AN: Yo! Since I got so many reviews for the last chapter I decided to put this chappy up early ;)
Oh I forgot to mention that most of the last chapter was written by Xan-thip-pe a while ago while this fic was a joint fic between us. She has since abandoned the project and I have picked it up XD
SkyBlueSunShine – Yeah, Xanny wrote that part…so it wasn't really me making her wimpy.. cause I thought she was kinda wussy too lol don't worry…she isn't like that ..hehe
Red Countess – That grammar can go either way. Personally, it drives me insane to see "Blah blah," she said over and over again.. the comma just makes me crazy lol but I see you point. I'm going to start integrating them.
Oh and would you guys believe I got a flame for this fic? It was rather mean…Do any of you think Liika is a mary sue in this fic? Honesty here people!
Even if she is… oh well, I have 76 other reviews that say they like it.. so nya to you.
"Guy, it's been almost twenty four hours and they're still not back." Ian said a slightly worried frown marring his face.
Tala didn't even look up from the gun he was checking over and loading. "Bryan's a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"What about the girl? You don't suppose he killed her and had to go far away to hide the body do you? We'd be up shit creek with the old man then, not to mention that brat pack team of hers."
Tala laughed, shaking his head. "I doubt it. Bryan knows the consequences, besides, I think he's taken a liking to the little thing."
"You're not actually serious are you??" Ian demanded incredulously. "I mean Bryan?! Yeah right!"
The red head shrugged, smirking. "I was kidding Ian. The way you react one would have to think you liked her."
Ian turned bright red and sputtered angrily for a moment before opening his mouth to give his captain a piece of his mind. "What?! I-"
However, Spencer entered then, cutting Ian's protests off as he threw a box of bullets at Tala's feet. "I found it in a clearing about two miles east beside the carcass of a bear cub." He stated tonelessly.
Tala's eyebrows furrowed and instantly he was on his feet, rifle in one hand, box of bullets in the other. "And."
"They were chased. There is a trail heading north."
Tala responded with a quick nod and leaned the rifle against his shoulder, safety on. "How long had the cub been dead?"
Spencer shook his head. "It was hard to recognize, the wolves got to it first."
Once again Tala nodded, this time making tracks towards the entrance. "Come on," he said gripping the rifle tightly, removing it from his shoulder. "If the wolves have gotten it, it had to have been shot yesterday. If Bryan dropped the bullets then he is unequipped to fight an angry, hungry, mother bear. Let's just hope they found someplace to hide. Ian, stay here incase they come back. Spencer lead me to the clearing."
Ian looked as if he wanted to protest but kept his mouth shut. They all knew the look that now graced the captain's face. It was the look he got when someone threatened something that was his, including his teammates. He felt slightly sorry for the bear that dared to threaten Bryan and the girl. Whether or not they killed her cub was irrelevant.
Spencer and Tala made it to the clearing with in the hour. Tala easily read the situation as the imprints in the snow were still clear. His eyes narrowed, shifting over various impressions in the snow.
He dropped her here…Tala thought looking at a large human sized imprint. The cub then…attacked her? There's no blood…hmm… Turquoise shifted over the paw prints, what was left of the cub's carcass, then over some other tracks. He shot the bear then… A set of tracks that disappeared into the underbrush caught his eyes. The mother was on their heels.
"This way, these tracks aren't anywhere near fresh, but it looks like they were ahead of the bear." Tala stated, striding briskly into the forest.
Spencer nodded and followed his captain with out question.
Bryan's eyes snapped open as a gunshot echoed from outside the small cave. They narrowed into slits then shifted to the blue head of the girl in his arms. Time to go.
Tala watched the rather large bear fall to the ground dead as the rifle bullet shot cleanly through it's head. He couldn't believe the bear was that tenacious as to sit at the bottom of a cliff and wait for its prey. His eyes skimmed the cliff face and stopped at the slight opening. Something flashed. Aah. He-llo.
"So, you are alive." Tala smirked, closing his eyes and crossing his arms, the rifle leaning against his shoulder. "Imagine that."
"Hn." Bryan snorted and glared at the red head, shifting the girl in his arms. "Took you long enough."
