Who: Shion and Jason Where: From the Auction House to "his" Beach House retreat When: Week 1. Sunday. Afternoon/Evening. Rating: SFW Status: Closed, Complete, (IM Log, super long. Be warned.)
They were still muttering and mumbling amongst themselves as he made his way out of the auction floor and towards collections. He was sure they would be expecting a cheque from him or some high end credit card; that’s usually how these kind of deals worked. Jason didn’t work that way, or at least not when he was so fresh into town anyways. He walked, no, strode across the large and impressively furnished room towards the main reception desk and placed two large rolls of cash on the table in front of the clerk who just stared at it in disbelief for a moment. “What can I say? Cash is king.” He explained with a little apologetic grin before the flustered clerk scrambled to get whatever documents they need to have signed.
He might have been fresh into town but he wasn’t unprepared, and so when asked, Jason had an out of town ID ready for them and matched Security card and even an address for the chip system. If the middle of a bay in of the coast of California counted as an address. They didn’t seem to question it which meant they weren’t checking because no one in their right mind would throw down that kind of money and then lie about everything else. Especially not with so many weres and vampire about the place; he’d be instantly found out!
A handful of minutes later, he was being shown into the waiting room to claim his new “prize”. She was still breath taking as before; still stunning and he was still dumbstruck when faced by her. His blue eye blinked once then a second time as he remembered how to speak and cleared his throat quickly. Time mattered now because it was running out if someone decided to check out his fake address or socials number. “Hi...So, uh...This is kind of sudden but...If you’re ready to go, then...Wanna run away with me?” He asked in a light tone as a slow grin worked its way across his lips and light up his face as he offered her his elbow to take.
Shion jumped as the door clicked open and the man who bought her stepped. Well, he wasn't a man, not really. He looked no older than she was, with playful eyes and an easy grin that slid across pouty lips. Everything about him drew her.
For a moment, Shion froze, not exactly sure what to say or do with his words. His question made her smile though and she reached for the bag that had her clothes and belongings that she had come to america with. Shion pulled out a large sweater and a pair of pants to pull on.
Once dressed, she slid her hand out towards him and nodded. “Hai, run away?” While she’d spent years studying english and spoke it quite well, he didn't know it. A person could get away with a lot more if she didn't understand.
He didn’t think it was possible for his grin to grow any larger but as she reached for him and spoke, the sheer joy that swelled inside his heart reflected on his face. He took her hand in his and nodded at her than gave a wink, “Very fast.” He said softly just for her as he didn’t need nor want prying ears to hear him and he tucked her arm into his elbow before he calmly lead her towards the door of the room and past the security enforcers outside of it.
This was going to be the most nerve wracking part for him; to keep his facade up and keep his cool when he knew in the back of his mind that the clock was ticking away against him, that there were cameras watching him and other weres wandering the hallway between them and the exit out of the large building. He could feel it; all that pressure of what was riding on this as he kept a measured pace and calm benign smile across his face but his tie was getting tight and the back of his neck was prickling at unseen eyes. Jason stifled a small chuckle then smothered the next under a feigned clearing of his throat with a hand. ‘Holy crap, Weiss. Now is not the time to lose it.’ he thought to himself as he quickened their pace just a touch more, ‘Just get her out of here and everything will be fine.’
The walk out of the room and towards the exit was strange and strained. Her new master’s whole body seemed to be on edge. His muscles flexed his breath was coming a little faster, even as he seemed completely calm. There was something more going on here and she probably wouldn't be finding out what until they got out.
So Shion walked with him, calm and quiet. The soft giggle drew her attention back to him for a moment and she knew that he was nervous. Shion didn't know how, but she just knew. Gently, she squeezed his hand and offered him a small smile in hopes of calming him as they got closer to the exit and their freedom.
It was just a smile and a light touch from her but it did the trick and he exhaled calmly once more as some weight seemed to slide off of his back, as if just knowing she was there was what he needed to not fall apart at the worst possible moment. “Thank you.” Jason said softly as they hit the last stretch of carpeted hall before the door. He had no way of explaining just how much she’d saved them both at that moment as he reached out for the door and pushed it open for her and let in the early afternoon sunlight briefly.
At least not yet he didn’t. Once they were outside, he wasn’t so subtle about his movements as he slid her hand down into his and headed right for the little sporty import he’d borrowed from a vacationing neighbour. There was probably still security cameras to worry about, but he knew there were no guards. He’d made sure to check that fact out before he’d gone inside as they tended to foul up a quick exit. With any luck the cameras would make it seem like he was just eager to be home with his new purchase and they would just chalk it up to enthusiasm. “My name’s Jason by the way.” He called back to her as he quick-walked towards the car, “I don’t know why I’m even telling you that, but yeah..Also, I kind of just stoled you, so..Just putting that out there.”
