, Charles couldn’t help but to have a slight smirk grow upon his face. He liked seeing her like this, to be honest he knew it was good for her, he knew, maybe even more than most people, what she has been through, and he knows that sometimes it’s healthy to simply get everything off your chest, to just scream at the world, and to finally start to speak what you truly desire in life, it was a long time coming, but he was glad to see he was making a little progress with her, he knew she needed this, maybe more than she knew. Turning back towards him, she began to speak again, “I apologize I spoke…brusquely and without thought. Forgive me” She said with a soft tone as she slightly began to step back away from him, as if she was pacing herself as she moved back as if she was thinking over what she would say next. Charles continued to stand there, every now and then his eyes would look over at the crowd that had began to build as random watched on as the firemen put out the now completely destroyed motel.

”Are you hungry?” His face turned to her with a total look with confusion on it as he heard her question. He was a bit hungry to be honest, he remembers that she did make them breakfast, but never actually got around to eating it….placing his hand upon his stomach, he looked down at it, feeling as it began to growl a bit, then looking back up at her as she walked back up to him, rubbing her neck awkwardly as she didn’t wait to him to even answer. “Alright here is the…uh…deal, right now the next 24 hours will be the most crucial in your life, those thugs were not after me they were after you and I suspect within the next day they will attempt to kill you.” She said as she regained assurance in her voice, taking command of…whatever the “deal” actually was, for he thought those men were after her the whole time, how she knew they were after him, much less were trying to actually KILL him, well that itself was a question all together, which only made him wonder if maybe Gambler was on their trail…which he could only hope he was wrong with that theory. Charles then began to watch with an odd look on his face as she seemed to randomly go into some type of “detective mode,” crouching down to some tire tracks she noticed on the ground, using her feral abilities as she took a few sniffs of the air as she inhaled.

After doing this, she moved back towards him, looking at him as her hand began to move down into his pants pockets, which he couldn’t help but to feel a bit uncomfortable with, while she then slid something into her pocket, “Hero get a drink and what food you can afford…use my card it has unlimited amount spending money.” Looking at her as she began to walk away, his face was completely puzzled at her actions; he couldn’t help to feel nervous as well as slightly happy in a random awkward way. But she then stopped as she turned back towards him one more time, “We leave in an hour get freshened up we’ve got a long drive. We are heading to Las Vegas.” And with a smile, she turned away again as she walked off, leaving the young hero to his orders.

Half an hour later, Charles found himself in a small business. Using Talon’s card which he wondered where the heck she actually got it from, hoping it wasn’t some type of illegal off-shore account used by Gambler’s men…he couldn’t help but feel paranoid at that guy, every other shadow Charles thought it was a ninja or something about to try to and kill him. Taking up a small backpack he had found he, he had the casher woman ring up what he had bought, it wasn’t a lot, just two six packs of Dr. Pepper and some snacks, packing light was his main goal, he heard what Talon had said, that those men would strike again, and if she was right, they needed to pack as light as they could. “Oh…where you in that motel fire?” The woman asked curiously as she took the card Talon had given him from his hand. Looking down at himself, his shirt and jeans where slightly torn and a bit burnt, nothing bad enough for them to be unbearable, but the mentioning of them quickly made him realize that he wasn’t’ wearing his uniform anymore, and more importantly, that until then, he didn’t even think of the fact that his uniform was in the hotel room when it went up in smoke. “Um…yeah, heard some punks were smoking or something like that, caused the fire, at least that’s what I heard.” Of course he knew what really had caused the explosion, but he wasn’t about to go telling the whole town that there was a group of some kind of group running around blowing things up, the last thing he needed was to get a panic going.

Throwing the backpack over his shoulder, feeling it as it bounced off his shield, which was on his back under his shirt where nobody could see it, he quickly pulled out a can of Dr. Pepper, opening as he then took a quick sip as he allowed the soda to wake him up as he made his way out of the building and onto the sidewalk. But with a sharp screeching noise, Charles watched as a blue Cadillac Cien skid up next to him, seeing Talon, now randomly fully clothed again since the last time he saw her she was practically naked, as she caused the Cadillac’s doors to slide open, arguing him to get into the vehicle. “Okay…I want to ask where you got the car, and the cloths…but something tells me I would be better off NOT knowing.” Charles said with a jokingly smirk as he plumped down in the passenger seat, throwing the backpack behind his chair as he pulled the door down shut, and as he did, Talon revved up the motor, causing the cars back tries to skid on the pavement as she accelerated the gas, causing them to fly down the street.

A few minutes past as Talon directed the car out of the city and down an intersection which would get them on the road to Las Vegas of all places. Looking out the window, he began looking at the scenery, watching as tress passed by, as well as other cars, looking back at Talon, seeing as she had her window down, the wind blowing into the car, sending her hair flying backwards as she held onto the steering wheel with one hand as she held her other hand out of the window and into the rushing wind. Looking forward, he began to think, their trip with would maybe an hour, maybe two if traffic got worse, taking a deep sigh, he looked down at his soda can, taking a sip as he wondered what he could say, he wasn’t big o n “small talk” well at least not with people he didn’t know well, sure he seemingly KNEW everything about her, but it wasn’t like they hang out all the time, he could talk to people like CellPhoneGirl or Animal Kid with ease, but Laura…he knew she wasn’t the “talking” type. But leaning his head back as he closed his eyes, he knew one thing he could talk to her about, something she at least deserved to know, “Charles…” he said slightly as he reopened his eyes, now looking up at the ceiling, “…my name…my name is Charles.”

Leaning his head up, he looked over at her, not surprised if she was confused by his straight forwardness, but she was right, she knew nothing about him, and if anyone deserved to know who he was, she was the one. “You said you hardly knew me….well If you want to ask me, anything at all, I don’t mind answering….you do deserve to know at least some things about me, only fair I guess since I know everything about you.” He spoke as he started at her for a moment, then turning back towards the window as he took another sip of his Dr. Pepper, “Now, I am an open book to you, so ask away.”

 She didn’t bother to tell him why or even the reasons behind the fact she wanted an hour interval of time she knew he was polite enough not to question her, in truth she was actually taken aback by that trait. She had ordered him to do several things in certain progression and he didn’t even bat an eye lid he just accept what she said in high esteem and trust. “He…trusted me?” Shaking to disagree with her assumption she dug her bare foot into the charred remains of grass kicking up dirt. her head was bent low as a light breeze ran through her body causing her to have goose bumps. Leather might have been excellent to work in but when it came to keeping warm that was one of the little things that it lacked greatly. Nevertheless Laura did her best to ignore this and finally when she went around a bend and knew she was out of sight from the hero she fell to the ground.

Her nails digging deeply into the soil she stared at her hands a moment as she recalled the words that the young hero had spoken to her and the words in turn she had said to him. Why was she so stupid why couldn’t she just think before she spoke it was such a simple task yet it defined the foolish from the wise. In truth the way she resolved this issue with herself was she would say nothing at all but she couldn’t do that to him, she wanted to speak to him she felt comfortable enough in his presence to utter her Ideas and opinions but to give him orders? He was older than her no doubt more experience…well hopefully and yet she gal to give him orders when in truth he was the one who should have been telling her what to do, he should have taken the initiative made a decision to rule over hers but why didn’t he?

Gaining her breath she leaned her back against the solid rock wall. Hands laid numb as she leaned her head banging it against the wall as she attempted o block out the storm of pain that surged through her. Her healing factor still seemed to be dawdling as just rested there for a few moments. Eventually the pain started to cease and calmness once again washed over her like a flood for a few instances until she realized she had less than an hour to get a car, clothes and a decent Idea of what was going on. Like the jump starting of a car her mind ran out the possibilities Gambler was in truth a suspect but he would not sink this low if he wanted the hero dead it would have happened the many times the young assassin had left him to his own demise, when he was asleep, in the shower no someone else was behind this.

Getting to her feet as she brushed back her grimed up locks that slid over her back she remembered a car lot that she recalled seeing previously on her midnight excursion. In truth there was a feeling of sadness in the pit of her stomach the lingered knowing that her brief but meaningful interaction with the young man would soon be over. Despite what she said she enjoyed his company if nothing more she would miss him. Letting out a deep breath as if preparing herself to fight a war, a war of the mind she set out on a brisk pace as her feet carried her. Soon enough the Car lot was in sight and the big flashing neon singe that said “Jimmies Car Lot” at times she didn’t understand how humans could name establishments so…stupidly but she had to abide for now and tolerate their lack of proper verbal speech.

The ringing of a bell sounded as she pushed aside the wooden door and walked on the cold tiled floor. There was faded music playing in the back ground but due to the large amount of static she could hardly pick up any of the words. The main office was decent. A large desk was placed directly in front of her and there was a slight gap to the right of it where a make shift lower door was placed no doubt for employees to get to the back of the store if needed. To her right were three single couches with chequered black and white fabric and a coffee table that was made from plastic and painted in red, but now the paint had started to peel off. Silently she seated herself crossing her legs over as she noticed the bleak green shade of the walls and ceiling.

“What can I do for you Missy?” a strong Texan ascent resounded as a man with a haggard jeans and red shirt approached he counter sipping his…well whatever he was drinking. Laura’s emerald eyes calmly lifted as she smiled politely saying in a sweet tone “What are the fastest cars you have on the lot?”   He looked at her curiously but then stated “Our fastest would probably the Audi, horse power minimal but a reddish tint buts it’s a family van.” Laura did her best to remain interested as she got to her feet and peered out the window staring at the car. It might have been an Audi but it for sure didn’t match the speed that the TT had to offer let alone the horse power and the shape was all wrong she need something that would flow with the wind that the wind didn’t scrape against, she needed better.

Running her hands through her hair she was about to speak when the guy instantly straightened his posture and his eyes diverted to the door. “Sir I was not…um…” he stuttered, Laura’s eyes fell behind her to see a man dressed fully in a jet black suit and of course wearing sunglasses even though there was no sun really. “No worries, just seeing how things are going.” Laura excused herself and let the men talk in privet and she flipped through the magazines on the table. A honking instantly caught her off guard “Oh that’s my girl” she heard the one man say as her eyes to fell behind her out the window as she moved aside the blinds and her eyes widened and a devious smile grew on her lips. Standing to her feet abruptly both men looked at her as she approached them “I apologize but…I am going to need a few things.” with that the sound of her claws unleashing resonated and the inevitable happened.

Now fully clad in a NYC city jacket and jeans that fit her petit figure perfectly she waved at the store owner, the business man and his girlfriend who sat safely tied up and mouthed to the couches. Having to keys to his vehicle she walked the door shaking her shoulders to get a feel of the man’s girlfriends clothes. Managing to procure a pair of sneakers she was absolutely casual and comfortable. Her fingers glided upon the remote control unlocking device that rested in her hand. A small smile was on her face as she pressed the button only to hear the unlocking of the doors as the doors slid upward. The car was a mixture of blues midnight and sunset blue that made an almost royal blue appearance. Its curvature was sleek there were no points on it at all, it was all smooth like the waves of a water fall. Both head and back lights were shaped in perfect proportion and came to a exact 90 degree angle.

Slowly Laura slid into the driver’s seat of her lush car the seating laced with jet black leather and the steering wheel padded as she lightly rested her hands and wrapped them around the perfectly created 360 degree circle. The distance from her head to the ceiling of the car was precise the slanting of the seats to the gears were also in sync with one another. As she inserted the keys into the ignition the engine revved like the singing of angels. Her foot slid on the accelerator as she shot forward in perfect speed and motion. Lowering her window to gain air she whispered to herself while driving steadily.

“550 horsepower at 6200 rpm. 550 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. With the new   CTS-V's power-domed hood is fundamentally supercharged V-8 that's credited with 620-plus horsepower and at least 600 pound-feet in the hot new   Corvette   ZR1AMG's E63 Benz nails 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The new CTS-V weight is 43 more horses  and 85 pound-feet more torque. “  She said in accomplishment grabbing the wheel she set her eyes on the location she wanted to go and zoomed forward pushing the brakes almost seconds after she accelerated.  The car curved to a halt as sparks were started but died naturally. Grabbing a bag out of the back she slowly got out of the car locked it and walked into the clothes cleaner. Handing in some cash she placed the leather jacket in the wash anyways in truth it was meant for the hero and it was not ripped at the slightest but it did require a wash if she had worn it. He was spending enough time with her he didn’t need to have her scent on him.

Grabbing a news paper and a hot strong coffee since she needed it she was tired and wanted to sleep but from what she could see she was not going to get any sleep having to babysit the little star spangled boy. Walking out toward her car to wait she sipped her coffee inspecting every side of her newly gained vehicle marvelling at the sheer beauty of it. she enjoyed cars, motorbikes she knew her way around in the line of mechanics she seldom every showed her pride when riding or gaining a new means of transportation but this car topped them all this was the icing on the cake this had to be the most beautiful car she had ever seen in her whole life!

Leaning against the side door of her car she sipped her drink casually glancing at the several individuals around her, there was a man in the car listening on his ear piece probably to his wife who was nagging about what he was doing. To her right there was a young couple holding hands, she smirked. He was probably telling her that she was the most prettiest thing and the girl being as ignorant and blind as she was had no Idea she’s only the fifth girl to hear that. Snapping back into her own reality she walked back into the Laundromat and threw her empty cup in the trash.

Five minutes later all pressed and polished was the young heroes new leather jacket, which looked practically brand nude despite the fact she ran through fire with it. Sliding it carefully on the back seat she quickly got into the drivers sitting area and with a turn of the key a sliding of the foot and a skidding of the tires she was off once more Speeding down the road she was surprised that no cops had noticed her. Realizing she honestly had no Idea where the young hero would have gone off to she lowered the window once more and as the air gushed in she sorted through thousands of scents possessing each one until finally “In the earth like colloquialism “bingo””. She said as she moved her left hand over to make a sharp right turn.  Skidding slightly on the side walk as her car screeched to a halt, she wanted to ensure a dramatic entrance.

With the press of a button both her and the passengers door slid upward as she got out of the car she wiped the prideful expression of accomplishment off her face as with mainly eye contact asked him to get into the car, she kept her mouth shut in fear she might say something that would show off how much she liked this car. “Okay…I want to ask where you got the car, and the cloths…but something tells me I would be better off NOT knowing.” He jokingly said causing her to shrug and smile back at him before sliding back into the car. As he finally shut his door she wasted no time and with intense speed she leaped forward. She didn’t bother to close the window Laura, was many things but she was slightly claustrophobic and in truth with her many incidents being in cars having them blown up, thrown into the river she always left an escape optional.  

