The Runaway

Ethan felt in disbelief. Was he going to believe everything this man said? He did say it with such conviction, and the human felt a little taken aback by his cold attitude towards everything. Wasn't he the father of Vanessa after all? Wasn't he supposed to be caring and wanting to look out for his kid? He felt a chill run down his spine, getting up from his seat, the chair getting pushed backwards, tumbling over and making a loud thump on the ground. He couldn't even reply before he was running out the door. A mental note to himself; pick up cardio one of these days.
He managed to wave a taxi in, jumping in the back to ask him to take him to South. His heart beating out of his chest, as if the car couldn't go fast enough. He needed to get to her. Samuel be damned, Ethan needed her to be safe. Reaching South took a while, but he did pay the cab driver, knowing he would get a call from the bank on Monday, but that would be a headache for later. Closing his eyes he felt like he could just scream his lungs out, but he felt like he knew Vanessa pretty well, however at this stage he worried that she would be long gone. He scrambled around a few bars as he searched for her, every time hoping to step in and find her.

"This chick is gone," one man said as he poked her shoulder. She grunted something incoherent, opening her eyes but everything seemed slurry at this point. She got up from her seat but felt so unsure on her feet as she walked. Her stomach was cramping but she wasnt sure if it was because she had thrown up or if she was simply hungry. The men kept on with their chatter as she moved out on the street, pressing her palms to the wall for support as she walked, unsure if she was even in South where she had went at first. She felt confused and tired, so tired that anything could seem like a nice place to sleep. Drugs wasnt really something she did, so in her head she couldnt make out what had happened to make her this tired. She went into the alley thinking she would throw up but instead she just laid down and curled up into a ball, closing her eyes when the world was just a blur anyway. A man passed by and stopped as he saw her. He went to shake her but she wasnt really replying, just grunting something that should have seemed like words. He found her phone and turned it on, luckily without the sim card, he was able to find her latest messages. He just called the first number on his own phone that was Ethan's. He looked at Vanessa as the phone called, if he wouldnt pick up, then the man would just leave a message explaining the situation and where he was, which at this point was somewhere in central.

Ethan felt stupid, stopping outside one of the bars to catch his breath as his phone started ringing. Unknown number. Was this Samuel calling to taunt him? "This is Ethan," he said, however the voice that met him was more concerned. He felt unnerved, agreeing with the guy to stay with her until he arrived.
Luckily it didn't take as long as it could have, and as he arrived he thanked the guy with his breath going crazy. He turned, looking at Vanessa with a worried frown before kneeling down to her. She wasn't going to like this, but he needed to get whatever she had ingested out of her body. "I'm sorry," he mumbled before sticking two fingers down her throat, making her gag and eventually hopefully throw up. Wiping his hands on his jeans he adjusted himself before lifting her up in his arms. They needed to go somewhere safe, somewhere where she didn't feel watched over. He took a quick decision, opting to go to his place as it was closer than going up north once more.
He didn't know how he got her home to his place, but he did, opening the door before taking her out to the bathroom, turning on the faucet and placing her in there with her clothes and all. "You're burning up," he mumbled, not sure what kind of drugs she had taken. He climbed in after her, holding her and helping her breathe and puke some more if she needed it. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

The man stayed by her side as Ethan arrived, handing him her phone before he went on his way. Vanessa didnt respond to his apology but as he stuck his fingers in her throat, she did fight back and flail her arms, though with the condition she was in, it was lazy uncontrolled movements. She threw up on the ground and whimpered softly from the pain in her chest. She couldnt even tell if it was really him or just something she was dreaming. All she could think of was sleeping.
She had dozed off somewhere on the way and being woken up by a splash of cold water wasnt exactly the most comfortable. She whimpered and kicked lazily with her legs to get away from the cold, gasping and gagging as she cried. Eventually she just stopped kicking and leaned into his arms to just lay there. She took some time to realize where she were, blinking slowly as she sighed and felt herself drool. "Sorry," she mumbled tiredly, lifting a hand to try and wipe her chin even if the water was splashing on her face.