Tala shrugged, his smirk growing. "Who knew you would piss off a mother bear then drop your only defense. Next time you decide to leave the ammunition behind, try to do so at the cave hm?" He out and out laughed then. "Ian even bet that you offed the little Bladebreaker and were hiding the body out here."
"Maybe I did."
Tala laughed again, shaking his head. "I really hope you didn't, who would cook and clean for us?" He asked, eyes glittering with arrogant mirth. "She's useful, if loud and mouthy. Seriously though, you didn't kill her did you?"
Bryan rolled his eyes. "Hn." He gave Liika a shake, causing her to jerk awake with a start. "Catch." With that he stepped to the cliff edge and let go.
As soon as she realized she was free falling through the air, Liika let out a piercing scream. How could he just drop her like that?! Why even bother keeping her warm if he was just going to kill her by dropping her off a cliff?? Bastard! "BRYAN!!! YOU BASTARD! I HATE YOU!" She shrieked, clenching her eyes tightly shut and waiting for the impact with the ground.
However, it never came. Instead she collided with something soft, yet solid. Wiry muscled arms wrapped around her back and underneath her legs as both her and the unfortunate person below her crashed to the ground in an undignified heap. They lay motionless for a few moments, both trying to regain the wind that was knocked out of them.
"At least we know she's not dead." Spencer quipped, smirking slightly.
"Ha ha." Tala groaned, struggling to a sitting position, which shifted Liika into his lap. "It's a damn good thing you're not very big or we would both be seriously injured." He stated, running a hand down his slightly aching rib cage.
Liika moaned, stirring. Her head was resting lightly against Tala's slim shoulder and her eyes were still clenched shut. "Remind me to murder that emotionless bastard. Preferably in his sleep so he can't retaliate." She muttered, finally opening her eyes and pulling her head off Tala's shoulder.
Tala snorted in amusement, one blood red eyebrow rising. "You realize you wouldn't get with in three feet with out him noticing don't you?"
"Hey, a girl can dream you know."
He snorted again, adding a shake of his head. "Get off of me so I can get up." He commanded, shifting her.
Liika complied, and pulled herself off the red head's lap and onto the snow covered ground. The cold registered in her mind then and she started to shiver, her teeth beginning to chatter.
Tala stood, brushing snow off his waterproof jumper. His amusement grew as he looked at the shivering girl on the ground. "Weren't you wearing a jacket when you left yesterday?" He asked curiously.
"Bah," Just as she was about to explain the blue parka landed on her head, the zipper smacking her directly in the forehead. That was it! It was the straw that broke the camels back. Leaping to her feet so nimbly that one could hardly tell she had just sat all night in a cold cave, then was dropped off a cliff face. She ripped the parka off her head and swung around to look for the one she knew was responsible for all her miss fortunes. "Get your ass down here you bloody bastard! I'm going to pound your head into the ground!" She exploded, her fists clenching at her sides as she glared up at the now smirking Bryan who was still standing on the cliff edge, the gun clutching in his left hand. "Seriously! I'm going to kill you! Get down here so that I can!"
He laughed. He actually laughed. It was an interesting noise, a low, hearty sound that was slightly awkward from lack of use. Liika blinked, completely surprised at his reaction.
Tala and Spencer soon joined their teammate in chuckling at her; both boy's shaking their heads. Liika's face fell, an annoyed look crossing it. Oh yay, now she was their source of amusement on top of their slave. Goody. "I'm glad you find my death threats so funny. I was serious you know." She grumbled, pulling on the parka.
"I'm sure you were." Tala said, picking up the gun that had fallen from his grasp when the blue haired girl was dropped on top of him. "I see that your ankle is better. You still wont make it back to the cave so I'll have to carry you, as I'm sure Bryan is tired of your company. Spencer, stay here with the bear and fend off any wild animals, here is the gun." He handed the weapon to the tall blond. "We get first choice of the meat. Bryan or Ian will come back with the necessary supplies."
"Gee thanks, you sure know how to make a girl feel loved." Liika retorted sarcastically, crossing her arms. She was surrounded by assholes! "You can eat bear?"
"Yes," replied Tala, stepping beside her and motioning her to get on his back. "It is eaten quite frequently here by people who don't live in the cities."