Moments on moments past as silence dwelt between the two youths. Laura wanted to say so much but she chose to remain silent. she had said over enough to him there was no reason to ask anything more of him. Though whenever she had a safe gap she found her eyes swiftly and briefly glancing over to him to try and figure out what he was thinking. “Charles…” She froze a moment, the road to their destination was a straight one giving Laura the perfect opportunity to look over to him in curiosity “…my name…my name is Charles.” He was leaning back on the seat when he said it. The way he said it caught her off guard though, she never asked to know his name but she had always wanted to...

Placing the car into cursing mode she was able to place more attention on him as they sped down the road. He leaned upward and looked over at him with the same kind expression he always did one of pure innocents no judgment behind his eyes “ You said you hardly knew me….well If you want to ask me, anything at all, I don’t mind answering….you do deserve to know at least some things about me, only fair I guess since I know everything about you.” Forcing her eyes back on the road as a sigh escaped her lips she attempted to retain her composure, though so many questions bubbled inside her some better than others she didn’t want to pry.

“Now, I am an open book to you, so ask away.” A long silence remained after he said those final words she thought long and hard but what could she ask him? About his past what good would that do her, anyways she knew he was not from here his scent….it was different altered. She could tell the difference it was similar to hers as in he was not from this world. Oh how she wanted to know where he was from what his world was why he came here. Eventually and slightly violently she made a sharp turn down a dirt road that headed into the middle of a heavy woodland area. Over head darkened clouds hung themselves no doubt a storm was approaching in more ways than one. The tires screeched to a halt as Laura turned it off the engine and let the silence finally end.

“Why do you stay with me?” she asked as her emerald eyes looked over at him “I know you’re not from this world...I would like to ask you what your world was like…how you got here, but then I thought about myself.” she paused a moment leaning back on her seat “If I was to ask you that would no doubt bring back memories probably negative, so I won’t ask you that.” Clicking a button her window went up a moment as she leaned forward sliding her hand on the front upholstery as she continued “I would ask you about your family…but I’ve already searched, I’ve been unable to locate anybody retaining your related scent….I assume the worse, that is why I shall not dare ask about that.”

With a deep expression of exhaustion she finally looked over into his deep jade eyes the eyes that she almost enjoyed looking at. “So I only have 3 questions I want to ask you and if you feel uncomfortable in answering any then do not. I do not need you to tell me anything about yourself I didn’t need you to tell me your name…” she stopped a moment as the faces of countless individuals now passed away flashed before her eyes “It won’t change anything.” she whispered trying to hold back the emotion that stormed within her. Her eyes darted out the window as she looked outward into the wilderness a moment before she stated bluntly “I only call those that I love by their name, and I can assure you are not one of them.”

She was glad she was looking away, that way the young hero could not see the pain that crept upon her face in the appearance of a storm. Like a dagger to her heart she wanted to scream but forcing her mouth shut she endured it. Whatever she felt was irrelevant it was best if this remained as formal as possible and even if she had to lie to ensure it, she would not allow him to get too attached to her at least not in the same way she had become attached to him. He didn’t need any more trouble, she had created enough problems for him and she already regretted it. “Question one: Why are you a hero? Question two: Who or what are you fighting for.” she paused a moment now with her undivided attention on him. A gaze of contentment flashed over as leaned forward still staring at him lightly as the light pitter patter of rain hit the windscreen. So finally with that she spoke her voice just above a whisper “And what good do you think will come it?” 

A remaining silence consumed the car as it made its way speedily down the road after he said that to her. Staring back out the window, he watched as the tree’s quickly vanished and soon they were driving down a long straight intersection with desert on both sides. Awkward silences always made Charles feel…well awkward, he was pretty blunt with what he had said, she had never really asked him the question, asked him what his real name was, even though there were a few times he noticed her trying to ask him something, and truthfully, what reasons did he have to hide anything about himself to her?

He couldn’t help but notice her driving skills, how well she handled the car, keeping the vehicle perfectly on the road, not really swerving as the car speeded down the black asphalt road, he knew she was skilled with machinery after seeing how well she fixed up his bike back in Vine City, even after he totaled the darn thing, it was impressive to say the least. But his train of thought was quickly abruptly ended as his body was slight pulled to the side as the car suddenly turned off the main road they were on and down an unmarked dirt road which soon followed into a more heavily woodland surrounding. Looking over at her, he could only wonder what it was she was doing as the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the woods.

“Why do you stay with me?” She asked him as she turned the engine off, her eyes glaring over at him now. “I know you’re not from this world...I would like to ask you what your world was like…how you got here, but then I thought about myself.” She continued as she then leaned back in her seat. “If I was to ask you that would no doubt bring back memories probably negative, so I won’t ask you that.” He turned away, still listening to her, seeing as she rolled up her window, he could see out his window the clouds beginning to cast over the trees around them, that a storm was approaching. “I would ask you about your family…but I’ve already searched, I’ve been unable to locate anybody retaining your related scent….I assume the worse, that is why I shall not dare ask about that.”

“So I only have 3 questions I want to ask you and if you feel uncomfortable in answering any then do not. I do not need you to tell me anything about yourself I didn’t need you to tell me your name…” She turned to him, looking into his eyes, as he himself was now looking into her emerald eyes as she, only to swiftly break the eyes contact, turning away to stare out the window, not allowing him to see her face. He turned his head slightly down, looking down but not actually focusing on anything as he tried to not stare at her. “I only call those that I love by their name, and I can assure you are not one of them.” He smirked a little when he heard her, not laughing at her, but just the fact that he simply told her his name out of kindness, as a way to showing a kind of trust, a sign of a type of openness if could be so, he didn’t know he was trying to use it as a pick-up line or anything, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought.

Turning his head over towards her as she continued to stare out the window, making it so he was still unable to see her face, which only made him wonder even more on what she was thinking about, what was going on her mind? He wanted to ask, but instead he chose to remain silent, even though he wanted to ask her what was wrong, see if he could manage to get to her to be open like she was before, maybe if possible see if he could get her to speak what was bothering her, and maybe, if he could try…he could help her. But these thoughts faded as she began to speak again, gazing back over at him, causing him to look forward out the front window, trying to keep it from looking as if he was staring at her the whole time…which he kinda was, but hopefully she wouldn’t have noticed. “Question one: Why are you a hero? Question two: Who or what are you fighting for…and what good do you think will come of it?” Looking forward, watching as rain began to tap on the window, drop for drop as the rain began to pour down harder and harder from the clouds as a rainstorm covered overhead, he began to think of what she had asked him, which in truth he was surprised at how he was actually having such a hard time thinking of answers for her…he never talked about his past much, about where he came from, his family…his parents…sure CellPhoneGirl knew about his past, she was basically there when he arrived in this world, Eclipse knew a some for sure, but really, he as he thought about it, she was right! No one really knew much about him, other than what little files they could find on him that had been created after being him here for such a short period of time, but he never fully realized how much of a stranger he really was to the world until now…

“You are right….I’m not from this world. I come from a world similar to this one, a world of heroes and villains, people fighting for truth and justice while others fight for greed and power...” turning his head, he stared out his side window, watching as a single rain drop slowly made its way, sliding down the glass, “…my parents…they were heroes of my world, two of the greatest of my world….they were the greatest.” He couldn’t help but smile as he thought about his parents, remember his days back home, in Avengers Towers where he lived most of his young life until he began to his training in Japan, watching on the news as his parents fought a giant robot in London. But as he began to think about them, more and more did those images begin to fade as the darkness soon started to crept into his mind, as the good memories quickly vanished until only the last moments he saw of them alive were all he could remember, “But…they, they died. A fellow hero of my parents, one of my world’s most powerful super-heroes, he…he went on some type of rampage, he had gone mad or something like that, I don’t know all the full details, but the heroes, people I had looked up to as a kid, the people that were practically family to me, he…killed them, h-he….” Leaning his head over, laying it up against the glass window, his eyes began to turn slightly red as he tried to hold back the tears…he wasn’t going to cry, not now, he didn’t like crying in front of people, he was never sure if it was because he felt it made him look weak, really he didn’t care if people thought he was weak, but as the memories suddenly poured into his mind, as he remembers the black Void holding his mother as the world around her fell apart, watching helplessly as the monster tore her head off with no mercy, he was unable to stop a tear from sliding down his cheek, “…he killed them all.”

Closing his eyes, trying to stop anymore from breaking free, he continued to lean his head up against the window, he couldn’t but wish he could have done what she had done with him, how she simply used her swords powers to transfer the memories over to him, wishing he could show her how badly he failed his parents, how he failed to protect the world he swore to look after like his parents, “My father, he was my biggest hero…” he said with a smile now slightly showing, his eyes still closed, “…he was the last person from my world that I saw….and I was the last person to ever see him alive.” Opening his eyes, which were now red from him trying to hold back the tears, he looked over at her, not caring if she was even listening to him, “And in the blink of an eye, the next thing I know…I’m on a Vine City highway, about to get hit by cars…a hero from another world, with no home, no friends….nothing.” He said as he began to try and regain some composure, looking away from her now, thinking back to when he meet CellPhoneGirl, “But that’s when I ran into Blair…CellPhoneGirl…I teamed-up with her to stop this baddie, and well to make the story short, she offered me to come join her team as a Titan…” Looking down, he smiled once again, “…she was the first friend I ever had in this world. I had lost everything, and she gave me a home, friends, and a new mission in this world I didn’t even recognize.”

 “I was a hero from another world…” He said as he stared back out the window, watching as it continued to pour down even harder, listening as the thunder rumbled through the skies, “I had lost everything, my home, my friends, my family, my life…everything, Laura, in the blink of an eye, my whole world was gone, just like that.” His voice get lower as he had those words, he didn’t want this conversation to get depressing, but she did ask for the truth, so that’s exactly what he was telling her. But he smiled a little as he looked over at her again, his light smile upon his face as he thought about the good things in his life now, “What life I had before was gone, but now….I have found a new life, for whatever reason, after all that I had lost, I never thought I would gain so much back…new friends, a new family, a whole new life, Laura…that’s what I’m fighting for!” He said as his held his fist up with seriousness in his eyes. “I’m fighting for you….” He said as he turned to look at her, looking into her emerald green eyes, “…for Cell, for Eclipse, for all of the Titans, that’s what I’m fighting for!”

Taking a deep breath, he settled himself down as he leaned back in his seat, breaking the eye contact he had formed, “I’ve lost so much, Laura, so many people I’ll never see again, the people I grew up with, the heroes I looked up to, my home, my family, my parents…I lost everything once. And I made a promise once that I would never lose the people I care about again….I’m not going to lose them, not again…I honestly don’t think I could take losing another person I cared about again, I really don’t know if I could.” Opening his eyes back open, he looked up at the ceiling once more, only to turn his head so that he could look at her face, the face he was never going to forget, “That’s why I stay with you.” He stated bluntly, answering the first question she had asked him. “Whether or not you care about me, about this random hero, whether or not you think your worth something in this world, remember what I’m about to say, I don’t care what happens tomorrow, I don’t care if some random laser zaps us both and it’s like we never met, remember this…”

Leaning his head up forward, turning his head towards her own, looking his eyes into her own, placing his hand on her shoulder, he spoke what he hoped she needed to hear, “No matter what the world thinks of you, no matter what you’ve done in this life, even if the whole world is against you, remember that I never am and that I DO care. You’re worth something to me, Laura, and even if it kills me, I’m going to prove that to you…one day.” Looking away, he removed his hand from her shoulder as he moved over towards the door, pushing it open as the rain began to lighten up slightly. Stepping out of the car, he leaned over, poking his head into the car one more time, his face dripping with a few drops of water, “Okay…well I’m going to get some…fresh air…whenever you’re ready to leave, just let me know.” He said with a sigh as he turned away, but quickly he caught the door, poking his head back in again, “Oh and by the way. You act so worried of how this world will think of you all the time, that the people of this world will condemn you or something for who you are and what you’ve done, and yet you ask me ‘Why do I stay with you?’ So really think about it for a minute, I know everything about you, I’ve seen you kill men in cold blood, and yet I’m still here, I’m still WITH you, so instead of asking ME that question, trying asking yourself the same thing, ‘Why do YOU think I stay, Laura? Why? Just think about it, okay? Okay.” And with that, he closed the door shut as the rain began to pick up again.

Lightning flashed in the sky as he walked away from the car, he wasn’t even sure why he left the car, but he figured she could use a few minutes to herself. Making his way up a small embankment, he stepped onto some wet grass, making his way deeper and deeper within the tress as the rain continued to pour down on him, soaking his hair and shirt as he walked further on, not even looking back to see if she had totally ditched him or anything, even though he was sure she wouldn’t…hopefully.

As she finished her questions she became slightly uneasy with his silence. Has she asked too much? Had she pushed too far? Either way she would soon find out. That was the strange thing with this hero, he was always so unpredictable what he was thinking what he would do could not be calculated not even by Laura. Who in most circles could predicts a person’s most logical actions before they even commit it. Though the reason why she could probably not read this young hero was because he was everything but logical, he didn’t think anything through he had no plan and everything for him was on the spur of the moment. And though she regretted asking him so many questions she found her curiosity seeping in and she largely anticipated his answer.

“You are right….I’m not from this world. I come from a world similar to this one, a world of heroes and villains, people fighting for truth and justice while others fight for greed and power...” with a brief pause the young star spangled hero gazed out the window. This alerted Laura and caused her to instantly retract and lean comfortably into her seat and attempt to look away, just to ensure she was not staring at him. “…my parents…they were heroes of my world, two of the greatest of my world….they were the greatest.” Which was no surprise to the young girl, anyway his parents must have been amazing people to raise such a son like they had. Even though she had never met his parents she knew that he probably held strong characteristics from both of them.

Then it was as if a supernatural dark cloud began to hover over the hero. Laura’s brow raised as she could only guess what he was going to say next and it caused her to cringe in pain “But…they, they died. A fellow hero of my parents, one of my world’s most powerful super-heroes, he…he went on some type of rampage, he had gone mad or something like that, I don’t know all the full details, but the heroes, people I had looked up to as a kid, the people that were practically family to me, he…killed them, h-he….” Grievously she looked at him and in truth his words made her feel selfish, here she was saying this young boy had no Idea of what she was going through, who never had any problems who was always there always helping her with her own issues and she never stopped to think about the pain he must have endured.

