She held her shoes in one hand, her reports in the other as she rushed down the hallways, not caring who noticed her going barefoot through the compound. First of all, the clacking of her heels against the marble floors irritated her to no end. Second of all, it was easier to walk barefoot since the only time she ever wore heels was for formal events such as the Tribunals. And third...well, she just liked the way the floor felt against her feet. It cooled her aching soles and reminded her of days gone by when she would run through the various floors of the Choginga Dai-Gurren. There was a sort of comfort in it...

Her mind shifted to the matter at hand. She glanced at a clock on the wall as she passed its illuminated face. There were about forty minutes in which to prepare and execute the rather tentative and, admittedly, shaky plan that she'd concocted. Still, Anne had made a promise to Viral, and she owed him some sort of gift for putting up with both her and these dreadful meetings.

It'd been nothing but good fortune that had allowed her to come across the rather vital bit of information that would allow her and Viral to escape from the compound. As she and the other delegates had nibbled on fruits, sandwiches and other delicacies that she found lacking in both substance and flavor, she'd noticed a soiled napkin on the ground and bothered to pick it up, looking around for a place to put it. The door to the room opened, a cart with dirty dishes, tablecloths and napkins making its way out into the hallway. She'd followed it and the young Kritolin male, his tendrils caught up in a scarf about his head, as he pushed the cart.

"Umm..excuse me?"

When he'd turned his head towards hers, Anne held out the soiled napkin that she'd picked up. He smiled softly at her as he extended his hand and took it from her, tossing it into the cart. Anne had started to head back into the conference room when she noticed that the guy was rolling the cart right into the wall opposite the room. It was only then that she learned that there was a laundry chute right across the hallway.

"I hope they don't make you wash the laundry as well," she said, attempting to make some sort of conversation with the man.

"Thankfully not," he said, smiling a bit. "The real dirty works is done by employees outside of the compound. We collect the laundry, they pick it up and bring it back."

Outside the compound?

"And...how often do the shipments come in..."

"Everyday, usually. Twice a day during the weekends."

Anne had gone back to the room with an unusually bright smile on her face. The only problem is that she had no idea what time the laundry was picked up, who was down there...or anything else that she probably should have known. But she had faith that Viral would be able to figure it out. Something told her that the only way to get out would probably be through that chute.

"I've found you the way, Viral. You've just gotta make it happen..."

Viral had managed to stuff a change of clothes and what he deemed necessities into a neat bundle that he could simply carry on his back. If they found a stream or something to stay near, that would take care of bathing, water for the day... Maybe some cooking supplies? At the very least, a pot to boil water. Heaven knew that Anne probably wouldn't be able to drink anything that hadn't been purified, at least in the most basic of ways...

He'd just disappeared into the kitchen when Anne barged in the front door, jacket thrown unceremoniously on the couch as she immediately went into her room and the sound of drawers opening and shutting reached his ears.

"I'm ready whenever you are," he said, grabbing the smallest pot they had and shoving it into the bundle. The black handle stuck out, but he wasn't really going for an aesthetically pleasing look with this anyway.

"When are we leaving?"

He sat on the couch, hands clasped in front of him as he leaned forward slightly, his body almost trembling with the thought of getting out of this place. It felt like a lot longer than it actually was as he sat there waiting for Anne to answer, listening to her go through her room.

"Late tonight...early tomorrow.... At least, that sounds about right?"

"Sounds about right?"

Anne waddled out of her room with a large suitcase, apparently so heavy that she could not carry it without holding it in front of her, arms completely extended, her face turning flushed at the effort it took to hold it. Viral started to stand up when she abruptly tossed it to the side, managing to land it reasonably close to the door without hitting the wall. Still, the thud of it hitting the floor was enough to shake some of the more delicate decorations around the room. Anne came over and plopped herself next to him, chest heaving slightly as she sought to catch her breath.

"Mkay...here's the deal..."

The soft click of the door shutting behind her preceded the soft breath that left her lips as the first step of their late night escape was completed. They still had to make their way through the hallways, hoping not to run into anyone, and then slip down the chute to where the dirty laundry was tossed. Viral was dressed in form fitting dark tunic and pants, attempting to cover up his lighter coloring. Anne had done the same, clothed in long loose pants and a sleeved black cloak. The hood was pulled up over her head, but did little to hide the few curls that had escaped their confines.

