Janan-‘anqā:
It had been difficult to get a hold of them. In theory, it should have been even more difficult to get them out of the house, but Gida always took a nap in the afternoon, so it was no problem for Ana to slip out of the house unnoticed with the pair of small scissors that Gida kept in her sewing kit. To a cat, they weren't terribly small, but they would serve the purpose she needed them for. She'd been careful testing on one of the screens at home. Just one cut, it didn't make that bad of a hole. Point was, it worked. It would take time to cut a hole big enough for Hook to get out of, but she would be able to do it.
Ana was sad that she'd managed to pull this off between meeting him and the next day. It meant this would be the last time she'd see him, unless something went wrong. Not that she really thought it would.

She moved to the neighbor's house and hopped up onto the windowsill, careful with her borrowed tool.

Hook:
Much to his word, Hook sat in the window, legs still outstretched. He looked much like he had the day before. Except maybe more frustrated. He had expected to be long gone but clearly it hadn't gone quite as he had intended. Though that meant he was here to see her now. For the first time today, he smiled, leaning his head against the screen.

"Hello there, beautiful." He greeted, purring softly as he watched the golden haired beauty take a seat upon the windowsill.

Janan-‘anqā:
Ana smiled and stood on the windowsill, rather than sitting down. Her hand pressed palm-flat against the screen.
"I brought a gift for you," she said as she looked down at him. The scissors were at her side, held in her hand but hidden by a fold in her skirt.

She felt... bittersweet. She was getting to help someone, a friend. And therein lay the rub. He was her friend, or at least she hoped he could be. Have been. But she had found a way to help him get free. If she had been selfish, she might have figured the solution out and put it off, made up excuses as to why she couldn't help him. But Ana was far from it, and as much as it would hurt to see him gone, she wasn't about to make him suffer for it.

Hook:
"Is that so, lovely?" He asked, cocking his head and looking at her curiously. He was thankful for the first time that he hadn't left. He was glad he got to see those sky blue eyes that resided in that pretty little face again.

"I'd wager a guess but it would be wrong with this pesky screen in the way." He teased offering her a wink. He wanted to touch her, his hand reached out and touched the palm of her own.

Janan-‘anqā:
"Perhaps it's two gifts, then," Ana replied and held up the scissors. They shown in the sunlight and she continued to smile at him as she slipped them into two of the holes in the screen and cut the wire between them with a small snapping sound.
Her eyes had been on the work, but as soon as the wire snapped, she looked up at him again, eyes shining through her lashes.

Hook:
She lifted up the scissors and when they sparkled his ears perked. He cocked his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Well well look what she had done. He found himself beaming at her with pride.

"That a girl." He admonished, eyes watching her as she cut the screen. Once the first cut was in, he placed his hook in the tear to help add leverage.

Janan-‘anqā:
She brushed her hand against the hook briefly, finding the cool metal unusual, but not in an off-putting way. Emboldened by his praise, Ana continued to work, cutting the screen bit by bit. Soon the hole was large enough to put a hand through. Well, hers at least. Hook had such a large hand, she wasn't sure if he'd be able to do so, not without risking hurting himself on the broken screen. She put the scissors down for the moment.

"I can take the claw-guards off," she said and reached one hand through the wires.

Hook:
Her hand brushed against the hook and how he wished he could have felt the warmth of her hand and not just the pressure against the hook for a moment in time. He watched her work on the screen, realizing the screen was probably not a very easy material to cut through. Her little hand squeezed through, and his hand reached out to examine it. His escape wasn't worth her injuring herself. Thankfully short of a few minor scratches she was fine. He held his hand out to let her take the caps off his fingers. They made him feel like he'd stuck his finger tips in hot wax and the wax has cooled, creating its own case.

"Careful now, don't hurt yourself love." He warned. Once she got the caps off he'd be able to use his claws and help her slice through the screen.

Janan-‘anqā:
Her fingers curled a little when Hook finally took her hand. Being touched, held by a human was nothing compared to the feeling she gained from that simple contact. It took an effort to bring her thoughts back to the task at hand and make quick work of the caps.

"There," she said, feeling accomplished before she carefully drew her hand back. Not enough careful enough, though, for she hissed softly when a stray wire scratched her arm more than just a little. It was dark red and angry when she looked at it, but no blood. That was a relief.

Hook:
She pulled back and he heard her hiss. His brows furrowing, he frowned. Holding up his hands, he noted that they were there.. His claws in all their glory. He used his paw, pushing in the hole she had created, using hook and claw to widen the hole. It didn't take too long, and then one good tug of the hook cut it open like scissors on wrapping paper.
He squeezed out, careful not to scratch himself. Though instead of taking off like one might assume he'd do with his newfound freedom.. He dug into his pocket, pulling out a white handkerchief. He held out his hand, his eyes meeting hers.
"Come on, blondie. I won't hurt you." He winked. He was good at small cuts and wounds, it was how he had survived on his own so long. She wasn't bleeding, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to help care for it. He'd thank her once he was sure she was okay.