When the tension left him and he seemed calmed down, Shion did as well. While she had no idea why he would be worried, she was now part of whatever situation he was in. Maybe it was nerves from how much money he put down on her. She’d be worried too. People know you have that much, they like to find ways to take it.
Feeling the sun warm her skin again was life heaven. The slaves didn't have any time out there and for the two weeks they had her while waiting to sell her off, Shion had missed the warmth of it. She turned her face towards the light and basked in it for a moment, her smile widening.
“Jason? I am Shion.’ She said, making sure her voice was still heavily accented and her words drew a little longer than necessary, as if she was trying too hard to speak them and make sure they were right. “It is pleasure master.” It took effort not to snap the last word out in anger, but she managed it.
“Stole me?” She blinked up at him, surprised. ‘You did not pay?” Well this was even worse. Shion was being stolen away by some idiot who bid too much on her and made a spectacle of them both. At least he had a decent car to get away in. She moved a little faster now as she slid into he car and waited for him to get in and start.
“Uh…Something like that.” He commented vaguely as he climbed in after her and reached under the steering wheel to twist the concealed ignition wires together before he reversed out of the parking spot and quickly drove them out of the lot as he was more than ready to put as much space between them and the Auction House as possible.
As he watched it grow smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror, he chuckled once more those this was of relief and felt far better than the dangerously nervous one that had escaped him earlier. Jason sighed with satisfaction after a moment and leaned back into the driver’s seat as he watched the road ahead of them and just barely slowed down to the legal limit. It wouldn’t do to have gotten out of one place only to be pulled over and busted for a stolen vehicle after all.
“Shion, huh?” He finally said as he glanced over to her from the corner of his eye, a warm smile tugging the corner of his lips up as he said her name, “Where’d they pick you up from? Maybe we can get you home.”
Shion noticed the subtle move to twist the ignition wires. So he stole lots of things, including her. She wondered vaguely if the money he had spent was counterfeit. It didn't really bother her. Her father was Yakuza, she was used to the seedy underworld of crime, and there was honor amongst thieves.
He also had good taste when it came to cars. This particular one was quite comfortable and Shion was happy to lay back and relax while looking over the man who now owned her. There was something familiar about him, something she couldn't quite place her finger on, but it made her smile.
“I am from Japan.” She said in the same slow, thick accent that she was using. “I can not go home.” While the sentiment was nice, and surprising, there was no home for her to go back to. Her father was probably dead and the Yakuza would be looking for her soon enough.
“I am here now, and am your’s.”
Jason risked a couple more quick glances over to her as she answered him, a hand going to loosen the tie around his neck as he gave up the pretense of being a businessman of any kind then used the same hand to shake out his hair. Keeping it like that wasn’t something he enjoyed and he would much rather let it do whatever it wanted which usually was to get into his eyes.
“Well...thats…”He started before pushing a mouthful of air through his lips to make noise as he thought of how best to answer, “Unfortunate.”
It was really the only word that worked because he was completely the wrong person for anyone else to depend on and now here this poor girl was stuck with him until they could figure out a better plan. “Guess we’ll just have to figure out what to do when we can.” Jason then added as he turned down a road that lead towards the coast.
Unfortunate? He bought her, whisked her away from the auction house in a stolen car and when she didn't have a place for him to dump her off, it was unfortunate? She squinted at him to try to tell if he was actually being serious. When his body betrayed nothing, Shion just sighed. So far this man seemed like a complete idiot.
As they drove through the quiet roads, Shion kept her eyes on everything that passed. If you knew what was around, there was always a better chance of getting away from a bad situation, and she had a feeling he got into those time and again.
“Why you buy me?” Shion asked as she turned to face him again. If he didn't have a plan for her or wanted her, why did he waste so much money and risk being caught for her?
He didn’t answer right away because honestly, he didn’t know why. He just knew he couldn’t leave her there, that the thought of her being sent off to some monster’s hands….No, definitely not. “Well...because…” He started to explain and just stop as he drummed his thumbs onto the steering wheel in thought, “because...It was the right thing to do?” Clearly he didn’t know the reason any more than her and saying something like ‘I was drawn to you’ was just a whole level of creepy he didn’t really want to express to her while driving a car. Shion could take offense to that and it wouldn’t be too hard for her to yank the wheel from his hands and send them both crashing into something.
