Far From Oblivion || One-on-One || Caebeeb and Pirate

[Well, you know, don't kill him. XD But do as you wish. Go more for the body, not too much to the face. That's the money-maker. XDD]

Rylan folded her arms across her chest as she was told to "calm down". That was easier said than done. Lips set into a frown, she watched as he pulled out an object, listening to his description. Confusion flashed across her eyes at his question, not realizing that she was bleeding. She glanced down at her side, huffing a sigh. "Forget it. It's not bugging me that much." She turned her eyes back to him quirking an eyebrow. "Alright, your gadget is fine and dandy. Now what are we going to do for the next ten hours until it gets dark?" She shook her head, turning away from him as she glanced around. About an eighth of a mile away, the black luxury car turned down the alley, crawling toward the couple. Rylan turned swiftly, shoving Clark forward, "Go," she hissed, pushing him toward the side of the bakery. She glanced down the street as she looked for somewhere to go, some place to hide.

[Yes, eighth. xD Don't judge. Dang, Pi. Poor Heath.]

Rylan followed Clark, right on his heels. She watched as he attempted to open the back door, frowning when it refused him. She was startled as he pulled her against him, glancing up at him for a moment. She could feel his heart pounding through his chest, but she didn't comment. She turned her head toward the street, her eyes scanning for the car. Catching sight of it, she held her breath as well, as though it would make them less obvious. She pressed closer to Clark, watching as the black car disappeared before letting out a breath of relief. She pushed away from Clark glancing around. She noticed a fire escape leading up to the roof of the building across from them. Glancing back at Clark, she began to climb up the ladder, ignoring the pain in her side.

Heath glared at man who began to drag him away from his partner, completely infuriated that he was handcuffed. He ignored the pain in his leg for the time being, holding much more concern for his partner, though he was slowly bleeding out. He clenched his jaw as the man slapped her, plotting the various ways that he would torture and kill him the second he got his hands on him. In fact, he mentally planned each of their deaths. He grit his teeth as Edwards approached Sophia, anger churning and boiling in his stomach at how brazenly he spoke to her. "Don't touch her!" he snarled as Edwards slapped her, his entire being filled with rage. He sat there tensely, watching the man. As soon as he punched her, though, he began to shift on the ground, working his way up into a standing position, planning to beat the daylights out of him. The nearest goon kicked at his knee, knocking him back down to the ground. "So help me, I promise I'm going to kill each and every one of you," he growled, locking his eyes back on Edwards. He sat up rigidly, stock still as the man pulled the gun out and pointed it at Sophia, his eyes widening. He couldn't relive the death of a partner. No way. Her death would be entirely on his hands. Strangely, he seemed to relax when the gun was turned on him. He could take a few bullets, especially if it meant keeping Sophia from harm. "Don't answer him," Heath encouraged, not wanting her to feel obligated for his life. His right side jerked back as a bullet lodged itself in his bicep, causing him to grunt, the muscles in his jaw jumping. Before he could recover from the initial shock of the first bullet, the second lodged itself just above his left kneecap, about six inches below the bullet in his thigh. Great. He took a deep breath, feeling the shock of pain radiate through his body. His face paled and a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead. He grit his teeth, lifting his eyes to Sophia as she began to speak, impressed by her acting skills. He decided to play it up, hoping Edwards would take the bait. "Dammit, shut your mouth, Guinevere!" he snapped, using her false name, his voice strained. He coughed slightly, listening to Edwards as he ate it all up. He watched them leave, wishing it to be over. However, he felt one last stinging pain in the lower right side of his abdomen. Heath grunted again, closing his eyes and dropping his head, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself. He was tough. He could handle pain. Four bullets, however, was pushing it. He glanced up at Sophia, his eyes reflecting the immense pain he was in. Taking one final deep breath, he began to push himself to his feet, steadying himself against the brick wall at his back. He pushed off of it, limping his way toward the young woman, keeping his weight off of his left leg. After ten excruciating paces, he dropped to his knees behind her chair, reaching up to untie the knot in the rope around her wrists. He grunted in pain when his right arm wouldn't cooperate, the muscles spasming and pain flaring down his arm. He sat up a bit, shaking slightly, and reached into his pocket for his knife. He pulled it out, flipping out the blade, and began to saw at the rope. After several minutes, he finally got through it, having had to move slower and more awkwardly than normal while using his left hand. He unwound it from her wrists, freeing her. Using the chair for leverage, he got back to his feet, breathing heavily and hanging his head. He lifted his eyes after a moment, turning them on his partner. "Are you okay?" he asked desperately, his voice thick with pain. His clothes were now soaked with blood, but he didn't seem to notice, his eyes locked on the small woman in front of him. "Please tell me you're okay," he pleaded, coughing again. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess. I was careless. You were right. We should have waited to go after him." He shook his head angrily, leaning heavily on the chair. His legs finally failed him and he dropped to the ground, pain pumping through his body. He sat up, obviously not having expected to fall. His shoulders were hunched as he stared at the ground ahead of him, his breathing heavy and labored.

