The Long Way Around

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

@Akio Diachi

Dryzl remained silent for a bit after Akio finished his story, though she did return his smile. Her mind went over the details, and her eyes retraced the scars. My life was easy compared to his. Not that she pitied him; Akio was a man beyond pity; at least, in a good way. Even so, at least she didn't have to worry about someone killing her at the Academy; Dryzl had gotten along with or simply ignored most of the individuals there. And while she had never actually met an Umbaran, their ruthless reputation preceded them quite a bit. But I am glad he survived; many lives might have been spared if he hadn't, but countless more would have been lost.

Finally, though, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Thank you, too." She, too, could feel her face begin to warm, so the Chiss dropped her head and withdrew a shirt and a pair of pants from her briefcase. Then, in a good-natured tone, she asked, "Now, will you leave so I can get dressed?"

 

[Akio Diachi]

Akio smiled, his mind for a moment went to places it shouldn't have before shaking his head. Where did that come from? You have never thought like that. He noticed she blushed, had she ever done that before? He didn't think so and he wasn't sure what it meant. Often it is a sign of affectionate regard, or a sign of shame, he recalled his teachings. She had nothing to be ashamed of and surely she didn't--

He nodded as he stood up, "As you wish. Apologies."

The Chiss managed to maintain his composure long enough to step out of the room and into the kitchen. Leaning over the counter, he felt his face and hands get vividly hot and tingly. His heart leaped into his mouth and his breath came in short spurts. Did she really care? Did she really possibly have the affectionate regard for him? He struggled to regulate his breathing so he wouldn't pass out. After a few more minutes, Akio managed to compose himself and take a seat at the table.

"Are you alright, Master Akio?" Roaq asked tilting his head curiously.

"Yes, thank you," Akio took a still-unsteady sip of tea. "Go about your business, please."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dubrillion. Akio had been here once before. Perhaps twice. It had passed him by as a luxury planet he had only used to meet an informant on. Still, it was beautiful. The ship was refueling and while they were waiting, Akio decided to appear normal and take Dryzl shopping. Besides, it gave him a chance to be near her--and near her meant comfort.

His mind still glanced over the corners of his eyes at all times, looking, expecting to see something. Someone. His body was in a luxury planet but his mind was in a warzone. He stopped by a flower stand. One vibrant red Rigelian Iris stood out apart from the rest. Akio pointed to it, "This one please."

The shop keeper blinked, "Er, ten credits mate."

Akio fished in his pocket and winced, "Apologies, can you break a hundred?"

The aged man nodded, "Aye."

When he reached under the counter, Akio's fingers instinctively reached for where his Katana would have been--his mind flashing to danger. Weapon. Attack. Leave no survivors. Assassin. The puzzled human handed him the flower and the change, "Here you go, mate."

"Thank you," stop that. Relax. You are safe. She is safe. You aren't there anymore. He tried to brush off the constant urge to look over his shoulder, the refusal to emote. But he couldn't. I'm sorry Dryzl. I'm sorry. I'm trying.

He turned to her and gently tucked the flower behind her ear. It was very pleasing to the eyes. "ch'a k'ta sir ch'eo ch'acah k'ta." A flower for a lovely flower. Akio forced a smile. He was trying, but he was sure it was apparent he was by far outside of his comfort-zone.

Moving away from the shop he started to go towards one of the caf restaurants on the corner. Perhaps inside he would feel less exposed.

[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

@Akio Diachi

Shopping was one pastime which Dryzl did not do unless necessary. She could never fathom why someone would go out and buy things they absolutely didn't need. Granted, she could understand buying a shirt if one had matching pants, or getting new shoes to replace old ones -- but shopping for the sake of shopping was something she never understood.

Ah well. At least Akio was here.

As they were stopped by a flower stand, Dryzl craned her neck to look for a clothing store that had both men's and women's clothing -- practical clothing, mind you. Like what she was currently wearing: a light grey tunic and denim jeans, along with her boots. Her hair, meanwhile, had been braided into a bun to keep it from getting in her eyes.

Dryzl turned back in time to see Akio receive a flower and change from the older man. She could tell the other Chiss was finding it hard to be comfortable, so as he tucked the flower in her ear (no one else had ever done that before, but she rather liked the flower) the woman leaned forward slightly. Her red eyes trained on his face, she replied softly, "Ch'itt'teehah, Akio. Relax. Alright? We're safe here."