“If you really want, I’ll take you back but...That just seems stupid to me.” Jason then added though he hardly believed she would want that any more than himself. Who would want to go back there for anything after being on the wrong side of the stage?
Because it was the right thing to do.... Shion snorted at the idea. There was no chance that he was so idealistic. No one ever was like that unless they were ten years old. He probably thought she was beautiful and acted on impulse. It wouldn't be surprising. Some men would do anything for a pretty face. That could be used to her advantage though.
“No, i do not want to go back. " She said softly. That was the last place she wanted to go. "I want to be free. "
He looked at her for a long moment as he studied here and wondered if she might be a mind reader as well as a were like himself. It’s like she knew exactly what to say to him to make his heart go out to her plight. More so than it had just seeing her up there on the stage looking like she was ready to murder them all and still lost at the same time.
“Glad you feel that way because I happen to be a professional freer of things.” Jason commented as he pulled the sporty import on the stretch of street that would take them back to his new temporary home. He supposed it was now their new temporary home; at least until Shion had decided on what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go.
“We can sit and talk properly once we get inside and out of the public eye.” He then explained as he looked around the street to see if there was anyone out and about as he rolled the car forwards towards the property he’d removed it from in the first place.
A professional freer of things? That made Shion chuckle softly and smile at him. He was cute, she’d give him that. The boy also probably knew it too. It had to be one of the things that helped him get away with what he did so often. Most people would overlook a young, good looking man and focus on someone who looks the part of a thief and villain instead.
“Hai.” She agreed. Slipping out of the car when he indicated and walked carefully away. At least she wasn't afraid of the trouble she could get in or the legality of what he was doing like other girls would be. Some people needed money more than others and there were a lot of people just sitting on it like it was an egg to be hatched
“Where we go now?” She asked, keeping close to him, looking like the obedient slave that was following her master, carrying the bags that held everything she had come into america with.
“Just a little ways down the road here.” He replied as he nodded his chin forwards down the street and kept walking along the beachside street with all it’s overpriced beach houses and ocean view. As they strolled, he reached a hand out for hers, not even consciously aware he had done so as it just seemed such a natural thing to do with her.
At the touch of his warm fingers, Shion intertwined her’s with his. It was so simple and subconscious, which was strange. The girl rarely liked people touching her so familiarly. For some reason though, this felt nice as she pet the back of his hand with her thumb.
As the rounded the block, she looked around, trying to figure out which one was his, or at least the one he was probably squating in.
His hand in hers and hers in his, it was just how things were suppose to be. Just like all the times before but as they walked along the wayside and finally along the pathway and up the stairs to the front door of the two story bungalow it dawned on him that this wasn’t the hundredth time they’d held hands, it was the first time and they really didn’t know each other at all. Was there some kind of line here that he was crossing with her? Or was she just going along with this because she actually thought he owned her and she had no choice. “Oh geeze! Sorry! I didn’t mean to make that happen!” He tried to explain as he let her hand go free again and fished through his pant pockets for the ‘key’ to the place, “Please don’t take offense or think that you had to do that just because I started it..That’s not the case. I so don’t want to make you do anything against your will.”
When jason let go, it felt like she was lost a piece of something important again. There had been such a comfort to feel his hand there, knowing that he was beside her and loved her.... wait, love? That was not what this was. Shion knew that. there was no way to love someone that you only met an hour ago and who bought you while you were on stage in your underwear.
She did miss his touch though and the U shape of her lips as they frowned made it obvious. “It is alright. If I do not want, I will tell...” She would probably do more than tell, but he also didn't need to know that.
“Is pretty house.” She said as she waited for him to open the door. “Is anything inside?” Shion was really hoping for a bed. She would give anything to have a soft mattress and a hot shower, two things she had been sorely lacking since her journey from Japan.
The smile happened on its own and just for her. “That’s okay with me. You just tell me and I’ll behave.” He answered as he jiggled the lock and key a little until there was a tell-tale click of the bolt sliding back and the door swung open.
He gestured for her to enter as she liked as he tried not to wince too badly as her question about what was in there. “Lady’s first.” He said before a little chuckle left him once more, “There’s a couple of things...This is just kind of a waystation for now. I was planning on somewhere a little more...furnished once I got more established in town.” Which was to say, he was waiting for the chance to take over a vacant townhouse or penthouse as soon as he could get a bead on an out of town owner. But hey, he had an air mattress and towels this time at least.