Viral huffed softly, carrying Anne's denser luggage. They'd fussed a bit over the contents, but after he made her go through them, item by item, she was surprised at what she could do without. It was only a day, after all. Just a change of clothes, some basic cosmetics, toiletries...a brush for her hair, which she could slip into a simple braid at the end of the journey. There was no real telling about when they would be coming back in, so if she had to rush right into a meeting, she'd at least be somewhat presentable.

On her back were a few pieces of fruit and some leftovers that she insisted on bringing. It wasn't that she doubted Viral's hunting prowess. She just doubted whether or not there was anything edible out there. Just cuz the animals were eating it didn't meant that she could. After all, she was of a totally different makeup...

His eyes lingered on her delicate frame. He didn't mind being burdened with two bags so much at the moment. They certainly weren't heavy, and it also allowed him to delve into the fantasy of fatherhood. He'd been around the day when Anne had gone away to school and watched Dayakka haul loads of luggage into the car. True, Anne was no little girl any longer, but he'd seen the way human fathers doted on their youth. Age meant nothing to them. Few things threatened to send him into a blind rage as seeing a parent disrespect or abandon their child. These stupid humans always wanted something more while refusing to cherish what they already had.

Sounds reached his ears as he and Anne approached an intersection in the hallway. He padded quickly in front of her, blocking her path and stretching out his arm to halt her progress.

As he moved in front of her, Viral's musky scent filled her senses, and she looked up at his face, allowing herself to stare at him for the moment since he was obviously lost in his own thoughts. Maybe it was just her hormones reacting to whatever pheromones he was giving off. Why else would she go into such a girlish fit whenever he was nearby?

Before she realized what was happening, Viral pulled his arm back, catching her up in it and drawing her near as he quickly moved to the other side of the hallway, crouching down and pulling her down with him. They were pressed together, in what little shadows the nighttime hall lighting offered, and Anne finally heard the approach of footsteps. She focused her breathing, trying not to let it get too out of control as she saw the lengthened shadows of two people approach.

The guards never noticed a thing as they walked by, whispering softly to each other. Anne watched with Viral as they continued down the hall. When Anne could no longer hear them, they still waited. Her legs started to ache from the awkward position. Just as they started to get a little sore, Viral stood up, offering her his hand and they continued on their way.

For what seemed like hours, they continued in this way: crouching in the shadows at the sound of footsteps and Anne's gently tugs on his tunic to lead him in the right direction. Finally, they stood in front of the laundry chute.

"This it?" he asked softly, his words so low that it took her a moment to respond. He turned his eyes towards her and she nodded.

He slipped a clawed finger in the door, gently pushing it open. Thankfully, there was no light emitting from the other floors. However, the downside to the lack of light was that it made it difficult for even Viral to determine what awaited them at the bottom of the chute. Still...what other options did they have if they wanted to get out of this pristine prison? He had to get himself and Anne down the chute in one piece. He looked at her, her blue eyes staring back at him from underneath her hood, a blond tendril curling out from its confines as usual. He reached out, almost unaware of his actions as he looked at her, tucking the curl back behind her ear.

"You trust me, right?"

"Of course, Viral," she replied, her cheeks growing a little flush. Only then did he realize what he'd done, snatching back his hand for a moment before extending it out again, fingers open. As she slipped her fingers in his hand, he pondered his decision. But perhaps this immortal body would be good for something for once...

"Come, Anne. Let's get some fresh air."

Her heart threatened to beat even harder as she took his hand and he pulled her into his arms, her back against his chest, his arms around her waist, holding her so close. She placed her arms over his, leaning back against him. But she kept leaning back. Rather, he was leaning back, and she along with him. Before she could realize exactly what was happening, her world lost its light and she heard the loud echo of the chute's door shutting behind them as they fell down the chute together.

It felt like forever, but she started counting to herself, keeping time in order to be better aware of her surroundings. Her father had taught her that a warrior must always be aware of what was going on, even if it seemed impossible to do so. One second, two....she counted as her arms tightened around Viral's, and she felt his arms pull her closer. She turned her head a little, pressing her ear against his chest, continuing to count even as she listened to his heartbeat.

