I would like to dedicate this chapter to Gambling Dementor who came up with the prompt for this chapter and has been incredibly kind and supportive to me personally. I truly recommend you check out her writing on fanfiction and her tumblr. Also this is sort of based off of a situation that happened to me in real life.

Both bruised and tired, Varrick and Zhu li were making their way to Zaofu. They had been hiking for at least an hour, guessing by the moon. Zhu li was still holding strong but Varrick was a gasping mess. You think he would be in better shape with all of the calisthenics he does.

"Zhu li I don't think I'm going to make it. You're going to have to carry me," he gasped out.

Zhu li rolled her eyes and crouched down to let him on her back. Varrick just raised an eyebrow.

"I wasn't serious. It was just a joke, Zhu li,"

"Sir, we still have miles to go. This is going to be the easiest way to get us there. And you took quite a few wounds after our landing," she dead panned. Varrick was just impressed with her dedication. She truly was the best assistant he ever had.

"Alright then," he then jumped on her back, "let's go then. To Zaofu!"

Zhu li carried him with little problem. He was built larger than her but she certainly had him when it came to strength. They, well she, had been walking for about five miles now. Zhu li still was keeping stride. Varrick had time to appreciate the scenery. It really was a nice night, steady breeze through the trees, how the grass bent to its caress, the moon's guiding glow for the travelers, how Zhu li's glasses were tilted on her nose, how her soft, yet strong, arms held onto his legs. Okay maybe he should get back to the scenery and stop focusing on his lovely assistant. He should also stop thinking of her as lovely. Though it wasn't a lie, she was very pretty, especially under the moonlight.

He quickly diverted his attention. 'Man, was that grass fascinating!' he thought to himself.

Zhu li then noticed two travelers coming up the road. "Sir, there are two people coming up the road. Should we hide?" She was feeling especially cautious seeing as how they had just escaped from prison. It would be a shame to get this far just to go back. And probably not to Varrick's nice cell seeing how there was a large hole in the wall.

"Don't worry, Zhu li. Just walk past by them, we'll be fine," Varrick said with a smile.

As they got closer to the travelers, they noted the odd expression on their faces. They must not be used to beautiful women carrying a roguishly handsome man through the woods. Simple mistake.

"Hello, fellow travelers. Beautiful night, eh. Can't say I could spend it with better company," Varrick said charmingly, as if that made this whole situation any less odd.

The travelers just sped up to get away from what they assumed were crazy people. Varrick just smirked. "See, Zhu li, most people avoid what they think is an odd situation. Only the brave and curious stick around and ask questions,"

Zhu li just made a small smile. He really was a genius, and sometimes knew people better than they did. Guess that made marketing easier. He truly was a gifted man, with his brilliant mind, incredible amount of charm, and he was quite handsome to top it off. She would never say such things aloud though. It would be unprofessional. He could give her a whole hour and she still wouldn't be brave enough to tell him such things. Like how she liked how thick his hair looked, or that his mustache gave him such a unique quality to his appearance that she would be heartbroken if he ever shaved it off.

While Zhu li was lost in thought she didn't notice a vine protruding in the path. When they came upon it she tripped and fell, with Varrick launching off her back.

Varrick immediately was at her side. "Zhu li are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sir," she said while trying to hide her ankle. She knew she wasn't fine. Her ankle was unmistakably broken. But she would not let her boss see her in such a weak state. She got up with much pain but she was able to conceal it. She bent down to pick up Varrick again, "Get on, Sir, we're about half way to Zaofu,"

Varrick just looked at her worriedly, "Are you sure you're okay?" Zhu li just gave him a look to let him no that there would be no further discussion.

Varrick then got back on her back. At first Zhu li thought she was going to topple over again or collapse from pain. She held out though and took steps forward. The only thing going through her mind was that Varrick would be safe in the metal bending city, she had to push on. Nothing else mattered to her at that point but getting Varrick someplace safe for the rest of the night.

The trip was a total of twenty-eight miles, twenty with Varrick on Zhu li's back, ten with a broken ankle. It took up to 5 hours. But none of that mattered at this point. They were there. They were at the gate of Zaofu.

They were met by three guards and a man with an odd facial piercing. Varrick hopped off of Zhu li's back so he could make a good impression. Zhu li would be lying to herself if she didn't appreciate the lessening of weight on her ankle.

The man with the odd facial piercing came to the forefront, "Hello and welcome to Zaofu. I am Aiwei and I will be your guide," his face then fell, "Somebody help this young women, she has a broken ankle,"

Zhu li swore under her breath as two guards came behind her and helped hold her up. Varrick just looked horror struck. "Zhu li, why didn't you tell me? Why did you continue to carry me?"

"Nothing mattered but getting you to Zaofu, Sir. Nothing else mattered," she said with laboured breath.

Varrick just shook his head as they took her away for medical treatment. "You truly are a remarkable woman, Zhu li,"