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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 13, 2017 4:42:48 GMT
Anna walked over to where Axel stood and stared at him a moment longer, her blue eyes into his green ones, before picking up her dropped purse and starting to walk down the sidewalk in the direction of her home.
"It's this way."
She began the short trip back to her apartment with Axel by her side. She gently rolled her wrist and could tell from the pain that she had probably sprained it mildly. Still, it could have been much worse and she supposed she did have Axel to thank for making sure that group of deplorable men hadn't harmed her. Even with all the training she had in self-defense, it had been one on four and she could have ended up in far worse shape.
She let her eyes drift to Axel once more, taking in his form. Funny, but she hadn't really stopped to take a good look at him until that moment. To most women he would have been thought of as very attractive with his strong jaw, his spikey red hair and his lean muscles. However, the thing that held her attention were the color and shape of his eyes. Even before this evening she had thought they weren't quite human. Well, now she knew he was indeed Other and a fire demon no less. They continued walking for a few more moments before Anna finally spoke again.
"Listen Axel....thank you. I really do appreciate you coming to make sure I was safe. I didn't know you cared that much about me and I apologize if I made you upset."
WHile she said the words, she knew it wasn't enough. She wasn't sure why, but she really wanted to do something to thank the Cherufe properly. Slowly, an idea began to form in her mind as they drew closer to her apartment.
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Post by skyeknight on Feb 13, 2017 14:45:44 GMT
Axel kept his hands in his pocket as he trailed beside her. He probably looked like a giant beacon of trouble to anyone passing by. Ironic that he be standing next to the most bubbly and happy-go-lucky girl he knew. Normally, people like her didn't last long in the 'real world' but it was nice to see that she was actually quite hardy. He wouldn't deny the pride he felt for her when she punched the guy out. He might have liked burning the man to a crisp but her method was just as efficient.
"You should, uh, put some ice on your wrist." he said, not looking her in the eye as he spoke. "And avoid punching anyone for the next few days."
Though, considering her profession, she might now how to treat her own strained wrist. But she was also determined to hunt down a hommoculous and a demon with the mind to set them both down to 'talk about their feelings'. That would probably go as swimmingly as it sounded. When it came to half-baked ideas, that sounded pretty bad. Something was bound to go wrong in that scenario. Though, if anyone could do it, Axel would put his money on her. She was quite determined that way.
"I'm not mad at you," Axel reassured her. "This city just... does bad things to good people. I just didn't want to see that happen to you."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 15, 2017 7:10:50 GMT
"Well darn, there go my plans for the weekend!"
Anna spoke in her usual chipper voice with only the slightest hint of sarcasm. However, her mind was still thinking over the sudden idea that had come into it and if it would be a good way to repay Axel. Still, she looked at him thoughtfully when he spoke about bad things happening to good people.
"It can seem that way at times, but I think that's because people tend to lose sight of the small, good things that still happen. I mean, I could look at those guys trying to attack me as pure bad with no good outcome. Or, I could focus on the smaller but equally important fact that you followed me to make sure I was ok. And that's good. And you'd be surprised how quickly those little things add up to something big."
She said all of this with the lightest of ease and yet the profoundness of them was still clear. Meanwhile, she continued down the sidewalk with almost a skip in her step, those very words seeming to be her life motto. They continued on for several more moments, taking turns down various sidewalks and crossing streets.
Finally, Anna came to a stop and twirled around so that she was facing Axel. Just behind her was the entrance to a series of apartments, small but charming in the way only Louisiana could be.
"Well, this is my stop."
She smiled up at the demon but didn't go inside and instead rocked back and forth on her heels with her hands clapped behind her back. She knew that Axel might not want to take up her offer, but she figured the worst he could say was no.
"So listen, I really feel like I owe you something for making sure I was ok. And, not to brag, but I'm known around Bellerouge as quite the chief. Sooooo....."
She left the question hanging, hoping that Axel would guess at what she was asking.
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Post by skyeknight on Feb 15, 2017 16:23:46 GMT
"There will be plenty of other opportunities to punch your co-workers." Axel replied.
She bounced back. She just rolled with whatever came her way that it was funny and at the same time it wasn't. He wasn't going to ask if that was the first time she had been in a situation like that. His temper would not last if she said yes. But at least he was mellowing out. Not in danger of lighting the street on fire at least. But he was tired. He hadn't used fire in a very long time. Holding back was exhausting. Even if his temper had 'cooled' off.
"Silver lining I guess," he said.
He could have not followed her. It was probably weird for her that he had. That his first thought was to jump the bar top and go after them when he could have just called the police - her coworkers. But he knew response times were slow. And they waited for her to be alone. If they really wanted to target her, they could wait for the next week when Anna came to his bar again or even later. Or they would find someone else. Which was why, after Anna went inside, he was calling the police, tipping off her co-workers and getting those morons arrested. He might not be able to burn them, but he would make sure they suffered the consequences of their actions.
