InsaneJournal

Hold on tight
Who: Isaiah Williamson and Vanessa Peregrine
Where: Outside Vanessa's house
When: Eveningish
What: A promised bike ride that doesn't quite go as planned




Vanessa had been home from work about twenty minutes. She'd changed into some blue jeans and a dark red blouse with a pair of keds. She'd gotten a soda from the fridge and retired to her room, before Seth became visible. Nessa had brought home a book to read but kept finding herself staring at the one she was -suposed- to be reading.

Isaiah found himself restless all day. Part of it he blamed on the fact that he hadn't flown all day, which tended to make him twitchy; part of it was because he and Raina were supposed to go on their picnic tomorrow and he found himself nervous as hell. Was it a date? He didn't know. He would like it to be, but he didn't want to get his hopes up and besides, it wasn't like he'd been on one in some time, not since he first met Paige.

When he got out of work, he found himself staring at his phone, thinking he should call Vanessa and see what she was up to. They hadn't talked since their run-in at the coffee shop and he missed her. Maybe he just needed to let off some steam, just like they used to do in high school. It was with that thought in mind that he revved up the bike and drove over to her house, the speed helping calm the falcon's urge to fly just a little.

Pausing in her driveway, he killed the engine, seeing that a light was on. It wasn't too late and there was a little bit of sunlight left. If she didn't mind hanging out with him while in his work clothes, that was. He knocked on her door, waiting.

Waiting a moment to see if Seth got up to get the door, when she didn't hear it open she assumed he wasn't home and climbed out of bed. A moment later she opened teh door and smiled, seeing Isaiah. "Hey." She quickly furrowed her brow. "Did I forget we had a 'play date'?" Vanessa asked, with a small tilt of her head.

Isaiah laughed, shaking his head. "You didn't forget anything, Ness, I should've called to say I was coming over. I hope you don't mind the intrusion?" It struck him then how he must look - still in his chef pants, an old Owl's Nest shirt clinging to him, forget about his usual jacket because of the heat of the day. Vanessa had every right to tell him to come back when he cleaned up.

"No." She said, probably a little too fast. See the little girl starved for entertainment, or distraction from the reading she should be doing. "Do you... wanna come in?" Nessa sked, stepping back. "Or me to come out..." She really didn't know what to do when someone came to visit and she had no idea what to do, proof that she was too much a bookworm.

The last thing he'd wanted to do was make her nervous. Next time, he'd call. "Either or. I can come in, or maybe you can go on a ride with me?" She had, after all, said she wanted to go for a ride on the bike some day and here Isaiah was, at her house, with the bike. He wouldn't be opposed to riding for a bit longer before he ended up back at his apartment.

Her eyes lit up. "You brought your bike?" She asked with a wide grin like a kid on Christmas.

"Of course I brought my bike. How do you think I got here?" Isaiah chuckled. "Grab your coat and I'll meet you outside."

With a nod she hurried back to her room and snagged up her coat. She was so excited it was ridiculous. For a moment she laughed inwardly at the thought of what Tor and Tayne would think with her on the back of a bike, but neither of them were there at the moment so they'd just have to deal. With a glance back at -the- book she shook her head and returned to the front door. "You... are so awesome for this ya know... right?" She said with a laugh.

He waited for her in the doorway, wondering if anyone else was home and if they'd say anything about where he was taking her. Really, they might not go far, but he wasn't one to turn down a request from a friend. "I knew I was pretty awesome anyway," he said, grinning, "but you can say it again." Laughing with her, he led her out to the bike. "I did remember my helmet this time," he said, handing it to her. "You'll want it more than I will."

Vanessa nodded. "Just tell me what to do." She said, tucking her keys into her hoodie jacket before zipping it up and taking the helmet. The happiness inside her was almost visible. "I know you're a big cook, but maybe I can take you to dinner."

Isaiah swung onto the bike, gesturing for Vanessa to join him. Why had it taken so long for him to take her for a ride? It wasn't like they hadn't been friends since forever. "Sit behind me, and hold on. I don't really like going slow, but I think you already knew that." He'd go at whatever speed she was most comfortable with. "And you know me, I do like to cook for myself." Not that he didn't want to go to dinner with her, but whenever he ate somewhere that wasn't the Nest or his own cooking, he tended to get sick. It reminded him of Raina again and their conversation about the topic, the smile on his face getting bigger.