{I said rope because that was easier than having to find a key for the handcuffs with him in his condition. xD Shot FOUR times.}

Rylan glanced at her partner as they made it to the roof, shrugging at his words. "Got any better ideas?" she muttered. She glanced at Clark, raising a brow. She sat down near the edge of the roof, far enough away, though, so that she couldn't be seen from the ground. She glanced down at her side, lifting her shirt to assess the damage. She sighed, turning her eyes to Clark. "I don't suppose you have any bandages in that kit of yours?" she asked, her eyes moving back to her wound.

[xD Okay, we'll go with that.]

Heath turned his eyes to Sophia as she pulled out the hair accessories and headed to the door. He watched her struggle to pick the lock, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips as she cursed at it. He watched her as she came to his side, in a bit of a daze. He furrowed his brow, slightly confused by her words, but nodding nonetheless, getting to his feet painfully as she helped him. He tried not to lean on her very much, not wanting to crush her. He was about two and a half times her weight, and her strength and will surprised him. He stopped to lean against the wall several times on their way up the stairs, breathing heavily. He had broken out in a sweat all over his body, and the amount of blood he was losing made it seem strange that he was still even standing. He was more than happy to have cool air hit his face as they stepped outside. Hesitating as they reached the car, he glanced down at his partner, giving her a soft smile. Before he got in the car, he reached out, placing his hand lightly behind Sophia's neck, gently pulling her closer. He gazed at her for a moment before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers urgently. Pulling away after a moment, he gave her a cheeky grin. "In case I die," he murmured. He finally got into the car, knowing that he couldn't stand any longer anyway. He shut his eyes and leaned back against the seat, not worrying about her speed. He was just about to drift off into the darkness when they got to the hospital. He limped inside, and as soon as his head hit the gurney, he was out. A few hours later, Heath awoke to a soft beeping beside his bed, confused. When had he gotten here? A doctor smiled down at him, "Ah, you're awake. You're a lucky man. You wouldn't have lasted another fifteen minutes." Heath glanced at the man, "When can I get out of here?" he asked, his voice a bit hoarse. He was already back to his old self. All business. The doctor glanced down at him, a bit surprised. "Well, it's customary--," Heath cut him off. "Just send me with the some pain medication. I'll be fine." The doctor glanced at him hesitantly. "I have far bigger things to attend to than I care to explain. You don't really want to impede that, do you?" The doctor still seemed unsure, "Sir--." Heath sat up, ignoring the slight pain. The medication he was currently on was helping. The doctor relented, intimidated by the man. He unhooked him from the machines before quickly writing up a prescription for pain medication. Heath noticed his bloodied clothes off to one side and quickly changed into them, tugging them on over his bandages. He grabbed the prescription from the doctor, muttering a "thanks" before he went and found Sophia. As soon as he began walking, he realized that he was in a lot more pain than he originally thought. He did a good job of hiding it, though. "Let's go," he murmured, grabbing her hand and leading her out to the parking lot. He ignored the shocked looks on the nurses and patients' faces as they passed them. They were obviously stunned by his appearance. Once outside, he glanced around, uncertain as to where she had parked, his memory a bit hazy. He glanced down at his partner, releasing her hand and turning his eyes back to the rows of cars. "I hate hospitals," he murmured, wanting only to go back to their "home" and change his clothes. He turned his eyes down on her again, suddenly remembering the kiss he gave her, the thought the only distinct thing in his memory of the last few hours. He cleared his throat, "And sorry about earlier. I wasn't thinking straight. It won't happen again." Honestly, he wasn't sorry, and the thought startled him. Relationships were dangerous in their line of work.

