Wouldnt know before it hits you

"And what if you were chased by a vampyre?" he just asked with his eyes slightly narrowed. But he did kind of wish that he could be a superhero, that would be pretty cool in all honesty. Her angry remark made him scoff and chuckle as he nodded. "Alright alright, you can retract your claws, I surrender" he said as he lifted his hands to show that he was surrendering if she was going to be aggressive. "Instead of me protecting you then, can I least escort you home, or at least in the direction of it?" he tried, because there wasnt saying who lurked around the corner these days, especially with the way the world was.

"If I were being chased by a vampyre it wouldn't really be a chase, would it?" she retaliated, mostly because she thought it would just be the end in a few seconds. A fenix couldn't out run a vampyre, that was just the facts of the world, so she thought his argument was weird. He seemed to back off slightly, until he mentioned following her home. She didn't really trust that strangers could know where she lived, but she guessed it was kinda scary out these days when you were alone. Maybe that had also been a big reason why she wanted Deacon to come after her. Remind her that it was too unsafe to be out alone at this hour in these times.
"Alright," she replied a little sourly before she started walking. If he hesitated she would stop and turn around to look at him. "Are you coming, or what?"

"I dont think you understand how much they like the chase," he said with his eyes slightly narrowed. Then he shook his head like it didnt really matter. They could probably go back and forth with how and why vampyres were quite dangerous at night. Her sour reply was at least her accepting his request. But he did wonder if she was going to be this angry all the way. Not that he blamed her, seeing that she had been through something. Nodding he caught up and walked beside her. "Do you have anything to protect yourself with?"

Now that was a stupid question. Firstly, of course she didn't and secondly if she showed him whether or not that she had anything, he would know how to counter it. "I don't carry a gun around if you're afraid of getting shot," she murmured, rubbing her cheek as the dry tears were itchy as it had mixed pretty well with her foundation. She just couldn't wait to go home and wipe it all off.
"What are you doing out so late anyways? You seem awfully concerned about that fact," she asked, because she wanted to know. She still didn't trust him enough to give him her name, but perhaps if she got to know him more on this walk it would be a possibility. "Are you acting out like some vigilante fantasy?"

Her murmur made him chuckle because he realized he might have come off as weird asking about that. He sighed and smiled a little warmly as he looked at the ground. Reaching down into his pocket he pulled out a knife that could retract, offering it to her, "You should at least carry something," he insisted.
Her question hit pretty hard on because it was a complicated story. Sighing he rubbed his gloved hands together. "I run errands," he just said to put it simple. She could probably understand the secrecy seeing that she wasnt really giving out much info herself. But the vigilante remark did make him chuckle in a way he felt at the bottom of his stomach. "You could say that, as I'm doing some good things. But it's all really just for the money,"

Frowning a little she looked at the knife as he offered it, but decided to take it. If he was giving out free weapons she sure as hell would take it. Part of her wished she had had this knife earlier, but maybe it would come in handy later when she felt like she was ready to carve out her own heart. Wow, she really sounded like Mickey now. Looking at him dressed in leather and black he sure looked like some knock-off dark knight, but she just let him speak. It was easier that way, and she just held the knife in her hand as he spoke. The metal was cold, and it made the hairs on her back stand up as a shiver ran through her body. She was way too cold to really be thinking, besides just listening to what he had to say.
"So a drug dealer?" she presumed, because it sounded eerily familiar to how Gareth had described the Prideux way of selling things to the masses. The drugs were good, as long as they benefitted him.

The presumption made him scoff, shaking his head. "No, it's different. Kind of like a gang thing, just without all the rivalry and movie tropes, and no drugs are involved, I dont fuck with that stuff," he said with a shrug. Probably didnt sound all that heoric boiled down, but he did believe he was doing some good things for the money he got. It was weird because he hadnt ever told someone what it was that he was working with under any circumstances. "I grew up with no one and nothing, so I want to do my best to prevent that from happening to other kids," he explained, frowning a little as he thought about it. Yeah that was the best way he could really put it.