That smile was like the sun shining after the storm. Shion couldn't hold back the return smile as she stepped a little closer to him before walking past and inside. The house itself was large and lovely, but she had been right. There was nothing really inside. So much for large comfortable beds. Hopefully the water was running at least. Otherwise she was going to find a way to make him bring buckets of water to wash in.... Why did that bring up a sudden thought that he’d probably be able to wash her back in just the right way?
Strange thoughts aside, she did notice the air mattress and smiled. It would probably be large enough for both of them if they laid close. ‘Does water work?” She glanced over to him.
“Only the best for you, Baby.” He commented jokingly as he closed the door behind himself and locked it once again before he followed her into the house. He stripped off the suit jacket and tossed the tie to the side without a single thought because he was safe again and didn’t have to leave the monkey suit on any more.
“Sorry it’s not much...I really wasn’t expecting company today.” He told Shion with a helpless shrug as he own accent started to bleed back into his voice and he came to stand next to her, “I’ll bring back something a little more comfortable for you tomorrow, deal?”
“It is alright.” She smiled at him, amusement dancing in her eyes as she watched him strip off the suit as soon as they were inside the house and safe from the outside world. He looked better without it too. The change of his accent did surprise her. It wasn't british but she just couldn't place it .
“I will hold to promise.” Shion grinned, “For now, I will shower, yes?” She hated that she sounded a bit like an idiot, still it could help her out if he turned out to be some pig that she had to run away from. Hopefully the water would be hot and she could clean off and enjoy the warm water, especially where they placed the chip. That spot in the back of her left shoulder was still sore and irritated. She wouldn't have been surprised if her body was just trying to rid itself of it like a bad pimple.
When she started for the bathroom, she didn't let go of the bag that had her personal items in it. He hadn't asked for it, and therefore she wasn't going to relinquish what was inside, her clothes, the roll of hundreds that could last her a few months if she ran, the small lacquer jewelry box that had her mother’s jewelry and her parents wedding bands, and her kimono. That alone could keep her afloat for a few months if she sold it, but she’d sooner sell the jewelry.
She slid out of the clothes she had on and turned on the water. It was good and clean and there was a small bar of soap inside. Thank the kami and all their gifts for that one thing. She lathered everything, washed, shifted, and then lathered everything again. By the time she was finished, the bar was nothing more than a sliver, and she was happily letting the water run over her fur.
He’d nodded his head at her question as he had no problems with a cold shower; he was used to them by now but he did have to figure out what he was suppose to feed her. It wasn’t as if there was an abundance of anything in the fridge or cupboards. He scratched at the back of his head as he looked around the barren room and wandered to the kitchen, only to stop at the doorway and peer inside. Stove, fridge, sink. Yep, all there just where they were suppose to be in theory. Jason crossed his arms over his chest and frowned a bit in thought as he pulled his shoes off with feet and paced back to the large living room with the windows for walls to look out over the water it showed. “We’ll order in...I should be able to pull that off..” He said to himself as he mused then nodded his head at his own brilliance and heading off towards the bathroom to knock on the door as he heard the water running. “Pizza?” He called inside to her and listen for some kind of response.
Did she eat pizza? Did she eat anything at all? He didn’t know the first thing about normal Red Pandas, let alone a were one, but he figured since she was were as well, she could probably eat just about anything and be fine, though maybe not to the extent of him.
“Extra cheese!” Was the call that came back out a few minutes later. Shion had to change back to her normal shape to answer. While she was a little upset that she couldn't continue to just relax in the water, she probably should get out before there was absolutely no hot water left for him.
With a great reluctance, she stepped out of the shower, brushed her teeth and then her hair before finding a pair of of pj shorts and a tank top in her suitcase to throw on. She was glad the case had some charms to give it more space than normal thanks to a few favors a mage back home owed her father.
Finally clean and with her black hair gleaming wet down her back, she stepped back out and into the room, glancing around for her new master... thing.
Well, that answered that then Jason thought to himself as he grinned at the door between them then went to fish out the burner phone he had from the duffle bag he’d brought to town with him.
By the time Shion had come back into the main room with him, he was already hanging up the phone and as he turned to give her the good news of dinner soon being on the way, he blinked and looked dumbfounded at her as for a brief moment she looked different. Well, not different...But not like she had earlier as he was pretty sure he’d have remembered if she had been clad in layers of silks with her hair piled high under a flowered comb. The image faded though but his heart was still doing the samba in his chest as he looked at her in wonder once more.
With a shake of his head he tried to get his thoughts together as he cleared his throat with a sheepish grin. “Uh...so yeah, dinner’s on the way…” he said as he tugged at the collar of his shirt, still not nearly as casual as he’d like to be dressed and also maybe because she was a beautiful girl in her pjs in his house and it made his pulse spike, “You look nice by the way...Was the water hot enough for you?”