She nodded her head off to her right. "I believe I spotted a clothing store over there. We can get in, get out, and get back to the ship as quickly as possible. It won't take long to find myself more outfits, and then we can be gone."

 

[Akio Diachi]

It won't take long.

Akio felt himself smirk. He had overheard men before complain and joke about how their wives and girlfriends took forever to find the clothes they wanted--all the while promising it wouldn't be much longer.

"I am sure you tell all the men you rescue and take shopping that," Akio quipped shooting her a playful look.

The Chiss willed his tense muscles to relax as they entered the shop. He had to relax, he had to. As Dryzl began to peruse the racks, Akio's eyes wandered across the store. It was a small, quaint shop that he felt had an aesthetically pleasing sense to the eye. He automatically began counting the exits and subconsiously filing the patrons under most likely to be a threat. He charted three escape routes, and a began filing each face to memory, scanning them for--stop that your doing it again.

Akio sighed silently. Relax. Relax. He looked at Dryzl and wrapped an arm around her's for comfort. That made it better. Much better. He turned his attention to the clothing she was looking at, trying to at least occupy his mind.

A pair of women passed by out of the corner of Akio's eye.

"What a lovely couple, don't see too many of their types anymore," said one of them.

His eyes shot up as his face burned with embarrassment. He honestly had no idea what to say to that or why he felt so compelled to shout we are not a couple. He pursed his lips together, Is that what we are though?

"If this is civilian life," Akio said, forcing himself to change his mind's direction, "I don't know if I like it. Am I supposed to feel--uneasy?"

[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

[Member="Akio Diachi"]

Dryzl had missed the comment made by the couple, but she couldn't help snort at Akio's. "I wouldn't know; I haven't exactly lived like a proper civilian yet." In a more serious tone, though, she added, "I believe it is because of your training, and nothing more." The Chiss placed a hand on the arm that was around hers. "But we are too far away for any enemies to catch wind of us. And if they do, we will be long gone."

She went back to looking at the rack, pulling out a couple of plain, grey, long sleeve shirts. "Here we go. This ought to be inconspicuous, right?"

 

[Akio Diachi]

Akio blinked. Part of him wanted to say no matter what she wore he would always find her--nothing was inconspicuous. His mind thought better of his snap-judgement and he held his tongue. It would sound very creepy--possibly scary. Instead he nodded mutely.

He had a thought, the women had given him. He doubted what it was she wore, they would stand out like Banthas at a petting zoo. They were Chiss, there weren't many of them around, and like a Wookiee, you could rarely miss one. Of course, he knew tricks such as make up and prosthetics that would that would make him look completely different but still, they would always stand out. No matter what.

"I think you would look very nice in that," he said truthfully. Is that what your supposed to say? Is that the proper response? He was so lost here. Utterly out of his element.

"Hands up, no one move," shouted a man from the counter with a skii-mask on as he brandished a blaster pistol. Another by the door began waving his matching weapon around menacingly. "I want your fething purses and your karking jewelry--now!"

Akio pinched the bridge of his nose annoyed and sighed muttering, "By the dead gods--"

The leader pointed his gun at the assassin, "You say something, funny boy?" He quickly stormed the distance between them, "How about I I shoot that fething face of yours up, then we will see what you have to say."

"Your doing the job wrong," Akio complained.

A wave of confusion covered the man's face, "You--what?"

He sighed and rolled his eyes and talked very slowly like the thug was a youngling instead of a brute aiming a blaster at his face. "You have no one covering the back door, you should have shot the security cameras out first. You didn't. To prevent escape you should have bolted the front door closed with a chain and deadlock," the Chiss motioned to the exit, "you have a get away driver? Or a speeder even?"

"Uuuuh," the thug mumbled scratched his neck embarrassed.

"Always have a get away speeder planned. Always," Akio berated him. He looked at the weapon, "That is a clearly the wrong weapon for this job. Its by far too bulk, you cannot conceal it and too expensive to chuck. You're going to loose money on this job. You realize that?"

"Uuuuuhh," he looked back to his partner at the door who was clearly embaressed as well. "I'm sorry? Can we start over?"


((Just for fun ))
[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

[member="Akio Diachi"]

Dryzl turned, a half-smile on her face as she formed a response--

--When some idiot came bursting in wearing a ski mask and demanding purses. "By the gods," Dryzl muttered, rubbing her forehead. What were these two thinking? They weren't even professional! The Red Raven could have done better if all they had were crayons and chew toys!

