ZRP-2: Chapter 4, Backtracking

Eve's cheek became stop signs. She didn't know what to say...but she managed a soft, shy, happy smile for Sam at the pleasant surprise.

Hibiki kept on grinning. "Oh. I'll win the war."

(James)
"Even if you do, it's going to cost you."
=We had more or less walked off beyond the hotel, and down towards the river=

(Sam)
"Well now, judging by the color of your face, I should stop now huh?"
=I grinned at her though=

"I'd rather you not stop. I'll even get on my hands and knees and beg you to not stop." Eve said, then bowed her head in embarrassment.

Hibiki laughed. "Cost me what?"

(James)
=I grinned at her=
"I don't know. Haven't thought that far ahead yet."

(Sam)
"I'm not sure Eve. Maybe we should stop while we're still friends. Wouldn't want to rush things."

Eve sighs. "No...no rushing...but at least a preview of what's to come?" She ventured softly, not looking up.

Hibiki laughed. "I have."

(Sam)
"Wasn't that preview enough?"
=Still, I smiled=

(James)
"Oh? and what exactly have you seen?"

"Nope. I'm a greedy little girl." Eve parried.

Hibiki smirked. "You're inevitable surrender."

(Sam)
"I remember hearing somewhere that greed will be the downfall of us all."
=Still, I figured I'd humor her, so I kissed her once more, but on the cheek=

(James)
"Please. You've always been the one that surrendered in the past."

Eve smiled. "Thanks..." She reached up, couldn't reach Sam's cheek, so she just rested her palm on Sam's stomach. "We can go back to taking it slow. Don't friendzone me just yet though, ok?"

Hibiki chuckled. "I like being on bottom. Doesn't mean I'm surrendering."

(James)
"Could have fooled me."

(Sam)
"Definitely not going to friendzone you Eve."

Hibiki playfully slapped James' shoulder. "Yeah, right."

Eve smiled. "Then I...believe...I know...it'll be ok."

(James)
=I held my shoulder in mock agony=
"You hit like a girl."

(Sam)
"And if not, well your mom can carve it out of my ass."

Eve shook her head. "It will be. I know it. Don't jinx it and don't let my mommy have a reason to hurt you. Besides. The only person who should see you naked in the future is me." She added the last part teasingly, but her face was red still. The cost of her joke was her being a bit embarrassed.

Hibiki punched James in the shoulder. hard. "And now?"

(Sam)
=That made me laugh=
"I think you'd die if you saw me naked."

(James)
"Now you hit like a woman."

Eve giggled shyly. "It would be worth it. It would be so worth it."

Hibiki yanked James back, judo-threw him over her shoulder, and slammed him into the ground, dropping onto his chest with fist poised to punch his face.
"And now, babe-chan?" She asked.

(James)
=Good god, was I surprised by that or what? I stared up at her, a stunned look on my face. It took me a few seconds, but then I arched a brow at her=
"So Hibiki, we're moving to foreplay in public now?"

(Sam)
"Eh, I don't know. Never had the most attractive of bodies."

Hibiki drove her fist down, stopping centimeters from James' nose, before leaning down and kissing him.
"If it means we can get to the fun faster, babe-chan."

Eve smiled. "You're perfect to me."

(James)
=I smiled into the kiss, glad to see this side of her. It was more fun=

(Sam)
=This time, it was my turn to blush=
"Thanks. First time anyone ever said that to me."

Hibiki finally pulled back, got up, and offered her hand to James.

Eve smiled a bit brighter. "You'll always be perfect to me. Ok?" Then she paused. "Well, you could lose a few pounds. You did land on my in the truck." She stuck her tongue out teasingly.

(Sam)
=Smiling at the memory, I figured I'd get a little...physical, with her. After all, she did call me fat. So, my hand quick as a cobra, I grabbed her tongue gently, pinching it lightly between my thumb and forefinger. It felt wet and warm, but somehow I didn't mind=
"Forgive me, but I believe you called me fat."

(James)
=I took her hand, and got to my feet=

Eve didn't move. She tried to speak, but it came out wrong. So she carefully nodded.

Hibiki kept holding James' hand. "What now?"

