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 Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:38 pm
Text to Ren OMG why, it's the HH again.
Everything ached. Her vision kept blurring and her arm was useless. And Jackdamnit she kept stumbling into the walls. No, not...yet. She had to get to him. Didn't want to be anywhere else but with Ren.
But Jack, did it hurt to move.
Ren...
LW panted, stumbling down the familiar hallway, having nearly given up on the stairs - cursed things! - but her desire to see Ren was stronger. She...she needed to feel safe. Needed to have the one person that was everything to her there.
There! Oh thank Jack! That was his door. The she-wolf attempted to open it, somehow missed and slammed into said door with a whine as her shoulder flared into white hot pain. "J-Jack...damn you..." She growled around the pain, trying for the door handle again.
"R-Ren." LW pathetically whined through the door. Oh skulls please let him be here! Please....
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:58 pm
Still recovering from his cold, Ren was still feeling relatively unsteady on his feet. The sickness had wiped him out strength-wise, and he had spent the past several days following the festival in bed, mostly sleeping it out (or, if Jove was in the room, having soup pushed down his throat). Today, however, marked one of the first days he had felt well enough to actually get out of bed for more than a few minutes, which was a relief since, despite his love of sleep, he really needed the exercise.
Except his day was somewhat marred by the fact the texts he received later that morning.
Ren stepped out of the adjoining bathroom to his room with a towel wrapped around his neck, damp hair curling around his neck. He squeezed a few droplets out of the golden strands, dripping onto his black dresshirt, and saw the screen of his skellyphone light up, buzzing atop of his dresser. Reaching it out, Ren picked it up and flipped it open, toweling his hair absently.
The towel dropped from his fingers abruptly.
OMG why, it's the HH again
Ren I need your help
Are these things going through?
REN!
Anger pulsated through him, thick and strong, and Ren snapped the phone shut with more force than necessary. Reeling in the temper, he set it carefully back down, finished drying his hair, hung the towel back up, and then sat down at his desk chair and waited, drumming his fingers absently on the desktop.
She had to come back. She had to.
If she didn't...
It was, perhaps, an hour later that he heard footsteps shuffling slowly down the hallway of the second floor of the Monster dorms. With a perpetually open door, it was easy to tell that whoever was making their way towards his room was not moving very fast, and Ren stood up, his nose catching the familiar scent of cinnamon drawing closer.
He caught her before she fell, the half-open door swinging wide, his arm around her waist.
"Need a little help?" Ren asked lightly, but there was no denying the underlying anger that vibrated beneath the calm.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:04 pm
Despite herself, LW laughed shakily at his first words. She was quite the pathetic sight and it was evidently clear she needed some help. But she'd suffered too much pain and it clouded her mind so she couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes...I do." She managed to get out.
And then buried her face into his chest, the fingers of her good arm curling tightly in his shirt.
She needed him. Needed to feel safe.
His scent surrounded her. Along with his warmth and his entire presence. "I'm sorry." She whispered, shivering and tilting her head enough to look up at him. He was acting too lightly for the anger she knew had to be boiling under his skin. "I...I tried...to get away..."
And of course, the hunter that she'd had to find had been Him. LW closed her eyes, teeth clenching as she saw Gale's face in her mind.
b*****d!
"It...it was Him, Ren." She whispered, feeling a sense of shame at returning to Ren in such a state.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:27 pm
He knew who she was talking about, of course. There was no need to ask. There was only one person before that had managed to get LW to this state, and Ren did not need any questions to figure out who.
"Mmm," he said noncommittally, and without another word, he slipped his other arm beneath her legs, the other under her back and shoulders and lifted her up into the air as easily as though she weighed nothing more than one of his feathers. Silently he carried her over to the bed and laid her down, uncaring that the blood from her side was getting onto his blankets.
"One sec," said Ren, and disappeared into the bathroom, tail flicking behind him and sliding out of sight. There was the sound of the water turning on, then a clatter, and a moment later he returned with a metal bowl full of water and a washcloth that he was dipping into the liquid. He came around to the other side of the bed and sat down on the edge, lifting the washcloth out, the sound of water plinking against the side of the bowl.
"So you went back to the Haunted House, hmm?" he said, and set the washcloth against her forehead, wiping away some of the sweat before moving to her side, pressing it against the injury there. "And you met little blonde shortie."
