* * *
" Hey guys, have you seen Storm anywhere? She's not been around the whole night, ever since the fight between you," She poked Irvine in the back, "and her." Chiru asked Raven and Irvine who were in the cafeteria, wolfing down any food they could find apparently having a food-eating contest that Irvine was winning.
"No." Raven said with his mouth full and Chiru nodded but not without giving them a look of disgust. Running out, Chiru was going to check the last place she hadn't been to but she seriously doubted that Storm would be there.
Skidding to a stop the room where the pool was; she looked for Storm since all the lights had been turned off. "Storm! Are you there!"
Immediately, a cold glow appeared in the room as Storm called up light enough to fill up the cavern. She yelled back since she was on the opposite side of the pool, " Yes, I am here. What's up?" (A/N- No, they are not lesbians. Nasty minded people.)
" Come here. We need to talk." And Chiru waited until Storm was in easy splashing distance and then she jumped and started splashing Storm and yelling in mock anger, " I didn't know where you were! None of us did! And you were here the whole time! You could have told me!"
Shielding her face from the onslaught of water, Storm replied, " You were out of the room and I didn't want to be there in the same room with *him* for more than I had to. This place was the nearest."
Chiru looked at her acutely, not splashing any more water now. " You should give him a chance. I mean, he's getting Raven to talk! Raven talking," she pointed to the left, " Is a good thing," she pointed them to the right. " And he didn't *do* anything to you did he?" Chiru shook her head, " No. He may be egotistical and shit but he's okay when he's in a good mood. He's a good learner too. I trained him earlier and he learned how to use a sword pretty quick. I mean I haven't trained him fully, but he still learned the techniques that I gave him. Earlier he was just asking for a little respect from you and that was all. Try to be a little less uptight!" And she emphasized this with another splash that got directly on Storm's face. Storm hastily spat out the pool water. It didn't taste the greatest.
" Are you done lecturing me now or not?" Storm asked with a mischievous smile.
Chiru growled at her in frustration and then got a face-full of water as finally Storm splashed her back. Not jumping in and getting her face wet, the water was chilling and Chiru squeaked. "Cold, cold, cold!" And then she kicked water back at her friend and the war began, forgetting the reason why she had come.
* * *
Sitting back in his chair, Irvine relaxed contentedly, his hunger sated from solid and liquid food (blood). His thoughts were drifting into sleep even in the uncomfortable cafeteria chair until Raven interrupted them with a, " Where's Chiru and Storm?"
" I have no idea. Nor do I care." He replied with his eyes closed, having taken off his eye patch until he heard Raven getting up and then he asked, " Where are you going?" All he got in the lines of replies was an 'hmph'. He's probably going to find them, Irvine thought. Grunting as he got up, he followed his new comrade.
When the arrived in the gym they heard the telltale giggles that the two were in the pool. Sharing a look, Raven led him into the room and.they found no one.
* * *
(Five Minutes Earlier)
"Do you hear someone?" Storm asked.
Nodding her head, Chiru smiled. " It sounds like Irvine and Raven. Oooh! Lets play a trick on them!"
"Oookay.Like what?"
Chiru swam quickly to her friend and hastily whispered her plans to her and then they separated, hiding behind rocks near the carved cavern entrance.
* * *
(Now)
Sneaking up behind them was the easiest thing Storm had ever done and at the right moment, Chiru and herself had pushed both men into the water. Raven came up looking like a rat and Irvine came up looking like a taller, more pissed off rat.
"What the f---"
Storm and Chiru were both laughing so hard that they drowned out his obscenity and were both unaware of the two men in the pool taking hold of their pant legs until they were pulled into the water with them. "AAAAAAH!" The two said simultaneously. Storm came back up and glared at the two and said dangerously but Chiru detected a hint of humor in her voice. " You. Are. Going. To. Pay." Chiru grinned and dunked Raven down underwater but then was flipped and the tables were turned until she started struggling the water began to roil from air bubbles. Letting her up, Chiru gasped for air and held onto the side of the pool while Storm was glaring at Irvine as he nonchalantly took off his cape, shirt, and his eye patch although he knew Storm was glaring at him.
