Hit & Run (Wink, Amber)

[Lovely]

May 21, 2008
3 p.m.

If only he could go faster. The bike moved along the road like mad August hornet, low, straight, determined and narrowly missing the random cars he slipped past. There had been only three but the last one almost made him slow down. Even at this speed... he looked down at the needle pushing 105 or whatever it would read if there were more marks on the meter... he sensed, maybe even smelled something that made his head turn, but only a little as he tried to keep his eyes on the blacktop. It was an excuse to look quickly over his shoulder as he moved in front of this last car and sped off down the road ahead. Her... it was definitely a single scent of a girl in the car. He smiled and kept going. The glimpse over his shoulder also told him they were still after him and there was no place anywhere on this stretch to peel off, turn or even hide. It was a long stretch of treeless, ditchless, patrol-less nothing though a town or some kind of structure wavered on the watery horizon ahead. He glanced down again and the other meter was nearly a mirror image of the speed, low and nearly to the red line. He was flying on little more than hope and vapors now and it wasn't likely he'd make it as far as that solid oasis before the engine would seize. He didn't slow down, though. The dark grey coupe was gaining now that the road had leveled out and it passed the last car with little more than a whisper between their mirrors before merging closely ahead of her and fishtailing a little as the driver tried to shimmy neatly into the lane. It wasn't a practiced maneuver of any kind but the type that indicated a panicked intention to keep up with bike, if not overtake it... but still stay lawfully within the lines on the road? The gap was becoming narrower between the vehicles, then something happened. A hand emerged from the window of the sedan and a spark, a flare of some kind shone off the back of the bike seconds before the bike and rider began to spin out ahead of the car they'd passed. The bike tumbled end over end and the rider went airborne, left for dead as the sedan flew down the road away from the scene.

Amber was making this trip alone and hoping her sisters would join her later or better yet, find her somewhere along the way. Her thoughts were on them and on the strange dreams which had prompted her on this journey as she drove down this long stretch of road. The way the bike passed her upset her for a moment, he was going way too fast and she didn't feel like being in a wreck because of someone else being careless. Her anger was gone as quickly as it came, a smile curving up as his scent was brought through the vents along with the exhaust. Both scents were things normal people wouldn't notice but she'd gotten used to it as a part of who she was and usually ignored them if they didn't give her some important information. The road was long and 'never ending' which gave her the feeling of being very alone and she was feeling quiye lonely at the moment. The more pleasant of the scents she'd picked up brightened her mood a little and she whispered a soft thank you to the man for passing her. Not long after the bike passed her a car also zoomed past, this one coming close enough to make gasp and slow down as it fish tailed in front of her.

A few moments later she saw something flash out of the window of the car that was now ahead of her, she wasn't close enough to see clearly what it was but she saw the bike spin out. The car in front of her kept going as the bike wrecked, they didn't stop, only slowing enough to make sure they avoided hitting or being hit by the bike or pieces of it. Amber was shocked beyond words and her speed was already slowing, the car ahead becoming as she pulled off to the side of the road and got out of her car.

[Lovely]

It was clear that one of the tires had blown first, likely shredded by whatever the occupant of the car had shot at him. The plastic, lenses and fiberglass had shattered completely from the frame that came to rest, twisted and scraped at the edge of the lane with a half dozen small, flaming puddles of scorched tire rubber smoking up into the air. The rider had not lost any limbs, but lay still at the side of the road, matting down the tall grass cushion that had done whatever it could to break his fall. The saddle bags had burst open and some of his belongings were in a scattered trail including what had been some clean clothes and his wallet.

Amber glanced at the debris and winced at the damage to the bike and belongings, thinking of how painful this must have been for the rider. "Ouch." She murmured to herself, the 'safety' of her car left behind her for now as she approached the figure which lay in the tall grass where he'd been thrown. She was cautious but concerned for the man, she knew he wasn't dead as she got close enough to him for her senses to begin to pick up more information from sight, sound, and scent. Amber had her cell phone in her hand, prepared to call 911 but something in his scent made her hesitate, was he really what she thought he was? She knelt down next to him, careful not to touch him yet and leaned in closer to take a better look and also get a much better whiff of his scent.

He twitched only a little but didn't jerk himself up from the ground. The sun was getting low and her shadow stretched over him shielding his face beneath the helmet he'd been glad he'd worn this once. The visor had cracked off however and kind, unshaven features shone up through the hollow. "You're in my light," he said with a bit of gravel in his voice. A smile shone up at her and his eyes slowly opened. "I didn't mean to scare you."

