Protection

[Lovely]

December 20, 2008
Follows: Checking In
A Couple Hours Later


Ice left his apartment, she never stayed over...hated being there at all. She tolerated what he did because she had to. Tonight she was so sickened by herself, so disgusted... even more than before. Since she had met Damien and that glorious night she spent with him, willingly and sharing pleasures..like nothing she had ever felt. It was true, she had become nothing more than a wh*re and at the moment she hated herself for it. Her heels didn't click on the tiles or concrete as she walked, her stealth naturally a part of how she moved. She paused to wipe a tear away as she slipped into the car, pulling her jacket around her for comfort, though it gave her none. She leaned her head against the glass, pulling herself as close to the far door as she could, her eyes slipping shut.

The door on the other side opened and could have been the driver, but the warm hand on her neck, the other gently over her mouth as he startled her would tell her otherwise.

Her eyes flew open as she felt the hands on her. She stiffened and her head turned, though she couldn't see him.

A hint of a gold glimmer blinked through the haze that surrounded him and distorted the view in front of her as he winked and borrowed her hand, reaching with her arm to close the opened door.

She had to lean into him to reach past him to close the door. She closed her eyes, as she leaned back. He would know... know what she had done... she felt as if she was wearing a huge sign that said sl*t!

He couldn't speak at the moment in his full camoflauge, but into her hand he pressed his fingers, signing the letters that said... a.l.l. o.k....s.h.h

She looked down at his hand as the car drove the streets to her apartment. Another tear slipped down her cheek and hit his hand, in hers.

He leaned in and invisibly kissed her tear away. Feeling a bit drained as he sustained his shifted appearance, he wavered slightly, but had to keep hidden until the car stopped. Once the driver deposited the vehicle and came around to get her, he would have a lashing and whipping surprise waiting for him as the full brunt of Lachesis flailed out of the car at him.

Ice held back a moment then slipped out of the car behind 'Damien'.

Any onlooker would see the man going into a fit and seizure until his head was spun unnaturally in a quick snap that spun his whole body like a ragdoll to be flung beneath another vehicle in the lot, safely from view.

She leaned back against the car watching, her eyes widened. But she didn't seem terribly upset by what she witnessed. Taking a deep breath she started towards the doors, assuming he was following her. She said nothing, nodding in the same manner she always did to the doorman. Ice held the elevator door open longer to make sure he got in before they slid shut.

[Lovely]

Once the elevator door shut, he slumped against the wall next to her, coming into view, winded and apologetic, "Sorry... I owed him one... for every shiner he ever gave you. Little consolation for what else has been done..."

Ice was at his side, soft tender hands on his arm and brushing his cheek. "I can't believe you... why would you.. for me?" She sighed, shaking her head. "Let's just get you inside." Ice slipped her arm around him as the elevator doors opened.

He was fine now that he'd caught his breath and shifted back to normal. He followed her into her suite, closing the door behind him and leaning on the sofa. "Because... well.. lots of reasons, actually... how's your mother?"

Ice went to the fridge. "She's alright... asked about you, this afternoon." Ice chuckled softly. "You want a drink?"

He smiled and nodded, "Sounds fabulous. She really asked about me? I didn't think she knew I was there, really. Is she... I mean... can anything be done for her?"

"Yes... she asked and she knew." Ice shook her head. "Anything in particular you want?" She peered into the fridge. "She had a severe stroke." Ice said softly. "She's sixty five... they don't hold much hope for her getting better... inches maybe... more or less just trying to ease her suffering."

"Surprise me," he said regarding the drink, feeling a little restless, in an unusual spotlight he wasn't sure he knew how to handle. Only a stroke, he thought. The medlab could manage wiring and healing that the blackmarket only dreamed of and drooled for. "Ice.. the other night... I wasn't joking around just to... you know, get in good graces and all. I meant it... getting you out.. getting you both out.. something better than you've probably imagined."

Ice carried two beers over and looked at him. Using the corner of the table to pop the caps off the bottles. Ice handed him one. "Really? Is that why you took my disk?"