{Rules? What rules? Heath doesn't live by rules. >: D And, ya know, I just sneaked in that kiss. Lol, I edited this a lot. xD}

Rylan frowned at her partner's response, shaking her head. "Never mind." She sat in silence for awhile, staring off at the rooftops. It was going to be a long day. After several painfully silent hours passed, her not making any attempt at conversation, it was finally dark out. She pushed herself to her feet, stretching her sore limbs. "Let's go," she murmured, heading to the fire escape and making her way down. She waited for Clark to join her before heading down to the end of the alley, glancing around. Virtually no one was around at the moment, and she began to quickly, though quietly, make her way down the street toward their hotel. A good fifteen minutes later, everything was still quiet, no signs of the black car anywhere. She stopped at the edge of the hotel parking lot, glancing around. Surely they would be waiting. They had to be careful. "Ready?" she asked, casting a quick glance toward her partner.

Heath nodded as she accepted his explanation, following her toward their car. As she opened the door for him, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, "I'm pretty sure the guy is supposed to open the door for the girl. But thanks." He slipped into his seat, wincing slightly, but quickly masking his pain. He buckled up, staring out the window for the duration of the ride as their earlier situation replayed in his mind. He really should have listened to his partner. When they arrived, he got out, waving off her offer of help. He nodded at her suggestion as he walked into the apartment, "Yes, ma'am," he murmured, heading over to his bag. He grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom. After taking off his destroyed clothes, he unwound the bandaging from his body, only keeping the large bandages on, grateful that they had a plastic coating over the back. He took a hot shower, the water loosening his tense, tired muscles. When he was finished, he dried off and then wound the bandaging around his wounds once more. He took out his contacts and put on his glasses, giving his eyes a break. He tugged on his black cotton sleep pants and headed out of the bathroom, not bothering with a shirt. His abdomen and bicep were bandaged, his scar and tattoo now visible. He grabbed his bloodied clothes and headed out of the bathroom, stopping at the trash to throw them away and noticing the box of condoms. He laughed, glancing at Sophia, "So you don't plan on using those? What a waste," he said with a playful grin. He dropped his clothes in the trash before heading over to her, reaching out to gently inspect the bruise on her jaw where Edwards had punched her. He sighed, gently pulling her into a hug, enveloping her in his strong arms. "I really am sorry, Sophia. I was acting foolishly. You were right. I'll listen to you from now on." He rested his cheek on the top of her head, holding her tightly. He wasn't about to let her end up dead like Steven, even if his death was accidental. He would protect her to the best of ability. He gently released her before taking a seat at the small table, more than happy to see food set before him.

Rylan followed Clark, sighing slightly as he pulled her into his side, stiffly wrapping her arm around him as well. "Or maybe you just like holding me so close," she muttered sarcastically as he explained himself, already knowing why he was doing what he was. As they reached the hotel she glanced off to the side, her blood running cold as she saw the black car. She remained calm, though, tightening her grip on her partner, "They're here." They didn't seem to be paying any attention to them, at least not for the moment. When they reached their side of the hotel, she thanked the heavens that it was mainly bathed in shadow. She glanced at Clark, waiting for him to use his fancy little gadget, her heart pounding. Hopefully they wouldn't notice them, as they weren't quite in view.

Heath had noticed how quickly she pulled away, feeling her awkwardness. He sighed, wondering why he bothered. Affection of any kind just wasn't his thing. He didn't do well with it, and it would appear that he made others uncomfortable. Was it possible to hug someone incorrectly? He quietly wondered if she was offended by his earlier kiss and wanted no physical contact. He had probably crossed a boundary. It was time for him to recede back into himself, to go back to his quiet, stand-offish ways. He had tried to be friendly, and that obviously wasn't a good look on him. He glanced up momentarily as she brought the bread over, nodding slightly. He took a piece, setting it on the edge of the plate. He lightly sprinkled the cheese onto his pasta before picking up his fork and beginning to eat. He stared at his plate for the duration of the meal, his forearm resting on the table, tucked up against him. When they had both finished, he got to his feet, clearing the dishes. He rinsed them off and set them in the sink. "Thanks. That was good," he murmured before heading into the small living room area. He picked up his blanket, planning to resume using the couch as a bed. He sat down on one end, deciding to watch a little T.V. before he called it a night. He flipped on the small set, flipping through the channels before landing on a random movie, Shawshank Redemption. He settled back on the couch, watching with a straight face.

