ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

(James)
"Yes and I don't see any snow capped mountains around. You?"

(Sam)
"Well yeah. Except for that."

"Buildings work. And I more meant, wait until you can't possibly miss." Hibiki rolled her eyes.

Eve smiled for a moment, then was a bit somber. "Sam...when we get out of this siege...Can we talk? Please?"

(Sam)
"Sure."

(James)
"Still, seems like a waste of a mortar shell."

"Doesn't need to  be him. Could be their troop transport, or even their ammo truck." Hibiki retorted.

Eve reach out and touched Sam's shoulder. "Just...when we do...please...be patient. I'm new and a bona fide screwup, remember?" She smiled slightly.

(Sam)
"Wouldn't say screw up. More work in progress."

(James)
"Still.....we're going to have a helluva time targeting them."

Eve smiled.
"Thank you Sam."

Hibiki smirked. "Their going to be moving in a straight line..."

(James)
"True. But after the mortar attack, I doubt they'll be that stupid, least of all him."

(Sam)
"No problem midget."

"Just takes on mistake." Hibiki said.

"Hey!" Eve protested. "I'm not a midget!"

(Sam)
"You're shorter than me. So.....midget."

(James)
"Maybe for them. But Hibiki....look, I'm not arguing, just telling you what he is. He doesn't make mistakes, or at least repeat them. He likes to be thorough. Hell, he killed my family and then left me for dead in our house as he set it on fire, just to make sure no one from the family would come after him. Only reason he left me alive was to sate his sadistic side and leave me to watch everything burn."

"Then, James, we can exploit that." She said.

Eve looked at Sam...then looked around, listened. Feeling it was safe, she moved behind Sam and hugged her from behind, her face buried in Sam's back.
"As long as I'm your midget...ok?"

(Sam)
"Of course you are."

(James)
=She really didn't get it. Michael was smart, and not one to repeat mistakes, especially ones he knew would cost him. He learned from his fuck ups, but explaining that to Hibiki, who seemed to be more stubborn than usual, wasnt getting us anywhere=
"Fine. Just don't be upset when I say 'I told you so.'"

"Don't be upset when you realize I just agreed with you and said we'll find a different way." Hibiki retorted.

Eve smiled into Sam's back. She had nothing more to say. She didn't need to say anything more.

(James)
"Trying not to be."

(Sam)
=I mostly laid a hand down on the hands wrapped around me, smiling a little=

Eve smiled a bit brighter into Sam's back. her hug tightened softly in response to Sam's hand, but nothing more.

Hibiki sighed, staying quiet.

(James)
=I sighed=
"Look, I'm sorry. I just a little on edge knowing he's here. You don't know what it's like Hibiki, okay. The man destroyed my family and home. And I saw it coming but did nothing because he was my brother. I knew him so well, and even then I thought he could change."

=My head sagged a little as I looked down at my own feet=
"But now I see the devil for what he is, and I won't underestimate him twice. Nor am I going to let anyone else make the same mistake I did."

(Sam)
"Okay now you sould probably let go. Be kinda awkward, the Shepherds attack and we're like this."

Eve took a few seconds to let go.
"...at least I know you'll be happy when I do that, right?" She smiled a bit, moving back to Sam's side. "...I...think you liked it...right?"

Hibiki merely touched James' shoulder.

(Sam)
"Yup."

(James)
=I didn't say anything when she touched my shoulder. Only smiled a little, and reached up to touch her hand=

Eve's smile was a bit more sure of herself...so she moved just a bit closer, so her shoulder brushed Sam. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
She felt better already.

Hibiki smiled at her husband. "We'll be fine."

(James)
"One can hope."
=Then I looked at my gun=

"And maybe add a few bullets to hopes arsenal, just to be sure."

Hibiki nodded. "Yeah...just a few more wouldn't hurt..."

(James)
"Well.....I'd say we should get some rest, but I figure we can do without it, for another hour at best."

"If anyone needs rest, it's Sam and Eve." Hibiki said. "Barely back from hell and thrown into this siege..." She sighed sadly.

