WHEN THE RAIN STOPS- Scrutinized [TANNER x LUNA] 2 IN 1

SIDE STORY PT. TWO

|LUNA|

It was around 15 minutes before Tanner came back with my coffee. He also brought me a oatmeal cookie. "How'd you know my order?" He smirked "you know how."

'Oh right...stalker.'

"Mhm, thanks. Are you sure you don't want me to pay you back?" He shook his head "no, it's quiet alright." He sat back down next to me as I ate the cookie. It wasn't stale for once. I noticed that he had a coffee and cookie too. But his wasn't black and his cookie was sugar. How In the hell does he still have a white smile? And no cavities. Maybe he does...

I was in the middle of thinking when I got a call.
"Hello?" "Hey Luna, Travis says he needs you in his office." "Alright." I hung up and rubbed my nose bridge. "Is it that creep again?" "Travis, and yes. He wants me to see him in his office." "I would offer to come with you but I don't think that's on the table."
I glanced over to him to see a little spark in his eyes. I smiled but declined his offer. "I'll be back." I got up from the rolling chair and made my way to his office. I knocked on the door as he allowed me to enter. "Hey Travis, what's up?" "Hey listen.. I don't want to start drama but.. I can't get you out of my mind. You're like a flower that keeps growing and growing. I really do like you a lot." I know he was just saying that, he didn't mean it. "No you liked Sarah a lot." I turned to leave, I opened the door but his hand slammed it shut. "Don't you get it? I care for you." "Travis, let go of the door." "No god damnit I don't want you to leave." "Travis." I turned to him, only to be greeted by his lips again. I pushed him off and swung open the door. I ran out into the hallway and steadily shifted back to walking. I went to my office calm but when I reached it I caught my breath.

I leaned on the shut door as Tanner just watched "Tell me Luna, why are you condoning this work place harassment?" "It's not work place anything, it's just a little drama. Nothin more not-." "Don't lie to yourself." He got up and walked over to me. His footsteps were silent. With his hands behind his back he bent down at the waist to me. "I just feel bad, I have pity for him." "That doesn't mean you should be treated like second hand material." I wasn't sure if I was intimidated or comfortable. I checked the clock above my computer to see it was lunch time. "We can talk about this over lunch." I walked past him and got my jacket on. We walked out together silently. I could practically feel Travis' glare on me. But that feeling was soon masked with a feel of a hand on my back. Tanner was protective all of a sudden. Once we reached outside his hand snaked down my back to his pocket. I usually don't zip up my jacket but it was freezing. I zipped it up and let out a sigh. The cold air making this sort of smoke with my breath.

"So where do you want to eat?" I shrugged "I usually don't eat much, maybe just a salad." "Hmm, then what about we get something small and then I can show you something?" I nodded "sure, why not." We walked to a corner store to pick something up. I got a salad and water while he got a sandwich with orange juice. We paid and he guided me to a train station. We got on to the surprisingly empty train and ate. Once I was done I threw it away in the trains garbage and so did Tanner. We sat back down and the wind front he open train window blew my hair gently. I laid my head back and breathed in the nice air. The train went through a nice flower field, it wasn't underground like most trains so it was relaxing. I unzipped my jacket and curled up next to pole. I opened my eyes when I felt Tanners head on my shoulder. He laid on me while the train zipped through the field. I felt at home, all my worries seemed to leave with every track we crossed. I soon found myself laying my head back on his. He didn't mind since he hugged my arm. Once the train stopped we got up and he held my hand to wherever we were going to. I realized it was a nature walk, my face got cheery. I'm not one for nature but I do love when it's so quiet that you can hear the wind whistle or when it doesn't smell like factories for that you can enjoy the smell of the flowers. Lavender filled my nose. It was warmer here too.

"So about Travis?" I looked at him as he was waiting for my answer "what about him?" "What are you going to do?" I exhaled "I honestly don't know. There's just too much at risk to do anything at the moment." "Life isn't anything unless you take risks." "No need to get so spiritual, it's just...I'll deal with it later. On the other hand, how's your life going?" He gave me a look "Why do you wanna know?" I shrugged "I was just thinking since you know so much about me then you could tell me somethings about yourself." I gave him a cocky smile "it's rude to keep me in the dark." He scoffed a laugh and I hummed one. "Alright well... I'm a chemist, but you already knew that so..." "then tell me about you're personal life." "Like what? the sad stuff?" "Anything, sad or happy." "Ok, I'm the middle of 3, but the youngest was just born." I nodded "how old are they?" "My older brother is 29, I'm 26, and my youngest brother is 1." "Aw, how nice." We walked along the path as he kept telling me stories about how his family was. And how he doesn't talk to them anymore.

When the sad part came up I stopped. He didn't get much time with his parents, they were too busy. But now since their retired they're trying to reach out to him. Bribing him with meeting his younger brother. But he doesn't want to go. "They had their time, and quiet frankly it's done to death." His smile still appeared on his face. "I get it, I was raised mostly with my cousin. Our parents didn't talk to us much either." I smiled. We walked back to the train and got on. But once we got to town he told me he had to go. I waved goodbye as I walked back to the station. I sat down and got some work done before it was time to go home. I decided to go to a local book shop to pass some time since I'd don't feel like being alone. I picked out some books before heading home. But once I reached the ally way a strange man Can in the corner of my eye. I didn't turn since I didn't want to make it obvious. I searched in my pocket for my pepper spray, holding it tightly. But once I turned the man was on my heels. He slammed me to the wall behind a dumpster. The brick wall hurt like a bitch. My head got slammed twice before I started feeling light headed. I got a quick glance before I realized it was Travis. "T-Travis?" He smiled before a hiss of a familiar syringe filled his ears. He slumped over on me and Tanner pushed him off. He held my head, the blow made me feel as if I was on laughing gas. "Heh, hi Tann Tann."

I held into his wrists, "Aw so cute but I really don't have time to play these games with you." Another hiss came to me, it freed me of the pain I had been feeling. I was tossed onto his shoulder as he picked up the books. He left Travis there while he packed me into his car. From there he drove me home and patched me up. I woke up on the couch. Over hearing him in the kitchen talking to who knows.

"I'll take care of it. But just so we're clear... I do have permission to kill him, is that right?"

I could barley understand what he was saying. My head throbbed and I groaned while I sat up onto the couch. His lab coat was over me as a blanket. It smelt like cologne with a hint of cigarettes. He got off the phone and came towards me with a cold towel. He placed it neatly on my forehead as I leaned my head on his shoulder. "You shouldn't take the day off tomorrow." "Why not?" "Because I don't want you to get framed for what I'm about to do." My eyes widened as he started getting up. He was going to kill Travis. I tackled him and with a jumpy anxious voice I begged him to stay. "You're not going anywhere. Look look I'm fine. See?" I put out my shaky hands and he grabbed them while I straddled his lap. "Oh Luna..this isn't all about you. He is useless to the world. He's waisting his life. Harassing people in the work place, attacking them outside. The list goes on." I grabbed his tie and pulled him close "you're not going anywhere. Got it?" I had a harsh voice. Sure Travis was an asshole, but he didn't deserve to die.

He looked like he was processing something, "you look so cute sitting on my lap like that.." he cuffed my face. I stayed in his touch. He tucked a hair behind my ear before going in for kiss. I leaned in to it, holding his head by the hair on the back of his head. There was smack of our lips parting. "Shhhh..."

Hisss....

"God Damn it Tanner..." I slammed to the ground with him smiling over me.