Rylan watched quietly as Clark worked the little gizmo, glancing back casually to see if the men had noticed them yet. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he drew her closer, eying the contraption that pulled them upward, wondering if it would really hold them. She was impressed when the reached their window, and she nodded at his words, gripping to window sill so that he wasn't completely supporting all of her weight. She pried up the bottom and pushed the window open before pulling herself into their room. She reached out, offering him her hand. When he was inside, she quickly packed up her things, pulling out a gun from the bottom of her suitcase. She slipped it in to the back of her jeans, not having time to bother with a holster. She covered it with her shirt, grabbed her bag, and turned to Clark. "Ready?" she asked as she headed back to the window, glancing out. The car wasn't in sight, and she hoped it would stay that way.

Heath sat quietly as Sophia showered, his eyes on the television screen. He glanced down at the blanket on his lap, picking at it absently as he thought over the days' events. He sighed, turning his eyes back to the movie. When his partner came into the room, he glanced up quickly, taking in her outfit choice. He shook his head at her request, "No. I'm fine out here," he said simply, too stubborn to let her sleep on the uncomfortable couch. He turned off the T.V., turning his eyes back to Sophia as he took his glasses off and set them on the tiny table beside the couch. "Goodnight," he murmured as he stretched out, tossing the blanket over him. He ignored the pain of his wounds, knowing that wherever he slept, he'd surely be uncomfortable.

Rylan glanced at her partner as though he had antlers growing out of his ears, watching him as he climbed out the window. She peered out at him, "You're crazy. Why am I partnered with you, again?" she hissed at him. She didn't have an issue with heights, but climbing out of a window when she was three floors above the ground seemed nuts. She grabbed her suitcase, pulling the strap over her shoulder before glancing down at him again, mumbling to herself. She swung one leg out, grabbing his hand and balancing as she slowly brought her other leg out, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck as she started to slip. She let out a breath as she held tightly to him, glancing up at him. When they reached the ground she quickly pulled away from him, glancing around for the black car. It was in the same spot. Her heart started pounding as the two front doors suddenly swung open, the men leaning out to aim their firearms at them. She turned, shoving Clark the opposite way. "Time's up," she said urgently, dashing around to the other side of the building. She headed around the second side before stopping. Their car was quite a distance from Dvorkin's, but it was out in the open. She glanced at Clark, "Okay, Getaway Driver, get to the car. I'll cover you," she said quickly as she handed him her bag, "You can use this as a shield of some sort in case they shoot." She gave him a half-smile before pulling out her gun, glancing around the corner. She shot off a round at their hood, glancing back at Clark as she waited for him to go. The men fired at the corner of the building, and Rylan ducked back. She shot once more after Clark headed to the car, managing to hit one in the shoulder. She dashed out quickly, popping off two more rounds as she went. She ducked into the passenger seat, glancing over at Clark. "Well, that was fun," she said breathlessly.

[xD Sorry if I god-modded there.]

Heath opened his eyes as Sophia returned, a frown etching on to his lips as she spoke. "You're stubborn," he grumbled, getting to his feet and heading over to her, crouching down beside her. "I'm not sleeping in the bed and letting you sleep out here. Don't make me drag you in there." He reached out, pulling her into his arms and getting to his feet, carrying her toward the bedroom. He didn't make it though, in far too much pain to do any heavy lifting. He set her on her feet before leaning against the wall and slowly slipping down to the floor. He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw in pain. He let out a heavy breath, his lips thinning into a line. "Can you take me to get my prescription filled?" he murmured, opening his eyes to peer at her.