Listening to him she wasn't sure she really understood, but hey, to each their own. As he went on to explain his upbringing she bit her tongue for a while. "Yeah, well, growing up with others around aren't really great either," she said, shrugging lightly as she didn't really know if she wanted to dig deeper than that. Her childhood hadn't been the best, her father an asshole and her mother was completely useless. The only family she cared about were her younger siblings.
"But I guess it doesn't matter anyways, right, I mean, the past is in the past," she said, although she didn't quite believe those words of hers. Her past still haunted her, it was always there to fuck her over just like tonight. "I say that as if I'm some holier than thou person, but I'm actually a really shitty one." Always giving herself the short end of the stick.

"Oh I did grow up with my brother and we've had each other's back since day one. I just dont think it's an opportunity everyone gets," he explained but didnt take away from her words. After all he hadnt had a family like that so he couldnt know what it would be like, even if it was just a normal family.
The past is in the past wasnt really words that Xalvador followed. Not like he was obsessing over the past, but he had had instances that clearly told him that the past did matter. "The past is what makes us, so it does mean something," he argued as she called herself shitty. "And also, you dont really seem that shitty to me. Sure a little aggressive and tough. But not shitty," he added, sending her a friendly smile.

"I guess what I want is just a different past, cause this one didn't make me a great person," she argued, but hearing him say she was simply aggressive made her scoff. Was that almost a laughter? "You haven't seen the worst of it, leather man," she said, but she felt bitter about her words. She didn't want to be aggressive, but when the rest of the world had it out for her, was there really anything else to be? And she refused to just be sad all the time, that sounded like a scenario that she wasn't even going to fuck with.
"Oh, this is my stop," she lied, stopping at an apartment building. It wasn't really where she lived, but she didn't feel comfortable showing a stranger the actual building. She had to walk a block or so more before she was at the right building. "Thanks for the company or whatever," she said, making it short as she thanked the gods that the door to the building was left unlocked.
With that she stepped inside, pretending to walk up the stairs before waiting for him to leave. Once he had, she snuck out the building, popping a cigarette in between her lips and lit it before heading home. She was only a few buildings away as she heard someone yell at her from behind. She chose to ignore it. Damn cat callers. "It's that bitch from the bar!" One of the guys yelled, which made a cold sensation run down her back. She tried to ignore them, walking faster but as she entered her building and slammed the door, one of the guys had caught up to her, jamming his foot and stopping her from closing the door. "Mind if I come home with you?" He said in a sinister voice, making Frankie burn her cigarette on his face before running up the stairs.
It stunted the guy for a minute, but two others followed, managing to grab on to Frankie and force her up the wall. "Awe, cmon pretty face, you don't have to play hard to get," the second guy said, licking his lips as he looked at her. She spit in his face, trying to kick him in the nuts, which failed the first few times, until she hit him good. He let go of her and she continued her ascend.
"Baby don't be mad, we just wanna make it up to you!" The first guy having reached her while the third grabbed her as she was unlocking the door to her apartment. "Letting us in? Are you so eager kitten?"
Frankie was pushed in to her apartment, the second guy running up the stairs to join his friends. "Get the fuck out of my home!" She yelled in anger but the second guy shook his head, walking over to push her down on her couch. "Take your clothes off," he demanded before the third guy got too impatient and ripped her jacket off, tearing her shirt beneath more so it was slowly falling down. She tried getting away, covering herself as she headed for the window, but the first guy was faster, grabbing her wrist and twisting it. "I'm going to teach you a lesson in manners," he whispered in to her ear.

Was she regretting jumping this guy at the bar? A little, but she was going to keep fighting until she had nothing left in her to give. He hit her against the wall, her vision blurring feeling a numbness hit her skin.
Everything happened so fast, but instead of him hurting her further, he was pulled off of her, turning around to see the leather dude from earlier holding the asshole as some sort of hostage. The two other men hadn't seen that coming, keeping their distance to the knife wielding maniac. "Hey, fella, just fucking chill aight?" One off them tried pleading, but seeing how the hybrid was pressing the knife in to the neck of their friend they stood down. Giving Frankie a dead glare, almost as if to say that she was lucky to have someone come save her like that.
If Xalvador released the guy he was holding he would scramble away, yelling things of profanity towards both him and the fenix. Once they were gone, Frankie had wrapped her arms around her knees, pressing them close to her chest. She felt like she was going to throw up or
pass out ... or maybe both. And that was when she just gave up and started sobbing.