Turning around he grinned at her obnoxiously. " Like what you see?" He said while bringing up his arms.
Knowing he was referring to her glaring at him while he was bare- chested (A/N- Notice that I said earlier he took off his shirt?) she wrinkled her nose in obvious aversion and said with a snort, " I find it absolutely revolting." But, she couldn't help noticing he was well muscled and tan. (Hey! I'm a girl! I'm allowed to look at guys, aren't I!?) She thought to herself, trying to assuage her looking at him while she noticed he just smirked even larger and then flipped onto his back and floated.
A/N- Hey, if you have a problem with him being tan go stick your head in the toilet! I was born tan and even in the winter I'm STILL TAN! SO WHO GIVES A CRAP IF HE'S A TAN VAMPIRE! SO BOOYAH!
Chiru then screamed joyfully, " OOH! IDEA! LET'S PLAY CHICKEN!"
They all turned to her and gave her strange looks until Raven said, " Uh, okay."
Irvine shrugged, not caring either way and said, " Sure. Whatever you say."
" Uh-uh. No way in hell am I playing that game." Said Storm.
" Aw.but we need 4 people to play!" Chiru replied pitifully.
Raven smirked and stepped in front of Storm as she tried to get out of the pool and said, " Yeah, you could get on Irvine's shoulders! You know you want to!"
Storm shook her head, hiding a curious red tint that had crept onto her face that Raven saw barely but was careful not to show it. " I do not you, pale-skinned rat----" but she was cut off as Irvine's strong arms encircled her waist and hoisted her onto his shoulders. She was aware that Chiru and Raven were both laughing at her probable face of shock and she yelled, " IRVINE! Put me down this instant or I will cut off your head and shove it up your hairy ass!"
Irvine shrugged, unbalancing her for a few seconds until he gently, but firmly put his hands on her legs to steady her. " Hmph. This better be worth it Chiru. She's heavy."
" I am not and I demand you put me down now!"
Chiru said in a voice that hid laughter very badly, " He's *not* going to put you down because I'm going to knock you down!" Raven let her climb onto his back but Storm caught his 'I-feel-like-a-bloody-frickin'- horse-this-is-just-great' look and she had to stifle a giggle. Making a noise in the back of her throat as Irvine stepped towards Raven slowly she didn't expect Chiru to push her off so quickly. In fact she wasn't expecting it at all and fell off immediately. It wasn't easy to stay on Irvine with him having wet skin. *Splash* and she was again in the water.
All of them were laughing as she came back up and Storm had the sudden urge to kick Irvine in the balls as if it was all his fault which it was since he had to have wet skin and Chiru just had to push her off of him and damage her pride. 'Oh, damn it all!'
In between giggles Chiru said in a bubbly voice filled with mirth, " Care to try again, Oh Great Storm? I am the chicken fighter master! Woohoo!"
Storm shook her head briskly and quickly got out of the pool in a huff, anybody able to tell she was pissed if they looked at her back which was straight and rigid with rage. Irvine, practically pouting said, " Aw.Storm, you gonna leave me all on my lonesome with these punks? I feel.un- loved."
The object of his comment turned around and glared at him and then, without her consent, her face relaxed to a barely conceivable smile as she saw his huge grin. Walking dejectedly back, she knelt down to Irvine's eye level him being lower than her since he was in the pool (duh people() and said, " Sorry, but I have some work to do. I'll catch you guys later."
" Okay, catcha later, Storm," replied Irvine.
" Bye!"
Storm grabbed her clothes hurriedly and headed back to her room, not having any work to do. She just needed to think. Sitting at her desk in the uncomfortable chair she squirmed, trying to get her nerves to calm down but to no avail. Hastily changing her outfit and wrapping a cloak around herself, she decided that she would take a flight to quiet her adrenaline that was still pumping through her veins for no apparent reason whatsoever.
