ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

(Sam)
=I let the hug go on for a full minute, despite my body wanting to put some distance between me and Eve. I ignored it though, actually hugging her tighter=

(James)
"Good."
=I then picked her up, my hands gripping below her waist as I held her close, lips crashing into hers, and then carried her back to the room. But the whole time, one things went through my head=

Good god, she's heavier than Eve.


--Shepherd encampment--

=The messenger was sent back. Well, his head was anyway, with a sticky note attached=

I don't take orders from you shit for brains.

xoxoxo
--Pariah

Eve, when the hug got tighter, tightened her grip ever so slightly.
She didn't say anything, just happy Sam forgave her.

Hibiki kissed right back.
She was going to enjoy this.

(Sam)
=Eventually, I let go, and then sat on the bed=
"I'm probably going to sleep. But Eve.....grab your own bed. Or if you must, bunk with me but take the pillows and blankets from your bed and put them between us."

(James)
=I backed int the door, forcing it open and then quickly closing it as I pressed Hibiki against it, kissing her again while I gripped her legs. Maybe I was wrong, but this was probably what they called angry sex. That or a damn good way of relieving sexual tension=

Shepherd Encampment, Unknown Location...

=Many stood out of Abernathy's way. The man was mad, and no one wanted to get in Abernathy's way. They knew his reputation and they stayed their distance. Meanwhile, Abernathy's raised voice could be heard=

Abernathy: That insolent little prick! He sends me this...this TROPHY!?!?

=He brushes a map off of a table in sudden violence=

Abernathy: If this is the case...then I want that woman shot on sight!

=Abernathy's voice carries after his tirade ends, but still no one dared venture near his tent. They were worried that their head might be next=

(Pariah)
=He chuckled at Abernathy's rage, whistling a tune as he walked away from the tent, the headless corpse leaving a bloody pool behind him=

Eve looked at Sam...then gathered her things and arranged a barrier between them.
"Thank you." She said softly, tucking herself in.
She faced Sam though...longing to again snuggle against her.

Hibiki kissed back, already trying to drop her pants but was having trouble getting past James' arms.

"Ahhh man, what time is it?"

I close the drawer and go to the curtains on the other side of the room. I had managed to get a room with a decent window.
Not many people wanted the 13th floor, everyone wanted to be higher. I'm fine where I'm at though, still a good view.

"Ugh. Dusty as hell."

I push them aside which sends two years worth of dust everywhere. I can't help but to cough some of it up.

(James)
=Okay folks, this is probably where the camera fades to black, or maybe pans to some direction to go through the door, or floor, or ceiling. But this wasn't the movies, and hey you are watching, right? I managed to unbuckle her pants so they could drop though I never once left her mouth=

(Sam)
=Secretly, I kinda welcomed her setting up the little wall. Made me feel like I could sleep safely tonight=
"Night Eve."

"Night Sam..."
Eve waited a moment...
"Sam? I'm scared...scared he'll come back and you won't be the one outside when I'm in the bathroom."
She sniffed. "I know you want to be alone...but please Sam...don't let me be alone."

Once her pants were down, Hibiki decided to just drop everything...and then the camera in your head is cut off, because of silly rules as well as this thing regarding GO FIND YOUR OWN PORN.

(Sam)
=I was just now getting out of my pants, my own underwear barely showing under the hem of my shirt, when I sat back down o the bed, pulling up the blanket=
"I promise you, I won't leave you alone Eve."

Eve opened her eyes when she felt Sam sit on the bed.
She slowly held out her hand.
"Promise?"

(Sam)
=I reached behind me, found her hand, and squeezed=
"Promise."

=Then I got under the covers, pressed against the wall, and closed my eyes. I don't think I let to of her hand though=

Eve was serious about giving Sam her space.
But hey
She didn't let go.
So Eve snuggled against the wall, her arm and hand the only part of her over the blankets and pillow she had put there.
And she was fine with that.

"Ahhh *wheeze* sick."

It takes me a minute to finish coughing up somebody else's remains. When I do I rub eyes and take a look outside.
The sky is black, cloudless and filled with stars. With the moon a cresant, glowing brightly through the window.
If only my everything didn't hurt and ache. (My head especially.) I'd really rather enjoy it then sleep, but my body beckons for sleep.

"Such a waste."

I murmur to myself as I take off my boots, then my coat. I hang that in the closet and leave the shoes on the floor.
Then I open the window and jump into the bed. Might as well enjoy the air at least. And before I know it, I'm sound asleep.

Joining the Shephards wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. However, as time went on, I felt a familiar feeling coming over me. It didn’t come often, but when it did, nothing good came of it. So my time with the Shrephards, regardless of its brevity, would not be one I would remember. It would become repressed, like the nightmares I would have as a kid.

Sometimes, pretense sets the bar.

Time meant nothing to me, as the darkness crept into my soul, days would pass, filled with training, or low-level missions, and I would notice none of it yet remember all of it. I grew distant from people. I stopped talking to Sapphira, even though we were together for numerous missions. We had a high success rate, together. We made a good team. That’s how I rationalized it.

