Chapter 11
By shadows/of/flame
Oh, just as a note: I oweeight people cookies XD
'God, how could I be so stupid as to cry? I haven't cried in... what, about 10 years.'
He had gone to bed early that night, protesting as Keira asked him why, claiming he needed the sleep.
As if.
But even as he tried to sleep, metal heads killing, ripping, tearing, filled his mind, and whenever he closed his eyes he saw them, glaring out through the dark.
Threatening to finish off what they had started.
Thunder and lightning rolled in the skies, and Torn curled up into a ball as the worsening weather became colder, the blankets not helping keep in much warmth.
A sudden depression in the mattress occured beside him, and he rolled over, to see Keira clinging like a leech to his arm.
"Oh, oh! D-did I wake you?" she stammered, and the ex-commander shook his head, wondering why she was there.
"S... sorry, its just I, I'm afraid of..."
The young girl paused slightly,wondering what to say to the rebel.
"I'm afraid of, afraid if lightning..."
'I'm afraid, that I'll be alone. I don't wanna be alone anymore...'
"You know? I... I didn't mean to wake you, I'm sorry!"
"I wasn't even asleep." Torn mumbled tiredly.
"Oh look, I'm sorry, I was just scared, I'll go..."
Torn shook his head slowly. "Its my duty to look after you, stay in here for the night. I won't tell anyone." he added as an after thought as her face screwed up, was it with distaste or pleasure at being allowed to stay?
She nodded, wrapping her arms around a surprised Torn.
"Thanks...I owe you one Torn..."
In minutes she was asleep, and Torn gently pulled the covers over her, eventually falling asleep himself, and unconciously wrapping his arms around her too.
0o0o0o0o0
"Good morning Shadow sir. This is Keira; I brought her with me because--"
"Shes in more danger than we thought." the Shadow finished for him, and the rebels eyes widened.
"S... Sir?"
"Erols DEAD set on getting her as his mechanic, as he has seen what skills she has in the mechanics field. He is dangerous, as you probably know, and will do... goodness knows what to Keira. You have to protect her from him, or else, your life won't even exist, let alone be worth living!"
The old sage barked the last bit, and Torn closed his eyes.
WHY did it have to be the loon Erol that had to be stealing her away?
Why couldn't it be a loon he could easily dump in Dead Town and no one would care less of their death?
If he killed Erol, EVERYONE would know, and soon enough, EVERYONE would know that it was Torn that had killed him.
The Baron would probably end up flinging him off the roof of the Palace for killing Erol, and cackling maniacally as his bones disintergrated into dust as he hit the ground.
"Fine. I'll protect her. Until I die."
The sage grinned. "Good to hear you are willing to put your life on the line for the Underground Torn! Now off you go; you have the day off to do whatever you want."
At the words "day off" Torn snapped out of his reverie.
"D... day off?" he spluttered.
"Go now, before I change my mind." the old man grumbled.
If Torn wasn't such a hard ass, he would be jumping up and down with glee at that very second.
"So, what are you planning to do with your day off?"
He had forgotten about Keira, and looked into her sparkly green eyes as she continued.
"Um, I was wondering, if you weren't too busy... d'ya want to go and have lunch or something?"
She thought he would refuse, but Torns face lit up at the mere mention of lunch, and she grinned, linking her arm in his.
"Well then, where to good sir?"
"Surprise me." he smirked, just... enjoying her company.
It wasn't often he had been invited out by ANYONE, except to get bad-ass drunk at the pub just to take home women as plastered as he was.
Which he had always declined.
As the day progressed, and lunch turned into wandering around the bazaar looking through the stalls, the dreadlocked ex-KG couldn't help but think if some of her happiness was rubbing off onto him.
"I'm gonna go and try on that dress! Wait here Torn!" she giggled, grabbing some material that distinctly resembled a dress and rushing into a curtained off area to get changed.
He waited for her to come out and pay for it, or come out and put it back on one of the numerous racks hanging around with clothes and other merchandise sprawled all over them, but what she ended up doing astounded him.
"How do I look?"
She came out of the changing curtain, with a simple but cute looking dress on.
It was a dark purple colour, with spaghetti strap sleeves, and a slight slit on the right side. The cute smile she was wearing along with it didn't exactly help Torns nerves.
'She looks utterly gorgeous...'
Torn blinked. He had just thought that? Oh dear.
"You look..."
'Gorgeous. Beautiful. Cute.'
"Wonderful. Are you going to get that dress?"
Keiras face lit up, and she grinned.
"You really like it? Should I get it?"
The older nodded, and chucked some money to the stall owner, taking her hand in his this time.
"Shall we go?"
She giggled, blushing as he held her hand, but they were savagely interrupted as gunshots echoed through the air, and "Torn! You and me, one on one, right here, right now!"
As Torn and Keira spun around to see who it was, they noticed patrons and customers alike huddling under various stalls, some lying dead.
Erol was standing opposite them, a wicked grin plastered on his face.
"Time to die Torn."