ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

Later...

I walk to my door and open it, without noticing I forgot to lock it when I left. I kinda slouch my way to the sofa and slump down on it.

Not hungry, good on water. No need to survive on a day to day basis. What else do you normally do?

(James)
"Eve!"
=It didn't change anything, calling after her. Damn, but I'd talk with her in a moment. First though, I had to speak with Sam. So I walked into the room=

"Scared her away again huh?"

(Sam)
"Don't start with me James, okay. Don't. Start. I've tried to be patient, I've tried to make her understand. But it's like butting heads with a brickwall. I love her to death, and one day I hope to be all she deserves, but not today. Not fucking now. NOT WHEN I WAS IN A HAIRSBREADTH OF BEING RAPED IN THE FACE!!!!!!"

(James)
=I let her scream. She needed to let it out=
"Sam, I get that. Really, I do. But cut her some slack, she's still figuring this all out. She's learning the ups and downs, the do's and don'ts. It doesn't excuse her, but it should at least lessen the flack you're giving her."

(Sam)
"I don't want to give her any flack! I wish she would leave me alone until I was better, so she wasn't in the fucking crosshairs! But she won't!"
=I was breathing hard now, my throat sore from the yelling=

(Sarah)

=I put a finger to my chin, pretending to ponder=

That reaction...that was just priceless...

=I then come with an idea, just to get a slight bit of enjoyment=

I think he should just watch, cause he doesn't deserve it.

=I stick my tongue out at Andrew playfully=

He'll have to work for it.

(Andrew)

=My face falls, my expression crestfallen=

Aww...and I was looking forward to it too...

=I resist the urge to just butt in=

"It's not like she wasn't in such danger."
Hibiki had just gotten back from the meeting. "Remmber when I took Eve to the hospifal? She told me what happened. The thing is, she spoke so calmly about being tied up. Her pants unbuttoned, and nearly raped if the guy hadn't forgotten something. Her panties were on display. If he hadn't turned to find something..."
Hibiki sighed. "You each are coping differently. Her's involves you. But you don't want xyz so she's screwed. She doesn't know how to find a new way to cope, so if what I heard was correct, she'll lock herself away for your sake."
Hibiki set Sam's stuff beside her. "Dunno if she'll unlock the door or not, so I guess enjoy your free time. I just came to grab my knife before I went to help them set up."
Hibiki went for the door. "If you need a shower, you can use some of my stuff. All nice scents." She added kindly.

Mira chuckled, then went back to kissing Sarah.

Uh, MP3 player? When was the last time you listened to music? Forever.

I stand up slowishly and head to my room. I look around briefly, noticing I haven't even unpacked yet. Everything is just the way it was when I got here.

"First order of business..."

I take off my hat and set it on the dresser. Then grab my pocket knife, a couple spare bullets, sunglasses, my gloves and toss them inside of the hat.
My dad had always done this. Threw all his misc stuff in his hat. Though I doubt he would have spare pistol bullets. Heh.

(Sam)
=I was calm enough that's managed to shoot her a grateful look, then slumped back down into the chair=

(James)
=I followed Hibiki out, closed the door, and turned to face her=
"Hibiki....I saw him. He was here, in the hotel. Ran into him on the third floor and....well, he pulled a gun on me and we talked."

Hibiki, qho was already frowning at Sam's reaction, went ashen.
"Are you ok? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
She hugged James tightly.

(James)
=I hugged back, though I was sure my face still had the same grave look=
"Other than a slightly bruised wrist, I'm fine. But.....I know who the Pariah is now. It's Mikey. It's my brother."

(Andrew)

=To say I felt a bit hurt would be a correct statement=

Blocked...by my own sister...can't hurt anymore than that...

=I find a chair and sit down, my mood somewhat deflated from earlier=

(Sarah)

=I return the kiss from Miranda, my mood lifted tremendously=

Still...so totally worth seeing his reaction...

=My mind was filled with pleasant thoughts=

Hibiki hugged him tighter, unsure of what to say.

Mira broke the kiss off. "That was totally worth it." She said, cracking up.

(James)
"Guess it had to happen at some point though right? I mean, the family reunion and everything."
=My breath came out in shaking gasps=

"He.....he doesn't intend on taking any prisoners. It's like Eve said. And I think he's going to be coming for you, and Eve. I mean, he killed my family last time."

"He'll be dead before he ever touches my daughter again. He'll be in pieces."
Hibimi's ashen face now wore one of rage. "I will personally fillete him."

Eve had turned on the shower, not bothering to undress.
She just wanted to cover up her tears.

(James)
=I gripped her shoulders and pushed her away, holding her at arms length so I could look her right in the eye=
"No. No, if anyone is going to kill him, it's me. He's my brother, that makes him my responsibility."

(Sarah)

=I nod, laughing as well=

Yeah...It was totally worth it.

=I imitate the look on his face, and laugh again=

That look on his face was priceless...

(Andrew)

=I look to the both of them, putting two and two together=

Wait...oh maaaaaaaaan...

=I face palm, now realizing I'd been had=

Mira cracked up even more.
"Oh god Sarah. That was amazing. Both his reaction and the kissing. We should do this more. Maybe he should be around more."

Hibiki frowned. "Its my responsibility to be with you."

(James)
"It's my responsibility to protect you, and Eve. The best way I can do that, is by killing him. Besides, he and I have a score to settle."

"Then next time, gut him." Hibiki said.