Stepping out of her room she came face to face with one of the Blood Pack members. Seeing her with her "wind cloak" as everyone affectionately called it, he stepped to the side, catching her scowl at him. Walking, out of the up the stairs and through the club which was again empty, she stood outside of the building, facing upwards, the almost constant wind causing her cloak to flap behind her. Spreading her arms wide, she said one sentence that always came out of her mouth when she changed, " Blue wings spread upon the storm winds." She smiled and let the changes take hold.
Jaw lengthening, human teeth disappearing and being replaced by long, dagger-like ones that could shred a man to pieces in mere seconds. Spine elongating and skin following it to cover the bone, growing into a long, whip-like tail, always with the customary pain that she had to endure to use this change. The hair growing into her head and then having her skull grow sharply angular, horns growing to replace the lost hair, eyebrows growing into eye-ridges not to mention her eyes turning almond-like and crimson, her legs lengthened and her feet grew into lizards, her clothes melting into blue scales to cover her body. And finally, muscled and three branched spines grew from her shoulders and then almost translucent skin covered the spots between. All this happened in a manner of seconds and she jumped into the air, the wings pumping up and dirt flew in all directions at the steep lunge and sudden draft of air.
Withholding a roar of exhilaration from the joy of flight she flew high into the murkiness of the clouds. The ecstasy of the wind flowing freely over her scales was enough to make her drunk with happiness and she strained her wings to go faster, her muscles already screaming against her but she ignored them. Flying was a joy like no other and she did nothing to stop the assault of feelings roiling in her brain now. Unfortunately, her energy was sapped like crazy after flying so hard and changing. Being miles and miles away from the Nightsong, she decided she'd have to find somewhere to land and keep hidden. Deciding on a cave, unexplored for her yes, but there all the same with no noises emitting from it, she subtly dipped her wings and angled her head and neck downwards towards it. Landing unconscientiously, she walked in and found it was a bit cramped but it would still have to do.
Lying down with her wings folded against her she laid down her neck and curled her head around to form a ball roughly. This guy, Irvine, was different all right, she thought, letting her mind wander. And she couldn't stop the unknown feelings that were invading her heart like rats. Sneaking in through holes that had somehow appeared to be mended but were actually very deep indeed, letting things in that were unwanted and yet wanted all the same, although wanted from deep within. These things were making her weak, she knew for sure and she was terrified of being just that. *Love is for the weak. Let others below you indulge in it. * And as the thought drifted across her mind she tried to sleep to ignore it. *Although.it would be nice for once.*
* * *
Gliding, the next night, back to the Nightsong, she was already tired and sore. Sleeping on a cave floor that was hard as hell and being changed into a dragon with equally hard scales was not very comfy. Diving down and changing as soon as she barely touched the floor, she walked through the crowded Rave club, popping a piece of gum into her mouth, and inconspicuously got to the door, opened it and closed it and went down the stairs.to then properly knock into Raven on the last stair.
Smirking at her and then yelling, he said, " I found her! I think she was sleeping on the stairs again!" And then to Storm, " I thought we told you not to do that."
" Hah, hah. Very funny Raven." Storm said as he offered her a hand up. "Since when have you gotten a sense of humor?" He smirked and shrugged.
" Nice to see you alive! We thought a slayer got you!"
Crossing her arms in an rebellious gesture she replied, " Do you actually think a slayer had gotten me? I'm second best to Leader."
Irvine 'hmphed' and rolled his visible eye, " Little cock-sure of yourself aren't you?"
The corners of her mouth twitched into a barely conceivable smile at the comment. " Glad to know I was missed. I'll be in my room."
"Storm!" Irvine yelled behind her and she turned around with unnatural speed but just as his fist connected with her cheek as she did so since she had not brought up her hand to block. She staggered back, hand to her cheek. Irvine said in a voice that sounded almost strangled but low, " You should have been faster. A slayer would have killed you." And then he turned away and started to walk off.
"Irvine.?" He turned his head so that she could see only one side of his face and she was given a hard glance but she saw a glint of comradeship and of a begging for forgiveness.and something she could not discern.
* * *
Tired and baggy-eyed, Storm walked out of her room, heading towards Irvine's. She. Was. Pissed. But, she had spent half the night speculating on what she was going to do about it. He had had a point but.it was unfair and it was now. Her. Payback.