Of course she was fighting back, he didn't blame her on that, but as she eventually stopped, he felt a little more at ease. Though not really, as he was unsure if he had gotten all of the drugs out of her. She started fussing with her chin, and he sighed, grabbing a washing cloth and drying it off for her. Her apology just made him shake his head, trying to contain his emotions. "It's alright," he said, though he really didn't feel like it was. Not because of her, but all of the surrounding things. "I made ya a promise, remember," he just said, feeling like it was painfully obvious how much he had been worried about her. Her father would probably skin him alive, but that was just adding to the list of infuriating things in his near future.
Once she had seemed to be ready he got out of the tub, although he didn't want to let her go, he also needed to get both of them dried up and warm again. "Take off ya clothes ... I'll find something ya can borrow," he said, leaving for a while just to grab a shirt and a pair of his underwear for her. He came back rather quickly, assisting her if she needed it, but also closing his eyes as to not stare at her. He wrapped a big towel around her, placing her on the edge of the tub before removing his wet clothes. When he had wrapped a towel around his waist he sighed, looking at her with a sad expression as he lifted her up in his arms and walked to the bedroom.
It was crystal clear how much it was hurting him seeing her like this. He cared for her, he actually loved her, and yet he couldn't find a single drop of courage to say that right now. He placed her on the bed, the clothes she could borrow laying beside her as he grabbed some fresh clothes for himself. He was silent, very unlike him, but he had a lot on his mind.

She nodded as he reminded her of the promise he had made, closing her eyes as she relaxed or rather just fell limp while she was still awake and aware. She wasnt really much for talking because her mind just felt like a mess, especially her thoughts. She didnt even know if she was freezing at this point, the cold just seemed soothing. Sitting on the tub she waited as he went, with shaky hands she tried to get out of her clothes but she really couldnt do much on her own at this point. She just leaned her head onto his shoulder as he carried her to the bedroom and then to bed. She closed her eyes and hadnt even noticed the clothes. Instead she just wrapped her arms around his pillow and tried her best to not just fall asleep. "I shouldnt have run away from you," she mumbled into the pillow, trying to open her eyes but her lids felt like they were glued together. "I was jealous and I hated that they could just choose each other, because I want to choose you," she slurred around in her words but lifted her head to make sure the last sentence was at least somewhat clear. She didnt really feel brave as she was admitting it, it was just partly the drugs' fault for making her feel so hazy in the moment.

As she finally spoke he slowed his movements after having put on a pair of sweat-shorts. He blinked a few times, staring in to his messy room as he listened to her slurred voice. A lump formed in his throat, because why did she say all of this now? And why did it hurt so much knowing that it would never be alright with her family. He moved over to her, looking at her with the towel around her body and he felt sad. Sad that she wasn't at his place because of a good reason, sad that he couldn't even have the balls to say something in return right now. "It was my nightmare," he mumbled, sitting down beside her on the bed, moving a bit of her messy hair away from her face. Why did he have to love her so much? Removing his hand he just placed it in his lap, the feeling of Samuel watching over him not really gone yet.
"In my dreams ... We're together, before you decide that I can't give ya what ya what ya want in life," he spoke, not knowing if she was even awake at this point, but it wasn't like it mattered anyways. He was just a stupid guy, barely an adult and he was so ready to throw his life away to save her. People said that love made one do crazy shit, but this was out of the ordinary. "Ya need the rest ..." he mumbled, getting up from the bed to move to the living room. He didn't know if he could even sleep right now, he felt out of it.

He heard how she mumbled, and seeing her hug the pillow closer pulled at his heartstrings, making him sigh as he climbed in to bed with her. He pulled the duvet over them, wrapping his arms around her as he felt her body fall limb with sleep. Deep down he knew he needed some sort of sleep, but he couldn't really seem to rest, waking up every few hours just to check if she was really still there in bed with him. Every time he did wake, he managed to pull her closer or simply bury his face in her hair to calm down.
The next time he woke up it was starting to get light outside. The sky was purple and pink, hints of a Sun in the distance, but it hadn't climbed over the horizon yet. He should've gotten up, made her something to eat, but right now he was just laying there, feeling her body against his.

