COPG: Distressing call.

Elpis twirled her pink locks with her thumb and index finger. She was pensive. Ever since Pride forged her the ring that allowed her to freely move anywhere without being noticed by her siblings, she had been able to train. She had been able to test her newfound power. For a brief moment, Elpis felt so good she almost forgot her revenge. To be able to walk the Earth without a bother in the world proved to be overwhelming for the goddess. She could try modern cuisine, attend concerts, operas, and any artistic event without worrying about the cosmic pair of eyes looking for her. She could enjoy her life and the human delicacies without being worried about their assassination attempts.  So why was she worried? The pink locks cascaded on her back and on her front. A gentle frown creased her forehead, and she stood up. She had to do something. Ruminating all day was not going to be right for her, so she decided instead to be in action. 

"Perhaps you'd enjoy a little bit of company tonight." -Pride's voice pierced the silence that had settled in the empty room. Elpis turned her head, and her gaze settled on his face.-

He was elegant, as he always was. He was dressed sharply, wearing a tailored grey suit that complemented his skin and features well. His hair was combed in a little slick back, and at his wrist there was an expensive watch. At his feet were brown leather shoes. He dressed as if they were attending a ceremony or a meeting. Elpis's eyes glowed in appreciation of the sight before her, and for a brief moment, the goddess forgot about her plight. Seeing Pride often led to this. She always forgot about what was plaguing her mind, and eventually was snapped out of her train of thought. 

"I apologise, beloved. I have been restless these past couple weeks, and I was caught up in my thoughts this morning." -She ran her  hand through her  pink locks and gave him a sheepish smile-

"Restless, you say? Tell me, my Light, what is it that keeps your mind busy like that?" -He closed the distance between them and allowed his hand to stroke her cheek-

"For one, it has nothing to do with the upcoming war.  I am eager for the army you're gathering for us, and even more eager to don the armor you forged for me.  I am grateful, Beloved, for the months spent together without the fear of being located by my siblings. I have to confess, I almost forgot about them because I was enjoying myself with you. It just... Now that I have time with you, I realize what was robbed from us. We were robbed of time."

They have been. Pride knew that despite her claims, his goddess had been traumatized by her curse. She put on a brave face, but he knew that she doubted her ability to face her siblings. Ayasha would be easier to deal with because she always used pawns to do her bidding. Elpis was confident in her ability to confront her sister and win, but there was always the possibility that Ayasha played mind games. She was excellent at it, and Elpis wasn't so proud as to deny how much impact this could have on her.  She could try to turn her brain off and force Elpis to turn on her lover. She could even convince her that it would be best if she were dead by dangling the death of their father in her face. She knew a lot of Elpis' soft spots and could use them against the goddess of Hope. Still... Elpis thought she still had a chance. She couldn't face Ishtar. The very sight of him made her recoil in horror, and she froze. 

Her brother had been responsible for so many awful things when it came to her. He tried to force himself on her once. While he stopped himself in the middle of the act, it was too late, as she knew the dark desires he tried to keep inside. She knew that night that the mighty Ishtar was no better than all the gods (primeval or not); he had to protect her from her. He didn't do it from the goodness in his heart, but only because he was a selfish man. She felt betrayed that day because the sibling she thought was the safest to be around was actually a predator like the others. It made her skin crawl, but she thought that she could get over it. It was going that way before he did his "big one". His ultimate betrayal.  He stabbed her in the heart with the Dagger of Fate, and since he couldn't bring himself to kill her, he cursed her instead to an existence of eternal reincarnation. He punished her to a life spent forgotten by the world and the gods and, more importantly, forgotten by her beloved Sin. It was a fate worse than death and complete annihilation. 

Yet, she could still remember his face as he held onto her disappearing body. She could see the tears he cried because he realized the horror of his action. She still could feel the jealousy in his eyes as she rejected him once again. She saw hatred in his eyes, and it made her feel disgust for him. It also traumatized her to the point of being unable to face her sibling. Pride was aware of it, and he knew that it was the reason for her restlessness. He cupped her cheek and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. 

"Yes, we were robbed, my Light, but the time we lost is nothing compared to eternity together. We were both different souls when you were cursed and I unmade. We both grew out of the people we used to be. I do not regret the time lost. What I want is to make sure that we have a future together, free of your pantheon and their constant meddling." She moistened her lips and nodded quietly. Pride planted another kiss on her forehead. "You won't have to fight Isthar. He is mine to kill. Mine to brutalize for the pain he inflicted on you. You will never have to face him because I know how terrified you are of him." -She looked up to meet his gaze and see a tiny bit of judgment, but there was none. 

"You're right, beloved. I am sick to my stomach at the thought of seeing his face again. It was the last thing I saw when he stabbed me and cursed me into this horrific existence.  I thought that after all these years, I would have been able to move on and soldier on, but I just can't. He scares me." She admitted in a soft voice, her eyes went from his face to his chest.- "I would freeze should I cross paths with him, and I don't want to become a burden during our war."

"You won't. I'll take care of him. You won't ever see him. Focus on Ayasha and your revenge, my Light. I know that your fear is only matched by your anger, and I want you to be angry. She is the reason you were locked into that loop. She is the reason the world has forgotten about you. That / I/ was made to forget you. She is the reason your father was killed, and she needs to pay for her crimes. She, Gaea, and every single one of your siblings are still alive."

"Superbia..." She called out his name, eyes filled with unshed tears as she felt his support, unwavering, stronger, and louder.- "Thank you, beloved, for your rousing speech. You are right. I am angry, and I will let that anger take over the rest because I want them to pay, and they will." She closed her eyes for a moment, savouring the comfortable silence that was starting to settle between them. "I love you, Superbia. I love you more than the world... more than the universe. I will follow you wherever you go, and since you suggested we go out, I'm willing to follow you outside. Let's mingle with these humans and have some fun tonight."

"That's my good girl. Let's entertain ourselves tonight. I'll make you forget about your worries." 

He smiled and decided they would leave their room the old-fashioned way since he didn't have a clear idea of where he wanted to take them.  This way, she would be able to choose where they would go. It was still morning, and they had all the time in the world to do as they pleased. Pride offered his arm to the goddess so she could wrap hers around it, and they could walk outside.  Elpis didn't hesitate and wrapped her arms around his and followed him as he started to walk towards the door.  Perhaps she would try and test her powers once more, see how much control she could have on nature, and see how close she was to dethroning Gaea as the All-Mother. Perhaps this would be enough to take her mind off the fearful thoughts that festered in there. He could only "hope". 

-TBC-

HUG: Welcome home, babygirl

Sara rummaged through her bag for her phone. She found it and quickly walked to the bed. She sat at the edge of the bed and searched through her contact list for Homelander's name. Should she call him? It made her pause for a minute. Homelander was quite a busy man; that much was true. Could she bother him with a call? A part of her didn't want to, in fear that it could distract him, but another part of her just couldn't wait. She had to talk to him. She had to hear his voice.  Sara put her phone against her chest and bit her bottom lip. She woke up with a burning desire for her boyfriend, and she knew that taking care of it on her own would not satiate her hunger. Instead, if she called him, this time it would help her feel satisfied. It was decided! She would call the only man in the sky! 