Rolling her eyes slightly she put the helmet on and climbed her way onto the bike. Staring at his back a moment Vanessa hesitated for a moment and asked a question she already knew the answer to, but needed his permission first. "What do I hold on to?"

"You know you don't have to do anything for me, Ness. You're hanging out with me, that's enough." For a moment, Isaiah didn't know what she meant. "Me," he said, "you hold on to me. I promise I won't let anything get you." Hence why she had the helmet on, he'd heal faster than she would.

She kinda thought that would be the answer. "You're my friend, I don't do things because I -have- to, but because I -want- to." Hesitating another moment she leaned in and put her arms on his sides. Part of her, inside, was laughing at how ridiculous she was, this was Isaiah after all she'd known him forever and had no reason to be so nervous. Though he wasn't the little boy who used to pull her pig tails on the playground. He was all grown up, a man. So why did she still feel like she was still wearing those pig tails?


"I know that. If you want, maybe we'll have dinner sometime and I'll let you cook for me." It would be hard to give up his kitchen rights, but for her, Isaiah would. It had been far too long since he and Vanessa had last hung out, and they had some time to catch up on. They'd both grown up so much since they were kids, when he'd chase her around the swingsets (Isaiah had always been fast, and he'd always won). His thoughts drifted again, thinking of cupcakes and promised lessons and he smiled, shaking his head. "Relax," he told her, starting the engine. "Enjoy it."

"I didn't get my moms kitchen gene like Tayne did. Best I can cook is mac and cheese." Or put meat on bread, she was good at that. "I am relaxed." Vanessa lied. She was excited, nervous and eager to go- all for different reasons.

"For real, or from a box?" It was an important question in Isaiah's world. From a box meant he wouldn't eat it, but the real stuff, the homemade kind, was pretty amazing. "Liar." Before he took off, he adjusted Vanessa's arms around him better, so she was tucked against him. "You'll have to hang on, you know, I promise I don't mind." He really didn't, used to taking his sisters on rides before.

"Box." She admitted. "But I use real cheese." Which helped a little. Vanessa swallowed as he moved her arms it felt like she was encroaching on forbidden territory. It's Isaiah for god sakes! "Ok." She said, holding onto him. Her heart was racing as she waited for the jerk of the bike to go. Momentarily letting herself forget she was so close to a -man-, and let herself get excited about the machine between her legs.

"I'll teach you how to make the real thing." It wasn't hard and it was something everyone should know how to make, at least in Isaiah's opinion. Satisfied that she wasn't going to fall off, Isaiah took off, spinning the bike around in her driveway before hitting the road. As much as he wanted to speed up, he wanted to see how Vanessa would react first, not sure if she'd ever been on a motorcycle before.

Gasping slightly at the feeling of moving fast without anything between her and the wind her arms tightened their hold on him slightly for security. Her heart beat so fast as they went, completely thrilled. She'd completely forgot who it was she was holding onto for a long moment. Vanessa let out a laugh as she watched the world speed by, and thankful for the helmet as it created a nice barrier from her taking in Isaiah's scent and freaking out. God she was a bit pathetic when it game to guys, all guys. Tayne called it adorable, she just found it embarrassing.

Riding was a little different for Isaiah. It was akin to flying, the only he could show someone what it was like to be up in the air. It was a little chilly without a jacket on but Isaiah didn't mind, aware of Vanessa pressing against his back, figuring it was just because she wasn't used to the ride yet, until he heard that laugh in his ear. She was enjoying herself, and he was glad. He took it as a sign that he could push it a little faster, and he sped up, getting close to the speed he liked.

She didn't know where they were going. They could have been circling her block and just go back home. Vanessa didn't care, she liked this... she loved this. It was unlike anything she could remember doing before. The only other time she'd felt like this was before her first hunt. Before the knife that sliced her open that is. Nothing could ruin this feeling. Of course the way fate normally played things out, enjoyment in the life of a Peregrine was short and traditionally the longer it lasted, the worse the outcome. Had she not already been leaning against Isaiah things could have been a lot worse.

One moment Vanessa's grip on Isaiah was tight and she was laughing and enjoying herself. The next moment she'd dropped silent- not completely unexpected as the wind blew the sound away from the rider- her grip also dropped limp and her weight against his back shifted from close to full and ever slowly moving to the right. The fingers on her right hand twitched restlessly.

