Cities of Dust (SugarPlumCoatedGun x Lotherio)

[Lotherio]

Slowly a cockroach scurried along the dirt strewn road, moving from crack to crack in the pavement, searching for sustenance. Its struggle for life uninterrupted by the cityscape that loomed overhead, in fact the city was unimportant all together to the cockroach. Nothing informed the roach it was there, no sounds of daily life, no cars rushing around to crush its life, no people. The only thing occurring naturally outside it’s search for food was a wind sweeping in from the once fertile lands outside the city itself. Now it only stirred the dust and debris. Then came the whining pitch of a motorcycle, this sent the cockroach up over a pile of debris into the hull of a hallowed car, back into the safety of its darkness.

This action of the cockroach was similar to other bottom feeders that lived in the city. Those remnants of humanity that survived, not blessed to live but cursed to remain alive here in what was left of the city. Most of those worst off survived day to day living in the rags that they could find if they weren’t beat out to scavenging rights by one of the organized groups of individuals trying to rebuild a home for themselves. Those groups were little more than gangs or mobs, who used violence and worse to enforce their rights over the bottom feeders. When the whine of the motorcycle ripped through this part of the city, they too scurried into their makeshift dwellings in what remained of the buildings here – some damaged, some abandoned.

That whine echoed off the walls like a dying banshee. The sound went bouncing a moment or two off the architecture that remained only to be absorbed into the silence that remained of civilization. Like the dust in the wind, the motorcycle came quickly and left quickly. Most avoided it at their own peril, no one could trusty their fellow humans in this world of survival of the self. Jimmy preferred to be left alone just the same as he piloted the makeshift dirt bike past remains of cars, stripped down to their bar bones. He only slowed for rubble fallen off the buildings, to use his feet to help the bike climb and descend debris for personal safety.

Today he wore his black leather jacket, but this far out from the old Westover he tended to remove the large patch with the WS logo that indicated his affiliation with the West Side Skeleton Crew. For more personnel safety, he also removed the purple threads that he wore about the jacket and pants as these were also indications of his gang. The only accessory he wore was the goggles, but this wasn’t a fashion statement so much as a precaution to keep the dirt out of his eyes. Heaven forbid he gets something in his eyes – no way could he trust anyone to get it out of there safely.

Coming to an intersection, he skidded to a halt long enough to pull out the city map he had tucked into a pocket. It was ripped from a phone book and seemed to show ages of wear and tear despite only being taken out several months earlier. That merely showed how often he used the map. He should know the city by now, but with entire streets off limits or completely blocked, it was handy to keep on hand to find alternate routes. Locating his destination mentally on the map, he took a right and zipped off to find Target, his primary destination.

The location was away from the turf lands but still within city limits, and this one was in a group of stores, with names like Stacey’s Prom, Stacey’s Bra & Lingerie, Computer Rescue, Dave’s GameStop, Creative Memories, and Phil’s Gas N Go. When they had discovered this location looking through phonebooks, the hope was it was untouched by gang scavengers at the least. Maybe a personal stop for locals but nothing one of the groups had touched. There were some train tracks next to a drainage ditch a block or so away that he used for his final approach to dim the noise in case other scavenger groups were in the area and finally parked his bike under an overpass.

His group had used gas can filters, a gas can strapped over the gas tank that slowly poured enough gas into the tank to keep their bikes running. Jimmy removed this and strapped it over his shoulder like a desert canteen before he left the bike and moved up to street level. The shops were a quaint location not far off from city suburbia and set up like something of a strip mall between buildings to look like a small town city center. The gas station was on the very end to allow vehicles to get to the pumps and Stacey’s two storefronts were deepest in, perhaps tucked away to feign some privacy for those shopping for lingerie. While he was going to scout the gas station for consumables and gas, Jimmy wanted to hit the other stores to see what he could salvage.

As he came in from the street, he dropped his gas tanks and spare cans into a toppled trash receptacle before moving into the midst of the stores like a lone gunman entering a western town, the environment similar to other cities in his mind but the locale unknown. Keeping ears and eyes alert, he made his way towards the computer surplus store.

Edit: Added image link

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

It was impossible for anyone to have predicted what would happen to the world, even doctors or scientists. In the eyes of many hell had literally spewed through the cracks of the earth's surface and it was unleashed mercilessly on the human race; in the eyes of others it was the prefect opportunity to make something of themselves, to be what they always wanted to be. Of course, some managed to take that too far; they killed, they raped, they beat, they stole, anything that had once been illegal was now an option for everyone and anyone to take.