“…he killed them all.” War Killer whispers his voice heavy as she was positive he was crying. With his face to the window Laura slowly extended her arm in sympathy in a way to possibly comfort him but as swiftly as the rain drops hitting the window screen she pulled back gripping her wrist, she didn’t want to interrupt. Instead she just returned the favour and looked out her window. As her hands gently rested upon the steering wheel a moment she didn’t dare move make noise, she knew how painful this had to have been him having to explain all this to her. In truth she just literally zapped him and he instantly knew her life, she didn’t have to say a word but he, he had to go through the excruciating pain of his vivid and painful past.

“My father, he was my biggest hero…” she detected a hint of guilt and instantly she winced, this boy thought it was his fault, yet who was she to judge? She blamed practically everything upon her shoulders. And in truth she would gladly take the blame as impossible it is for the pain that had occurred in this young man’s life, if only to just release him of the pain and guilt that he had no doubt been carrying. It was odd seeing War Killer like this. Talon was usually the one broken the one holding on to her past, in truth she never could have guessed that this man now a hero had endured all these hardships and still retained his heroic mind set. She could never imagine the pain he had endured for she had lost neither of her parents, and for that she felt selfish. Here she was hating her mother and father…well them hating her and here he was he had lost everything and still he was standing strong.

“…he was the last person from my world that I saw….and I was the last person to ever see him alive.” All Laura could do was listen in awe as she heard the hero speak. She wanted to reach out to comfort him but what could she say? What honestly could she do to help the pain, as much as she wished she had not put him through this she was now wishing even more that she could hold him and tell him it’s not his fault. Then with that the red white and blue patriot turned to look at her with those emerald eyes. He had her locked in his stare whenever he did, it was as if his eyes had a tractor beam and were just pulling them in. “And in the blink of an eye, the next thing I know…I’m on a Vine City highway, about to get hit by cars…a hero from another world, with no home, no friends….nothing.”

Her eyes lowered to the floor as she thought of herself, didn’t she literally appear in the middle of the forest cold and naked. Despite how different their lives were they were similar in a sense that both Talon and War Killer were aliens to this world, who had lost seemingly everything and so they had to adjust themselves to this new culture that offered so much. “But that’s when I ran into Blair…CellPhoneGirl…I teamed-up with her to stop this baddie, and well to make the story short, she offered me to come join her team as a Titan…” Now things began making sense, well she had suspected this happening, just like Hunter a single team up can lead to so much in a relationship and eventually form a friendship. But at least he had friends good friends that cared about him…and even if it didn’t mean anything she…wanted to be his friend.

Then oddly enough she saw a smile braced his face that sweet smile that always brought light to her day. A small grin rose on her face as she marvelled at his young man’s bravery and courage and resilience. “…she was the first friend I ever had in this world. I had lost everything, and she gave me a home, friends, and a new mission in this world I didn’t even recognize.” Nodding her head understanding she held back the slight hint of distain toward the way he mentioned this girl, she retained herself if anything she didn’t desire to get worked up about something so foolish, but it had to beher humanity seeping through. “I was a hero from another world…”

Their gaze broke as she feeling a little bit foolish folded her hand on the palm of her lap and looked down like a guilty child. It was obvious she was obvious but nevertheless she listened intently and patiently to what he had to say because…she liked hearing his speak about his past instead of her always being the one talking and really saying nothing. “I had lost everything, my home, my friends, my family, my life…everything, Laura, in the blink of an eye, my whole world was gone, just like that.” A slight alteration in his tone was now detectable as she could hear that pain returning. “What life I had before was gone, but now….I have found a new life, for whatever reason, after all that I had lost, I never thought I would gain so much back…new friends, a new family, a whole new life, Laura…that’s what I’m fighting for!”

His tone was stable as the same brave voice of a freedom fighter sounded in her ears. His courage and perseverance and everything that made him the strong willed stubborn hero she could see in the full imagery of his actions and what he had endured. “I’m fighting for you….” she froze all thought had paused as she shot a glance of confusion her heart not making a beat and not daring to take a breath.   As she stared helpless into his jade eyes he continued “…for Cell, for Eclipse, for all of the Titans, that’s what I’m fighting for!” A sigh of relief escaped her it was obvious he had caught her attention with the previous statement so she didn’t attempt to hide her surprise and slight shock due to it. But why was he fighting for her!? What had she done, randomly appeared in his life one day saved his life, fought bad guys for a little and then vanished only to return more of a nuisance.

 “I’ve lost so much, Laura, so many people I’ll never see again, the people I grew up with, the heroes I looked up to, my home, my family, my parents…I lost everything once. And I made a promise once that I would never lose the people I care about again….I’m not going to lose them, not again…I honestly don’t think I could take losing another person I cared about again, I really don’t know if I could.” Maybe he was not speaking about her, maybe he was referring to that phone girl, or Eclipse maybe for sure he could bear losing her, Laura was not worth much she hadn’t really done much than get him in trouble yet…at the same time she saw the look in his eyes, the deep sincerity and pain and longing that was left in his voice and she KNEW he was talking about her also.

 “That’s why I stay with you.” Her eyes shot back up at him she found it almost embarrassing how she couldn’t really hide the shock whenever he mentioned her. “Whether or not you care about me, about this random hero, whether or not you think your worth something in this world, remember what I’m about to say, I don’t care what happens tomorrow, I don’t care if some random laser zaps us both and it’s like we never met, remember this…” She couldn’t help but smirk at him for that comment above, random laser great her life just got a lot more complicated. Nevertheless she retained a serious stare as she kept his gaze. She would never relinquish it for the world, the peace she felt by just looking at him was beyond understanding and in truth she didn’t want to understand she just wanted to keep looking.

Then as if time had instantly stopped he leaned forward and placed his hand upon her shoulder as the warmth of his touch instantly caused goose bumps to form upon her skin. Nervous and slightly well not uncomfortable yet uncomfortable she heard him say softly and sweetly “No matter what the world thinks of you, no matter what you’ve done in this life, even if the whole world is against you, remember that I never am and that I DO care. You’re worth something to me, Laura, and even if it kills me, I’m going to prove that to you…one day.” She didn’t speak her mouth was open but not because she wanted to say something but because she was in total awe of his words, she couldn’t believe he just said that…no! She needed to remain calm she couldn’t let this get to her this was a minor setback she didn’t except this she just wanted to get rid of him before but now…things were different she was different he was different to her.

With that he moved breaking the mood and causing Laura lean backward resting once again in her seat. His door opened as she stared at him slightly confused as he stepped out into the rain though it had slightly subsided he still no doubt would get wet.   At first she thought he was going to walk off without a word but just then he poked his head in his hair dripping with several droplets of water that stained his face. “Okay…well I’m going to get some…fresh air…whenever you’re ready to leave, just let me know.”   She nodded her head in agreement not saying a word she was still shocked and petrified by his previous words to even gather the strength to compose herself.

“Oh and by the way. You act so worried of how this world will think of you all the time, that the people of this world will condemn you or something for who you are and what you’ve done, and yet you ask me ‘Why do I stay with you?’ So really think about it for a minute, I know everything about you, I’ve seen you kill men in cold blood, and yet I’m still here, I’m still WITH you, so instead of asking ME that question, trying asking yourself the same thing, ‘Why do YOU think I stay, Laura? Why? Just think about it, okay? Okay.” She stammered a moment slightly overwhelmed now by what he had said as she watched his figure get smaller and smaller as he gained distance.

“Okay…” she whispered resting her hands on the steering wheel. She didn’t have to think twice, she was getting the heck out of here. The engine swung and the tire screeched as mud was kicked up all over the place. the Car swerved as it attempted to gain some traction and once it had the only remaining thing of the car were the fumes. Laura her hands gripping the wheel as tightly as anything her eyes set straight ahead of her as she just drove. This was getting out of hand she had enough of this! She would not allow herself to fall into the same….emotions as before she was leavening! And the hero? He’d be fine he was in the middle of nowhere and if anything those men would follow her so really she didn’t have to worry about anything.

As she swerved upon the main road of which ever high way they had previously been on her mind feel back to the question he had asked. “Why do you think I stay, Laura”.“Because your are incompetent, delusional and…..insane!” she muttered under her breath as her feral tone was gaining savagery. Pressing harder and harder on the accelerator she didn’t really notice how fast she was going she was too deeply locked in thought. Yet out of the corner of her eye she saw something small in front of her, there was no way she was going to be able to slow down in time, she didn’t know why to this day she couldn’t understand why she didn’t just run the thing over. Instead she kicked her door open and swerved the car in the opposite direction. She dived out the window and rolled viciously upon the high way her skin skidding against the painful gravel. And watched helplessly as her 2009 Cadillac ignited in flames.

She wanted to cry but she didn’t as she staggered to her feet just staring at the pile of metal that was now being consumed by flames. But her concentration was shattered as the honking on an oncoming car forced her to roll once more into the shrubbery on the side of the road. The grass was wet as the rain began to pour harder upon her. Her clothes stained with mud and her arms with the scares due to her joy jump, her eyes fell upon the small figure she had literally almost killed herself and sacrificed her car for.  “A bunny…” she said the pain detectable almost whimpering. On her knees as she crawled and laid on her back staring at the dark clouds overhead she let out a blood curdling cry of agony as she banged the ground with her fist.

Taking in deep breath after deep breath she sat upward her hair tangled and having leafs intertwined. Getting to her feet she slowly and calming began to walk down the highway, she could see an exit up ahead and the singe pointed to a small pit stop no doubt she’d be able to get back on her feet and get some other mode of transportation. “But first.” she whispered as she rolled swiftly picking up the bundle of fluff called an animal she stared and saw the perfect opportunity. An oncoming truck caught her attention as she clutched the rabbit tightly waiting for the precise moment. Looking at the fuzzy creature she whispered in a demonic tone “You will die!” and with that she threw the bunny in the exact direction it would get flattered. It was so swift but Laura caught every moment the small cry the blood splattering on her cheek she inhaled the scent and then…walked away.

“And that is how slippers were formed…” she said walking away her honour once again regained. Wiping the blood from her cheek she did her best not to think about the young man she had just left in the forest she tried thinking about her car and attempted to blame this whole situation upon the heroes shoulders. Yet she couldn’t he was as innocent as anything and the more she tried to get angry at him for bringing her in this mess the more she felt guilty for leaving him behind.  Nevertheless she would not allow herself to humility of returning to him! Seeing a small petrol station up ahead she decided she’d pop in get what she needed not kill anybody and leave.

Walking up to the station and pushing past the door she got several looks from the customers mostly cause of her muddy clothes or maybe even the fact her claws were unleashed she was too aggravated to retract them. Walking into the bathroom she slammed the door and locked it shut before sitting down and leaning her head against the wall. She was tired she was losing it, she needed to calm down she needed to get a grip of herself before she lost it even more. “Why do you stay with someone like me…” she whispered sliding her hand across the tiled icy floor. Her hair slung over her face a moment as his question rung in her ears “Why do you think I stay, Laura”?

In truth she didn’t want to assume anything, he said he cared for her, but how much? Was it neutral was it more she didn’t know! And that was why she was too scared to answer it too scared to get the wrong answer. When she closed her eyes all she could see was his sweet little face staring back at hr with that annoying but kindly smile. His deep emerald eyes looking at her, the eyes that knew who she was and everything she had done and he still looked at her the exact same way he did before he knew anything about her. Clenching her fist tightly she got to her feet though she felt like falling asleep she didn’t desire to waste time. Her heart rate accelerated as she wondered if he really was safe.

Pushing aside the bathroom door she grabbing a few things including a new jacket and ran out the door without even paying. “They’ll forgive me.” she whispered coming to a halt on the side of the road as she watched cars swiftly passing by. She stood there a moment glancing behind her as she realized something: She was being followed.

Several minutes later emerging once again with no jacket, same muddy attire from an alley way she gasped for air. She still needed to secure a vehicle and by now she didn’t want to think of the mess the young hero might have gotten himself into. Noticing a bluish pickup truck with the keys still in tact she let out a deep sigh. “It’ll have to do.” she whispered throwing her supplies in the back and sliding into the driver’s seat. Swinging the engine she moaned in agony as she could tell this was probably a model created before she was born, and though it was humiliating to drive around in a piece of junk like this she had to endure it, for her worry for the young hero was too much for her to withstand and wait for a more promising car.

Not wasting any time she turned the wheels and at the speed of 50 miles per hour she….crawled across the high way. With her window open she deeply inhaled he scents attempted to locate War Killer’s one since obviously she could no matter what. Instantly his scent hit her, he was still alive…what a shame. In the middle of the high way avoiding several cars she made an unexpected turn into the shrubbery noticing the path she had made previous with her, and it pained her to recall her Cadillac. She took into consideration that the young hero would have made obviously a little more distance than before so she kept driving until finally his drenched figure she could see up ahead. Slamming the brakes she didn’t hesitate to attempt to open her door. But due to it not being an automatic out of pure anger she kicked the door literally off its hinges.

Running from the car toward him dressed in the same dirty clothes she tightly embraced him on impact. With her hands wrapped around his neck she held him for a moment as her eyes closed. A few seconds later she removed her arms awkwardly looking at the ground like a child guilty of stealing the last cookie from the cookie jar. As her jade eyes looked at him a moment she broke a crooked smile a moment before taking in a deep breath.  “Sorry…um, I got you new clothes.” she said her eyes diverted to the floor a moment. She really didn’t think this through did she. The whole kicking off the door and running to embrace him really was not the best approach, but that sadly occurred to her only now. “A white shirt, jeans and leather jacket know your size so it will fit you.” Taking a step backward from him she ran her hands through her hair realizing how stalkish that sounded.

“What I mean to say is…we have to go, and thank you.” she said smiling warmly at him before walking toward her Cadi…truck. With her head bent low she attempted to remain calm and now get utterly annoyed with herself at how immature her actions were. She didn’t know why she hugged him maybe she wanted to show him that what he said previously really did matter. Maybe she just wanted to comfort him for all the pain he had endured either way she had done it and he could perceive it in whichever way he would. She prayed he didn’t ask anything about the car, as she slid into the now door less driver’s seat.

