Sometimes We Love The People Who Hurt Us

Chapter 2: Amuse-Bouche

Stretching, I soon rose to my feet with a small yawn as the hostess announced we could leave. The rest of the flight had been okay, Agent Campbell had, thankfully, chosen to sleep and leave me alone. Biting on my lip as I finished yawning, I glanced over to Hannibal as he too stood up and retrieved his bag before joining the lineup of people heading for the exits.

We finally got outside after some time spent shuffling a couple of centimeters every now and then, raising a hand to shield my eyes from the sunlight as Campbell slipped his sunglasses on. Hearing barking as I moved down the stairs, I looked towards the source of the noise where the staff were already unloading the bags and the pets, seeing Winston's cage and ignoring Campbell's words as I moved over to the baggage carrying truck. Crouching once I found Winston's cage, I smiled softly and stuck my fingers through the mesh to give his shoulder a little rub. "Hey there bud. Just a little longer and you can get out and stretch your legs.."

Feeling a presence behind me, a soft sigh escaped me before raising my head to who I initially thought to be one of those unloading the aircraft, blinking against the sun in my face. But the smell of ancient wood soon met my nose, changing my idea as I recognised the Alpha scent just as the person moved to block the sun for me. "Thanks..."

"Is this your dog?" Hannibal tilted his head curiously at me before his gaze moved past me to Winston, hands resting lightly behind him as he smiled slightly. I looked to him, meeting his gaze briefly as I nodded, my eyes soon dropping to his collar once again.

Giving Winston one last rub of the shoulder, I soon rose to my feet, glancing around with a small sigh before my gaze returned once again to Hannibal, and then his collar. "Yeah, his name's Winston."

Hannibal gave a small nod in response, glancing to the dog before we had been interrupted by one of the staff, pausing by my side. "Pardon me sirs, but if you could wait to retrieve your bags and your pets until you're in the main building, that would be greatly appreciated. May you please put your bags back on the trolley?"

Biting at my lip slightly, I shook my head and stepped back as the Beta moved forward to take my bag. "I took this on the plane with me.."

The staff person watched me with a small pause of thought before he had nodded and waved us away from the rest of the luggage. Biting back another yawn, I looked back to Hannibal before heading back to rejoin Campbell where he was waiting impatiently. Pausing as I heard Hannibal clear his throat before a hand wrapped around my wrist, I soon turned to look to him with a curious tilt of my head. As he raised his other hand, I frowned before looking down to see a small card resting in his palm. Picking it up, i glanced down to it curiously before flipping it over to see a phone number scribbled on it. "I was hoping you might like to join me tomorrow. I was due to have a meeting with someone but despite the reservations already being made, he has chosen to..cancel at the last minute. Of course, you don't have to be put on the spot and answer straight away, please just give me a call if you'd be interested in joining. It was very nice to meet you, Will."

Nodding slightly, I held his gaze for a brief couple of seconds with a small smile as I slipped the card into the pocket of my shirt. "Sounds nice, uh, I'll have a think about it...It was nice to meet you too Hannibal.."

Pausing as I felt someone else press close against my back, I frowned a little before turning, taking a step away from the person at the same time and brushing against Hannibal, a small groan escaping me as I saw Campbell glaring at my new companion. "Is something the matter, William?" Eyeing Hannibal, he raised a hand to rest it on my shoulder before I remembered Hannibal's hand on my wrist as Campbell's eyes dropped down to where he still held it, lips curling up into a growl. "Let him go."

Hannibal raised a brow at him before he turned to look to me curiously as he eventually let go, his fingers trailing lightly over my wrist before his hand dropped down to his side. "You should let him go as well. Didn't your mother teach you not to go about forcing yourself on others?"

Campbell huffed out a small breath, grinning at him before guiding me around towards the main building of the airport with a gentle pressure applied to my shoulders before he lowered it. "See you then."

Looking over my shoulder with a small frown, my gaze met with Hannibal's before dipping my head in farewell, soon turning to follow Campbell into the building, one hand moving to ensure the card was still in my pocket.

● ● ●

Glancing up at the hotel with a curious tilt of my head, I bit at my lip slightly before letting Campbell inside first, whistling to Winston to get him to come back before I soon followed after him. The lady at the desk soon finished what she was doing on the computer before looking up at us with a friendly smile. "Good evening, gentlemen."

Moving to lean slightly on the desk, I smiled slightly in return as I glanced to her, my eyes soon dropping to her shoulder as I scratched my chin lightly. "Um, two rooms pl---"

"No, sorry. We'll have one room with two bedrooms. Unfortunately, we don't have the money to afford two rooms.." Frowning, I turned to look to Campbell in confusion but chose not to say anything as the person nodded, typing something into the computer before grabbing a set of keys and passing them over to Campbell. "You're on the second level, hope you both enjoy your stay."

Campbell gave a small nod of thanks, smiling cheerily at her before he had turned and moved to the elevator, pressing the button. Whistling again to Winston from where he was sniffing a fake plant, then clapping my leg to grab his attention before he bounded over to me, tongue lolling from one side of his mouth. The lady at the desk watched with narrowed eyes, lips pursed as if she was about to protest against the dog's presence but stayed silent as we moved into the elevator, the doors shutting between us.

As they opened again to the second floor, I had managed to get a collar on Winston and attach a leash to it, knowing I wouldn't be allowed to let Winston around unleashed all the time, though his whining at the unfamiliarity of the collar had gone straight to my heart. Campbell ledthe way to the room, having stayed uncharacteristically quiet during the short elevator trip, his expression seeming calculating.

Moving inside our room, I finally unclipped the leash and let Winston free, chuckling as I watched the dog instantly bolt off to explore the apartment. Wandering around, I soon found one of the bedrooms and placed my bag down on the foot of the bed. Raising my head, I moved back to the doorway before backing off when Campbell appeared at the same time, grabbing my arm to steady me as I wobbled briefly, off balance.

Soon moving back until he let me go, I glanced to Winston as he pushed past the other male with a small huff and I gave his head a ruffle, looking up as Campbell queried. "I noticed a Chinese restaurant next door if you want to go there or I could pick some food up for us. Unless you'd prefer something else?"

Shaking my head, my hand raised to rub at my forehead, frowning against the headache ringing in my head as I paused in thought. I wasn't exactly fond of going to places known for large crowds and little space, yet it would seem rude to have my companion, annoying as he was, fetch the meal by himself. "Um...I'll come with you to pick up takeaway? And I'm fine with Chinese.."

Campbell gave a small nod before quickly moving forward to pat my shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry doll, I'll be fine getting it on my own. What do you want? And I'm paying."

Frowning slightly at the pat, I glanced to his hand before taking a step back, barely managing to keep my footing as I forgot about Winston standing behind me. "Uh, Singapore noodles thank you..."

He watched me with a small frown of his own when I stepped back before he nodded and backed out into the hallway, turning and heading to the door. "Singapore noodles it is."