The day was a hot one. The sun was beating down on with a stuffy humidity that would make the fittest person sweat. Since the earth had pretty much gone to shit, the weather had been acting stranger and stranger each day; bright and sunny one minute, then pissing down the next. You could see the heat in the air if you concentrated for too long, everything became fuzzy and streaks lined the open space. The people changed just like the weather, though that was to be expected. You had some of them who clung to others and formed groups to try and rebuild some sort of civilization. Then you had the crazies who turned to god for answers and blamed him for their mistakes; it had turned into a hard world.

Among the rubble of a nearby building that was tall enough still to shelter the small patch of ground under it was a redhead who appeared to be laying low and scouting out the area in front of her. Her sights were set on a group of buildings one could refer to as a strip mall; it included shops that not only she could salvage from, but also that would satisfy her needs as well. Standing up from her crouched position, the girl stretched her legs and let out a small sigh while brushing off the front of her. Alexis had been sent out to gather anything she could find that would help her groups situation; one of the females had gotten sick, so medical supplies were needed as well as supliments.

In moments she had darted across the edge of the street and she advanced around the back of the building to find a less open entrance that were known as the front doors. Alexis was pale and her cheeks and nose were dotted with the freckles that came with most red heads. She had long red hair that curled naturally to the middle of her back and although she loved it, it sometimes got in the way with her new life; not that James -- the leader of the South Side Falcons would allow her to cut it short. -- She stood at an adverage height of around five foot six by the looks of it and was slender with curves in all the right places. Before the crisis she was pleased god had gifted her with such a body. Lexi was dressed in a pair of short denim shorts that were easy to move around in and a red, low cut vest top that was tight fitted around her waist and on top of it all she wore a overly large leather jacket that had a falcons head patched onto the back as well as a reach strap around the left arm; it wasn't hers, of course, it was James's. When she ran into him he had pretty much claimed her as his own woman, though they weren't dating in her eyes. On her feet were a pair of flat, beige cowboy boots that stopped just below her knee's; practical and stylish.

Thankfully the back door to one of the stores was open and she slipped inside, shutting it almost as quietly as she had entered. Tied around one of her thighs with a brown leather strap was a small knife encased in a leather pouch; she had been given this incase of any trouble and for her own self defence. Clearing her throat lightly, the girl glanced around with bright blue eyes and noticed she had entered the lingerie store. Her face immidiatly brightened and she started over towards one of the rails where she flicked through a few bra's. It had been ages since she had gotten any new underwear and to make her even happier, that used to be one of the most expensive stores in town. Unzipping her large, over the shoulder bag, she stuffed in a couple of sets of panties and bras after pressing them against her body to see if they fit.

Alexis exited through the front of the store this time and her eyes glanced either way before she stepped out onto the street; the sun was unbareable. To her left was a computer repair store, so she began towards it with a small sigh. Using her hands, she pushed open the front door and cringed when she heard the small bell ring at her entrance. Lexi paused before advancing towards the desk, which she hopped in the hopes of finding something behind it. Crouching, her hands began to rumage through filled cardboard boxes and the red head had stupidly turned her back on the employee's entrance without thinking.

 

[Lotherio]

The surplus store was what he’d expected. Most whole computers that were salvageable were taken, not that most would find them useful without a generator and there was no more internet. What was more valuable to some people where the smart devices that could still play music, keep time and a few lucky ones with GPS that could still beam off a satellite still functioning. As well, Jimmy was looking for storage devices. The Skeleton Crew had a few systems up and running back at the former all girls school, Westover Academy, and more storage would help with the information they were collecting themselves.

As he eyed the store, long fingers ruffled the mop of longer, dark hair atop his head. It was warm outside and in, the tips of his fingers could feel beads of sweat under the humidity gathering in the short hairs closer to his neck. Dark brown eyes adjusted to the darker depths and he noted the employee’s entrance/employee’s only door, they might have a safe or something back there with more valuable items that most people couldn’t get into. Either he could attempt to break it open, haul it back if it was light enough or bring back proper tools. That was the sort of thing the scavengers did out here like this, making those decisions.

Out alone like this, he preferred defensive weapons, figuring it made him less intimidating to the random nut that was trying to protect his home – less chance of that nut sniping him from a window if he posed less of a threat. He kept a 7” Camillus, fixed blade knife with an ergonomic handle. Generally it was strapped to his hip but he decided to pull it out before going into the darker rooms in the back. With a loose grip, Jimmy usually had his middle finger wrapped into the slight grove intended for the index finger while said index finger extended out along the blade – this seemed to help him with finer control of the knife when needed.