She saw him twitch as she was taking in a deep breath close to him, she was now sure of what she smelled and was only mildly startled when he spoke. "Sorry, I was just checking to see if you were... alive." She almost told him what else she was checking for but held onto the little piece of information. "You didn't scare me.. I just wasn't expecting you to talk.. yet."

"Alive but not quite kicking.. yet. Mmm.. unless you have wings, cuz you smell like heaven," he said, closing his eyes again against the pain that was creeping through him now. He coughed a little and tried to roll to his side.

Did he seriously just lay a line on her? Amber laughed softly, broken and battered and he was trying to pick up a girl.. definitely a feral. "Sorry.. no wings." She shifted to give him space to roll and reached almost gingerly to try to help him, she was pretty sure he hurt all over. "Do you want me to call an ambulance for you?" She figured she should offer since any normal person would have done that already without asking.

"No! No.. I'm good, really. Don't want them to finish the job before I even know your name. Not every day I play in traffic and get sidelined in front of a pretty wolf girl," he said through thin breaths as he tried pushing himself up to get a look around. He didn't get far when his hip and shoulder both barked back and he crumpled slightly, reaching across to hold his arm. He winced and tried to hold down the pain and growl. "Who else is with you? Anyone around here?"

She reached out as he crumpled, wanting to help but unsure of how it would be recieved or what she could really do for him. Amber didn't actually touch him and let her hands fall back to rest on her thighs, her eyes sweeping over him, she was still cautious. He didn't seem shy about and didn't hide the fact that he knew what she was and she chewed at her lower lip. "No one is around.. the other car just kept going."

[Lovely]

He could feel the warm blood but couldn't tell for certain if he'd broken bones or what cut his skin beneath his shirt. With his good arm, he started to tug it over his shoulder, then tearing it as his claws protuded slightly and slit it enough to pull off the arm that wouldn't move. "Here. Anything you see that's bleeding, use this. I've got another shirt over there somewhere. You got room in your car for pissed off dog-faced boy?"

"Umm.." She had what she thought was a better suggestion than his shirt for his wounds but it was a little personal. "Yeah I have room.. and um.. don't take this wrong but.. wouldn't it make more sense if I.." She motioned toward him, holding the piece of shirt he'd given her. "..you know since we're both.."

"You gonna tell me your name first?" He looked up at her with a sweet smile and a wink. "I try to make it a practice not to lick on the first date, but if you're offering, I'm accepting. This shit's filthy anyway," he said, tossing down the torn cloth and wincing again. "Okay... okay. No sudden moves. Right."

"This isn't a date.. but I am offering." She pointed out with a smile as her gaze was drawn up to meet his. "My name is Amber." She bit her lip again and this time gestured to his helmut. "Do you want that off?"

"Explains why I can't hear shit, huh? Forgot about it since I usually don't wear one. Needs two hands, so that looks like you," he said, nodding and undoing the strap with a slice of a claw since it had been shorn at the snap. He sat still, holding his weight against his good arm for her to slip the ungainly thing off his head.

"That might explain it, yeah." She leaned up over him with her chest about level with his face in their current positions, her hands grasping the helmut to pull it off as gently and painlessly as she could. "So.. are you going to tell me your name?"

"Sure. I was just waiting for you to ask. You can call me Wink," he said, smiling for her as the helmet was taken away, revealing a short crew cut of light brown hair and a tiny sparkle of earring. His opposite cheek was bleeding a little where a shard or two from the visor had cut him. He slowly tipped his head forward then to the side, pops and snaps echoing out as he moved.

She'd seen his face from within the helmut and smiled sweetly as he was revealed fully and was even more handsome. Her eyes went to his cheek and she waited for him to finish shifting before she gently cupped his face. She checked first to make sure there were no bits of glass and then lightly ran her tongue over the cut.

"Mmm, nice to meet you, too," he said, reaching up as he could with the sore arm to touch her cheek. "No hospital could hold a candle to that, believe me. But listen, those guys, they're going to come back and we can't stay here."

She pulled away from his cheek, her smile shining sweetly again as she nodded to his warning. "I'll be quick.. is anything broken?" She mainly was concerned about his legs and whether he'd need her help to get to the car. She shifted over him, looking for the deeper and more serious cuts to tend to now and the rest they could worry about after the got out of here.

