A/N: OMG, I am SO sorry I haven't updated sooner Real life intruded, became more interesting for a while, and I lost the writer's creativity. But now it's back and I promise to continue and maybe complete this fic sometime soon. Thank you for all the lovely reviews I've received I'm so happy. Now, onto writing again. Skips off
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Chapter Five "Encounter"
Lexi shivered a little as she sat near the spring. Now that she was soaking wet, she was cold as well. And she knew who to blame. Sitting beside her, Kadaj slid an arm around her shoulders. She cast a side ways glance over at him, poking him in the side.
"Now I'm gonna catch a cold and die and it'll be all your fault," she said lightly, shivering a little again.
"Hush, you will not," he said.
She couldn't really explain why she suddenly felt so much more at ease around him, maybe it was the fact that now they both knew how the other felt, and that automatically lessened her fear. Or maybe it was also the fact that they were still alone; Yazoo and Loz were still out. Whatever the reason, she was glad with the outcome. She felt mostly safe with him…though she still worried about him having a psychotic episode or something and trying to kill her. Then again, she had always been paranoid. But paranoid could be good, life saving, sometimes.
"But I must say you could use some different clothes," Kadaj said.
She pouted a little, for a brief second. "And what is wrong with my clothes?" she asked; "Besides they're soaking wet?" She wore a simple gray tank top, blue jeans and…really…really old sneakers.
"Besides you're always cold, you don't fit with our style," he said.
She blinked. "What?" she said. She was pretty sure she understood him, and was about to utter an indignant comment but he suddenly stood, pulling her up with him.
"Come on," he said.
She didn't have much of a choice, as he was still pulling her with him towards his motorcycle. "What, right now?"
He turned back to her and she stumbled to a sudden stop, falling forward a little against him, which was probably exactly what he intended. "Why not?" he said, brushing a stray lock of hair back from her face.
"Alright," she relented.
How could she argue when he was looking at her like that? He lowered his head and gave her a fleeting kiss before turning and striding the rest of the way to his motorcycle. She followed, of course, and slid on behind him, a little wary of his driving as she encircled her arms around his waist. And it turned out she was right to be wary; if she'd thought it'd been bad riding with Yazoo to the Forest, riding with Kadaj was even worse. It wasn't that he was a bad driver; he just drove at break neck speed and took other risks that she would have preferred he didn't. At least when she was with him. So she opted for hanging on tight and closing her eyes.
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Lexi turned again in front of the large mirrors, tilting her head to the side as she considered her reflection. At the time of picking out her new outfit, she hadn't really had much say; Kadaj had picked out something he'd liked and shoved it at her. Now though, he was outside the store, boredly pacing the sidewalk, and she found that she actually did like this outfit, even if she had never worn anything like it in her life, or maybe it was because of it. And if she didn't like it she didn't really have a choice; Kadaj had ditched her old clothes already.
The top was black leather, of course, form fitting with long sleeves. It was almost off the tops of her shoulders, with straps that criss crossed from the back to the front of the modest neckline. The front was laced up, with two buckles across it, and only went midway down her stomach, in the back though it went all the way down to the floor, splitting into two (Think like how Kadaj's coat is). Down the back it was mostly open, with criss crossing strips of leather in an x pattern, with another strap across her lower stomach to hold it in place. The sleeves were long, covering most of her hands except for her fingers, and had various buckles that were merely for show. The rest of the outfit comprised of leather pants and black boots with nearly inch thick soles.
She turned in front of the mirrors again, watching the way the back of the top flared around her legs.
"Is that what you're getting lass?" asked the shop keeper, who had been watching her.
A little startled, she turned to the middle aged woman. "Um, yes," she said, walking over. She began counting out the right amount of Gil to pay for her new outfit. Kadaj had given her the Gil, she hadn't asked how he'd gotten it, since he didn't have a job, she didn't think she'd want to know, and he hadn't offered to tell her.
"To please your boyfriend, hmm?" the shop keeper said.
"What?" Lexi looked up, pausing for a moment.