"Just get the fuck away from her before I do something I regret, and this isnt even close" he hissed at the two guys while still keeping the knife at the first guy's throat, to then look at the guy he was holding onto, seeing the blood trickle down from a small cut that could slowly be getting bigger depending on their next move. "You're all very big men huh, ganging up on some girl? Get out of here," he groaned, shoving the guy towards the door, gesturing with the armed hand for the others to follow. Once they were gone, he packed away the knife and went over to crouch down to her. Grabbing a blanket from the couch, he wrapped it around her back and sighed deeply. "It just isnt your night tonight, huh?" he scoffed, looking at her with a rather empathic look in his eyes. He moved a bit away in case she wanted some space, after seeing what the guy's were trying to do to her. "Do you have someone I can call that can come over and take care of you? A friend, family?" he asked, mostly because he knew he probably wasnt the right choice in the moment.

"Do I look like I have people around me who cares?" She sobbed, hiding her face away in shame. Sure, she had Mickey, but calling her now would only make things worse. Then there was Phineas, but he was just a kid and there was no way in the Abyssus that she was going to call Deacon now. She was alone and that was just how things were. She didn't even want to be in her apartment right now. It felt like her private space had been invaded. It wasn't safe here any more. Rubbing her cheeks and eyes, dragging her makeup all over her face in the process, she moved to her feet. "I got myself, that's it," she mumbled, walking over to the window looking out and breathing in some fresh air.
Was he going to leave? She wasn't sure whether she wanted him to stay either. It was just such a fucked up night, leaning out the window she felt her stomach rumble, hoping to throw up, but all she ended up doing was just spitting on the ground. Leaning back inside again she turned to look at the hybrid. "Thank you," she mumbled, but that was about all she could muster, sliding down her wall to sit down. She was way too tired to stand much more, her feet killing her and her body so cold and sick. She still had the blanket over her shoulders, but it was like it was cold too.

"I'm not sure I can answer that as just some stranger you met on the street," he said with a small smile on his lips. She didnt seem like someone who was all to herself, there had to be someone. Looking around he found her phone, unlocking it as he checked who she had been calling recently. He just called up the same number, but no one picked up. It was good that there was a voicemail however that gave a name. He just decided to message the guy through texts, hoping that that would reach him if calls wouldnt. Her mumble made him shake his head. "No need to thank me, they had no right to do that to you," he just said as he went over to check on her. He could almost smell the fire in her veins, but she was also too cold for what was good for her. Pulling her up into his arms, he got her away from the window and placed her in the bean bag rather than the couch he had seen the guys hold her down on. Walking out into the kitchen he looked around till he found a bottle with a lid that could be unscrewed. Filling the bottle with hot water he returned to put the bottle in her arms, "Hold onto that," he just said, before he sat down on the couch and waited.

His phone was still unresponsive to anything it got, but his laptop wasnt. Hearing the message tone, as Deacon never really unplugged it and turned it off, it was constantly on. He got up from the couch and went to check who it was. Frowning a little at the message, he grabbed his hoodie and got into it, carefully with his injured arm before he put on the sling, as it just relieved the pressure of letting his arm hang down his side. It was fine enough at home, but heading out, it could worsen it.
Didnt take him long to get to Frankie's and as he was buzzed inside, he felt that weird feeling of dread. They had kissed tonight but he wasnt sure he was ready to even talk about that. He was met by some scarred stranger in the door who explained what had happened. He hated however all that he was hearing and even more he hated that he hadnt run after her when he had the chance. Maybe this wouldnt have happened. He was probably the last person she wanted to see now, but it wasnt about that, especially from what he heard from this guy that had apparently saved her. He thanked the stranger and went to see her, placing a hand on her forehead before he sighed. She was way too cold, this wasnt good, "Come on, Franks, lets get you warm before the cold gets you," he said with a sigh, lifting her up before he took her to her bathroom. Hopefully she wasnt too far gone but he also wouldnt give up on her.