[Lovely]

"Only my heart if you stop," he teased, though he tensed and stretched more slowly this time to take an inventory of what would and wouldn't move. He grunted a little, affirming one definite injury. "Ribs. Not sure about my shoulder or my leg. Something's cut on my side, bleeding, back feels okay."

She pulled away to head to his side which he'd indicated had a wound, it wasn't hard to find the spot. "Let me take care of this and then we'll get you in the car." She pulled the wet material away from his skin and leaned in to run her tongue over the wound after making sure it was clear of debris. He seemed sweet and was definitely attractive which made tending to him that much more enjoyable.

He stayed still, conserving his own energies for now though her attention made it difficult not to shift toward more of the sweet lappings. "You can take care of anything you want. You've done this before, haven't you?"

Her giggle was quiet to his comments and she shrugged. "Not to a guy... " She admitted softly, her cheeks warming with a light blush as she hovered over him, lapping a few more times to make sure the wound was sealed and would hopefully remain so when he moved. She slowly eased herself back and looked up to his face. "There.. that should be a little better. I'll take a closer look at you once we're... someplace that isn't here." She reached to wrap her arm around him, ready to try to help him to his feet, if he couldn't stand or walk she'd carry him to the car.

"A closer look, huh? That better be a promise," he suggested as he let her help him up. He was good on the side that hadn't hit the ground as hard, but he wasn't running a marathon soon. He wasn't even sure about changing his form until he'd rested up a while. Once he was mostly standing, he could see what was left of his bike and his heart did break a little now. "Someplace that isn't here... Yeah, we better get there pretty damned quick."

She wrapped her arm around his waist for support if he needed and would take it, she saw where his gaze went and she felt bad for what had happened even though she'd had nothing to do with it. "Let's get you in the car and we'll get away from this." Her nudge was gentle to get him moving toward her car, she'd take a minute to gather up his things once he was semi comfortable in the passenger seat.

His leg had taken it bad and he wasn't able to even turn his foot to straighten it, grunting with as much pain as frustration when he tried. He wasn't too proud to take her help when offered - he wasn't that stupid and knew he was lucky to be alive and wouldn't be much longer if they stayed here. He hobbled, leaning on her heavily to get to the car. "Hey, you got a phone? You didn't get their plate number did you? Call in a hit and run. That should keep them busy... for a while," he suggested.

"Alright.. I'll do that." She had offered to call an ambulance before but he hadn't wanted her to but if he wanted her to call the cops, she would. "Here we go." She opened the door with one hand and kept her other arm around him till the door swung open and he could lean on the car for a moment while she adjusted the seat back to give him room for his legs. She wasn't sure how comfortable he could really get in his condition but she tried to make it as comfy she could. Once she had the seat moved she shifted to help him ease down into the car, she wasn't a doctor but she could tell he had been messed up pretty good from the wreck.

[Lovely]

He wasn't hiding that he hurt, only how much as his face contorted at each shift and he pulled and twisted as best he could to turn his leg into the seat with him. If he had the energy to do it, he could transform but with the broken ribs he stood a high chance of puncturing something worse if he tried. "Okay. I'm good," he said, clear of the door after the short struggle and curling up a little against the pain though the door could close.

"No.. you're really not.. but you're in the car at least." She replied softly, her eyes washing over him and her expression clearly saying she wanted to tend to him more. She intended to once they were away from the accident scene and somewhere they could feel safer to do such a thing. Maybe there was a motel or something between here and where she was heading, though she didn't think she had too much further to go herself. She closed the door and went around to gather up the things from his saddlebags, she made her call as she scampered to pick up the scattered belongings. She grabbed everything she could find as she explained that she'd witnessed a hit and run and gave the liscense plate number to the dispatcher. She set Wink's things on the backseat of the car and took another quick look around as she got into the car and hung up the phone. "I'm sorry about your bike." She said quietly as she got them back on the road and heading toward town.

He gave her a strange look through the fog of pain. He knew she really meant that. Something else was in the look, something of recognition and a stunned sort of silence. "Say that again," he said quietly. "Just like you just did."

"Say which part again.. about you being okay or about your bike?" She turned her gaze to him again, the same concern and sincerity in her eyes as had been there before.

He shook his head a little, "No. Say I'm sorry about your bike, just like you said it. Humor me, okay? I might be dying," he teased, giving her another wink and a grin.

