Hunter and Hunted (Skull612)

[Kitten]

Anne's face burned a dark red as the man complimented her. Most men barely acknowledged her, and one had never complimented her before. She hesitated when he got close, and she was right, he smelled good and clean, probably better than she did in these same clothes she'd had forever. When you had to steal everything it seemed wrong to got out get something else before the first stuff wore out. The young woman licked her lips a little nervously, but finally nodded and put her hands on his shoulders.

"It's not broken," she hurried to assure the man. It hurt like the dickens, but even now the throbbing seemed to have lessened, and she was sure if it had broken that even the light weight she put on it would have been agony. "I think I just twisted it real bad." She kept her hands firmly tangled up in his shirt, looking curiously down at him with her blue eyes.

"I... got startled." The reality of her huge blunder and subsequent flight from the scene of the crime was too embarrassing to relate to a stranger, no matter how tall dark and handsome. "It's nothing..." The brunette blushed again, biting her lip as her stomach growled loudly.

[Skull612]

Lyall simply waited with a patient smile as Anne hesitantly contemplated on what he asked, the dark doing little to hide her blush at the compliment he'd given her. He had to guess that the woman's interaction with other people in the past hadn't gone so smoothly. 'She's probably been afraid of being found out more than anything.' He thought, as she finally placed her hands upon his shoulder so he could check her leg. "Well, I would think not. You wouldn't be standing so easy if it was." He confirmed, as he lightly checked around the area of swelling with his hand, watching her face for her reaction. As best he could tell, it wasn't all that serious but it was a pretty bad twist all the same.

"That said...it's not something you need to be walking on for a little while, gotta give it time for the swelling to go down." He announced, gently releasing her leg as she tried to give an explanation for her injury. Though, the hunter had already heard the other side of that story. "You were in town disguised as someone, when the person you were disguised as walked in and spooked ya, right?" He asked, before adding on when he heard her stomach growl. "And now I think I know why. You were trying to steal food, weren't you?" He looked around the room again as he asked this, to the few scattered belongings the woman possessed, then back to herself and her clothes. Stealing was likely how she made her living.

The hunter brings his face back up to meet hers, staring into those blue eyes for a moment or so before he speaks again. "Do you have...any family at all Anne? How long have you been alone?" Lyall had already made his mind up, he wasn't about to harm this woman...but he didn't want to leave her alone to face other hunters who might come this way either. So, the young man only found one alternative. Even as he was waiting to hear her answer, the hunter softly took one of her hands in his own bigger palm before turning himself around still kneeling before her. He stretches his arms out, in the pose one would take while waiting for another to hop on their back for a piggyback. "Come on then, up with you." Is all the young man says, just waiting with his usual smile for her likely confused reaction.

[Kitten]

Anne felt the heat in her cheeks once more as his warm hand touched her ankle and the blush only grew darker as he started to talk calmly about the situation at hand. Hunter's were smart, but Lyall seemed to be more observant than most. He didn't seem to be judging her, just gently laying out the facts of her depressing situation as though she hadn't slipped into the lowest echelon of society.

"I only take what I need," her voice was soft as blue eyes flicked to the her few earthly possessions. "I bought the rest." It sounded like an excuse to her ears, but again Lyall didn't seem interested in accusing her of anything. She tucked her mousy hair behind her ear again, something that made the young woman feel at ease while she tried to collect her thoughts. She'd been alone for a long time and as dangerous as it was to put her trust in this man, she didn't want to spend the rest of this hungry night alone.

"A Hunter killed my mother six years ago. I've been running ever since." She looked at him in confusion when he took her hand and turned around. After a moment Anne realized what the man wanted and licked her lips as she thought. "Don't make me regret this," it sounded braver than she felt, and she braced on his shoulder with her other hand, hopping up anyway. Decision made.

[Skull612]

"So it's as I thought...i'm sorry to hear that. Hunters...well no, people in general are a distrusting bunch. They fear what they don't understand. I don't need to tell you then, that most other hunters wouldn't have been like I am." Lyall answers softly, upon hearing the fate of Anne's mother. So for six years this woman had been surviving through whatever means necessary. Though some things she had said still left the hunter curious, and others he didn't entirely approve of, these thoughts Lyall ignored. He could speak to her of such things after she could focus on more than hunger.

Once on his back, the hunter chuckled at her choice of words while gripping her legs so as to keep her firmly on his back. "Well, you were fairly easy to kidnap, and so light at that. I suppose that means i've made a good impression. Don't worry, i've no intentions of betraying the trust you put in me. Now, onwards to...whichever way the exit is. The one that doesn't make me look like a suspicious burglar." Lyall remarks, trying to see his way out of the room and through the darkened building.