She stood by silently, lips pressed in annoyance as Akio pointed out the pair's flaws. "Start over? It is too late for that, sculag." Dryzl rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Obviously, you will be charged with attempted robbery, but if you set your weapons down and went peacefully, you will probably only sit in jail for....What, six standard months? A year?"

"What?! We ain't going to jail! There's no way we're letting the cops take us!" He pointed his gun at her, but she was unperturbed.

"Then perhaps you should not have attempted such an act!" Dryzl snapped back. "Or at the very least, concoct a better plan. But you have been caught on camera, and it is too late to outrun the local law enforcement. Not to mention, the charge for fugitives is much higher."

 

[Akio Diachi]

Akio saw the man's blaster move to Dryzl and his mind morph. You will not hurt her, snarled a voice in his head as he blacked out.

Faster than the thug could react, Akio punched his arm, moving the weapon from Dryzl. Lurching forward, three of his fingers jabbed into the criminal's throat, rupturing his trachea. As the man gagged on his own blood, Akio mercilessly landed a trip of blows on his victim's jawline; punch to the center, elbow to left, and headbutt to the nose.

"Stop, I'll shoot!" warned the second thug.

One of Akio's legs snap-kicked a box of shoes into the thief's face before he closed the distance with lethal efficiency. His first blow was a hammer fist to his victim's unsuspecting nose, shattering it in a shower of blood. As the man shrieked in pain, Akio brought his knee up to his crotch, crippling him. The man collapsed and Akio reached back, grabbing a coatrack, swinging it down in a powerful blow that crushed the man's ribs.

"Ah, mercy, please," the man squealed.

"NO!"


[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

@Akio Diachi

The shirts dropped to the ground, crumpled in a small pile of grey fabric and clothes hangars.

"Akio!"

Once again, she stood in front of him. Once again she looked him eye-to-eye. Once again she confronted that cold, merciless being within Akio, acting as a wall between it and its victims.

"Akio, stop." Her hands had instinctively grabbed his forearms, gripping them tightly. All around, the patrons who had watched in a sort of awe at the couple standing up to the thugs now stared with horror. A few were even recording the event, and it was hard to not look at the cameras, to tell them to buzz off or something.

"Please," Dryzl said in a softer voice, her hands now cupping Akio's face. "Reign it in." She hoped he recovered as quickly as last time; law enforcement would be here any time now, and the two needed to be leaving as quickly as possible.

Again she was a hypocrite. But the two of them -- Akio especially -- wouldn't simply be given a tap on the wrist.

 

[Akio Diachi]

The snarling beast inside lashed out. It took a step towards Dryzl, swatting her hands away, "No."

Stop, stop, stop, Akio screamed from the recesses of his mind--stop this before you hurt her. He willed his body back, it spasmed back with a stumbling step. His breath came in hot snorts as he felt the animal glaring at her. "I--will--kill."

His target behind her let out a whimper of protest, his destroyed ribcage didn't permit him to utter much more. She will get out of the way or she will die. The animal stormed forward, coming within inches of Dryzl. NO! Akio screamed out. His hand dropped the coatrack and pressed against his temples.

"Stop it, stop it, stop it," he screamed squeezing his eyes shut, "Get out of my head!"


His head roared with intense agony, every fiber of his being cried out for mercy. It felt like he was being torn apart from the inside. Colors danced before his eyes as Akio battled to regain control of his mind and body.


[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

@Akio Diachi

Dryzl reeled back slightly, shocked. Akio had never done that before...even so, she held her ground, though her heart began to beat a little faster.

Come on, Akio. I know you can regain control!

He -- or it, she sensed this was not the Akio she knew -- stood within inches of her face, breathing heavily. And still set stood firm, her mouth set in determination. She would not let this manifestation hurt the man behind her; and she would not allow it to get Akio in trouble.

"Get out of my head!"

It was that, coupled with the distantly growing sirens, that made Dryzl decide it was time to go.

Grabbing Akio's shirt collar, the Chiss began to pull him as she headed for the exits, saying for the spectators' benefit, "Come on. You're going to a hospital."

But they were really going to the ship. He needed to be somewhere she could easily handle this...thing, the thing inside him, and familiar surroundings would not be a bad thing.

