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“ yes .. it happens often , i’ve been told i have an off putting way of speaking. i meant no offence. ” she stated as she observed them with eerie concentration 

@cvpidlve            good thing you reiterated that.  i was starting to think there was something wrong with my outfit.. 

“ apologies , my tone of voice is always a bit…..eh, regardless i meant it sincerely. your style is interesting ” 

[her breath caught at the edge of his words,    like they’d hit something raw inside her she didn’t know was still exposed.     and maybe it wasn’t the first time someone had said they’d fight for her—    but it was the first time she believed it.    not out of desperation,    or charm,    or empty promise.   but because he said it like it would be a privilege to fall,    if it meant she made it out.  she hated it.   she hated how much it shook,   and she hated how much he meant it]   you can’t say things like that,    you don’t get to walk in here and decide you’d die for me like it’s nothing.     because if you die in here,    i don’t get to walk out.    not really.   not knowing i’m the reason you didn’t—         i didn’t ask you to come here,    x..     but i’m so fucking glad you did.     and i need you to make it out too—    i need  /you/  to live,   not just me.

@crimrwave              well if it happens,  i die.  because truthfully?  i’d be dead outside of here too.  —at least if i die in here,  there’s a good cause behind it.  i’m not here to die,  or be deemed as /not good enough/.  i’m here to get you the bell out of here..   this type of place?  it’s the last place i’d ever let someone send you.  i’ll take a bullet in the head if it meant you got out of here at some point. 

@crimrwave             you are safe in here,  okay?  don’t say that.   as long as i’m in here—  which is for the foreseeable future..  then you’re safe.  that’s why i’m here,  and i’m not going to let anything happen to me,  or you.   especially you. 

@crimrwave                [  the moment their lips meet,  it’s like he forgets to breathe for the time being.  the smallest details of this..  the shitty woods where their trail had gone cold,  the lighthearted confession turned something heavy between them,  the kiss..  her—   it was everything his heart had been chasing since the moment he laid eyes on her.   his eyes fall shut,  lips moving with hers—  not fast,  not harsh.  it’s soft,  as if he’s trying to savour the moment.  trying to memorise and keep ahold of hope,  all that they’d been building and managed to spill between them.  it’s not a chase when she pulls away,  either.  x knows he doesn’t have to.  this is grounding,  landing in his chest like a blow—   reminding him that this isn’t going anywhere.  ]   i’m not going anywhere,  you hear me?   not on purpose.  not even if they tried to take me away from you.  and even if that somehow happened—  i’d sure as hell be finding my way back to,  no matter the cost.  [  one hand lifts,  cupping her face in a gentle hold.  thumb absentmindedly tracing the curve of her cheekbone,  and even just that burns inside his chest.  in fact,  he was almost positive that she would burn him for the rest of his life.  good or bad,  he would take all of it if it was because of her,  because regardless?  it would feel the same,  every single time.  ]   you’ve got me.  all of me.  you have since the very start—  and until the very end.  

  [she takes a step toward him.   then another.    and when she finally reaches him,    there’s no hesitation left—    just the quiet clarity of choosing this moment,   choosing him,   despite everything.   before her brain can even register what her body was doing,   she leans her head up to connect her lips against his.   it’s  not perfect.  it’s a little desperate,   a little trembling.    but it’s real—    the kind of kiss that says i see you.  i feel this too—   and I’m not running anymore.   when she finally pulls back,   her forehead rests against his,    breath uneven,   eyes closed like the world has gone still for just a second]    don’t disappear on me.   [she whispers,   and in that moment?   she means it more than anything she’s ever said]

[she doesn’t know how to breathe around him when he looks at her like that—    like she’s the only steady thing in the middle of all this ruin.    it knocks something loose in her chest,     something she’s been keeping braced for too long.   and for a moment,     she almost steps back.    not out of fear—   not really—    but because this feels like too much all at once.   too good.  too terrifying,   but she doesn’t move.    he’s standing in front of her now,    eyes soft,    like he wants to memorize her.    like he means everything he just said,    and maybe more.    and she feels it—    the full weight of him not running,     not hiding behind the comfort of deflection or distance.    he’s here. saying things out loud they’ve both been too afraid to.   and she can’t pretend no more,   either]    you scare me too,      because this..    you..    it’s the one thing i wasn’t prepared to feel.  not here—    not now.    but i wasn’t imagining it either.    i kept trying to convince myself i was,    because if it wasn’t real,    then i didn’t have to want it.   or need it—    but i do.   [she lets out a soft,    uncertain laugh—   the kind that comes with surrender,   the kind that breaks walls without asking permission.    a pause.   her heart’s thudding so loud it feels like a second voice]    i think you might be my favorite wrecking ball,    too. 

@bIoodyhuntz              that’s the least of my worries right now.  loss of blood and infection is something i can deal with.  what we should worry about?  is any of that things friends showing up to keep us company. 

right…well at least the thing is dead now. You should take care of that so you don’t loose anymore blood..or it get infected

@bIoodyhuntz            no,  shit..    it’s fine—   just a cut,  bleeding more than i thought it was.   i /was/ being careful,  that thing came out of nowhere. 