Liika went to crawl into his back, but Bryan chose that moment to walk by –he had since climbed down the cliff- and just to piss her off more he ruffled her hair as he passed. She growled, and dived after the pale haired teen, whom continued on his path, completely ignoring her. However, she fell short of her mark and landed face first in the snow beside Tala. She really should think before doing…
Tala arched an eyebrow, smirking. He stepped over and crouched in front of the face planted girl, his arms resting on each of his knees. "Are you finished making a fool of yourself? We do have things to do today you know." He snickered, eyeing her with amusement.
Liika raised her head slowly and looked up into matching turquoise eyes. "Go. To. Hell." She stated, groaning.
He clucked his tongue at her in a scolding manner. "Now, now is that anyway to speak to your provider? You should be more respectful to the one that feeds you and has to carry you."
Her eyebrow twitched. Arg, insufferable prick! "Die." She stated, slowly bringing herself to her feet. "I'll walk myself!" With that she tossed her hair over her shoulder and began to limp in the direction Bryan was headed.
Tala stood, his lips twitching. He hadn't had this much fun getting under someone's skin in years. Not since his early Abbey days when he and Ian used to purposely pick fights with the older recruits and then plead innocent getting the older kids whipped.
Ah, the good old days.
By the time he came back from his short reminiscing moment she was already a good fifty feet from him, verging on passing Bryan, whom she merely ignored, her nose high in the air. Chuckling he followed her, he knew she wouldn't get far with out needing his help.
Despite what Tala thought, Liika had in fact made it quite a distance with out his help. About an hour into their trip –a wonderful hour in which Liika spent cursing her so called 'providers'- the blue haired girl had slowed considerably, making it clear her ankle hurt more than she was letting on.
Truth be told the only thing she was going on was raw adrenaline. Her ankle felt like it was on fire, and every step she took was pure agony. Damn stupid males, it was all their fault anyway. If the stupid red haired captain had been a little less antagonizing she would have let him carry her! But now she was forced to walk the whole way back, or face the humiliation of admitting that she was too weak. That was something she was not prepared to do. Her pride couldn't handle a blow like that. Not to mention she just knew the asses would make a big deal of it. Bloody bastards.
Tala glanced over his shoulder, his turquoise eyes running down the heavily limping girl's body. A smirk tugged at his mouth. She was an exceptionally stubborn one. She had lasted far longer than he thought she would, and for that she deserved to be commended. She hadn't complained once and had tried valiantly to keep up with the unfair pace he had been setting.
Yes, she had earned his respect.
"Bryan." He commanded, coming to a stop.
Bryan, beside him, stopped as well, raising a thick eyebrow in question. "Yes?"
"I'm going to stay with her." Tala said, sending the bulky boy a look. "Go on ahead and send Ian back to help Spencer." With that, he stepped away from the slightly confused Bryan and strode briskly to where Liika had stopped some feet behind them. He hooked his gloved finger under her chin and raised her flinching face to meet his eyes. "You have till dusk, if we're not back by then I will carry you, like it or not."
His tone was final, but when Liika opened her eyes she caught the begrudging respect that flashed quickly through the turquoise eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed. Was it possible he was trying to spare her pride? He obviously knew that carrying her would be the ultimate humiliation after she had stormed away proclaiming that she could walk on her own, when it was obvious that she couldn't. Hmm… maybe he wasn't as bad as he seemed. "Alright." She replied, nodding her head. Dusk eh? That would give her at least five hours…
"You know, no one will blame you if you ask for help."
Liika grit her teeth, flopping down to rest on a fallen tree. Her ankle throbbed like someone had dropped an anvil on it, and it was blatantly clear that it was swollen again. "Blame me, no. Taunt me, yes."
Tala let out a loud laugh and sat gracefully beside her. He threw her a wide, teasing grin. "Touché. But you know you are going to suffer severely for this jaunt tomorrow." He stated, glancing down at her ankle.
She sighed. Boy did she ever. Already it was getting harder and harder to even move, let alone walk on it –and they still had a good half hour walk ahead of them. Damn her stubborn pride! Kai always said that it would be the death of her. Perhaps he was right. Damn him too. "Hn. Well if it wasn't for your cruel antagonizing I would have let you carry me!" Liika shot back, trying not to smile at the tall red head.
