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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 3:52:47 GMT
"I can't risk someone else getting hurt," "Besides, you've a family to worry about. Don't concern yourself with a stranger, because I can guarantee you'll be gambling with more than you think with them."
Charlie tilted his head as curiosity got the best of him in response to her first statement. Someone else? Who had gotten hurt. A breath left him as he listened, for he knew that she spoke the truth. He had to put his family first, but it was against his nature to leave the girl alone.
"C'mon, Blackie! I know you're hiding out here somewhere!"
Just as he was about to speak, he heard the voice and he stepped forward. Pulling out something from his pocket,waved his hand to get her attention. Once he had it he laid something on the ground where he was. Inside a crumpled envelope was a little bit of money as well as a note. His gaze lifted to hers and he put a finger to his lips before he started towards where the voice came from. If she wouldn't come stay with him, he could at least buy her some time and an escape.
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 3:56:48 GMT
At the movement, her head whipped around to him, watching in confusion as he laid down the note, her gaze snapping to him. Seeing him move away, she quickly shook her head. "No," she hissed sharply, voice hardly a whisper, reaching forward and grabbing his arm. "Don't. It isn't worth it. You're in bad enough shape as is."
"Why don't you make it easy for all of us and let one of us take the cash, eh? Someone's been looking for ya!"
She flinched a little at the voice, but her gaze remained even on him.
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 4:09:17 GMT
"No," "Don't. It isn't worth it. You're in bad enough shape as is."
Charlie looked back at her when he was stopped, eyes searching her face. Yes he had just come from a meeting, but he had long since gottne past the aftermath that tit did to his body.
"Why don't you make it easy for all of us and let one of us take the cash, eh? Someone's been looking for ya!"
He shook his head as he gently removed her hand from his arm. "Either come with me or I distract them."
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 4:19:01 GMT
"Either come with me or I distract them."
Risk a life or risk a life. Take it in her hands or leave it in theirs. Her muscles quivered as he pulled her hand away. What should she do? What could she do? Her jaw clenched, the voice on the street carrying on. Should she stay, should she go? On the inside she shook at the indecision. She couldn't take the envelope and run-- it went against all she tried to be outside of work. She couldn't endanger another life-- she tried to keep the peace outside of work. But now, she had to pick the lesser of the poisons.
"Tch." She stepped back, pulling the cloth up and picked up the envelope, handing it back to him, her expression shadowed. "Lead the way," she said quietly.
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 4:30:54 GMT
"Lead the way."
Charlie nodded and immediately grabbed her hand before he pulled her to his side. Exhaling he walked forward, out of the alley they were in. "Relax. " he murmured just as they reached the entrance. There was only one exit that he was willing to take at the moment. Once they were back on the street, he put an arm around her to rest a hand on her shoulder. He looked forward as they walked, straight for the middle of street.
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 4:36:36 GMT
When he pulled her to him, she let him, shutting herself down to autopilot as she kept her internal war at bay with herself. Her steps fell into line with his with ease.
"Relax."
She swallowed hard, though she wrapped an arm around his waist to blend a little more with him, listening as the voice continued to carry on. She caught a slur, and it allowed her to relax a little more to know that their senses weren't going to be sharp. She stole a look towards them, seeing their back turned towards her, and with a little less tension, Tae faced forward again.
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 4:44:08 GMT
Charlie flinched, not because where her arm was pressing hurt. No it was the simple fact that it was his back. It only reminded him of what he was doing, even if he no longer knew what it was sometimes. It took every effort in his body not to ever show anyone around him his scars. She only ever saw them, she only knew they were there. His gaze steeled a moment as they walked, breath even until they were far enough away from the ones she was hiding from. He turned onto a street and led her to a small house.
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 4:47:32 GMT
Once she felt the danger melt away, Tae pulled away from him a little, avoiding his gaze. Every instinct in her screamed at her to just run, but as she saw the house, she knew she had made her choice and now would have to accept the consequences, whether they arrive sooner or later. However, something was bugging him. "Why are you helping me?"
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 4:57:38 GMT
"Why are you helping me?"
"I want to. You're hurt and alone, and I know all too well that that is like. "His gaze traveled to her as she pulled away and his hand dropped to his side. "Sorry, I should've asked before making you uncomfortable. Oh and be wary of some yelling when you walk in the door" Exhaling he walked forward, making sure to stand straighter as he walked in the door, for he knew if he wasn't prepared he would most likely fall down. As soon as a foot landed inside he felt a small creature jump at his torso from out of nowhere. Instinctively two arms cradled the lithe body.
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 5:00:58 GMT
"I want to. You're hurt and alone, and I know all too well that that is like. Sorry, I should've asked before making you uncomfortable. Oh and be wary of some yelling when you walk in the door"
Tae watched him, wondering how someone like him could know. Then again, this day and age, anyone could know. As he stepped through the door, she watched as a blur seemed to leap from nowhere and into his arms, taking a small step back, her face still covered by her mask and hood as she coiled to run, though a moment later, the tension lessened. She was overreacting.
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 5:31:06 GMT
"Mom he's home!" the ten year old girl yelled at the top of her lungs, two arms going around his neck.
A younger boy peeked out from around the corner before walking up to the older male, amrs enveloping his leg.
Nina appeared from where she was and she walked over. Welcome home Darling."
"Thank you Raina, I needed to be woken up." He ruffled the girls hair before meeting Nina's gaze. He smiled slightly at the greeting before putting an arm around her. Leaning forward he kissed her cheek. "We have a guest .
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 5:37:20 GMT
"Mom he's home!"
Hearing the little girl, Tae's throat tightened, her hand coming up and grasping the fabric as she looked down, her eyes finding the boy, and she froze. How could she impose on this man's life? Endanger his family? She should've run when she could, and with that knowledge, she took a small step back. Her thoughts shifted sharply in a direction she wasn't ready to go, and her fingers tightened their entanglement on the fabric.
"Welcome home Darling."
"Thank you Raina, I needed to be woken up. We have a guest."
She swallowed hard, pulling the mask down around her neck, still lingering just on the edge of the light, and it took another moment before she could muster up the strength and nerve to look up towards them.
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 5:48:08 GMT
All three of them pulled away to look at the girl, each with different thoughts.
After a few seconds Raina smiled when no one else spoke and she held her hand out. "I'm Raina. That peewee there is Geoffry."
He tugged on Charlies pant leg. "What's a peewee?" he asked as Nina scolded Raina in the background for the name.
"Don't pay attention to her, you're not a peewee. "Charlie sighed, turning to the guest. "Sorry, they're not always like this. "
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Post by Dresden on Jul 19, 2015 5:53:43 GMT
Feeling the weight of their gazes, Tae shied away just a little. However, when the little girl spoke, she was taken aback.
"I'm Raina. That peewee there is Geoffry."
"What's a peewee?"
"Don't pay attention to her, you're not a peewee. Sorry, they're not always like this. "
At first, her mouth worked but no sound comes out, and it snapped shut. After another beat, she offered a small and uneasy smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you Raina and Geoffry," she said quietly, green eyes thoughtful and conflicted all at once.
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Post by Ridge on Jul 19, 2015 6:00:53 GMT
"It's a pleasure to meet you Raina and Geoffry,"
Raina smiled at her devilishly before running back inside.
"Raina don't run in the house!" Nina snapped before she turned to them. "I apologize, I wasn't expecting company. " she shot a questioning gaze at Charlie.
"Its just for a little while. She's one of my patients and it was easier to treat her here. We're short on beds at the hospital. "
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