A/N: Alright, so this chapter came out a bit shorter than the other one did. A little disappointing, I know but I'm getting through it. So..., any interesting review asked for Lemon...would anyone enjoy some?

Kiux groaned as he sat up the next morning. Clutching at his side before tumbling off the side of the bed to the hard ground below. "Oh God, that didn't help," he muttered, staying there for a moment before using the bed to get back to his feet. While he was seriously beginning to think on Hunter's offer, he just shook his head and stumbled across his room to the bathroom. Splashing some water on his face from the nearby faucet before shaking his head as the cold liquid washed the sleep from him. "I look like shit." he laughed, noticing the pale rings of black around his eyes. Definitely the sign of the poison's effect. Several other black rings appeared on his chest and arms. Stupid poison... he thought, before slowly getting dressed.

Hunter looked around the early morning of Varrock, not the least bit surprised that people were still crowded around the large central fountain. Crossing her arms, she tapped her foot slightly against the ground before sitting down on the rock wall of the fountain. Hiding the rather-large bag of hers behind her legs as she waited for the other two to arrive. Scanning the crowd, she saw a mixture of trading, arguing and romancing couples already starting early. Oh yeah, like this is the place to start the love she thought jokingly. Not that Port Sarim was any better.

"Hunter! My girl!"

"Stop calling me that," she muttered, watching as Scott walked over to her. "So, I'm here, can I go now?"

"We have to wait for Kiux," Scott replied, crossing his arms. "I just need to make sure that we can keep this deal together."

"You're starting to sound like a sleaze here," Hunter muttered.

"It's a good deal, and I've put in a lot of money," Scott reminded.

"Then why can't you get the mere rest to finish it off?" she growled, now beginning to feel ticked for no reason.

He went to reply but stopped as someone else seemed to take to his attention. "Kiux, my man! How's it going?"

She looked up as the other white-haired man approached them. Her eyes unable to stop staring at the black rings visible on his flesh, mainly the ones around his eyes. He was dressed in a dark-blue shirt, that slightly clung to his slender upper body.

"It's been a hellva lot better," Kiux mumbled, keeping one hand over his side. "But I'll just deal with it."

"Great, so we'll be having a busy day of working then!" Scott beamed.

Scum! Hunter growled to herself as she stood, watching as the jerk turned and walked away as though he didn't see a damn thing wrong. She turned back to Kiux, who seemed slightly shocked at the look she gave him. It took her a moment before she relaxed her features and crossed her arms. "I don't care what that douchebag says, you really need to go back home. You look like shit."
"Man, that's one of the first things I said to myself this morning," Kiux chuckled lightly before waving it off. "I've been poisoned before, this is no different."
She shook her head and set her hands on her hips. "You really are looking to die, aren't you?"
"If I wanted to die, I'd compliment your body and ask for a date," he replied. "You know, aside from buying you a drink at a bar." he chuckled lightly at the slight look of shock on her face before turning to go. "See ya at late noon."

She watched as he went a few feet before remembering the bag behind her. "Kiux!" she called, watching as he turned. She grabbed the knot at the top of the bag and tossed it at him. Slightly regretting the action as it hit him in the chest and almost knocked him down. "You might want that."

He almost didn't want to open it after the hard object inside collided with his rib. Setting the bag down, he untied it before opening the top. Shocked as the sunlight reflected off the blue armor inside. "You have got to be-" he started, stopping as he noticed she was already gone.

"Hey Kiux!" he looked up at the call, setting his pickaxe down as he watched the Dwarven man hurry over on his short legs. "Looks like you managed to get yourself some new armor. It's looking good on ya. Must've been from all that Coal you've been mining."
"More like a...friend bought this for me," Kiux replied.

"That's a mighty expensive gift," Charlie commented, overlooking the matching blue chest and leg plates.

"Tell me about it," he nodded. "But she surprised it with me this morning."

"Oh, it's a 'she' now, is it?" Charlie asked.

"Not like that," Kiux quickly defended, only bringing a chuckle from the Dwarf.

"I reckon so," he nodded, scratching his long beard. "Then again, it might be to protect you from the Scorpions running around. You got those rings around your eyes again."

Kiux waved his comment off. "I'm fine, honestly. It's not that bad. The doctor even said it wasn't a powerful toxin. The rings will go away in a few days."

"True," Charlie shrugged. "But that doesn't mean you should be back here with that injury."
"It's fine," he lied. The injury seemed to rob him of strength with every pick swing. He had to take several breaks to recover from the pain. "A little scratch."

"That's what they all say," Charlie muttered. "Just watch yourself."
"Sure thing, mom," Kiux replied sarcastically as the Dwarven man walked off. Shaking his head, he went back to work.

Hunter sighed as she finished off her last trap of lobsters. Not really paying attention to the large number of them as she placed them in her own bag. Her mind kept drifting back to the early morning with the black rings and everything. Sure, even if it was a mild toxin, it still seemed to have a pretty big range of effects. She had only been poisoned once or twice in her life, but both times had been pretty bad. "Forget it..." she muttered, putting away her trap and grabbing what load she managed to catch.

"Taking an early leave?" one of the other regular fishermen asked.

"Yeah, I got other things to do," she replied, and started back across the island. "This is stupid...you barely even know him," she muttered to herself, paying the fee before boarding the boat. "You act like he's the only person in the world..." she sighed and set her chin in one hand. What has gotten into you?

Arriving at Port Sarim, she hurried along to Falador and then along the windy path to Varrock. Arriving at the city slightly out of breath, she shook her head before continuing on. Not quite sure what she was going to do here yet. A little drink wouldn't hurt though... she thought, heading in the direction of the nearby bar. Entering the cool building, she ran a hand through her white hair before taking a seat at the bar.

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked, slightly balding with a stained white apron on.

"A glass of your finest ale," she answered, as her eyes searched the bar. Not that many people, then again it was mid-afternoon. She didn't normally drink this early, but what the hell. Her eyes landed on another white-haired figure in the room. Just across the room in one of the small booths in the corner. She could've put it off as anyone, if she didn't recognize the blue, Mithril armor. Smirking, she paid for her drink before taking it across the floor. "Well stranger, what are you here for?" she asked, sitting on the corner of his table.

"It was only a break, I swear," Kiux laughed, watching as she took the seat across from him. "Besides, what are you doing here?"

"Break," she answered.

"They have a bar in Port Sarim, you know," he reminded.

She shrugged and took a drink of her ale. "Maybe I like this one better."

"If I tell you I'm playing hookie from work today, are you just going to say the same thing?" Kiux asked.

"Maybe," she smiled, spinning her drink around some.

"You speak in riddles, my fair lady," he laughed, before finishing off his drink. "I suppose I'll have to return to the mines now."
"I won't tell if you don't tell," she suggested.

"Think he'll get suspicious?" Kiux smiled.

"He's about as sharp as the Coal you mine." she replied.