A/N: Chap's been edited, no real changes. WHR's not mine.

HEARTS DESIRE

Chapter Nine: On the Run

A Witch Hunter Robin Fanfic

By Yuriko Tsukino

"So," Robin said, as Amon pulled over. "Is this the part where you kill me?"

Amon pulled the key from the ignition, killing the engine, and turned to face her. Robin resisted the urge to keep an eye on his gun and instead looked him squarely in the eye, wearing the most calmly defiant expression she could muster.

"The only reason I would kill you would be if you were out of control," Amon replied in his calm, quiet voice. "If you don't believe me, then use your craft on me now and prevent it from happening. We both know I wouldn't be able to stop you."

For a moment, Robin didn't say a word. She continued to look into his dark eyes, waiting. She didn't really know what for, but she knew when she found it.

She looked away, facing out to the road before them again, and Amon did the same. He re-started the engine, and pulled off the curb.

"So where are we going?" Robin asked after a few moments of silence.

"…"

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "You don't know, do you?" When Amon refused to answer, she stifled a giggle. He shot her a glare without turning.

"What is it about men and directions?" Robin asked aloud, now unable to hide her laughter.

"I'm not lost."

"Then where are we going?"

"…Somewhere."

At this point, Robin's giggles turned into all out hysterics. She couldn't stop laughing. The tension was finally broken, and the thought of cool, calm, sensible Amon being just as prone to the same pride as every other man on the planet was just too funny for words, in Robin's opinion.

Despite his best efforts, Amon felt his lips start to quirk, but he refused to smile.

"So you would have me ask for directions? 'Excuse me sir, but do you know of a good place for two fugitives to hide out for an undetermined period of time?' I'm sure that would go over real well."

At this, his passenger only laughed harder, and Amon felt himself falling prey to her cheerfulness. At this rate, he might actually start laughing with her, something he hadn't done for years.

"Anyway, I don't think most hideouts come equipped with sprinklers and a good fire escape."

"I'm not that bad!" Robin retorted. Her mirth had finally faded, but while her voice was firm, her eyes were still sparkling.

Amon thought she looked delicious.

Instead of pouncing on her however (seeing as he was driving and all), he simply recovered his usual seriousness and replied, "So you're in complete control of your power then?"

"Of course I'm in control!"

"You had better be," he replied. "Your life may depend on it."

With that he jerked the wheel hard to the right as shots rang out behind them.

Robin held tight to the dashboard to keep from flying out of her seat. The huge van on their tail skidded to the side but maintained its balance and continued to follow them, gaining ground.

How can something that big go that fast? Amon wondered, taking another sharp turn and crossing four lanes of traffic at once, trying to put some distance between them and their pursuers.

Robin turned in her seat, still hanging on for dear life as Amon wove in and out of traffic. She concentrated fiercely on the van, and felt the power welling up inside her for a brief moment.

For an instant, she was terrified of actually hurting the people inside the van, afraid that she might do damage, but she also knew that it was her only option. She drew the fire forth, and it exploded in front of the van.

The driver couldn't avoid the burning pavement; he swerved to the side and skidded perpendicular to the road for several yards before the top-heavy vehicle finally tipped onto its side and rolled off to the side of the road. The next flames that appeared weren't Robins.

Amon floored it and they were once again on the freeway. He backed off the gas, allowing them to blend in with the other commuters, but he still glanced furtively into the rearview mirror, searching for any more signs of pursuit.

Robin leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, trying to keep her breathing regular even though she felt like she had been holding her breath for the entire chase.

This time when Amon seemed to be driving them in circles, she didn't say anything. Instead, she kept her eyes closed and prayed that when she woke up, the entire fiasco had never happened.

0000

"I'm sorry, but that's the only room that we have left," said the oily looking man behind the counter. "The Animation convention is in town this week, and it draws huge crowds. You're lucky I've even got this room open—last minute cancellation. You'll have to drive fifty miles to find another."

Animation Convention? Amon wondered disgustedly as he favored the hotel manager with his coldest look. Beside him, Robin was doing her best to imitate him, but her lower lip was sticking out, making her look more cute than threatening. All the hotels are booked because of cartoons

Giving a mental headshake, Amon slapped down the cash needed to pay for the room, if such a thing even existed in this seedy place.

The manager snatched up the money, stuffing it into the register, then grabbed a key from the rack behind him and led them down the dingy hallway.

The yellowed paper in the hall was peeling, and there was a scent of mothballs, decay, and something Robin couldn't—and didn't want to—identify. Most of the rooms they past were quiet, although from one door on the left came the sound of something distinctly erotic, even to Robin's virgin ears.

"Here we are," said the oily man, sliding the key into the lock. "Number twenty-six."

He said this with so much pride that for a moment Robin though that the dented pressboard door might belie what was behind it, but she was quickly disappointed. The dank room was about the size of the bathroom of the house she had been staying in, and smelled worse. The olive green wallpaper was peeling and torn, revealing dents and yellowed drywall. There was no t.v., and a single lamp cast a dim, flickering light over half the room. The vanity sagged in the middle and was resting on oily carpeting that was so stained the true color was hard to decipher. The bed was covered in an ugly, moth eaten comforter that looked like it hadn't been washed since the 70's.

There was only one bed.

Only one blanket.

Only one pillow.

For a moment, this fact didn't register in Robin's mind. Then, slowly, This could get interesting.

When she turned back to the two men, the manager had disappeared down the hall and Amon was surveying the room with an impassive expression on his face. Judging by the way he was fidgeting with the key, however, she got the impression that he was even more displeased and disgusted than she was.

He took two steps into the room (which was all that could be taken, really), closing the door, sliding the key into his pocket. His gaze swept the room again. He took off his coat, revealing his holster, and tossed it on the foot of the bed.

"We don't have much time," he said. He did face her, but Robin saw the way he rubbed his eyes in spite of himself. He had driven for almost ten hours, stopping only once, briefly, when the gas gauge leaned on 'empty'. Now when he turned around, Robin could see how red his eyes looked. "I had to use my credit card for the gas; they'll be back on our trail in no time. You need to get some sleep. I'll keep watch."

Robin shook her head. "I can sleep in the car. You lay down. You're the one who's done everything so far." He started to object, but she cut him off. "I'll keep watch. You need to rest or you won't be any good in the morning. I've got my craft, so I can buy us some time if something does happen."

At this point, exhaustion seemed to overcome Amon's logic, and he sank down on the bed. Robin stood before him so that they were almost knee to knee. "It'll be fine. Just get some sleep."

Even as she spoke she could see the weariness begin to wear on him. His eyes closed briefly, and he leaned back on the moldy comforter, not seeming to really care how disgusting it was.

"You won't leave the room?" he asked, eyes still closed.

She sat down beside him. "I won't move from this spot."

"You'll wake me if you see or hear anything suspicious?" He started to open his eyes so he could look at her, make sure they were clear on the rules, but he was just too tired.

"I promise."

"You…won't…"

But whatever it was she wasn't supposed to do, Robin never found out as Amon finally succumbed to sleep.

For a moment, she merely looked at him, taking in the way he even seemed tense in his sleep, though going by his breathing, he was already deep in dreamland.

His brows knit and his fist clenched. She reached down, taking his hand, smoothing her fingers over his knuckles, and he relaxed some. What do you dream of that makes you so unhappy? She wondered, still holding and stroking his hand. She leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Sweet dreams," she whispered.

And for a moment, she thought she saw him smile.