"Okay.." She agreed and after a moment she turned to him again and told him quietly as she had before. "I'm sorry about your bike." She wasn't sure why he'd asked her to do it but she obliged his request, though she didn't think he was dying. She couldn't resist the grin and the wink.

"It's you. Hahaaaaah....no I'm not dying, I'm just going out of my mind," he said, laughing dryly then closing his eyes, the smile fading as he tried to capture a thought. "This is how it happened. I didn't remember in the dream, but I remember being someplace.. creepy-weird, you know? And not being anywhere near my bike. There was this voice.. your voice, saying that."

The expression on her face was something between shock and fear, her color going slightly paler. "Dream.. in a weird creepy place?" She asked softly, feeling like she needed to pull over, though she didn't. "You're not the only one losing your mind." She said softly, her hand gripping the wheel a little tighter.

[Lovely]

The reaction was noticeable enough to him even with his eyes closed, the way her scent changed in the closed space. He opened his eyes to find her pale, white-knucklingly pale, and genuinely worried about what he'd said. "At least I have good company on the road to the nuthouse. So, you know what I'm talking about? That place? Have you been there? It's got like this security fence... heh, like the kind they put around nut houses."

"I've only been there in my dreams." She said softly after a long moment of silence. "It's.. where I'm heading.. at least I think it is, if it really exists." She loosened her grip on the steering wheel a little but didn't quite relax, her thoughts drifted to her dreams and her worries and with it the fear of the dark things she'd seen and felt in those dreams. The place she was heading to came after the scary parts, like a safe haven in the midst of terrible nightmares.

"Could this get any weirder, not withstanding the fact that you happen to be just like me? Did your dream tell you anything about that cuz mine sure didn't." If he hadn't noticed the change in her or allowed her to work on his wounds, he'd be thinking for sure that she was part of a set-up with the thugs who'd failed to kill him. The fear was genuine and had nothing to do with him, though, and he tried to reach out to her though his arm wasn't very cooperative yet. "Amber, listen to me. It's real. It's got to be or some really f*cking weird shit is happening to both of us."

"Maybe I don't want it to be real.. maybe I'd rather be crazy." Her voice stayed quiet, low and strained slightly with the fear that made her shiver. "I'd settle for some really weird stuff.. I'd be okay being crazy.. if this place is real.. then logic says the other parts of the dream are too. I don't want the other parts to be real.."

He didn't remember much else in the dream than the place and that he didn't have his bike. Now he knew why. "Well, I'm sure I've never been to the place, not if this was the way to get to it since I've never been out here before. I've been states away most of my life and I tell you, it's the kind of place that made an impression enough that if I'd been there as a kid, I'd be a lot more twisted than I am now. Either way though, they're dreams, Amber. The dreams aren't real even if the place is." He was mostly convinced that part was true, but wondered what dark things were in hers that could be worse than being shot and nearly killed.

"That's what I kept telling myself.." She turned her gaze to him for a moment, letting a small warm smile shine ot at him briefly. "Thank you.. for understanding that my dreams scared me and not.. well.. putting me down or making fun of me for it." She sighed and shook her head, letting go of the wheel with one hand to rest her arm down on the console. "I started to wonder if I was crazy you know? I am sure that someone was following me for awhile.. "

And here he'd asked her to make a call from her own phone... witness to something and she didn't stay at the scene and neither had the ones who'd shot at him. Had they been following her, too? Her hand was closer now and he reached to grasp it. "I'll try to make them less scary. No guarantees if I get myself face to face with one of these losers, but you've got me... or.. you will, when I can move more than a snail's pace." He was beginning to shift more easily as the minutes ticked away and his excellerated healing kicked in.

"Woah... deja vu.." She whispered glancing down at their hands, the feeling had come on her like a wave when his hand grasped hers. Her fingers tightened a little around his hand and she kind of smiled. "You don't even know me.. yet you'd.. Thank you."

[Lovely]

"You licked my wounds without knowing me," he countered with a slight and painful shrug. He rested his head back and looked down his nose at the shimmering structure ahead that looked like some place to eat. The guys after him wouldn't think he'd waltz in to the nearest blue-plate. "Hey, did you find my wallet back there? If I've got any cash... you hungry?"

"I did and I would have done more if.. Okay, I see your point.." She blushed and tried to keep from looking over at him but wasn't able to and she stole a glance over him. "Your wallet is on the back seat.. I didn't look to see if you had any money. Are you oky to go in someplace to eat? How is your leg?"

