Chapter 4

As they walked outside, just looking around, Azira still as an equine, Zero never realised he could find an animal beautiful, but he did. It was just the way she carried herself, even as a horse. She had a great outline and her hoof falls were soft, steady and regular...apart from when a few things spooked her and she jumped so high that Zero swore that he lost sight of her at times. Each time he came back to earth skittish and panting and each time, Zero had to fight the smile off his face. The last time, he couldn't help it. Azira landed and her front limbs buckled, sending her crashing to the floor, but she was up again before he could really worry about her.

Shaking herself, Azira sprayed the air with dust and tossed her head, trotting swiftly forwards, trying to ignore the snort that came from Zero. he kept walking with her head up, before she realised that Zero had stopped. She halted as well, slightly nervous and dropped her head slowly to look behind her.

She just saw him standing there, arms by his sides, looking coolly at her; all humour seemed to have gone. Tilting one ear back, she turned and whickered softly. Zero motioned for her to come back to him, with his hand. A gentle flick, nothing more, nothing less. Azira responded by trotting up to him and stopping a few meters away from him. She stayed like this for some time, looking into each others eyes, nothing else. it was silent apart from the few leaves that were blown past their feet. It seemed like an eternity until Zero spoke again, his voice husky and mellow yet with a harsh accent.

"Change back into you natural form, I want to see what you really look like,"

Azira hesitated and then closing her eyes, willed herself back into her human form. When she opened them she had returned to her natural human form and Zero was still in front of her, arms now crossed over his chest. Smoothing out her hair and then shaking it out to get rid of any tangles and dust, Azira returned her gaze to him, blushed violently and glanced to the side, holding her head there for a while. She was about to look back up when she felt a soft hand at her jaw line, gently forcing her head back to the front. She allowed it to happen and her heart leapt slightly. Zero had moved closer, a lot closer to her, but he had done so completely silently.

His hand at her jaw line, pulling her back to face him, Zero narrowed the gap between them with practised ease; he didn't even have to think about moving silently. Her eyes were piercing him, even though she was shy, he couldn't help but be drawn into her gaze and drown in the welcoming oceanic colouring.

There lips were inches apart and there bodies even closer. Azira could feel the heat from his body radiating around hers. Shivering slightly as his thumb brushed over her lower lip before lowering his head to her and kissing her softly yet firmly. His lips moulded against hers and felt like velvet. He held himself there for a few seconds before ending his contact, opening his eyes and meeting her gaze.

"That was payback," he half growled half whispered before straightening again. His head turned toward the lighting of the huge warehouse.

"Now, shall we return, Stryker will want to know a few things..."