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"Send her back." I say, but when the special staff move towards her acquaintance, I make clear. "Matteo." And they Stop. Without any display of confusion, he moves. When I am with my woman, she don't need no guard.
Especially the one who let her consume so much alcohol despite seeing her intolerance.
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"Callen?" Zenovia blinking hard let's out a joyous hoarse whisper.
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I'd never seen zenovia sit like that, so deflated. Her loose shoulders shook, her hands hanging low, making no attempt to conceal or even wipe away her own tears. Aside from her reddened face she was so grey looking and her hair was as dishevelled as the park under fall leaves. I've seen others cry like that and in every case it was a transition from a person with hope to one without. It was how my victims cried when they lost someone their own; it was how I once saw mom crying. It's a kind of crying that shows the child underneath, that the hurt has cut right back through the protective layers acquired in maturity.
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Red-hot tears ran down her face, each one carving furrows on the tender flesh, it stung me. I hope she doesn't remember this night.
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I pick her up and she jolts faintly in resistance. "Yea. It's me, love."
"Oh thank god it's you." And she melts to sleep sinking deeper in my embrace.
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I suspect, She's either going to wake up a depressed divorcee or
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As determined as a mother on mission.
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She wakes up again in the car, I thought to throw up but she hiccups "I've been missing you. Welcome home." And went back to snoring.
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We passed the graffiti and the scarred lampposts, barely noticing the beat up old cars. but I've found my love and not a thing or a person could ever take that away. The people that passed me didn't irritate me as much any longer, doing anything pastime didn't seem that senseless, Ahead was the intersection and we stop, I focus on the stars which I ever felt so pathetic look fascinating now. There would be time enough to enjoy the early summer warmth before boarding. The air was sweet and there was no hurry, my world have been cast anew and I am savouring every moment.
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I hope I'm not beaming like a creep right now.
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Sometimes, I want to stop the construction work of her house, or just have it revert back to debris.
So, she Don't have a choice but to stay with me.
Sad part, I know it's no way possible. It's Better I play good guy n maintain my place in her good books. Though I wanna be the only one in that book. Ok Let's say, page.. no, line.
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Uh.
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I run my hand down my face to supress my growl.
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"Kai.." yet she lets out a breathy whisper of longing in her sleep clutching my fabric.
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Out of all things she misses her kid more.
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I lay my palm on her forehead n stroke back the locks falling to her face.
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My phone vibrates, it's Antonio.
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I revert my eyes to the passing vehicles. "Hey, what's the update?"
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"Im confirmed he's coming, I have a hunch Amber might show up too." His voice his thick with eagerness.
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I am too, so I refrain from raising expectations.
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"I'll be there by afternoon." I ensure him. He hmms and cut the call.
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Laying her on bed and trash can next to it, I make my way to the basement wrapping handwraps for combat practice around my knuckles.
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I set myself against the fresh street ring winner for tonight practice.
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Not heavily muscular, but proportionate built. His expertise should be in martial arts, not in full-weight body slamming, I presume.
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We were past introductory conversation and warm-up fight,
From what I learnt his dominant skills are indeed Mixed martial arts, yet he has a good command in boxing and wrestling too.
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Not more than a word or two provocative words shared inbetween kicks, punches.
I feel the tension and hear the intensity in his tone. There's a great deal of emotion behind some words he is speaking.
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Not that I'll remember, next time I enter this room it'll be another best performance.
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In that frozen second between stand off and fighting I see his eyes flick from me to something behind me. And then I do something new, I do a pre-motion. His eyes focus back at me as I hear, in that distractive moment I hear door click shut. Instead of waiting for attack to unfold and then react backhand consequently respond his series of lashes, I calm myself and think of where my usual responses take us at these times.
Seeing what unfolds, instead of being offensive I hail cross, hook lead punches in rapid succession.
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So fast he can't catch.
He is left to his best shot, the karate kick.
I fall, as expected. Wrestling, body slam techniques come instinctively to me at this position. He can't yet switch from offensive to defensive tackle. Our faces are unreadable, no fear, no invitational smirk. I am banking on him making the mistake I predicted he would, and he do. His palm hit my chest pushing me more into the ground, the pressure applied have him gritting teeth the growl erupting from his core. My head tilt back to an extent I can feel my throat nerve throb.
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I notice Zenovia standing stick to the wall by the door. I have to defend myself.. I am distracted for real now. My pure stress from evaluating his Breathings focus on her pantings.
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In that instant he fly at me, ignoring all limits.
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"Enough! Stop!!" She yells.
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He does. He is used to ring commands like that.
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I'm not. Real world is not.
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All are dying, yet survivors go on.
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The instruction to stop is never followed in the real world.
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I take the chance, which totally defeats the purpose of me bagging him to fall on the short side and prepare myself for the bigger fight, 'cause once again, because of the interruption,
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I'm taking the lead,
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Attacking,
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Urging him to go on.
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He's confused for a sec but gets back on track.
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He needs validation of his emotions, not some speech or apology.
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I give him the nod.
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He charges himself with more strength, gaining himself back in the provided break.
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I stand still in wait to reciprocate whatever pain he plans to inflict on me.