As he slid into the car she shot a awkward glance at him before uttering “We’ll stop somewhere for you to change, I have no intentions of staying here a second longer than needed.” And with that she swung the engine excepting a smoke littered start yet instead it started right on que. Her brow rose in curiosity as she didn’t except that from a car of this model. Inhaling deeply the scents around her it soon occurred to her somebody else had been here. With that thought she grabbed the heroes hand and pulled him out of the vehicle before the truck literally exploded. The force of the explosion propelled the two to roll down the hill into a lower valley. Laura who already hated this whole situation entirely just had something else to deal with on her plate.

As Laura instantly felt her body ram into the trunk of a tree she didn’t move she had been pushed to her limit sure she hated the car, sure she disliked the fact that her dream car minuets ago had been consumed by flames but…now this! Several of her ribs were broken and snapped yet as they were her healing factor soon got to work. Lying on her back she shut her eyes trying to regain whatever composure she might have had intact. She hoped at least for War Killer’s sake he had rolled to the bottom of the valley and not rammed into anything. Cause if he was wounded, he wouldn’t be able to heal like she could. Turning herself upon her stomach she crawled slightly to attempt to maybe lock onto the hero. The smoke from the now exploded car littered the air as she knew that she had been followed, back here, they knew she’d come back and she had done exactly what they wanted her to do, “I am an idiot!” she shouted in distress burring her head into the damp leaves as she just laid there motionless in frustration and agony. War Killer was in more danger now than when she had just left him here. “Some protector I have been.” she muttered tears building in her eyes.

As he walked further on into the trees, he could hear the sounds of car tires screeching. Not looking back, he knew she had left, which he didn’t blame her really, after all, what reason would she have to stay with him? All he had done was get her into more and more trouble, he wasn’t surprised she wanted to get away from him. Now looking back towards the road, seeing as the dirt still resided within the air from where her car’s tires had just sped off from, he let out a soft sigh as he then turned and began walking deeper into the rain soaked tree’s once more.

Stopping a few feet ahead, he leaned his back up against the trunk of one of the trees; his back slowly sliding down the trunk until he was now resting upon the wet grass, the rain still pouring down upon the trees, water slowly streaming down the tree branches dripping upon the now abandoned hero. He could have chased after her, he could have tried to catch up with her, he knew he could have, be he chose not to, he didn’t want to chase her, he didn’t want to hunt her down like all of the others in her life….he just wanted to protect her, to save her from the darkness she had seem to bury herself in, to help her find her way.

Leaning his head up against the tree, as water began to drip down from one of the branches overhead, causing water to slowly run down his forehead, he began to wonder why he cared so much about her, to go through this much trouble. In truth he did care about her, more then he probably even realized, ever since they had met in Vine City, every since she saved him, she was the only thing on his mind. Maybe it wasn’t just to save as to why he stayed with her….maybe it was because of something more, how he felt towards her, that feeling he would get when he would think about her, how she would randomly pop into his head and how it would instantly bring a smile to his face.

Quickly shaking his head, causing water to splash off his face, he shook those thoughts from his mind, knowing that it wouldn’t matter anyways. He knew she couldn’t feel the same way he did about her, how could she? All he had done was make her life worse. Slowly, he began to make his way back onto his two feet, the rainfall beginning to come to an end. Either way it didn’t matter now, whether she felt the same way towards him or not, her actions spoke for her, she was gone, and that was the end of that.

Making his way back towards the road, looking down at the tire marks in the gravel, he continued to press on. After a few minutes of walking, he had made his way back towards the highway. Walking slowly on the side of the road, he watched as every so often a sixteen-wheeler would come rushing by, a minivan that most likely belong to a family on a road trip would speed by, and every time he would stick his thumb out, hoping that someone would pull over and give him a lift to the nearest town, but finding no luck, but would continue to try. His hands in his jeans pocket’s, he walked through the wet grass, his eyes looking upon the large valley opposite to the road of him, seeing as the dark rain clouds made their way over it, casting a large dark shadow   over the grassy plains.

After another few minutes of walking, his ears caught the sound of an oncoming vehicle as it sped its way towards the wandering hero. And like an instinct, he out stretched his arm, sticking his thumb out. Coming to a loud screech, the vehicle surprisingly came to a quick stop next to him, but before he could even think twice about it, he was taken back as the driver side door was suddenly kicked off its hinges and slammed to the ground. Looking on with curiosity, he was even more surprised when it was none other than Talon who stepped out of the old pickup truck. And without warning, she quickly rushed up to the confused hero, rapping her arms around his neck as she held him tightly for a moment, before then relinquishing her grip off him and backing away from his slightly, causing Charles to smile as he saw that cute, awkward smile on her face, he green eyes staring at him, “Sorry…um, I got you new clothes.” She said as she ran her hands through her hair. “A white shirt, jeans and leather jacket know your size so it will fit you.”

Continuing to smile, he looked at her with a puzzled look upon his face as he was still surprised to even see her again. Looking over at her, her eyes quickly broke their contact with his own, as she swiftly look away from him, her eyes staring down towards the ground, retaining that awkwardly look upon her face still. “What I mean to say is…we have to go, and thank you.” She said with a sweet smile upon her face, as she then began to make her way towards the truck she had drove up in. Not even saying a word, he simply smile at the fact that she had come back, sliding into the passenger seat of the truck, he look at her as she got in after him, sitting in the driver seat, and then starting up the vehicle’s engine.

“We’ll stop somewhere for you to change, I have no intentions of staying here a second longer than needed.” She said as the engine started up. But as he looked over at her, seeing her face suddenly filled with the look of concern, Charles could only wonder what it was that she was noticing and what he wasn’t. But without a second hesitation, with a sudden gripping of his hand, he found himself being dragged across the tore leather seating as Talon violently yanked him out the truck, just as it viciously exploded. The force of the blast catching the two of them, sending them flying shortly through the air, and then harshly rolling down the incline which lead down into the valley.

His body rolled and bounced down the grassy hill, his eyes opening only for a second, seeing as his whole world spun around him. Coming to a harsh stop at the bottom, he slowly got to his hands and knees. “Ow…” He said with pain in his voice, as he began to try shake off the dizziness his mind had gotten from the violent explosion and then sickening roll, he manage to look up to see Talon a little bit more up the hill then he was. His eyes the moving up towards the flame engulfed truck, his eyes squinting as they came to focus on what appeared to be two figures that made their way through the smoke that now began to fill the sky. “… those thugs were not after me they were after you and I suspect within the next day they will attempt to kill you…” Charles suddenly remembered what Talon had told him as he looked upon the two blacked cloaked figures.

Looking over to his side, he could see the trees of the small woodland area that Talon had left him a few yards away. His eyes darting back towards Talon as she remained motionless where she lay. Quickly getting to his feet, he glared at the two figures, he couldn’t afford getting Talon into anymore trouble, if these two were truly after him, he would deal with them personally. And with that thought, he quickly made a dash towards the trees, but quickly he stopped in his tracks as he found himself staring right at one of the black hooded figures who was now standing just inches away from him. “What the--?!” Charles let out in voice filled shock. His eyes slightly widened, never had he ever seen anyone move so fast, it was unreal to Charles. Knowing he wouldn’t have time to pull his shield around from his back, he quickly threw a right jab at the figure, only to be further shocked as the cloaked figure, like a flash of lightning, evaded Charles attack, retaliating with swift, multiple jabs to Charles’ arm.

Holding onto his arm, the young hero found it now completely numb, whoever this person was, they somehow knew exactly where the right pressure points were in Charles’ arm. Charles knew these two figures couldn’t be the same from the motel, those guys were street punks, but these guys….these guys were serious, which only made Charles even more uneasy. Who were these guys? Why were they after him and Talon? Where they Gambler’s men? And if so, why did Talon say they were after him and not her as well? Charles didn’t know the answer, all he knew that something else was going on, ever since they escaped from Gambler, Talon had been acting off….well, more off then usually, like she knew something that she wasn’t telling him, how she knew who those men were, and how she knew they were after him. Charles wasn’t sure what was going on, but he wasn’t going to stop until he got those answers.

Stilling holding onto his arm as he felt the sting of the figures attack running down his whole right side of his body, gritting his teeth, he glared at the figure, seriousness in his eyes. Throwing his left leg up, he slung it towards the figure, only to be shocked once more as the figure was suddenly gone. “Where did--?” But he cut himself off as he felt a presences now standing behind him. Thinking fast, he sent his left elbow flying backwards, but still no match for the figures incredible speed, the figure leaned their head back slightly, allowing Charles’ elbow to fly just inches away from their noise. Charles eyes widened as his body was filled with utter terror. Not even given the young hero another chance to make his next move, the figure sent a quick jab across Charles’ neck, causing the boy to literally loss his foot as his whole body went suddenly numb from head to toe. Landing in the figures arms, the cloaked person pushed the young patriot backwards, his landing face up in the wet grass. His mind quickly fading in and out, everything slowly going black and purple, his eyes looked up over at Talon, “La….Laura” He let out in a slight moan. His eyes closed and his head lowered to the ground, as he then blacked out completely.

His eyes slowly began to open as he regained consciousness. He found himself lying on a hard, concrete floor, his eyes moving around the small, empty room, seeing that he was in some type of warehouse. Slowly sitting up, he then found his hands both chained together behind him. Pulling as hard as he could, he tried to break free from them, but with no luck whatsoever, only noticing that the feeling in his arm had come back. Leaning his back up against the steel platted wall, he didn’t know how much time had passed, or where he was or even how he had gotten here in the first place. Attempting to break free from the chains once more as his strength in his arms slowly began to come back with each passing moment, but still having the same results. Leaning his head back against the wall, he could only wonder where he was now, or who those people where who had attacked them, and most of all, where they had taken Talon....

  Laura’s body laid there, motionless frozen cold with the deep sensual chill that descended upon the forest as the sun set in the west. Its last pure rays of light dancing as if drew forth the sickening shadows of the now lush forest. In the distance Laura could hear everything, she could hear the individuals proceeding to immobilize him dead. She could hear as they placed their attacks and pillages his body seconds over. She could hear how he was fighting, desperately but she knew that he knew these individuals were beyond his ability to attack. Her body still ached hideously as she could see her wounds were taking their own sweet time to heal.

Eventually she couldn’t take it any more as she forced herself to stand. Keeping her mouth shut she staggered pushing her back up against the tree as she managed to see in the distance as the young hero attempted to dig himself out of the treacherous hole he had fallen into. “Why didn’t you run...” she whispered placing her hand over her bleeding side as she tried to block the leaking of her bodily fluid. Right now she would have given anything to be able to change what was about to happen, to change it somehow so that he left her at the motel room, so that he left her at Gambler’s abode...she would have given anything to stop them from meeting if it meant to avoid this one moment that was about to take place.

Previously at the gas station

Dashing around a corner she froze as she reached a dead end of an alley way. Her hands slid against the icy stone wall as an odd almost unnatural darkness befell the small alley way. The gleaming of her claws as they unleashed and sliced against the walls shattering the silence. Panting heavily she spun around her foot claw releasing itself as she sliced into a group of trash cans. Crouched down a moment something sped toward her and in reflex she leaped backward perching herself on a wooden fence that lay behind her. Yet something rammed into it from behind causing her to lose her balance and jump spinning into the air and slicing her claws again intending to hit something but in truth hitting air.

She stopped she was getting nowhere. Her claws remained unleashed and her eyes focused on the ground as she relied on her other enhanced sense that she had gained. “Why give up so simply.”   Like lightning she spun on the ball of her foot her arm bent toward her chest and shot forward as her slashing of blades resonated she did finally hit something. A Silver blade was all her eyes focused on until she narrowed them on the person who was clutching the weapon. Taking a step back in a fighting stance she was ready to attack until he flipping his sword to the other side and dropped it on the ground as she noticed the other half of the blade was stained already in blood.

Finally she began studying his features dark black hair shoulder length wildly laid upon his face deep, almost glowing blue eyes gazed back at her he was dressed in a full black suit he almost appeared like Gambler with his attire, but it was not him. “The boy, where is he?” Her eyes shot up from the weapon as if she was now a frightened animal surrounded by predators. Silence cut through the walls like a knife slashing at a dead carcass. For a second she thought that the blade retained War Killer’s blood but a swift inhaling of the scent calmed her fears yet she knew she had smelled this scent before.

“Who are you ?” she bluntly said with a darkened hint of anger in her.   “Bring us the boy.” Like a jack out of the box Laura’s body hurled forward her claws extended as she slashed at his chest yet only slicing the clothes. The young man staggered backward observing his now torn attire with a devious smile “You didn’t draw blood Laura, your losing your touch.” Her neck bent upward as she glared at him her teeth now visible as the feral animal began to take over. “Who are you!” she said her tone risen in rage yet also anxiety. A deep chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head his locks beating against his face. “The Scent Laura….don’t tell me you can’t even remember the scent of your own daughter?”

Instantly time stopped all sounds ceased all thoughts in her mind became irrelevant. Her eyes dropped behind her to the silver weapon as she sniffed in the scent once more, and flashes images all laced with pain and solemn regret overcame her. “Brook….” she whispered her emerald eyes dropping to the floor like her heart did in her chest. “Yes little Brook, let me tell you that little girl is amazing she lost over a 3 pints of blood and still she survived. “Laura cringed as if a dagger had been stabbed into her chest her eyes shut tightly as she gritted her teeth not saying a word. “And obviously her ability of touch made her a hard child in truth to capture but the family you placed her with was quickly disposed of.”  

“Who are you .” she said once more while tears began to build up behind her eyes “Where’s the boy?” he asked again, his brow raised. Laura could not help but have hideous images flash before her face of her little girl being tortured by whoever these men were. “Bring us the boy and you’ll get your daughter.” Her eyes looked at him with utter confusion as she finally gained the stability to ask “Why do you want him?” The man shook his head as she sighed deeply extending his hand to the sword as it instantly moved into his grasp. “Because we do.”   With that he turned and began to walk away “Follow the scent you’ll find the location you have 24 hours Miss Elysian, please do not force me to kill an innocent child especially yours.”

Present

A sudden icy jab to the neck was enough to silence the hero permanently. Talon cringed as she looked away a moment her hands clutching fists. Taking in a final deep breath most of her wounds in her chest had healed and she was able to walk. Finally her eyes returned to watch as the young hero fell face flat on the ground.   She would have given anything for that to be it, but it wasn’t. His exhausted emerald eyes glanced over at her in desperation as he utter largely out of breath “La….Laura”. With that the Star spangled hero feel into the realm of unconsciousness. Laura’s emerald eyes swiftly moved from the body of War Killer to one of the hooded figures who clutched a dagger in his hand.