He felt her starting to move, frowning a bit as he heard her whimper, pulling away to look at her. What did she remember? Did she want him to let go? However then she started crying, claiming how stupid she was and kinda stumped he shook his head no, placing his hands on her cheeks. "No, Vane," he pleaded with her. He could barely stand to see her hurt much more. He took a few deep breaths, trying to guide her to do the same but it didn't seem to work. He was starting to panic, and before he knew it he had leaned in, kissing her lips in a soft peck. While he relished in the moment he soon realized what he had done, widening his eyes in pure panic as he moved out of bed. "I uh ... Imma make ya some food, yeah," he said, his eyes wild with panic as he stumbled through his apartment and out to the kitchen. He felt terrible. Why did he have to kiss her at her weakest moment? Couldn't he just have kept it in once more?
He was shaking as he tried finding something edible in his cupboards, but nothing really seemed to make sense cooking for her. She liked raw meat and blood, and all he had was expired eggs and ramen noodles. Wow, what a great meal. He slammed his forehead against the wooden cupboard, groaning a bit as he tried fluffing up his hair. "Stupid ... Ya stupid idiot ..." he mumbled to himself, grinding his teeth as he could still feel her soft lips against his, and he felt so guilty for liking it. He had made a promise, he had promised Samuel he wouldn't fuck this up, and here he was ... FUCKING STUFF UP. Thump. For a good measure he slammed his forehead against the cupboard once more.

He didn't hear her slurring word as he went for the kitchen. Why was he always the one to mess things up? Why couldn't he just let her figure out on her own that he wasn't even worth a single consideration? He was shaking a bit as he heard her beg, turning his head to look at her. His eyes were pained, walking over to help her sit down on one of his kitchen chairs. He kneeled down, leaning forward to place his cheek against her thighs. "I'm sorry," he mumbled in defeat, closing his eyes as he felt like the world was spinning for a bit. He hated that he had to be like this when really he wanted to kiss her again. Stupid thoughts. Idiot thoughts. He needed to stop thinking like that.
"I shouldn't have ... I should've kept it in like I always do, I should let you rest," he said, his voice hurrying as if he was still panicking, which he clearly was. "I don't wanna lose ya," he whimpered, not knowing if any of his ramblings made any sense. Sure if felt good to tell her how he felt and even get to kiss her, but it was all selfish; He could never offer her anything, on that part Samuel was right. Besides wasn't his track record enough to make the daemoness recoil in disgust at the sight of him?

He just felt out on deep water in all of this, mostly because he felt like he was taking advantage of her. She had spent her life trying to be controlled and he didn't want that. His actions had been way out of line, and yet here he was on his knees, seeking comfort in her once more. He was the scum of the world. She was silent, but he didn't know if it was because she was contemplating how she wanted him to take her home or if he should leave for a while. However then she spoke the sweetest words he ever thought he would hear, his heart skipping a few beats only to beat faster and catch up to his regular pace. She lifted his face, and his eyes must've looked like he was in pure disbelief. But then she leaned in, her lips careful but he could feel that hunger underneath. That need to be with him in the moment and not let outside forces drive them apart before they had even given it a shot to be together.
His lips moved gently against hers, sighing softly as his hands had moved up to her hips, but he didn't push for more; He was letting her take the control right now. Why did it feel like he had been waiting for this forever? As the kiss broke he took a few quick inhales to stop himself from passing out, as he had simply forgotten how to breathe. "Vane, I luv ya too," he said, his eyes sincere, gentle as his fingers dug lightly in to her hips. "I really do luv ya, wiv all ma heart and soul, believe me; But I couldn't ever make ya life complete ... I ain't smart, I ain't even gotten an education," he said, as if he was trying to shoot the whole thing down before it could escalate any further. However then he opened his mouth once more, looking in to her eyes as he placed his hands over hers if they were still on his face. "However ... I'd be an idiot if I didn't at least try and make ya happy," he said, moving her hands away from his face to place kisses against them.