Sara decided to lie on her bed again. Her eyes were focused on the white ceiling, which would make it easier to lose herself in her fantasy. She let her free hand slowly move up from her thigh to her short shorts, to her belly, and her thin-strapped top. Her hair was crowning her face. It was spread all over the bed and pillows, and some rebellious strands fell on her chest. Since Starlighters and the Boys were becoming more vocal and more violent, Homelander was busy fighting them and therefore stayed more at the tower. Since she rarely went to the tower, Homelander being more keen to visit her home, she didn't have many opportunities to spend time with her baby. Distance was starting to take a toll on her, and Sara felt Homelander's absence more than she anticipated. She kept his clothes, just so she could smell him, but it did nothing if not make her want him some more.  She ended up calling him, determined to hear his voice and hopefully have him help her reach a powerful orgasm. 

"Babygirl." -His velvety voice reached out to her ears, and Sara blushed upon hearing Homelander's voice- "Are you alright?"

"No, baby!  I am not alright. I am restless and horny and you're not here." -She pouted. He chuckled and shook his head-

"Babygirl, you know that I can't be around because I ahve to deal with those cocksuckers. I want to be, trust me, I do. I just can't right now. How can I make it up to you?"

"I know, baby. I know. I'm not mad at you. How about we get hot on the phone? I want to finger myself while I hear your voice. Can you do that for me, baby? Can we have phone sex? Please, Homelander, please! I need it. I need you!"

He paused for a moment, considering her demand. Did he have some spare time to sit and enjoy listening to his girl touch herself and react to his voice? It was hot, new, but undoubtedly hot. He ran his hand through his blonde locks and walked in circles in his quarters. He was the Homelander and he could whatever the fuck he wanted. He hadn't seen his girl for quite some time now, and to hear her voice, her little whimpers, and the need that was suffocating her proved to be way too hard for him to fight against. The blonde supe decided to sit on the couch. He leaned into the couch, legs spread. 

"Alright, Babygirl. I am sitting and ready for you. You say you need me? I can't deny my girl now, can I? Where are you right now?"

"On our bed." -She replied in a gasp. Her legs opened and closed as she was getting cozy on the bed. Her heart made a little jump as she was anticipating his next question-

"What are you wearing?" -He asked, his voice husky and hot."

"Short shorts and a thin-strapped top. You know those blue shorts that cling to my ass and pussy mmhh? That short. And you?"

"You know me, baby girl. I'm always wearing my suit." -He groaned, his mind pictured her on that bed, wearing those very tight shorts that outlined her curves as if she were naked. - "Come on, Sara. You wanted me to tell you to get those fucking clothes off of you. I want you naked." -He commanded over the phone.-

"Unf...Yes, Homelander." -She put her phone on the pillow next to her ear and quickly removed her shorts and her top. He could hear the sound of fabric being wrinkled and tossed around.- "I'm done, baby. I'm naked." -She purred, her hand now stroking her soft belly.- 

"Good girl. Now I know you're already wet, baby, but why don't you take that hand of yours and use it to rub your little pussy? Yeah? Do that and tell me how wet you already are for me."

"unf... Okay..." -She moaned and let her hand slid down her belly so her fingers could start to press against her puffy pussy. She was wet already, had been from the moment she decided to place that phone call. Yet, hearing the voice of Homelander only fueled her arousal more, and she now had sticky fingers, coated with her slick from just a couple passes of her fingers over her folds- "OH... " He heard her whimpers as she touched herself, and it was enough to make him stroke his bulge. Fuck she was hot like that, needy for Homelander and not ashamed to voice it- "Baby.. I'm so wet, my fingers are all sticky from my juices..."

"Yeah? You're wet already? Little slut, you couldn't wait uh? You had to get all wet while I have to get myself ready for you. Spread that pussy with your fingers, spread it as if I was there, watching! Let me see you!" 

He commanded, a groan passed through his lips as his own touch was making him feel good. He could feel his cock twitch against the confines of his suit but he kept stroking through the fabric-Sara obeyed his command. Her fingers spread her puffy lips and then went further to also spread the little ones and expose her little holes. She panted and moaned his name.; It made Homelander groan and he could feel his cock grow and his pants tighten around him. He encouraged Sara with his grunts and slowly pushed his pants down so he could set his cock free. He let out a pleased sigh and grabbed the base of his cock with his gloved hand. Sara could hear him, and the sound of his voice sent shivers down her spine. She loved it

"Oh, Sara, I can see you. I'm sure you're well-spread for me. I'm sure I can see that wet little pussy and that tight little hold of yours. Is that the one you've been fingering all day, mmhh?" He asked, slowly rubbing his cock. Sara moaned and nodded.  She had spread herself as wide as she could, imagining the big blonde supe kneeling before her, hand wrapped around his cock as he was jerking himself off. She imagined her stare go down to his pelvis, so she could watch Homelander stroke his cock for her.

"Yes! Yes Homelander! I've been fingering my pussy all day but it doesn't work! It doesn't work because it's not you. My fingers aren't big enough!" She groaned and planted her feet into the mattress. She bent her knees and used her feet to push her hips a bit higher so she could have a better access to her pussy. "Haaan... I want to try again. I want to---" He could hear the wet sounds her folds made when Sara was brushing them with her fingers. He could imagine how she looked, soaked and needy. Her face flustered, and her eyes nearly cried from how needy she was. He loved her like that, when she wanted him and couldn't get enough of him. When she was whimpering and crying her frustration out like that. 

"Go ahead and finger that pussy for me, Babygirl. I want to hear you whimper because it feels good. I'll walk you throught it, don't worry." -She whimpered her approval and resumed rubbing her puffy cunt with her soaked fingers. He could hear it just fine. The Homelander looked at his cock, some beads of pre-cum already appeared on his crown. He passed his hand on top of it and started to smear his juices all over his cock. - "You look so good like that, baby. With your fingers on your pussy like that. I know you make the prettiest face right now! I know you look hot like that. Come on, I want you to slip your finger inside that wet little cunt for me. Can you do that, baby?" 

"Ah! Ooooh!  Homelander! I-- I--"

"I know, baby, I know. It's your finger, isn't it? You just slid one and you felt it stretch you already mmmhhh?" She positively hummed but kept fingering herself.- "Fuck, I wish I was there, baby so I could watch you finger yourself. Add another finger." -His breathing was hot and laboured. He was stroking himself harder and coated his hand with his precum. It was easier to stroke himself while he imagined Sara's spread legs and finger in her pussy. She complied and added another finger, making it two. "That's my good girl! That's it, Sara! Fuck your pussy, fuck it for me. Just like that! You look so good when you do that! Fuck! Baby! That's it! That's it!" 

"Ahhhhh!!! Haaaaan baby! Fuck it feels good! It feels so good! Uf... uf... I've got two fingers up my little pussy right now... haaan... Are-- Are you jerking off that big-- Big cock of yours?" -She managed to moan while her eyes were half-closed and staring at the ceiling.- 

Sara was happy. Hearing Homelander's voice sent shivers down her spine. He was talking to her ear, and that was enough to turn her on beyond belief. It felt as if he was whispering to her ear, as if he was right behind her and she was lying on his chest. She imagined his fingers instead of hers and the memories of how they felt in her tight cunt enhanced that little masturbation session.  She could hear him just fine, the sound of his hand making passes on his wet cock. The sound of his grunts and groans as he was enjoying himself. She could almost picture him jerking off behind her, with his length rubbing against her back. Oh, it was hot! It was so hot and she was blushing harder and fucking her wet little pussy harder as well.  He heard those wet sounds, and that encouraged him to go a little bit faster. 