Thusly he delved deeper into the employee’s area but it was no sooner than he’d readied himself to search back there than the front door bell rang sharply through the silence. Caught at first in surprise, Jimmy found himself gazing out from the darkness left in the slit of the unclosed door. Two things caught in his mind, it was a lady out there, an attractive one at that, but she was decked out in red threads and that was the color of a rival gang, the South Side Falcons. Stepping back, he withdrew from the door slightly so he could think this through, but he gave one more look at her, noting the shorts, her legs and the red hair atop her head. In the darkness then, he licked his lips, knowing he would have to act first. Otherwise if he remained quiet back where he was, he risked her coming to stumble upon him and while she wore a hip knife, she could easily have a pistol tucked into the jacket. Giving her that advantage could leave him dead if she shot first.

When he was ready to make his move, he noted that she was much closer, crouching behind the counter. Closing his eyes, he hoped in his mind nothing would come of this, but in this world, everyone was fighting to survive making situations such as this that much more unpredictable. With a booted foot, he kicked the door more open and stepped out where she would be able to see him if she looked. The action wasn’t meant to be startling, it was rather a quiet gesture but his voice cut the thick, humid air. It was deep, the deepness of a tall man, “No sudden moves, you get what you need, I get what I need … no one get’s hurt.” Hopefully it was enough to relay he wasn’t looking for trouble. His knife still out, it was there to indicate he too was armed but not pointed at her in any threatening manner.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Those bright blue eyes of hers scanned over the fired circuit boards and abandonded fuses that littered the boxes her hands were busy flitting through; sadly there appeared to be nothing of use and if she brought anything from those boxes back, she would surely pay for being stupid. The reason she had been picked for the job she had wasn't because of her amazing martial arts skills (she could hardly defend herself) but because she wasn't stupid like all the other women in her group seemed to play on. Apparently being dumb made you appealing; Lexi didn't think so.

Upon hearing the door from behind her being kicked open, the red head jumped to a stand and quickly drew the knife from her thigh to hold it with both hands in front of her. Her expression changed from surprise to a small glare that could only be described as defensive. Her bright eyes scanned the male who had entered the dusty room and the first thing she noted was the knife he held in his hand and his threatening tone of voice. Lexi studied the man silently and she debated with herself what to do about her intruder.

Letting a gentle sigh escape from her partly open, pale pink lips, Lexi relaxed her posture and leant over to tuck her knife away from where she had pulled it; her eyes never left the other's face. "And what if we both want the same thing?" Her voice was soft and sweet and she tilted her head with the question, her long red head falling over one of her shoulders. "Does that mean a fight to the death?" The red head let a teasing smile seep onto her features before she allowed a little giggle.

The female leaned down again, this time to grab her large shoulder bag from the ground. Alexis didn't notice the male seemed to be from another gang, afterall, he wasn't wearing anything that gave it away; no particular colour and no patch. Who was this man? She had to admit, it peeked her curiousity greatly. Ever since 'joining' the Falcons -- though she was more dragged into it then actually joining the group equally -- Lexi had hardly ran into anyone other then the occasional crazy running around.

[ OMG I'm so sorry it was really short D: I wanted to post and I'm being picked off the PC ]

 

[Lotherio]

(No worries at all, that was a great post)

“Fight to the death,” he mused questioningly, eyes moving slowly from her face to her knife, trailing along the curves of her body almost. Jimmy pursed his lips and furled his eyebrows just a little as he repeated, “A fight to the death …” Then he grinned just a little as if to show he was being sarcastic with that thought. “I couldn’t live with the thought of having cut such a cute face you know.” Grin played more towards a smile as he let the right corner of his mouth curl up some as he cocked his head ever so slightly to the right – lost puppy, smoldering sadness sort of look with deeper sarcasm still. Sarcastic but honest.

Holding up his left hand palm out, he stretched his right, knife hand across his abdomen and sheathed his blade slowly. “No, if its on your list and there’s only one, its yours,” he offered, “I’m just in here hoping against hope that there’s something to put music on, would make being out here somewhat bearable. My true aim is to pilfer food from Target there and fill up cans at Phil’s.” He jutted a chin outwards towards were both locations were near the outside, street end of the shops/strip mall. “I’m sure there’s enough for both of us if you’re grabbing the same.” Knife away he held up the other hand palm out, indicating peace for the now.

He moved slowly towards her, arms still up, as he licked his lips before pursing them again. “We can call this a truce for now, fight to the death later if that’s what you really want.” That was really a stab at humor, but he wasn’t sure what her intentions were, she didn’t seem crazy, hopefully no one else was coming after her. This latter thought may have read across his face as his eyes darted to the door occasionally before returning to her eyes. He pauses several good yards away from her, respecting the distance and her personal space – a much wider space these days than before it all happened.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

[Thank you :3]

The red head's smile only seemed to grow when the male seemed to muse it over; he didn't seem crazy, she could tell that much. She pulled her bag over her head and rested it on her shoulder casually before pressing her hands to her hips seemingly unthreatened by the knife the other still held in his hands. When he complimented her, Lexi raised an eeybrow and tilted her head once again, a large, genuine smile covering her face. "Well, I wouldn't want to scar someone so handsome and I wouldn't want to damage your pride." Her tone came across teasing, but her words that focased on his looks were genuine.

