Day Three: Early Morning

[Violet]

Words weren’t needed to express the emotion that soared through her right now. The simple fact that he had let an almost guaranteed kill go free all to check on her welfare spoke volumes more than what any mere sentiments could do justice for. She was grateful not only that her life remained intact, but that of her rather perplexing partner’s, as well. Well, more than grateful, she was ecstatic. They had lived to see another day, which had crept in on stormy feet, the winds of the tempest whipping the tattered curtains wildly as it seeped in through broken panes of the windows. They were safe, they were together, and that, in this moment, were all that mattered.

Scooting back against the dusty back of the couch, she pulled her blanket back and padded the empty space in front of her with a blistered hand. “There’s more room on here, Bar. I know it’s not the best arrangement in the world, and I know how you are with being this close to other people, but it sure beats the hell out of sleeping on the floor again.”

Despite his better judgment, he crawled onto the couch, his back to her as she lowered the blanket around them. There was only one, and she knew that he deserved it much more than she did, hell right now, the burns were producing enough heat on their own to keep her warm. A small gap remained between their bodies, but that was quickly filled when she stretched her lithe form against his back, one arm resting along her side, the other beneath her head to serve as a pillow. He settled in against her, his eyes drifting closed while holding his injured hand against his chest. He was far too exhausted to protest this rather unconventional breach of his personal space, but he couldn’t bring himself to complain. Instead, he drifted off to sleep, the warm press of her body against his back a comforting presence to his weary form.

Violet laid in the darkness for a while, her eyes open, listening to his soft snores as the storm raged on outside. The raindrops pelted the metal roof above, a macabre lullaby to accompany the rare moment between the two shifting souls. Letting her hand glide slowly around his waist, she wove her fingers into the soft material of his shirt. His presence was a welcome one, comforting, safe. He was her island in the middle of the ocean, the safe harbor from the shark infested depths.

“Thanks for coming with me, Bar. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” Her soft whisper barely reached through the gauzy veil of sleep, but he had heard them. His good hand clutched hers, and they slept.


* * * * * * * * * * *

Stubbing the burning end of his cigar out in the marble ashtray, the infuriated changeling growled menacingly at the latest developments of his ex and her partner. By some lucky stroke of fucking luck, they managed to scrape by what by all logical means, should have been their end. Instead, it was that android she had spoken of so much, back in her ‘glory days’ when she was still associated with the famous Civil Unrest clan. The monkey man had blasted a deadly projectile at the already dilapidated skeleton of the bus, of which, Violet had also been in. Instead of her going down in the flaming inferno, it was the android, and she lived once more to tell the tale.

“Damn her, damn HIM.” He cursed beneath his breath. His eyes were two points of fire as he watched the aftermath, watched the intimacy of the moment as they settled in for the night. In the pit of his stomach, anger stewed, with just a little jealousy to add spice to this particular soup. “They were supposed to die. I paid those motherfuckers far too much for an early death, and yet, they still can’t bring themselves to kill off their moneymakers. Money grubbing bastards.”

The screen suddenly flicked to other teams, all in various states of health and situations. A few interested him, either because of their tactics, or their chemistry; he especially loved the taco idea that one of the other Saiyans had come up with. The expression on his blonde companion’s face made him chuckle. What a waste of cells. he thought darkly at the thought of their species. He hated them enough, but they did provide some top notch entertainment.

A knock at the door drew him from his reverie. Quickly melting back into his blonde haired human form, he invited the intruder inside. His face brightening with mock enthusiasm, Surreo welcomed the Chief of Staff of the Japanese Naval Command. Today, negotiations that would ultimately spell death to half the continent would be sealed, the ignorant human would be none the wiser as he signed his people’s lives away.

The papers were drawn, signed, and dated. The day was looking up for the disturbed Changeling. Now, if only he could do something about them damned pests Violet and her pet Saiyan, Bardock. In time, all in time, he thought to himself. All in good time.