(James)
"Now? Now, we just go for a nice, quiet, relaxing walk."
=And with that, I led the way for the river, and the arch=

(Sam)
=Smiling, I tugged gently on the tongue and brought her face up to mine=
"You going to apologize for calling me fat?"

Eve nodded without hesitation.

Hibiki smiled. "I like that idea."

(Sam)
"Good."
=I let go of her tongue, then kissed her on the forehead=

(James)
=The walk was quiet, though I guess words weren't needed. After all, with her by my side, it was all I needed=

"I'm sorry." She said immediately as Sam kissed her head...and caused her to look away, embarrassed.

Hibiki was quiet as well.

(Sam)
"Thanks. But to be honest.....it wasn't that bad, feeling your tongue."
=Okay maybe I should have said holding but in all honesty, we were going to get to 'feeling' at some point=

(James)
=We arrived at the river soon, and I leaned against the railing=
"Ya know, zombies, raiders and shepherds aside....this makes for a very peaceful spot."

Eve blushed again.
She couldn't stop.
So, she held out her hands to Sam. "Is it ok to cuddle together for awhile? I promise to keep my hands in yours and not any where else."

Hibiki nodded. "Yeah...it's nice."

(Sam)
=My head hung low, the slap stinging on my cheek=
"Heh, as if. Anything you stick in there, you're going to lose."

=And then there was white hot pain in my thigh, as the fucker brought his knife down. It just missed the center of my leg, but god did it still hurt, and I yelled in pain=

*Raider*
"Try it, and I'll stick this knife right into your eye, and I'll do it slow."

(James)
=The last of our scouts had come back, at least the ones who didn't get caught with their pants down. We now had a good idea of which weak point to hit=
"Okay everyone, mount up! We're moving to hit their East barricade!"

--69 Hours Ago--

(Sam)
"I don't know Eve. Normally when we cuddle, you just go out like a light."
=Still, it was a tempting thought. And I did need to relax a little=

(James)
"Now if only we had a boat. We could just ride out the river, maybe get to the gulf, and find a nice island."

(Andrew)

=I nod, my expression grim=

Alright then...I'm through with them by damn sight.

=I yank back the charging handle on the HK 416=

Cause I'm about to get mideveal on their asses.

--69 Hours ago---

=I head in the direction of the cafeteria=

Well...best chance to get something in me...

=I smile, a bit of swagger in my step=

The Raider twirled the knife. "C'mon sweetie. Just tell me where the goodies are, and I'll let you run off to your sister."
Eve spat at him. "Go fuck yourself."
The Raider had her pinned to the bed before she could half blink. "I'd rather fuck you sweetie." He said knife pressed to her cheek. "How does that sound? Maybe I'll even let you see me fuck your sister."

Now, saying Eve was going to snap...was an understatement.


Hibiki flipped the safety off.
"I'm going first. No buts. No if's. Because every one of you bastards know the most dangerous thing ever to walk the face of the Earth is a mother who's child is threatened."
That's when she went Rambo and grabbed an M4.
She was gonna go in with two assault rifles, two pistols, and her sword.
The message?
DO NOT FUCK WITH HIBIKI'S DAUGHTER.

--69 Hours Earlier--
"I promise I won't go to sleep." Eve said. "Please? Just for a bit?"

Hibiki smiled. "We could have a little cottage...a small farm...Eve and Sam could help clean...could lounge outside while Eve plays in the surf...I like it...if only."

(Sam)
=Despite everything, I grinned in defiance=
"At least it means.....that I managed to make a woman out of you."

(James)
=I looked at Hibiki, a calm look on my face=
"I'm going in right next to you Hibiki. No if's and's or but's either. Sam is my friend, and Eve is my daughter. We go in together."

=The crowd of people behind us silently watched, though some of them were already getting in the bus and the tank. Others got in smaller vehicles. We were on our way to a siege=


--69 Hours Earlier--

(James)
"No if only. When this is all over, we do just that. Nice little island, a house, maybe a boat. I can teach our kid how to fish..."
=As nice as the idea sounded.....it just didn't seem possible=

(Sam)
=Giving in, I lay on the bed=
"Oh alright, if you insist."

(Andrew)

=I nod=

And I got your six.