Alexis's eyes travelled to watch the stranger sheath him blade before they quickly darted back up to look at the other's face rather then his body. The girl blinked at his generosity and she folded her arms across her chest with a dubious expression. "Oh really? You are too kind." She had to admit, she sounded a little suspitious and her body language matched her tone, but she did quite like this guy and he seemed nice. "Music, huh. Well good luck with that, I hope you find something." It had been a while since she'd heard anything that could be called music. "I'm not really looking for gas or food. I'm looking for first aid and medician." Lexi was really hoping she could trust this man and she also hoped that no one had followed her; it would be bad to be seen chatting with someone who wasn't in the Falcon's.

When Alexis saw the other advance forwards, she quietened and waited to see what his intentions were. Pressing her lips into a hard line, she raised an eyebrow at the extended hand and when he started speaking she automatically started to smile again. "Then it's a date." Lexi extended one of her hands and grasped the larger one in a firm grip before giving it a gentle shake. It was obvious she was being a little flirty, but she thought nothing of it other then a bit of fun; after all, James, the Falcon's leader, would never allow her to do so when in his presence.

Taking a few steps forwards, her hand still holding onto the strangers firmly, she paused just in front of him only inches away. "I'm Lexi." The red head smirked a little before releasing his hand and slipping past him. "I best get back to...well...finding stuff." Lexi turned to look over her shoulder as she pushed open the back door through the employee extrance. "Unless, you want to help? I guess we could help each other. Four eyes are better then two." Again, she gave a small smile as she invited the male to search with her.

 

[Lotherio]

As she responded, suspicious at first, then more confident, he followed suit to her gesture. Jimmy folded his own arms over his chest, feigning his own suspicions with that impish smile curling under his nose. Raised eyebrows indicated he wasn’t sure which would be more damaging, her gutting him or him being known as too kind. The smile dropped slightly at the thought of it being a date, as if some serious thought flittered through his mind when she said that.

Then he moved to follow her as she asked if he would help, “I wouldn’t mind the company to be honest.” His eyes trialing down her denim shorts and over her exposed legs. “Just curious though, how’s that working for you, the shorts I mean. Not to complain really, I don’t mind looking.” As if that explained it all, if she turned to look at him, he offered a warm smile, perhaps even naughty but a smile all the same.

Still he went through the door, “Looks like we have the basics covered then, equal rights, you get what you want, I get what I want. I like these sort of dates were everyone gets what they want in the end.” A deep chuckle at the end to imbue the atmosphere with his playful tone, something he seemed to garner from her suspicious demeanor that bent towards playful at times. As if even despite everything, there was still something natural about just talking to a girl and enjoying whatever is being talked about. Then again, through the employee's entrance, he glances around, "I didn't find the safe, I was starting to search when you came through the door. Still, I don't imagine there was anything worth taking. What would I find, money," a laugh than at how little money mattered on this level in the world now, it was just paper with faces printed on it now.

"I'm Jimmy," he added as an afterthought then, she had already given his name it was only fair. "Matigas, in case you wanted to look me up in the phone book. Maybe I'll have a working phone by then, you know, otherwise I live down in the destroyed building, sleeping by the pile of rubble ... in case you were curious."

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Alexis paused when the other mentioned he wouldn't like the company and she turned a looked over her shoulder, standing side onto him. It made her think that he wasn't a member of a fellow gang; it made her think that he was a loner, though she couldn't have been more wrong. Another thing she had been wrong about was her being followed as a few of the Falcons were decending upon the strip mall.

Raising her eyebrows at his question, the red head glanced down to her bare legs and she laughed a little when he clarified he wasn't complaining. "It's easy to move it and it's waaaay too hot to be wearing jeans or pants." She paused for a moment and then turned to continue walking through the door. "They probably aren't the best for protection, but they'll do." She held the door open to the stranger and waited for him to follow her through.

Lexi glanced over her shoulder to off him a smile as he chuckled after he'd spoken. "Thoses are always the best kind of dates." It was nice to speak with a guy just for the sake of conversation and without expectations; it was an enjoyment that she took for granted before. The female turned to face him when he mentioned money and all traces from her smile had fallen from her face; she now looked rather dejected. Her bright eyes lowered to stare at the ground as she ajusted the bag's strape over her shoulder. "Money. What use would that be, right?" It was obviously a touchy subject, thinking back to everything when life was normal. Money was so important back then.

