Acceptance
Chapter Fourteen: Loosing
Flash Back- Three Years ago.
"Roy?" she whispered. Her lips puckered as she studied the castle that was bustling with activity. They would either get into a lot of trouble or get a good haul in tonight. It wasn't easy being a bounty hunter.
"Yes, babe?" her partner responded. His bright red hair looked dull in the fading light and his body was hunched low to the ground to peer over the bush with her. He was barely a hand's breath away; if she wanted she could wrap her fingers around his. She couldn't though, this was job time, and while on the job she needed to stay serious and focused. She tensed her body as she looked around for the rest of her 'team'. In the fading light in the woods surrounding she couldn't see any of them. That was the point though, they were planning an ambush. She tried to relax but her muscles refused to obey her order. She sat there, coiled like a snake, and waiting for the signal.
"Bee?"
She had forgotten about Roy to be honest. Even with his close presence she had forgotten he was there even if it was barely a second. She gave him a firm smile.
"Sorry, I was just checking to see if you were ready," she said coolly.
He gave her a skeptical look before closing the distance between their hands and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"It's the same as always. In, out, haul criminals to the capital and collect the reward."
"I know but I can't help but feel like something is off," she said quietly. She glanced around again. The sun was starting to disappear completely leaving a reddish hue to taint the sky. Someone should be sounding the signal soon.
"It'll work. It always does," he said smoothly as he pulled out his bow and notched an arrow.
She was about to voice a little more of her worries before she thought better of it. If she was leading this operation she had to be sure of everyone. It wasn't often that the world could corner Red X. She couldn't help but voice one last worry though.
"He's been here for a while."
That truly unnerved her. Maybe that was why she was so uneasy. The man she had been hunting for years now had finally stopped running and had been holed up in this place for months. Roy looked like he was about to respond when a low whistle erupted from the castle.
"Shit," he hissed and shot forward.
That was the signal. She took a deep breath to steady herself and then took off after Roy.
They trekked silently through the woods until they reached the breach in the wall they had wanted to slip through. Karen found herself looking over her shoulder and wondering where the hell the rest of the team was. She sent a questioning look to Roy who shrugged and kept going. They might have chickened out and left them on their own, and that had happened before. They crossed the crumbled wall and landed in the court yard simultaneously.
"Ah so we finally meet the famous BeeBee," a cold voice said. In the darkness of the court yard she could barely make out a lone figure standing maybe 20 feet in front of them. She heard Roy growl and struggle to get his bow ready before something heavy landed to their right.
"Ambush," she found herself hissing as she sprung up to fight.
She couldn't really tell you what happened after that. She could have been fighting for half the night, or for less than an hour. All she knew was that she and Roy were fighting flawlessly. That was until he stepped in.
A whirl of pink passed her and cackled at Roy dragging him further and further away from her as he chased after a figure. Jinx, she assumed. That left Karen panting and facing the last opponent on the field.
"Well you certainly live up to your name," he teased.
"Enough of this X, you're finished. We've beaten all of your men," she frowned. Her voice came out in pants as if she was exhausted from the energy she placed into this. She whipped sweat off of her brow and cursed under her breath.
"I highly doubt you just expect me to turn myself over to you willingly, doll face."
The moon began to cast some light on to the yard. She could see the bodies of his unconscious men laying around but the man before her seemed unfazed. His face was hidden behind his famous skull, and he wore a large black cloak that hid the rest of his body from her view.
"You seem put out doll," he said as he positioned himself into a stance. He looked almost eager to fight. She felt the weariness settle into her bones.
"I've been chasing you for so long…" she whispered more to herself than to him. He seemed to catch it though and a low chuckle erupted from him.
"How about this? I'll make you a deal."
"I'm not interested in making deals with thieves," she hissed.
"You don't even know what my offer is yet," he teased as he took a step to the side. It forced Karen to start moving or else he would exploit a weakness in her. She wearily started to mirror him. Her eyes looking for anything to help her, but in the dim light she could still hardly make him out. She needed to get closer, especially if she wanted to capture him.
"I don't need to know your offer to know I will refuse it."
