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 Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:10 am
Ding Dong. Ding Dong
The crisp musical tones of the doorbell filled Azzo's house far earlier in the morning then anyone should have ringing doorbells. Usually that sort of thing was a bad sign. Mysterious phonecalls or doorbells between midnight and 4am usually were bearers of bad news, but in this case it was just impatience. She'd almost not rang it at all, and just snuck/broke in, but after what she had done.... well.. Aurora wasn't entirely certain that Azzo wouldn't be mad at her. So he deserved the polite curtesy.
The sun had not quite yet risen, just the tiniest glow of it apparent on the horizon and Aurora stood solemnly out on the doorstep, a large bowl with heat rising from it in her hands. Her clothing was decidedly simple, having not bothered with any of the jewlery or makeup she usually took care to apply. Even her hair was for the most part down, an ocean of ivory hair flowing down her back and framing her shoulders. It had been a mixture of useless fingers and caring more about getting to him fast then looking presentable. Speaking of useless fingers, her two frostbitten fingers were delicately wrapped with skin tone colored gauze, subtle as if attempting to keep them from being noticed. Her toes were as well, but they were also carefully tucked from sight inside loose slipper-like shoes.
The bowl in her hand contained a meal she had literally slapped together the moment she'd returned from the star Polaris to her cozy apartment. It was nothing to fancy or special. A homemade chicken noodle soup that was so heavy on the chunks of seasoned chicken and tiny spiraling noodles that it was almost a pasta as opposed to the soup.
She'd been incredibly selfish running off like she had, leaving Azzo when he was in so much worse shape they she was. He'd better be okay and not have done anything stupid. Aurora had barely been at the door for seconds and already she was wondering how long she should wait before finding a way in. If he didn't answer soon she was going in, assuming he'd passed out from blood loss or done something incredibly stupid.
Which could make things very awkward if in his anger he was attempting to ignore her or even worse had another girl there. It couldn't be those though right? Not after all those letters.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:34 am
Azzo had stumbled to the door, he sounded a little irritated. Suddenly a dog yelped and more loud noises from Azzo, "Damnit Merlin. I didn't know you were there. You don't normally lay in front of the door."
He opened the door about to ask what in a grumpy manner. He had a headache and probably looked pretty bad since he hadn't bothered to change clothes or do much else. Bandaids littered his neck as he stopped seeing it was Aurora.
He straightened up and let her in. "Oh, so there you are." It sounded in a curious tone. Once she was in he closed the door and staggered his way back to the couch. "Sorry Merlin decided to be a dumb butt and sleep in front of the door for who knows what reason." He was blaming the dog on how long it took him to answer.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:59 am
Her guilt about abandoning him for her homeworld temper tantrum was only tripled as he answered the door looking well.. an absolute mess. Weary, sore, grumpy, and.. whatever the hell had happened to his neck. It was all enough to make Aurora's eyes widen, quickly slipping in through the door so it could close behind her.
"Wha... what did you do to your neck?" The question was a little shriller their she'd meant, a mixture of concern and curiousity.
"I'm sorry. I mean." Dumping the bowl off on the nearest table she could find, she drew nearer to him, trying to look him over even as she gained a soft and apologetic sinking of her shoulders.
"I'm really sorry that I didn't answer my phone...." Her voice had quieted down a bit, soft and somber.
"How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do to help?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:08 am
"I had a cat patch me up since I couldn't get a hold of you and I wasn't going to the hospital." He answered, "Last thing I need is shots for rabies, good thing they have a human form... After all I didn't know who else to call."
He sighed and flipped the channel as sponge bob came on the tv. Making a small face at the show and its theme song. "I think I feel about as bad as I look, which is probably like s**t." He answered stretching a bit before sitting on the couch and shifting trying to get comfortable.
He was looking at her fingers with a mild interest. "What'd you do?" Obviously noticing the bandages on them. Brow lofted as he looked back at her, "You were at your home world weren't you?" He had his worries about that, ever since it was mentioned Ares wanted to take them all to space. He knew how cold it was on even in her castle.