Upon hearing the other introduce himself, she perked up and lifted her head to nod in acknowledgement. "Jimmy, huh. Nice to meet you." Poking her tongue out a little cheekily, Alexis turned to begin walking to the next shop which happened to be a medical supply store; just what she was looking for. She entered through the back once again, poking her head through the gap to look around and check for any other forms of life before actually entering the building. It looked like it had been raided already; shelves were torn from the walls, everything was just tossed around everywhere. It would be a miricle to find anything.

Taking a few steps inside, Alexis bent down to grab an pull bottle that would have been given as a perscription and she began reading the lable with a frown.

 

[Lotherio]

When she stood sideways, looking over her shoulder at him, Jimmy forgot about the world for a moment. Instead it was a lovely girl, and he was a boy, admiring in his thoughts at least, her shape, the way she framed herself within the door in that simple gesture. In the past, he would have been more inclined to become forward. The smile on his face in that moment read thusly as he listened to her talk about the comfort of the shorts and the best kinds of dates. Indeed, had he not been in that cloud and more on top of his game, he may even have heard or sensed something from the group of Falcons coming into the shopping plaza proper. Still good news for him was that they were on the backsides of the buildings on this end and going into employee entrances.

There was a recall to the moment when she look dejected when money was brough up, his brown eyes focusing on the now, the ruins of civilization around them. They were indeed a boy and a girl trying to make it in the world, but it demanded more of them now than it had before. He was glad the introductions cleared the air again and when she jutted her tongue out at him, he mockingly looked shocked, though his raised eyebrows indicated he was attracted by this in a sly sort of manner. Shock turned to a grin as he moved to follow her into the medical supplies shop.

“Tell me what your looking for,” he offered, looking at her a moment where she crouched and then stepping beyond her to begin rifling through other bottles. Taking two or three to hand though, he didn’t really begin searching until he knew what he was looking for. Still the same, he couldn’t help looking back at her. It wasn’t only to reassure himself he wasn’t alone by seeing another living person, which was more common now when company was found. More so, it was after a few hints of flirtations, it was the looks to see how they were interacting – to see if she was stealing looks at him just as he was doing to her. There was the stolen look at her instead of the bottle in his hand, or the one from over a looted shelf of medicine, or the turn around look as if trying to hear what she was saying. All in all, it amounted to him just wanted to look at her – not for living company but because he found her attractive. His smile was always warm when he did this, sometimes looking surprised if she caught him glimpsing, sometimes looking more confident if their eyes met.

All the while, he interlaced the searching with words. “I don’t care if the shorts are protective or not, I’ll admit it, I’m glad you’re wearing them.” An impish smile and a stolen look. Later, “I’m usually not this forward on dates, but the way the sun shines through broken windows and toppled medicine bottles really brings out the red in your hair.” A chiming laugh; as if elfin in nature, playful and a stolen look. “I usually don’t talk this much, you have me off my game – that’s a good thing … I think.” It was playful to pass the time perhaps, or to read more of her in his stolen glances, to listen to how she responded or retorted in kind even. Despite them looking for medicine to help someone really in need when there were no nurses or doctors around to really handle this, it was more normal than worrying about another gang around the corner or worse. It was playing at normal.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

When Jimmy asked what she was looking for in particular, the girl made a small humming sound. "Pain killers, bandages, antiseptic wipes or cream. Uh, I think that's it really." She glanced up from the bottle she was reading to stare at the male for a moment, though when he turned to look at her she quickly glanced away and made herself look busy. Dropping the pill bottle, the red head stood straight again and took a few more steps into the cluttered shop floor before crouching again to pick up something else that caught her eye. When Jimmy started speaking again, Lexi burst out laughing and turned over her shoulder to stare at him with a 'do you know what the hell you're saying?' look. "So you're glad I'm wearing shorts, are you? What? Do girls where you're from wear seven layers of clothes or something?" Again, she let out a little giggle as he continued with his cheesy lines.

Standing up quickly, Lexi turned to face him with a large grin and raised eyebrows as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She pressed her fists to her hips and waited a moment before stepping carefully over towards Jimmy; she didn't want to trip or stand on anything that could be useful. Pausing in front of the brunette, Alexis leaned down to give him a light, playful punch on the shoulder while shaking her head briefly. "You're just made of cheese, huh?" It might have been cheesy and she probably would have laughed at those lines if someone had said them to her before, but she found it kind of refreshing.