=I flip off the safety=

Because I know when not to mess with a mother bear protecting her cub.

--69 hours earlier--

=I get to the hotel, making my way straight to the cafeteria=

If anything...they have good food

=I feel my stomach growl at the thought=

Eve lay still. She just glared up at the guy who currently was now groping her.
Fucker.
Was.
Gonna.
Die.

Of course, the hard slap disoriented her. Which meant he tied her hands to the bedposts. Before she could start kicking, her foot was tied. Another hard slap and the next foot.
Oh. Fuck. No.
Only Sam is ever going to touch me there. ONLY. HER.

As the bastard started to unbutton her jeans, she relaxed. Adopting a look of defeat, she went to work.
Jonah taught her well.

After her panties were displayed for the room (just this bastard) he climbed off the bed, set the knife on the table. She checked herself as she undid the second knot. Shirt ruined? Yep. Luckily, this time around, she had a tank top underneath - she felt it would help her stay a bit warmer when scouting.
And now, as the guy was facing away, looking for something, she sat up, and untied her feet fast enough to make Jonah proud. Throwing her torn-up T-Shirt off

Then, kicking her jeans off, she was off the bed. He turned just as she grabbed the knife.
With a yell, he charged her.

Eve let him...because she used the chair to gain enough height...to drive the knife into his throat.
His momentum threw her heavily onto the ground, where she panted as the raider yanked the knife out, letting blood start spurting. She felt the warm, red fluid of life spray on her.
Then fall as she crawled over...and collapsed.

Covered in blood, Eve stood shakily.
And threw up.
--69 hours earlier--

Eve wasted no time snuggling um, cuddling close, hands clasped in Sam's. She tucked her head under Sam's chin. "I'm happiest right here..."

Hibiki nodded. "Yeah..."

(Sam)
=He growled again at me, and this time stuck him thumb in my mouth, so far back to make me gag, the rest of his fingers gripping my cheek tightly. He pulled upwards, trying to make me look at him=

*Raider*
=Brandishing the knife=
"Say that again bitch."

(Sam)
=Instead of speaking, I did the one thing I could do: I bit down on the thumb, hard enough that I actually bit the fucking thing off. God, did that hurt my gums but I didn't care. Blood poured into my mouth, even as he screamed in pain, his grip lost. I spat out the thumb, and some blood, and then kicked up with my legs, kicking him away from me. He fell to the floor, clutching his thumb, and that gave me time to stand up (in an odd fashion I admit) though I was still tied to the chair. So while he squirmed on the floor, I shambled over to the wall and bashed the chair against it. The chair was made of wood, and it felt weak while I was sitting in it, and within three strikes it cracked and fell apart. My arms were still tied to the armrests, but that was fine, since I was more or less free. Bending down, I grabbed one of the now broken legs, and gripping it so hard my knuckles went white, I walked over to the screaming man. Not even bothering to get a good remark in, I caved his head in with the leg, beating him again and again and again, his skull collapsing with each blow. Blood squirted out, his eyes turned to jelly, and by the time I was done, his head was more or less a pancake on the floor. Every part of me shook with barely contained rage, bloodlust, and joy=
Now....who's going to rape who, I wonder?

--68 Hours Ago--

(James)
=I wasn't sure how long we stood there, but at some point I felt it was time to go back. So with her hand in mine, I led us back to the hotel=

(Sam)
=Smiling, I just closed my eyes=

The contents of her stomach gone, Eve shakily retrieved the knife and stumbled for her jeans. Somehow getting them on, she buttoned them and finally sipped up before falling onto the bed. She breathed deeply, once, twice, three times before getting back up.
Knife held at the ready, she knocked on the door. She stepped to the side.
It opened, and a man peeked in. She saw his gun in the holster.
She swung the knife hard, stabbing his stomach.
He managed to scream once before the knife was ripped out and slammed into his throat.
As he fell to his side, Eve grabbed the gun.
Full clip. Seemed to be ok.
Yanking the knife out of the dead man's throat, she cleaned it on his shirt and stepped outside carefully, gun held up.

--68 Hours earlier--

Eve nuzzled Sam's chest, closing her eyes. She didn't go to sleep.
She just enjoyed every second that was spent like this with the girl she loved.