Coming to the door she pushed it open huffily, determined, and then.utterly shocked. There Irvine stood, broad back turned to her, welts.no, long scars going down his back from his shoulder blades to the beginning of his pants, the skin glinting from the single lamps light, water dripping from his now flattened hair, it weighted down from the amount of water soaked in the strands.
Muscles rippled under the tan skin of his shoulders and arms as he pulled his shirt over his head and buckled the clasps. And as soon as it was settled, the spell of her entrancement seemed to be broken and Storm blinked and turned to go out the door. "Storm? What are you doing here?" Said the gruff voice.
Freezing, Storm came to a stop right in the thresh hold of the door and replied as if she was a mile away, her voice containing nothing of the confidence and well-placed superiority it usually held, only but the voice of a lost child, "I came.to give you a piece of my mind.And.I changed it." And then she walked off.
Irvine's hand on her shoulder stopped her once again and she turned around to see a serious face she had never seen on his usually smiling one. "You did, huh? Well, I should be apologizing for that. Sorry, Storm." Then his usual charming, but 'I'm a bad-ass dude, don't mess with me' smile returned, all traces of seriousness gone. " I'll even walk to.er.where ever you're going out of the goodness of my heart."
Swiping away his hand, she smiled wearily. " I do believe there is goodness in your heart but I don't think I want to trust my assumption. I'm going back to bed."
He scratched his neck in question. "Why?"
Not wanting to seem weak she shrugged. "I'm still tired. You have a problem with that?"
"No."
Turning to walk away she heard him say, " I would never mess with someone with something up their ass."
Storm snapped her head back to regard him with a cold eye, " Oh, and by the way, keep on using that soap. It makes you smell like a wonderful flower. I'm sure any victims you take will just flock to you." She stifled a hearty giggle as she caught a glimpse of red.
Hearing a chuckle, she looked in front of her. Leader stood there. "I am glad to see you two are hitting it off so well."
"Yes, well."Storm cleared her throat and walked past him hurriedly.
* * *
" Hey guys, have you seen Storm anywhere? She's not been around the whole night, ever since the fight between you," She poked Irvine in the back, "and her." Chiru asked Raven and Irvine who were in the cafeteria, wolfing down any food they could find apparently having a food-eating contest that Irvine was winning.
"No." Raven said with his mouth full and Chiru nodded but not without giving them a look of disgust. Running out, Chiru was going to check the last place she hadn't been to but she seriously doubted that Storm would be there.
Skidding to a stop the room where the pool was; she looked for Storm since all the lights had been turned off. "Storm! Are you there!"
Immediately, a cold glow appeared in the room as Storm called up light enough to fill up the cavern. She yelled back since she was on the opposite side of the pool, " Yes, I am here. What's up?" (A/N- No, they are not lesbians. Nasty minded people.)
" Come here. We need to talk." And Chiru waited until Storm was in easy splashing distance and then she jumped and started splashing Storm and yelling in mock anger, " I didn't know where you were! None of us did! And you were here the whole time! You could have told me!"
Shielding her face from the onslaught of water, Storm replied, " You were out of the room and I didn't want to be there in the same room with *him* for more than I had to. This place was the nearest."
Chiru looked at her acutely, not splashing any more water now. " You should give him a chance. I mean, he's getting Raven to talk! Raven talking," she pointed to the left, " Is a good thing," she pointed them to the right. " And he didn't *do* anything to you did he?" Chiru shook her head, " No. He may be egotistical and shit but he's okay when he's in a good mood. He's a good learner too. I trained him earlier and he learned how to use a sword pretty quick. I mean I haven't trained him fully, but he still learned the techniques that I gave him. Earlier he was just asking for a little respect from you and that was all. Try to be a little less uptight!" And she emphasized this with another splash that got directly on Storm's face. Storm hastily spat out the pool water. It didn't taste the greatest.
" Are you done lecturing me now or not?" Storm asked with a mischievous smile.