As the red head turned and took a step, she did exactly what she didn't want to do. Stepping lightly on a pill bottle, she ended up falling backwards on top of Jimmy. Her step caused her feet to slip from under her and she ended on making a light 'oof' when she landed, not fully realising where she had landed. The red head paused for a second and she turned her head slowly to look over her shoulder at the male she had appeared to land on. "Oh...My god, I'm so sorry." Lexi didn't move for a second as she practically sat on the other's lap, but not only because she was comfortable, but because she could hear something. Before the other could speak or before he could finish, the red head turned on top of him to straddle him, one leg either side of his hips and she leaned into him, pressing one of her hands over his lips while her eyes seemed to widened in panic. "You hear that?" The sound could only be described as a group of people; men in particular. One voice dinstictly stood out to her and then a question sped through her mind; could she have really of been followed? And why?

"Sugar!" The deep voiced echoed loudly though it didn't sound like the group had started to move in on the stores just yet. "Get your sweet ass out here!" The red head stared off to the side, her form practically shrinking upon hearing the voice though she kept her hand pressed against Jimmy's lips as if he would just shout out for some random reason. Clearing her throat, those bright eyes turned to stare directly into the other's eyes. "Stay here and please...just stay quiet." Her voice was hushed and her face tense, chilled and deadly serious.

 

[Lotherio]

There was something humorous in the way she commented on him being cheesy, the sort of humor where it was funny but it was more funny with the world having already fallen apart and laying in ruins all around them. When she toppled, part of her landing on him may have been part of him holding his hands to try and catch her just the same. As she softly apologized to him, he shook his head and quietly responded, “Don’t be sorry, I ….”

Her hands were then on his lips, his ears scouted with hers while his eyes lingered on her hand and face. One hand remained behind him to keep them both from being completely on the ground, letting him lean up somewhat closer to her. His other hand had somehow found her leg in balancing her from completely toppling over.

Before the voices came he too heard the scuffling, feet through debris from the buildings, loose rock, and concrete left to disrepair. It was an odd situation for him with this cute creature atop him. Everything in his body told him the situation was deadly serious, he was thinking he should of brought his pistol. Yet, his loins betrayed him, excitement arising most likely from the close proximity to the attractive girl and the way she was atop him. It was dangerous but exciting at the same time.

Even as she told him to stay and be quiet, he leaned forward even closer, cheeks nearly touching. It was close enough to share the warmth from each others skin, but not direct contact. Into her ears, he whispered, “I like the shorts because you’re something enjoyable to look at.” Then knowing these were friends of hers and she was serious about being quiet. He slowly laid himself down into the scattered bottles and shelves, his eyes reading serious that he knew she had to go, but pleading his thanks for this short time together. Even as he did this he mouthed but didn’t voice, ‘Thanks for the date.’

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Why had she been followed? Had something terrible happened? Had something that needed her assistance arose? Was she just untrusted? The thoughts ticked her off a little as she began to think deeper into the reasons for James's interfirance and she almost forgot where she was for a moment. The feeling of a hand pressing lightly against her leg was vaugely noticable and it wasn't until she turned her strayed head from staring off in the direction of the front exit to the shop to look back at the male she had fallen onto. Alexis had to keep him hidden, no matter what.

As Jimmy leaned into her, she blinked and her hand fell from his lips to rest on the right side of his chest just under his collar bone. She stared at the side of his neck as he leaned in a little further and whispered into her ear, though it was the feeling of condenced air brushing her skin that made her face turn a light shade of crimson. Again, she almost forgot the situation as she gave him a playful hit with the fist on his chest as she had done before.

When he laid himself backwards amongst the many bottles and broken shelves, Lexi stayed sitting up right, keeping her position as the voice from outside bellowed once more, this time angrier then before. The woman was stuck, she didn't want to leave and she had no reason to, seeing as she had barely had time to search the interior of the many stores on the stip, but she had to at least see what her leader wanted. Her blue eyes started intensely at the other's lips as he mouthed his thanks which only caused her to frown stubbornly. "I'll be back." Of course, she kept her voice low as she pushed herself to stand over the male.

Quickly, she began walking over to the shop door, which she exited through; the bell made that cute little ring that she had always found annoying. "What is it, James?" She glanced back over her shoulder casually and thankfully Jimmy couldn't be seen from the front of the store. Turning back, the red head paused in front of the Falcon's leader, her arms crossed tightly across her chest as she awaited his answer. "What's that supposed to me, Sweetcheeks?" His voice was angry as he stepped forwards, directly in front of her. He wasn't alone either, two other men of the group had came with him. "You heard me. I've barely been here five minutes and you follow after me?" The taller male scoffed and glanced at his henchmen before raising a hand to swiftly backhand Lexi across the face.