"Yes! Yes, I am. I'm so nice and wet for you. I know you would have loved to suck on it, baby. You know how it looks when it's stretching your cheeks and her pretty little lips are wrapped around my dick. Unf... It would have been so much better if you were there, on your knees for me, looking up to my face with those big black eyes of yours! unf... You'd love that, wouldn't you? To suck and struggle on my cock.. unf.. struggle to swallow it whole." -that elicited a moan from the freckled face supe who arched her back and grabbed her breast. She held onto it hard while her index and third fingers were pulling on her nipple.-

"Shit! yes! yes! I would have loved it, baby! You know you can use my mouth anyway you like. You can use my body, fuck any holes you want... Haaaan... anyway you want it! Baby!  I would have sucked your cock right now. I would have choked on it. It's so big! It's so fucking big! I love it!" She yanked her head back- "I love it when it stretches my little throat! aaaah... fuck... I want it." -She cried out, eyes wet from unshed tears born out of frustration.- "I want your cock, Homelander... I'm craving it! I'm crying for it. Please, jerk it off faster, baby. I want to hear the wet sounds you make." She groaned, pulling harder on her nipple while she slowed down on her pussy, to be able to take it slower and harder. "Shit! That's a good spot!" She mumbled to herself, but he could hear it. He loved it when she was talking to herself, when she was enjoying her body like he did. It added a little Je-Ne-Sais-Quoi to the whole thing. He obliged her request and went faster, moving his phone just so it could be at the same level of his cock and record everything well. 

"That's it.. Listen to how wet your Homelander is for you. How fucking hard I am!" -He groaned and released his cock to stroke a bit his balls, imitating to the best of his abilities when she was the one who did that to him- "I can hear you cry out just fine. You're going harder now, aren't you? hard and slow uh?" -She mewled- "I knew you would. Such a naughty girl, Sara. Look at you! Look at you! Clenching your fingers, crying my name out. you want that cock to stretch your pretty little pussy don't you?" -She cried out positively-  "I know, I know. take your fingers out and suck on them. Taste yourself babygirl. taste yourself and tell me if you're lactating already. You must be given how many slutty sounds you're letting out."

Fuck he was driving her crazy with his words. Sara did as she was told and sucked on her wet fingers. She closed her eyes, savoring her taste and curling her fingers at the sensation and her strong aroma. She was wet, her pussy was holding tight onto her fingers and she could feel the first beads of milk starting to appear on her nipple. She sure was lactating for Homelander. She hummed her reply and squeezed her breast a little harder, now focused on helping her milk come out. 

"Baaaaby!" She groaned- "Oh, Baby! I wish you were here. I wish you could latch onto my nipple like you always do. Haaaaan!... My nipple is so hard, so thick... and milk is dribbling down my fingers. I wish you could come and drink from me! Haaaaan! Drink... me! I wish you could. haaan.. come and squeeze my titty for me. Ah!" She groaned again and closed her legs. "I'll do it on my own. I'll suck on my nipple like you would." -She announced-

Homelander moaned. He yanked his head back as shivers went down his spine and made his cock twitch harder against his palm. He was obsessed with Sara's breasts. Sure, they fit right into his fetish because she had thick nipples and produced milk, but there was more to it. He loved how big they were, how they barely fit into his large hand. He loved how soft and round they were, how heavy they felt against his palm. He was delirious as he remembered the taste of her milk against his tongue. He groaned and went faster on his cock. Sara's suction noises were pushing him to the edge. He could hear her drink her own milk and thought it was even hotter. Shit! she was hot! And the more she was doing things to herself, the more he wanted to fuck her. The problem was that he wasn't around. He couldn't fly to her apartment due to the situation with the boys. He couldn't just give up on everything to go fuck his girlfriend, but how he wished he could!  He heard her stop drinking her milk to catch her breath and she ran her hand back to her pussy so she could rub it. 

"I heard you babygirl. I heard you loud and clear! Did you like drinking your milk? " -She moaned a yes- "Did you spill some on your chin? Did you spill some on her belly?" -She moaned several "Yes" that fell off her lips like candies. He could hear her hand slap her wet pussy and grunted as he heard her whimper. She pressed her engorged clit and rubbed it harder.- "Oh, you're losing your mind, baby. I can tell. You want to finger yourself again, don't you? You want to feel my cock back in mmhhh?"

"I'm losing my mind, baby! I want to cum." She cried out, still rubbing her folds. "I want to cum, please! Please baby! Please come and fuck me. I need you to stretch my cunt. I need... you! I need you!" She could feel her tears pooling at the corner of her eyes. He could feel her rattled breath, the sound of the sheets shifting because of her. He had to help her get over the edge. He had to. So Homelander spoke to her. 

"I want you to slip two fingers back in, baby. I want you to feel how tight your pussy is. I want you to slide your fingers slowly... yes! Slowly, like that baby girl. Go slow, feel your tight walls clench around your fingers like my cock would. Oh, you like it, uh? You like when I stretch your little pussy, uh? When I make you feel stuffed! when you can do shit but take me! Yes! Yes, like that! take that pussy for me, baby. Take that pussy for me! take it hard! Fuck! Sara!"

Sara couldn't stop fingering herself. She couldn't stop pounding into her wet and warm little cunt and Homelander's encouraging words, grunts and groans were enough to push her over the edge. She came in a scream. That beautiful sound erupted from deep within her chest, and she soaked her fingers and hand, the sheets, her thighs... Her scream turned into pants and whimpers, and she managed to moan "Homelander", over and over again, and enough for him to join her in her climax. He came in his hand in a loud moan, coated his skin with his cum and grunted on the phone. Sara was crying, sniffling into her phone. 

"Baby.... baby, please come home. Come home okay? I need you here. I miss you.. I miss you so much..."

"I'll come back as soon as I can, Sara. I promise. I'll be back. I love you."

"I love you, too."

-TBC-

KLASMA: eternity

One of the witch's pastimes was to sit at a café and watch humans go about their day. She enjoyed watching humans as they lived without a care in the world, unable to know when their time would come. It was something she envied them, the ability to enjoy even the smallest things, because they didn't know if it would be their last. She envied their ability to die of old age, which was something she was denied. Nëela was immortal, and no matter how she tried, Old age wouldn't be what claimed her life.  It would be murder. It would be a fight. It would have to be violent, which she wasn't looking forward to. It made her chuckle to herself, that little paradox her existence was. She both wished her life was shorter so she could enjoy it to the fullest, but wasn't ready to die either. Every time someone tried to take her life, she always fought them, and they ended up dead. So, that betrayed a deep desire to live. She always knew this. She wanted to live.

She sighed, leaned into her chair, and crossed her legs. Her golden eyes stared at the crowd that had gathered on the street to watch a street performance. She couldn't help but smile as she watched children running around, laughing, and clapping their tiny hands. It made her nostalgic. There had once been a time in her life, before the curse, before the deaths... where she wished she would become a mother. She had dreams of a faceless kid with curly hair just like his mother, running freely into the wheat fields.  This fantasy of hers vanished from the moment she was turned into a cursed witch. She couldn't... She couldn't fathom giving birth to a child who would not be an immortal. She couldn't fathom the idea of that child growing up, growing old, and dying of old age without the possibility for her to join him in death. She didn't even know if her curse would allow her soul to rest in the same place as her child. It made her blink, and before she knew it, Nëela was crying. 