Janan-‘anqā:
Ana felt pride well in her as she watched him rend the hole in the screen until he was able to slip out. He was free and she had helped make that happen. Only, he wasn't leaving. He was just standing on the windowsill with her, digging in his pockets.

When he essentially told her to come to him, she stepped forward without a second thought, a small frown on her face as she put her hand in his.
"I wouldn't have helped you if I thought you would," she replied, looking up at him and tilting her head slightly. Did he mean to help her arm? Why? It was only a scratch. There wasn't really anything to be done about it anyway.

Hook:
He took her hand oh so gently, rotating it in his hands as he looked at the scratch. Thankfully it didn't look too bad, but that didn't stop him. He wrapped the white clotch around the wound, rather like a bandage.
"Clean that when you get home." He directed, looking up at her as he tied the ends of the handkerchief together.
"That will at least do for now."

He smiled at her, leaping from the window sill, hands touching the grass beneath it. Grass made everything better, and he resisted the urge to rub his cheek in it, thankful to be free.
He waited down below, looking up at her with a grin on his face. He was free... He was free because of her..

Janan-‘anqā:
She smiled and shook her head a little at his treatment. Really, as much as she was innocent and didn't have the claws to strike with, she wasn't a wilting flower. Shouldn't the fact that she'd stolen scissors, vandalized a house, and helped a strange cat escape show that she was stronger than she seemed?

He seemed to relish the feel of the grass and that sight alone made all of this worth it. She'd helped him and she would never regret that.
Picking up the scissors, she followed him off the sill, her skirt fluttering around her calves as she did so.
"I'm glad I could help." It seemed an insignificant statement to say the least, but true nonetheless. She should head home now that her task was complete. She didn't want to be missing when Gida awoke, any more than she wanted to be over here should his own- former owners see what had happened.
And yet, Ana couldn't find the will to make herself move away. Or even say goodbye.

Hook:
When she leapt down, he wrapped his arms around her waist, swinging her around, her skirts billowing and shimmering around her. He was so thankful she had helped him. He didn't know how to repay her, but he supposed showing his appreciation was a start.

"Thank you, love. I'm not sure how long I'd have been held without my consent without you. You're a hero." He purred, a smile on his features. He sat her back down, smiling as he did so. She was so soft in his arms. Much like he would have dreamt she would be. This was all worth it, being caught in that wretched place.. Because he got to spend time with the little tart.

Janan-‘anqā:
Ana gasped in surprise when he picked her up and spun her around. The moment he grabbed her, the scissors fell from her hand and both went to his shoulders to give her purchase. The world was spinning in a bright, colorful wheel and she couldn't help but laugh.
"You're welcome," she replied when he set her back down. Her hands slipped down from his shoulders, down his arms. One fell back to her side, but it was as if the other was stuck to his coat just above his elbow. She didn't seem to want to let go.

"I'm just happy I was able to help you."

Hook:
"I've decided.." He said, his voice soft as he looked down at her. Her hand on his arm felt nice, and he was rather happy to let her keep it there. The hook raised up, gently brushing her cheek before moving a strand of blonde hair from her eyes. Moving it as gingerly and softly as he would have his own hand.

"I'm going to stay... around. I can't tell you exactly where I'll be. I have to move, as you know." Mostly to keep from getting caught, but he was going to risk it if he had to. He didn't want to leave her completely, not yet. To lose the way those eye slooked at him would have been a tragedy.
"I'll visit you, in cover of darkness to not give old silver hair over there any ideas." He said pointing to the home that he had just come from.

"If you want." He hadn't asked her opinion on it, he had more decided for himself. But he hoped she would want to see him. The idea of leaving her brought a pang to his stomach he wasn't particularly fond of.

Janan-‘anqā:
Her eyes widened as spoke, then her brows drew into a small, confused frown. He was going to stay? So he could see her? Yes! Oh, please, yes. She didn't want him to leave just yet, she wanted to truly make a friend, to spend time with someone she could talk to instead of having to pretend when Gida talked to her.
But then he mentioned the people who had tried to own him and Ana found herself shaking her head.

"No, no you can't. I mean, you shouldn't stay. You could get caught again," she said, her fingers closing on a fold of his sleeve. She wanted more time with him, but not at that level of risk. She didn't want to see him trapped again all because he was staying around for her.

Hook:
His voice still soft, he continued to look at her. A smile spread across his face, a small one and oh so slowly.
"Is that a no?" He asked, "Or are you trying to think about my well-being?" He would go if she wanted him to. Truly didn't want him around anymore. He would have been confused and considerably hurt by it but he'd do it.