There was a sharpness to his words now, a bitter anger that was beginning to leak out despite his efforts to keep it under control.
"Did you do any damage to him?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:44 pm
Her head spun only a little when Ren suddenly picked her up. A soft noise of protest escaped as she didn't want to get blood on him. Or his bed. But as soon as she felt the soft covers and the mattress beneath her, LW didn't protest any longer.
"Wa- Ren!" LW tried to grab his hand, not wanting him to leave, but he disappeared into his bathroom and she just let her head thump against the pillow. It smelled like Ren and offered a world of comfort. Jack, why had that damn place come after her again? Why?
The she-wolf just watched her boilfriend quietly, eyes closing slightly when the cool clothing brushed against her forehead.
No, of course not! Was the sarcastic reply that wanted to escape. But instead, she nodded, opening her mouth to respond before hissing as her fists clenched. Oh she was going to kill that Jack damned hunter! Truly, she would!
"Apparently...we had a date we didn't know about there." LW got out in a growl, reaching out to rest a hand against his leg. The physical contact made some of the tension in her ease. "Yes. I did." She said, eyes meeting Ren's.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:20 pm
"Ah," said Ren, nodding his head a little as he mopped up some of the blood from LW's side. He felt her fingers against his leg and resisted the urge to make a movement himself; whether to grab them and hold them tight or move away, he wasn't sure which was his first instinct right now.
"A date. I see."
He knew, obviously, that she was trying to make light of the situation, but the anger was not ebbing away, and neither was the overwhelming sense of uselessness that seemed to eat him from the inside of his heart out. This was the second time that LW had gotten herself into the mess at the Haunted House, and the second time he had failed to offer her support when she had needed it the most.
Some boilfriend he was. Ren's fist clenched around the washcloth tighter than usual, and his voice was still hoarse from the lingering sickness as he said, "Good. At least you gave him a little reminder of who you are as well."
His voice still held the horrible stiffness of before, as though he were attempting to sound all right with the whole situation but clearly was not.
"How many times is this going to happen, hm? I'm starting to think you just attract trouble..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:50 pm
She swallowed around the lump forming in her throat. He...something was off. Ren was...holding back? No, not that. Trying to fight off some other feelings? Maybe. LW wasn't sure what it was, but his strange lack of anger - and skulls did she know there was anger - was making her feel uncomfortable. Like maybe she should have gone to the Infirmary first.
No. I...I made the right choice.
...right?
The she-wolf remained quiet, letting him clean her up, eyes watching him carefully. The air felt heavy, and she felt like she would have trouble breathing.
Violet eyes flashed as LW sat up, bringing their faces inches apart. She stared at Ren, something like confusion, fear, definite anger, and perhaps a bit of hurt. "Ren..." She said softly, catching the hand with the washcloth to force him to focus on her.
"I love you, dear heart."
She didn't know what else to say. And honestly had no desire to leave. She was in pain, yes. But it would heal. Like all her wounds healed. And her anger towards that hunter would burn stronger.
And her love for the gryphon before her? Unwavering and infinite.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:34 pm
He hated feeling like this, like there was something trying to crawl its way into his stomach and up his throat. A feeling of awful blackness, of a uselessness that had been planted from the day he had been born, slowly growing until there was no way of cutting it entirely away from him. His parents faces were always there, in spite of everything, in spite of him pushing it away, shoving it down into the very depths of his thoughts.
He would never be rid of them, or of this feeling, no matter how hard he tried.
Familiar fingers caught his, tighter than he would have expected LW to be since she was currently lacking in strength and in stamina. Ren didn't try to move his hand away, but he didn't hold hers back, wings fluttering in an almost anxious manner as they settled down against his back. He lifted his gaze, letting his eyes rest on hers, and he could hear the pain in her voice, hear the strong conviction that laced every word.
And yet he still could not shake this horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I know," said Ren quietly, his gaze flickering away to rest on the red that covered her side and part of her stomach. It stood out glaringly obvious against her pale skin, and the sight of it made him want to retch, filled him with an anger so deep it felt settled in his very bones.