"Why the long face, love?" -Klaus's voice tore her out of her daydream. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and plastered a sheepish smile on her face-

"Klaus! I didn't... expect to see you here... Today I meant. I didn't expect to see you today!"

"It's the effect I have on people. I hope I didn't spook you?" -He asked while taking a seat in front of her.

"I'll be alright. I was just enjoying my day. They look so innocent like that..." -She sighed and looked down at her teacup.

"They have no idea of how their lives would end. I have to say, sometimes I think that it must be nice to be oblivious about one's fate."  -He then stopped a waiter and ordered a coffee- "Is that why you're in such a sad mood, love?"

"Am I sad? Where?" 

She tried to force herself to keep a neutral face, but her eyes betrayed her sadness. His other senses picked up the change in her body as well. The witch was upset, he could tell, but she was taking it in stride.  There was a melancholy in her gaze that made his heart sink. He hated the sight. Nëela knew Klaus could read her like an open book and ended up pinching her lips together. She then put both hands on the table and tried to give him a crooked smile. No. It wouldn't do! She was not in a good mood, and she didn't have to pretend everything was alright. He watched her facial expression change and adjust to fit her mood. 

"Now we're talking. This is far more honest from you than whatever fake smile you tried to conjure up earlier on."

"I do not like to be seen like this. I did not want you to see me reflect on eternity and wish I had a human lifespan. It is not fair--"

"Nothing is fair!" Klaus interrupted her, slightly irritated by her choice of words. He understood why she was saying this, and it was a reflection they all had at one point in their lives. He was a little bit of a hypocrite because this very thought crossed his mind more than once, but coming from her, it felt as if she didn't want to spend eternity with him anymore. He jumped to conclusions, and she realized he was getting upset himself at a very fast pace.

"No! No, you took it the wrong way. I am not saying that I would give anything to become human again. This ship has sailed a long time ago. I am at peace with my immortality."

"If you were at peace, you wouldn't be thinking about how you wish you had a human lifespan." -He spat at her. She rolled her eyes and shook her head- "What? Tell me I'm wrong, love!"

"You are wrong!  I was reflecting on my immortality, the good and the bad. You can't sit there and pretend that you didn't think of what your life could have been if you had a human lifespan. You can't sit there and pretend you didn't wish you could grow old with the people you fell in love with! You loved, Klaus. You wished. You dreamed! I am also allowed to share the same considerations, am I not?" She furrowed her brows and kept going, signifying that it was a rhetorical question- "Being immortal has its fair share of pain. You know that! For the longest time, I was resentful because I couldn't have children and watch them grow old and die before I do. I was resentful because anyone I would love would either die of old age or have their lives cut short.  I was resentful because I couldn't die unless it was a violent death. I couldn't die and join them in the afterlife because I am cursed. I couldn't die.... And I didn't want to die either! I fought tooth and nail for my survival, Love. I fought so hard to take yet another breath, and look at me! Look at us!" She put her hand above his. He was tempted to remove it, but he left it there-

"What about us? Do you regret being immortal so you could be with me?"

"No! Silly! No! I do not regret it! If anything, loving you makes it all worth it. Loving you gave my heart somewhere safe to be. It made me feel alive again! It gave meaning to my existence. I love you. I protect you. I will go above and beyond to help you. Loving you for eternity feels like a gift the universe gave me after centuries of suffering." -He relaxed and gently grabbed her hand.- "I might have my regrets, things I need to come to terms with because my nature as a cursed witch prevents me from doing certain things... but... I am happy, Klaus. It's messy and confusing, but I am certain that I am happy!"

She watched as he pulled her hand to his lips so he could press a kiss to her skin. His eyes scanned her face, searching for a tiny bit of hesitation, but there was none. She was sincere. As a matter of fact, she was always telling the truth, but Klaus couldn't help himself. Hard habits were hard to kill, weren't they?

"I might have overreacted, Love. I apologize for that." He admitted. It was rare enough for Klaus to apologize, so the witch didn't tease him. She simply smiled at him and gently stroked the back of his hand-

"It's okay. I am not upset.  I just mourn the life I'll never have and the one I lost. I am not going to dwell on it, don't worry. Now that you're here, I will focus on you instead. How did you find me?"

"You left quite a trail, love. I only had to follow it if I wanted to find you." -He grinned and pressed another kiss to the back of her hand.- "Besides, I wanted to see you."

Nëela grinned, her gaze averting from the children to Klaus's face. He looked sharp this afternoon. Instead of his cotton long-sleeved t-shirts and his jeans, he was wearing nice linen pants, a white polo, and a pair of linen shoes.  He lifted a brow and looked at her with his blue eyes look at her. She looked like a doll, with her thin-strapped white stars and blue dress. Her hair was tied in a loose high ponytail, and she had slipped her feet into a pair of black stilettos. When he woke up alone in their bedroom, he found her note stating that she had gone downtown for a walk.  He let her enjoy her morning and focused on his own, but he quickly felt the need to find her. Klaus didn't want to admit to himself that he enjoyed her company. 

He enjoyed her laughter and their little banters, and he wanted to enjoy the sunny day with her. He searched for her and, upon seeing her, couldn't help but smirk to himself. He was happy to see her smile, happy to hear her voice... They were dealing with a lot right now, a rogue witch who threatened his witch and his family. They were dealing with troubles, so this little walk outside was a way for the two of them to get a break from their trouble. He almost ruined it with his short fuse, but she managed to turn it upside down.  His free admission of wanting to see her brightened her face, and she couldn't help but twirl a rebellious pink lock that fell on her nose. 

"Well... The day is still young, and I think we can have a good time today. I'll let you pick where you want to go and we'll do it."

-TBC-

 

GOT: A preying prince

Theodore Tyrell was observing the princess from afar. He watched as she was talking to their host, Bronn, and the two exchanged a couple of quips and laughs. She told the young man that Bronn was a dear friend. He was a loyal and trustworthy companion of Jaime Lannister during the Long Night and apparently, remained a friend even after Queen Daenerys sat on the throne. He thought it was hard to believe since Bronn was clearly not a lord -despite his newly acquired title, saying otherwise-, and clearly not a trustworthy man, given his past as a mercenary. Besides, he didn't need to be a seer to see that Bronn was attracted to the princess. Out of respect for Jaime Lannister and her clear devotion to that man, Bronn didn't attempt to seduce her, but Théodore knew when a man was lusting after a woman. Bronn was clearly mesmerized by Bäahal. He tried to impress her, found any reason to touch her shoulder or back, always joked about replacing Jaime if she needed some novelty, and practically tried to invite himself into her chambers under the guise of a joke. 