He sighed seeming to think about the question of what could she do to help. "When's the lease on your apartment up?" He asked watching her curiously.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:22 am
She cringed a little visably as he answered her. Not that she blamed him, she certainly deserved that little cut. It was lucky that one of the cats was able to help him.. Zirconia probably? Aurora thought back to how close the two had seemed during that summer camp stay. Whoever it had been, they hadn't done the best job, but they'd done more then Aurora had, so she quessed she should have been thankful for it.
Tucking away her wounded expression she doned her concerned on once more, making her way over to the couch, where she crouched before looking him over again. "Are you tired? Would you like a better blanket and pillow?"
"Huh...?" She looked at her fingers mildly, cursing him silently for his observant nature and then she lied. "Yes I was on Polaris. I'm sorry... It's just a small cut though. Nothing important." Attempting to brush the attention away from herself and back onto him, she fussed softly.
"What about some soup? Are you hungry? I can try to find you some painkillers if you like." Not that he likely had anything here good enough to do much of anything. But it was the thought that counted.
His question startled her from her attempts to care for him, a confused look touching her. "Huh..? My apartment? I need to renew by the end of next month if I want to stay for another year." Which.. why wouldn't she? August marked a year of having the cozy little place to herself.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:29 am
"It probably needs to be changed again." He said after few moments of silence. He chuckled, "Yeah but I haven't been able to sleep. I guess I'm too tired to sleep too." He rolled his shoulders, slightly.
He looked at her as if he didn't believe her, "How long were you up there?" He had a feeling he knew the answer to that, but he wasn't about to believe that it was a small cut. He did take her hand and kissed her knuckles softly. "You sure it's a cut?"
He seemed to be relaxing a little bit since she was here, something to take his mind off the pain. "Soup sounds good, I'm not sure there's anything for pain. Or if it is, it's probably expired." He was thinking back to when his ribs were hurt and the time he broke his arm. "Best to just let it hurt."
He nodded, considering. "...Aurora what if I asked if you wanted to move into Gram's old room?" He looked at her, "You're over here as much as over there and it'd save you money."
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:54 am
"That's not going to feel very good." It almost sounded like she was apologizing already, knowing full well that yanking bandaids off of already inflamed and tender skin was pretty likely to draw blood and searing pain. "It probably needs to be done though."
When he lifted her hand with his skepticism she half expected him to try and peek beneath the bandaging. "It's fine, it's nothing serious. I've got far worse aches and pains from fighting." Aurora smiled lightly trying to make a joke, but she'd never been particularly good at them.
"I went up there as soon as I got home last night. And I was there until... about an hour or two ago." It was just over 24 hours. At least half of which had been spent asleep. She'd stayed longer once in the past, actually he'd come with her that time. But that had been a far more cozy experience, filled with fires, blankets, and even a tiny bit of snuggling. Well.. until she'd had visions/memories of a far less decent sort of snuggling and had gotten so embarrassed and flustered that they'd parted and went to their own seperate beds.
"How about we get some soup in your belly first. And then we'll see about those bandaids before you try to lie down again." Hopefully after warm food he'd be feeling a little more sleepy. And if not maybe being tucked under a blanket with her stroking his hair or massaging his feet would do the trick.
Standing up, she brushed as her skirt tiredly, preparing to leave and go get him food when he'd spoken up, looking at her intently. "Move in...?"
The words sounded strange coming out of her mouth. "You want me to move in with you? Alone..?" The implications were beginning to spark up in her head. Two young adults.. living together.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:03 pm
Azoo shrugged, "It doesn't feel very good to start with, but it was better than letting it get infected." He pointed out again. "I can stand a little bandaid abuse. Nothing like having a tiger attack you." He was using Hygiea's words.
He shook his head, "You got frost bitten... you should've known better than to stay up there that long alone. What if you'd gotten hypothermia? I'd have to shake down every cat around to find someone that could go get you." He sighed a bit looking flustered or disappointed, though it was probably hard to tell which with the sorts of tired he felt.
He nodded, soup sounded good. "Yeah, I've been eating snack bars and stuff 'cause I haven't felt like trying to operate a mircowave or burn something on the stove." He yawned a bit.
He sighed, "Aurora there's three bed rooms in this house. It's not like we'd be sleeping together. Besides we're not alone there's Merlin." He pointed out. She was trying to make it awkward when he was being serious. "Besides Ares has bounty on both our heads."
