Theives Like Us

23

Rhayn was warming up the little microwave packets on the campfire while Birch collected more wood. She was quite content just sitting there she would almost go as far as to say that she was relaxed.

She had just turned the last ready meal over when two large hands grabbed her from behind. Rhyan started to panic as she felt her airways close up. One of the large hands had been placed over her mouth and nose while the other was round her waist, squeezing her flush against a large chest. She felt something hard and round press against her back as a low and familiar voice spoke up. "Stay silent, and come with me."

Crash dragged the girl behind the tree and pushed her between him and the tree. Rhayn's eyes welled up and tears started to drip down her cheeks. Then she hot a brilliant idea. She wasn't going to let Crash take her down with out a fight.

Suddenly Rhyan swung her foot back into the bulge and bit down hard into Crash's hand.

"Ow!" Crash yelped, as Rhyan pushed him off her. Except her plan hadn't gone quite right. She expected him to grab the bulge she'd kicked, however as it turned out the bulge had just been the hilt of his sword, Iustitia.

"Why are you crying? I'm the one who got bitten!" Crash hissed in a stage whisper holding his near his chest.

"You grabbed me! You were going to hurt me!" Rhyan hissed back. The young blonde stumbled back as her 'capter' took a step closer.

"I'm not going to hurt you! I just needed to sort it out." Crash seathed.

"Sort what out! What in the name of the Gods possess you to grab me like that? You strangled me! And then you grab me like that- and you think it's normal? You think I wouldn't think you'd hurt me? What's wrong with you???"

The son of Ares looked like a large 5 year old who'd just been told off for the first time and didn't understand why. 
"I needed to stop it." Crash muttered. "I needed to sort the urge out before Birch came back. He wouldn't approve a-"

"I don't approve!" Rhyan screamed back at him. Crashs brows in confusion as he angrily fiddled with his fingers in a weaving motion.

"But yesterday you were asking me to do it. I thought you'd'd want me to fix it for you."

"What are you on about?"

"Your hair. I was going to rebraid it..." Crash looked down in shame. It had only just dawned on him what she'd thought he was going to do to her. He wasn't Greyham. He'd never do what that man, his step-father, done to his mother.

"Oh, you should have just said..." Rhyan removed the hair band from her hair allowing it to tumble past her shoulders. She nelt down on the floor just behind the tree. Crash nelt down behind her and started weaving his fingers through her hair.

It felt the same, she knew Crash could do this in his sleep. Over, under, through and round.
Over, under, through and round.

Over, under, through and round.

Over, under, through and round.

Less than a minute later and the sweet sensation of Crashes fingers grazing her scalp had finished. A gentle pull worked it's way through the rest of her hair until Crash finally tidied up the end and secured it with her hair band.

"Where did you learn to plat?"

"Where did I learn to what?"

"Plat? Oh sorry, braid." Rhyan corrected herself. She kept forgetting that she was in America and that the Americans called it a braid.

"My mom taught me... she liked it when I braided her hair. Why did you call it a plate?"

"A plat. And because in England that's what most people call it."

"You were brought up in England? Your English? You don't sound English." Crash muttered. "Well you don't sound American either but more American than English."

"I'm English and American. I was born in England then moved over here when I was 6." Crash nodded in understanding. He was about to carry on the conversation when Birch burst through towards the campfire with a shout.

"Ow man. Is no one watching the food?" He shouted throwing the ready meals. "I'm out, collecting fire wood and what not. While you two play tonsil tennis!!!" Birch shouted. "Unbelievable. Demi-gods, man... what will I do next."

"Yeah he kissed me because we've been secretly going out since we met. If you couldn't tell." 

Crash looked at Rhyan in shock. Why on earth would she say that? There was no way he'd ever kiss her. Even if he wanted to, which he most cirtainly did not, he wasn't sure she'd let him. If anything, she'd be the one kissing him. He'd never have enough confidence to try anything like that.

"What! No way in hell!"

"Geez Crash Bang Bandicoot calm yourself. It's called sarcasm. Even Birch got it. Like I'd kiss you. I'm too young for all that." Rhyan sighed picking up her ready meal and nommimg down on the premade chicken burger. 

The trio munched away in near silence, only having miniscule debates over their next course of action as the only ate. Crash seemed to relax a little now he was sitting with Birch opposite Rhyan but he still couldn't bring himself to look at the young demigod out of sheer embarrassment.

In order to avoid any form of communication with either Rhayn or Birch, he decided it wold be best to get an early night.

A/N- sorry it's short, hopefully the next one will be longer but I might not update for a while due to school work.