 

[Akio Diachi]

Akio felt the world spinning around him as he stumbled after Dryzl, following her as best his feet would allow. Lights danced before his eyes, colors, and images. He was reeling as his mind went into shock. Along the street he saw the apparitions of his dead clansmen. Their cruel eyes regarded him with cold calculation. Each bore the sashes he had used to end their existence, their blood soaked their robes. He turned his head watching with dumb fascination. They had died so long ago. He knew it, but here they were alive again, resurrected.

Akio stumbled, almost falling on his face. He turned his head to see where he was going, where Dryzl was leading him. That was when his heart screamed out.

It was just like he had seen so many years ago--a decade now. The farmer was tied to the stake, on his knees. Sweat pouring off him. His eyes looking up, begging for life. Begging for mercy. It was time again--time to kill him. Time to prove his existence through blood. No. No, Akio couldn't do that again. He refused, he rebelled. This time it would be different.

The Chiss pushed Dryzl's hand away and madly careened wildly down an alley. His legs were rubbish, he only got twenty feet away before they buckled, sending him face first onto the ground. The broken assassin began trying to crawl away, he had to survive, he had to live. But his limbs were too weak, he was falling apart rapidly.

[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

[member="Akio Diachi "]

Akio broke away from her grip and began to run wildly towards an alley.

"Wait!" The former bodyguard tore after him, though it wasn't hard to catch up. It wasn't long before the Chiss fell to the ground, though he continued to pull himself. Both were in the alley now, something for which she was grateful -- the police were not likely to look here yet, and there was little chance of Akio being hurt by outside forces.

She knelt down next to him, trying to stop him from moving. It was strange; whatever triggered this mental breakdown had forced the man into a living nightmare. Perhaps it was what he'd been dreaming of the past few nights? Even so, it had now leaked into reality, and it was up to Dryzl to stop it.

"Akio," she told him. "Akio, listen. None of what you're witnessing is real -- it's all in the past. You need to get out, Akio. Van turcah ch'at Ch'ah -- come back to me, Akio."

"Police! Freeze!"

Dryzl's head whipped around to the sight of a policeman (a human) leveling his blaster at the pair. "Stay on your knees, facing me! Put your hands in the air!"

"Officer, my companion here is suffering from a mental breakdown! I must take care of him first; his medication is on our ship."

The officer looked at Akio hesitantly. It was clear in his face that he wasn't completely sure if the Chiss was faking it or not. "Fine, I'll call in the paramedics and we can escort him to a--"

"No!" Dryzl lunged forward slightly, hand outstretched. "We cannot take him to a hospital!"

"Why not?"

His voice was laced with suspicion, so the woman quickly explained, "My companion has had several bad experiences with hospitals in the galaxy. Putting him in one now, when he's like this, will only make his condition worse."

He was still not completely on their side, but nonetheless the officer replied, "Even so. I'm going to call in a paramedic to take care of him."

 

[Akio Diachi]

Through the screams in his head he heard a loving voice reach out to him. Through the depths of madness he could hear her. "Van turcah ch'at Ch'ah -- come back to me, Akio."

He rolled over. The visions of living demons flickered along the fringes of his mind. Screams, hysteria, madness. He couldn't, he had to pull back, to come back to her. He could see her face, it filled his vision. Concentrate. On. Her. Pull yourself towards her. With all of his willpower left the assassin pulled himself towards her--to the woman who had saved his soul. Towards the love of his life, the only good thing in his life.

"Dryzl, Dryzl," he murmured, letting one of his hands squeeze her forearm.

His eyes looked into her loving eyes, his breathing became easier, the voices abated. That was when he saw it.

The man behind her, officer, with a gun. A gun pointed a Dryzl while he looked to the side, talking into his comm, calling in backup. His urge to protect took over before rational thought could even question it. His finger tips pinched a shard of glass on the ground. He flicked his wrist, sending it through the air into the man's throat. His voice caught suddenly and blood began spraying from the wound as he sank to his knees. He would be dead in less than thirty seconds, a worthy death.

[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

[Member="Akio Diachi "]

Akio might have thought it was a worthy death, but Dryzl was near-infuriated. Everywhere they went, the assassin seemed intent on killing someone! The number of bodies were adding up, and the woman felt almost powerless to stop it.

Oh, she understood part of it was the fact that Akio was raised an assassin. Dryzl understood that clearly; it was obvious that some of his reflexes would be around yet. But did he have to keep killing people? Especially considering the fact that most of them were people who Akio interpreted as trying to hurt her? She was no weakling! As much as she appreciated knowing he had her back, something had to be done.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she whispered, "He was only trying to help." It was more for herself, but who was she talking about? Akio, who thought the Chiss to be in danger? Or the officer, who was calling in a paramedic for Akio? Not even she knew.