She hardly knew what was going on, just clutching on to the warm bottle of water, but it wasn't enough. The bean bag was nice, but she just kept staring at the couch. It was like she knew what would've happened if the hybrid hadn't jumped in to help her, and the thought didn't really help her keep warm. She didn't even notice him trying to use her phone.
It wasn't until Deacon touched her forehead she seemed to emote. His heat just so well known to her and she could kinda stand on her own feet with his help. She didn't even have the power in her to fight back, just following him out to the bathroom, mumbling something under her breath that she wasn't sure she even knew what was. If he turned on the shower she would sit down on the edge of the tub, still holding the water bottle even though it was getting cold. She hoped he would fill the tub and if he did, she would try and get out of her shoes, which kind of worked, it was just a little clunky. Then she just let the rest of her top fall off, as it was barely hanging on by a string, and lastly as she stood up she let the skirt just flop to the floor. She had stopped caring at this point, just getting in the tub with his help, whining at the heat but it was only because it was such a difference to her skin right now.
In all honesty she didn't even know if the stranger had left yet, but she hoped he didn't blame her for not saying goodbye.

Once he had gotten her settled in in the bathtub he ran a hand over her head, exhaling deeply. He just felt so guilty about it all and Mickey's words just seemed more and more true, even though the words had developed into other words that seemed to describe just how bad he was for her. He was a good friend and maybe that was all that he really had to offer. The stranger was still in the hallway and Deacon came out to him, thanking him once more. The guy seemed to have other places to be, but Deacon stopped him in the door, asking if there was a way Frankie could get in touch if she wanted to once everything had settled down. He was really out here trying to make things harder for himself but on the other hand, it was better to give her the option to decide herself. Nothing the stranger's name and number down, he sent him off. He got back to Frankie and crouched down next to the tub, having brought some supplies to clean her face and hopefully treat her wounds. He could've noticed the fact that she was almost naked, but right now he was focused on something completely different than selfish needs Reaching over, he turned her head towards him and started taking off her makeup. He had always liked her natural glow anyway, but he wasnt really thinking about that now. "I'll stay for as long as you want me to, I just want you to not feel alone right now," he assured her in a comforting tone, rubbing her face carefully but also in a gentle motion in a sort of caress.

Why was he still so willing to be there for her? She couldn't wrap her mind around it, because after everything she had said and done, he was still there taking care of her. She was quiet, just looking at him with tired eyes as he started removing her makeup, wincing whenever he hit the tear in her eyebrow or some of the bruises on her face. Beneath the makeup she looked more beat up, but she couldn't seem to care about it. His assurance made her nod, just feeling like she couldn't find her words to describe how grateful she was right now. She wanted to apologize, wanted to tell him that she just felt so frustrated about her feelings for him.
The warm water was helping a lot, and every now and then they changed it out to be hot and steamy once again. She looked at his hoodie, the red stable in his life that she borrowed on more than one occasion. "Karma is a real bitch today," she said, her voice a little hoarse from crying. Blinking a few times she looked up at his lips, and it was as if she could remember exactly how they felt against her own. How it had made her whole body so warm and made her skin tingle with delight. But she was soon reminded of the hurt she had caused as she looked at his eyes. She really didn't get why he had even come here, but on the other hand the last thing she wanted to do was be alone.
Reaching up with her wet hand she cupped his face, seeing that he was pretty beat up from the fall he had endured a couple of days ago. It felt almost like weeks since that night. "Can I come stay at your place for a while?" she asked a little hesitantly, mostly because she knew she had no right to ask. It was just her knowing herself well enough to not be in this apartment for a while. It was all so fresh in her memory, and she could still feel her body tremble when she thought of the three men looming over her.