Bronn was undressing Bäahal with his eyes every time his eyes wandered over her body. Despite being dressed modestly because she was outside the court, Bronn didn't have much trouble trying to figure out her curves once they were freed of the heavy fabric she was wearing. Princess Bäahal was known to be gorgeous and voluptuous, and despite the layers upon layers of clothing she was wearing, her curves were easy to guess.  Theodore had eyes, even he could tell. It bothered the prince, however, to see that he had a rival in Bronn. It forced him to temper himself and only pick the moments the princess was on her own to try and woo her. Bronn made it difficult for him, and he both hated it and took it as a challenge to win. After all, the princess was sought after by all the bachelor lords and princes of Westeros and perhaps even of the Seven Kingdoms. No one took it to heart that she had already made a choice in a suitor because everyone hated Jaime Lannister and considered he was unworthy of being the princess consort.  Theo himself didn't respect the man and had no qualms about trying to steal his betrothed from him. 

She was oblivious to attention from others, and he assumed that she probably also was oblivious for the longest time to the attention Jaime Lannister had for her.  She was naive, and Theo enjoyed it greatly. A woman like her, whom he mistakenly believed was innocent and inexperienced with men, couldn't possibly realize when a man was lusting after her or when he had genuine feelings for her. In his mind, she had not been touched before -despite rumours spreading about her past as an elite whore at Mereen-. She couldn't be since she wasn't promiscuous and didn't pick up on subtle (and not so subtle) clues from other men. In his mind, she was a land to conquer, and it was a race where whoever got to claim her would win the biggest prize.  As his eyes wandered from her silver hair to her generous curves, he fantasized about taking it from himself.  He wanted to carry her to his bedroom, pull up her heavy dress while she struggles underneath him. He wanted her to worry about what people would say if they knew, as if she were secretly in love with him but couldn't admit it. He wanted to laugh at her face, to tear her undergarments off her,  to finally see for himself how her sweet cunt looked underneath these clothes. Did she have silver hair? Was she bald down there? he imagined both scenarios and could feel his cock twitch against the hard fabric of his pants. 

She was beautiful, the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on. She would look even more beautiful if she were lying on her back, her silver hair crowning her face, her face red from blushing, and shy. Oh, He wanted her to be shy because she had never seen a man before. He wanted her to panic a bit once she saw how well endowed he was. He wanted her to look at him with her big purple eyes while he would guide his cock to her mouth. Make her work for that cock. Make her soak it with her saliva so it will be nice and ready to take her. Theodore groaned and dropped his head for a moment. He wasn't better than any other man lusting after the princess because he was exactly like them. He didn't love Bäahal (how could he when he didn't know her well). He admired her, heard about her exploits, and appreciated her bravery and kindness towards the people. However, lust was his principal motivation. The reason for his obsession. He wanted her. He wanted to hear her moan his name. He wanted to claim the princess, and nothing was going to stop him from it. For a brief moment, she turned around and her gaze met his. She smiled and waved at the prince, who took it as a sign to get closer to her.  he knew his diplomatic mission was short. She was to stay for five days, which weren't enough for him to make a significant move on her, but he decided that he would do his best to wear her out, so she would easily give in to him the next time they met.  He ran his hand through his blonde locks and walked towards the princess with newfound confidence. 

-TBC-

DOYA: in the dark of our room.

"Do you remember their voices?"

Oya's voice broke the silence that had settled in their motel room. She couldn't sleep and had been twisting and turning on their bed for a while before she decided that it would be best if she stayed awake a little longer. She pulled the sheets off of her and shifted on the bed so she could lie her feet flat on the floor.  Her hair was cascading down her back and spilled a bit around her waist and lap. Dean was not sleeping; as a matter of fact, he only kept his eyes shut for a while to get some rest, but was never able to fall into a deep sleep. So he turned on the light and rolled on his side to look at his wife's back. What was she talking about? It was too vague for him to answer, as she could be referring to anyone, dead or alive. This job was one of the most ungrateful ones. It was thankless, restless, and never-ending. Hunters died left and right. Family.... Maybe she was referring to family.  He cleared his throat and answered Oya's question.

"Whose voice, O?" - That sounded like the most sensible thing to say at the moment, so he said it.-

"Your parents'.  Do you remember what your parents sounded like? I have been dreading this day for years, and it's finally happened, babe. I no longer remember the voices of my parents. I don't know my brother's..." -She bit back a sob.-

Guilt. She was feeling guilty, and he could tell because it was lacing her voice and strangling it. Dean was familiar with this feeling, maybe so much so that it became a second skin to him. Every decision he made, from sacrificing himself to save his brother to sacrificing himself to save the world, was made because of guilt. It fueled his heart during fights, motivated him to go above and beyond to repay a cosmic debt he believed he owed the universe. He didn't save his mother. He didn't save his father.  He didn't save Charlie. He didn't even save his own brother from being possessed by the devil. The world? Well, that he managed to save, and more than once at that! But the people he loved? Those he cared about? No. These people died gruesome deaths either because they wanted to save him or because he didn't arrive on time to stop it. Guilt was nothing but a life companion at this point, so he could recognize it in others. He could see it in Oya. 

She lost her family to a monster she failed to recognize and kill. She told him that he possessed the body of her brother, and she was unable to detect its presence until it was too late, and it killed her mother. That night, she lost both and her father followed suit when cancer took over him.  Her former fiancé, who remained a friend of the family after their breakup, also fell prey to a demon and died a couple of weeks later after that night. She had to kill him with her bare hands, a man she used to love and had known most of her life. Guilt had followed her since then, reminding Oya of how much of a failure she was for not noticing sooner. That thought somehow stayed at the back of her head since she met Dean and the two made a life together, but he knew that it came back. Her nightmares were focused on her family again. Her sleep was restless, and she was more irritated than usual. Dean also remembered that they were getting closer to the anniversary of their deaths, which, of course, opened old wounds in his wife's heart. 

"I... remember dad's voice, but only because he's been around for a long time in my life, and his voice is--- he taught Sammy and me how to be hunters. His life lessons are burned into my skull at this point. I can't forget it. Mom's voice.." -He cleared his throat and sat on the bed, his back leaning into the bed headrest- "Mom's voice I can't remember. She died when I was way too young. I don't remember what she sounds like. I can still see her face and her hair, but I don't...know anymore. I can't be sure. "

"Does that make you feel guilty not to remember her? I feel like I'm killing them twice..." -She admitted, her voice cracked and she put her face into her hands- "I feel like I'm an awful daughter for not remembering how they sounded... I'm.."

"Shhhhh... You know it's not true." He quickly moved and sat next to her. "Oya! Look at me." -She tentatively lifted her head so her hazel eyes could stare at Dean's green ones. His large hand cupped his wife's cheek, and he noticed it was wet from the tears she was crying- "Oya.. Hey.. You're not awful. I know that it happens... we tend to forget things, faces, voices.. It sucks but it happens." -He pressed a kiss to her forehead- "That doesn't mean you're awful for that. You always try to honor their memories. You still remember who they were as people. You still know who they were." -It elicited a sob from Oya, who gently leaned into his touch and put both hands around his wrist-

"I'm sorry, Dean. I know you were trying to sleep, but I wanted to pray to my parents and brother since their anniversary is getting closer. I wanted to remember their voices, but I got nothing." -She sobbed harder, her tears fell onto Dean's hand, and he looked at her with an intense gaze. How he hated to see Oya cry! How he hated to see her in pain and being unable to soothe it. 