@eadimidium             [  there’s a beat of silence as xavier takes in the shot,   studying the arrow lodged into the target—   directly above his own.    he lets out a whistle beneath his breath,  shifting his gaze to her,  once again.  ]   guess you can shoot.  [  with her arrows practically perfect placement,  it’s clear to him that it isn’t just clean,  or lucky..   it was precise,  calculated and deliberate.   and it had been a while since he came across any hunter,  or being in general who could shoot that well.  ]   remind me not to challenge you next time. 

[  while she places another arrow in the flight groove,  she takes her stance where he once stood.  julia fits the weapon perfectly in her arms,  eyes locked onto the target.  she can feel his eyes on her and his words cause a faint smile to form.  ]   and you talk too much.   [  it was always a mutual understanding of two hunters to make an attempt to get into each others head—  her mentor taught her that years ago.   one final exhale and a press of the trigger,  the arrow is sent through the air.   it doesn’t register to her immediately,  but the moment her eyes focus in,  she sees it.  her own arrow just atop of his,  nearly touching it.  she lowers the crossbow and turn to him with a proud expression.  ]   if only we placed a bet.  

@eadimidium             [  his grip loosens as she takes the crossbow,  allowing the woman to take the weapon without any protest on his end.  x doesn’t say anything at first,  a brief silence falling over the pair until he takes a step back.  leaving space for her to take her shot.  ]   all yours.  [  the male lingers behind her,  arms folding across his chest as he glances towards the target,  then back to her.  ]  let’s see if you can shoot as well as you talk. 

@urhuntnszn            if i was going to die,  it would have happened by now with the way they’ve chased me all over the place.  i need you all to trust me,  and at least have faith that i know what i’m doing. 

it’s been  /months/  and it’s getting to the point where you won’t be able to handle it on your own,    whether your pride wants to admit it or not.  how much more time could you possibly need?   it’s gotten to the point where everyone knows—    and not just our family.   the khans too.

@urhuntnszn               can you just..  not?   seriously,  noa.   i’ve been handling it myself for a while now—   and i can continue to handle it.  i just need time,  and maybe a cousin who won’t rat me out. 

@crimrwave                the freedom is definitely a plus—   i’m kind of the exact same way.  i was pretty quiet in my own sort of way..   but it works out for sure.  a breath of air is an understatement—  i don’t know how the hell you handle him.  it almost makes me glad i don’t have siblings.   yeah,  lukas cortez is right up there with some of the worst dads ever i’m betting.  but i don’t let it get me down anymore..  i’ve got a good enough family and a great mom who did both jobs when he wouldn’t.   you think i’m cool?  :)  i knew you’d warm up to me eventually.. 

@bydevilside      quiet child is an understatement,   honestly.   but if i don’t bother anyone i pretty much get to do whatever i want so that’s a plus.   i’m sure they’re grateful though,   after all i’ve been told i’m a breath of fresh air in comparison to jae.   an honorary child,  huh?    i don’t know much about you or your dad—   but he sounds like a piece of shit,   and is definitely missing out.   you seem pretty cool.

@crimrwave            it’s okay,  i don’t mind the questions..  it’s nice to actually sit down and have an actual conversation with someone,  honestly.   i take it that makes you the quiet child then?  your mom and dad must be super grateful they have someone to even out the crazy.  —aj kind of made me some kind of..  weird,  honorary child of his.   he’s always been a bit mental like that—    so i’m pretty close with all of his kids.  and the rest of the family love me loads because my dad hates me.  probably out of pettiness but i didn’t get a lot of attention from it..  a wins a win. 

@tearudown           lots of men friends,  too.  :)  i’ve been known to get around from time to time!  i’m not completely helpless.   if i wanted allies i could have gotten allies..  i’m a grown man.  and very capable of looking after myself—  like i was. 

@bydevilside    i don’t want to hear about your plenty of lady friends—   thank you.   but i’m not acting weird,   or meddling.   consider it..   making necessary allies in the midst of a potential civil war,   and now we have them!   you especially.

@tearudown              you’re being so weird about this.  yes,  i have a lady friend—   and i’ve had plenty within my lifetime.  but you need to stop your meddling. 

@bydevilside     i do love you,   hence why i’m taking you with me—     you’ll be thanking me later.   now,   get on up and put some clothes on,   your waffles and bacon are getting cold because of your neglect.

@tearudown         i thought you loved me?  this is borderline harassment.    …i have plenty of friends,  and i’m more than capable of making some when i want to.  on my own.  

@bydevilside      out.   a friend of mine—    well,  our family invited us over for breakfast and to talk about..    the z’raas.   it’ll give you a perfect opportunity to make friends—    i already told them you’d come and..   try to be friendly with their son.    so don’t make me look like an idiot.