Hearing the sound of him clearing his throat, Shion finally caught sight of him and noticed that he was staring at her intently. Did she look weird? Was her hair a mess still?” She slid her fingers through the long wet strands before pushing it back over her ear. Maybe it was the clothes. She wasn't wearing a bra, but her breasts werent that large that it mattered.... but it was also cold. Shion suddenly crossed her arms over her chest and blushed. Oh kami, he was probably staring at that.
“Thank you... it was very warm. I might have stolen all.” She added softly, giving him a warning that if he wanted hot water, it was going to have to wait until after dinner. “So now we talk, yes?”
He shook his head as he moved over towards the air mattress, which was doubling as a couch and a table, and pretty much every piece of furniture for the house, but stopped and offered her the first choice of seating. “Talking’s good. We can figure out where to go from here.” He said as he rubbed the back of his neck while he tried to figure out where he would start trying to explain the situation to her that was as traumatizing as possible…
Though, something else was bugging him in the back of his mind. Something about how she was speaking didn’t sit right with him. He’d have to pay more attention to her, as if that was possible, and see if he could pinpoint what it was. At least he was a gentleman. Shion slid to sit crossed legged onto the mattress, trying not to take too much room so he could sit beside her. “Hai.... where do go from here? No home, now your’s.” She gave her best big brown doe eyes at him. She’d need someone to help her for a few days at least before she could figure out where to go and how to keep from getting captured again and sold to someone who actually wanted to treat her like a slave.
Though she didn't want to admit it, but she already kind of liked being around him. He made her feel calm and safe, despite being neither at the moment.
Jason sat down next to her on the bouncy bag of air, trying his best not to jostle her too much as he did so, and gave her his best attempt at a suave and sophisticated look. It lasted all of about 3 seconds before he shook his head with a laugh. “I can’t do it.” He then went on to explain, “I can’t even pretend to own a goldfish, forget another person. And here you are giving me this look like I’m suppose to be some kind of hero…” Jason sighed a bit at that as he continued to shake his head. “And I don’t own you. Mister Augustus Robert Stonesmith the 3rd does. May he rest in peace. I’m just the guy who has his ID right now.”
His serious face actually had her frozen for a moment. She hadn't taken him for the type to get that way, so it was a surprise for Shion... and then he cracked and his smile slid across his lips and he laughed. Shion let out a soft breath she hadn't realized she’d been holding and rolled her eyes at his antics. So he wasn't her master-thing, he was just her thing now.
“What am to do?” She asked, bitting her bottom lip shyly. “Have no home, only you now.” Now try to laugh with that. Nothing worked worse than poor ignorant asian girl relying on you.
He raised an eyebrow at her question, his lips still smiling happily but his mind noticing how her speech pattern seemed to be constantly fluctuating between someone with a good grasp of the English language but a heavy accent and to a not so good grasp of the language but easier use of it. Could it be she wasn’t as helpless as she was certainly projecting at him. Actually, he highly doubted she was helpless at all so maybe she wasn’t as unfamiliar and hindered by the language would be the better way to put it.
“Well, actually...I’ve been thinking about that.” He said in a measured fashion as he let his eyes move across the room and away from her as he didn’t think he’d be able to keep a straight face if he was looking directly at her. “See, the thing is...Neither one of us has a lot of money now, if any. And I can get by one my own but..”Jason shrugged helplessly as he scratched lightly at his chin, “You might be better off looking into getting into an escort service. I mean..You’re pretty enough that someone would take you in...I should ask though..Do you know what that is?”
She had no idea that he picked up on the discrepancies in her speech. No one in that auction house had yet, but they also weren’t con-artists themselves and didn't know what to look for. So Shion had no idea that she should be wary of him.
His words froze her for a moment though. He was honestly suggesting that she become a whore for money. She had run from her home, escaped her country and left her father for dead to escape that fate, and it was what he was suggesting??? A low growl sounded from her throat and her eyes began to glow a vibrant shade of purple. “Let me make this very clear for you.” She said, her voice clear and slow in case he didn't understand. “I will never be any man’s whore.”
“Ah-ha!” He stated as he whipped back to face her and pointed his finger knowingly at her, “I knew it! I just knew you were faking that slow foreigner act!” He had such pride and happiness at his discovery, it was hard to believe he’d just moments before suggested prostitution as an answer to their problem.
“Two points for me.” Jason stated as he wrote an invisible number two in the air over their heads and grinned cheekily at Shion.
