He scooped her up in his arms and teleported to her tent. "Shit, hold still while I heal this okay?" She only grunted trying to keep her screams in. He sat down and put his hand over the wound to start sending dark waves of energy from his hand into the bullet hole. Working with it, he formulated the energy into waves that numbed her pain and pushed the slug out of her. After a few minutes he managed to pull it out and seal the wound. Once the wound was healed he kept sending in eaves to heal the nerve damage so she wouldn't hurt anymore, there would still be a scar though.
Victoria cradled in his arms looked up at him. "Nero?" he took a shaky breath and responded "Yeah?" "I'm feeling better, you can let go" Blushing madly he quickly released his hold; she didn't move way but stayed partially in his lap. Even though it was dark, Victoria could tell he was blushing. She took a deep breath "Nero?" again he replied "Yeah?" she took a deep breath and put her hand on the back of his neck and started to play with his hair. She leaned in to his chest, "Thank you for protecting me back there, and for healing me." He smiled and just as he was about to say something else he felt her lips on his.
He kissed back with as much passion as he could. His arms looped around he waist, slowly she started to straddle him, cupping his face in her hands. They kissed until they had to come up for air. She leaned her forehead against his. "Victoria…" She put her finger up to his lips, and spoke softly with tears almost falling. "I was so scared Nero, I've been scared for a long time now, that I would die. I didn't tell you this, but my sister was a conduit, and a squad of Chunt's killed her. I didn't want to say anything, but she had the same powers as you. That's how I know how you could teleport. And when he shot me, I was so scared, thank yo-" He silenced her with a slow but deep kiss that showed he understood. "I will protect you Victoria" She sighed. Happy with what he had said. Nero laid down on his back, her head resting on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Goodnight Nero" she said before drifting off to sleep. He wasn't far behind her.
With morning's light, barely peaking through the trees. Nero gazed down at the sleeping form on his chest. She was beautiful, and with the few beams of light that were slowing poking through into the tent, it was the perfect moment. Suddenly it was whisked away by the sound of the tent flap opening up. He twisted his head around to see Cole, furious, his scar ever more prominent. "Care to explain?" Victoria woke, and bolted up right and shook a little. Nero spoke up "We went to Denver and looked around, but when we were coming back she was shot by a Chunt. So I got us back to heal her and I guess we ended up falling asleep." Coles' expression was one of concern now. "Victoria, you okay? I've never seen you take a bullet that you couldn't shrug off" She looked up at him "It's because it was at night and I was in the dark. My powers were weaker. Nero patched me up though" The Demon nodded. "Okay, rest a bit more and report to me in three hours"
"Nero?" victoria said cautiously after Cole had left. He looked at her, noticing her blush. "Yeah?" "Well last night, um… what does that make us?" She laughed when his face grew two shades redder. "Well what do you want us to be?" She pouted. "Don't make me say it," He laughed. "I'd like to be yours". She smiled, and kissed him. "I want to be yours too". He buried his face in her neck and held her tight. "Nero?" she asked tentatively. He looked up at her, "Why do you like me, I'm not complaining or anything, just why?" He looked at her with an amused expression. "You're an amazing girl Victoria. You're beautiful smart and I love your personality. Most girls wouldn't take the time to actually know me or would run to the hills when they learned my family life". She was taken back by his response; still she smiled and blushed a little. "Why me?" he asked.
This surprised her, and her face went even redder. "You're an amazing guy who wants to protect. I love that about you. I love the fact you protected me last night." He smiled at this, and kissed her again while laying back down to their previous position to rest a little more.
Time lapse.
Cole stared at the map as Nero and Victoria marked where the defenses were in Denver. They provided a detail report of the amount of sick people there were, approximately where the quarantine was and the military presence. He grinned; this was going to be easier than he thought it would. He looked at them "This is going to help us substantially. We move in a week. Go around and tell everyone to get ready for a siege. As they left, Kuo looked at him "Doesn't it bother you that those two are an item?" He shrugged "Nah, let them fuck like rabbits for all I care. As long as they do their job and further our cause they can do whatever. Besides, he'll have something to protect." She nodded, "Do you think he still wants to kill you?" He laughed bitterly "Of course he does, and when the time is right, he'll have his chance."
Cole shrugged off his jacket, and pulled his shirt off so he could show his shoulders and back. She gasped, Kuo knew the Beasts powers were tearing him apart, but she didn't think it was that bad. His skin was starting to become the same molten substance that John White was made of. He was growing weaker by the day. Every time he healed the sick and raised new Conduits, it would consume part of his life. "I don't think I'll be able to see this through Kuo. The only person I could give my power to is someone who is just as or more powerful than I. If I gave it to just any Conduit they would be torn apart. They have to be strong and they have to have the will to do what needs to be done. At first I thought it was going to be Victoria's sister, Alexandria, but now I'm positive it's Nero. He may hate me, and he's haunted by his sister's death. But I can see he's learning how no one can survive the plague but Conduits. His sister would've died in horrible agony if I hadn't cured him; he sees that this way is painless. He will be the one to kill me, and once he's done that, he'll usher in a new era." He sighed; he just hoped Nero would rise to the challenge before he deteriorated completely.