Chiru growled at her in frustration and then got a face-full of water as finally Storm splashed her back. Not jumping in and getting her face wet, the water was chilling and Chiru squeaked. "Cold, cold, cold!" And then she kicked water back at her friend and the war began, forgetting the reason why she had come.
* * *
Sitting back in his chair, Irvine relaxed contentedly, his hunger sated from solid and liquid food (blood). His thoughts were drifting into sleep even in the uncomfortable cafeteria chair until Raven interrupted them with a, " Where's Chiru and Storm?"
" I have no idea. Nor do I care." He replied with his eyes closed, having taken off his eye patch until he heard Raven getting up and then he asked, " Where are you going?" All he got in the lines of replies was an 'hmph'. He's probably going to find them, Irvine thought. Grunting as he got up, he followed his new comrade.
When the arrived in the gym they heard the telltale giggles that the two were in the pool. Sharing a look, Raven led him into the room and.they found no one.
* * *
(Five Minutes Earlier)
"Do you hear someone?" Storm asked.
Nodding her head, Chiru smiled. " It sounds like Irvine and Raven. Oooh! Lets play a trick on them!"
"Oookay.Like what?"
Chiru swam quickly to her friend and hastily whispered her plans to her and then they separated, hiding behind rocks near the carved cavern entrance.
* * *
(Now)
Sneaking up behind them was the easiest thing Storm had ever done and at the right moment, Chiru and herself had pushed both men into the water. Raven came up looking like a rat and Irvine came up looking like a taller, more pissed off rat.
"What the f---"
Storm and Chiru were both laughing so hard that they drowned out his obscenity and were both unaware of the two men in the pool taking hold of their pant legs until they were pulled into the water with them. "AAAAAAH!" The two said simultaneously. Storm came back up and glared at the two and said dangerously but Chiru detected a hint of humor in her voice. " You. Are. Going. To. Pay." Chiru grinned and dunked Raven down underwater but then was flipped and the tables were turned until she started struggling the water began to roil from air bubbles. Letting her up, Chiru gasped for air and held onto the side of the pool while Storm was glaring at Irvine as he nonchalantly took off his cape, shirt, and his eye patch although he knew Storm was glaring at him.
Turning around he grinned at her obnoxiously. " Like what you see?" He said while bringing up his arms.
Knowing he was referring to her glaring at him while he was bare- chested (A/N- Notice that I said earlier he took off his shirt?) she wrinkled her nose in obvious aversion and said with a snort, " I find it absolutely revolting." But, she couldn't help noticing he was well muscled and tan. (Hey! I'm a girl! I'm allowed to look at guys, aren't I!?) She thought to herself, trying to assuage her looking at him while she noticed he just smirked even larger and then flipped onto his back and floated.
A/N- Hey, if you have a problem with him being tan go stick your head in the toilet! I was born tan and even in the winter I'm STILL TAN! SO WHO GIVES A CRAP IF HE'S A TAN VAMPIRE! SO BOOYAH!
Chiru then screamed joyfully, " OOH! IDEA! LET'S PLAY CHICKEN!"
They all turned to her and gave her strange looks until Raven said, " Uh, okay."
Irvine shrugged, not caring either way and said, " Sure. Whatever you say."
" Uh-uh. No way in hell am I playing that game." Said Storm.
" Aw.but we need 4 people to play!" Chiru replied pitifully.
Raven smirked and stepped in front of Storm as she tried to get out of the pool and said, " Yeah, you could get on Irvine's shoulders! You know you want to!"
Storm shook her head, hiding a curious red tint that had crept onto her face that Raven saw barely but was careful not to show it. " I do not you, pale-skinned rat----" but she was cut off as Irvine's strong arms encircled her waist and hoisted her onto his shoulders. She was aware that Chiru and Raven were both laughing at her probable face of shock and she yelled, " IRVINE! Put me down this instant or I will cut off your head and shove it up your hairy ass!"
Irvine shrugged, unbalancing her for a few seconds until he gently, but firmly put his hands on her legs to steady her. " Hmph. This better be worth it Chiru. She's heavy."
" I am not and I demand you put me down now!"