The sudden movement and loud sound caused Shion to jump backwards a little, falling off the air mattress and letting out a squeak of surprise. It took her a moment to calm down enough to realize what he said. He got her to slip out of her poor idiot foreigner stick, damn it! In her anger at the thought of all of her work being for nothing, she had spoken clearly and coherently with only a very normal accent.
“Fine, you are right. I understand english better that I let on.” She understood more than just english and Japanese, but that was also something that she wasn't about to tell him either. “But I will repeat what I said so we are clear. I will never be any man’s whore, understand?”
“I never said you were.” He said easily as he leaned over the mattress and extended a hand out to her to help her back up, “Why would I go through all this just to turn around and ask you to whore yourself out? That makes no sense at all.” He shook his head at that before he blinked once and smack his own forehead. “Because you think that I’m a creepy perv! I didn’t even think of it that way…”
Jason stood up at that and started to pace a bit. “I’m not though. I promise that I’m not. And we’re in the clear because I didn’t give them a real address or name or anything so they can’t find you that way, so we just have to keep low and it’s all good.”
“You suggested I join an escort service.” She growled at him slightly, but too his hand anyways and moved to sit back beside him, leg touching his lightly. “That is a term for whore, a polite one, but still one none the less.” Shion tried to stay annoyed at him, but the way he moved and the way he spoke and smacked his forehead drew a small smile from her lips.
“That is a very good idea, except for the tracker that is in my left shoulder.” She offered helpfully. “Eventually they will find out the truth if you gave them an incorrect amount of money, fake money.” She was better on the money being counterfeit herself. “So unless you want to find a way to cut it out of me, we have a small problem.”
“Oh, the money was real..Hopefully because of that, they won’t care so much about everything else being fake.” He stated as he paced but then stopped suddenly as he brought up the microchip they’d mentioned briefly to him which he’d immediately forgotten. “Oh shit...I forgot…” He said as a touch of dread came to his voice. Dread that they’d already figured it out and were on their way here to get her and arrest him as they spoke, “I can probably take it out but it might hurt and I don’t want to hurt you.”
He was smart to drop the conversation about being an escort, and Shion realized that he probably only said it just to get her angry enough to drop her act. Lesson learned, she needed to work on her temper more.
She watched him as he moved back and forth nervously. So he actually managed to swindle that much money out of someone and then blow it all on her? Shion was flattered. That money could have been used to keep him afloat for awhile without having to work or con anyone and instead he bought her freedom.
“It will hurt, but it is better to take it out. I don't want to be tracked, and I really don't want to be the reason that they find us if they do check your information.” The thought of being the reason he was caught sent a bolt of panic straight to her heard. She wouldn't be able to stand the thought of him being hurt because of her agian..... again?
He frowned a bit but he nods as he knows it has to be done. “I’m really sorry though. Like, really really sorry. Don’t think badly of me for it, okay?” Jason went on as he came back over towards the air mattress and sat beside her once again.
“Where is it?” He asked as he leaned a little back to look over her back. A memory of his lips running along the skin of her bare shoulder playing through his mind which he frowned a little at because he just met her that day. Why would he have memories? No, his brain was just playing tricks and it was some kind of little fantasy trying to be played off as something else.
“I wont think poorly of you for something I am asking you to do. It’s better to have it out then leave it in.” It was sweet that he kept apologizing and Shion was so tempted to stop him with a kiss. Otherwise he’d keep going all night. She didn't. He wouldn't want to be randomly kissed anyways.
Shion turned so her back was facing him. Hesitating for a moment, she slid her hands down and pulled the dark colored tank top off and over her head so it was still covering her breasts, but her pale smooth back was visible to him. The smoothness was marred by a small red pimple that was up towards the left shoulderblade. Her body wasn't liking the chip and like any were body that didn't approve of the intrusion, it was trying to expel it. “It’s up on my shoulder. Can you see it?”
He was a little surprised when she slipped her top off as her back faced him but he rapidly moved on from that to transfixed as her skin practically glowed to him. He knew, he just knew by looking at it that he was soft and warm and smelled softly of a delicate flower though he had no idea why he know that.
Slowly he managed to get his eyes to move up along her back and when he saw the red bump, he knew what it was. “Yeah...Your shoulder doesn’t look happy about at all.” He replied as he tentatively reached out to her shoulder and placed his hand along the top. “I think I can get it out pretty easy, actually...They didn’t put it in too deeply. This is going to sting though..” Jason added as he focused on the bump marring her golden skin and brought up a clawed finger from his other hand to dig the little metal chip out as quickly and painlessly as he could.