If there was ever a mad man laugh in the world that was as pure as this one Karen wasn't sure what else it could qualify. His laughter vibrated across the ground and seemed to rattle the very earth with the force of it. No other sounds could be made out over the disgusting noise.
"Looks like our two best backups knocked each other out," he teased gesturing to the side.
Karen chanced a quick glance. She felt a frustrated sigh escape her as her sight landed on Roy who was sprawled out with the pink haired 'witch' on top of him. He could be so useless sometimes.
She suppressed a growl when she caught the flushed look on Roy's face and just how closely pressed against the other girl he was. She ignored it. This was a fight and he lost. She couldn't focus on something as trivial as how he wound up, he did take out his enemy as well.
"Ready to take a chance on my deal?" he lunged forward not giving her time to respond.
She flipped out of his reach, careful not to expose her back for longer than necessary as she continued to retreat from his lithe lunges. She managed to grunt out a 'no' before stopping a fierce round house kick he tried to deliver. She parred a punch of his before slowly taking the offensive.
She took an assertive step forward and smoothly dodged another punch he aimed at her. She sent her own kick in a jabbing motion towards his chest, before quickly and fluidly changing direction and aimed for his head. She heard him chuckle as he leapt out of her kicking range.
They both panted and looked across at each other.
"So if I win… you join my crew. If you do, I won't try to escape when you tow me back to the capital," he said.
"How do I know you won't break your word?" she panted, and to her dismay she found her elbows leaning onto her knees to keep herself propped as she gasped for breath. His stupid minions had taken a lot more out of her than she suspected.
"We'll shake on it," he said easily and strode forward across the small space that separated them.
Karen eyed him wearily and pulled herself up to her full height. She found a sneer plastered across her face as he extended his hand out to her.
"I don't do deals with thieves," she hissed crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well that's too bad," he said and lifted his hand to strike her easily upside the head.
Stupid, she thought as she found herself slipping into unconsciousness. How stupid of her to let her guard down so easily.
()()()()()()()()
She awoke in the tower; Roy was chained next to her with several lumps and bruises of his own. She could surmise from the dull throb on the side of her skull that she had a nasty lump as well. She sat up slowly, testing the rattling chains that kept her within a three foot area. She sighed.
"Roy?"
He mumbled and shifted in his sleep. He hissed when he rolled over, probably on a wound, and shot up. He blinked a few times before catching sight of her.
"We were set up," he hissed lowly.
She nodded. Their 'partners' for this project were all absent and had been absent from the court yard as well. That and the stupid thieves had been waiting for them. There really was no other way to interrupt that other than they were set up.
The door slowly creaked open and there stood the pink haired girl. She had a sinister smile on her face as she sauntered into the room. She strode up to Karen with determination but her eyes were locked on Roy.
"Remember what I told you?" she said.
His face instantly turned white as he struggled against his chains.
"No," he hissed.
Jinx raised a hand and with a loud snap struck Karen across the cheek. Pain laced across her and caused her mind to fog quickly. This was expected but she didn't know why. She struggled to sit up and look over at Roy who was swearing loudly.
"Roy?" she whispered out. Jinx cackled above her.
"She wants us to join them," he hissed to her. He kept his eyes locked on hers. His eyes showing an array of torture as Jinx continued to strike Karen. She couldn't show weakness but they already knew her weakness, Roy, and she was his. That was Red X's trump card. She struggled not to make any noise as Jinx lashed something sharp across her back. She would try to hold out as long as possible for Roy. Maybe then they would give up.
"It doesn't hurt," she mouthed to him, trying not to wince as she did so. A sharp kick was delivered to her ribs, which cracked sending white hot pain to shoot across her body, and she couldn't help but let out a small moan.
"Okay, okay, stop!" Roy shouted straining against his chains so hard that he was drawing blood. The liquid pooled on his wrists and dripped to the floor.
"Why should I?" the witch cackled striking Karen again, this time along the bruise on the side of her head. She hissed and recoiled from the girl. The pain that was starting to settle into her body was becoming unbearable.
"I'll join!" Roy yelled as she landed another blow on Karen's fallen body.
()()()()()()()
A few days before Raven's arrival at the castle.
"I know you talked to Jinx the other night," she growled. She hated being trapped as a dresser. She hated that she couldn't convey her emotions like she used to. She couldn't place her hands on her hips or give him a glowering look. She couldn't do anything.