Over the last few hours they had been walking together, Liika found it harder and harder to not trust the Russian captain. Not only that, but she found herself actually starting to like him. He was wittily sarcastic and very arrogant, but had a very defined sense of humor, and behind the macho exterior lurked the kindness that Biovolt had failed to beat out of him. He was easy to get along with and made her laugh with no more than a flippant comment. His teasing was constant, but at the same time constrained so that he never hurt her feelings. He was so different from the boy she met only two weeks ago. Yes, Liika decided that Tala Valkov of the Demolition Boys was not bad at all.
She wondered if the same could be said for the rest of his team.
A snort escaped the red head and he crossed his arms over his chest. "It's not my fault you made a fool of yourself." He sighed. "I suppose now you'll try and make good on those threats that were pouring out of your mouth for the first three miles."
Liika's cheeks tinged red. So someone actually had been paying attention. Hm, that was some of her most colorful language. He must really be wondering about her ladylike attributes. Oh well, it wasn't like she was particularly concerned with those said attributes, or rather the lack there of. She laughed to herself, earning a raised eyebrow and a curious look from Tala. "Oh no," she winked, grinning saucily. "Those plans are reserved for someone special." Her tone made it clear just who the special 'someone' was.
Tala laughed again, shaking his head. "Was he really that mean to you? It wouldn't surprise me if he was, Bryan can be a bit…how do you say…"
"Cruel? Nasty? Mean-tempered?" She supplied brightly.
He shot her an amused look. "I was going to say unpredictable, but I suppose those adjectives would work as well. He hurt you did he? It certainly doesn't look like it, but then, Bryan is also very clever –when he wants to be." The last part was said with a wry smile.
Liika pouted a bit, glaring at the snow at her feet. "No, not hurt…quite the opposite really –minus the fact that he almost let a bear eat me, dropped me off a cliff and threw a parka at my head. Oh and let's not mention he caused me to make a fool out of myself."
It was clear from the look on Tala's face that he thought the latter reason to be her own doing. "Well, from my point of view all those reasons seem rather dismal in light of the fact that he saved your life. Not once, but twice." He said, his lips twisting upwards into a smirk.
"Twice?" She snapped her head up, narrowing her eyes at him.
Turquoise orbs sparkled at her, flashing mischief. "Yes, twice. Once from the bear –there is no way you would have been able to out run it on your own- and once from the cold. Judging from the fact that neither of you suffered frostbite or hypothermia last night, I'd say he must have shared his body heat with you. You would have frozen to death in hours, even with a parka…you being so fucking tiny."
This time Liika didn't merely tinge red, but turned full-blown tomato red. She sputtered. He was insinuating something and she was sure she didn't like it. Ha, like that over grown ass would have thought of sharing body heat on his own! "I'll have you know, captain that it was my idea to share body heat! That moron wouldn't even admit that he was cold!" She retorted, crossing her arms petulantly.
A chuckle rumbled through the surrounding air. "Really now? Funny, I'd wager money that it was Bryan that leaned against the frozen wall and sheltered you from the cold."
Liika's mouth snapped shut, her brow furrowing and her cheeks heating up more. Damn it, he was right. Her pout intensified. Now that he mentioned it, and she actually thought about it, she realized he was indeed right. Double damn. She bit her bottom lip. Bryan must have been really cold last night… oh bloody hell.
Tala casually observed her as a thousand different expressions flitted across her face. Anger, denial, realization, gratitude, sympathy, guilt, annoyance… He smirked, suppressing another chuckle. She was entertaining. Spunky, if a bit prone to violence and churlish swearing. However, it was good that she had a strong backbone, and wouldn't put up with any crap, if she didn't, she wouldn't have lasted five minutes in Bryan's company alone. Nor would Bryan have wasted his time saving her tiny behind from the bear or the cold if she wasn't. The pale haired Russian had no patience for simpering, flirty females. His lips twitched. Perhaps his large teammate did like the tiny female just a bit after all.
"Yeah well…maybe your right! But that doesn't mean I don't have a right to extract revenge! You have to admit, he is rather rude, and he needs some sense knocked into him!" Her loud exclamation, interrupted Tala's train of thought and brought his attention back to her voice.
