Runaway Love

Thirty Two: Not What Anyone Expected

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Axel

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A/N: OOO new perspective. What's gunna happen?

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My knuckles turn white as I grip the steering wheel heading back to the building that my life was almost just ended in. Flames engulf the building but no fire engines take effect to stop it. Probably because it's registered as an abandoned building and they'll only do something about it if it gets out of control. I reach the building and put my car in park. I walk around to the back of the building. To the back of the yard. In the corner of the yard I see a small figure, coiled up like a scared, hurt animal. Green eyes meet mine and I walk over.

"You are somethin special." I admit, lifting the small figure into my arms.

"Can't die. Have too many people to piss off." Tambre replies. 

"How did you get out?" I question as I set her in the car. I tear a strip off the bottom of my shirt and hand it to her. 

"First aid kit in the glovebox. I'll make it a steady ride." I inform. She smiles at me and it's a brilliant smile. Depsite the week she seems to be having. I close the door and walk around the hood of my vehicle to the driver side. I sit and put it into drive. 

"Where is Jett, Eric and Mel?" Tambre asks, hissing as the alcohol seers the infection away from her bullet wound. 

"Safe. They are at my apartment." I reply, distracting her.

"Did they get hurt?" She asks.

"Other than what was part of the plan. No." I admit.

"Are we going back there?" I ask. 

"No. I want you to be in good condition for the tackle hug you are going to receive when I take you back." I inform. She chuckles. She easily sews up her injury and sighs in relief.

"So much better." Her voice sounds clear. 

"So how much to you think until it heals enough for you to be, you know. Tackled?" I question.

"I'd say a day or two. Some food and regular cleaning. It didn't really shoot me it more or less skidded. You know through my skin." Tambre says. I laugh and drive to a second apartment I own, a few blocks away from my current one.

"I'll come check up on you often. Maybe during the night. Leave the door open, everyone in the building is working for me. Yes I'm a little big loaded before you ask. There is a full supply of everything you will need inside. Are you okay to get up there? It's three flights of stairs." I explain.

"I ran through an exploding building. I think I'm okay." She smiles.

"Okay. I'm not going to tell anyone anything. Like I said I'll check up on you. Text me if you need anything, but from this number." I hand her another phone. 

"Alright. Thank you Axel." She says softly. I nod.

"Anything for you and my brother." I reply, she closes the door and I drive back to my own apartment and run up the stairs. I swing open the door and see everyone sulking around in the corners.

"Jesus Christ." I whisper to myself. I flop down on the bed and close my eyes hoping to make all of this go away. 

~~

I wake up and the city street lights give the city a gentle, warm glow. I slip my phone out of my pocket and the screen illuminates with the time 1:32AM.

"Dammit." I sit up and notice everyone else sleeping. Jett lays on the other side of my bed so I toss a blanket over him. Melody and Eric sleep on the mattress on the floor. My phone buzzes in my hand and I lift the bright screen.

I need help, Axel. But it's fine if you are asleep.

~Tambre

 I sigh and press the dial button.

"Hey." Her voice sounds low.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Nevermind it's not important. I think they are gone." She says.

"Who." I become more alert.

"There were some guys outside the door that were asking if you were here. I didn't answer but I think they left." She explains.

"Probably not. I'll be there soon, stay put." I instruct.

"Okay." She obeys. I hang up and hear Jett shift.

"Axel? Who was that?" His groggy voice questions.

"My friend again. I need to go, but I'll be back before eight in the morning." I tell him.

"Okay. be safe." He says pulling the blanket closer around him. I sigh with relief and grab my keys. I decide to run to the building since it's just a few blocks away. I unlock the door as the autumn air tugs my lungs around with a sharp feeling and walks upstairs. No one around. Okay. Good start. I knock on my apartment door.

"It's me, Tambre." I say into the door. I hear a click and the door swings open. Her eyes look sunken and tired.

"Have you slept?" I ask. She shakes her head.

"It's hard to sleep when the person that can't trust you anymore because he thinks you're a fugitive now thinks you are dead." She explains rubbing her arms. I slip my hoodie off and drape it over her shoulders. 

"Thanks." She says and slips her arms in the sleeves, pulling it tightly around her.

"He doesn't hate you and yes he trusts you still. Do you remember him now?" I question. She shrugs, curling into a ball on the couch. I sit next to her and put my arm around her shoulders.

"Some what. I know that I love him. I want to remember him and forcing it just makes, not remembering worse." she explains.

"You need to give it time." I tell her.

"I want to remember him before I see him again. I don't want to think I'm dead. I want to see him as soon as possible but I don't remember him." She admits. A thought occurs to me.

"Tambre." My voice doesn't want to come out.

"Axel are you okay?" She asks.

"We need to go." I tell her.

"What?" her voice takes on my panic.

"I didn't end the project. I just started it."  I take her hand and she runs along with me.

"You seem well enough." I admit, trying to make anything up.

"Fast healing rate. I should be okay as long as nothing hits me directly on the injury." She explains. I run out the doors and stop by the street.

"Dammit. Can you run 3 blocks?" I ask. She nods unsure and I lift her up. She squeals with surprise and I laugh.

"My apologies, cherie." I say.

"You speak french too?" She asks me.

"Of course. I taught Jett. Maybe I'll teach you sometime." I offer.

"Awesome." She says and I turn the corner.

"let me run, please." She asks. I set her down and take her hand so I can catch her if she falls. She runs next to me easily. I open the apartment door and it hits the wall with a loud bang. Everyone's head bolt up and stare between me and Tambre.

"We need to go." My voice is sharp.