Eight and a half seconds was as far as she counted before she felt the impact of them landing on fabric. Viral grunted, and she heard him gasp softly as his hold on her loosened. She quickly freed herself from his arms, turning over and looking at him, making sure he was ok. Her hand went to his cheek, his eyes squinting as he grimaced in pain, his teeth showing. Her fingers stroked his skin softly, noticing for the first time how it felt like soft leather. They trailed down his cheek and her eyes flitted to his as they opened.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

His hand went up to hers, grasping it firmly. She was torn between relief, sorrow and pleasure. His hand against hers brought pleasure, while she was upset that he'd pulled her hand away from his face.

"You should know that it takes more than a simple fall to do me in, littling."

The word caught her off guard, and she pulled back away from him for a moment. "Littling" was the term that the Beastmen used to refer to children. He saw her...as a child?

As he got up, glancing around, she let her thoughts finish the logical pattern they were forming. The truth of the matter was that she was quite a bit younger than he was. Viral had never revealed just how old he was, but he'd been at least twenty-something when she was born. He was likely twice her age, if not more. After all, he'd been the contemporary of her parents. It was only natural that he saw her as a child...

So why did that make her want to cry? Why did it hurt so much?

She felt his hand push her head down, felt the container of clothing they'd landed in begin moving, felt the night air stroke her skin softly...but none of it mattered. Anne glanced over at Viral, a full-blown smile on his face as his eyes looked up into the night air. He looked over at her and she smiled back, hoping he didn't see the tears forming in her eyes. For her own safety, she looked away as she realized the truth she'd been suspecting for a while.

She was in love with a Beastman. And not just any Beastman, but Viral, who had been blessed and cursed with immortality.

What the hell had she gotten herself into?

Viral took in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the fresh air. And it was real air, the kind produced by trees and scented with earth and water, not that re-circulated mess they fed the people in the Tribunal. It felt like forever since he'd last been outside, although he knew it'd only been a couple of months. The stars were bright on this planet, and his eyes even caught a glimpse or two of the violet swirls from the closest galaxy. He glanced over at Anne and noticed she was still faced away from him. Her body language was a little stiff, and for a moment, he was brought out of his elation. There was something bothering her, and he took the moment to try and figure out just what had changed between now and when they'd first left. The...feeling that she gave off had changed some point after they'd come down the chute. She'd checked to see if he was ok, he told her it took more to hurt him...

He'd called her littling. It hadn't really been intentional, but it'd come out all the same. After all, hadn't he watched her grow up, played with her on his lap while Kiyoh and Dayakka ran errands, put up with her pestering and nagging... In a tangible way, he had help raise her. At least, he'd like to think he did.

He sighed a little, running his hand through his hair. Where was all this mess coming from? Was he really so attached to this human child? There he went again, referring to her as a child. By human standards, she was an adult in her own right. Heck, by the standards of most Beastmen, she was an adult. So why did he seem so fixated on seeing her as a littling?

The sound of an approaching truck jarred his attention, and he looked up, his ears perking slightly. On the road they were travelling on, a covered truck headed the opposite direction. It had to be a laundry truck – what else could it possibly be? So it'd probably be a good idea to camp somewhere nearby. A quick glance around revealed some fairly thick foliage. It wasn't a full grown forest, but he'd brought a dark tent, and it should blend in well enough to not alert anyone to their presence.

He turned back towards Anne, her eyes following the truck that went by. She looked at him and her face grew a little flush. What the hell had he done this time?

"Umm..." he started awkwardly, her reaction throwing off his train of thought. "We should..here would be a good place..."

"I'm right behind you," she smiled softly.

Maybe he'd just imagined her face was growing a little redder. It certainly didn't appear that way now. He secured the two packs he held and placed a hand on the side of the truck, leaping out without much effort. Viral turned towards the truck, looking for Anne only to realize she'd landed behind him. His face must have revealed his surprise because she smirked a little at him.

"I'm not the littling you think I am, you know. I've got legs, and I will always make sure that they're enough to support my own weight."

As she looked up at him, he stared at her, tilting his head a bit. No, she definitely wasn't his littling any longer. He'd have to come to grips with that fact.

He darted into the nearby trees, careful not to make any sound and awaited the inevitable rushing of leaves and branches. However, the sound never came. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that Anne was right behind him, as she'd promised. He smiled, in part to himself and in part at her. It seemed she had learned a thing or two from hanging around him so long. It took a moment before he truly recognized the emotion he felt as pride. That recognition came at about the same time when he realized just how he'd referred to Anne. His littling.

The thought didn't bother him as much as he'd thought it would.