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:42 pm
Alright, soup and then bandaids. He was right, he probably had been through a lot more pain in the past couple of years. Heck.. even before becoming a knight he'd gotten into a lot of trouble.
She seemed to shrink a little as he chided her, her frostbitten fingers tucking softly into her fists. She didn't argue about his words, so it was as good as confirming them. And his worries were valid and true. Aurora had no words to fight them, simply taking another ounce of guilt onto the growing bundle in her stomach. "I wasn't thinking... I'm sorry." She was slowly catching up to him in the number of apologies she'd uttered, and was likely to overtake how many times he'd written the word to her over those 24 hours.
Still feeling scolded and reprimanded she didn't shook her head a little, her only 'fight' visable through thoughtful words. "No I know we wouldn't be.. you know.. sharing a room or anything."
"But who else would know that? How would it look to everyone else? A couple living together out of wedlock?" She sounded like someone from out of the 50's.
"What about my dad?" She stressed softly, casting her eyes away. "You know money isn't an object for me.. so that's a moot point. And I can't tell him that my life is in danger."
"Maybe.. maybe I can say something about wanting to try and live on my own and act like the adult that I am but... That's an easier pill to swallow then me moving in with a boy." Sighing softly, she waved her hand a moment. "Let me get you your food."
Dissapearing for a couple minutes she returned with a large bowl full of soup on a tray with a spoon and some napkins, setting it on his lap before she sat down on the floor next to him, awaiting the words that would surely come.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:56 pm
Azzo paused, "They can mind their own business." He answered probably sounding a little more grumpy than he meant it to be. "Its our life doesn't matter what anyone else thinks." He continued.
He paused, the mention of fathers seemed to send a chill down his back. "Oh right...... I still haven't met him." He muttered, looking over to Aurora, "Does he know?"
Not something that Azzo was looking forward to in the least but if it had to be dealt with. He watched as she returned with soup, poking at it lightly with the spoon to see how hot it was.
"I mean there's only so many half truths you can tell." He took a bite of noodles and chewed on them waiting to speak again until after he'd swallowed them. "Eventually he'll have to find out about us and if he wants to come for a visit what would you tell him then? Or would you want me to stay in a hotel until he left?"
The soup was pretty good he paused and looked at her, "When was the last time you ate?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:38 pm
Aurora frowned lightly, a little less inclined to just 'not care' about her image. It was important to do your best in life and live life like a good role model. It always had been to her. It was why she was so diligent with her school work back in Crystal Academy. And why she cared so much about what she looked like before she left the house. And why she tried to be polite even when people were really bothering her. Image and reputation was an important thing. Would living with her boyfriend come back and bite her in the a** when she graduated and tried to get a job as a teacher? It certainly didn't set a good example for the kids...
But then... The threat of Ares wasn't one to take lightly. Even if all she wanted to do was keep an eye on making sure that the monster didn't get it's claws on Azzo.... it seemed a pretty big argument in favor for moving in.
"Does he know what..? That we're dating?" For the briefest of moments he received a look that equated to 'Are you kidding me?'. But it was a look that quickly faded when she recalled Azzo's relationship with his own father.
"Yes Papa knows we're dating. I talk to him atleast once a week, usually more. I told him all about your anniversary gift." In truth her father was probably getting tired of all of the talk about Azzo considering most of what she could talk to her father about included him, how school was going, and what the weather was like or what fundraiser or fun city event had gone on lately. She couldn't help it though, considering she'd given up most of her social life for senshi duties instead.
Papa had always seemed fairly weary about the relationship.. in the way fathers usually were with their baby girls. Even the president of the united states would have received a weary eye if he were dating her. But Aurora and her relationship had up until now always been so innocent. She could already hear his protests. They were just about as loud as Azzo's argument.
"I just don't know Azzo... What you're saying makes sense but... it's a really important decision." Aurora signed tiredly, shifting a little before she leaned her head back against the couch. It was an awfully heavy and important topic. Not really what she was hoping for after a night of equally heavy thoughts.
"I ate while I was making you food." In truth she'd scarfed down a handful of chicken and a few carrots in a terribly unladylike fashion to silence her grumbling stomach. "I'll get myself a bowl of soup though once you lay down. Someone needs to babysit Merlin so you can get a few peaceful hours of sleep."