She was right and he scoffed with a nod in agreement. Not because he believed she had deserved anything of what had happened today, more that he deserved feeling shitty over all that he had done to her ever since he started off by falling off the building. Even if it really wasnt as bad as he had now set it up in his mind to be. He was still hurting but he hoped it didnt show too bad. He more just wanted to see her smile again and things being as they always had been. He tried to be careful around the sore areas, but he also didnt want them to not be cleaned at all.
He looked into her eyes as she cupped his face, his lower lip only slightly puckered forward like he wasnt really sure how to react. To be honest, it was a weird time, as she had been yelling at him not too long ago and then everything that had happened before and after that. He nodded at her question and pulled out some sort of tape that was meant to keep wounds together. He slowly applied it to her eyebrow, so at least it would grow back together nicely and not leave a bad scar. "Yeah, you can stay over at my place, I'll call someone tomorrow to come fix the window that guy broke to get in," he said in a gentle tone. If she still held onto his face, he however leaned a little away to get her hand off of him. "I'm sorry, it's.... nice, but I dont think it's good for either of us right now," he mumbled, hoping she would understand. It really wasnt about her, it was about him in his mind. The stranger had done far better than he ever could, because she really needed him in the moment and he wasnt there. He couldnt really let his mind get over that. "Mickey was right when she said I wasnt good for you. I know I'm an asshole and I understand that you need someone better... So I just want to go back to how things were and get to see you smile again," he explained, feeling his heart sink a little but hopefully it would get better. "I think I love you, but that doesnt mean I'm good for you," he just said with a frown meaning every word.

He moved away from her hand and she just let it sink back in the tub. There it was again. That numb feeling. That feeling like she had nothing left. Her eyes betrayed her, showing how hurt that move really made her. Even though he called it nice, she knew why. She knew he found her absolutely disgusting because of her work. Did he find her dirty? Did he think that she was just nothing now? She instead wrapped her arms around her knees, hiding her body a little more because she suddenly felt like he was judging her so harshly. Staring at the faucet, she frowned as he spoke about Mickey. Had she said that to his face? She wasn't surprised, she just felt a little betrayed, because the hybrid always seemed to have her back and supporting her, even when her decisions weren't the wisest.
"Maybe you're right, maybe we're just not good for each other," she whispered, feeling like her heart was stinging so badly she might get a heart attack. She wanted to drop this facade, just pull him in close and tell him why she was hurting so much. Tell him what had happened, why she was the way she was, but she just couldn't when he had denied her like that. He hadn't done that before, he had never shied away from her touch, and it made her mind go a little crazy. "Can you grab me some clothes while I finish up?" she asked, trying not to give away just how hurt she was. She was still cold, but it would come when she started moving, and she just wanted to get away from her apartment.

"I guess not," he mumbled to her whisper, sighing to himself as he looked away for a bit. But if they werent good for each other why did it not feel that way? He shook the feeling off and focused on making sure her wounds were covered, putting some sort of healing ointment over them and also to seal them so bacteria couldnt just get in. Nodding at her request he got up and went to get her some clothes. The guy had broken into her bedroom so everything was already so cold. He grabbed some pants and a shirt before he came back to her, looking away if she had gotten out of the tub. It was weird because he hadnt really done that before, looked away like that. But the situation just felt like it was wrong, the three guys had already been creepy enough, the last thing he thought she needed was having her friend just stare at her. He had taken off his hoodie too, knowing it was pretty warm from him wearing it. "Is there anything you wanna bring?" he asked, because then he would go get that for her. He just felt so awkward and out of place in the moment, probably seeming pretty restless on his feet. He knew he had done her wrong now, and he was hurting her while being seemingly the only one that could help her. She was really just forced to accept his presence wasnt she? At least that was what he thought and it was adding to the overall crappy feeling in his mind.