He raised it high ready to bring it down in the back of the poor boys throat and that was when she called out “Stop!” her voice echoed through the threes as birds once lodging themselves flew violently away. The hooded man stopped the instant her voice priced the silence and as he glanced up he could see Laura’s torn and tattered body walk toward him slowly, her eyes never laving the body of the her. “Don’t kill him...not yet.” She whispered knowing he could hear her. When close enough she crouched down her knees brushing against the rain tipped grass. Slowly she turned the boy’s body over to see his dirt and dew covered face.

Slowly she slid the tips of her fingers across his bruised check as regret built in her eyes. “We have our orders” the hooded figure said as he grabbed her wrist only to have her swiftly pull it away. Leaping to her feet she glared at him, pointing her twin blades directly at his face.”First I want to see my daughter...” she hissed her emerald eyes faded to a sun set yellow. The man backed away as he raised his hands which caught the young Lycan off guard but she stood her ground. As the two embarked on a staring contest Laura watched as the figure bowed gently and nodded his head. Grabbing the body of the boy he slumped it over his shoulder and walked toward the sun set.

Laura silent followed behind her mind falling back to the moments she had spent that built up to this. How much of it was real, and how much a lie? She couldn’t tell. With her hands deeply in hr pockets she followed like a sheep to the slaughter doing her best to justify her actions the best way she could yet no matter what she did, she couldn’t seem to accomplish that task. Eventually as the continued on the incline they reached the top of the hill to star down at a dark cumbersome valley with a steep walk down. Then perfectly situated in the haven of tall monolithic tress there was what looked like a medium sized ware house. Its whole exterior was metallic and was locked by two hulking doors. There was a black Mercedes Benz parked outside.

One of the two hooded figures glanced back at Laura, she was able to note his darkened eyes as he stared at her before uttering in a husky voice. “Be careful, for the ground you tread is not your own.” With that they started the long and treacherous path, Laura would have had no trouble...if she kept her eyes on the ground, but she couldn’t. Time after time her jaded eyes glanced upward at the unconscious body of her former friend. What was the matter with her? She had betrayed Gambler, a man who she had known for so much longer, she betrayed her adopted Father The Hunter. She had even gone as far as betray her team why was this betrayal against this hero so hard!?

Before she knew it she was standing feet away from the door as it slowly creaked open to reveal nothing but darkness within the housing complex. As she watched the two individuals disappear inside the shadows of the ware house she took one final glance backward as she saw the last rays of sun light blocked out by the distant mountain peaks. Within the young teenage assassin there was a morbid feeling, a feeling that caused her to think that somehow the next time she saw the sun, it would be on different terms. Swiftly looking back she briskly walked past the two massive doors as they drew to a loud close, and the latching of locks could be heard after.

For a few moments there was utter darkness as all the windows had been blanked out. But eventually as her keen scents kicked in she was able to paint a mental picture of the place using the scents, along with her feral eye sight. As she glanced around she had lost track of the two individuals and more importantly War Killer. Desperately her eyes searched in a full circle as she couldn’t see anywhere for them to has disappeared to. This gave Laura the only conclusion possible: a trap door. She knew that in this almost unreal darkness there would be no way she’d be able to find anything. She was dealing with professionals and whether it was their intentions to leave her like this she had fallen in this situation.

Dropping to one knee she flatly laid the palm of her hand on the ground sliding it across the floor nearest to the door to detect the head residing from the two hooded figures. Whenever your foot presses down on the ground it leaves a residual trail of heat but it swiftly fades.  As she felt around she was able to feel a very slight heat and trail of foot prints. With a trial now detectable she got to her feet and followed it to what appeared as a pile of boxes. Pushing them aside she was able to reveal a hidden stair well that spiralled down no doubt to the basement. Swiftly she slid down the railing until performing a flip as she landed coldly upon the cemented floor.

Her head shot up to see the two hooded figures and between them the young man she had seen prior. The body of the young hero was nowhere in sight, which caused a knot to tie deeply in Laura’s stomach. Standing fully erect she pointed her claws directly at the blue eyed, black curly haired man. He was wearing a long black trench coat and she could detect the hilt of a sword protruding from his left side. A devious smirk curled upon his crimson coloured lips as he spoke “So miss Laura....you did better than I thought, you really are a traitor.” He said as he stepped out of the guard from the two figures as he dismissed them.

Outstretching his hand toward her in gesture he added “Now come...look upon your work.” Cautiously she took his hand to have him gently pull her toward a door. As he opened it she was a bit reluctant to step in for all she saw once more was utter darkness. Now this darkness was not a dark that occurred when the shadowing of the sun took place. No this kind of sinister shadow was anything but natural, she wasn’t even sure if it was living or not but she had her own assumptions she would keep silent. As she passed through the door she glanced around as her eyes started to adapted and in truth there was a bit of a dim hazy glow from the burning lamps above.

She paused a moment as the young man stopped as his eyes moved upon something around the bend. Noticing Laura’s hesitance he outstretched his arms one more with a devious smile on his face as he said in a sinister tone “Come Laura.” As he said he name shivers went down her back, it wasn’t the fact that he was saying it but the fact of how he said it. Willingly she placed her hand in his as he once again slowly pulled her into the light as on that moment she gasped slightly. For laying before her was the fallen hero War Killer. Who had managed to overcome Gambler, and all previous threats but betrayal he had not yet tasted. He was chained to the wall, from what she could tell looked utterly exhausted as if he had been pulling at the chains the whole time.

“Hero...” she mouthed the words as he slowly lifted his eyes a moment and the shock she saw filling his jade eyes wished Laura to run. Yet as she turned to walk away a tightening hand on her arm stopped her in her tracks. The Strength this man mustered was beyond her comprehension, as he tightened his fingers around her arm she cringed due to the sheer force of it. As she turned her locks of hair spun also falling across her face. Her emerald eyes for a moment managed to look the fallen hero in the face but that was as long as she could hold his gaze. Yet while their eyes did meet she managed to give him a strict implication that speech would not aid his cause. Whether he would lash out in anger, or star silently in shock she didn’t know. With that gesture her eyes fell on the man holding her arm as she bluntly pulled away, backing up a few steps to gain a paces distance.

“What do you intend to do with him.” She said subtly watching his face intently to see his response. There was a brief moment of silence as he glanced at her a moment with a prudent look on his face. “What is it to you?” At that moment she wished she had a swift come back but she didn't see the point, she knew what his ultimate destiny would be. With her head bent low and her fists clenched she hissed through her teeth “Give me a moment with him.” He looked at her suspiciously his brow raising above his curly locks, yet he nodded his head and turned to exit the chamber. As the door slammed shut leaving the two alone Laura stood there in silence.

Her breathing was shallow as her eyes cast elsewhere, she wanted to explain but how could she? Finally mustering up the courage she looked at War Killer once more, pity filling her eyes like tears. In truth she was in the brink of tears but she had to hold back. Both their lives were at stake...too much was at stake. Taking a cautious step toward him she knelt down inches from where his body laid. Wiggling herself closer she placed the palm of her hand on his check. He was burning up, obviously he had attempted to sever the chains several times over and failed which placed him in such a heated state. “I...” she cut herself off as she looked away a moment pulling her hand away in sync timing.

A deep silence over came the whole area as to Laura time had stopped. Eventually she couldn’t hold back as the tears that had desperately been building out finally slid down her blushed cheeks. “I’m sorry.” She whispered as her eyes once again looked at him now in desperation. “...hero I am terribly sorry. They left me no choice. If I did not do as they said they would have killed my daughter, and hunted you down and killed you and those they found you with.” Her tone was a hushed one as she placed her hand on his shoulder wiping away her tears with the other. “Please, believe me when I say...the time we’ve spent...none of it was a lie. I am sorry...so so sorry hero.”

With that she got to her feet and turned away. She couldn’t look back, if she dared she feared getting lost once more in those deep crystal green eyes of his. She wanted to change the events that would inevitably take place but she knew she had no choice. After seeing War Killer, and weighing the option of her Daughter’s life, she couldn’t risk it. The door opened and as it did bright light flooded the area. Slowly the young blue eyed man casually walked in his hands in his pocket as he approached her. “So your little good bye session over deary?” Now she was getting uncomfortable. What were his intentions really? Why her? There was a connection and she assumed it had to do with   him being so....personal with her all the while.

“Yes.” She said coldly as she was about to turn and exit. But as she did once again her hand was clasped by the young man as he pulled her in to kiss her. A devious smile appeared on her lips as she then swiftly unleashed her twin talons jabbing them into his chest, location: The heart. With that she raised her right leg but as she did he clasped his other hand around her neck, she was expecting that. He foot half raised she bent her knee slamming the ball of her foot into his chest sending him back first into a pile of wooden boxes. Laura stood there reeling from what she had just done. Deep gasps for breath slid through her dried out lips as she continued panting a moment, her eyes focused on the shattered boxes seeing if there was any movement.

After several seconds had passed her neck turned to fall upon the chained up hero. She couldn’t help but smile to see the astonished look on his face. “What?” she said in a sarcastic tone. Yet those were the only words she had time to say for the scuffling of the other two hooded guards could be heard coming down the stair well. Dashing to the opened door Laura kicked it shut and pushed a metallic krait in front of it. With that she leaped over to War Killer unleashing her claws as she began cutting against whatever the metal was. Suddenly banging against the door could be heard as no doubt the two cloaked guards were attempting to save their leader. Eventually with her knuckles bleeding she managed to sever both chains that tied the hero down.

 Pulling him to his feet at that exact moment the krait burst from the door crashing against the wall as the two men stood. Laura glanced hesitantly at the star spangled hero as she said blatantly “You take the one of the right I’ll take the one on the left, they’re fast so use that against them.” She really didn’t have much time to explain the fact she had just sacrificed once more all she had left for him was hard to believe she was still trying to figure it out. But something she would eventually have to tell him was that only a few minutes ago she was ready to walk away and have these men deal with him in whatever way they wished. Something made her change her mind or at least some one anyways.

She didn’t have to time think she just acted, knowing that probably her first attack would fail due to their enhanced speed she needed to think outside the triangle. With her fists clenched she dashed forward unleashing her claws as her feet lifted from the ground. Her body soared to her assailant and like she anticipated as if he disappeared as if he was never there. Her eyes behind her as she unleashed her claw in her right foot using the momentum gained from her leap and landing on her left foot to form a 180 degree spin. As her foot claw sliced through the air it was instantly stopped with the hand of the hooded figure. Now one legged Laura found her ankle clutched tightly by her opponent who had a devious smile gliding over his dry brownish lips.

The cracking of her bones were the next thing that occupied her mind as she cringed in pain attempted to pull away. To her astonishment he actually started snickering as if this was funny, well she would swiftly turn that smile upside down. Taking the risk she jumped up using her left leg as she raised it directly up similar to that of an axe kick instead she sliced both in raising it and bringing it down. Her claws directly penetrated her rivals face tearing his shrouded hood in half causing the tattered cloth to fall to either side. Yet as she did this he realised her right foot causing young Laura to slam onto the cemented ground. Because of both her feet being in the air while she fell down her back was the first thing to absorb the impact. She let out a gasp of pain as her body laid flat on the cold concert slab.

Her eyes though were swiftly diverted as it fell upon her enemy’s now revealed face. Gasping in shock she attempted to console herself but found no way to. If she had not witnessed the death of her brother she would have said he looked similar...no exactly like him. In rage her attacker charged toward her grabbing the metallic krait and throwing it directly at her. Mustering the only remaining strength she had she used her elbows and knees to roll herself over just enough to miss the falling metal. Taking in a deep breath she forced herself to her feet, yet as she did she could not help but stager due to the tremendous strain that fall had impacted upon her spinal cord.

Her emerald eyes fell upon the man as then once more he disappeared. Laura out of fear didn't dare move, but in truth used her other sense to detect his presence. Like the flipping of a switch she leaped forward rolling on the ground at the precise moment to avoid her opponents striking side hand jab directly on her shoulder, which no doubt if succeeded would have shattered her shoulder bone, and scapula. With the tips of her fingers resting upon the ground and the wall straight in front of her she noticed the broken chains that once use to be around War Killer’s arms. As her eyes glanced at it she knew she didn't have time to fully think this through, for she could hear his footsteps approaching her.

Her body like lighting bolted sideways as she performed a slanted dive for the chains. She did this in a way so she was able to discreetly seize the chains without her opponent noticing. As her body finished the 360 degree turn and she found herself back on her feet the next image flashed violently in front of her face as the individual in question harnessed a screwdriver and was attempting to jab it into her head.   With his body inches away from Laura’ at the appointed time she sprung to her feet (for she had been crouching all the while). Clutching the chain in both hands she outstretched them apart directly under the assailants hand and when the fixing implement was inches from her forehead she threw the chains parallel having them cross over the top of his hand and inevitably licking around his arm.

With that she grabbed the opposite ends and pulled them on spot instantly stopping her opponents attack with the screw driver only an inch or so from her face. His eyes were now staring in astonishment at her but she didn’t take time to pause. Unleashing her right foot claw she jabbed it into his stomach twisting it so it would penetrate the right hand lung. With that head butted him and pulled the chains as tightly so she could stop the flow of all fluids from the individual’s hand. With that she released the chain in her left hand and spun it around his neck as she pushed her back against the wall enhancing the force of her kick aimed directly at the groin. Sure all people had different weakness yet he was humanoid and for men in truth there was only one assured.

With those attacks finished she let go of everything as her body slumped to the floor in pain. Her eyes slowly diverted downward to notice that as a last effort her attacker had literally dug his hand into her chest. Due to her absent mindedness she had only noticed now. Cringing in pain her body pushed firmly against the wall as she dug her front teeth into her tongue. In applying force to her chest with both hands she hoped this would lessen the loss of blood and speed up the healing process but only time could tell. Taking in deep gasps of air her eyes fell upon the motionless body of the once hooded individuals. His long blond hair soaked in his own pool of blood.