"I did," Roy said easily. The strings on his 'body' vibrated beautifully as he settled in next to her.
"Well?"
"Well what?" he asked.
"What could you possibly have to talk about with that thing?" she hissed. Over the past three years she had gotten over Jinx's ways as she simulated herself into the group but she still held a deep mistrust for the towel. She guessed being blackmailed into a group sort of made one full of resentment for that person. She would have smiled thinking back on all the memories of being part of Jason's 'team' but she had no lips. Her frustration mounted as Roy refused to answer her.
Roy gave her a typical shrug, in the best way he could with his wooden frame and strummed a few notes harmlessly trying to calm her.
"It's kind of a private matter," he mumbled.
If Karen had eyes she would have been seeing red.
()()()()()()()
Present Day
The fact that he was just letting her go was unsettling, but not unsurprising. She hadn't really tried to get away during her stay here. Besides her journey out into the woods but she didn't really call that an escape attempt. She was free to leave whenever she wanted… so why did she wait until he said she could go before she decided it was the best choice? What made her stay her?
The answer was simple. She had given her word. She had told him she would help him break the curse, and before that she had told him she would take her brother's place forever. Her word made her a captive just as much as her captor.
But the thing was, was that her resent for him that pure unbridled hatred she had felt merely weeks ago had vanished. And she had kissed him! How could she ever forget how his warm lips had ravished hers, or how she had actually responded? She hadn't even protested and he gave her plenty of time to say no.
Was it because of his more human appearance that she had accepted the kiss or some other reason?
She didn't want to dwell on this. It was because he kissed her that she was leaving now. He had kissed her and then told her to go. Sure she played it off that it was the curse that caused him to act like that but the kiss… the kiss was always the key in the story. It was the kiss that showed true love conquered all evils. After their kiss nothing had changed, he looked exactly the same, slightly hairy and pointed ears but mostly human. Even if he did somehow love her it wasn't enough to break the curse, she wasn't enough. The rejection in the most simplistic way was enough to make her want to curl up into a ball under her covers and never come out again. And she felt ridiculous that she was even feeling like that.
"Just a little more time Raven, please," Karen croaked from the corner.
It was odd to have her so distraught. Raven wasn't even sure why she was to begin with. Karen was always the type of gir-erm um… dresser to keep herself pulled together. She did feel a pang of guilt for her friend, she was potentially being extremely selfish and letting down a lot of people but at the same time she couldn't ignore the freedom she was presented. She would be letting down her friends back home if she didn't come home now.
She found her head wagging slowly back and forth in answer to Karen's plea.
"I … just… no," Karen said hopping in front of the door making it impossible for Raven to leave. Raven sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I can't stay here anymore," she whispered mostly to herself but knowing that Karen would hear it.
"I feel that way every day. Do you know how hard it is to not be able to experience your own emotions? To forget what it is like to be human and then have some girl come here and show you exactly what it means again? Do you know what it's like to see your lover become a harp and watch him struggle to keep himself in place while you struggle to keep yourself?"
"I don't know what its like," Raven said calmly, "but I know what it is like to have everything taken away from you and not being able to do anything about it."
Both eyed each other, well, Raven eyed the dresser and she assumed that Karen was mimicking her in her own way. The wood in the dresser sagged against the door as Karen let out a sigh.
"Before you came here I got in a huge fight with Roy about this really small thing. I saw him playing a song for Jinx when he thought I was asleep," Karen paused taking a deep breath. "I assumed that meant he and the towel had something going on but he refused to tell me why he had been trying to cheer Jinx up. Apparently she was really distraught over something and she made him promise not to tell anyone. He still hasn't told me…"
So Karen was a self-conscious dresser who was worried about the harps intentions, so what? Raven couldn't help but lean forward though. It was the first time that any of them had willingly told her something about themselves.
"But I figured it out when Jinx was in here with you and Jason. She's all steamed up because she's in love with him and he knows it but doesn't love her back," she finished the rest of her sentence like it would be some kind of shock. It was in a small way but Raven wasn't really bothered by it. Who would feel threatened by a pink fluffy towel?