"I know." -Was all he could say and repeat while he pulled her into a tight hug.- "You have nothing to apologise for. I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry." -He repeated while his left hand slid into her thick mane so he could pet it.-

Oya kept crying. She wrapped her arms around his waist so she could lean her cheek against his chest. She would have preferred to have a nightmare that night. At least they knew how to deal with them.  At least her body was used to it.  To be unable to remember a loved one was distressing to her, and he knew all too well that feeling. There was nothing to be done but to let her cry her soul out while he was petting her hair, in hopes it would bring her some comfort. The fact that he held onto him, crying on his chest, indicated that it was working. It was what she needed. It was the least he could do. Perhaps even the best in that circumstance, but at least he was here for her, and Oya knew it. Oya knew it! 

-TBC-

The day of the Jackal - Final part 10

Alex arranged his bowtie and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He noticed the creases on his face, the mark of the years passing by.  He then put both hands on the sink and ground his teeth. The last couple of months have exhausted them both. Since the death of Dylan Atwater, they left the country and sought refuge in France.  Diane was highly functioning, but she was plagued with nightmares at night, nightmares that he knew came from all of Diane's buried emotions and memories of that dreadful day. She couldn't speak about it for two months, because it always brought her to the verge of breaking down. So he didn't insist and would rather focus on things he knew she would enjoy. He would focus on her for these two months, making every day a beautiful one so Diane could heal and move on. He also took that time off to heal his own wounds and reflect on what happened. 

He kept his promise to Diane. He killed the man who hurt her, but he also witnessed her come to his rescue, fight tooth and nail against that man, and overcome her own trauma and fears. He watched her that night, stronger than ever, focused on her task at hand, and successful in saving the lives of the whole family. He saw her paralyzed as well, unable to make a move upon seeing her rapist and torturer. It was messy. Come to think of it, Alex didn't remember when a fight had been so difficult, nor did he remember being so badly injured that he had to go on a short break so he could heal and be efficient.  Months later, he had healed pretty fast, and there was almost no sign of him ever being in a fight, save for his ribs and the bruises on his sides from Dylan's "intense hug".  It didn't matter much because ultimately, he killed that son of a bitch. He killed Dylan, and he helped the woman he loved finally be vindicated.  He heard the faint footsteps of Diane as she walked into the bathroom. 

"Are you ready, Alex?" -Her voice was calm, so he quietly looked around so he could see her-

Diane was wearing her natural hair, styled in a big afro puff, tied with a red ribbon. Her dress was to die for, a lovely red sequined backless dress. At her feet were a pair of white stilettos, and the only jewels she wore were a pearl necklace with a long pearly chain on the back and a silver bracelet wrapped around her left wrist. She put some makeup on her face, and her plump lips were now adorned with a glossy chocolate lipstick. She was stunning, and Alex couldn't help but smile at her.  She tilted her head to the side and gave him a sheepish smile. 

"I just need a couple of minutes, and we'll be ready to go. Are you ready, Di?"

She nodded, her hazel eyes staring at him. He could no longer feel anger in her eyes since they killed Dylan Atwater. Instead, he felt relief. He felt her relax in a way he had not seen her do before. Her soft eyes averted from his face to his hair, and she slowly ran her fingers through his locks to put his hair in place. For Diane, things have been difficult. Killing Dylan unleashed a flurry of emotions and memories she kept buried deep inside her. She couldn't escape how she felt, the horrors she witnessed, and the pain and helplessness, too. She couldn't hide behind her mission anymore, now that they were all dead. Those ghosts she tried to ignore all those years ago resurfaced, and she saw their faces, locked in agony and fear. There was nothing left but pain and survivor's guilt she had to overcome.  In France, she visited a therapist, renowned for his work with victims of armed conflict. That man helped her face her demons and come to terms with being the only surviving member of her family. He helped her realize that what happened to her wasn't her fault and that nothing could have stopped the perpetrators of such atrocities. He helped her realize that she was a survivor, and she still carried life inside her. 

She still could participate in this life and honor the dead by channeling her pain into something positive. Unbeknownst to her therapist, she was doing it in her very own way. Killing people and taking them off the streets definitely helped their victims. Derailing criminal activities involving human traffickers, drug lords, and other people benefiting from people suffering was useful. At least, in her eyes, she was doing something good. In her eyes, she was honoring her family by saving people. Thanks to that man, she had started the difficult healing process, but she was steady on that road, and she wasn't alone. Alex was there, by her side. During their rescue mission and the fight with Dylan, she realized that she was in love with him.  She realized that she wanted to live. She wanted to build a life with him. She needed him to be alive.  It gave her the strength to face her rapist. It gave her the strength to go toe to toe with him and risk her life. She then cupped his cheek and stroked it with her thumb. He turned his head to the side and gave her a sheepish grin. She pinched her lips together and slowly brought her forehead to his in a gentle touch.

"I know it's not the ideal moment to talk about it, but I've been thinking about it for weeks now."

"Tell me, Diane. I'm all ears." -He gently grabbed her wrist and stroked it with his thumb. His blue eyes set upon her face, and she nodded slowly, as if she was gathering her strength to finally let go of the thoughts trapped in her chest-

" You told me a while ago that you had feelings for me, that you loved me. At the time, I wasn't able to say it back. I couldn't find my words because all I was thinking about was that I would die fighting Dylan Atwater. I believed that there was no future left for me once I completed my revenge, so I couldn't in good faith answer you." -She closed her eyes for a brief moment- "But I have found my voice today. During the rescue mission we did, I froze upon seeing that man. All I could think of was the pain he gave me. All I could do was remember that fateful day. I couldn't move, and that child did his best to snap me out of it. I came back because I couldn't let you fight his monster alone.  I had to save you. I had to do my best to help you survive this encounter. I realized back then that I was in love with you, Alex. I wanted to protect you out of love. I didn't say anything after the fight because I wasn't in the right mental space for that. It took a while, but here I am, ready and willing to say it. I love you, Alex. I want to live my life with you. I want...."

He didn't let her finish. Instead, he grabbed her by the back of her neck. He pressed his lips into a hard kiss and snuck an arm around her waist. He pulled her into a tight hug and pressed her body against his. He didn't expect her to voice her feelings, mostly because he knew she loved him. Yet, it was still pleasant to hear it. She loved him. It made his heart soar, and before he knew it, He had pulled her up, so she could wrap her legs around his waist and he could keep on kissing her. He took a couple of steps so she could press her back on the tiled walls of the bathroom, and she could help support her body while his tongue danced with hers. 

"I love you too, Diane. " -He managed to whisper in between their lips before he resumed kissing her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and closed her eyes so she could savor his kiss.  Diane moaned and slowly pulled away from him so she could look at his face. She smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'm tempted not to go tonight."

"You know we have to. What would they say if we don't show up, mmhhh?" -She tilted her head to the side and pressed another kiss to his nose.- "I know you care a lot about your reputation, so we better be going. I just wanted to let you know that I loved you. I do. I will always." -She smiled and kissed his lips again in a soft kiss.-

He returned the kiss and slowly put her back on her feet. She was right, he cared about his reputation so much so that it kick-started the events in both Germany and Spain. He stroked her cheek with his thumb and slowly went back to the sink. Diane smiled at him and gently pecked his cheek before she walked away from the bathroom. He looked at his reflection, and a visible smile graced his features. Could it be that he was happy? Could it be that he was finally where he wanted to be in life? With someone he loves and someone who loves him? Could it be that he was finally at peace? With someone who understood what he was doing and who could share that life with him. She wouldn't judge him, and he wouldn't have to hide anything from her. For the first time since Nuria, he felt free.  He adjusted his bowtie again and left the bathroom. Tonight, they were working. They both accepted a contract that took place in the same event, which gave them an excuse to work and stunt together, looking their best. Tonight, they were on a date. Tonight he was happy. 