Her sincere tone made him chuckle, feeling like this was such a weird yet fulfilling moment. While he felt relief from saying all of this, they couldn't ignore the shadow looming above. He nodded at her words, looking into her eyes with a serious expression. "I know what I'm getting ma'self into ... Ya father kinda threatened me so," he chuckled, knowing he was supposed to take it seriously, but he couldn't really in the moment. He was too happy. She slid down from the chair, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he buried his face in to her hair on her shoulder. "Fantasy or not ... As long as it's wiv ya," he mumbled, finding it hard to believe that he wouldn't wake any second to just be hugging his pillow.
He just sat there on the floor with her, holding her as close as he could, smelling her scent, listening to how she breathed. "Oh ... But could this fantasy maybe include some take-out? I kinda got nuffin' in ma cupboard," he chuckled, pulling away to look at her with a boyish grin plastered on his face. He had been madly in love with her, but with everything right now, he felt like he was actually loving her more. "We can order whatever ya want," he added, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, I'm having a hard time believing it too," he mumbled, smiling to himself. She agreed to get something delivered, and he was honestly very happy about that. The last thing he wanted was to exit the door and have her torn away from him. That and he still had some explaining to do in regards to Gareth. He worried. Worried that he had gained whom he truly loved in Vanessa, but lost someone that meant so much. The equation itself was giving him a slight headache and as she teased him, he couldn't help but chuckle. She was being very cutesy, and he was actually liking this side of her a lot.
He moved to his feet, helping her up, but he was unsure of how well she would move around. He really needed a shower, or at least it felt like it with his hair all messy and sticky from having running around to find her last night. "I was actually thinking of something very simple and boring, like a pizza or something," he smiled, shrugging lightly as he just stood on his feet, wondering how she was holding up so well. "I kinda smell ... So I think Imma have a shower ... I don't know if ya want one as well or?" he then said, not knowing quite how much she could handle.

Pizza it was then, however he felt like he needed to get clean before he could even consider what he wanted to stuff his face with. But the mention of a shower made her change a bit, and he watched as a pretty pink color spread in her cheeks. Her words made him frown, scratching his neck a little, looking down. He hadn't seen her, but it hadn't really been about that. It had been about keeping her safe, and not getting a peek at her like that. Then her question came, and a soft smile spread on his lips as he moved over to take her hand. He didn't really say anything, mostly because words weren't really important right now, he wanted her to feel comfortable, not to be shy around him.
He guided her out to the bathroom, turning on the shower, mostly because it had to run for a while before getting warm. "Are ya sure?" he asked. This was all in her hands, nothing was more vital than her consent right now. If she did indicate it, preferably vocally, he would step closer to her leaning down to kiss her lips, holding her hips to stabilize her a bit. "I feel nervous," he chuckled. Maybe it was just like a band-aid, that it had to be ripped off fast, but then again all he wanted to do was make her happy. He kissed her once more, letting his hand wander up the side of her body, feeling her curves under the shirt. His hand was tracing her skin carefully until he reached her chest, his thumb running along the curve. "I've wanted to do this for forever ... And now it's actually happening," he said, looking in to her eyes, his own sincere and gentle as he slowly began to undress her from the shirt.
The fabric he simply let slip down on the floor as his eyes were on her. He felt his breath stagger as he caught a glimpse of her, unable to truly take in her beauty, however his hand wasn't shy of caressing her breast. "Ya really beautiful, Vane," was all he could really say.

He chuckled softly at her scoff, shrugging as she was kinda right, but there was more to it than that. It was all about her, all about how beautiful she was in this moment. How much they cared about each other as it had come out in the open now. He could feel her nervousness through her skin, trying his best to show how relaxed he was. He was nervous too, but he also felt like this was so right. She grabbed his face, and he couldn't deny what she wanted, mostly because he wanted it too, wrapping one arm tightly around her, pulling her bare chest to his own. By the gods, the warmth of her skin, how soft it felt, making him moan slightly against her lips. Sure he had been with a lot of women, but none had felt like this. He felt like he was lost, yet recognized the signs leading him in the right direction.
She whispered his name and he hummed, signaling that he was listening. She was nervous, she admitted that, but then she said something he didn't really understand. He pulled away, looking at her as his free hand moved from her breast to her cheek, running his thumb along her cheekbone. "Ya could never disappoint me," he whispered sincerely. He cared for her, and everything they did was more than he could've ever asked for. "Breathe, alright ... I'm still just Ethan," he promised her. Despite the feeling of massive change, he also was so aware of the fact that they were still just the two young adults they had always been. "Water is almost done ... Ya want help with that underwear?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in a teasing manner. He wanted this to be fun. Sure it was an important milestone for the both of them, but he didn't want them to take it too seriously.