"You want to make dinner for me?"
But he hardly did a thing. Just threaten a few scumbags. She swayed back and forth, grinning at him, the same way she did when she was in the bar.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 16, 2017 8:46:35 GMT
"Well, yeah. I mean, you didn't have to follow me and make sure I was ok or offer to walk me home or need to check on my wrist....or even be nice to me from the start. And yet you did. And I just thought, you know, maybe I could pay you back with a nice meal. Provided you don't mind the company of a chameleon."
She said all this like it should be the most obvious thing in the world, and yet the smallest hint of color had crept up into her cheeks. Now that she had said it, she realized that her offer could be interpreted in a number of different ways. And some of them might make people uncomfortable. Maybe that was why Axel was looking at her strangely right now and hadn't said anything for some time.
"Of course, I get it if that seems a little to familiar and all. I mean, we're just friends who talk at the bar."
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Post by skyeknight on Feb 16, 2017 16:48:47 GMT
"I let the little guy into the bar don't I?"
The chameleon was hardly any concern of Axel's. A few of the waitresses were even sweet on the little creature, slipping him cherries when they thought Axel and Anna were too busy talking to notice. They always did, but since it never caused problems they let it slide. The little lizard was okay in Axel's book. When he was done with everyone at the bar, he always crawled into Anna's purse and slept. Low maintenance pet.
"I don't mind, but I don't really feel like I did something to earn it." Axel said. "So... when did you want to do this?"
It was a little strange, as Anna put it. He was just the bartender and she was the patron. That's really all there was to the two of them. But dinner would make it more than just the service industry relationship. He didn't make a point of spending time with patrons outside of bar hours. It just wasn't something he did a lot of. But it was just a step out of his comfort zone and he supposed Anna's as well.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 17, 2017 9:16:47 GMT
"Honestly, I'm free most evenings unless we have a big case going on. And as of right now, the forensic labs are pretty dead. Metaphorically, of course."
She gave a little laugh at her unintended joke as she stood on her apartment doorstep. Axel might have said he didn't feel like he deserved anything, but it sounded as if he was going to take up her offer anyways. And that made her happy.
"Just tell me the date that works for you and what cuisine you're craving and I'll make sure you go away from my apartment full of delicious food."
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Post by skyeknight on Feb 19, 2017 2:39:41 GMT
"Monday is my next night off." Axel said. "Unfortunately, they haven't hired a backup bartender yet."
He, unfortunately, as duly noted by Moses, was married to his job. It was his current and only source of income. He lost that and he would lose his meager apartment on the other side of the city. He also would have to sell his motorcycle. Which he didn't want to do. It had been a laborious project from taking a trashed bike and restoring it to perfect ride-ability. She actually seemed pleased though, which was okay in Axel's book. It would just be different, seeing her outside of the bar and without the counter top separating them.
"Why don't you surprise me?" he suggested. "Not too picky as long as it's not a salad."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 19, 2017 21:09:17 GMT
"Alrighty! Monday it is."
Despite the evening having taken such a dangerous turn earlier, Anna was truly happy. Before, she hadn't been certain if Axel was merely a friendly acquaintance or a genuine friend, but now she knew that he was the real deal. It didn't matter if he was a demon, he had been concerned enough about her safety when those men had followed her to come after her AND he'd been brave enough to challenge them when it looked like she was in danger.
Yes, Axel had truly proven himself a good friend and yet she wondered...
"And Axel?"
Her voice was suddenly very serious and her expression mimicked it. She moved slightly away from her front step and closer to Axel, her blue eyes looking up into his green ones. And in that instant, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, a small peck that lasted for only an instant and yet seemed longer for some reason she didn't quite understand.
"Thank you for everything."
With that said, she gave him another soft smile before opening the front door and disappearing inside her apartment.
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Post by skyeknight on Feb 20, 2017 2:40:30 GMT
"Yeah?"
He turned to look at her. She stepped closer to him and kissed his cheek. His eyes widened in surprise. He thought she had been about to whisper something to him or brush something off his shoulder. That was the last thing he thought she would do. But then again, when did she ever do anything he expected? Didn't stop him from staring when she walked into her building. It literally seemed like nothing phased her. He smoothed a hand through his hair before shaking his head.
"She's going to be the death of me." he uttered.
He stuck his hands in his pockets, turned on his heel before he started back for his bar. He dialed for the police as he walked. Someone had to report the crime. Plus, he had to go back for his bike at the bar. So many things to do, not enough hours in the day to do them. Oh well, he thought with a dark smile, no rest for the wicked.
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