"Does it hurt?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:02 pm
LW felt it deep in her aching body that something was upsetting Ren. Something in his own mind. A place she had tried to soothe but never managed to completely ease whatever haunted him. And Jack, she tried. With all her heart she did. And would continue to for as long as it took.
Ren...what happened?
He probably wouldn't tell her if she asked. But something told her, he probably didn't have the answer himself yet.
The lack of response...lack of affection he was showing struck at her. Made a different part of her ache. Staring in his eyes, she wanted to ask what was wrong. Wanted to tell him everything would be alright. Whatever he was feeling would pass. Was only a phase. But she couldn't bring herself to say it. Could only squeeze his hand gently before releasing it and cupping his cheek.
"A little. Nothing a hot shower won't cure." She tried for a light tone, but failed. "Ren?" LW paused, picking her words. Leaning forward, she placed a sweet kiss against his cheek before pulling back and giving him a tired smile. "I'll always be here. You remember that, turkey."
Something was wrong, that was for certain. But LW was not going to let her boilfriend - her fiance - fight it alone. "If...you don't mind, can I borrow your shower?" Jack she wanted to get the blood off her. Get His scent off her skin.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:28 pm
He wanted to say I love you too, but the words wouldn't come out. It was not as though he couldn't say it because it was untrue - there could be no denying that it was obviously very true, that he was still as in love with Little Wolf Tamaroc as he had ever been. At least he knew that, but even as Ren opened his mouth to say it back, to remind LW that he loved her, the words died in his throat, and he closed his mouth again.
Her hand on his cheek made the anger and the pain flare up, and Ren's eyes lowered, closing so that he would not have to look at her and be reminded of the guilt that raged through him so prominently. His own hand lifted, covering hers lightly, fingers curling ever so slightly over hers.
"Go take a shower," Ren told her, and stood up, reaching around to help her to her feet. For a moment, when she was in his arms again, he just stood there, one arm around her waist to hold her steady, the strong scent of cinnamon reaching his nose, and he allowed himself to lean closer, just briefly, to press his nose to her hair and inhale, lashes fluttering.
But then he let go carefully, and gestured towards the adjoining bathroom.
"Go shower," he said. "I'll change the sheets while you do."
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:06 pm
Her fingers curled with his briefly, that tiny smile slipping along her lips. LW didn't expect him to respond back. No, she knew he loved her just as she loved him. The important thing was that he understood she truly meant what she said.
Always here, dear heart.
She nodded her head, easing off the bed with Ren's assistance. Skulls! The she-wolf hated this. Hated seeming so...pathetic. Especially when her boilfriend was in need of...what? Surely not a bleeding werewolf! LW gritted her teeth, intending to step away and not get anymore blood on him, but his movements froze her.
Ren...
For that brief moment, LW let her head rest against his chest again, offering whatever silent comfort she could. It was too short. Much too short and for a few seconds, the she-wolf wasn't sure what to do. But Jack, she wanted the blood off her desperately. "I'll make it a quick one, I promise." A quick almost smile, and she darted into the bathroom, shutting the door quietly. Hopefully the water covered up the tears that began to slide down her cheeks.
Half an hour later, LW silently eased out of the bathroom with pants she'd left here on purpose on, a tank top and a 'borrowed' shirt. One that smelled like pumpkin spice. Her arm ached, and the most she could move was her fingers at the moment. But she felt...clean. Refreshed. And smelled like both herself and Ren.
Whom she padded quietly over behind and simply wrapped her arms around him as best she could, pressing her head against his back.
I love you.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:25 pm
Ren remained silent while LW was in the shower, moving around the room like a ghost and stripping the bed of its now scarlet stained sheets. He threw them across the room into the laundry basket and retrieved a fresh set from the closet, which he shook out over the bed. They were a dark blue, almost midnight, with little dots of a paler blue that almost matched the color of Jove's hair. Once he was finished, he smoothed his fingers over them, picking up one of his many foxfires and idly stroking his fingers over its soft, fluffy fur.
But then he set it back down and sighed, rubbing his brow. Everything seemed so off. A few days ago, he had been working at the Fright Night Festival, having a laugh with Jove and Tybalt and LW and Bells, watching his club grow and expand, and then he had gotten sick, and now...
...now what?
