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((And what a beautiful rule that is.))

Zoe gave a grin and nodded. "Good thing, cause melted wax probably burns like hell." This guy was pretty amusing. If he was here every day she wouldn't mind that at all. Most of her friends were either always busy with their secretive jobs or in the stock room counting books and ordering more of them. Then again...the guy did look like he stuck himself in a basement with only the light of a glowing screen to give vitamins to his skin. Not that it would make him any less amusing...just a bit sickly.

"Loose connection...right. Obviously." Zoe muttered, trying to sound smart even though she had no idea what he was saying about connects and the sort. "THAT'S where my eraser went to! I was looking for it for ages. Thanks!" With a laugh she held out the eraser and examined it. "Too bad it's useless now. Stupid box...burning my erasers..." Her lips tugged into a disappointed frown and she threw it into the trash can nearby. "Alas, I knew ye well."

When Icarus spoke up she looked at him and grinned her toothy smile at him. "Books are my JOB. C'mon. What kinda question is that, wing boy?" She hopped to her feet and nodded quickly. "Of course, I can help you. Oh and be careful with that contraption...it likes to shut suddenly and jam your fingers. See..." She held out her own fingers, some which was blue and purple bruises. "MOST of those are from that thing anyways. If it hurts you let me know and I'll give it a kick or two. Oh, and here's the key to open it." She fished into her shorts pocket and pulled out a small key, placing it on the counter.

"Mother Night then... Isn't that a depressing book? I never read it myself, but I heard it was from some customers. Anyways, let's see if we got it." She put her hands onto the counter and vaulted herself over it. When she landed on the other side she gave a loud laugh and raised her arms. "I should enter the Olympics." After she bowed she was off skimming the aisles of books, fingers dancing along the spines with her glasses at the tip of her nose.

As she searched she whistled a random tune. It echoed through the small shop, her body appearing and disappearing down aisles, whistle coming and going with her. Finally, after ten or so minutes she jumped to the counter and carefully put a stack of books onto the counter next to where Icarus was working on the register.

"Found it, along with other books by him. I figured you might enjoy looking at them. The book you wanted was the last one we had, probably been there for a while. You'd be amazed at how many books we have in such a small shop." She spread them out on the surface before leaned over the counter and stretching her neck to look at his work.

"Is it going to behave now?"

Zoe was awed at how fast Icarus had fixed the machines, in only a day! Then again it took only a day to destroy them too. "Wow, you're amazing! I wish I could pay you something, but I don't get paid until Friday." She propped her chin in the palm of her hand and shrugged when Icarus became excited.

"All in a day's work. It's always nice to see someone so excited about books these days. That's why I love working here, to see when someone's face lights up over a book. Nothing can ever replace good literature written down on paper." Her blue-green eyes sparkled as she watched him take a hold of the books. "Without the books, you look like a dork." She gave a laugh and stood up. "Take it as a compliment though. Girls love dorks."

When he began to walk his way to the door she gave a frown of disappointment. She had just been getting used to his company. Sure she had Ann and Stanly but they were always either doing business stuff or sleeping on the floor. "Oh...yeah...you too. Thanks again for fixing everything. Maybe sometime you can come back, I'm sure they may be having troubles. Specially if Stanly keeps tripping over the wires." A smile spread on her face and she walked behind the counter.

"Sure sure. Let's see." She punched in some numbers and hit a button. The register dinged and the drawer of money punched out of the machine like magic. Zoe clapped her hands, delighted at the ease of the machine. "Wow! You're amazing, Icarus! It's a shame you have to leave though. Promise me you'll come back and tell me about the books? I love talking to people about books. Maybe when you come back we'll be able to pay you."

Stanly arose from his slumber and lifted his brown and black head to look at Icarus, tired chocolate eyes studying the man before lifting off his feet and bumping his head into the man's leg, obviously wanting some affection. "I think Stanly would like it too."

After Icarus had left Zoe spent the rest of the day reading her book, and finishing before work let out. It made her proud to now say she had finished 100 books this year so far, now only 100 more to go to meet her goal.

She and Ann went out to eat for dinner after work to celebrate Zoe's birthday. A funny thing, working on your birthday, but Zoe considered it a privilege. She loved going to work, it helped the day pass by faster instead of waiting around at home for the time to come to go out and find some punk criminals.

After dinner Ann gave Zoe her birthday raise and a brand new journal, one that had gold leaf pages. It delight Zoe to no end. Nevertheless here she was now walking the dark streets alone with two guns holstered on her hips. She always told herself being a bounty hunter was a love hate relationship. There were times she loved the thrill of chasing after bad guys and doing justice. Other times she thought the cops should be doing it and not her, it was there LEGAL job after all.

With a sigh she walked into the bar where the man was supposed to be tonight and waited inside patiently, reading a new book a customer had suggested. It was an odd site, a punked out woman, sitting alone, reading a book, with drunk men surrounding her. When Rahid came in Zoe only glanced up and watched him gulp down beers and talk loudly. If she wasn't about to citizen arrest his a** she would have asked him to quiet down, she was reading after all.