"Honest? I haven't even looked at it, so I have no idea, but I'd like to talk to you anyway. If I said your mother would be placed in the finest of state-of-the-art facilities run by private donation at no cost to you, and you were provided with accommodations better than these without the oily watchdogs hovering over your shoulder, what would you think?"

"I'd think you were out of your tree... or maybe you got a hold of some pretty good drugs and were having delusions of grandeur. Or maybe this was all just a very nice dream." She sighed and took a long drink of her beer. "And in a few hours one of the suits will poke me awake and have some thing for me to go do.."

He shook his head and grinned softly, "Not if I can help it.. never again... never, Ice... it's time to make a change for the better."

"What are you going to do? Knock them all off? Then what?" She smiled at him. "I appreciate the thought." She stepped closer.

"My business is putting people like them out of business if that's what you mean. Hook or crook... it's what I do. I suppose there's an opening for the vengeful in there too... interested in hearing more?"

"No." She whispered, running her hand up his arm. "It will just make me want things, more." She sighed. "Things I just can't have."

"Actually, they're things that are ready and waiting for you.. all you have to say is 'yes'."

[Lovely]

"Yes? To what...or to who?" She sighed softly, letting her hand drop. Ice walked around the couch and sat down, refusing to let him see her discomfort as she moved. "And what do I have to do? I'm certainly not naive enough to think there are no strings."

"Yes to me... I'd likely be your working partner.. you've seen what I can do... what I have access to. The rest of the 'who' involves a meeting with my boss. It's different work that doesn't involve any of the extracurricular activities that have battering and bruising you.. unless they're ones you want to partake in. The 'firm', if you will.. offers extensive training and excercise in any field you wish and wholly supports the use of your talents to their fullest and best potential... for good cause, not the selfish dealings you're used to. And for the 'why,' someone's seen your handiwork and appreciates what you do. Like me, they see your talents wasted on scum and swamprats."

She was quiet for a moment. "So that's what this was all about?"

"No." He shook his head and slid behind her on the sofa, his hand on her shoulder, warm as before, slightly moreso in his fully human form. "The job consisted of the photo shoot. The rest was on my own. Another fringe benefit... free will. I came after you because of what my heart told me, not the dossier, Ice. I want to know you... for me, not for any other reason."

"And if I said no to the job?" She turned her face to his and looked into his eyes.

"Then I wouldn't be able to help you or your mother. I'd likely still play guardian angel, though. I can't stand what they're doing to you," his eyes told the genuine truth he couldn't hide.

She leaned into him and kissed him tenderly. "How long do I have to decide? Are you able to give me more details?"

"Not long, unfortunately. The little display downstairs may have shortened your consideration time a great deal if they in any way connect it to me. I'm not worried about them coming for me... I'm worried that they'll hurt you more. I can't have that.. won't have that, Ice. Additional details... I can give some, but the more I say puts you closer to that danger."

Ice downed the rest of her beer and sighed. "I need a shower..." She looked over her shoulder as she walked to the stairs. "You coming up?" She gave him a small smile.

His head tilted and he gave an awkwardly shy smile, not quite sure what to make of her mood. "Now that I've been invited, I'd love to... have to say 'hello' to mother besides."

Ice chuckled softly. "Say hello to mother? She'd like that.." She started up the stairs, reaching her hand back for him. "I'll be in the shower...if you want.." She left the invitation open for him.

He stepped forward, taking her hand, kissing her knuckle. "I want..." he whispered.

She leaned down from the steps above him and kissed him deeply. Letting her hand caress his neck.

He pulled her down the step into his arms, lifting her to carry her the rest of the way, one arm strapped gently under her and the other along her back, holding her perfectly to his lips as they stepped to the bath.

[Lovely]

She kissed him as he carried her and undid the buttons of his shirt, pushing it back on his shoulders as he stepped into the bathroom.

"If it means anything else," he whispered. "You'd be so much more than just my working partner... so much more."

"Well I would hope so..or I'd have to make this sort of thing a lot less personal...and it's not very enjoyable that way." She ran her fingers over his bared chest.