Chiru said in a voice that hid laughter very badly, " He's *not* going to put you down because I'm going to knock you down!" Raven let her climb onto his back but Storm caught his 'I-feel-like-a-bloody-frickin'- horse-this-is-just-great' look and she had to stifle a giggle. Making a noise in the back of her throat as Irvine stepped towards Raven slowly she didn't expect Chiru to push her off so quickly. In fact she wasn't expecting it at all and fell off immediately. It wasn't easy to stay on Irvine with him having wet skin. *Splash* and she was again in the water.
All of them were laughing as she came back up and Storm had the sudden urge to kick Irvine in the balls as if it was all his fault which it was since he had to have wet skin and Chiru just had to push her off of him and damage her pride. 'Oh, damn it all!'
In between giggles Chiru said in a bubbly voice filled with mirth, " Care to try again, Oh Great Storm? I am the chicken fighter master! Woohoo!"
Storm shook her head briskly and quickly got out of the pool in a huff, anybody able to tell she was pissed if they looked at her back which was straight and rigid with rage. Irvine, practically pouting said, " Aw.Storm, you gonna leave me all on my lonesome with these punks? I feel.un- loved."
The object of his comment turned around and glared at him and then, without her consent, her face relaxed to a barely conceivable smile as she saw his huge grin. Walking dejectedly back, she knelt down to Irvine's eye level him being lower than her since he was in the pool (duh people() and said, " Sorry, but I have some work to do. I'll catch you guys later."
" Okay, catcha later, Storm," replied Irvine.
" Bye!"
Storm grabbed her clothes hurriedly and headed back to her room, not having any work to do. She just needed to think. Sitting at her desk in the uncomfortable chair she squirmed, trying to get her nerves to calm down but to no avail. Hastily changing her outfit and wrapping a cloak around herself, she decided that she would take a flight to quiet her adrenaline that was still pumping through her veins for no apparent reason whatsoever.
Stepping out of her room she came face to face with one of the Blood Pack members. Seeing her with her "wind cloak" as everyone affectionately called it, he stepped to the side, catching her scowl at him. Walking, out of the up the stairs and through the club which was again empty, she stood outside of the building, facing upwards, the almost constant wind causing her cloak to flap behind her. Spreading her arms wide, she said one sentence that always came out of her mouth when she changed, " Blue wings spread upon the storm winds." She smiled and let the changes take hold.
Jaw lengthening, human teeth disappearing and being replaced by long, dagger-like ones that could shred a man to pieces in mere seconds. Spine elongating and skin following it to cover the bone, growing into a long, whip-like tail, always with the customary pain that she had to endure to use this change. The hair growing into her head and then having her skull grow sharply angular, horns growing to replace the lost hair, eyebrows growing into eye-ridges not to mention her eyes turning almond-like and crimson, her legs lengthened and her feet grew into lizards, her clothes melting into blue scales to cover her body. And finally, muscled and three branched spines grew from her shoulders and then almost translucent skin covered the spots between. All this happened in a manner of seconds and she jumped into the air, the wings pumping up and dirt flew in all directions at the steep lunge and sudden draft of air.
Withholding a roar of exhilaration from the joy of flight she flew high into the murkiness of the clouds. The ecstasy of the wind flowing freely over her scales was enough to make her drunk with happiness and she strained her wings to go faster, her muscles already screaming against her but she ignored them. Flying was a joy like no other and she did nothing to stop the assault of feelings roiling in her brain now. Unfortunately, her energy was sapped like crazy after flying so hard and changing. Being miles and miles away from the Nightsong, she decided she'd have to find somewhere to land and keep hidden. Deciding on a cave, unexplored for her yes, but there all the same with no noises emitting from it, she subtly dipped her wings and angled her head and neck downwards towards it. Landing unconscientiously, she walked in and found it was a bit cramped but it would still have to do.