It took Isaiah a moment to realize what was going on. Vanessa had been gripping him, laughing - the wind swallowed some of it but his hearing was good enough to keep tabs on her. And then... nothing. When her grip relaxed, and he felt her start to slide, Isaiah knew.

Fuck. She'd blacked out. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

First things first, he had to keep her on the bike until he could stop it, and his right arm reached out behind him, holding her up. He could drive lefthanded if the situation required it, as it was his dominant hand, but it added another element of danger to the situation. Pulling off on the side of the road, Isaiah turned off the bike and tried to keep her leaning against him as he stepped off, cradling her as he lifted her off the bike.

"I'm sorry, I don't have a pen for you," he murmured, watching her hand twitch, knowing she was trying to draw something. Instead Isaiah took off her helmet, and he waited, crouched with her in the grass.

"Come on, Ness. Come back to me."

It could have been hours, but this time it was only minutes. Roughly five once she was down, her fingers attempting to draw against the grass an interpretation of what she saw. Her breathing was unsteady during the time she was out, eyes a vacant stare as if watching something very far away. Fate was warning her, she'd been getting messages, and she'd even found what was sending them, but she'd ignored it, postponed it. Apparently it was something she was supposed to be doing.

Her breath steadied in a startled gasp as the light came back to her eyes and blinked in a moments confusion before turning to look at the friend who was watching over her. Vanessa knew the feeling, the confusion and loss. She'd experienced many times in her life, but it never got easier. "Wha-..." She said softly, trying to orientate herself. "Sai?" Slowly she pushed herself up so she was sitting in the grass instead of laying in it. "How long?" It always felt like eternity.

The waiting was the hardest part. Watching that blank stare and knowing he couldn't do anything to help her, just keep her safe until she woke up. There was always a little fear in the back of his mind that one day the blackout would take her and Vanessa wouldn't come back, but that was something Isaiah didn't dare say out loud. "Five minutes, maybe? No more than ten." He brushed back a bit of her hair that was sticking to her face, picking out some grass.

They'd been lucky. Another rider would have lost her, lost the bike. Isaiah didn't plan on either. He relaxed a little now, sitting next to her in the grass. They could sit here for a minute before heading back, when she was ready. "You scared me," he said softly.

"I'm sorry." She apologized, her brow furrowed a bit as she could only imagine was it was like to be on the other end of her blackouts. "Thank you for..." Vanessa looked over at the bike. "Saving my life." Her hand went to her shoulder as she held her arm across her chest a moment. There was a reason Vanessa was only a passenger in cars and clearly now a reason to never ride on the back of a motorcycle again. Pity, it had been really fun.

"It's okay." She didn't ask for these visions, after all, and they were both all right. He was a little worried about getting her back to her house, not wanting her to black out again, but they weren't that far and Isaiah knew to watch out for it now. "You're welcome. I told you I wasn't going to let anything happen to you." Just like in high school, when he'd be the one covering for her when she blacked out in class, or in the library, the cafeteria. Isaiah kept his word.

Vanessa nodded, embarrassingly close to tears over how much of a freak and this was yet another thing that was too dangerous for her to do. Tayne was going to kill her. The realization of what he'd actually done for her hit. "You really saved me." Nessa said slowly. "I mean I would have been street pizza if you hadn't." A bit shakingly, she moved her hand to her hair and tucked some behind her ear. "I think I need to go home and... read a book." For someone who knew her, and had been around her enough, they'd know that 'read' wasn't what normal people meant when they said it, not in this case.

"It's in part my fault, too. I should have remembered - you don't drive, that something could happen." The last thing Isaiah wanted was to put her into danger. Sure, he was reckless with his own life, but only because the falcon in him knew he could handle it. "Come on, I'll take you home. Do you want to take the bike? Or do you want me to walk you back?" They weren't that far, after all, and he could walk his motorcycle back with her.

"I think it might be safer to walk." She said with a frown. Normally her blackouts didn't happen in that frequent secession unless she was asleep, but she didn't want to risk it. Vanessa also didn't think she'd be able to enjoy it as much as before now. Slowly she stood up from the grass. "I'm sorry. I ruined our ride." And whatever 'hanging out time' he'd planned. If he'd planned anything.

