I'll thank you every time
Who: Laura and Aurora What: Saving a damsel up a tree When: During the Demons! Where: A tree, then an abandoned restaraunt status: complete Rating: PG
Most of Laura’s friends could take care of themselves. She didn’t need to worry about Rogue or her father, or even Furiosa. But with these undead around, she was going to worry, just a little bit, about Aurora. She thought Aurora was brave, in her own way, but fairies and magical creatures weren’t walking skeletons and demons. They wouldn’t stop for a princess with a pure heart. They’d sooner eat that pure heart. Or worse, corrupt it.
She got to Aurora in what felt like the nick of time, crashing her motorcycle into a horde of skeletons and leaping through the air, landing between Aurora and her tree, and another pack of undead. She was in full costume, and popped her claws. “Are you okay?”
Aurora had not intended to get stuck outside in the middle of a zombie-skeleton adventures, but there she was. Stuck in the middle of it all. She’d let out a particularly unfortunate shriek the moment they started moving toward her before making a quick decision to climb a tree. She hadn’t really know what else she was supposed to do. She’d just gone. It was the first thing she’d thought of.
The moment that Laura showed up, Aurora felt the relief wash over her. She was going to be okay. More importantly, she wouldn’t be stuck here for the rest of the night like she’d feared. “I’m fine. I skinned my knee on the way up, but it’s not a big deal.”
"They might like the smell of your blood," Laura said cryptically. She started to cut her way through the skeletons, hoping she hadn't wrecked her bike badly enough that they couldn't escape on it. She reached the tree and looked up, then held out her arms. "Trust me. Jump!"
Aurora tried not to show how much she did not like that idea. She really, really, really didn’t like that idea. Her brow furrowed, but she trusted Laura. “Okay.” She jumped, letting out a small yelp as she did.
Laura stepped a little more to the left and caught Aurora. She held her for a moment, then gently set her down. “Follow me. But don’t get too close.”
She didn’t want to risk hurting Aurora when she started cutting up the skeletons. At least they didn’t have any flesh. Laura never wanted Aurora to see that kind of thing.
Aurora nodded, grateful for the feeling of the ground beneath her feet. She stayed far enough away that she didn’t get accidentally injured, but she wished that she could be closer if only because she was nervous. She didn’t even have anything to hit the zombies and skeletons that were coming to fight them.
“I should have thought to grab a bat or something, but I didn’t even know it was going to get like this until I was already out and so I didn’t even grab anything.” She felt useless, which she didn’t like.
Laura frowned, then tore a branch off of the tree and put it in Aurora’s hands. She didn’t say anything else, except to curse vividly when a skeleton got too close and tried to gnaw on her arm. She was not delicious, at least not towards any undead.
She started to clear a path to the motorcycle, removing limbs left and right. She kicked one off the bike and then pulled it upright. “Get on.”
Aurora jumped, but she took the tree branch. It was definitely not what she expected, but now she’d probably make a point to have even small things to fight with in the future. Also, she was seriously going to start those self defense classes for real. She did not want to feel like this again.
Laura, however, was amazing. She was just...good at this. Even if she still worried a little. Dropping the branch, Aurora climbed onto the back of the motorcycle. “Thank you for coming to get me. I’m sorry you had to.”
“I’ll always come,” Laura assured her. She peeled out, running over another zombie before they got clear road. She let off the gas, reaching a hand back to press it to Aurora’s leg, trying to reassure herself that Aurora was okay. She wasn’t even sure where to take her, only that she wasn’t going to leave her alone.
Aurora pressed her face against Laura’s back, between the shoulderblades. “I’ll try not to get into trouble too often.” But she had a feeling this place was going to put her in danger more often than she really wanted to be. She’d try anyway. But until then, she was just going to sit there on the motorcycle, hair whipping around in the wind, and arms wrapped around Laura’s waist. She didn’t care where they went, just as long as it didn’t involve zombies or skeletons.
Just being close to Laura invited trouble, but at least she could say this one wasn’t her fault. She leaned back a little. If it wasn’t hell on earth she could enjoy the feel of Aurora against her. But safety was more important, and she started to speed up as she spotted what she hoped was a safe haven. She came to a stop in front of a Chinese place that had been abandoned. It had a second floor and she figured they could barricade the stairs. Otherwise they could hunker down and eat Chinese.
Laura would have to compensate them for it later. She got off of her bike and held her hand out for Aurora.
Aurora took Laura’s hand, climbing off the bike. She didn’t waste any time getting into the Chinese place and she didn’t let go of Laura’s hand. “I wish my Fairy Godmother were here. She would know what to do.” She always knew what to do. Aurora may not have known her name, but she knew real power when she saw it. She had magic and she would have known.
“Any of the fairies might have helped us.”
“She sounds wise.” Laura located something more sturdy than a tree branch for Aurora, then moved some heavy equipment in front of the stairs. Rather than tug Aurora after her, she instead picked her up and carried her two steps at a time. Up top was a kind of loft apartment. Also abandoned, but pretty comfortable looking. “But I think we’ll be okay right now.”
“She is.” Aurora took hold of the weapon handed to her. There was a surprised noise when she was picked up, but she didn’t really mind it. She waited to be put down before she let herself fully relax. She really hoped nothing would come after them inside because she just wanted to be done for the day. She moved to lean against Laura. “I could go forever without anymore zombies or skeletons or anything like that again.”
After a couple moments passed, she leaned back just a little before giving Laura a quick kiss. “Thank you again. Really.”
Laura pulled her mask off, but kept a hand protectively against Aurora’s back. She was surprised by the kiss and grinned dumbly for a moment. “You don’t have to thank me…”
If they were attacked just then, she’d be momentarily useless, but luckily no such thing happened.
“And yet I'll thank you every time.” And she would because some things deserved a thank you even if it wasn't needed. She didn't want to ever take anything Laura did for granted. Especially not when it was saving her. Plus, the smile was worth it. “So I guess you'll just have to get used to that.”