Finally the man stood up, and she followed, book in the crook of her arm and glasses folded into her leather jacket. As the man walked out she called out to him. "Pardon me sir." Rahid made to turn to look at her but saw a man walking towards him. Zoe saw it was obvious that Rahid saw men as more of a threat than silly women. "Ummmm sir. I was just wondering..." Her blue eyes flashed as she heard Icarus's voice and her stomach dropped. Zoe stared at him with disbelief. It was all a ploy?! How in the hell did he know she had information? Had he helped them just to get information?

She felt sick all of a sudden and wobbled on her feet. Nearby she heard the howl of Stan before he came galloping up to her and standing at her side. His teeth bared out at the two men. "Stanly, heel boy." Stan continued to snarl angrily. "Are you going to ignore me?" She finally said, voice suddenly dark and dangerous. "Or do I have to demand your attention? Typically it's a turnoff for most women." For now she'd just pay attention to Rahid, she only hoped Icarus had a good excuse for being here, hopefully he was just lost.

Or maybe stalking her.

((OKAY READY GO >D))

"Uwagh..." Was the very thoughtful and worried phrase that Icarus voiced when this not Rahid deposited vomit all over his own shoes. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's... uh... not what I needed." He backed up a few steps and wrinkled his pointed nose. His gun he kept on this individual mostly because Zoe still had hers up and he'd be damned if he put his down first.

Tonight was not going well.

He hated when things got messy... metaphorically, but it seemed tonight it was both physically and all other elsewises messy. He had hoped to take care of the bounty before Zoe had gotten involved... but what was done was done and he was getting this bounty. Business was just that: business.

Icarus started a little at the appearance of Stan. He'd forgotten about that dog. He eyed it warily, and then looked to Zoe.

"Long time no see." He said in a voice that was guiltless in his crime.

He then returned his eyes onto this... very.. oddly... somehow very familiar man. Icarus strode forward and grabbed him loosely by the collar of his shirt, the barrel of his gun pressed to the maybe not so stranger's temple.

"Oy, oy, oy! Where the hell is Rahid? You stinkin' b*****d! Are you trying to get in my way?" He paused and then looked closely at his man. From the bar entrance a dark face peered out at the scene.

Icarus squinted at this stranger's sweaty face and wrinkled his nose at the smell. "... It's... I know you... Peter? Simon? Rider... Chad? Maybe it was..." He snapped his fingers and tapped his gun to his temple. "Maybe... You little RAT b*****d DON'T YOU RUN AWAY!"

And from the bar tore a dark little man who even in his own drunkeness... knew when the getting was good.

Icarus scowled and said to the many named stranger something about having sex with something very uncomfortable in his very rude way of saying a**s... and then tore off down the sidewalk after his target.

((...hahaha P: YAY!))

The drunken man squinted at Icarus for a moment, almost as if he were trying to look THROUGH him. As if that'd help. "Uhh," Was all he got out before the blonde man started rattling off names. It was making the poor man's head spin. "Um, yeah, uh... I-" Aaaand then he was cut off by Icarus shouting at ANOTHER guy who'd stumbled out of the bar.

"Terrence... Terry. Whatever." Terry muttered, looking a bit green again. The thought about what Icarus had just mentioned didn't help the matter. Sex and that certain crude word for a**s didn't fit well together in a sentence. He wrinkled his nose at his shoes. He'd liked those shoes.

It was only then that he seemed to realize that Zoe too was pointing guns at him, and he awkwardly put his hands up, half-unbuttoned sleeves of his leather jacket dangling in the dank breeze that filtered behind the bar. "Uh, hey, not doin' anything wrong." 'Cept maybe having four too many beers. Agh, why'd he even go out drinking again?

Oh yeah, he was bored. Back in town, knew no one, aaaaaaand that court marshall had been... Well it sucked. Yep.

So, back to topic. There was a wild-colored haired girl shouting, a dog barking, and WOAH WOOOOOAH. Hang on. "That's my bike. I dunno whose hel-helmet-" he paused for a moment to get sick again before finishing, "Whose helmet that is, but damn it woman that's my bik-oof."

Holy hell she was driving with him slung over the side of the bike THISISSODAMNDANGEROUSWHATTHEHELL?!

The bike screamed down the road and quickly caught up with the on-foot offender and chaser... And four legged chaser. Ooooh boy, Terry felt like he was gonna be sic- yep. There it is, on the road. That was probably most of the beer... Right? Yeah. Yeah, he hoped so.

Climbing off the bike, he made sure that it wasn't going to fall over (damn woman, didn't she know how expensive those were?!) before stumbling forward a bit and leaning against the wall. "I'm in the middle of some drama I don't want... So uhh." he smacked his lips a couple times thoughtfully, making a face at the bad taste in his mouth. "I'll just sit on the side and watch. Just uh, take care of this and uhh..." Yeah. That sounded good.

((Hahaha, jerks are nice. Anyways...he doesn't MEAN it.))

