First one I have written (That has been posted anyway ;)) Thanks to Lighthawke and Twilighthawke. Lighty edited and went through my crap to make it gorgeous. Twilighthawke gave me inspiration for apartment AU and the big ass spider prompt. Thanks to all!

Rena could normally take care of herself. She was a single woman who lived alone in an apartment complex in the Capital city of Hamel. She didn't usually need help with the spiders in her bathroom, as they weren't exactly rare. However, the one that had taken up residence in her sink was the biggest damn spider she had ever seen. She swore it was plotting against her.

If she went to Ara or Chung, or any of their friends really, they would tease her mercilessly. Plus it was almost three in the morning. She knew her neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate being woken up at this hour, but she was cute and had cleavage. Certainly one of them would help her out.

Rena started out with the apartment next door to hers, remembering too late who lived there. The man who lived next door was scary. He had a scar on his cheek, an angry face and a height advantage. He looked really disheveled when he saw her. He raised an eyebrow.

"… It's three in the morning. Who are you?" He asked, moving his hair away from his right eye. His hair was almost as long hers. He had a streak of red in it, on the right side. Funny the things you notice when you're nervous.

"M-my name's Rena," She mentally cursed herself for that stutter. He leaned against the doorway. It was completely dark in his apartment. She had woken him up, oh great a large man who looked like he had seen his fair share of fights had woken up to her at his door.

"And why are you at my door at the buttcrack of dawn?" He quirked the slightest smile. She laughed hesitantly as the color rushed to her cheeks, and she felt her pointy ears twitch.

"Well, uh. There's a big ass spider in my bathroom, and I… Look, it's a huge ass spider. Could you, uh, kill it for me?" Rena mentally smacked herself in the face. This was a complete stranger, even if he was her neighbor. She rubbed the back of her neck, looking at the carpet of the hallway.

Her neighbor laughed. It was a deep throaty laugh. Eyes wide, Rena looked back up at him.

"Okay," he chuckled, "sure I'll help you. My name's Raven by the way." He smiled briefly and stuck out his hand, and she gladly took it.

"I live right next door." She smiled at him and let go of his hand. Her ears twitched again. She turned quickly, missing the blush that now stained Raven's face. He rubbed his neck.

"Aish. This is why I don't answer my door at night." He pushed away from the door and followed her.

Rena's living room was quite cozy. It felt warm and he could smell tea brewing. Raven realized he forgot to get his prosthetic arm before going to help out Rena-a point she helpfully stated a second later.

"You only have one arm." She stated in disbelief. He nodded.

"Normally I have another, but I don't sleep in my prosthetic."

"Oh, yeah I see that being a thing." She replied awkwardly.

"How come a spider made you go looking in this apartment building for someone to kill it for you, and you didn't even think anyone here would be a creeper or, you know, anything bad ever? This is Hamel, hell, they could've been a rapist." Rena puffed out her cheeks, turning slightly red in anger.

"Though you aren't any of those are you? I could kick your ass up and out of here faster than you can say 'fight me.'" She glared, cheeks still puffed. Raven moved toward her bathroom.

"Hey! How do you know where my bathroom is?" she demanded.

"I live in the same apartment complex as you; they're all pretty much the same." He said over his shoulder. Rena glared at his back.

Raven opened the door and almost immediately closed it again.

"Well?" Rena asked expectantly. Raven grimaced at her.

"Well, you weren't kidding about the whole 'giant' thing. You sure that's not a cat?"

"Told you; are you going to kill it or what?" Rena grinned.

"Let me go get my arm."

…

Rena waited patiently outside the bathroom door. She jumped when a loud bang came from inside, but a couple seconds later Raven walked out with a mass of dead spider in his prosthetic hand.

"Ewewewew! Why would you bring it out here?!" She shouted, backing up against the wall. He rolled his eyes.

"So I could throw it away. Though…" He brought it closer to her. She danced away, her ears trying to stand straight up.

"Ewwwwwwwwwwww!" She ran behind her couch, crouching until all Raven could see were her eyes. He smirked. She glared at him. "Just throw it away, asshole."

"Ouch," he deadpanned. She watched him dump it into the garbage. Rena shivered and stood up, still glaring at him. "Oh come on that was funny. Though, now I must bid you good night." Raven said glancing at his watch.

"Tch. If I ever have any more giant spiders I will make sure to call you." Rena let him out.

After closing the door she took a seat on her well-loved couch. Rena took a moment to reflect on how weird that encounter was. Meeting the scary man from the apartment next door was interesting, and he chose to help her out with her spider problem instead of shut the door in her face. Plus, he turned out not to be all that unfriendly after all. So, all in all, she considered tonight a win.

So, this is a series. And this is the end of chapter one. What did you think? Prompts, complaints, flames, and/or suggestions are always welcome and appreciated, well, maybe not the Flames.

~Away through the dream that is Reality, Farewell~

Dawnhawke