"Is this supposed to make me stay?" Raven asked her voice slipping into a familiar bored monotone.
"No… it just feels good to finally tell someone about it," the dresser said. "I am going to miss having a roommate," the dresser wailed and lunged forward. Clothes shot out and wrapped Raven up into a tight hug. She felt warm as the dresser let out what could pass for dry sobs.
"Dammit Karen," she hissed feeling her own tears starting to swim up to her eyes. She barely knew this girl and here she was feeling sentimental about leaving. Maybe it was because in some small way Karen reminded her so much of herself.
She slowly pried herself from her friend's grip after a few more minutes of embrace. Karen squeezed her a bit tighter before releasing her and pushing her back towards the bed.
"At least let me pack you some clothes. Can't have you looking like a hobo," she muttered and Raven found a small chuckle escape.
()()()()()()()()()
"So this is it," he said looking down at her. She was wearing a faded blue tunic and a pair of black long pants. Her short purple hair was tucked back behind her ears making her eyes appear even larger than normal. She had a cloak draped over her arm and a back pack full of who-knows-what was strapped to her shoulders.
She nodded and even though she was smiling, it was a smile that didn't quiet reach her eyes.
"I'll be back soon," she said.
He nearly choked.
"What?"
"With armed forces to arrest you," she teased. This time the smile did reach her eyes in an almost sinister way. He found himself chuckling despite how sad he felt. She wouldn't really come back and if she did it would be with an army to arrest him.
"I'll look forward to it," he said bending down to place a chaste kiss on her cheek.
She turned a brilliant shade of red before coughing and then turning around to bid everyone else goodbye. After the short and seemingly painless goodbye session was done he walked her to the barn, helped her saddle up the horse, and then escorted her off the grounds.
She waved lazily over her shoulder as she rounded the corner. Her eyes never once turned to look back at him. She was probably waiting to get out of eyesight before she pushes her horse into a gallop back home, he thought drily as he slowly let the gate squeal closed.
And just like that Raven Roth, the girl from Azarath, the prisoner of the world, the love of his life, was gone. He found himself on the earth clutching the grass for support. It felt like that if he let go he would fall off the face of the earth and cease to exist.
A/N: :D (#) Cookies for ALL! Thank you guys for the reviews! I can't get over it! So awesome.
may yuki - ah I see it now. Ignore my blond moment. And who knows I can't decide yet *Grins evilly*
Lust for Life - Of course. I would never stop a story half way through. Although I do have a few stories that are on vaction right now I will eventually finish them. This story I am so into finishing it will be done before I can go back to my others. Hahahah
Glitter Rose - Jason is a lost puppy. :p I got dibs first on adoption though. You know the whole foster parent thing hahahaha.
half-demon24 - I hope so too! And thank you *blushes*
sisteroffive16 - Eh I'm only fast at updating because I get so focused on writing I wind up writing soooo much hahaha. Sometimes though my updates become less frequent. I do have a story that has been on a four or five month break right now? I should get back to that one... I just wanna finish this first.
crazynerd - It isn't a problem at all. You can reveiw whenever you feel like it (although I do love getting them :p).
joxxmarie - I have put a lot more effort into this story to make it flow correctly and I'm glad it has been paying off for you readers to notice. :D. Also I'm thrilled that this is one of your favorites. I hope this chapter didn't disappoint.
jabigaeltan - The part with Raven saying she doesn't love him? Hmmm... I'm not sure if that is denial or not. I'll have to ask Raven and have her get back to you ;)
CrazyAndLoveable - HEhehe I'm glad you think so highly of my writing. You know what I find funny (to everyone reading) is that I actually like Richard in this story and you all hate him XD. I mean I have written him in a way so that he is disliked but I guess my heart always goes out to the 'bad' guys in the story.
amethyst-dreams27 - Thank you! I would have never dreamed that any of my stories would get such responses and I'm always pleased. Yeah I couldn't help but through that in there. I always find myself melting with that number one thing Red X does. Darn him. Oh I would never drag on my story without a plot rest assured. I just had an idea for a small plot line to get thrown in. It actually wrote itself out in this chapter so overall I don't think I will be going over 20. If I do it's because the plot line I have is longer than I expected. :)