Eve looked down at herself.
She only saw herself, drenched.
Drenched in her own stupidity.

(James)
"I'll do my best."
=I went back to hugging her, mostly just to calm myself. Just talking about him got my blood boiling, my heart racing, and the need to kill something stirred up inside me=

"Go help Cooper. I need to either get Eve, or ask Sam if she'll go get her soon."
Hibiki smiled.

(James)
"If you recall, Cooper doesn't really have any use for me. His last words to me were to make my own goals, or something like that. Anyway, I need to speak with Eve. Talk with Sam if you have to, or go check the fortifications. If I were you, start with the river, that's where Mikey came in from."

"James. I'm too biased. Please do it for me."
She left to set up defenses.

(James)
"Huh?"
=I didn't really know what it was she meant. But I went with what I said, and waited outside the door of Eve's room. I knocked on the door, loud enough that she should hear it.....unless she was in the shower. The thought of an emotionally fragile Eve, alone in the shower sent a chill down my spine=

"Eve? Eve open up, it's me. It's dad."

Eve couldn't hear over the water or through both doors.

Hibiki set off to find Cooper.

(James)
=I still stood there, knocking on the door, now banging on it and raising my voice a little=
"Eve?!"

Eve looked up. She thought she heard something.
She just looked back down at the floor of the tub, crying.

(Sarah)

=I nod, looking at Andrew with a childish grin=

I agree.

=I then looked back at Miranda=

We should do this more often.

=I giggle childishly as Andrew groaned=

(James)
=I was sure I'd regretting later, but in the end I settled for breaking into the room. I didn't kick the door down, though I came damn close. See, all the doors here had those electronic locks, with the key cards. But those were disabled since the cards were lost, so the only lock was the chain thing. I forced the door open, tearing the chain off and the first thing I heard was the rush of water. A shower then. At first, my cheeks heated up since I knew I'd be walking in on Eve while she was naked. But embarrassment gave way to anxiety and fear, since I knew she was upset. So I went to the bathroom door and called her name=
"Eve, it's dad. I'm sorry for breaking in like this....but I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Eve looked up.
"Hi daddy." She kinda said, but it probably sounded garbled as she was still crying and the water.
She looked back down. She didn't say anything more.

(James)
=Turning around, I pressed my back to the wall beside the door and slid down so I was sitting on the floor=
"You okay Eve?"

=Kind of a stupid question, considering what happened a few seconds ago=

"No." Eve said.
She sat there still, still not caring her clothes were sopping wet.

(James)
"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No." She said again.
She looked at her shirt. She could see her bra now.
Eve looked up.
She just was silent.

(James)
"Okay. We can talk about something else. Just....please talk to me Eve. You have me worried."

"Why do I keep screwing up?" She asked.

(James)
=I thought carefully about my next words. They would impact her in the future, of that I was sure=
"Because you're human Eve. And humans make mistakes. I've made plenty in life, so you have nothing to feel ashamed of. Mistakes are just as good as our successes, some days at least. They're the lessons in life that we learn from."

"But do you screw up ninrty percent of what you do, because you only know how to be an emotionless, lying bitch?"

(James)
"Eve, listen to me. You are not an emotionless bitch. Yeah....you've lied in the past but you made up for those lies. But I know you Eve. You're kind, warm, and very emotional."
=Just to lighten the mood=

"Okay, maybe too emotional at times. But still, very emotional."

"Not respectful enough." Eve shot back.

(James)
"Eve, despite all your training, mental disciplining.....everything you've seen and done.....you're still just a kid. You still have a lot to learn, especially about people, and how they react to things. And with Sam.....ask yourself, when was the last time you had any real emotional attachment for someone who was violated? Or close to it?"

"Never. Mommy wasn't...I had made sure..."
She sniffed. "I don't know how to act."

(James)
"Well now you do Eve. Now you know that in these situations, you give people their space. But if you're the opposite, if you need someone......then come to me. Or your mom. We're always here for you Eve. Because we love you."

Eve turned off the shower and stood up.
She then registered...
"Daddy...can you get me some clothes?"

(James)
=The barest hint of a smile graced my lips=
"Of course baby."

=I found her bag on the bed, some dry clothes inside. Then I walked to the door, clothes in hand and said=
"My eyes are closed. Open the door and I'll hand them to you."

"I'm dressed daddy."
She opened the door to reveal her...soaking wet clothes.
"Thanks daddy."

(James)
=Handing her the clothes with a grin, I take a step back from the door=
"Anytime kiddo. Now get dressed, we're going out on a little father/daughter walk."

Hanging the wetnones up, Eve steps out.
"Ok..."
Then she held her arms out to James...the same way little kids show they want to be picked up.

(James)
=I chuckled a little, and reached down to pick her up, groaning a little for dramatic effect=
"Geez Eve, cut back on the cupcakes would ya? Kidding."

"More candy then." She said back, putting her arms around James' neck and resting against his shoulder. She was luckily, just a bit smaller then average due to malnourishment.
She snuggled. "Where are we going daddy?"

(James)
"Well, first we're going for a stroll around town. While we're doing that.....I'm going to tell you a story."
=And then I walked out of the room, my daughter in my arms=

"It starts two years ago, in the world that was. I was a different guy then. Not a survivor, or a fighter. Not a killer....I had a life, a regular life. Family, friends. A future. But there someone, the black sheep of the family, that ruined everything."

Eve listened quietly.
Not that she had anything to say.