goldcat16471
=^.^=
Like hell the pain wasn't too bad. It was written all over her; even though she smiled, Denny noticed the ticks of pain her expression made each time she put weight on her leg. Mira couldn't hide her body's natural reflex. He sighed to himself, yet a certain pride filled him that distracted him from his tension. Her perseverance impressed him--as much as a human's could. For a brief moment, he pictured her belonging in a world nothing like Earth. His world. Images of Mira battling and holding her own against other demons flashed through his mind. When confronted or told to back down, Mira's face would flash a deceivingly sweet smile, then her words would bite them until they were nothing and were forced to leave her alone. The visual made her appear quite triumphant as a demon. Too bad her gullibility would never give her that power, he thought. Denny had to remind himself that it had only been a day since he had manipulated her into helping him escape. A simple, unfortunate human--that's all.
He studied her intently and made a conscious decision to stay true to his words despite her rejection. As she turned away, appreciative of his offer, he caught a glimpse of her cheeks before her hair hid them from him. Was she blushing? He had to resist the urge to chuckle. His earlier fears of offering something "too intimate" dissolved. Apparently it had a positive effect on the girl. The smallest evidence of a smirk formed in his eyes, but Denizio looked away from both humans to cover his smugness.
It felt good to know he had that kind of power over her emotions. When he was cast down on Earth, he lost a great deal of the power he once had. Of course, the demon still found ways to prove superiority over humans (showing off his strength, giving them nightmares, feeding off their emotions until they're physically and mentally deteriorated, laughing at their struggles... oh, and killing them.) Yet, demons also enjoyed the benefits of lust and arousal. Falling in love may be unheard of for demons, but they often enjoyed mutually beneficial partnerships or flings. As a young, higher-ranking demon, Denizio won over many demons' attractions. On Earth, Denizio had no intentions of flirty banter with humans, so he never released that power. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he missed it. If Mira really had blushed, it reminded him that he still had that power. He certainly hadn't intended to use it on Mira, but if his "kind" gesture had flattered her, so be it. More power to him. Perhaps if she had been the demon he envisioned, she'd have that power over him too.
Her next words made his mind return to the situation at hand. She expected him to leave her behind and run ahead with Marcus if danger occurred. Even the way she said that statement... She sounded so sure of it--as if it were a command. Just as quickly as it had gone away, the storm inside Denizio returned. Any thoughts of his "power" over Mira left his mind. He scowled as he stared outside the window. "Yeah right, Mira," he thought to himself, "Leave you behind and run with the shithead. In your dreams, girl." He much more preferred her company, and although he wasn't planning on voicing it, if anyone was getting left behind, it was Marcus. "I wonder if I can make that happen...?"
Behind him, he continued to sense the suspicious emotions emitting from Marcus. He looked back at him with daggers in his eyes. With that kid around, there was no escape from himself. Mira and Marcus were fuel to a dangerous rollercoaster; it could derail at any moment. Denizio already had a temperamental nature. The other two were not helping.
“Now c’mon, slowpoke, let’s find that safehouse!” As if on cue from his thoughts, his emotions switched again. Denny raised an eyebrow and looked back at Mira with a softening expression. There was that nickname again. Taking her in as she winked and limped out the door, Denny shook his head. How ironic.
He waited for Marcus to exit, then followed both of them outside of the bloodied up store. The next group of survivors to enter that place were in for a rotten surprise. Denizio wished he could see their reactions, but he could imagine their horror. It made him smile.
A longer time had passed than he had expected. The sun was halfway across the sky; it was noon. They began to cross through the parking lot in a line. Mira's limp set the pace and Denny stayed at the back to keep an eye on Marcus. He mentally mapped out the path they could take to get to the small apartment: They'd have go East outside the parking lot, go down 41st Avenue, take a right on Crimson Street, then turn onto--His thoughts were interrupted when Marcus fell in step beside him. The action caught Denny off guard and he opened his mouth to prepare a not so friendly "shoo," but bit his tongue when the boy pointed to Mira.
To be perfectly honest, health was not Denny's forte. As much as he despised Marcus, he could recognize that the human knew what he was talking about. Damn him! Denizio gave Marcus a cold look before examining Mira. She supported herself on her baseball bat with every step she took. Her pants leg had soaked through with blood. Deep down, Denny felt some responsibility for her injuries... Why did he have this urge to protect the girl? It would be simpler to let it go, yet he couldn't. As Mira spoke to them, Denny let out another sigh, "Mira..." At least he could take credit for what Marcus had noticed. "I know you're in pain. It's obvious. And if you're going to make it to the safe house in time, you need to let me carry you. You don't need to die from blood loss."