One night, it began to snow, I was out with Sapphira on patrol, looking for anyone who might be useful. Or rather, anyone that our superiors would turn into a zombie. We found a few scavengers, people digging through an old gas station off of a highway. There were trees and foliage on both sides of the highway, a good place to hide things. Things like dead bodies, or loot. She spotted them first: They had a car out front that they left on as they loaded stuff into it. Boxes and crates of food, I guessed.

After she spotted them we moved from the road into the surrounding brush. We’d come up on the buildings backside, and evaluate the situation. My stomach growled. We both stopped in our tracks, she turned and looked at me, I returned her gaze, and we continued. I hadn’t eaten in a while, so naturally, I was hungry. I remember the details of the building nearly perfectly. From the smell of the interior, the smell of old wood-dust and disturbed dust. The feel of the wood beneath my feet. That place was the first time I legitimately killed another human being.

(Sam)
=Even as I tried to sleep, I felt her hand still wrapped around mine. And I smiled, eyes closed, welcoming the soft sensation. I may not have wanted to snuggle with her for hours.......but you can bet I was more than willing to hold her hand=


--Shepherd Encampment, West of St. Louis--

(Pariah)
=After making sure Abernathy got the message, the Pariah got on the radio, contacting the other groups. In the past few days, he had been busy, contacting districts and their leaders, calling for forces to be mobilized. From the North came the Chicago chapter, recruits a little green but experienced enough to do damage. From the South came the Memphis chapter, and the West brought those in Kansas City. While not exactly numbering in the hundreds, the overall force was just under eighty, enough to take on one little compound=

Eve's hand was soft, and it also was small. It reminded Sam how small and vulnerable she was, how scared of the Pariah.
How much she just needed someone to be there for her.

(Sam)
=It was strange, the dream I had. At first, it was like a nightmare, with a black, faceless entity chasing me, a knife in hand and laughter emanating from it. I was cornered, and thought for sure I'd die. But then there was a soft warmth in my hand, I looked down and saw Eve, with all her hair and looking healthy and radiant. And while the darkness didn't retreat, her presence gave me power enough to stand with her against it. It was a good dream, in the end=

(Andrew)

=I got up for a brief moment, the chair keeping my sleep anything but sound=

Goddamn...I'd kill to have the bed back...

=I sit back down and close my eyes, trying to get some sleep=

Anyway, it's just for a night...I hope...

--Early the Next Morning--

(James)
=I woke up on the floor. Hear me out, it's not as bad as it sounds, and I wasn't alone. Hibiki lay on top of me, butt naked, just like me, the two of us wrapped in the bed sheet. To say we had a wild stress reliever, is an understatement. One of the chairs was flipped over, while my pants hung off the corner of a table, kicked off in the chaos. I groaned, reaching up a hand to touch her cheek even as her face was pressed against my shoulder=

(Sam)
=Somehow, Eve and I were still holding hands when I woke up. That.....and the little wall had been torn down, and I wound up on my side facing her=

Hibiki groaned and woke up, raising her head.
"I should be thankful you're not a redneck..." she saw her bra hanging off the cieling lamp. "Now how...right..."
She collapsed back onto James. "I love you."

Eve shifted, as if she detected the warmth. She looked even younger, way more vulnerable...but just as cute.

(Sam)
"Morning......so much for the wall."
=I smiled at her=

(James)
"Good morning. I love you too."
=It was sorta hard to move, not just because she was on top of me.....but because we were tangled together=

"How did you get your leg in that position?"

--Early the Next Morning--

(Andrew)

=I woke up, groaning as I stretched my back=

Last time I do that...I swear...

=I stand up, hating that I was relegated to the chair=

(Sarah)

=I woke up, yawning briefly=

Best night's sleep I've had in awhile...

=I then turn over, facing Miranda=

Sleep well?

=I give her a playful wink after the statement=

Mira sleepily nodded.
"Yeah..."

Eve murmured and woke up slowly.
"I didn't do it..." she said sleepily. She smiled cutely though. "Morning..."

Hibiki looked down.
"I'm flexible."

(James)
=Images from last night reminded me of just how flexible she really was, and I found myself grinning=
"That you are. Now uh, lets try and get out of this before someone walks in."

=I began moving, trying to get up and untangle us at the same time. The only thing I accomplished was flipping us so I was on top, and pressing into her in more than one way. My cheeks heated up and I quickly trie to get back up=
"Okay, clearly we are off to an awkward start."

(Sam)
"Well I didn't tear the wall down. Ask Sammy."

(Andrew)

=I smile, shaking my head=

Well...I can see her mood has improved...

=I give Sarah a look=

Feeling better?

(Sarah)

=I nod, still a bit tired=

Yeah...best sleep I've had for a long time.

=I blink twice=

That, and I feel that I can walk again without a damn wheelchair.

Eve blushed.
"If it was me, I'm sorry." She said without hesitation. But her hand tightned in Sam's.
"Thank you."

Hibiki giggled. "Round two already James?"

(Sam)
"No problem Eve. Now, lets get up and out of here. I bet we have work to do."