"Then we'll walk." Isaiah could do that, for her, though the falcon in him would rather fly. Grabbing the bike, he rolled it alongside her, grateful they'd only gotten about a mile or so from her house before she'd blacked out. He'd gotten what he'd planned for, just seeing Vanessa, keeping his nerves at bay. He got to see Raina tomorrow and Isaiah didn't know how he'd sleep that night. "Don't be sorry, Ness. I mean it."

She nodded and fiddled with the charms on her bracelet. "I guess if we ever wanna do that again you need to get a sidecar." Vanessa said with a small laugh, trying to make a joke to relieve the uneasy silence she felt coming on.

"Maybe." He wished there was some way to predict when the flashes would come, so that way they might be able to work around them. Isaiah would probably never get a sidecar, if only because he'd think it would slow him down. She'd seemed to be enjoying herself before this, and at least she got to experience it once. "You see now, why I like the bike so much," he said, trying to remind her of the good parts of the evening.

"It was-" She sighed softly. "Fun. A lot of fun. Kinda felt like everything just washed away." Before it really did. "Thanks for taking me." Vanessa looked over at him with a small smile. "And thanks for walking me home." God, she hoped to god she could come up with a topic. Family was off limits because things were nuts there, work was boring, her recent rash of visions wasn't any better. "You wouldn't happen to know of any good new movies would you?" She asked, blinking at herself for asking the question after realizing why it came up. She'd promised Kiernan a movie night.

"That's what it feels like to me. Like flying." Almost. Flying was better. They were getting close to her house now, something he knew would make Vanessa feel more at ease. "New movies? I haven't actually been to one in a while, you know. I always rely on the classics... you know, Star Wars, the Godfather, Animal House?" Sure, they were all from vastly different genres, but all really good movies. "Besides, I think my taste in movies is a bit different than yours."

"Actually going with a friend. The point is to get out of the house." Vanessa said with a weak laugh. "We realized that even when we 'hang out' it's work related." Not library work, but still not just for fun. "It must be wonderful to fly." She said softly, wondering if Tayne might shift into a flying animal or if he'd be more wolf or bear or something 'hunter worthy'.

Getting out of the house, Isaiah could understand that one. "Sounds like it would be fun. I'm trying to get out myself these days," including tomorrow. Raina. Picnic. Talking about food. He couldn't wait. The grin on his face said as much. "And yeah, it is. You know how much I love it." It was a part of him that he couldn't deny, and never would.

"Yea." She giggled. "I know." He had to keep an extra pair of clothes at her place when they were in high school because he'd either fly over or shift and destroy his clothes while there. "I probably would too if I had wings."

"As much fun as it is to sit on my couch and watch SportsCenter, apparently there's people to talk to out in the 'real world.'" He made air quotes around the word, liking that Vanessa was smiling again. It was little, but it was enough for him. Isaiah couldn't imagine not having his wings, the ability to fly, always having to keep his feet on the ground like she did. "At least I got to take you once," he said. "Maybe we'll figure out some way to do it again."

"Side car... or belt." She said with a small chuckle as they turned into the complex and up the parking lot to her building. "And I had fun... as much of it as I can remember."

"Maybe I'll invent a special motorcycle belt just for you." Detachable, of course, as Isaiah wouldn't need a belt when it was just him on the bike and his sisters were both good at hanging onto him, even Jocelyn. (Of course, taking his seven-year-old sister for bike rides gave his mother a heart attack each time, so eventually it became a little secret between them.) "So do I, so that's all that counts." They reached the end of her driveway and Isaiah parked the bike off to the side so he could walk her to the door.

The walk to the door wasn't that far and when they got there Vanessa turned and put her hand on his arm. "Thanks again for saving my life." She told him, squeezing his arm slightly. It may sound silly to say, but the truth was he had. If he hadn't caught her, she'd've fallen onto the road going very fast. If she'd've lived, she would've been severely injured.

"And you're welcome. Again." Though she didn't need to say it. Vanessa was one of his oldest friends; of course he wasn't going to let anything happen to her. He wrapped her in a quick hug before stepping back. "I should get going. Opening tomorrow at the Nest." And tomorrow was going to be a big day for him.

Vanessa nodded. "Yea. Take care. I have a book to read anyhow. I'll talk to you later." She said, opening her door. "Ride safe."

"Always do." His version of "ride safe" just didn't match most people, that's all. With a wave, Isaiah headed back towards his bike, making sure Vanessa was inside before leaving.