melodiesoflife | To Protect What Matters Most

Who: Albel and Sheena
When: Backdated to 06/20
What: Albel gets protective after the third set of murders.
Where: B-02
Warnings? None

There was, without a doubt now, a serial killer. At least one, if not multiple killers -- Albel wouldn't rule out anything at this point. Multiple victims, some Heroes, after multiple days -- that took planning. And effort.

And skill. Killing Heroes was no joke, especially people like Jack Harkness. These were people that would not have gone down easily. It made Albel's stomach churn. Who could be capable of doing these things? Albel didn't want to believe it, but... the most obvious, efficient answer would be "another Hero." It wasn't a pleasant thought, and most people didn't want to hear it. But it was the simplest answer. Albel didn't know who would turn traitor like this, but he was going to take them down. Right after he took care of Sheena.

Reaching B-02, he pounded loudly on the front door. With any luck, she would be home.

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The murders could be copycat murders, but the one similarity among all of them pointed to them being the work of a serial murderer. Possibly more than one, but definitely not the work of an assassin. The work was too sloppy.

Sighing, she shook her head to clear it of those thoughts that refused to stay down. Especially the one that pointed towards one of the Heroes doing this. She also couldn't help but wonder if this had anything to do with them having that weird illusion last month. But what the connection was, she couldn't figure out.

What she could do, however, was follow one of the edicts that she agreed with in the mass mailing: protect people. Waking Corrine, she had just begun dictating a letter offering her services when the pounding on her door came.

Immediately thinking another body belonging to someone very close to her had been found, she practically leaped from her chair and ran to the door. Swinging it open, she froze, her eyes widening at the sight of the person she had feared the news would be about standing on her front step.

And the expression on his face told her that there'd be no letter going out tonight. Breathing a sigh of relief that she was wrong, she looked at him curiously.

"Albel? What is it? What's wrong?"

"Why did you just open the door!" was his less-than-friendly outburst. Sheena might have been relieved to see him for the moment, but it was going to be short-lived.

Albel ran his good hand through his long bangs, agitated.

"You need to check who it is next time! Make sure you know them, make sure they're trustworthy..." He shook his head. "You could have opened the door to a murderer!"

"Because I can't see through it!" she shot back. Yep. There goes that relief flying out the window. For now. (Since she was still relieved he was there; how else could he yell and argue with her?)

Crossing her arms, she huffed at him. "Fine! You want me to do that now?" And she stepped back, putting her hand on the door knob, prepared to close it.

"Or do you want to just get in here?"

Because nothing, absolutely nothing would convince her that she still might have opened her door to a murderer.

Albel glowered and growled, but in the end he stalked through the door. That was why he was here -- to see Sheena, to warn her, to protect her. To be certain she was still safe, and to keep her that way.

"I'm... sorry," he said eventually, strained though it was. "I just..."

Albel sighed. "More bodies were found today."

Glower and growl at her all you wanted, Albel. She wasn't about to move from her spot until you made up your mind. So, when he finally came inside, she shut the door and locked it--a habit she had recently developed. Her back was still turned to him, fingers still hovering near the lock when he apologized. She heard the strain in his voice, knew why he was there, and her own reaction hadn't been from hating him for it, but for the strain she herself felt.

A strain he would see as she finally turned around, her eyes filled with sadness.

"I know," she said softly. "I know them all."

And with that, she crossed to him and wrapped her arms about him. Burying her face in his shoulder, she held him tight, not wanting to let him go.

Not wanting him to be next.

"You did?"

Albel's heart sank, seeing her so sad. He knew what it was like to lose Fayt and Nel, but they hadn't been murdered. They hadn't been posed in the center of town. He couldn't imagine how that felt.

He wrapped his good arm around her and held her tight. It was his job to comfort her, after all, right? But he held her for himself, too -- as if, if he could only keep her close enough to him, he could protect her and keep anyone else away. If he could only hold her tightly enough, he could keep all of this from hurting her. But it didn't work that way.

"Yeah."

She nodded against his chest. She might not have known all of them equally, but that didn't lessen the impact of what had been done to them. Battle fatalities she could handle--those were a chance every time a person fought. But senseless acts of murder and being put on display?

Even as a former assassin she was horrified by this.

And while she wouldn't admit to that horror or fear or sadness openly, it came through loud and clear as she held him seeking comfort. This time, there was no "maybe" about her doing so; she needed him to hold her and let her know everything would be all right.

Even if it was only for a brief moment and only with him.

Albel held her a moment longer, his jaw clenched and his lips pressed into a thin line. He then nodded to himself, as if the outward show of making his decision would help him keep it.

"I think you should live with me. Together -- we should live together. To be safe."

Holding him as she was, she could feel the movement of his body when he nodded, and she looked up, curious. What was he thinking about?

Ooookay. That wasn't what she had been expecting and she looked at him wide-eyed.

She was having an internal war as the stubborn part of her that insisted she was fine by herself fought against the other part that wanted to not be alone. This wasn't exactly a new sensation for her, but right now, it was definitely stronger than it had been in the past and it was taking her mind some time to catch up with her emotions.

"Live together? To be safe...?" They would protect each other...

"Yes." Albel hesitated, watching Sheena carefully. Was she simply surprised, or was she displeased...?

"Does that not make sense? We would be together if anything happened again... we wouldn't need to worry. Because nothing could threaten us together. Besides..." Albel glanced away. "People who enjoy each other's company stay together, right? It's only natural for couples to... well..."

Well, in the normal course of things, courtship might last longer and culminate in marriage. Albel wasn't sure he was ready for that. But they might not even have the time.

She was shocked more than anything, so it took her a few more moments to get the full implication of what he was suggesting. It would be more than just protecting each other. It would be a total confirmation of their relationship--something the ninja had never had to consider before.

But now she did, and she discovered she had no problems with it.

Reaching up as he turned away, she cupped his face to turn him towards her again. "No. Nothing could ever threaten us when we're together. Nothing." Blushing furiously, she continued. "And I like being with you. A lot. So, yes. Let's move in together." Because it felt more than natural. It felt right.

The future was something she didn't want to consider at this moment; she was more than happy to focus on the now and go from there.

To Protect What Matters Most

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