"It's great. Oh, the other one? Hurts like a sonufab*tch, but I can feel my toes. I've been going non-stop for almost two hundred miles, though.. kinda need the break anyway, if you know what I mean?" He turned his head against the seat. "Okay, except that sudden stop part back there, but that's not what I meant."

"If you're sure you're okay to get up and walk around and sit in a chair and all that, than who am I to argue? We'll stop if you want to. I've been on the road all day myself." She agreed with little fuss, though she remained worried and cautious about the plan to stop off somewhere. Her eyes scanned the road ahead and she saw the diner coming into a clearer view, it looked like a good place to rest for a little while.

"How does a juicy rare burger and a milkshake grab you? A little snack and I should be ready to kick some royal ass... maybe. I don't think they're here," he said, looking around also but not seeing the sedan anywhere.

"It grabs me, alright!" Amber also looked around the lot as she pulled the car in and found a spot. "They probably think you're toast.. that wreck wasn't pretty and most would not have walked away from it. Even being what we are, you're lucky it wasn't worse.." She stopped, realizing she was starting to go on like she had some stake in his life, like she was a concerned girlfriend or something.

"That's what I'm banking on. The only thing worse than seeing a ghost is seeing a ghost with sharp teeth and a bad temper," he explained, giving her a brighter smile that was far from angry at the moment. "They messed with the wrong pooch... a hungry, sore and anxious pooch. Let's get some food," he said, squeezing her hand gently before trying to turn himself to reach in the back for his wallet.

[Lovely]

Amber sat in the booth glancing across at Wink with a worried expression, she hoped he'd be comfortable sitting with his injuries from the accident. The waitress gave them each a menu and asked about starting them off with a drink. Amber glanced quickly at the choices and ordered a cola for herself, her fingers brushing her blonde hair away from her face.

"Double vodka and a beer?" He glanced from Amber to the waitress, seeming totally serious until he flashed a quick smile to keep them both calm. "A coke's fine, no ice. No... you know what? You got strawberries back there? Make us the biggest, thickest, creamiest shake you got with some of those strawberries, okay? We'll start with that. Two straws and as much whipped cream as you can bring. Just bring us the can. Burger, rare... just show it the grill and bring it on out, okay?" He stopped with his order before he started getting stares from the other tables. Looking around, that didn't seem like it would be much of an issue. "Sorry, I just lost someone really dear to me and I'm all beat up inside. I eat when I'm upset," he explained, almost grinning.

The waitress smiled, she didn't seem to care how much he ordered or be bothered by it in the least. Amber smiled at him and then to the pretty girl with her long dark hair, her name tag said 'Angel'. "I'd like a large order of chicken quesadillas extra sour cream, fries with that and an order of onion rings.." She looked over at Wink and shrugged. "Do you like mozzerella sticks? I eat when I'm upset, too.." The waitress wrote everything down and waited while Amber asked about that item.

"Make that two orders of fries, rings and sticks. Ranch! Gotta have the ranch," he said with emphasis like the food was worthless without it. "Hell, bring us a chocolate shake, too. We'll just make it a party." He seemed to want to laugh but the pain bubbled up and stole some of his color, dulling the smile a little.

Amber blushed a little and handed the waitress her menu. "Can you also make it two orders of the chicken.. no fries with the second one.. Thank you." She intended to share those with Wink if he wanted some but if not she could easily finish it herself. The waitress just grinned and nodded, writing down the rest, taking the menus and heading off to get their drinks. Amber looked over at Wink, seeing him pale made her reach across the table to take his hand. "You know I could come over there and help a little.. pretend I'm just an affectionate girlfriend and we're.. making out?" She wouldn't be able to get anything too far down his torso but if she concentrated up top, he'd have more energy to devote to the lower injuries.

His attention turned to her hand and the kindness and concern in her touch. The waitress wandered off and he sat up a little, encouraging her to act on that threat. "What if we're not pretending? You still smell better than anything they've got on their menu. Except maybe those strawberries... Mmm! Okay, I'm kidding. Get over here."

"Well.. I wouldn't slug you if you really kissed me." She smiled in return, a small giggle floating out as she rose up and practically bounced over to slide onto the seat next to him. She was gentle as she came up beside him and careful not to jar his leg, she actually leaned in to kiss his mouth softly to start with. She could have claimed it was just to make it look good but she really did want to kiss him.