Lying down with her wings folded against her she laid down her neck and curled her head around to form a ball roughly. This guy, Irvine, was different all right, she thought, letting her mind wander. And she couldn't stop the unknown feelings that were invading her heart like rats. Sneaking in through holes that had somehow appeared to be mended but were actually very deep indeed, letting things in that were unwanted and yet wanted all the same, although wanted from deep within. These things were making her weak, she knew for sure and she was terrified of being just that. *Love is for the weak. Let others below you indulge in it. * And as the thought drifted across her mind she tried to sleep to ignore it. *Although.it would be nice for once.*
* * *
Gliding, the next night, back to the Nightsong, she was already tired and sore. Sleeping on a cave floor that was hard as hell and being changed into a dragon with equally hard scales was not very comfy. Diving down and changing as soon as she barely touched the floor, she walked through the crowded Rave club, popping a piece of gum into her mouth, and inconspicuously got to the door, opened it and closed it and went down the stairs.to then properly knock into Raven on the last stair.
Smirking at her and then yelling, he said, " I found her! I think she was sleeping on the stairs again!" And then to Storm, " I thought we told you not to do that."
" Hah, hah. Very funny Raven." Storm said as he offered her a hand up. "Since when have you gotten a sense of humor?" He smirked and shrugged.
" Nice to see you alive! We thought a slayer got you!"
Crossing her arms in an rebellious gesture she replied, " Do you actually think a slayer had gotten me? I'm second best to Leader."
Irvine 'hmphed' and rolled his visible eye, " Little cock-sure of yourself aren't you?"
The corners of her mouth twitched into a barely conceivable smile at the comment. " Glad to know I was missed. I'll be in my room."
"Storm!" Irvine yelled behind her and she turned around with unnatural speed but just as his fist connected with her cheek as she did so since she had not brought up her hand to block. She staggered back, hand to her cheek. Irvine said in a voice that sounded almost strangled but low, " You should have been faster. A slayer would have killed you." And then he turned away and started to walk off.
"Irvine.?" He turned his head so that she could see only one side of his face and she was given a hard glance but she saw a glint of comradeship and of a begging for forgiveness.and something she could not discern.
* * *
Tired and baggy-eyed, Storm walked out of her room, heading towards Irvine's. She. Was. Pissed. But, she had spent half the night speculating on what she was going to do about it. He had had a point but.it was unfair and it was now. Her. Payback.
Coming to the door she pushed it open huffily, determined, and then.utterly shocked. There Irvine stood, broad back turned to her, welts.no, long scars going down his back from his shoulder blades to the beginning of his pants, the skin glinting from the single lamps light, water dripping from his now flattened hair, it weighted down from the amount of water soaked in the strands.
Muscles rippled under the tan skin of his shoulders and arms as he pulled his shirt over his head and buckled the clasps. And as soon as it was settled, the spell of her entrancement seemed to be broken and Storm blinked and turned to go out the door. "Storm? What are you doing here?" Said the gruff voice.
Freezing, Storm came to a stop right in the thresh hold of the door and replied as if she was a mile away, her voice containing nothing of the confidence and well-placed superiority it usually held, only but the voice of a lost child, "I came.to give you a piece of my mind.And.I changed it." And then she walked off.
Irvine's hand on her shoulder stopped her once again and she turned around to see a serious face she had never seen on his usually smiling one. "You did, huh? Well, I should be apologizing for that. Sorry, Storm." Then his usual charming, but 'I'm a bad-ass dude, don't mess with me' smile returned, all traces of seriousness gone. " I'll even walk to.er.where ever you're going out of the goodness of my heart."
Swiping away his hand, she smiled wearily. " I do believe there is goodness in your heart but I don't think I want to trust my assumption. I'm going back to bed."
He scratched his neck in question. "Why?"
Not wanting to seem weak she shrugged. "I'm still tired. You have a problem with that?"
"No."
Turning to walk away she heard him say, " I would never mess with someone with something up their ass."
Storm snapped her head back to regard him with a cold eye, " Oh, and by the way, keep on using that soap. It makes you smell like a wonderful flower. I'm sure any victims you take will just flock to you." She stifled a hearty giggle as she caught a glimpse of red.
Hearing a chuckle, she looked in front of her. Leader stood there. "I am glad to see you two are hitting it off so well."
"Yes, well."Storm cleared her throat and walked past him hurriedly.
* * *