They needed to leave, before someone connected them with the death of the police officer. Of course, when they found the body they probably would, anyway. They'd become fugitives on Dubrillion, and they needed to leave fast.

"Get up, Mr. Diachi. We need to find a cab, and then we need to leave."

 

[Akio Diachi]

Akio stood shakily. He was still falling apart, struggling to hold himself together. The voices whispered in his ears, whispering his crimes. But he couldn't think about that right now, he had to take care of Dryzl. He had to keep her safe. That was all that mattered right now. He took her hand and began a mad-dash through the streets. Even in his psychotic state, Akio's training was so deeply ingrained in him, he could navigate an escape route. He was trained to survive worse than death, this certainly qualified.

Making wild detours through alley-ways and long streets, Akio took the round-about way to the ship. His face was in a constant emotionless vigil, doing his best to shut the voices out just long enough to get the woman to safety. At last they reached the spaceport. Akio led her through the maintenance entrance, it was unguarded. Akio's eyes shifted constantly, looking for foes, being ready for the death that would spring on them.

A figure turned the corner, Akio's free hand punched him in his glass jaw, rendering it unconscious. Akio shook his head in disgust; it was just the janitor. At least he hadn't killed this one. He was trying.

A few moments later they reached the ship, four police were standing idly by. Akio looked back at Dryzl as he released her hand, "No matter what, stay out of sight."

He hesitated a moment before planting a soft kiss on her cheek. His hand caressed her neck softly and for a moment all his voices were silent. All that mattered was Dryzl. She would make it out, whatever it cost him. Taking one final look at her, he moved in the open, calmly walking towards the police.

"You, there, stop!" shouted one of them when he was half way there.

Akio shrugged, "Ch'ah ch'acah vah, [member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]."

He and the others raised their rifles, "I mean it, stop! We will shoot."

"Vah rehn'ekah sei ch'at ch'ah. Vah seo viz."

Their rifles hummed to life, "Last warning, we will fire if you do not stop."

"Ch'ah cart ch'ithe'umi'aco Ch'ah cart nah ch'a ttah bun vuhn."

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

[member="Akio Diachi "]

Dryzl firmly pressed her lips together again. Her instinctive nature was to obey him -- she had, after all, been trained to obey orders, and did he not just give a command?

But as of late, she had noticed herself becoming more...expressive. More...independent.

More emotional. And right now, her emotions were telling her to disobey Akio, to stop whatever crazy plan he had before she found out what it was.

No. Have faith in him; he is not a child.

And then...he started to walk towards the police. No, no! What are you thinking?! He wasn't stopping, even after they warned him they'd shoot. Dryzl couldn't stand it -- she had to do something. She had to get to the ship.

But Akio was speaking. What was he saying? Her ears strained to hear his response, before she moved.

"Ch'ah ch'acah vah, Erud'ryz'ladre."

Oh no. He was going to do something crazy, something that might get him killed. Why else would he say-- say-- say that?

With a determined glint in her eye, she began to look around. There was, not too far from her, a ladder that led to the catwalk above; traditionally, it was used to direct the pilot or to spot anything on the ship which needed a higher altitude to see. Now, however, she would use it to get to the ship.

Dryzl ran to the ladder and began to climb as quickly as she could. By her figuring, she probably had less than a minute to get to the ship, get in, get her suit, and stop whatever was about to go down.

50 seconds.​

​

She was halfway around the catwalk. As she ran, she spared a glance at the five individuals below. It appeared the police had done nothing yet, but their rifles were raised.

40 seconds.​

Dryzl leapt from the railing, rolling as she landed on the top of the ship. Her impact made a rather loud thud, and she winced. Crawling forward on her belly, she peeked over the top -- and then ducked back. Two of the men had turned in her direction. By the sound of it, though, they were still more concerned with Akio. Good -- and bad. She creeped forward again, making sure they weren't looking at her before dropping down onto the ramp. She paid no attention to what was going on behind her, knowing that she was useless without her armour in this situation.

30 seconds.​

The Chiss's motions were quick as she hurried towards the bedroom. Years of being at the Academy, and subsequently being a bodyguard who lived in her cramped ship meant that Dryzl was a fast changer. Hopefully this time she would be even faster.