Her eyes were closed as she waited for him to touch her. He knew his hands would be large, and the pads of them rough from working whatever job he could find. He would run his hand over her spine gently, trying to make her shudder and pout at him for being a tease.
“It’s alright. I can take pain.” She said softly. It was the waiting that was driving her mad. When he finally sliced into her skin, she let out a sharp hiss of pain as warm red blood flowed over her pale back. The chip slid out easily though and her body went to work healing her. Soon the only indication that she was cut at all was the blood that was on her back. “Got it?”
He scooped the chip up in his nail then looked around quickly for something to wipe the blood with but when that failed he quickly pull off his dress shirt to use as he still had the undershirt to wear around her. “Yeah..Yeah, I have it right here..” He answered as he pulled the shirt from the wound and was relieved to find it was gone, “Feel better?” He asked as he started to clean off what blood was left on her skin.
“Hai... I mean yes. It’s much better.” Shion let him clean the blood away from her skin, stalling for a few moments before sliding her shirt back on. “I feel like I finally scratched that itch that would not go away.’ She offered a small smile to him as she turned back around.
“Now what should we do with it?” They couldn't keep it here. It could lead people to them, even now. Maybe they should throw it in the ocean, or even just toss it in the neighor’s yard and hope the dog would eat it.
Jason thought for a moment as he looked at the little chip on his fingertip and leaned back as he dropped the lost cause of a shirt onto the floor beside the air mattress. They had to get it away from them. Maybe send whoever was following it on a merry chase.
He grinned wickedly as the answer came to him, impish delight dancing in his blue eyes as he turned to Shion. “Let’s flush it.” He said to her, “they can run through the sewer systems trying to find us there while we live happily up here.”
Shion glanced over her shoulder at at him and grinned. “That sounds absolutely perfect for whoever comes after us. let them go about mucking in shit.” She moved to stand and reach out her hand to him this time. “would you like to do the honors, or should I?”
“I do believe that this honour should be all yours.” He answered as he accepted the helping hand and stood up then offered her the source of all their current problems. “After you, pretty flower.” He said as he bowed to her and motioned towards the hallway back to the washroom. As he stood up though, he was a little befuddled as to way he’d chosen to address her like that. It wasn’t as if they’d spend more than maybe an hour together so far. Maybe he should actually get to know the poor girl first before going around calling her pet names?
At the nickname, Shion’s face bloomed into a tender smile. For some reason it just made her heart swell. A soft pink glow crossed her cheeks and she suddenly felt shy around him. She took the chip and started towards the bathroom. Inside, she tossed it down and flushed it away with a grin. “Sayonara! Hope someone ends up falling if they come looking.”
He gave a little wave goodbye to the chip as it swirled away and out of sight from them. “We hardly knew you. And I’m glad for that.” He added as he echoed her grin with his own and then linked arms with her once more as he started back to the living room but stopped after a few steps and looked down to their hands in surprise and confusion. “Sorry! I keep doing that and I don’t know why.” He explained sheepishly though he was reluctant to let go of her hand but did slowly for the sake of being polite and not a complete creeper.
He was so easy going, it made her smile wider than she had in months and chuckle softly at his antics. Her hand automatically slid into his, twiing their fingers once more. Even she didn't notice until he paused, causing her to bump into him slightly.
She looked down at their hands as he started to move his away before reaching to hold it again on impulse. She wanted to touch him, even if it was only that and only for a little while. “It is fine...” She said softly, a little unsure of it herself. “I... I don't mind.”
“You’re sure you don’t?” He asked in genuine concern, “I don’t want you thinking for a moment you have to do anything at all you don’t want to. Just..Just punch me or something if I get out of line. Okay?” It wasn’t the best solution but it would make the message pretty clear that there was a line he was crossing with her if that’s what it came to.
He squeezed her hand gently once to reassure them both that this, what ever this was, was alright between them.
“You do not have to worry. If you do something I do not want, you will know quickly. While I seem like a quiet blossom, I have no problem with telling you what I am or am not ok with. You are not my master after all.” She said, making it clear for both of them that that was no long on the table since the chip was gone.
She didn't want to leave him, though she thought about it for a moment when the chip came out. Shion could continue with her original plans, but this seemed like just as good of an option anyways as she squeezed his hand back, starting towards the air matress once more.
“Ohh, I don’t think I ever thought you were helpless.” He answered with a knowing smile as he walked with her back to their little living room oasis. “Ready to kill everyone in that room with your mind if you could, but not helpless.” He added as he raised their arms up and gave her a little spin for the heck of it. He had a hunch she was light on her feet and sometimes it was just fun to have someone to dance with.