"So, seeing how the big scary monster has now been captured by the brave hunter...what do you think you'll do now Anne?" Lyall asks as he maneuvers his way around worn out furniture and creaky floorboards, yep definitely a creepier looking place in the dark. "You said you want to leave, but you don't really have anywhere to go right? So hows about staying with me a while? After all, I won't feel right leaving you to be while your leg is still healing anyway." He offered in a polite manner. "You don't have to decide right away." He added, releasing a hold on one of her legs to get the door open before stepping out into the cool night air once more. "At the very least, soon as we get to my car i'm taking you to get some food right now. A blind man could find you as much noise as your stomach is making." He teases with a soft chuckle, then follows the path leading away from the abandoned office, making a mental note to come back for her belongings later.

[Kitten]

"Yeah, I know." Anne murmured as she got comfortable, putting her arms around his neck and leaning her head to one side so that they could talk more easily. He was the first Hunter who had ever gotten this close, but the one who'd killed her mother hadn't seemed interested in talking.

"Is this a kidnapping?" She asked softly. "It's sort of romantic for one don't you think? Next time start with the bag over my head." She was joking of course. "And for future reference I'd prefer handcuffed to a radiator over tied to a chair, if it's all the same to you." She smiled at her own joke but it was hard to keep her eyes open. The easy sway of his body was lulling her, and he was so much warmer than her own skinny body.

"Watch the curb," she murmured as she snuggled up closer. He was even more muscular than he looked, his body hard under her hands and thighs. The blue eyed young woman stayed silent as she considered his words. Her intention was to flee as soon as the Hunter left her alone, start over in another town as she always did, maybe somewhere that didn't get so cold in the winter, maybe near the ocean.

If she stayed with the man she'd be vulnerable, but no more so vulnerable than she was right now. At least with him another Hunter might think twice before shooting her point blank. Also, from what she understood Hunter's traveled a lot, so if he started acting funny then she could just lose him on the road. This was the most time she'd spent around another person in years, and while it was risky she was just too lonely to give it up right away.

"What d'ya want me for Lyall?" She finally asked hesitantly. "I'm no good at tracking and I would probably slow you down." Her senses were better than a human's, but not by much, not as much as a werewolf or anything. "I don't have any way to pay you for the food. I was trying to steal my meal before you found me after all."

[Skull612]

Lyall laughs a little at Anne's comment, turning his head back a little towards her to easier answer her. "Is it? Well, I certainly can't complain. After all, I certainly didn't expect to leave here carrying a pretty little thing like you. Unfortunately I left the bag and rope back in my trunk so...maybe next time." He replies in a playful tone, chuckling to himself at the silliness of it all. "So handcuffs not rope, i'll keep that in mind." He jokes back, looking down when she mentions the curb just in time to avoid tripping over it.

She stayed silent for a long while after Lyall made his offer, likely considering it all. They had just met after all, and other than him not seeming to have any bad intentions towards her, she didn't truly have any reasons to trust him. Though Lyall's mind seemed to be made up already towards the young woman. She didn't pose any threat, and leaving her helpless would just be wrong. So he intended to help, if she accepted. By the time Anne hesitantly spoke again, asking Lyall's intentions, the back of his old blue GTO was just coming into vision. He'd parked away from the office specifically to avoid being detected. Now he walked up to the passenger side door, opening it for Anne before leaning down to let her off his back and help her inside.

Once seated, the young hunter sighs and begins pulling his arms out the sleeve of his overcoat. "What do I want ya for? Well...I suppose if I had to give a reason, that would be company. Though I don't think I really need a reason to want to help someone in need. You're no monster Anne, and you don't deserve being hunted like one. You deserve the same chances everyone else has, and right now some good food and a hot bath would probably do you alot of good. That's all really." He answers with a goofy looking smile, the type that few could doubt the sincerity of, then hands her his overcoat. Beneath his overcoat, Lyall wears a simple tight fitting sleeveless dark blue undershirt, with straps coming up around his shoulders. Anne would be able to see the weapons the hunter keeps strapped to his body, along with his general musculature should her eyes wander. His revealed arms both bear scars, but his right arm in particular draws the most attention, adorned with what look to be tattoos from his should down to his wrist.

"Hold my coat when we're going through town please. Just in case." He politely asks before carefully shutting her door and walking over to the other side. He stops to look around for a quick second before opening his door and joining the seat next to her. "Oh, and I don't recall saying anything about you paying for food. Though...well you did bring up the option of me being a pimp. So if I ever find a good cane..." He appears to think on this for a moment before turning back to Anne with a playful grin then shoving his key in the ignition and starting up his car. Soon the hunter is rolling down the road, with an unexpected new companion joining him.

[Kitten]

Anne blushed as he complimented her a second time, hiding her face a little against his big shoulder. She knew herself that she wasn't the type to turn heads, but at some point after she'd been on the run it became obvious that men, and sometimes women, were looking at her. She had always been a slender girl, but days and nights of walking gave her body a more athletic look. She had a plainly pretty, girl next door sort of face with a spattering of freckles across her nose. Getting boobs had been a little bit of a shock, one day her thin t-shirts had strained under the C-cups and she'd started wearing baggy hoodies even on the hottest days. Her trim waist led down to shapely hips and a tight, firm little ass from all of that cardio.