"I'm here to let you enjoy.. explore.. do what you want to do.... for you... Ice's domain," he said, looking down, offering himself to her as her playing field.

Undoing her 'domain', Ice smiled and kissed him before turning to start the water. "Equal partners?" She took his hand and placed it at her waist.

He nodded, sliding into her kiss, "Equal... ya know, I think I might just like that." His hand tugging at her buttons as she suggested.

Ice backed into the running water, pulling him with her. Him in his underwear and her still fully dressed, heels and all.

He laughed, "Forgetting something? Or just a little eager?" He could care. He slid with her under the water, smiling as he sought her lips and the water poured over them. He knelt down to the floor and helped her sling her shoes off, kissing his way back up her leg, sighing as he knelt before her, looking up into the running water that cascaded from her down to his face.

"Just washing everything away for awhile." She murmured as he slid down to help with her shoes. Her dress was soaked and clung to her.

His hands slicked the water along the back of her legs, lifting the skirt as he stood. he reached up behind her shoulder and pulled the zip down, pulling the fabric from her shoulders, helping it to fall as she stood in the water's warmth, letting it caress her shoulders. Years of pain and guilt shone on her face as her eyes twitched. She was trying to hide subtle tears beneath the water's flow.

Her hands slipped into her wet hair and she pulled out the clips from her golden tresses. She set them on the ledge and her hand came to cover her face as she tipped her head back under the water.

Her head tilted back and he said nothing to the glisten in her eyes that faded with the rush of water she smoothed over her cheek bones. He leaned in to her neck, softly nibbling at the subtle indent at her collar bone.

Part of her just wanted to shower and fall asleep, another part wanted his hands on her, taking away the feel of the other hands that had been on her tonight. She wanted to lose herself in him once more, like she had 'that' night. She slid her hand to his shoulders and lifted her head, turning it to the side to catch his lips. Her hand pushed into the hair at the back of his neck and she held him in a tender kiss.

He pulled from her kiss with a soft smile and slipped the dress from her, tossing the clothes into the sink to drain. He splashed the water through her hair and grabbed the shampoo, massaging it through gently, pampering her, letting her relax in the warmth and company.

[Lovely]

She watched him with curious and yet content eyes as he shampooed her hair. Her eyes closed as the suds slid down her face and relaxed a bit under his attention. Her hands running over him lightly, here and there as he massaged her scalp.

He spun her gently, holding her back to his chest and folding her arms before her, letting the water wash the suds from her face and down along her shoulders. Taking the cloth, he ran some of the gel she seemed to favor, from the most empty tube in the tray, slowly over her as he kissed her neck.

She sighed softly, her arm coming up and wraping behind her, around his neck and shoulder. Letting him rub her with the cloth and gel, marveling at how sensual it was and how good it felt to be this relaxed and intimate at the same time.

He stepped back a moment to slide himself free of the soggy and chaffing shorts, tossing them in the sink as well. He sighed softly, enjoying the venue and the company, more with every passing moment, finding a warmth in his spirit he hadn't felt in many years. He chuckled and passed a hand over her eyebrows, shielding her eyes, "Just a moment... " He let the water pull another pile of suds that had landed in the middle of her forehead. "There was a little girl... who had a little curl... right in the middle of her forehead... and when she was good.. she was very very good... and when she was bad...," he paused, grinning mischievously, pulling the suds and his hand away.

Ice chuckled, tipping her head foward under the water to rinse the rest of the shampoo out. This caused her to slide against him. After a couple of minutes of slight movements as she rinsed, she stood upright, wiping the water from her eyes.

"... she was spectacular," he whispered after watching her for several minutes.

"Hmm?" She smiled, half turning. Her hands 'smoothed' the water over her.

He paused in his admiration and whispered, "Water's getting cold, hon... what say we warm up out there, hm?"

"Mmmm yes.." She reached forward and shut the water off. She leaned against him for a minute and then stepped from the tub. Turning to kiss him as he came out behind her.

He reached for the towel and wrapped her in it, rubbing and patting her gently all over before gently toweling her hair for her.

She pulled the towel around herself and walked into the bedroom, grabbing her brush to get the tangles out of her hair.