One breath after another her eyes wavered to the rest of the room, only to realize that it was not the small holding room she thought it to be. It was another ware house underneath the previous one. No doubt the kraits and boxes that now lay shattered on the floor managed to put up the illusion of a confined space but the utter most truth was very different. Running her burse and bloody hand through her sweat drenched locks she attempted to locate War Killer. Without fully know the vast size of the room she reckoned maybe he was in a whole different area entirely, who knew how big this place REALLY was.

Using the wall as a prop she managed to pull herself to her feet. The exterior chest wound hand healed but the damage interior wise would still take a few minutes she hoped. “So little Laura ready for more?” That voice incited fear in her heart as her head turned to her side to see the man she had stabbed in the heart standing as if he had always been there. She shook her head in disbelief as her eyes stared consistently while her mind attempted to piece together a reasonable sentence and attack plan. “How...” were the only words that escaped past her dried and water thirsty lips. Her black locks of hair flowed down her face like vines hanging in a forest blocking most of her facial features.

“Please, you didn’t think it’d be that easy.” He said while stepping over the dead body of his guard his hands outstretched in a sarcastic manor with a provocative grin. As Laura was about to move her body instantly froze as a gust of wind overcame her and next thing she knew he was whispering into her ear “Please don’t fight, I would like to bring you back in one piece”. As the young Lycan prepared to slice at his neck she found her body flung against the room into a pile of wooden crates. The wood splinted into her already semi wounded back as the force caused her chest wound to break apart and bleed once more. Though through all this a cry didn't escape her lips.

Not lagging a bit she stumbled to her feet unleashing both her Talons as she stood her ground. Once more he was out of sight but she was ready for- a lightning dash to the left caused Laura’s shoulder to slam into the metal wall. It was only as she glanced back that she noticed she just avoided a deadly attack. The man, he now clutched that of what appeared to be a katanna, but that was not what frightened her. The makeup of it was- another premature attack forced the young teen to dive forward in several rolls landing her against the metallic crate that had blocked the door. Her head ached, due to absorbing the force of the blow.

Hardy able to take in the many progressions of attacks Laura needed time to catch her- a cry resounded from her throat as pain instantly flushed through her system like water. Her eyes timidly fell upon her shoulder which now lodged the blade. Obviously if it was a normal katanna she would have nothing to worry about, but it was not. The weapon was laced with silver, Laura’s only weakness...besides War Killer. The metal began eating at her flesh as the smell of burned food could be detected. “So darling how did you know?” the man said a grin on his face, his eyes focused on her. For a moment she looked like a wounded deer immobilized by car lights but swiftly that childish face faded as the eyes of an animal kicked it. Her claws were the first things unleashed as she severed the blade of the sword from the hilt.

This must have caught the man by surprise for he didn’t move in time to avoid her foot claws dashing forward and ramming into both his thighs. She used as much force as she could muster to push him back as she then rolled onto her stomach and prepared to- her mouth opened as blood poured through it, it was gasping for breath as she froze out of pain. Her eyes were wide in shock as a small whimper escaped through her nose. The blade had now been driven directly into her back and she could feel it digging into through her laced spinal cord to slice through the actual bone. Her joints were frozen as she could hear her opponent straddled behind her as he breathed deeply. “Sorry Laura, I said I’d bring you back alive....but paralyzed works as well.” Laura knew that the moment that silver sword pierced through her back bone that the wound would be permanent and she would be immobilized possibly indefinitely.

But instead of ramming it right through her he slowly pulled it out of her back with great caution.  With that he kicked her over causing her to shut her eyes attempting to block out the pain. Now laying on her back she wearily stared up at him her eyes fading open and shut. Standing over her he knelt down placing his hand on her chest. “Sorry Laura.” But as those word echoed through her head her eyes shot open a piercing bright yellow as she clutched her hand around his throat as tightly as possible. He stared at her shock filling his eyes as she attempted to break her grasp but he was unable to.

With a devilish grip she used her legs and flipped to her feet till clutching his neck tightly before letting it go as she grabbed the broken blade on the ground and stabbed it straight through his forehead. The man staggered to his feet clutching his hands around it as he persistently pulled it out of his chest. With his hands bleeding her slashed it toward her slicing it across her check. Ignoring the pain she shot her hand forward to stop the blade as it soared toward her neck. Wrapping her fingers tightly around it was blood dripped from her cut hand she pulled it from it. The silver dug into her skin as she tossed it aside glaring at him, as she hoarsely spoke “I’m not...dyeing...” Her flared up eyes glared at him as she charged toward him sending her claws into his throat as she twisted them.

He let out a shrike as he grabbed her other wrist twisting it while gasping out “I’m not either...” she let out a cry of pain as she felt her left wrist shatter under his grip. With that she pulled away her back slamming into the cold wall. Madly her eyes looked around for anything that could bring this beast down. He wasn’t dyeing. She had hit all the vital points but he was still alive. Stained in blood he outstretched his hands with a provoking smile as he licked his lips of the blood. In all this time young Laura had not paid attention to all the wounds inflicted upon her body. Her chest was aching, and with her limp left arm and silver infected right shoulder she didn’t know how much longer she could take this.

“How did you know?” his exhausted voice slit through Laura’s thoughts as she looked at him with a devious smile. “Would you believe me that I already had suspicions the moment I looked upon your little warehouse?” he shook his head as his arms folded. “You were very persuasive to make me believe she was here but you forgot a few things. You see the car parked in front I know for certain once housed my daughter probably you used that as the mode of transportation after you kidnapped her so I don’t doubt that you did take her away but I know she’s not here.” Taking in a deep breath she forced herself to stand her ground she might have wanted to collapse but she needed to remain standing.

“What about her scent? Even you would admit that her scent lingers in the very rooms of this establishment.” He said subtly. “Of course I do not, you did well in fabricating her scent making it appear as if you got her actually into this place but we both know you didn’t get her past the front door.” This time she paused and her took advantage of it “But that does not change the fact that we still have her, and that every moment you waste fighting me her life hangs in the balance.” Snickering slightly she shook her head her black blocks hitting against her face “That’s where your wrong, you don’t have her anymore. I admit it is her scent that is in these walls but it’s at least 7 maybe even 10  days old. See a person’s scent changes from a day to day basis possibly even hours. Obviously there are some main things that remain the same and most people over look the small details. As a person ages there is a part of their smell that alters with their aging but it is so minute that it is hardly detectable unless looked for. Most people don’t know this so they don’t look but I grew up in a facility and they trained me to look at EVERY detail.”

Brushing her lose hair behind her ear she slid her one hand into her torn jeans pocket “It was simple actually...” she said taking on a confident tone. “You obviously did manage to catch her but something happened she escaped for her foot prints only run up from the car and stop just past the doors of the warehouse. Within the time of you transferring her from the car to the warehouse something went wrong she escaped or someone saved her I don’t know but what I DO know is you don’t have her anymore.” Shaking his head in disbelief he let out a deep sigh shrugging his shoulders “Even if your...hypothesis is true about her scent what about the blood on the knife? Did we fabricate it as well?”

“No” she said assuredly lowering her head “That was her blood but it was stale. Blood the blood you showed me in the alley way was already several days old, older than the scents here....either you gathered it on an injury she must have had several days prior...or you went further than that gathering up blood over a period of time possibly posing as a doctor to get it from her easer. The fact is you had been planning this for a lot longer than before because you knew there was no assured way you could get her back after she left. That’s why you had the blood as a backup plan if you didn;t have her, you just needed enough evidence to prove that you HAD , had her to make me think you still had her.”

Taking in a deep breath she finally admitted “But in truth I already suspected forgery the first I saw your face. There was undeniable proof that something went wrong during the kidnapping that forced you to push your plans forward in the future.” Her hand lifted as she pointed to his face “That scare...it use to be a bite mark didn’t it? You knew if I saw it a day after you got it I would have simply figured this all out, so you had to wait so the bite marks disappeared and all that remained was bruise.” With that she pushed herself up against the wall, even though it proved that her daughter was not here it didn’t matter she was going to die, no   matter what she knew or didn’t.

But just as defeat looked like the only option she heard a buzzing of something cutting through air. Her eyes widened as she devious smile appeared on her lips. “What are you smiling at child” he said snickering. “Your doom...” with those words the flashing colours of red, white and blue blurred her vision as it cut toward her opponent violently spinning through the air until ultimately impacting her opponent in the chest. Due to the sheer force it pushed him backward straight through the wall beside him hopefully severing him in half. As the dust settled a moment and the crates of boxes fell upon her oppressors body she fell to her knees exhausted. Her eyes stained straight at the floor as the pain flooded her body.

Yet with in her silence the sound of footsteps approaching her could be heard until they finally stopped in front of her. Slowly she looked up to see the bruised and battered face of the young hero, his clothing torn and his breathing heavy. Taking in a deep breath she forced her legs to get to their feet. Now standing before the young man who even after her betrayal still saved her life she said the only words she had left to say. “I’m...so sorry.” Tears filled her eyes as then they diverted from War killers emerald green to what laid behind him. “I’m so sorry...” she finally said dashing forward as with all her strength knocked him aside to the ground so he could avoid death. Blood splattered laid a rain upon the hard cemented floor dropping on the floor like rain drops from dark clouds. Laura stood there her mouth ajar as she her whole body trembled. Her eyes were focused on the man standing before her, the same man that she thought she had vanquished twice before.

“Sorry...you should be.” He whispered staring into her tear stained jaded eyes. He held within his hand the splintered silver blade stained with Laura’s own sticky bright red blood. Falling to her knees she placed one of her hand on the ground in an attempt to support her but another was wrapped tightly around her neck. Her eyes danced around the room opening and shutting as if she was going crazy, and she was with pain. For the blade sliced directly across her neck. If she had stepped a inch closer than she already was her head probably would have been detached from her body. Blood gushed out like a waterfall as oxygen escaped her gasping lungs. Finally with no strength left her body fell face flat on the floor but she wouldn’t give up.

With her hand still tightly wrapped around her throat she beat against the ground with her fist letting out one muffled cry after another. Her face tightened in pain as she felt as if she was being suffocated. Blood because it was being stopped started pouring up out of her mouth as she began throwing up its putrid liquid. Hoisting herself up on her right shoulder she spat out the blood that was building with in her mouth. She gasped for air but no air managed to fill her lungs- she was going to die. The wound was forged with silver and in that sense it was permanent the wound would take house to heal and she’d be dead in minutes.

Due to the loss of blood her body collapsed on her side as she dug her nails into the floor scraping them against it trying to block out the pain but she couldn’t. Finally with all her strength almost gone she once again fell on her back as her eyes faded in and out of vision. Once again the cold blue eyes   face she could see hovering over her. “Any last words little girl?” her eyes dizzily stared up at him as she then turned her head clasping both hands around her throat as tight as she could. With that she began saying something but it was softer than a whisper. A decrepit snicker appeared on his face as he leaned in and mockingly added “What was that?” her eyes then glared at him as she said in a much louder tone...

...”C...ch...Charl....Charles!” she shouted in his face sending her head to hit against his so hard that he staggered backward. And with that she used her legs to twist around his causing him to lose his balance. With all her ingenuity used up her eyes tear stained emerald eyes fell upon War Killer several feet away. Finally she had said the only thing she had wanted to say his name. Whatever breathing she was doing it was shallow and almost undetectable as a blood of blood had built up around her, soaking her clothes drenching her hair. Shutting her eyes a moment she as she formed words in her mind she attempted to speak though when she did she could feel her own severed bone slicing against her opened flesh wound on her neck.

“Charles...” she said softly her voice filled with regret and pain “Please...” the uttering of his name was much more than what was perceived. For before she had stated to the young hero in the car that she only called the people she loved by name. “I’m sorry Charles...” she gasped for air as her head fell limp on the ground as her eyes began to close. “It wasn’t a lie....it was real....I...Charles....I” coughing out more blood as she could feel unconsciousness fall over her like a blanket. “Charles....I’ve always...like you.” And with that her clenched fist lost grip as her eyes fell shut and she faded into the darkness that beckoned her.

His body rolled across the cement flooring, his voice letting out a painful scream as his bare skin scrapped across the hard surface, of course if he was wearing his uniform it would have absorbed most that, but he was only wearing normal clothing which meant that his body took every blow. Getting to his hands and knees, his eyes began to quickly scan the room as the hooded man slowly made his way through the whole Charles had just been literally slammed through. The room was filling with random chains hanging from the ceiling, like a slaughter house or some kind of house f horror, blood splattered over the floor and on the walls, only making the young Star-Spangled Hero wonder what kind of freaks they were really dealing with. “That all you got?” Charles said in a sarcastic tone as he got to his feet, pain filling his voice as he held his fists up, now in a fighting position. The hooded man simply smiled deviously at the young hero, seeing him as neither a threat nor a challenge, only a pest that needed dispose of.

But within the blink of an eye, the man was gone. Charles, now standing in the center of the room, quickly began to scan around him, only to feel a gust of wind roll through the room, causing the chains to swing and clang together, but it wasn’t the wind. And just as quick as he vanished, reappeared, now standing face to face with the slow hero, his eyes glaring into man’s who continued to hold the same grin upon his cheeks, as if this were a game to him. Charles only now realizing that the man was in front of him seconds later, through his right fist forward, but reacted to late as the hooded man then grabbed hold of his whole right arm, slinging the hero across the room.

Once more rolling across the blood stained floor, Charles slid right into another brick wall, knocking the breath right out of him as his back rammed up against the wall, his head doing the same just milliseconds later causing his vision to become red and blurring for a moment. As his vision started to back into focus, he found himself staring up at a dark figure, only taking moments later to figure out that it was the hooded man standing over his, Charles’ shield on his arm as he lifted it up high into the air, now ready to bring it down on the dizzy hero. His eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen, thinking quick, Charles’ hands reached around him, grabbing hold of a chain that was laying next to him, he quickly slung it around, allowing it to rap around the man’s leg as he then pulled it towards him, causing the man to lose his balance and fall backwards, as well as losing his grip on Charles’ shield which now rolled across the room.

Charles slinging his body past the man, he rolled across the floor as his hands reached for his shield. Grabbing it with both hands, he rolled to his feet; standing slightly crouched down, his shield now placed on his right arm. The hooded man quickly got to his feet as well, his grin gone now as it was now replaced with a look of annoyance. Rushing forward, the man then ran right up to Charles, plunging his fist into the young boy’s gut, causing his eyes to widen and blood to shot out of his mouth. Falling to his knees, Charles wrapped his arms around his stomach, as the pain of what felt like being shot with a cannonball filled his chest. Not wasting time, the hooded man continued to beat the boy, bashing his black boot across the young patriot’s skull, causing Charles to yell out as his face slammed into the ground.