The motion was unexpected and she stumbled to the side in silence as the impact seemed to echo and ring in her ears. A red mark appeared instantly across her right cheek and she quickly regained her posture as she braced her arms at her sides. "You're not fuckin' supposed to leave the fuckin' HQ." It was obvious he had been drinking from the way he stumbled towards her like some sort of demented beast. "You asked me to come here and loot the place. It wasn't my decision." Lexi's voice was quiet but her expression displayed determination and spirit. James burst into a wild laughter and pulled a bottle that he had tied to his belt to his lips and he gulped the liquid down quickly. Whenever they could get their hands on liqure all the men seemed to do was 'party'. All that really meant was get rough with the girls and act tough.

"Don't you fuckin' dare talk back to me, bitch." James lashed out a long, strong arm and grabbed the long red hair on top of her head to tug her forwards into him. Alexis let out a pained hiss and her hands quickly moved to grab the males hand and push it back down onto her head so the pain wouldn't be so prominate. "I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll finish up here and I'll come straight back! Promise! I'll be done soon." Those blue eyes of her's shut tightly and she ground her teeth as her body tensed. It appeared that he was thinking over her request.

 

[Lotherio]

Stuck. There was no better way to describe the situation Jimmy ‘Two-Times’ was in at the moment. Gut instinct told him, get up, sneak out the other entrance, get back to his bike and just leave. Find another gas station to siphon gas, forget the Target and their canned foods – hit a gas station, let the boys feast on twinkies and snoballs again. Sugar was good enough for the cockroaches, it would be good enough for them. They could check the phone directories again, find another group of shops close together, he could scavenge again tomorrow or the next day even.

He hated himself for that thought, his other gut instinct told him to go back to the bike, get the gun and shoot that guy dead out there. That was almost hypocritical, he’d seen some of the Skeleton Crew treating girls just the same. That wasn’t Jimmy’s mojo though. It was that one string of humanity that gulled the back of his mind, you don’t treat girls like that. Kudos to his mother, that training still paid off even if it meant Jimmy didn’t get as much ‘action’ as the other guys. Still, he’d rather have willing, cooperative action than forcing himself on someone like that. There was that gut wrenching feeling, he’d have to go back to Westover again and listen to something similar going down, knowing if he wanted the protection of the group he had to live with it. Stuck described his life, he was stuck in this life.

But there was that girl, that smile, that face. He couldn’t get Lexi out of his mind. What if she was real, the playful fists when he was being a touch goofy, if not flirtatious? If that smile was sincere and she would come back, he couldn’t leave her. If she was stuck out with that ass, he might pick up something just listening. His name was James, he was a Falcon. If everything added up, this was not just a Falcon, this number was their leader. There was nothing he could do now, not without starting some turf war between Falcons and Skeleton Crew and he didn’t want to bring that sort of heat back with him or worse. But he couldn’t leave yet.

He reminded himself, this is why you don’t care for people after the apocalypse. Feelings were good, but they hurt, and there was nothing you could do about it. Or could he, this wasn’t the time, but if he ever got enough personal gas and supplies stocked up, he could leave this city and never come back. Find a new living somewhere else where there weren’t gangs or parasites that were formerly humans who just live off the suffering and decay of each other. There had to be something better, that was the only reason to live. Lexi was real, she said she would be back, he had to wait for her. Maybe he’d tell her this stuff, maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe he’d just help her find the stuff she needed so the jerk wouldn’t be too hard on her later tonight when she decided she had to go back. He cursed himself and his life, he cursed himself for decided to care about her in this moment, but he was stuck now, stuck caring, stuck living, just stuck.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

It seemed like forever that she was stood helplessly waiting for James to give her the ok and leave. His grip remained hard as he held onto her hair and just as he was about to speak, someone else did. One of the other men, a man of colour with black fizzy hair and deep brown eyes that matched his skin tone. "James. We should just let her get on with it. Mandy needs the medication back home. Let get back." Lexi's blue eyes cracked open to see that the deep voiced man had pressed a hand to James's shoulder and squeezed it in a friendly manor; he didn't appear to be drunk.

Her captor grumbled a few mumbled and broken words under his breath before he followed through with his decision. "Fine." And with that word his grip released and the red head fell to her knee's with a small sigh. She stared at the ground as she waited for them to leave but as they turned, she quickly glanced up to give the black man known as Reg a grateful smile; he nodded in responce. Alexis continued to wait until the group were out of sight, which took them a few minutes that seemed to run on like hours.

Pushing herself to stand, her hands started to run through her red locks, starting near her forehead to push the strands away from her face. She was sure it wasn't uncommen for men to treat women this way now a days, but it still felt wrong to her and she didn't know how to explain it to anyone else; so she wouldn't. Turning, Lexi ran her fingertips gently over the red mark across her cheek before entering the shop via the front door. She stood there for a moment, silent and tense as her feet began taking her forwards into the store where she found that the male hadn't moved. Her body seemed to relax and she gave a small smile as her blue eyes found the others. "Thanks." She mumbled. "For not running, I mean."