“If I could have, they would have all fallen to the ground at my feel trembling.” She grinned. “It was that obvious I was angry? Here I thought I was a better actor, but you can see right through me.” When Jason spun his arm out, Shion giggled and twirled. He was right that she was light on her feet, a natural dancer as she spun back in and close to him.
“I don’t think I could ever see right through you.” He commented with a smile, leaving the ‘I just see you’ part of his thought unspoken as he brought his other hand to her hip and started to sway with her as he fell into some kind of rhythm with her that just worked and he began to dance her around the living room with a grin. “Very light. Now be honest here...You’ve done this before, haven’t you?” He asked as he was pretty sure she was some kind of professional dancer where he was just faking it to some half remembered dance step that his mom or someone must have taught him as a child or something as he didn’t think about them and just let them happen.
The dance was nothing complex, a step to the left and slight twist to her hips. Two steps back and move a little closer to him. There must have been somewhere she’d seen this before, maybe a show or a movie. Plus he was natural with leading her body in the direction they were going next. For a moment she hummed a melody softly, matching it to their steps.
“No actually, at least not any sort of dancing like this.” She had taken traditional dance back home, but it was specific in it’s movements and one never touched their partners like this. “I could ask the same of you. You’re a very good lead.”
Jason chuckled softly at the compliment as he twirled her around once more and brought her close. “Actually, I’m pretty stunned that I’m not staring at my feet right now. This is a total fluke.” He explained with a small shrug, “Even my own mother gave up on me as having two lead lined left feet. But thanks all the same. Guess it’s true what they say about just needing the right partner.”
“I find that hard to believe. You’re doing quite well. Lighter on your feet than you realize.” She smiled softly and and placed her head against his chest as the dancing slowed to a soft sweying from side to side. “Well then I guess I really should stay around for awhile, make sure you know how to dance finally.”
Jason smiled widely at that as they danced around the room in full view of the ocean window. “I think I’d like that...I’d like that very much actually.” He said as they moved and he rested his arm along the small of her back as they moved. “Maybe you can teach me the fox trot?” He added with a cheeky grin.
“Good, because I think you might be hard pressed to be rid of me right now.” This was beautiful. The sun was setting over the water, basking them in a glow of reds, yellows and purples. It was a moment that she would always remember. “I’m going to have to learn the fox trot then so I can teach it, but I’d be willing to try.”
“You’re not going to hear any complaints from me there.” He answered as he drew her a little closer and rested his head upon the top of hers while they swayed. “We can learn it together if you’re interested and can deal with my two left feet?” He added as he resisted the urge to nuzzle into Shion’s soft, silken hair damp thought it still was.
“You might have to persuade me, but it shouldn't be too difficult..” She teased and closed her eyes, taking in his scent. He smelled right, like warm summer nights outside and sweet spicey scent that was so very male. She could also smell the pizza as the delivery guy came closer the door reluntantly. She didn't want to move away and for the moment to end.
“I think I might be able to manage that.” He commented as he held on to her loosely while they moved to the music in their heads and the fresh scent of the soap and a soft hint of flowers in bloom surrounded him. It felt like he was dreaming again, but he knew he was still awake as after a few more hazy and wonderful moments there was a knock from the front door and the odor of melted cheese overpowered everything else in the area. “Damn..Forgot about that.” Jason commented with a mildly annoyed and disappointed sigh as he had absolutely no want to let her go and break their impromptu dance.
“It’s almost tempting not to go answer the door.” She muttered with a sigh. That meant no dinner though and her stomach was threatening to growl at the tempting scent of cheese. At the second set of knocks, she finally gave up. Without thinking, she pressed a light ghost of kiss onto his cheek and started towards the door. “You owe me another dance. Now, do you know how we’re paying for dinner?”
As she kissed him and walked away, he could have been knocked over by a feather. He looked at her again, his heart hammering away as the soft kiss burned on his cheek still. After a moment of stunned silence, his brain remember to work again and he shook his head. “Uh..yeah..yeah, I have it covered…” He finally said as he followed after her and dug through his pockets for a credit card. One of several he had about the place, under several different names but the one he’d taken to the auction house was still good and had enough room for a pizza without alarms; not a two hundred thousand dollar impulse buy though.
With food for their bellies and no way of being tracked, the night was looking to be much better for both of them and they could spend it doing as they pleased which chiefly looked to be filling up on on pizza and just enjoying each other’s company.