Zoe frowned at Icarus as he shouted, wincing slightly as he yelled. She hated when people yelled at her. Especially if it was her fault. "S...sorry." She said softly, still training her gun on their guy. "I was thinking...perhaps we can just split the money? I mean, after all, if I wasn't here he might have gotten way." She began, trying to think of way to make this whole thing turn out just dandy and no one to get into some sort of scuffle or verbal fight.

When Icarus ordered Stan to eat the man, Stan glanced up at Icarus and blinked, obviously not going to listen to a thing the man said unless Zoe agreed. Zoe watched absently and finally drew in closer to the man. "It's okay, your family can still visit you in jail. I did it often with my father. You even get to use a nice telephone and make faces at each other. The kids'll love it." She spoke kindly to him, usually playing nice got them to behave better, especially the less dangerous ones like Rahid. "If you just let us take you in than maybe you'll be let off a bit easier. Most of the time turning yourself in makes the judge feel your a bit mature, aside from the crime of course."

She put down one gun and took out a pair of handcuffs, opening them and holding them out. "Just give me your hands and it'll be fine, really." Stanly closed in towards the man, lips still pulled in a snarl. "Alright?" She gave a sweet smile that couldn't be seen under her...Terry's purple helmet. It WAS on his bike...perhaps he enjoyed purple, nothing wrong with that. Her smile was seen in her eyes though. "I'll protect you from the big bad tough guy though. I think he's a bit cranky is all. We all get that way. Also...the faster this goes, the faster we can get the drunk guy home and make him all better."

Zoe watched Icarus with confused eyes. Of course she wasn't okay in the head. Anyone in this field wasn't okay in the head. Sometimes though she just felt stupid for even bothering. "It works..." she began but was cut off by Icarus's rough talking. She stood where she was though suddenly felt like moving out of the way. "Aren't we all lying in the long run?" She tried to say, not even knowing what was coming out of her mouth anymore.

When he pushed her out of the way she jumped slightly and flung her arm away from him. His touch sent shivers up her spine. Her eyes narrowed and Stan stood by her. "You don't have to be so tough on him. Look at the guy, he's not gonna rip your heart out or anything." She said, a hurt tone in her voice. She wasn't used to having people there while she took down guys.

For a moment she seemed spaced out and turned her head away from him. "It's not a bad thing to see the good in people." She muttered softly, though mostly to herself. Finally when Icarus shoved Rahid onto the bike she glanced at him. "I was being nice, by the way, to avoid having anyone angry. I guess sometimes it doesn't work." She didn't speak angrily, her voice was more soft than anything. Carefully she climbed onto the back and gave the two men a look.

"Terrance? You said that was your name right? Make sure to barf on him for me. And when you get to the station I may just have something to help cure that disgusting drunkenness of your's. My grandma taught me a secret." She gave the man a wave and a grin before putting down the visor and making sure Rahid was secure in the back. "I'll leave Stan here." After she pat the dog on the head she revved the engine and took off down the street.

Stan gave the woman a last look before turning his head towards Icarus and trotting to the end of the road, back to the remaining men.

---lalaladrivinglalala---

After Zoe had carefully handed Rahid over to the cops, she sat outside on the curb with a few of the other cops who weren't dealing with filing and checking on the men in jail. "So why are we outside again?" One of them asked and Zoe gave a sweet smile.

"Because, every birthday, my mom used to say that you can see the last sliver of the moon change to the full moon and that the sky is beautiful and the starts are at their brightest." Zoe stretched out her arms and legs and laid against the cement sidewalk. All the men looked up at the sky in silence, enjoying the scene that only they could do when Zoe was there. Something about the young woman made them relax and at ease. As though she were there for that sole purpose.

"How's the fund coming?" A tall black cop asked as he leaned against the wall. "Your mom getting any better?"

"...I dunno...I don't want to know until I get all the money. If I knew I'd probably be angry all the time."

"How can you always be so happy then?"

"Because, Jay...what's the point of going through life angry? You miss so many things. Like that." Her tan hand pointed towards the sky just as the moon turned full. "Beautiful isn't it? If I were angry...then well...it'd deduct from it...Hey..."

The three men turned to look at her. "Have you heard of hunters working in groups?"

"Sure...why?"

"I met these guys...and they don't seem happy. I kind of want to help them out somehow. It's like...I dunno...I just feel responsible for them somehow. Is that silly?"

The men grinned and shrugged. "You want your cake now?" One asked and Zoe shook her head.

"Not yet. I want those guys to have some too. I'd feel left out if others didn't save cake for me. Anyways...Stan needs to be here too, and he's with them." She let out a heavy sigh and continued to watch the sky, arms and legs spread out. "It's a shame that some people never get to see the moon turn full." Her eyes searched the sky. A sense of silence and solitude came over the group as they all watched the stars. In the distance sounds of drunken men singing and cars squealing bounced off the quiet blanket.

Then a man started to laugh. Soon enough all the people on the curb were laughing. At absolutely nothing.

((Hahahaha I couldn't leave it so...serious...D: I needed some laughter. Haha. I'm still not sure what kind of character Zoe is. >>;; I suppose we'll find out sometime. So she'll be kinda like a roller coaster until I find something I like. Haha.))