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"I said!!" The faint voice become clearer and the guy's pace slows down. "ENOUGH!!" and damn with her arms flexed take stances in front of me, like a shield.
I am the one protecting 'my people,' she has no need to defend me.
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I can accept and understand how she comes to feel this way, that in the same situation anyone would feel it too.
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And things do go different, not magical fairytale-esque, but there is some healing and more damage is prevented. A simple act that she holds spirit to block what comes my my way cheers me up, I'm charged with heat I want her to quell. At the same time I lock eye lightening a pure warning with the guy.
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He put a break on his heels. And clenches his fists back to his sides, head down.
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"Thanks, bud. Like the umpire says, enough for today." I switch to chill composure, something my girl is comfortable with. My attendant emerge from the shadows and toss us both a towel.
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I Huff out "Let's leave it at that."
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I'm gonna grip this fight's idea for upcoming ordeal. Apparently I can steer tomorrow's meet in a better direction.
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A soft palm rests on up my jaw. It's hers,
I look back at her, her gaze is roaming worrisome all over me for injuries. My body is still numb, maybe that's why it took time for me to feel her cold palm. If she's searching for something, my expression is still impassive, my training holding up despite this being my first interruption. There is no pleasure in my face from violence, as I never expected there to be, a shortcut to solution, it though impresses me.
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And tomorrow night there will be tears. "I Thought I'd have to throw you in the cold shower to wake you up in the morning." I laugh.
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"Teach me a thing or two." As monotonicaly it came from her, she must be building up the courage to ask me ever since she got here perhaps. I can tell just by her unsure expression.
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I smile, "sure."
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She blushes.
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Or is it the fever? Hangover?
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"It's already morning." She says, or cries estheticaly.
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"You eat something?" Otherwise I'll have to hurry and get her filled. She slept on an empty stomach.
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I rest my hand on her forehead.
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She shakes her head. I curse in a whisper. She doesn't miss it offcourse.
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I can't feel her heat, mine overrides her.
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I wave my finger up and catch the bottle thrown my way. This'll help cool down.
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"Next time you see something like this, run away. Hide. Not even in your dreams think about jumping inbetween. Never." I warn her and made sure to hold her eyes. I must sound harsh 'cause her face fell.
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"This is what I do, zenovia. It's not good to involve yourself, will hurt me more." I offer the guiltiest look, she buys it.
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Good.
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Best part, she never questions laid out facts.
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If talking wouldn't have convinced her, locking her up is always an option way more convenient.
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I am blinded by the merits infact.
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I do teach her a few self defence techniques for starters, practicing everyday will improve her speed and that's what I tell her.
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She drapes a bandage over my forearm noticing some bruise and looks for more.
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"Lets eat then, shall we?" I suddenly move and her things drop as She nods bewildered.
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"Besides, I have to talk to you."
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"Me too." She chimes. I grow curious. She did went overboard yesterday.
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Since, we eating lunch together with no rush, I was confirmed she's not going hospital today.
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Even if wanted to, she couldn't.
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"We have to be somewhere today." I come on point. Her eyebrows creased.
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She's mad even with the idea of going somewhere.
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Great.
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"Where?"
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"Back to my parent's, today's their wedding anniversary. It's a huge gathering."
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"Oh. Ok. Cool." She shrugged alrighty.
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But.
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"There's a catch."
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She stops mid bite, "things might go violent." That's when her eyes fixated on mine. When I wait a beat she raises her brow.
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"That man might show up with Amber. The man who abducted her. Our plan is to first rescue amber then attack him. Put him through same hell he did to all of us. Especially My Precious Amber. It's result of my carelessness. How can I be so Reckless! .. that's why," I rest my hand on hers she grows confused yet curious. I expect her to react mildly, she'll never show her open disapproval in the heat of emotions.
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Sometimes, I hate that composure. I want her to vent out all she has on me, in any form.
Not get drunk.
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"I'll be leading on the fighting grounds from our side." Her hands shook and I squeeze the back of her hand, she presses almost instantly my hand with her free one.
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"Why?" She quivers.
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I open my mouth to express my love for my sister, But before I can start my never-ending tales, she breaks again "Why You?". Her eyes tear up, I purse my lips.
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"I don't wanna lose you, Callen. Please." A tear leaks. And her persuading stare pricks me.
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Her lashes shade her eyes next as she focas at my gulping Adams apple next.
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I can't promise my life.
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For next five minutes, silence rules the atmosphere.
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I get up first,
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Wipe her tears away,
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Pick her,
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Cradle her as I settle on the couch.
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"You're going to be with me. It's not gonna be all bad." She only nods, not meeting my eyes, but somewhere along the walls.
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I jump to point.
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"Promise me you will not jump in between fight in any way. Stay in the hide whatever happens."
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Her eyes go wide and she fixes on me shaking her head.
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"Otherwise I'm locking you up here. No choice."
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"Ok. I promise, I'm not -I'll stay hidden."
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"And?" I raise a brow.
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"And not jump in.." I give her the look. ".. in any fight."
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And I thank her smooching my lips on hers and she gives in as hungrily.
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I so Love Her..
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