Continuing to beat the defenseless hero, the hooded man threw this speed into the mix as he slammed his boot down, slamming against Charles’ body as he could begin to feel bones cracking as the man began to bring his boot down harder as his rage started to build. Charles tried to block out the pain, but it was no use as the man continued to beat him, he could feel his arms and lower side beginning to become numb, but he wasn’t about to just give up, he couldn’t, whether or not whatever her motives, he still had to protect Talon, after getting her into this mess, and somehow bringing her daughter into all of this, he owed her that much.

Seriousness overtook him as his eyes burned with rage, right as the hooded man was just about to jam his boot down onto the young hero’s skull, he was caught by surprise as his foot stopped in midair, just inches away from the bloody hero’s face, Charles’ hands gripped around the bottom of the man’s boot, his hands trembling as it was taking all of his strength to keep him from crushing his whole head. “RRRAAAAGH!!!” And with mighty roar, with all his strength Charles threw the man’s foot back, causing the man to wobble backwards, as he tried to regain his balance. Not even giving the guy a second to breath, Charles threw his arm up forwards, slinging his shield spinning vertically through the air. The man’s head cracked backwards as the metallic frisbee sliced upon his head, leaving a red and white streak as it flew up into towards the ceiling.

The man stumbled backwards frantically, his hand holding his head as he felt the crimson blooding flowing through his fingers from the large cut that was now sliced upon his forehead began to bleed. Getting on one knee as he tried to find the strength to stand once more, Charles stared at his foe as he wondered around the room in utter pain, which only made the War Killer grin as he saw his foe feeling agony for a change. But little did the young hero know that he had only angered the man even more. Now furious, the hooded man clinched his blood covered hand as he removed it from his head, allowing the red blood to flow down his rage engulfed eyes. Leaping forward, the man charged towards the still weak hero, Charles knowing he wouldn’t be able to react quick enough closed his eyes as his head turned slightly away, awaiting for the man’s next attack.

But slicing through the air still, Charles’ shield cut through the chains that were hanging from the ceiling, causing tangles of metal to fall between the two. Not being able to stop in time, the man leaped right into the chains, which were the only things that kept Charles from his grasp. Charles thinking quickly, rolled to the side, catching his shield, looking up at the ceiling as the hooded man continued to struggle and break free from his bondage. His eyes narrowing in, Charles bent his arm back, whipping it then forward, sending his symbol of freedom flying through the air once more, slicing a select few pieces of chain that were attached to the ceiling, causing the chains the man was tangled within to lift high towards the ceiling.

Looking up, Charles watched as the man pulled and jerked as he struggled like a fly trapped within a spider’s web. The man filled with the uttermost rage, pulled and tore at the metal chains that held him captive, causing him to scream and yell with fury as he continued to pull at them. Hearing the breaking of the chains, the young hero, stood back as he saw some of the chains rip apart, only to be completely shocked as the chains wrapped around the man’s hands and feet dropped to the ground, causing his body to slightly fall, only for his head to become tangled further with the web of chains. His fall stopping completely as one of the chains wrapped around his neck, causing his body to jerk as it stopped fiercely. His lungs now blocked off from any air, he began to gasp and choke as his body swung violently back and forth, his hands so desperately trying to release his neck from chain as his feet simply kicked in all directions.

Placing his shield upon his arm, Charles turned as began to walk towards the hole he had been thrown through, the man’s legs dangling in the background, only to begin to slowly come to a stop as his lifeless crops hung in the darkness, the shadows running over Charles as well, the white star on his shield shinning brightly, but his eyes draped in a blanket of black, “I win.” He said with a seriousness tone, not looking back, not saying another word, it was finished.

Slowly making his way through the hole in the wall, his eyes fell upon Talon as she was now standing across from the same man who Charles had pieced together as the one who had organized this whole fiasco. Noticing that they both were severely beaten, indicating that they had both been obviously battling one another while he was off dealing with the hooded guard. As they continued to talk, Charles smiled slightly as he could hear Laura as she literally took the man’s plan and broke it down piece by piece, like a modern day Sherlock Holmes as she proved every false lead he had on her daughter to be wrong or slightly inaccurate, while also keeping the man’s attention, allowing Charles himself to take advantage of the situation. Moving quietly through the shadows of the room, Charles gripped his shield, his eyes narrowing in on the man as he did last minute calculations on the angle at which he should throw his shield since he knew he was only getting one shot at this.

Letting out a low grunt, he sent the metallic shield forward flying through the air. “What are you smiling at child” the man said suspiciously as Talon already knew what Charles had done thanks to her feral abilities. With a devious grin across her bloody cheeks, Talon looked on as the red, white, and blue shield sliced right into the man’s chest, without a doubt cutting deep into him, possibly even in half as it went through into the wall behind him, “Your doom…” her voice spoke exhaustedly as her body to the floor, her body stained with blood from the vicious fight that must have taken place between the two. Charles rushed over to her, standing over her he looked down at her hell torn body, his breathing heavy as his green eyes peered down at her own as she looked up at him as tears began to fill her blood shot eyes, “I’m…so sorry.” She said as she continued to stare into his eyes. But before he could get even a word out in reply, he interrupted him as she swiftly threw him aside, “I’m so sorry…”

Like rain, blood splattered across the cement floor, the young patriot’s eyes widen in pure shock and fear as he looked upon her, her mouth open wide as her eyes looked as if they were trembling due to the shocking pain that rushed through her every bone now. “Sorry…you should be.” The anger filled voice came from the same man both Laura and Charles had both killed at least once. The man now stood before the terror filled Talon as her body trembled as he held in his hand a silver lanced katanna that was now covered with Laura’s own blood. Falling to her knees as blood began to pour from her neck; Charles continued to look on in fear, only managing to let out a small whisper through his fear stricken voice, “No….Laura…”

With no strength left within her beaten body, the rest of her hit the floor, and causing blood to shot from her mouth as she gasped for air that would not come. “Any last words little girl?” the man said as he looked down upon her, Charles looked over at him in complete anger, not knowing how, but knowing that somehow, he could kill the man personally for what he just did to her, to Laura. But the his eyes quickly stared back at Talon, as her eyes glared back at his own, her voice going in and out as she tried to speak while blood spatter between her lips, “Ch…ch…Charl….Charles!” She manage to let out a pain filled shout towards him as she literally knocked the man off his feet with the little strength she had left. Her words causing Charles’ mind to flash back to her what she had said before, “I only call those that I love by their name…” Finding what strength he could, he crawled over to her as she continued to speak, “Charles….please…I’m sorry Charles” She gasped for air as blood ran down from her mouth, her body now literally lying within a pool of her own blood. “Shhhh” The young hero cautioned her to save her breath as his arm slowly reached out, placing his bloody cut hand upon her cheek, their two beaten and battered bodies lying next to one another now. But she was persistent as she always was; which only caused him to smile slightly even so, “It wasn’t a lie....it was real....I...Charles....I” spitting up even more blood, he could see as her eyes began to close and open that he was starting to lose her, “Charles....I’ve always...like you.” And with that, her head dropped to the ground as her eyes slowly shut, the gripping of her hand then loosening, allowing blood to run freely from her throat.

“No….” He let out as utter fear ran through his veins as he could feel her cheek going cold, “…NO!” he shouted as his ears could hear the loud snickering of the man who did this to her, causing Charles hand to grip tightly as anger began over took him. The anger of not being able to save her, of not being able to help her get the life she wanted….to tell HER how he felt about her, and as his eyes continued to look upon her, this anger dissipated as he let out a soft cry “Please, oh please….don’t go” his hand fell upon her cheek once more as his eyes looked upon her blood covered face, still able to see the beauty that laid beneath. “Laura….please” and as he said this, something came over him, something he didn’t quite understand, but as his hand was suddenly engulfed by a bright bluish aura, he felt a force within himself that he never knew was there….until now.

His hand trembling, he held it over her throat, tears running from down his cheeks, dripping into the pool of Talon’s blood that now ran around him, the two liquids mixing together as the blue light glared off. Like a consuming blue fire, the light slowly began to rap itself around her neck as her wound began to heal, Charles gritting his teeth as he could feel the flame burning at his hand, but he ignored the pain, for it was worth it….she was worth it. His eyes glanced over as he let out a scream of pain, both of anger and love as he could see his hand right hand beginning to scar, something he knew would be permanent, but also a reminder of how he felt towards her….something he never wanted to forget.

“Come on….come on….come….on….” But the strain was becoming too much for him, feeling the energy literally drained from every part of his body, his hand feel to the floor as his head slammed into the ground as well, his eyes closed as he could see the flame slowly burning out around his hand, revealing how sacred his right hand now really was. And as his mind began to drift away into unconsciousness, his eyes slowly opened one last time, looking down upon the scar that now resided upon her neck, the blood stopped, as his eyes then looked up as her emerald eyes were now staring back at him. His eyes running with tears, he gave her a big smile as he looked upon her, letting out one last word as he continued to stare into her eyes, “…Hi.”

  “Hi...” his exhausted voice managed to utter as he inhaled deeply. Talon on the other hand just stared at him in amazement and slight awe and for a moment the world literally stood still. Once again she awoke to that boy scouts face staring down at her. She was alive, and in debt her life saved by this...well what was supposed to be powerless hero. Taking in one deep breath after another she sat up slowly shutting her eyes and opening them just to ensure she wasn’t already dead and he along with her. The young hero looked tried as if he was going to lose consciousness right before her eyes, but he fought it. She could see behind his battered and bruised exterior he was fighting to remain awake, as if he had too. On knowing this she couldn’t help but smile lightly at him.

But that smile soon faded as her eyes dropped to his burnt hands which were still giving off smoke. Her emerald eyes filled shocked as she slowly slid her finger tips toward his hand. Slowly she slid her fingers across his burnt flesh as she couldn’t help but feel a load of guilt piling on her shoulders. With concerned filling eyes she stared up at him wanting an explanation as to how this happened, how his hands could possibly have been burnt. She wasn’t aware of any fire or any abilities that those creatures possessed that could have wounded him so. In fact he only had those scares recently for when she last saw him before her loss of consciousness his hands were perfectly fine.  

As she was about to open her mouth to apologize the Star spangled boy quickly shushed her. “Don’t be Laura.” As he said that, his voice so smooth and soft so comforting she couldn’t help but have tears welling in her eyes.   She couldn’t help but wonder what a boy like this could be doing with someone like her. This time there was no hesitation there was no heading back instantly she lunged forward hugging him tightly. Her hands wrapped around his neck as her tears slid down her cheek drenching his shoulder. Then she began to sob slightly, not out of sadness but relief that it was at least right now all over. He was safe, and she was still alive that was all that mattered now to her.

She could have stayed like that forever but she didn’t need to add any strain to the heroes wounds any further so slowly she reclined. Her face blushing red as she once again gave that awkward grin. With that a more serious tone came over her as she scanned his body noticing that it had taken a large amount of pain and needed time to heal. She knew for a fact he was in no condition to make a walk back to the road honestly she wasn’t even sure if she was. There was a slight possibility that those people would return here they had failed they’d regroup and that’d take time.

Coughing slightly she felt the wound across her neck, she couldn’t help but be curious as to how deep it went but till she knew more she wouldn’t say anything, anyways she didn’t want to make a bigger dilemma out of the one these two teens already had. Pointing at him she motioned for him to stay put with a stern look on her before she staggered to her feet doing her best to appear not in pain, though she was. Taking in a deep breath she placed her hand on the wall before she wandered around a few moments looking for anything that could make their stay a little more comfortable. After about 5 minutes she returned limping but with a sarcastic expression of annoyance on her. She managed to retrieve a scrap blanket and a box of matches along with shredded wood to form a fire.

And with in no time light fire danced across the darkness of the ware house as she managed to carefully wrap the blanket around the wounded hero. Thankfully his wounds were not fatal she had managed to stop the bleeding and now time would be his only aid. She wished she could have gone out maybe caught something for them to eat but it was too risky those guys were still out there, and her last desire to was to leave the young man alone once more. So she sat there across from him staring at the fire taking in the warmth. The two had been very silent, suppose after near death experiences it makes you re-examine your life a little and that was certainly what Laura was doing.

“Thank you Charles.” She finally managed to whisper though faint he heard it and smiled that boyish smile he always gave her. “You’re welcome.” He said before lowering his head in a shy kinda way to look down at the fire. She had noticed it before but right now it seemed irresistible to realize how good looking he was. Soon Laura found herself staring and forced herself to break the gaze. Now blushing she looked at the floor until once again she heard his voice. “Laura, it’s getting cold and your hurt too and I feel bad hogging all the blanket so...what I’m is that if you want to you can come sit next to me.” He said stuttering strongly as a slightly embarrassed look overshadows his face as he replayed what he had said in his own mind.

Smiling she giggled slightly shaking her head before letting out a deep sigh. Them slowly she scooted over to him and leaned her head against his shoulders while allowing part of the blanket to drape over her legs and lower chest. Soon the young girl found herself falling asleep, she was exhausted but nevertheless she fought it. She wanted to stay awake, she wanted to remain conscious she didn’t really want this moment to end. Because she felt real, he made her feel like a real person not a genetic experiment or freak, not a monster or a clone or even a weapon. He brought responses in her, he brought out feelings in her which made her feel real. And as these thoughts ran through her mind her eyes became heavy and soon enough she fell asleep on his shoulder.

Like a moment that could never be retrieved her eyes flashed open, the scene around her had briskly changed from that of a quiet camp fire to bright lights staring her directly in the face. Her breathing quickened as she inhaled deeply. The buzzing of voices filled her ears as she slowly attempted to get up. A quick glance around informed her that she was in some type of hospital and if not seconds later a female nurse entered her hands raised. Laura wasn’t sure if she should be hostile or placid she didn’t know what was going on...and where was War Killer. Her claws swiftly unleashed as she pointed it at the nurse her sharpened canines fully in view.