When the coat came off however, the only body the young woman could think about was Lyall's. Blue eyes were briefly drawn to the outline of his weapons, and she felt the smallest lick of fear in her stomach. It was quickly replaced by a bolt of raw desire unlike any she'd ever felt and she hardly noticed that he'd spoken until the heavy coat plopped into her lap. Blinking rapidly the brunette willed her mind to catch up with her eyes and found that she had an unmistakable lump in her throat. It had been a long time since she'd been any kind of real chance at something more than survival.

Swallowing the sudden emotion down, Anne breathed through it and offered the other another quick smile. "Alright, I guess I'll stay with you. For your own good," she joked as they started to drive. "After all someone has to look out for you right? I mean... it is hard out here for a pimp."

She looked at him for as long as she felt she could get away with, eyes drawn to the tattoo on his arm. She wanted an arm tattoo now, it made him look dangerous but also somehow like he'd be a good guy. A cool guy who would sit and drink with you and maybe smoke a cigarette with an easy smile.

[Skull612]

Lyall wasn't blind enough to not notice the younger woman looking at him, but all the same he wasn't the type to be vain. His appearance...had never really been for anyone else. He stayed in shape because his work demanded it. On somedays a few more hours on muscle training might just have been the difference between life and death. Oh, he certainly turned a few heads, but for the most part a hunter's life can be fairly lonesome. Mostly, he was glad to have that loneliness broken for a while. That Anne happened to be quite fetching in the hunter's eyes, was even better. In fact the hunter was even a little disappointed to let her off his back so soon when they reached his car, the feeling of her warmth against his back had felt...nice.

Looking ahead at the road, Lyall's grin widens just slightly as Anne announces her intent to stay with him. Hearing those words, made the hunter feel an ever so slight tug in his chest that he couldn't quite place. All he knew, was it made him happy for the moment. He chuckles as Anne teases him back about the pimp comment, raising his hand up to adjust his rear view mirror slightly so as to see her. "That sounds pretty nice, alright then. Welcome aboard then, i'll be counting on you." He states, smiling broadly as he drives into the center part of town to find a quick place to get some food.

He decides to stop by a simple fast food joint, not the most romantic of places but seeing how some people had seen Anne, he didn't want to risk her being revealed. Most diners or such were already closed for the night anyways and besides, she'd seemed rather hungry, better to pick up something they wouldn't have to wait long for. He pulls in behind another car ordering and asks Anne what she'd like, instructing her to simply pull his coat over her once they get up to the window. With food obtained and paid for, Lyall then starts off again, telling Anne the coast is clear as he starts heading for the hotel that had been supplied for him for this job.

[Kitten]

"And maybe some beer?" Anne asked as they headed away from the drive through and she moved the coat back down from where she'd been sort of hiding under it. "I'm of age," she added quickly. Not that she hadn't been stealing alcohol from a young age, but once she had realized that beer was not equal to food in the 'worth your life and limbs' department, her underage drinking days were over.

She still liked it, or the idea of it anyway. It was a grown up thing to drink and she was a grown up after all. The smell of food made her jaw ache and her stomach growl loudly, so she was more concerned with that than with alcohol anyway. "We need to go back for my stuff before we leave." She said quietly, curling her legs up and burrowing under the coat.

Food and sleep were the only things she was really interested in at the moment anyway, and with that thought Anne reached out with slim fingers and snatched a French fry out of the bag, chewing it with a happy sigh.

[Skull612]

"Oh, you drink?" Lyall passes a glance over at his passenger through the rear view, making a curious expression before starting to chuckle to himself. "You sure you can handle much? Well if you want i've got some back at the room anyway." He found kicking back with a couple of cold ones was often a very fine way to end the day, doing so with company all the moreso. Though Anne's quick follow-up did bring to mind other questions. "So, how old are you anyway Anne? Don't think I asked earlier."

While making conversation Lyall kept his eyes peeled to the road ahead, the smell of food from the paper bag even reaching him as he drove on. Beside him, he could hear the younger woman's stomach growl again, and he couldn't help himself but to chuckle. "Whats in there is yours too, don't be afraid to dig in. Just leave me mine." He said with a smile, before she brings up the belongings she'd left behind. "Don't worry, I already planned too. Probably in the morning before we hit the road, we've a little drive to get to my place."

He turns his head just slightly from the road, as Anne burrows under his coat and finally reaches that small hand of hers out for a french fry. In that moment, she seemed to have such a happy expression, that Lyall would be hard pressed to find another description for, other than cute. Seeing her so, lit up by the moon overhead, it made the hunter glad he'd made the decision he had. Lyall softly smiles to himself as and continues on, shortly arriving at the hotel he'd chosen. It was on the edge of town, away from the activity of the main areas. Just how he usually liked 'em.