(James)
=Smiling, I kissed her, before finally getting untangled and leaning back onto my knees, my legs bent beneath me=
"Technically, round three. If you recall."

(Andrew)

=I smile, happy to hear that=

Well...that's good to hear.

=I sit back down=

So, is he still haunting your...

=Sarah then shoots me a glare that would have bored through steel=

(Sarah)

=I keep my tone even=

You even mention him once...

=My eyes narrow=

You better be prepared to kiss pavement.

Eve didn't move.
"Can we...just lie her...for another minute? Please?"

Hibiki giggled. "True."

(Sam)
=Despite myself,I let my head fall back down on the pillow, groaning in pleasure at the softness=
"Make it two and you have a deal."

(James)
"You want to take a shower first? I think we kinda stink."

"I'll make it whatever you want..."
She blushed. "Just...always forgive me..."

Hibiki grinned. "Why not both of us?"

(Sam)
"Why should I forgive you, when I already forgave you last night? Eve, there's nothing more for youto be forgiven for. We're good."

(James)
=I pulled her up so she was on her knees (not that way dammit) with me, and I grinned=
"Make it so there no round four, and you got a deal."

"No...I want you to always forgive me. Please. Always forgive me. I just want to apologize and always forgive me..."
Eve smiled softly.

Hibiki nodded. "Yeah."

(Sam)
"Eve, just stop. If you keep making this like there's something you always havetomapologize for....it's going to kill whatever we have right now. You did nothing wrong. So there's o reason to apologize."

(James)
=Standing up, I pulled her up with me and headed for the bathroom=
"We should probably make this quick. Cooper did want to speak with you, right?"

Eve looked at Sam. She smiled softly.
"Ok."
Deep down...Eve was afraid of what she was going to do to her.

Hibiki nodded. "Right..."

(Andrew)

=I blink, her reaction surprising me=

I'd thought she'd be more scared than pissed...

=I nod, her glare slowly going away=

(Sarah)

=I hold my stare=

Good.

=I get up and head to the shower, locking the door behind me=

(Andrew)

=I sit down on the bed, still somewhat surprised at Sarah's reaction=

(James)
=We hopped in the shower, making quick work of each other. Before you ask, no we didn't have a shower scene, just a few light kisses and rubbing. But getting the defenses up and running,or at least more airtight than they were now, took priority over sex=
"So,mind if I tag along for your job. Might be able to help."

(Sam)
=Two minutes went by, and I got up=
"Well, lets get dressed and ready for work......huh, there's something I never thought I'd say."

Eve finally let go.
"Take the shower first. I'll wait. I lromise to close my eyes if needed."
She smiled.

Hibiki felt refreshed. "Yeah. Could use some heavy lifting."

Mira sat up. "Aw. I wanted to shower with her."

(James)
"Thanks, if I have to sit around doing nothing, ink I might go crazy."
=I started to dry off with a towel=

(Sam)
"Okay. No peeking."
=My tone was teasing as I got up and left for the shower=

Eve giggled. "Maybe one peek?" She teased back.

Hibiki nodded. "I could tell. I thought I was the angry one."

(Sam)
=As the water started to pour from the shower head, I yelled of the noise so it carried of the sound and through the door=
"Yeah don't even try it."

(James)
"Ha, that wasn't angry. Passionate yeah, but not angry."
=Once I was done drying, I got out of the bathroom and got dressed=

(Andrew)

=I shook my head=

I'm sorry bout that.

=I look to the locked door=

But she's a bit pissed off at me. And like me...she has a bit of a temper issue.

"Sam, I don't have a death wish." She called back.

Hibiki exited wearing a smile. "Well. Lets keep the passion down. You bruised my ass."

(James)
=I adopted a pained expression, hand going to massage my groin=
"Then you have a hard ass, because I think I bruised something valuable."

(Sam)
=I didn't hear her, too busy washing away yesterday and freshening up=

Eve rolled over, trying to be as respectful as possible.

Hibiki crossed her arms.
"I could tell you what feels bruised, but there are children behind the fourth wall."

(James)
"Oh I know what feels bruised."
=As I said that I walked over to her, held her shoulders and kissed her again. God did it feel good=

(Sam)
=Once I was done, I dried off and got dressed, a spare set in the bathroom with me=
"You're turn Eve."

Eve got up and smoothed out her shirt.
"Do I look ok?" She asked with conplete innocence, her bag in one hand.

Hibiki kissed him back. "Love ya."

(Sarah)

=I finish washing up and then dry off, putting on a fresh pair of clothes=

That jerk...he can be so dense...

=I unlock the door and head over to Miranda, giving her an apologetic smile=

Sorry, sis.

=I kiss her on the forehead=

I'll make it up to you another time.4

(Andrew)

=I turn my head, almost rolling my eyes=

I should be happy, but after what they pulled last night...

=I was still a bit miffed at the thought=

(Sam)
"As okay as can be expected of a girl with a hair do like yours."
=There was more teasing to my voice=

(James)
"Love ya back. Now come on, before Cooper send s a search party for us."
=I gave the room a look over=

"Think they'll bill us for the room?"