"Indeed." He mused, glancing up at the sky. "You're time is running out. If you wish to get back before I carry you, we'd best move on." He said, standing and reaching out a gloved hand to help her up.
Liika took his offered hand and then suddenly found herself dragged against his lean chest. "What the…?" She stammered, her blush heating up once more.
Tala grinned, wrapping one of his lithe arms around her back from the side. "Oh calm down. You wont let me carry you –understandably I suppose-, but I would advise you to lean on me, we'll get back faster and I won't be forced to carry you." He explained, his grin turning rakish.
"Che, fine!" She looked away, wrapping her arm around his waist, trying desperately to ignore the heat that was searing up the back of her neck and ears. He was doing this on purpose!
"Now, I know it will be hard, but do try to resist being too attracted to me –what with our closeness and all. I can't be held responsible if you fall in love with me." He teased, winking down at her.
Liika rolled her eyes, reaching up on her tippy toes and smacking him upside the head. "The same could be said for you! I'll tell you just what I told that burly ass you call a teammate last night. Don't be getting fresh now or those threats you heard me mutter won't be just threats anymore!"
Tala laughed until tears gathered in his eyes. "You actually warned Bryan off? You are hilarious my dear, absolutely hilarious."
"What??? What do you mean? Why are you laughing so hard damn it??"
Her only answer was another outburst of laughter.
The sun had set only a few minutes before hand, but Ian, Bryan and Spencer couldn't help but watch the tree line. In reality, the two should have been back hours ago. The three of them –Bryan had decided to go back with Ian- had packed up the bear meat and been back well before dusk, yet had seen no sign of their captain or the little Bladebreaker girl.
"What is taking him so long?" Ian muttered, tossing little stones into the creek, he was bored, and he was hungry. The woman wasn't there to cook their dinner. "Why couldn't he just drag her ass back here the old fashioned way? I'm hungry damn it."
The other two said nothing, but silently agreed with the short teen. Suddenly a loud mixed laughing sounded from the direction of the forest a head of them and simultaneously three eyebrows shot up.
Soon enough two figures came into view, one helping the other along, both with rather large smiles on their faces. Tala's smile was more of an arrogant smirk than a real smile, but whatever he had just said –however arrogant it might be- caused the short girl to laugh until tears gathered in her turquoise eyes. The three boys watched in shock as the two hobbled closer to them, neither really paying any attention to their surroundings, nor did they acknowledge their teammates existence. They just murmured conspiratorially amongst themselves.
"What the hell?" Ian exclaimed, a confused frown crossing his face. Since when did Tala become all chummy-chummy with the enemy?
The loud exclamation caught the attention of the new arrivals and both looked up to see three peeved looking boys staring at them –well actually only two peeved looking ones as Spencer had more of an amused look than an angry one. Bryan always looked peeved so he didn't count.
"I see you all made it back, good. You took care of the meat I assume." Tala smirked, nodding at his teammates as he helped Liika further, leading her towards the cave at a steady pace.
Ian snorted, glaring at the blue haired girl as she and Tala made their way past the group. "Of course, but what took you so long? Why the hell didn't you just carry her?" He demanded.
"I didn't need to be carried, that's why!" Liika spoke up indignantly, throwing a huffy look behind her. "I'm not an invalid you know!"
"Could have fooled me." Ian retorted, narrowing his eyes at her ankle. "You can barely walk! What a waste of time, not to mention that its dinner time and there ain't no dinner to be had!"
Liika rolled her eyes and made a rude gesture with her free hand. "And that's what I think of that. I'll make your dinner, just hold onto your shorts midget boy."
Tala laughed, shaking his head as Ian sputtered. "That's enough children. The fire's going right? It's getting chilly again, and Ika will need it to cook on. Bryan, you and Spencer bring in some water for the night and Ian you ready some of the bear meat for her to cook." He commanded, immediately taking control of the situation. It was clear why the lanky red head was chosen to captain the former Biovolt team. With that the two disappeared behind the curtain and into the cave, leaving the three boys to do as they were told.
Bryan and Spencer shrugged, and went off to do their assigned chore. Ian however, sort of glared for a moment before snorting and kicking the dirt under his feet. "Ika?!" He grumbled. "Now she has a nick name, bloody woman is going to destroy our team, I just know it."
