"I don't love you. I was just playing. No one cares about you, Darien." The mysterious person turned, so that their back was facing him. Quite suddenly they spun around and reached their hand out, like they were going to caress his cheek, then pulled their hand away in alarm.
Curious, Darien looked down at his hand and noticed that his hands were on fire and covered in his own blood.
The world began to slip out from underneath his feet as his consciousness threatened to leave him. Everything was spinning, and various images kept flashing before his eyes... of the police officer, Serena.
There she was, holding the gun... which turned to flowers... her figure standing in front of the window... her eyes...
Darien suddenly yelled out to try to get a grip on himself. This only made the Serena (who was now staring at him) start to laugh, then walk off with another man who had suddenly appeared.
~
Yelling out in frustration, Darien's eyes snapped open. Expecting to be in some kind of jail cell, he was quite surprised when he felt a warm, soft bed underneath him and a cool breeze flowing through an open window.
Remembering where he was, he slowly sighed and let his eyes drift close.
What a weird dream... He thought, carefully rolling over so as not to upset his wound any farther.
Suddenly he heard a creaking door and his eyes snapped open, thinking he would see someone walk into the room. Instead, he only saw the door shutting. Someone had been in the room with him, and must have left when he woke up.
Not caring much who it had been at the moment, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
But not before noticing an extra rose lying next to the already very full vase.
~
A breeze rustled Serena's hair as she made her way home. Her house was about three blocks from the hospital, so she hadn't bothered taking a car.
Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she tried to clear her mind of thoughts, but to no avail.
Why do I keep visiting him anyway? He's not worth anything. At least, not to me. I guess I just still feel bad about shooting him. It's weird though, I've never cared THIS much about someone I've shot before.
Turning a corner, Serena continued on the familiar route to her house.
It must have been because he looked like a little boy when he was unconscious. No one's ever looked so... innocent before. Yes, that must be it. I feel like I shot a child, and that's why I keep visiting him. What I need is a good, peaceful night to get my mind off of him and then I'll be regular old Serena in no time!
But, unlike most solutions, this didn't take any weights off of her chest. Stopping momentarily, she kicked a pebble across the sidewalk and into the street. Somehow, that just didn't seem like the right answer. But it had to be.
Besides, there was only one other answer to the type of feelings inside of her, and they definitely weren't right. She was not in love with him. Not in this lifetime. She laughed out loud at the thought.
Imagine, a police officer in love with the most wanted criminal in New York! Now THAT'S funny!
But for some reason, she didn't smile much after that.
And anyway, even if I am in love with him... which I'm NOT, it's not like he would actually...
Suddenly her thoughts were cut short from a scream coming from somewhere very near to her.
"EEK! HELP! RAPE!" Shouted a young girl's voice.
Sighing, Serena begin to run towards the sound.
Do these guys EVER give it a rest?! She thought, rounding a corner and finding a troubling situation. Oh well, so much for a peaceful night...
~
Outside of Darien's hospital window, a man sat on the edge of a nearby building cross-legged. A long, black, braided ponytail was flowing out behind him, and his hands were crossed over his chest in a menacing manner. Grey eyes were searching over Darien's room for something that wasn't there, and a black leather trench coat was blowing in the wind.
"Ah... classic love story. Girl meets boy, girl shoots boy, girl feels bad. The police officer falls for the thief. Won't the news love this? Not to mention Shark..." He muttered, suddenly shifting his gaze to Serena, who was walking down the street with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her jacket. "Of course, we'll have to shift the story around just a bit." He whispered wickedly, returning his gaze to Darien's window for a split second.
"Cops and robbers." He said, smirking. The man then stood up and with a turn of his coat he was nowhere to be seen.
~
"Mr. Shields? Mr. Shields, are you awake?" A male voice sounded over him. Grunting angrily to be woken from his slumber he muttered his answer.
"I am now."
"Sorry Mr. Shields. But, to get down to business, you are to know that you will be released from here in two days, and escorted by the police officer Miss Tsukino to your jail cell." A man in a white doctor's coat announced, looking down at him. Darien could barely make out he was saying. However, his eyes snapped open at the mention of "Miss Tsukino." Once again cursing himself for acting so excited over a girl, he quickly closed his eyes, trying to make it look like he had merely been blinking.
Knowing better, the doctor began to laugh, but turned it into a cough as Darien began to stare at him with cold, blue eyes. Scowling, Darien began to fall back into sleep, only to be woken again.
"Oh, and Mr. Shields, before you fall asleep, you have a visitor." Carefully sitting up on an elbow, he blinked the sleep from his eyes before groggily muttering, "Bring them in."
And he walked in.
Blade.
And he knew he was already doomed.
The man with the long, black braided ponytail and cold gray eyes didn't speak until every nurse and doctor was out of the room.
"Well, well Darien... You seemed to have screwed up this time. For the first, and I can assure you, last, time." He spoke, leaning up against the same windowsill that Serena had leaned against. Suddenly, he wished she were there. Maybe... maybe for a little more than protection.
