AN: Though I'm mostly sticking to Kurt's view, on occasion I'll be giving glances into others. I'm also trying to keep these chapters fairly short.

Should he stop by and visit? It had been several days since he dropped her off at home, and she wasn't answering any of his texts. No response at all. Not that he had been bothering her, but the occasional text here or there one might think would get responded to eventually. Had he done something wrong? He tried to play it off, maybe she was just keeping busy? Now that he thought about it she hadn't shared very much with him, including if she worked and doing what. She kept so guarded, a veil of mystery surrounding her. He would be lying if he didn't say it made him all the more intrigued. He imagined himself the sleuth for a moment, over-coat in a gray-stricken world of fog and street lamps. The visual improved his mood, encouraging him to try giving her a call. Instead, right before he could dial the number, there her name was popping up on the screen. Talk about timing!

"Rachel! I was just thinking of giving you a call!"

"Oh? Sorry I haven't been answering, I lost my phone, but I've found it now." she sounded casual enough, easing his prior concerns.

"I've found myself with some free time, I don't suppose you'd want to get together this evening? Though, it's last minute so maybe you're busy. That's okay if so." He was already grinning, but played it cool with his response.

"I do have something here in a minute, but later I'll be free. I believe it was my turn to pick the event?" her voice cheered, if slightly. He was learning to pick up the little details, sleuthing out what clues he could.

"It is. I'll be curious to see what you come up with."

"I'll send you the address and time then. Would you like to meet there or shall I pick you up?"

"I'll meet you there."

"Until later then, Fraulein."

"I'll see you then." Luckily, he already knew just what he wanted to do.

She stood outside of the church, or what used to be a church. It looked long forgotten, though hardly a hazard. He did well not to choose a place that wouldn't be crowded, she never did do well with those. So why couldn't she bring herself to go in? Why was her stomach in knots with the very idea? She hovered on the path, eyes flitting over the details of the architecture. She tried to will herself forward, but legs would not move. Eventually, she settled on turning to wait for his arrival, if indeed he would appear the more ordinary way. She was a bit early, after all.

Had she been on any dates prior? No. Had she had friends? No. Since the accident, as her brother liked to put it, she had no recollection of the years before. She knew the effect she had on others, and that given time one could grow to become accustomed to it, but no one had stuck around long enough to find that out but William so far. And the work she found a natural talent for? The jobs that let her slip out of the watchful gaze of an over-bearing brother? The only way she had found in the last two years to interact with the world was to avoid it. Or destroy it. Those who had been friendly, saw her as a weapon. Arranged business opportunities and managed to keep a strictly professional environment. Tolerated the danger she presented so long as it was directed in the location they desired, keeping their ground when she tested their resolve. Everyone else either avoided her, ran from her, or lashed out at her. So she had learned to be as cold as the blade in an assassin's hand, even to take delight in the few opportunities provided to her. She was, after all, very good at her job.

Or so she thought. One slip up, one injury and poorly timed escape, and her disquiet had gone beyond her control. Had attracted the inevitable violence, fed the hatred of the men she had passed and lured them in. Kill or be killed, the life of a predator is one where only the strong survive. If she can't cut it, she has no one to blame but herself. And then he showed up. Of course she was shocked to see someone strolling around so casually, heroic virtues shining through never mind the spaded tail and blue fur. He wanted to help her? She didn't need it. But she had humored him, coming to realize he would not simply leave her be. She didn't really owe him anything at all, as far as she was concerned, but she had offered to treat him to a meal all the same. She wasn't sure why.

And she wasn't entirely sure why she was here, either. If she had owed him anything, it was repaid. There was no need to further involve herself with someone like him. Someone with a habit of playing hero and, by all appearances, possessing a moral compass she herself lacked. This could only end in flames. Either he was meaning to deceive her, or he was genuine. Perhaps she should turn back now. Keep to herself as she had done all this time. While her face remained well trained to a blank pre-disposition, and her muscles remained steady, her stomach was in her throat. She turned, ready to give in to the desire to flee, when the characteristic sound and smell alerted her to his appearance.

The first time he had ported with her, the smell alone had triggered something. She didn't know what. She'd pushed away from him the moment they had landed, pain firing through her nerves for the first time in her memory. It was a miracle she had curled up and shuddered against the sensation instead of crying out. In that brief moment of brimstone smell, she could swear she heard a thousand voice screaming, but it had been so short she couldn't tell for sure. If she had stomach contents to lose that day, she would have, though each sensation faded. By the time the sharp stab in her side began to fade back to the usual numbness, she had been more fascinated by the change than afraid. Apparently it was usual to react so poorly to teleportation with him the first time, and he'd apologized only to be dismissed. It was far too interesting for her to be offended, and it got her back to the clinic all the easier and faster. Since then, the smell hadn't granted the same effects.

"Good evening, Fraulein, I hope you weren't waiting long?" Too late to run.

"Not at all." she forced a smile, he offered an arm.

"It is a bit of a surprise." the smile became a smirk, but she wasn't truly concerned. Instead she raised a brow, closed her eyes, and covered them with her hand while taking his arm with the other. She felt him move in, placing his other arm around her, and the sensation of travel again. She could hear him moving about, doing good about not cheating though her curiosity was peaked.

"Alright, you can look now." she opened her eyes.