Rylan hit the back of her seat as Clark sped out of the parking lot, quickly buckling in. She glanced back, watching silently as she waited to see any sign of the car pursuing them. When no one appeared behind them, she turned forward again, letting out a deep breath. She glanced over at her partner, shrugging slightly, "I have absolutely no idea. Now that our cover has been blown...I don't know where to go." She sighed, still angry with herself. How the hell had they found them? How did this happen? She dropped her eyes slightly, noticing Clark's arm with a frown. "You're bleeding," she murmured, glancing up at him. She leaned her head back against the headrest. "This wasn't how any of this was supposed to go. I don't know how they figured out who we were or how they found us." She let out a long breath, "I don't know if we should find another hotel or if we should park the car out in the middle of nowhere and camp out." She placed her hands over her face, massaging her skin slightly, "I'm sorry I blew it for us, Clark," she muttered, bitter with herself.

Heath glanced over at Sophia, giving her a slight smile as she offered to go fill his prescription, "I'd appreciate it," he murmured, closing his eyes at her comforting kiss. He didn't move while she was gone, staying in the same spot on the floor, trying to deal with the pain. The medication he had received at the hospital had worn off completely and he was in agony. His eyes snapped open when his partner returned, and he took the water and pills gratefully, gulping them down. He looked up at her as she spoke of a compromise, his gaze thoughtful and unwavering. He finally sighed and relented, "Alright, fine." He gently took her hand, mainly pushing himself to his feet. He winced, gripping his aching abdomen as he began to head into the bedroom. "I hate being weak," he muttered bitterly, feeling like he was acting in such a manner. He sat down when he reached the bed, hanging his head between his shoulders as he tried to take a deep breath. He hissed in pain as he slid beneath the blankets. He laid on his back, feeling the cold of the room even through the covers. When Sophia joined him he rolled over onto his side, pulling her against his chest. "I'm not making any moves, I swear, but it's freezing," he grumbled. "So no funny business," he teased, his eyes falling shut. It wasn't long before he was out cold.

"I'll talk if I damn well feel like it," Rylan muttered as she was told to shut up, but was quiet until he came to a stop. She glanced around before nodding, "I don't mind. Good idea." She grabbed her suitcase and got out, placing her bag on the hood. She shuffled through her things until she reached the small first-aid kit she kept. She pulled it out and opened it up before pulling off her shirt. She took off the old bandaging, cleaned the wound, and placed fresh bandaging over it. She pulled on a clean shirt before grabbing the first aid kit and heading over to her partner. "Let me see your arm," she murmured. She cleaned the injury with gentle hands, inspecting it for a moment. "We almost have matching bullet wounds," she chuckled sarcastically before bandaging it. She suddenly wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. The day had been stressful on her, but she was glad that, though they were beat up, they were safe. She pulled away from him to pack everything back into her bag, a thought coming to her. She stood quietly for a moment before folding her arms across her chest and leveling her eyes on her partner. "Why did you kiss me last night?" she questioned abruptly, her eyes steady. "And I don't mean when we walked into the hotel, I mean when we were in our room."

Heath awoke the next morning, groggy from his medication, but in a lot less pain. He glanced down at the small woman in his arms, the slightest of smiles touching his lips. He tightened his arms around her slightly, holding her small frame against his warm, muscled body. He enjoyed the scent of her conditioner. His eyes were locked on her, admiring how beautiful she looked as she slept. He was attracted to her. That was something he couldn't deny. She was smart, quick on her feet, and easy on the eyes. He felt fiercely protective of her, and the way Edwards had talked to her yesterday made his blood boil. The idea of her being with someone else made him uncomfortable, and he couldn't explain why. He'd had a couple of girlfriends before, and had been on various dates, but no one fascinated him the way she did. He'd only known her for a handful of days, and had sporadically come in contact with her at the academy, so what he was feeling seemed absurd. Maybe he could lock his feelings away, bundle them up inside and never speak of them. That was the only appropriate thing to do, anyway. Yet he betrayed himself as he pressed a light kiss to the top of her head, unable to stop himself. He unwound his arms from around her before sitting up, reaching over to gently nudge her, suddenly feeling very cold without her warm body against him. "Good morning," he murmured in his husky morning voice. "I'll go make us some breakfast," he murmured before getting to his feet. He limped into the kitchen and opened the 'fridge, debating what to whip up.