"It's not my fault, Blade. I was being as careful as I always am, but somehow a police officer found out." He replied, beginning to get a bit nervous. Blade was known to do not very nice things when he was mad.
"Yes, I know. A female police officer. Rather attractive, isn't she Darien? Long, golden hair, perfect, slender legs, crystal blue eyes... everything you've always wanted, right?" Blade asked, smirking.
Darien didn't answer.
"Such a pity that she isn't going to be around much longer." He suddenly said, walking towards the door.
"Stop!" Darien shouted. Blade stopped, and turned around slowly. "What do you mean, she's not going to be around much longer?" He asked, glaring.
"Ah, so you do care about her." The silver-eyed man grinned, knowing he had found a weak spot. Strange, Darien wasn't the type to fall in love...
"I do not care about her! But we said we wouldn't get any innocent people mixed up in this!"
"She shot you. She prevented you from reaching your goal, from getting all that money to pay me back. She's not an innocent passer-by, Darien. She got herself in this mess."
Of course, there wasn't really a comeback to this statement. It was true. Serena was the reason why he hadn't been able to pay back Blade. So he should hate her. Hell, he did hate her! She was the reason he was more than likely going to die!
"Blade, you're right. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. You're right. She's not innocent. Do whatever you like with her." He said, turning his face to the window. Do whatever you like with her... just don't hurt her. I've got to stop that! She shot me! She deserves to die!
"All right Darien. Good thing you came to your senses. It's nice to have your senses back before you die too." And with that Blaze silently walked out of the room, never looking back.
No matter how tough he was on the outside and inside, Darien couldn't stop what he was feeling, even when he was using all his will power. The only thing he could do was pretend he didn't care what happened to her.
Please don't hurt her...
~
Two days later, Serena sat in her bedroom in a long shirt and her underwear, preparing to drop Darien off at his jail cell. She had visited him once more yesterday, and for some reason he didn't seem normal. Which, of course, was insane, since she had known him for about a week, and had no idea how he usually acted.
Standing up, she walked to her closet to pick out a clean police uniform. Behind her, the television (which was currently on a news channel) blared.
"The 24 year-old-girl, Serena Tsukino, is supposedly working with Mr. Shields, and was more than likely part of the bank scandal. After shooting her partner, she immediately saved his life, obviously part of some plan to get money. They are now on the top of America's most wanted list..."
Serena stopped cold. Had the TV just said what she thought it said?
"What the...?" She muttered, looking at the television. Sure enough, on the screen, were two pictures.
One of Darien, and one of her.
"Oh my God..." She whispered. The news thought she was working with Darien! That... that just isn't possible! I'm not working with Darien! W-Why? Do they think that? It's not right! Oh my God! Her mind screamed, the world she knew suddenly beginning to be torn apart.
"Who would say that...?" Serena choked, holding back tears. She was not working the most wanted criminal in New York! She just was worried about him! And... and a little bit in love... Serena cut it out. You're not in love, he's not in love... and besides, there are more important things to worry about at the moment!
Swallowing hard and forgetting about the police uniform, she grabbed a large sweater and pair of jeans, literally threw them on and ran out to her regular car in panic, looking to make sure no one was around.
Darien, you've got some explaining to do!
~
Without even knocking, Serena suddenly stormed into Darien's room, pointing at him angrily.
"You..." She scowled, nearing him, and poking him in the chest. (Not on the wound, of course.)
"Me what?" Darien asked, confused.
"What the hell did you tell the media?" She screamed, her face turning red.
"What do you mean?" Darien replied, now even more confused. What did the media have to do with anything? She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then silently took a seat in a chair next to him.
"The news just said that I was working with you to rob the bank and that we're partners." Serena said, her voice serene, but her eyes looking otherwise.
"What?!" Darien shouted, looking at her in alarm.
"I know!" Serena shouted back. "So what did you tell them, huh?"
"I didn't tell them anything!" He replied truthfully.
And then his mind drifted to back Blade.
Too bad she won't be around much longer...
"Blade..." He muttered under his breath angrily.
"Who?" She asked, her stress once again beginning to reach it's peak.
"It must have been Blade. He told me just the other day... that he was going to get back at you..." Darien said, partly to himself, partly to Serena.
"EXCUSE ME, BUT WHO THE HELL IS BLADE?!" The girl in the room screamed.
"Keep it down, will you?" Darien whispered angrily, slapping his hand to her mouth. Her eyebrows bent down, showing anger. She suddenly rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, signifying that she would keep quiet. He slowly took his hand down, then begin to explain.
"A while back I borrowed some money from Blade. I spent it all, and I didn't have anything to pay him back with, so I told him I'd rob the local bank and give him 70% of the profits. He agreed, and I thought I could do it... but you shot me, and I couldn't pay him back so he's up to something. He must have been the one that told the media that you were my partner." Darien whispered, staring her in the eye the whole time.
"Oh great. So now what do we do?" Serena asked, letting out a long sigh, closing her eyes.
We, eh? Darien thought, raising an eyebrow and chuckling before giving her the only logical answer.
"We run."
~
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