"Phone, wallet ... My computer - the rest I can live without it someone breaks in while I'm gone," she said a little distant as she dried herself off. She had taken off her underwear, placing it in the sink for the time being, hoping he had brought some for her to change in to. As he went out to gather her stuff, she got dressed as she noticed his hoodie laying there for her. He was being too nice when he really didn't have to. However she placed it over her head, pulling it down and feeling his smell and warmth all around her. This was all she was ever going to get, wasn't it? Just a warm hoodie and nothing else. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was surprised to see how well he had fixed her up. The bruises would go away on their own, but her brow was nice and could start healing.
When she had finished up, she came out to him, taking on some shoes and grabbing her jacket before taking her things. "I got it," she just said, getting out in to the hallway. Her door looked busted too, but she tried not to stare at it so much. Thankfully it wasn't a long walk until they got to Deacon's apartment. The multiple plants all around just gave a different vibe than she got from him, but it was a welcome one. Because it wasn't her apartment. Placing her stuff down on the coffee table, she shivered for a bit, laying down on the couch muttering a goodnight. She couldn't even look him in the eyes and ask if she could sleep in his bed with him. It would just hurt more down the line, and he had said it perfectly in her bathroom. It wasn't good for them.

Frankie had stayed at Deacon's place for a couple of days by now, she was awfully silent, not wanting to be in his way, but they had at least started to talk a little. It was just basic stuff, like what they were going to eat for dinner or what the other's plan was for the next day, but it was a start. She had even cracked a smile as they had been watching the news and Deacon said a joke. Maybe they could return to what they had, just given enough time? She had even taken the time to write a bit with Xalvador, who turned out to be one big comic book nerd - no big surprise there.
She was sitting in one of his big recliners, clicking around on her computer, typing some stuff only to edit what she had just typed. She was trying to stay active with her work, and most people on there were very supportive of her taking a bit of a break as she had announced what had happened that night. People were even sending more tips even though she hadn't posted a lot, which just made her feel good about her choice of work. The only time it felt bitter was when she looked at Deacon. Because part of her didn't know what he thought of it and another part made her fear that he despised her for it.
"What did you think?" she asked out of the blue as they had sat quietly for a while. They both knew what she was talking about, and she just wanted it all out on the table.

Having Frankie over actually wasnt as bad as he thought it would have been. He started to think that maybe they just needed time to readjust and go back. Maybe it was the deep care they shared that just made them both unable to let go, that or they were both too stubborn or prideful to give up. He had noticed how she had been texting someone, but he wasnt going to ask about it; It wasnt his business even if it did make him a little jealous if it was the stranger she was texting all this time. His phone was going to come back in a few days, but from the sound of it, it would only be luck if they could make it work like it used to.
He sat with his laptop and just scrolled social media, normally he would have probably drawn, but he was so secretive with that part of him that having her around made him not really wanting to have that conversation. Also it would be weird to show her what he was working on either way. Her question made him look up with a searching expression, blinking a few times before he realized. A small oh left his lips and he sat up straight in the couch, placing his head in his hand while he tried to recall that night. "Well, I was pretty beat up at the time, so I didnt really think about anything else than wow, she's really pretty but then also really naked," he said in a pondering tone, looking at her before he shrugged and sighed. "In the end, when I thought about it after a good night's rest, I wasnt really angry or feeling like what you're doing is wrong. I guess I just want you to do whatever you wanna do," he just said a little hyperfocused on his thoughts before he looked back at her and frowned. "Not what you expected from the entitled brat who gets everything he wants?" he asked, a crooked smile falling over his lips. But then he sighed and looked away. "But I did get a little more curious, so you're welcome for that" he mumbled with a shrug, before he chuckled and shook his head. Only that he wasnt really lying but saying it directly was just weird.

She could feel her heart flutter again as he called her pretty. Did he still think that about her? Did he still find her attractive or had his feelings vanished as they but had been ignoring it for so long at this point. But she was more surprised to hear him say that he actually didn't judge her, or so it sounded like that. He sounded supportive, something she would've never guessed, closing her laptop and placing it on the coffee table. She just looked at him as his cocky question came rolling in, making her roll her eyes. "Alright, alright, I wrote some mean shit when I was high on something ... I thought it was all water under the bridge," she pointed out, a half smile appearing on her lips.
What she hadn't expected was to hear him say it had gotten him curious, narrowing her eyes as she looked at him before she realized. Had he bought a subscription? "Deacon Wadesworth Grant ... Did just tickle your pickle to videos of me?" she asked rather surprised, but it also made her feel good. She knew they had agreed on friendship, but she just had to know, and when he had been the one to confess, he couldn't just leave her hanging now.