Chapter 7: Promise

The oncoming winter air was colder than usual this night. Lance noted as he stepped out of the car and looked up at the warehouse where Chan and his friends would work on their cars. The low bass of music hummed from the inside walls. Beside him Ilana closed the passenger door; she was nervous, and still sore she was tough though, Lance noted with a small smile. His dark eyes made their way over to her, she was in simple wear: a tight white t-shirt, and regular jeans.

She caught his gaze and turned her head over towards him, a small smile crept upon her lips slowly. He exchanged the smile before the warehouse door flew open and Chan's dark shadow stepped towards them. His oncoming form seemed to surprise the teenage princess, who suddenly was at Lance's side an arm wrapped around his.

"You brought Little Sis." Chan purrred humorously. His eyes ran over her body and Lance let out a small, protective growl. The Dragon's eyes went back to the other man infront of him.

"How's the car doing?"

"Good." Lance replied shortly, making sure Chan's eyes only met his.

Chan's eyes narrowed slightly at Lance; the Galalunian Corporal was showing him disrespect, something he wouldn't take. "Don't get hot headed because your mommy isn't here." Chan bared his teeth before turning his back on the couple and retreating into his cave.

Ilana gripped the back of Lance's shirt, tugging on it. He turned to look at her. "W-We should go." she whispered gently, pleading in her emerald eyes. "Someone's going to get hurt, Lance.." He waved her off and shrugged. "We'll be fine." he said and turned away from her again, he walked off going towards the warehouse. Ilana sighed but followed close, having no other choice.

Hours passed inside the old warehouse. Ilana stayed silent and stuck close to her Corporal. She refused to touch anything the men smoked though, as a princess she felt as if she had to be the responsible one. Stress weighed on her shoulders though, she watched Lance act like a fool with Chan and the others. She couldn't take this...

More stress weighed on her small shoulders when Chan spoke. "Let's try out that car of yours, man." he rasped, looking at Lance though shallowed eyes.

The warehouse seemed silent for a moment, despite the booming music coursing through their bodies. All eyes seemed tranced on the soldier. Ilana let out a thankful sigh as he checked the watch on his wrist and frowned. "Not tonight." he replied, looking over at Ilana. "Gotta get her home, before dad worries."

He was perfect at lying. Almost too perfect. But, it got them out of having even more trouble. She stood when Lance did so; keeping to him like the good mate she was. He turned back to give the dragon a wolfish grin. "I'll be back." he promised. Chan nodded before turning away.

The air had gotten even colder since they had entered the building. The girls small shoulders shook, but it wasn't from the cold.

They felt lighter now.

Once in the shadows and next to Lance's car an arm snuck around said shoulders.

"No more Lance." Ilana snapped, pushing him away. The dam broke and she felt the tears stinging her eyes now. "I can't be with you and these...things." she snarled, her warm tears slid down her cheeks now. She had been holding back these emotions since Lance had taken his first hit..."You're someone so different when you're on this stuff!"

Lance became wide eyed, then they darkened and narrowed. "Just...get in the car.." he hissed quietly.

"Gladly." She snapped back before turning on her heel and getting into the car. She slammed the door loudly and curled into the passenger seat.

Lance slid into the car and turned it over. Silently he looked over at her while pushing the car into drive. "Why did you come if you were just going to do...this." he growled, driving onto the road. Despite his high his anger made his mind become more clear, and his foot weighed heavy on the accelerator.

"I have no reason to answer to you, Corporal." she hissed at him angrily.

He snarled at her.

She glared.

Octus was home when Lance pulled into the drive way. "Oh, great." Ilana huffed. "Now I have to lie for you, don't I?" she growled at him, her upper lip curling into a snarl. Their eyes met and suddenly she backed off. "God...Lance..." she whispered, before leaving the car and slamming the door, once again.

Lance sat in the car. His mind ran slowly. His feelings, what were they? He didn't know. Betrayal ran in his veins. Anger beat in his heart. But there was relief in his mind. "Fuck!" he snarled, punching the top of the wheel. The thing groaned under his strength but decided not to move too far out of place.

What was he supposed to do? A loss was the only thing he thought. A blank was the best thing he could draw. Moving things too fast for himself, thats the way he had always done things. Ilana was a princess, she did things at her own pace though. When he had reached his hand out to protect her, it had been the exact opposite of that. His head hurt, thinking about her. He had put her in a dangerous situation tonight. He knew that. He had broken a promise to her. A silent, bonding promise that they had made earlier that day.

A bonding promise.

And he had broken it.

Just like his father had done to him years earlier. He had sworn to never become anything like that, and now, he was becoming the reflection of the such man that had left him.

An angry roar escaped his lips and his stress was let out on the poor steering wheel that had decided to be in his way. When his dark eyes looked up into the rearview mirror of the car, his motions stopped. "Dad." he spoke. His voice felt disconnected from his own. He looked at the time of his car.

Two in the morning.

Unlike his father. He was still alive, still breathing. He could make up for what he had done to her tonight. He had not yet disappeared completly from Ilana's life. He was still here to protect her.

Slowly his body moved but he made his way out of the car. For a moment he looked up at the staring stars. The moon was now coming back into view.

He looked away from the sky, his dark eyes moving to the doors of the house.

"I'm coming princess." he promised silently.