Hibiki let James lead.
For once.

(James)
=We got back to the outside of the hotel, no real issues along the way. Cooper was waiting though, and it made me wonder if he was psychic or something=
"Cooper, what's up?"

*Cooper*
"James, we have....the foundations, for a plan."
=He walked over to us, standing with Hibiki and I in the street=

"We have an idea of where the raiders are holed up, but we need to scout the area first, find any weak points before we attack."

(James)
"So, scout the base first, seems simple enough. Haven't you guys done that already though? I would have thought that with these guys so close before, you would have had them scouted months ago."

*Cooper*
"They've never been this much of a threat before, so we saw no real need."
=He corrected himself=

"Sorry, Slate never saw the need. Now there is one."

--68 Hours beforehand--

(Sarah)

=I fade in and out of consciousness, the blood loss still affecting me=

Let's just hope I'm able to get moving again...

=I see a doctor come in, seeing as I was in no shape to move=

Doctor: How are you doing madam?

Apart from feeling weary and weak, I'm fine. Thank you, good doctor.

Doctor: You're welcome. =Gives me a curious look= That's good news. We're thinking about releasing you tomorrow.

=I perk up at the thought of that=

Doctor: Now...I'll need to know your name, madam. =Holds up a hand= Don't worry, it's just for administrative purposes.

=I blink a bit, trying to remember my cover name=

I'm...Sarah Morris.

=The doctor nods, satisfied that he'd finally finish filling out his paperwork=

Doctor: Thank you. You'll be let out tomorrow, not a moment sooner.

=I nod, laying my head back on the bed=

Thank the Lord...it held...thank the Lord...

Hibiki nodded. "We can get some scouts together. Eve is a good one, so we'll send her. Anyone else?" She asked.

Unable to contain herself, Eve softly kissed Sam's chest once, and only once. She then nuzzled some more and generally just was being affectionate.

(Allie)

I pop up from where ever the hell I was and raise my hand.

"I'm good at ranging and scouting.."

(James)
"Well, I doubt we'll be able to split them up now, so Eve and Sam will have to do. And I guess more will have to do."

*Cooper*
=He nodded=
"I have some people prepared for scouting duty. But we'll have to send them in tomorrow; the day of the attack, the raiders will no doubt be expecting this. And as for your people, they should rest before being sent out."

(James)
=I nodded my thanks to him, then to Ace=
"Okay, guess we can add you to the list. But like we already agreed, not today. Get some rest, clean your gun......and get ready."

(Sam)
=I blushed when she kissed my chest, and simply dug my chin into the crown of her head=

(Allie)

I hang my head low and stare at the ground. In the background it plays 'All by Myself'.

Eve felt just the slight dig of her chin and let out a soft sigh of relief.
Ok, she was doing ok so far!

Hibiki nodded. "We'll tell Sam and Eve next time we see them...from, ah, what has transpired, I believe ruining moments has been done enough for today. Right, babe?" She directed at James.

(James)
=I grinned a little=
"Hey, that was just once. And be honest, it was funny. And Ace, you okay?"

Hibiki glared a bit, then let it go.


Eve took a breath. "Permission to remove my hands from yours and hug you?" She said softly, teasing Sam as well as asking if she'd mind.

(Andrew)

=I just stand there in the hall, watching from a distance=

Well...that's not all that surprising...

=I keep my expression neutral, not hinting at my state of mind=

(Sam)
=I smiled, hesitant at first to actually say yes, just to tease her=

(James)
"Okay, so we rest for today, then send out the scouts tomorrow. As for Sam and Eve....well, I guess we'll have to hope they're up for scouting duty."

"They are. But they deserve uninterrupted time to work everything out James." Hibiki said.

Eve kinda became crestfallen. "Sorry I asked..."

(Sam)
"It's fine Eve. Go ahead."

(James)
"True, though it looks like they're getting things settled now."

(Andrew)
=I mime a yawn in the background=

Goodness knows we all need it...

=I once again feel my stomach growl in protest=

With a bright smile, Eve hugged Sam close.
"I l...lo..." She had to stop herself. "I'm glad...that we're still friends."

Hibiki nodded. "So. I want to rest."