"Because if you are worried about me, stop." He had lived awhile now being free. Had it not been for that trap in the woodlands he'd have been fine. The suburbs actually offered a lot of cover, and one usually didn't find traps like that out in the suburbs either.

Janan-‘anqā:
"I am worried about you, I would be worried about you if you stayed. There's so many people, and I'm pretty sure there's a man that comes around to keep an eye out for strays." She'd never met a stray cat before, but she did remember the stray dog that had been prowling around one day some time ago. For that one day, she was glad she was an indoor cat for the most part. It hadn't looked terribly friendly.

"I'm not sure I could stand it if you got caught again because you stayed just to see me." And why he would want to do that at all was beyond her. Yes, they got along and didn't have troubles talking with one another, but that didn't seem like reason enough for him to go out of his way to continue seeing her.

Hook:
"Don't be." He said, again. He hadn't really ever had anyone worried for him. He wasn't used to it, and he almost felt guilty. If she was going to worry maybe he shouldn't come by.. Worry wasn't good for the health of anyone.

"I'm feeling a lot of resistance, Ana, I'm afraid I'm getting mixed signals." He teased. He winked at her, his hook brushing against her cheek once more.

"Say the word, and I'll leave, I swear.. But if there's any bit of you that wants me to stay... I wanna know." He said, a small smirk on his features. He may have been a pirate, a ruthless, arrogant a*****e.. But he was also a hopeless romantic if he was honest with himself.

Janan-‘anqā:
Her slipper made a soft pat against the ground when she stomped her foot in the grass. Stubborn indeed! The pair of them! There wasn't any winning in this. She was just going to worry that someone would catch him if he stayed and he wasn't going to go unless she told him she never wanted to see him again.
And she couldn't do that. She wasn't much of a liar.

"Of course I want you to stay! I really would like to have you as a friend, and I've heard that long-distance relationships of any kind just don't work out." If he wouldn't listen to reason... Ana uncurled her fingers and smacked his upper arm. Not hard at all, really, but the action itself clearly said how frustrated, and torn, she was. "But won't the risk of getting caught again be higher if you stay?"

Hook:
She said she wanted him to stay and he released the breath he had been holding. Thank heavens for that.
"Was beginning to wonder there. You sure know how to leave a man guessing, love." He chuckled, relishing the look of her stomping her foot like an errant child. It was adorable,
He laughed when she smacked his arm, a smile growing on his face. He supposed he ran the risk, but he ran the risk of that anywhere.

"You can't be perfectly safe anywhere love. I was caught in the woodlands before." His smile gave way to a smaller grin.
"If someone wants to catch me, it won't matter where I am. But rest assured... I don't intend to be caught again." Which was absolutely true.. He'd sooner eat the hand off the offending human than go behind four walls he couldn't leave once more.

Janan-‘anqā:
Ana sighed and her head dipped in defeat. She held it there for a moment before her brows tilted down and she glared up at him through long, blonde lashes.
"This is the second time. Are you ever going to let me win, or is this how it's always going to be when we disagree?" she asked, referring to when he insisted that if she got him out he would owe her a debt. She hadn't been able to convince him otherwise then, either.

Of course, he was right. She supposed she was being a little irrational. She wondered if there was any place safe for a stray cat.
"You said you wanted to visit at night?"

Hook:
He gazed down at her, his blue eyes genuine as he nodded. "Oh probably." He answered, a chuckle escaping his throat. He was about as stubborn as it got, and he liked getting his own way. Though he was only being stubborn, because he didn't want to stop seeing her.

"Not only do I owe you a debt, but I also cannot see myself leaving you alone." That was at least honest. It was probably too forward really, but he never really had given a damn about that before.
"Yes. The evening. Easier to hide in the shadows, and most people are asleep." He grinned.
"Think you can wait up for me?"

Janan-‘anqā:
The tip of Ana's tail curled, her ears twitching at his words. He couldn't leave her alone? She didn't understand that, but wasn't going to question him about it.
She bent down to retrieve the scissors. Now she really needed to head back.
"It shouldn't be a problem. I can nap while Gida watches her soaps," she replied and straightened back up, holding the scissors at her side.

"I need to go back inside now and put these back. And you should go." It was a stupid thought, she shouldn't do it, and yet she still found her hand moving, fingers bushing against his. "Be safe?"

Hook:
When she said she could wait up for him, his smile grew again. He hated to part with her, but frankly he wanted to get a hunt in before it got too late. He had refused the kibble they'd had for days, and he was beginning to feel the hunger of it.

"Of course, milady." He said, hand grasping hers for the briefest of moments. "Till we meet again." He said, with a bow of his head. She had laughed him off from walking her home before, and so he wouldn't offer this time. He also didn't want to wake up her sleeping human.