The woman smiled a little, "I saw the two of you come in," she explained.
"Oh, yeah," Lexi said.
The woman cast a glance to the store front windows, through which Kadaj could be seen pacing a little farther down the street. "I'd be careful though lass, seems to me he might be the jealous type," she said, taking the Gil from Lexi.
"I know, I mean, I will," Lexi said, remembering to be polite, "Thank you for the advice."
With that she walked out of the store, stepping back out onto the streets of Edge. She turned in the direction which she'd seen Kadaj, watching as he suddenly turned back to her, some how knowing she was there. He let her walk to him as he looked her up and down. His intense gaze made her blush a little but she ducked her head to hide it.
"You look beautiful," he said, slipping his fingers under her chin and tilting her face up.
"Does that really surprise you?" she asked.
"No," he said, before lowering his head to kiss her.
Drawing back, he slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her possessively close to his side. They started off down the street, not wavering in their path. They forced everyone else to move around them. Or face Kadaj's glare. It wasn't long before Lexi's curiosity about some thing grew until she couldn't keep it silent any more. She didn't know why she was thinking of this now; it was just one of those random things.
"I…have a question," she said, a little hesitant, "If I may."
"What is it?" he said, meaning for her to continue.
"…About…Mother," she started.
"That matter doesn't concern you," he interrupted.
"But-" she started again.
"No," he cut her off once more.
"But you don't even know what I was going to ask," she said.
"It doesn't matter," he said flatly.
"Fine," she said after a second, a little miffed, and turned her head to the side.
They walked in silence for a few moments, and she told herself that she'd have to remember how stubborn he was.
"You're mad at me now," Kadaj said. It was a statement, not a question.
"Is it that obvious?" She said, but already her anger was starting to fade.
"Don't be that way," he said.
"What way?" she questioned, turning her head to gaze at him.
"Sarcastic," he said.
It was than that some one heading in the opposite direction half walked into him, causing her to stumble a little.
"Can't you people watch where you are walking?" he snapped.
"Hey!" came the start of an indignant reply, "Why don't you-hey!"
Lexi frowned a little, thinking that she knew that voice, and turned her head to get a better look. Her first impression had been right; it was Reno. And of course Rude was with him. Some how she just knew that trouble was going to start. She hated it some times when she was right.
"You're…you're the bastard who…" Reno didn't finish, but it seemed he didn't have to; Kadaj knew what he meant.
"More Turks," Kadaj said, lowering his arm from around Lexi's shoulders and giving her a slight push.
She understood that he meant for her to get away, but she found that she couldn't leave him, and only took a couple of steps back.
"It's a shame your friends didn't share what they knew," he continued, a purely evil glint in his eyes, "Perhaps they wouldn't have had to suffer so."
"Why you-" Reno began angrily, starting towards him.
The double clicking of guns cocking stopped him and drew his attention past Kadaj. It was also at that moment that an arm wrapped around Lexi's waist, pulling her back and to the side. Turning her head, she saw both Yazoo and Loz with their guns aimed at the two Turks. It had been Yazoo who pulled her aside, and his hand still remained protectively on her hip.
"Looks like you're out numbered," Kadaj said with a smirk.
Of course Reno could see this, but he still didn't seem ready to back down.
"Next time," Kadaj said, starting to back towards Lexi, "For now, why don't you get to know my brothers." With that, he turned, and sauntered past Yazoo, catching Lexi by the hand as he passed her.
"Will they be alright?" she asked with a slight frown, looking back over her shoulder as he pulled her towards his motorcycle.
"They'll be fine," he replied, "If you're going to worry about anyone, you should worry about those Turks."
He only looked back once as the sound of gunfire started before mounting his bike and pausing for her. She slid on behind him, barely having time to grab the back of his leather coat before he took off down the street. She linked her arms tightly around his waist and lowered her head to his shoulder, closing her eyes. They were about halfway back to the Sleeping Forest when Yazoo and Loz caught up to them, though they had a bit of difficulty, because Kadaj still drove too fast. At least, in her opinion.