5 seconds.​

Now decked out in her armour, her pistol raised and at the ready, Dryzl burst out of the ship. She did not know what she would come across -- but she had to mentally steel herself, nonetheless. Her mission was simple: save Akio.

If she -- universe forbid -- failed that, then her secondary mission was also simple: save his body, and take out anyone who would prevent her otherwise.

 

[Akio Diachi]

The police's fingers tensed around the triggers, Akio's training and instincts told him he couldn't directly cover the twelve feet separating them in near enough time. However, that didn't matter. Not right now. Not at this point. He had committed too much violence to deserve to fight and live another day--the breakdown was the last straw. Murdering that officer and Dryzl's displeasure had set him over the edge. What is the point in living if I am too broken to fix?

That was before. Before she burst from the ship in her armor, blaster ready. Before the police turned and pointed their weapons at her. He snapped again.

"Police drop the weapon!" Barked the leader.

Taking a leap forward, Akio roared as he bound into a hand-spring, launching himself forward in a high-ax kick. His heel landed on the closest officer's skull, which caved in with a satisfying crack. The others fanned out, but one was too slow. As the Chiss landed in a low crouch, his leg swept the man off his feet and onto his back. Akio rammed his heel down into his face, shattering it. The other two shot from opposite sides at the acrobatic assassin, but they were too slow. He caught each of their fallen comrad's stun batons before easily twisting out of the cross-fire.

Spinning in a wild, gracefully fluid set of dodges, he masterfully made his way, threading between the blaster bolts to his next, retreating victim. With a quick swat he batted the rifle onto the concrete. The police officer made a wild swing at Akio's face. The Chiss gracefully twisted from a second blaster bolt, disabling his opponent's bicep with the first stun baton and swatting him unconscious with the second.

When Dryzl had taken down the other, Akio stormed towards her. He didn't know what he felt right now; relief? Protectiveness? Anger? Fear for her? Fear of losing her?

"I told you to stay in the shadows," he barked, tossing his weapons aside, "What part of that was so fething hard to understand? You could have been killed. What good would that do me if you died?"

[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]

 

[Erud'ryz'ladre]

[Member="Akio Diachi "]

[You're gonna want to listen to this]​

Dryzl ignored his words. She didn't care if he was angry, or upset, or whatever. He was alive. And that was all that mattered right now.

Instead, she pulled off her helmet, dropped her gun, and threw her arms around Akio. The woman hugged him tightly as if she was afraid to lose him -- like she would have lost him tonight. ​Whatever entity was responsible for this...thank you.

Kark the galaxy. Kark the rules. Kark her staunch, emotionless, Chiss upbringing. Dryzl just wanted to be with Akio, though she wished it hadn't taken him almost committing suicide to realise that.

So, eyes squeezed shut as she held him close, the woman whispered, "Ch'ah ch'acah vah, cssi."

Kark the galaxy. She didn't care if she had to sell her beloved Clawcraft -- she just wanted to be with Akio. It didn't matter if his psyche was broken. It didn't matter if they might become fugitives after this. None of it mattered.

Because she, Erud'ryz'ladre, quite possibly loved this man.

 

[Akio Diachi]

(Oooooh, good choice. Please listen to this, while reading. And do your best not to cry a lil )

Akio's intense--he didn't know what it was, melted when Dryzl's arms wrapped around him. He felt his heart melt again, thawing. A lifetime of pain and hardship--bitterness, hate anger, coldness--lost to her warmth. He had waited so long to hear these words. So long. He had dreamed that they were possible, but never really fully believed it.

His arms wrapped around her body, holding her close. She was so warm, and kind, it was overwhelming. Her words were soft in his ear, like a gentle breeze on a hot day, bringing relief and nourishment. His hand rubbed her back, even through the armor, he didn't care. She was safe, she loved him. She loved him. That was all that mattered. He would find a way to be ok. He didn't care what the cost. He would make himself new--he would do anything to take care of his Dryzl.

Pressing his forehead against her's he savored the moment. It didn't matter that there were four dead bodies around them. It didn't matter that the voices would be waiting when this was over. It didn't matter that they were being hunted through the city. All that mattered was she loved him. It was almost too much for him to take.

"I know I am broken," he murmured softly. "I know I don't deserve someone like you," he gently planted a kiss on her forehead, "but I will do whatever I can to be worth for you. I love you, Dryzl," a quiet tear trailed down his cheek, "I love you so much."

[member="Erud'ryz'ladre"]