“Girl please relax you’re safe.” Her voice was soothing but Laura’s stance never changed. “We mean you no harm.” Talon slowly regaining her bearings took in a deep breath as her arm lowered, but claws remained in tack. The world around her spun a mile a minute as instantly a wave of disorientation hit her hard causing her to lay back in the bed. Now breathing uneasily she closed her eyes a moment trying to figure out what was going on. “The young man that brought you...” the woman began. Instantly Laura’s emerald eyes shot open her body sat up fighting whatever pain she had with in as she slowly placed her feet on the floor gaining some balance.

“He’s fine. We treated his wounds and burns it was nothing to serious.” That wasn’t good enough where was he! Finally Laura was done fishing for answers as she opened her mouth to speak an unimaginable pain surged in her neck bringing her to her knees in utter ache. Quivering she staggered to her feet her hand tightly clasped around her throat. “Miss please take a seat, let me explain.” The woman said cautiously. Talon not wanting to waste any time forced words to leave her mouth through a gasp   “Where....is...he.” she said stuttering shutting her eyes as her whole body went into shock under the pain. Her fingers tightened around the metallic structure of the hospital bed as it was the only thing keeping her standing.

“He...he’s in his own room. It was hard to separate him from you but we eventually persuaded him that he needed his own rest and fresh air.” That was enough for her too know as then no matter what pain she was feeling she pushed passed the nurse into the hallway. She was dressed in the skimpy attire of a patient but it didn’t matter, where was he!? Her neck moved from right to left as she tried to get a stable scent but nothing came to her. She would have called his name if not for her voice hopefully being temporarily inactive. She wasn’t thinking any more she didn’t care about anything anymore except him, she needed to see him to know he was alright!

Before she knew it she was sprinting down the hall avoiding all staff in her way. She could hear people running after her but they didn’t matter nothing did but him. Desperation swiftly overtook her as she managed to peer out a window above ht entrance into the parking lot. As her eyes scanned the area they finally locked upon him as she noticed he was walking away. She could have ran down the steps she could have pushed her way past the hospital staff once more but she didn’t have time. Unleashing her claws she began hacking at the window finally breaking. Her whole hand by this time was bloody and scratched up once more but she didn’t give crap.

With that she placing her hand on the glass littered window sill before taking in a deep breath and leaping out. Her body for brief moments soared toward the ground with great grace and precision but that all stopped as her body crashed to the floor. Her legs buckled and she ended up breaking her fall with her bare elbows. She couldn’t have go, not without telling him thank you again not without telling him everything how sorry she was she couldn’t let him go just like that. Gathering all the strength she raise her head flicking her sweat drenched blue blocks aside realizing that her vision was starting to blur. But with in her own dizziness she managed to lock onto his figure and just like that she forced herself to her feet. Though she staggered she managed to take a few steps before another wave of pain slammed into her causing her to collapse once more.

By now all eyes were on her as she heard the nurse call after her but she didn’t listen. She needed to wrap her arms around him she needed to tell him she never meant for it to happen to him, she wanted to tell him how truly thankful she was for everything he did she couldn’t let him slip through her fingers like sand in an hour glass. With that she groaned in pain as she managed to get her one knee up followed by the other and summon the strength in the depths of her heart she ran toward him. Though her vision faded and her bones cried out due to pain she didn’t heed their call she wouldn’t. She’d endure all hell for this boy and she about to prove it.

Her hands wrapped tightly around him as she fell to her knees gasping out of breath. But what happened next caught her much farther off guard that ever before. “Hay let go lady” he cried out pulling out of her weak grasp. Talon fell on her face and as she manage to prop her head up she realized in horror that it wasn’t him but someone else. She didn’t know what to do, she couldn’t give up she needed to find him. Finally the nurse along with several male members of staff huddled around her. “I’m so sorry sir.” She heard the nurse apology ring in her ear. Laura laid motionless face flat on the floor as the desperation suddenly overcame her. She was too late, he was gone. Returning to his team, his friends and everybody he cared about. She’d probably never see him again.

“What should we do with her?” One of the Doctors asked, though Talon wasn’t paying much attention to them it didn’t matter what they did. It didn’t matter if they called up HYDRA, SHEILD if they found some way of contacting Gambler and he came to pick her up or even if The Hunter appeared out of nowhere and kidnapped her nothing mattered anymore. The hero was gone, and she had missed her only change to thank him and to actually tell him something that was true. Her breathing shallowed as her eyes closed indicating her surrender to whatever would happen next. But in truth none of that mattered, for being with him she realized something, something she really never could have imagined. That without him, she has no purpose to fight for her life, no purpose to kill no purpose to live.

His body ached as he continued to stare into her emerald eyes, feeling her finger tips slid down his now scared hand as she noticed the burnt marks he had just received by literally doing the impossible, which even at that moment he had no idea of how he did any of that to begin with. She stared back up at him, whom could tell that she was concerned for his injuries, and as her mouth began to open, he knew that she was about to apologize for the scaring, so he cut her off, “Don’t be Laura.” He didn’t want her to be sorry. It wasn’t her fault to begin with, and in truth, seeing her okay made him forget about the scar completely.

But without warning, as she heard his words, he was surprised as she quickly leaped towards him, rapping her arms tightly around his beaten body as she hugged him. Hearing her sobs and feeling the tears running from her face and down onto his mud covered shoulders, he smiled softly as he gently wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close to him. But just as quickly she broke the hug and pulled herself back. Seeing her blush, he began to grin awkwardly as in truth he didn’t want to stop holding her. Minutes had passed and not a word from either of them had been said. sure they were beaten and injured, but in the end that were both save and to Charles, the fact that she was okay was all that mattered to him at this point, nothing more.

But as the time passed, she quickly gave him a glance as she motioned with her finger for him to stay where he was as she began to search for something. Seeing her struggle to get up, due to the injuries she had received, he quickly tried to move to help her, but as he tried to move, a sharp pain ran down his entire body, causing him to fall back down to his knees as he cringed in pain. So he waited patiently until she returned moments later, now with what appeared to be an old blanket, some matches, and pieces of wood.

 It didn’t take long for her to get a fire started, the flames getting bigger, casting a bright light around them both in the darkness that surrounded them. And as she made sure the fire wouldn’t go out, Charles felt as she wrapped the warm blanket around him. His cheeks blushing red now, his head shank slightly under the sheet as he tried to make sure she didn’t see. Time continued to move as they sat by the fire, extending his hands towards the fire, Charles did his best to keep warm. “Thank you Charles.” Her words echoed through the silence. Looking up, he looked over across from him at her, seeing her huddled up near the fire, He began to blush again as he heard her thanks, lowering his head in shyness, he stared into the fire as he spoke back to her, “You’re welcome.” But as he said those words, he knew it was him who should be thanking her, every since they had met she had been the one saving his butt, getting him out of the jams only to pull her into them as well.

Looking over at her, seeing her blushing slightly as she huddled by the fire, feeling selfish for having the only blanket, he did the only thing that he knew was right, “Laura, it’s getting cold and your hurt too and I feel bad hogging all the blanket so...what I’m is that if you want to you can come sit next to me.” Feeling slightly embarrassed for literally asking her to just come and cuddle up with him, “Oh nice job dork scout….way to sound manly.” He thought to himself. But to his surprise, she smiled and giggled as she scooted over to him. Rapping the blanket around her so that they were now both cuddled up underneath the old rag, she slowly leaned her head against his shoulder. Looking down at her as she rested against his exhausted body, he could tell that she was tired after all that they had been through, he couldn’t help but break through the quite moment as he began to speak, “I never said thank you.” He said softly as he leaned back against the wall, his eyes glaring into the bright yellow and orange flames as they danced in the darkness. “For everything I mean, for all that you have done. Saving me in Vine City, not to mention standing between me and Gambler, and now saving me from these freaks….I just--” He let out a deep sigh as he tried to find the right words to say, he was never good at fully expressing his feelings, especially to a girl he cared about so much, “--I just wanted to say thank you for having my back…a-and--” His cheeks quickly turned bright red as he blushed once again as he tried to tell her how he felt, “--I-I just wanted to also tell you that….that I like you too.” But as these words finally made themselves known, his eyes looked down as he found her now calmly asleep, now rested softly upon his shoulder. Smiling, he let out another sigh as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her slowly closer to him as he found himself just enjoying the peace.

As night ended and morning came, the young hero even more exhausted after staying up all night as he watched over her, made his way down the road, Talon still asleep in his arms, he had made it a few miles from the warehouse, not even sure where he was going, just knowing that he had to get her some medical attention. Hearing as an oncoming vehicle came speeding down the road, he made his way closer to the road, hoping that they would stop. Driving up to the side of the road was an old blue pick-up truck, rolling down the window, the man in the driver seat looked out at Charles as he held Talon in his arms, “You need a lift fella? I what looked like some kinda car wreak a few miles back, guessing that was yours?” Even though he had no idea what the man was talking about, Charles wasn’t about o argue with the man, “…Yeah, do you know where the nearest hospital is?” he asked the man. “Yup, just a few miles up the road. Hop in and I’ll give ya a lift.” Nodding his head with appreciation, Charles, jumped into the back of the man’s truck as he quickly got back on the road. Looking down at Talon who was still fast asleep, her hair blowing violently in the wind as they speeded down the road, Charles slightly brushed her blood stained locks out of her face as he leaned back against the back window.

After a few miles, Charles looked around to find them now in a city type area. The truck pulling into the hospital parking lot, Charles leaped from the back of the pick-up, thanking the man before then running into the hospital lobby. One of the nurses quickly noticed him as he ran through the sliding glass doors and into the building, shock filled her eyes as she and a doctor quickly ran over to the worn-out hero. “Ohmygosh! Sir, are you okay?” the nurse asked in shock. Charles wasn’t surprise that they were startled, both him and Laura were beaten, bleeding and were only covered with tore rags of what were once clothing. “Just please…she needs medical attention.” He managed to get out in between long gasps of air. The nurse quickly rolled a stretcher over to him, helping to place her on it; they rolled her to the fist empty room they could find. “Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to wait outside.” The nurse said to him as he watched them lay Talon’s body down onto one of the hospital beds. “What? No! I’m noting going any--” But he was cut off as another doctor rushed into the room, “Sir, I understand, but we can’t help her with you juststanding here. Please, let some my nurse her check on your wounds while we work on your friend.” Clutching his fists, he glared at the doctor for a moment, causing the room to go silent except for the sound of the nurses who were already tending to the more server wounds that Talon’s healing factor had yet to heal. “Fine.” He muttered with anger in his voice as the nurse pushed him out into the hallway.

About an hour past after arriving, Charles had already allowed the nurse to check on his wounds, and now he waited impatiently outside of Talon’s hospital room, walking nervously back and forth down the hall as he did. And as the doctor slowly came out of the room, causing the frustrated hero to stop in his cracks and turn his attention to the doctor, “How…is she?” the concerned hero asked. “She’s fine, surprisingly her wounds just suddenly healed, I’m guessing she’s a mutant?” Charles didn’t answer the question, and ignored it since it wasn’t their business anyways. “Well…anyways. She should be fine in a few hours and will be able to leave sometime around tonight, so that’s good news--” But the doctor was cut off by another nurse who quickly ran over to them both. “Excuse me sir, but we just received this message that was addressed to you.” She said to War Killer as she handed him the message.

Quickly reading over the message, he was surprised to see that it was from CellPhoneGirl off all people, telling him that he’s needed back in Maple City. As he read this, he was still confused as to how she would know where to send the message, even if Eclipse did make it back to them and told them of what had happened with Gambler, how would they know where he was? As he thought about this, his head began to ache slightly thanks to being so exhausted, he decided to not question how they found him but should just be glad that they did. But he knew he couldn’t just leave Talon here alone, not after everything, he wasn’t just about to leave her! But as he tried to figure out what to do, he felt the hand of the doctor now resting on his shoulder, “Go. We’ll take care of her, go do what you need to do and we’ll watch over her until you return.” Charles hated this, he didn’t want to leave her, but his team needed him, and he would return, but he didn’t want her to wake up and think that he did just leave her there alone.

Quickly taking the clipboard that the nurse was holding, he began to write a note on the piece of paper. Folding the note up, he handed it to the nurse, “Please, make sure she gets this and that she knows that I’ll be back soon, and tell her that I’m sorry and that I hope she’ll forgive me for leaving.” Charles said with a sign as the nurse smiled at him, “Don’t worry, I will.” And with that, Charles walked over to the door, taking one last peek inside, glancing over at Laura once more as she rested quietly. Letting out a slight smile, he hated leaving her, but was just glad to see her okay. Walking past the nurse, he looked at her one last time, making sure that she understood that Talon would get that note when she woke up, before then finally taking his leave down the hallway.

As she watched him make his way quickly down the hallway until she was unable to see him any longer, she shook her head as she couldn’t believe how crazy that boy was. Making her way back into Talon’s room, she quickly rose her hands in shock as Talon was now awake, her claws pointed at the defenseless nurse, she quickly tried to calm, Laura down, “Girl please relax you’re safe.” She said as she slowly moved closer towards Talon’s bed, only to stop as she was afraid of what the girl might do. “We mean you no harm.” Her sharp canines now fully visible, Talon could feel the pain in her throat as she began to question the terrified nurse about where War Killer had gone, feeling the pain as she tried to speak, she forced the words to come out, “Where…is….he.” Holding her hands up, the nurse remained still as she continued to try and calm the emerald eye assassin down, “He...he’s in his own room. It was hard to separate him from you but we eventually persuaded him that he needed his own rest and fresh air.”

Forcing herself out of the hospital bed and onto her feet, ignoring the pain that screamed throughout her whole body, Laura pushed her way passed the nurse, pushing her aside as she made her way out the door and into the hall. And as she pushed her, it caused the nurse to lose her grip on the piece of paper Charles had just given her, letting it slowly descend to the cold tiled floor. Instead of chasing after her, the nurse ran over towards the window, watching as Talon leaped from a broken window to the ground below, seemingly attacking a random boy, before then collapsing onto the ground as other nurses and doctors ran over to her. Seeing this, the nurse began to grin as she pulled out a communicator from her pocket, clicking it on, she began to speak into it, “The boy is gone and we now have the girl back in custody.” And with a devious grin paltered across her face, the nurse walked calmly towards the door, opening it and then slamming it shut as she then made her way down the hall; and as the door slammed shut, a gust of wind suddenly blew across the cold tiled floor, the wind catching hold of the piece of paper and sliding it slowly across the floor and sending it sliding underneath the hospital bed.

Now lying within a pile of dust, the note would remain where it now resided, never to be found, and never to be read.