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:38 pm
He sighed, lightly as he ate. It was like she didn't even know what he'd put up with for all of his life. Having caught the look of if he was kidding her. Eventually running a hand through his hair. He'd left it unwrapped but had clearly been cut, he just hadn't been using it where she could see it clear enough until now.
"Well we have a month..." He said eventually, "Considering the state of the city no one would probably blame you for moving into a 'safer' area since you're out here alone." He was pointing out most of the time in town where she was, normally was were most of the activity got attention and the fact he was living out here, it wasn't out of the city but in a better to do neighborhood that it didn't get a lot of attention.
"Hah peaceful." He muttered, "It'll likely be a few days still before I can get any sleep without that sob haunting my nightmares." He muttered, leaving alone the death that he'd caused for favor of Ares. Truth was she did worry him more, and while he felt guilty about what'd happened to the captain; Ares was still alive and a real threat.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:04 pm
There was an open wound on his hand that she noticed when he moved, glancing at it mildly. She assumed he'd gotten it during the battle, having yet seen the mirror massacre. Maybe when he'd fallen asleep she'd check him over a little more closely and patch up anything she could.
She knew she'd messed up again from his reaction, and she leaned a little, letting her head rest lightly against his leg. Aurora knew he was right.. knew that with Ares after the two of them they were best to stick together. Things had gotten so much more complicated since she'd been given this new power. Her arms looped loosely around his leg too, as she thought out loud. "I might be able to convince him that way. That it'd be safer live somewhere that someone can keep an eye one me. I can probably make up some story about crime spiking in the area or something and being scared..."
Really she was kind of scared.. But it wasn't of crime. Or even really for her own well being so much. It was something much more along the lines of losing Azzo. What if she lost him.. and then had no place to go other then come back to the house that belonged to him and screamed of his tastes and possessions. Maybe that was just the reason TO move in. To steal every last moment they could together on the chance that the unspeakable happen to one of them. It was a thought that made her throat tight, threatening to bring forth the tears she thought she had completely drained herself of the night before.
"Do I get to decorate some of the rooms at least?" She was trying to lighten the mood a little.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:48 pm
Azzo nodded, "Yeah, it wouldn't be hard to find that crime's spike pretty much everywhere in the city itself." He admitted almost sorely. There was too much going on, "I hardly doubt anyone looking for teachers would blame a single girl moving in with someone they felt safer with in these times."
He paused, "Not that you need protecting from a silly mugger." He smiled. Before shifting a little, the bowl was kind of heavy despite the fact he was eating most of the contents away.
"You can decorate whatever you want." He answered looking around, besides some of the furniture and a few pictures here and there, the house was kind of void of all the life his grams had put into it. "We can take a trip to a flea market if you want and see if we can find some old metal pieces to decorate with. Then if you ever needed it, they could double as weapons." He was trying to joke with it, smiling a little.
Merlin had finally came over and laid his head in Aurora's lap. "If you want... maybe we can get you some sort of pet? If it helps. I'm sure Merlin would be behaved with just about anything." He took a moment to stifle a yawn before finishing off the noodles and chasing a piece of unruly chicken around the bowl.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:04 pm
Papa would still likely be unhappy with the decision, would still probably fight it in some way. But in the end he'd relent, he always did. It just made good logical sense. Even if he insisted that she should move in with a girl instead.. Aurora could easily argue that a boy could better protect her against a threat. And like Azzo had said, she had a month to convince him.
"I tend to nicely beat up muggers and leave them outside the police station." She mused playfully, uncertain if he knew about her recreational superheroing outside the usual youma.
She'd expected a few rooms, but the free reign was enough to bring a bright smile to her face, a little excitement bubbling up. A whole house to decorate. Even if she was of course going to be polite and not gut the place of Azzo's things. It still was kind of magical. Maybe she didn't think 'playing house' was the right thing to do. But.. once they'd went over the moral hurdle of it.. she was probably going to enjoy the details of it.
"That sounds good. We can find a few things. Let me settle in before we see about adding another mouth to feed though."
Noticing the scrap of the spoon against the bowl, she shifted a little, patting Merlin's head lightly. "Are you done? I bet Merlin would like the rest of the broth and we can go see about those bandages."
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