-The end-
 

DDBA chapter 3: encounter on the streets

 // It's happening roughly by the time the task force was built, Muse was killed, and White Tiger was assassinated. Office Powell is once again being an asshole.// 

Hell's Kitchen, Murdock and McDuffie's office, 1 AM. 

"Hayley?"

Daredevil's voice felt like a whip in the air as he recognized her scent. Her peculiar jasmine scent filled his nostrils, disorienting him slightly. He was standing tall, his blind baton pointed at the woman before him. Matt didn't expect to meet with Hayley, especially not when his office had been raided by the Kingpin's task force. Just like when his private apartment was blown up weeks ago, the task force was dead set on destroying everything Matt Murdock held dear in his life. They went after his life but failed to kill him. They still destroyed his flat and forced him to relocate to his old Hell's Kitchen one. His relationship with Heather was severely impacted, and Matt knew it was only a matter of time before they officially broke up. All that was left was his office, shared with Kirsten McDuffie. So far, she had been left unharmed and was smart enough to play along well under Fisk's regime. That night, however, they targeted Kirsten, and Daredevil came to her rescue.  While he protected the lawyer, a woman appeared and began fighting the would-be assassins.  Once Daredevil was sure Kirsten was safely hiding, he joined the fight again, and, unable to know if she was an ally or a foe, they traded blows.

She surprisingly held her own. He recognized that fighting style; it had the signature of H.A.N.D.! She wasn't fighting him seriously as she recognized it was Daredevil, but he still had a decent fight with her. He wanted to assess her level of threat and her true intentions. During their fight, her jasmine scent hit his nostrils, and no matter how hard he fought it,  the scent was too overwhelming for him to ignore. That was why he had to tentatively say her name and see how she would react to it. Her reaction confirmed that he was right. She was stiff; he could tell by the way her breathing changed. Surely, it was Hayley, but he was shocked by her connection to the H.A.N.D. and even more to find her at his office. Did she come to kill him? Did she come to kill him? He had to make sure.  Yet, to her defense,  as soon as she swung by the window and into the office, he noticed that she didn't hesitate to jump right into the fight and took on the assailants, which, in his book, was a strong argument in favor of her being an ally. Once they were through with exchanging a couple of blows, they refocused on their assailants. It was only when the last soldiers were passed out that he said her name. At the sound of it, Hayley blinked and dropped her arms on each side of her frame. She was shocked and confused.

"Widowmaker... It's Widowmaker." -She furrowed her brows and tilted her head to the side. Hayley was racking her brain to remember where she met Daredevil as Hayley, so he could know her name. He had to have crossed paths with her before, to be able to recognize her in her costume, despite her face being covered from her neck to her nose- "Do I know you?" -She ended up asking, her head tilted to the side-

"Did I guess right?" -She swallowed a lump and refused to reply. She took a couple of steps towards the windows, in an attempt to walk away from him, but Daredevil quickly moved forward too and used his arm to block her path- "Hayley!" "She tried to punch him, but he parried it and grabbed her other wrist- "Why are you here?"

"Why are /you/ here?" -She spat at him and instantly regretted it. It was stupid! She knew he was trying to help. She knew he was trying to do something good, but she couldn't help her rhetorical question. It made her curse under her breath and shake her head.-

Matt blinked behind his mask. he was confused by her question because he assumed that people knew what Daredevil was about.  He almost wanted to laugh, but instead tilted his head. She didn't want to say that she had been worried about Matt Murdock ever since his apartment was blown up weeks ago. The news horrified her, so she kick-started an investigation into the matter. Who would want to kill Matt Murdock and why? Her investigation led her to cross paths with the former cop-turned-detective and friend of Matt, Cherry.  He didn't reveal much but hinted at Matt being strongly against Mayor Fisk's anti-vigilante stance. With that information, Hayley put two and two together and realized that Former Kingpin was actually her person of interest in the case. 

The woman quickly went on a prowl. She was searching for Matt Murdock every single night to no avail. He wasn't in Hell's Kitchen, plain and simple. She then took it upon herself to go to Red Hook in an attempt to find him there, but what she found went beyond any expectation. Crooks and criminals were gathered there and were free to do as they pleased. She also found Fisk's task force headquarters and the foot soldiers who inhabited the place. She also watched prisoners being taken there or murdered outside without any qualms. It gave her all the information needed to consider Fisk to be an enemy. Yet her presence that night was pure coincidence. While following Officer Powell, Hayley noticed the commotion and decided to intervene. Now, in front of Daredevil, the brunette furrowed her brows and narrowed her eyes. Her body relaxed slowly. Her grey eyes studied the man before her, the shape of his jaw, the noise... His teeth. It all felt familiar to her, but she still couldn't place him. Daredevil noticed the change in her breathing, and he relaxed his pose as well. 

"Work." -He couldn't possibly tell her the reasons he was here. She narrowed her gaze and wrinkled her nose.- "I mean it. "

"I'm here /because/ of work too." -She conceded, teeth clenched- "Is Miss McDuffie safe?" -He nodded and she closed her eyes, relieved to hear that no one died tonight- Sirens could be heard as police were getting closer to the crime scene. "She can't stay here. We can't trust the police right now. Take her to the shelter of batte--"

"No. I have to meet with the police. If I don't and they see what you two have done here, I'll be in more trouble. I greatly appreciate coming to my defense, Daredevil and..." Kirsten looked at Widowmaker with an inquisitive stare. She had never seen the woman before and was wondering why she came ot her rescue. Daredevil, she trusted more. He protected her while she was hiding in another office in the building, and once the fight was over, Kirsten decided to show up to thank him in person. She didn't expect to see another vigilante in the room, but kept her focus.

"Widowmaker." -Hayley said in a whisper- 

"Widowmaker! I'll just say Daredevil if it doesn't upset you. The city doesn't know you, and given the anti-vigilante laws in place, I can't just bring you up."

"Fair enough. I took the liberty to call the press as soon as I heard the commotion, so whatever happens, there would be witnesses," -She said in a shrug. "We have to go before the police come up here, Daredevil." 

Widowmaker advised Daredevil and ran to the window. She used a grappler to attach to one of the many stairs on the building facing them. She swung out, followed by Daredevil, and reached the outside stairs. Quickly enough, the pair climbed the stairs to the rooftop and both knelt close to the edge, to keep an eye on Kirsten as she met with the Police at the front door of the building. The lawyer was covered with enough plaster powder and debris for the reporters to take good pictures of her and bear witness.  Once Kirsten entered the police car, Hayley sat on the roof and pulled the scarf that hid the lower part of her face down so she could breathe better.  Matt observed her, of course, he was unable to see her face and features, but that strong jasmine scent was even stronger now that he was closer to her. 