Ren was still trying to sort through his feelings when he heard footsteps padding towards him, and then LW leaning against his back. He hadn't even heard the shower turn off, but now he turned around slowly, catching sight of damp red hair and pale arms.
"Better?" he asked her quietly, and gently pushed a lock of hair away from her face. His other hand settled lightly on her waist, and Ren's eyes found hers, something flickering through them, unreadable and dark. He leaned forward, lips pressing against LW's in a kiss he hadn't meant to give, his fingers tightening slightly, wings fluttering against his back.
This isn't fair.
Life isn't fair.
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:24 am
"Much." LW murmured, looking up and giving Ren that sweet smile she specifically reserved for him. She couldn't quite understand what she saw in his gaze, but it didn't matter. As long as she could do something as simple as offer her presence to him as a sort of comfort, that would be good enough.
Had to be good enough.
She hadn't expected a kiss, not with how he was acting. But LW couldn't help but lean into him a little, savoring the kiss. Jackdamnit, but she needed it. Needed him. After fighting Gale....
But she couldn't burden Ren with that right now. Couldn't let on just how tormented she was at having to face Him again!
LW pulled Ren closer, not asking or demanding any answers. She merely held him, her good hand rubbing soothingly at his back.
"Ren, love. Do you...want me to leave?" It was hard to ask that question, so very hard. But if he needed time to himself, she would give it to him. Of course, she selfishly wanted him to say no too. The last thing the she-wolf wanted right now was to be alone. I can always go stay with Tybalt. Or Jove. Maybe Mei and Fell?
The she-wolf shivered slightly, leaning closer and just wanting to chase all the things tormenting Ren away.
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:49 pm
She smelled like cinnamon and vanilla, and for a brief moment, Ren let himself be lost in it, his fingers digging into LW's uninjured hip, his other hand pressing forcibly into her back, holding her close. She felt so fragile in his arms, so easily broken, so easily tainted.
The anger flared through him again, and the kiss turned almost aggressive, frustration seeping into his veins, self-loathing and bitterness rising in his throat. He resisted both urges that rose to push LW away and draw her closer simultaneously.
But then she made the choice for him and pulled away, her hand against his back, and Ren gave a low growl, his eyes flickering skyward, tracing the lines of the ceiling. Somewhere in the general vicinity of the dresser, he could hear the soft snuffling sounds of Rhys and the three young ones as they made their beds in one of the unused drawers.
"Do you want me to leave?"
Yes and no was the correct answer to that question, with both answers being right and neither answers being right. Ren closed his eyes briefly and inhaled, then exhaled slowly, his teeth clicking together.
"No," he said finally, and let go of LW to step towards his closet, pulling off his dress shirt in exchange for a plain black teeshirt and his slacks for a pair of grey sweats. "No, you can stay."
Moving aside a few foxfires, Ren moved towards the bed and climbed in, settling himself down in the multitude of pillows and blankets before reaching out and wrapping his fingers around LW's wrist.
"Sleep. It'll do you good."
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:56 pm
A soft sound escaped at the forcefulness of his hand pressing against her back. She was sore, Jackdamnit! But she didn't care. LW would do anything for Ren. Anything. She pressed closer to him, fingers curling in the fabric of his shirt as his kiss grew rough.
It broke her heart to see him like this. To know something was wrong but have no idea as to what.
What was a little more pain, anyways? He needed her, even if he wouldn't say it. LW just buried her face into his chest for a moment, inhaling his scent and offering whatever comfort she could.
I love you with all my heart.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she waited for his answer. She feared it would be 'yes', and it would hurt a little, but she knew her boilfriend. He'd never mean it in that sense. And really, LW knew the only reason she was beginning to feel as if her breathing was difficult and prayed to the Moon he'd want her to stay was because she'd battled Gale.
"No. No, you can stay."
LW closed her eyes as he stepped away, letting out a slow exhale of breath. Something in her mind settled when he didn't shut her completely out. "Thank you." She murmured.
Fingers encircled her wrist and her eyes opened to regard Ren. She didn't respond or move right away, just looking him over. But then she crawled carefully onto the bed, settling beside him. Twisting, she put her hand on his cheeks and forced him to meet her eyes, that tired yet sweet smile forming. Leaning in she kissed him gently and lovingly, whispering, "I love you," against his lips before curling up with a heavy sigh.
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