She's being a burden. That's the only reason he decided to help her--at least that's what he kept trying to convince himself. She kept slowing them down and it made him impatient. Pushing past Marcus, Denny walked over to Mira and bent down to pick her up. Scooping her into his arms, he didn't wait for a response. His decision was made and final.
He studied her intently and made a conscious decision to stay true to his words despite her rejection. As she turned away, appreciative of his offer, he caught a glimpse of her cheeks before her hair hid them from him. Was she blushing? He had to resist the urge to chuckle. His earlier fears of offering something "too intimate" dissolved. Apparently it had a positive effect on the girl. The smallest evidence of a smirk formed in his eyes, but Denizio looked away from both humans to cover his smugness.
It felt good to know he had that kind of power over her emotions. When he was cast down on Earth, he lost a great deal of the power he once had. Of course, the demon still found ways to prove superiority over humans (showing off his strength, giving them nightmares, feeding off their emotions until they're physically and mentally deteriorated, laughing at their struggles... oh, and killing them.) Yet, demons also enjoyed the benefits of lust and arousal. Falling in love may be unheard of for demons, but they often enjoyed mutually beneficial partnerships or flings. As a young, higher-ranking demon, Denizio won over many demons' attractions. On Earth, Denizio had no intentions of flirty banter with humans, so he never released that power. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he missed it. If Mira really had blushed, it reminded him that he still had that power. He certainly hadn't intended to use it on Mira, but if his "kind" gesture had flattered her, so be it. More power to him. Perhaps if she had been the demon he envisioned, she'd have that power over him too.
Her next words made his mind return to the situation at hand. She expected him to leave her behind and run ahead with Marcus if danger occurred. Even the way she said that statement... She sounded so sure of it--as if it were a command. Just as quickly as it had gone away, the storm inside Denizio returned. Any thoughts of his "power" over Mira left his mind. He scowled as he stared outside the window. "Yeah right, Mira," he thought to himself, "Leave you behind and run with the shithead. In your dreams, girl." He much more preferred her company, and although he wasn't planning on voicing it, if anyone was getting left behind, it was Marcus. "I wonder if I can make that happen...?"
Behind him, he continued to sense the suspicious emotions emitting from Marcus. He looked back at him with daggers in his eyes. With that kid around, there was no escape from himself. Mira and Marcus were fuel to a dangerous rollercoaster; it could derail at any moment. Denizio already had a temperamental nature. The other two were not helping.
“Now c’mon, slowpoke, let’s find that safehouse!” As if on cue from his thoughts, his emotions switched again. Denny raised an eyebrow and looked back at Mira with a softening expression. There was that nickname again. Taking her in as she winked and limped out the door, Denny shook his head. How ironic.
He waited for Marcus to exit, then followed both of them outside of the bloodied up store. The next group of survivors to enter that place were in for a rotten surprise. Denizio wished he could see their reactions, but he could imagine their horror. It made him smile.
A longer time had passed than he had expected. The sun was halfway across the sky; it was noon. They began to cross through the parking lot in a line. Mira's limp set the pace and Denny stayed at the back to keep an eye on Marcus. He mentally mapped out the path they could take to get to the small apartment: They'd have go East outside the parking lot, go down 41st Avenue, take a right on Crimson Street, then turn onto--His thoughts were interrupted when Marcus fell in step beside him. The action caught Denny off guard and he opened his mouth to prepare a not so friendly "shoo," but bit his tongue when the boy pointed to Mira.
To be perfectly honest, health was not Denny's forte. As much as he despised Marcus, he could recognize that the human knew what he was talking about. Damn him! Denizio gave Marcus a cold look before examining Mira. She supported herself on her baseball bat with every step she took. Her pants leg had soaked through with blood. Deep down, Denny felt some responsibility for her injuries... Why did he have this urge to protect the girl? It would be simpler to let it go, yet he couldn't. As Mira spoke to them, Denny let out another sigh, "Mira..." At least he could take credit for what Marcus had noticed. "I know you're in pain. It's obvious. And if you're going to make it to the safe house in time, you need to let me carry you. You don't need to die from blood loss."
She's being a burden. That's the only reason he decided to help her--at least that's what he kept trying to convince himself. She kept slowing them down and it made him impatient. Pushing past Marcus, Denny walked over to Mira and bent down to pick her up. Scooping her into his arms, he didn't wait for a response. His decision was made and final.