"What did you mean you were here because of work? What does this office have to do with your work?" -She swallowed a lump and moistened her lips- "Were you following someone from Fisk's task force?"

"Is it that obvious?" -She groaned, crossing her arms above her chest- "Yes! I have been following one of Fisk's task force officers, Officer Powell. I was looking for that bastard and had him in target when I heard the commotion from here. I knew there were people here and I didn't want anything to happen to Matt Murdock." -She paused for a brief moment- "And his partner and any other people here, of course!" -She quickly added. Matt picked up the slight change in her heartbeat, the way she quickly became uncomfortable, and the speed with which she added the others. She did it for /him/! She wanted to protect him. He couldn't help but smile at that and tilted his head to the other side as he replied.-

"You wanted to help. which is commendable." -He added, in hopes it would allievate the heart of that young woman- "But why were you looking for Officer Powell? Did he beat up one of your clients?" -It slipped off his tongue. He realized a bit too late that he knew her far more than he pretended to. He could hear her heartbeats pick up in speed, and could hear the sound of heavy breathing as realization set in.

"Matt?" -Her voice was dry.-

There was only one person who knew about her nighttime activities. She told the attorney in a little tongue-in-cheek quip that she was beating up abusive spouses to make them stop harassing her clients. It was the truth, but she wanted to disguise it as a joke so the attorney wouldn't use it against her in their case. She only made that joke with him, so the shock of discovering his true identity made her blink.

"......" -He took a deep breath and shook his head. She figured him out! He would have cursed, given a little more time, but the first urge he felt was to answer her. "Yes." -There was no point in lying to her; she would not accept anything less than the truth.-

"Are you freaking kidding me?!!! No /wonder/ I couldn't find Matt Murdock! No wonder /you/ disappeared!" She exclaimed! "Had I known you were Daredevil, I wouldn't have searched for you and worried myself to death..." She pinched her lips together and put both hands on the floor. 

"Were you worried about me?" -Daredevil cut her short. Of everything she said, that was the part that surprised him more than he could say. Why would she be worried about a man she met only twice?- "I mean, Hayley.. I don't understand why you'd--" -She rolled her eyes and cut him short-

"Tssk.. Do we always need to have a reason for everything? I care about you enough to look for you. I was horrified when I heard your apartment got blown up. I searched for you. I even talked to your girlfriend --"

"You talked to Heather?" -Hayley nodded- "And.. And it's an ex. Ex-girlfriend."

"Does she know?" -He swallowed a lump and shrugged.-

Did it matter? She went to work with Fisk, and he could understand her arguments for it. A vigilante assaulted her and nearly killed her. This single encounter definitely changed the way she saw vigilantes, including Daredevil. Someone like Fisk, who posed as a victim of vigilanteism, would have a very enticing speech. He couldn't blame Heather for picking Fisk's side, but he couldn't keep on dating her because the Fisks were sworn enemies of his. They ruined his life so many times and even went as far as to kill his best friend. He couldn't support Heather and couldn't tell her what his grudge against the mayor was without outing himself. Did she know he was Daredevil? After all that happened, she probably figured out it was him. If she did, she hid it very well, and her joining Fisk was a statement. If she didn't, she would end up putting two plus two, and she wouldn't want to keep dating a man who hid his secret identity from her.  Either way, they weren't meant to last. Matt tilted his head to the side and snarled at her question. 

"It's complicated.... Hayley.. Are we-- Are we se-Seriously doing this?"

"Doing what? You're the one who asked me if I talked to Heather, and I told you that I did. She had no idea of your whereabouts, so I kept looking for you. I didn't want one of the rare good men of Hell's Kitchen to go up in flames." She pinched the bridge of her nose and watched as Daredevil stood up. "I wanted you to live. I still do."

"Well, I'm not dead yet, Hayley." -Matt quipped, before he stroked the tip of his nose and gave her a sheepish smile- "Thank you. It's very kind of you. I didn't expect--" -he cut himself short- "Hayley. Vigilantes are still outlawed. I would like to see you again, but I know that  there wouldn't be many opportunities for us to meet until there is no more curfew."

"I can...You can come to my place at night. I mean.... if the window is open, that means I'm home. If it's not, that means I'm on the prowl. Maybe this could be... Maybe this could be a way for us to actually meet under these circumstances? What do you think?"

"Are you... inviting me over to your place?" -He couldn't help but chuckle.- "This sounds so awkward, but yes. We can do it. I just need to know where you live."

"Don't... Don't misinterpret what I-I  said. I'm not... jumping on the occasion to--- to try and get into your pants, okay? I mean.." -She was blushing, he could tell thanks to his super senses.  It was cute, and that made him smile a little more.-

"It's okay. I never thought it was your intention, Hayley. However, I have to warn you. Following Officer Powell puts you in great danger. There are far more people than just the ten officers he shows the public. A lot of them are in Red Hook, hiding, waiting for his next order."

"I know." -She said in a shrug-

"How?" -Daredevil blinked under his mask, confused by how calm Hayley was.-

"I've been there. I told you I was looking for you. I searched all of Hell's Kitchen but not Red Hook, so I went there to try and see if you weren't stranded there. What I saw was... There were so many foot soldiers there, and crooks and criminals working for Fisk. I wanted to go further, but I realized there were too many people around me. In a direct fight, with how many they were, I could have been seriously injured if not dead." 

She put her thumb to her mouth and bit it lightly. Hayley was so distracted that she didn't see Matt's expression. It suddenly made sense. Officer Powell was a real piece of shit, Matt already had run-ins with him. It made sense that she would be hunting him down because he was abusive to an ex-girlfriend. After all, that was Widowmaker's whole shtick for all he knew. She went after abusive spouses.  Yet, he couldn't help but think that there was more to it. She wasn't just a simple vigilante with a noble cause. Had she been noble, she would not have beaten up abusive people left and right. He paused for a second. Since when did he become so righteous? He was doing the same thing, give or take a few different situations, but it was all the same. It made him grunt, and he offered his hand to her so she could quickly get back on her feet. 

"I see. I'm not trying to stop you from doing what you want, but I would very much like you to stay alive, Hayley.  I'll look up your address and find you at night. We shouldn't stay here because they will eventually find us. "He then gently squeezed her hand.- "I appreciate it greatly that you came for me. I'll do my very best to return the favor." 

"I've yet to see the day I need a favor, but let's never say never." She pulled her mask back up her nose while he released her hand. "I'll try not to tail Officer Powell in the next couple of days. I was so caught up with him and with you that I wasn't doing my job properly. They need me there." She toook a couple of steps away from him before she turned around. "...And Matt, it feels good to know you're okay. Don't be a fool either, okay?" She rhetorically spoke before she vanished into the night.

Daredevil was left alone on that rooftop. He noticed the slight change in the pace of his heartbeat. He didn't quite know what to make of this encounter with Hayley, but he enjoyed seeing her. It was brief, but they worked well together. He couldn't get her scent off his head. He was touched by her desire to protect him and was charmed by her. He couldn't deny it even if he wanted to. He was charmed by Hayley and intrigued by her. There was still a shroud of mystery surrounding her, and he wanted to know more about her. He shook his head, and a smile graced his features before he ran and swung out of the building. He would keep his word and would meet her. He didn't know what exactly would happen when he entered her apartment, but he wanted to see her again.  He had to. 

-TBC-