The kiss sweetest
And touch so warm
The smile kindest
In this world so cold and strong

So close to the flame
Burning brightly
It won't fade away
And leave us lonely

The arms safest
And words all good
The faith deepest
In this world so cold and cruel

So close to the flame
Burning brightly
It won't fade away
And leave us lonely

HIM- 'Close to the Flame'

For the second time that week Cammy left MI-6 headquarters fuming with anger. However, this time she happened to have two armed escorts. Wolfman had said in the nicest way possible that he wanted her fired. The bastard. Luckily for her the powers that be had suggested a leave of absence in lieu of her leaving for good. Wolfman agreed. It was totally ridiculous. Right when everything was getting started she was in indefinite leave. They didn't even have her pushing papers. She wasn't allowed on British government property, period. Thus the armed guards. The gates slammed behind her and Cammy jumped. She was utterly alone, literally, physically, and emotionally, and in true Cammy-of-the-past form, she began to cry as she walked towards home. This really hurt her so much. Not the fact that she was practically fired, but Wolfman. If he was really willing to leave Juli under brainwashing just to get to Shadowlaw, would he have done or do the same to her? Would he, given the chance, had left her in that hell? Wolfman hadn't turned out to be who she though he was. He wasn't someone for her to strive to be like, to respect. He was a cold businessman, the same as Bison. He just happened to be working for the right side.

--

Cranky looked at his brand new digital watch. Ten-thirty-seven, and still no sign of her. He didn't know what he was thinking trying to find one woman in all of London. He was never going to find her, especially not in the seedy bars he kept running into. She was classier than all of this. She had been sweet, caring, yet not stupidly so. He saw intelligence in her. Then next bar he approached was the one Cranky decided to be the last. She probably wouldn't be here, but he was already practically at the door. He glided into the small neighborhood pub, roughly bumping into someone. He turned to apologize and saw it was her. He grabbed her shoulders to keep her from leaving, for she hadn't turned to retort from the accidental run in. After being grabbed she turned quickly, pushing his hands away. He melted as time stood still. Her green eyes were glossy, as if she'd been crying. It just made them sparkle. And, oh, was she mad, the rage apparent in her face. Before she could speak, Cranky did.

"I'm sorry about that. Can I buy you a drink?"

Her face changed and after a moment of thought she spoke in that beautiful voice.

"Sure."

Cranky stepped aside and guided her into the bar. After they both received a drink from the bar tender, she spoke again, smiling.

"I'm Cammy White."

He smiled back, sticking his hand out for her to shake.

"Craig Crankurt, but just call me Cranky."

She shook his hand as she questioned him.

"Cranky? Some kind of nick name from you parents?"

Cranky felt his face change.

The young boy ran quickly about his home, straightening up the mess that a domestic home is never without. The nine year old made sure everything was in its rightful place. Dinner was being handled by his mother in the kitchen. Tonight was special because his dad was supposed to get a promotion. His mother called out to him.

"Craig!? Your dad just pulled up. Get in here."

He answered as he smoothed his unruly red hair down.

"Coming mom!"

As the lanky boy reached the kitchen as his father walked in the back door. Just then his feet went against one another and he fell forward, reaching out for anything he could hold on to, out of instinct. He grabbed hold of the table cloth and pulled everything from the table down with him in a loud crash. His mother gasped and ran to help him, but his father pushed her roughly away as he yelled.

"Leave him there! The fuck up did it to himself!"

The boy tried to get up quickly, no weakness, but his father was on him, picking him up by the collar of his shirt. He yelled.

"You ruined this for me and your mom."

His father slapped him roughly in the back of the head.

"Dumbass kid. When are you ever going to stop fucking up?"

"I'd rather not go by what my father called me. Cranky is a play on my last name, a friend called me it and it just stuck. It's hard to answer to anything else I'm so used to it."

"I understand. So…"

Cammy stirred her drink, forcing Cranky to continue the conversation. A last ditch effort at avoiding an uncomfortable silence made Cranky blurt out.

"Why did you look so upset before?"

He mentally kicked himself for it, but then Cammy answered after she finished the last sip of her drink.

"I lost my job today."

"What was your job?"

She laughed, it was a little uncontrolled.

"I'm a secret agent."

He narrowed his eyes at her before answering sarcastically.

"A secret agent huh?"

"Yeah, what do you do?"

Cranky lied.

"I'm in the Army."

"What rank?"

"I'm just a cadet. But I'm still—"

Cammy interrupted him.

"Where are you from anyway?"

"I was born in America, but my parents are both full Irish."

She smiled.

"As the red hair would entail."

Cranky rubbed his hair which he usually tried to keep short to keep the red less noticeable. That was something he'd forgotten to do in preparation for tonight. He spoke.

"Aw, is it that obvious?"

Cammy reached up and ran her hand through his hair as she spoke in a breathy voice.

"I like it."

--

The door slammed loudly against the wall of the hotel. It was loud enough to wake everyone else on the floor but Cranky didn't care. Caring was the last thing on his mind as Cammy pushed him against the now open door, never breaking their kiss. She was intoxicating. He kissed back, rubbing his hands up and down her back and sides. She held his face in her hands as they kissed, as if he would leave her as soon as their kiss broke. No way in hell was he going to do that. Urging her away from the door, Cranky was able to close it behind them. With the soft click of the door Cammy lifted her shirt off of her body. His breath caught as he looked at her standing there in her bra. She was beautiful. He noticed she had a few scars. Her abdomen held one beside her navel that looked quite old, just a slight discoloration of the skin, maybe a surgical scar. There was a fresh scratch running across the middle of her stomach. But the odd one was actually three, that is scars in a row, as if she'd been clawed by an animal. She felt him staring and he could see her body change, he felt her shame in her posture. He shook his head no.

"You're beautiful."

Practically tearing his shirt off, he stepped towards her, pulling her body in close to his. Her body was hot against his skin, her blonde hair foaming around his arms. She lifted up onto her tip toes and kissed him on the forehead before kissing him deeply on the mouth again. They moved together towards the bed. Their frantic kiss broke as Cammy sat on the bed, leaving Cranky standing. She grabbed at the waist of his pants, fumbling with the buckle and he couldn't contain a moan. Her hands weren't working and she was getting frustrated. Cranky reached to do it himself when realization hit him like a freight train. He grabbed her hands and stopped her from trying to undress him. He spoke, his voice breathy, his previous emotion still there but being over ridden.

"You're drunk."

She retorted.

"I know exactly what I'm doing."

"But you're still drunk. I can't do this."

She stood, bringing her face close to his, and spoke angrily.

"You've got to be—"

She didn't finish her thought as the sudden movement had stirred her body. She stumbled in Cranky and he caught her almost limp body as she mumbled.

"I don't…I'm—I'm going to throw up."