(James)
"True enough. We can give them maybe ten more minutes on the wall before giving them mandatory rest."

"Aye. How long should rests be? One hour? Four?" She frowned, thinking.

(James)
"We sorta agreed on at least an hour. Forty minutes minimum."

"Alright." She yawned. "Works."
She clicked her walkie. "Sam, Eve. Eight minutes, then you go take a break. Forty minutes minimum. Love you sweetie. Sam, make sure she doesn't steal the sweets from the stadium, please?"

(Sam)
=Grabbing my walkie, I responded to her=
"Got it Hibiki. Thanks, and I'll make sure she doesn't do anything close to theft."

Eve pouted at Sam.

Hibiki smiled. "Thanks. Make sure my baby gets some form of rest. Please?"

After the constant banging of sheet metal and screaming, a small horde of undead now clawed at the wall beneath Abel and the others at the wall.

"Now what?"

"We wait I guess. Though if things work out we won't even get attacked. At least on our side."
I look down at the still increasing horde.
"But I think we both know plans don't always work out."

(Sam)
"Will do. Sam out."
=There wasn't much left to do except stay on the wall until we had to go=

(James)
"It's strange. I'm not a believer these days.....but I almost feel like praying right now, for some help."

Eve still pouted.

Hibiki smiled softly.
"At least they are getting along."

(James)
"Yeah, that they are. Hopefully it will be permanent this time."

"If they don't...I might lose my daughter for good..."
Hibiki sighed.

Eve didn't stop her pouty glare.

(Sam)
"Okay, what is with the pouting?"

(James)
"I'm sure they'll be fine. Honestly Hibiki, Eve's old enough to fend for herself. And she's going to end up dealing with matters like this sooner or later. Better she learn to do it without you, right?"

"I'm still wondering if I need to talk to her about the birds and the bees with other women..." hibiki mused.

Eve tilted her head. "I want candy. You probably will stop me."

(James)
=I eyed her, suddenly curious=
"Uh, you have experience with that?"

(Sam)
"Maybe. Maybe not. Not like candy is critical."

"Well... maybe just once, everything could work out."

Here's to hopeful thinking.

"I said I was a normal virgin. Never said I was virgin from lesbian experiences." Hibiki said deadpan.

Eve crossed her arms.
"To me it is. Not as much as you."

(James)
=I coughed and blinked at the same time. It looked funnier than it sounded=
"Uhm....wow, okay that's not something I was expecting. Kinda hot to think about andhereIgoagain......."

(Sam)
"I meant critical to the victory of this compound, and no you having a sugar rush is not critical."

Hibiki smirked. "Maybe I'll ask Mira to help me show you what we did."

Eve stuck her tongue out. "Fine."

(James)
=Won't lie, the image had me standing at attention, if you know what I mean. But I was able to hide it a little, especially under the cough=
"Uh, how 'bout no? I....I kinda prefer it being, well just us, you know?"

(Sam)
"It is fine."

"Is it our break yet..." Eve asked.

Hibiki moved closer to kiss James. "I can deal with that./

(Sam)
"Maybe another ten minutes?"

(James)
"Thanks."
=Even though it wasnt really the best time or place, I kissed her back. Hey, if this hit the fan, no telling when was the next time I'd get to kiss my wife=

Eve rested her head on Sam's arm. "Nnn..."
She obviously wasn't happy about that.

Hibiki smiled. "Your welcome."

(Sam)
"What, you got something important to do?"

(James)
=I let myself lean against her, grateful she was there. Something told me that we would be split soon enough=

"I wanted to take a nap cuddled in your arms." Eve giggled a bit. "Least you know I won't play games with you."

Hibiki leaned back.

(Sam)
"You realize we'll only be getting maybe thirty, forty minutes of rest? Not much time to actually cuddle."
=Besides, I didn't feel like resting. I needed something to do, and this was it=

"I'd rather go to battle knowing I'd seen you last cuddling me close...eve for a short while." Eve said.

Hibiki yawned a bit.

(Sam)
"Yeah well.....it doesn't seem like where I'd be most useful. At least when it comes tovdefending this place."