 

[Lotherio]

When her feet shuffled into the medical supply store once more, scurrying a few bottles to disturb the silence that settled after the other Falcons had left, Jimmy found his heart racing and he didn’t know why. Not entirely true, but, she did come back and that made him nervous and excited all at once. She came in from the front where the other boys had confronted her and with the large windows there (or what remained of the ones broken out), light filtered in and caught the frame of her body again. Even just her outline was enough to bring him out of his stuck world. If he was stuck, at least he would have this moment, he could savor the thought of her outline and imagine tomorrows that would never be once she returned to the Falcons and he to his Skeleton Crew.

Quietly she said her thanks, and he leaned up on one elbow where he lay. “You don’t deserve that,” he said, but at once knowing that women would take that sort of behavior because it meant survival against the worse people out there. The sort that didn’t see sex on legs so much as meat on legs, a walking meal, or walking target practice, or even other worse realities that lived in the world these days. Instead of waiting for her to say anything he stood up, sending a few medical pill bottles scattering under broken shelves. Quietly he walked a few more steps to look down at that smile in her eyes, the one hand coming up to gently touch her red cheek, where her James’ had laid his hand. “Thanks for returning,” he offered in a moment of reprieve.

“We’ll find you that medicine and bandages that you need, make sure you get it all for your friend Mandy,” though he couldn’t believe he was helping Falcons like this. Then again, it didn’t matter, they were stuck too, at least the girls were. Even as he said he would help, he couldn’t find it to bring his arm back down from her face. “Honest, if we don’t find it, I have a few personal supplies back at my bike. Not good for long term care, but maybe another day of antiseptics in case you need to go scavenge for more.” Then, half a smile, “It’s a pretty face you have, that’s what kept me here. Thank your parents for that then. Pretty face and I’m a sucker, just don’t tell anyone I do this sort of stuff routine-like.”

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Blue eyes watched his movements as he propped himself up on one elbow and the smile dropped from her face as he told her what she hadn't deserved. She simply gave a shrug. "That's a lot better then anything else I could get out here in this rotten world." She could have it much worse, she could be killed or tortured, she could be kept to breed or even worse to eat. The thought made her shiver as she shook her head and shrugged again, a frown this time gracing her features. As he rose from the floor, the red head turned her attention back to him and she waited silently as he stepped forwards; the atmosphere had become different, a lot different. Alexis flinched as his fingers touched her sore cheek and she let out a small sigh, frowning up at the male for a second before he spoke; the words only caused her to smile. "That's quite alright. I couldn't leave you here all alone now, could I?"

Giving him a quick nod, her smile only widened. "She'll be grateful." Alexis paused then when the other offered up his own supplies. "Oh, I couldn't take your stuff, that's hardly fair on you. We'll find something to use, if not then I'll just head to the next store and find something there." The red head shook her head at the other and where other's would think him foolish, she thought him generous. When he complimented her, her smile returned and she raised a hand to lay her finger tips on top of Jimmy's that was still holding her red cheek. "I'm not gonna tell anyone. I'll only get you into trouble and that's hardly a decent way to thank such a charming compliment." Her voice was slightly teasing as her hand clasped around his before lowering it and entangled her fingers with his. "I supposed I should start looking for something then, huh? Can't be standing here looking at you all day, you might distract me a little more." Giving a small chuckle, Lexi squeezed his hand briefly before letting go and turning to walk across the small store.

It wasn't that he would distract her from her search that she was worried about, it was the fact that she might start caring for this stanger more then she should that caused her to be apprehencive. The red head let out a small sigh and silently thanked whatever god there was that the rest of the Falcons had left in peace (pretty much.) "Are you apart of a gang at all? If you aren't, I could get you in on the Falcons. It'd be nice to have someone who's sane around." Lexi kept her back to Jimmy as she croched once more and began sifting through bottles and tubes.

 

[Lotherio]

When she responded to his thanks, Jimmy’s features offered dual comprehension. The smile indicated he was glad she couldn’t leave him there all alone, but the perched eyebrow suggested he knew most would have left him no worries if their survival depended on it. Still he listened and shook his head silently when she refused his own stuff, as if to insist she could take it but he knew she wouldn’t take argument for an answer - at least not now while there was still daylight and time to search. Besides part of their ‘date’ was sifting through bottles, if he just gave her what she needed, she’d be on her way sooner rather than later.

There was the squeeze of his hand and she let go, but he was reluctant, letting her pull it up a little before his fingers slid out from between hers. Further still they held on to the wisps of parting space in the air as she returned to look at some small bottles once more, the distance growing between them. Looking around at nearby shelves which once contained bandages, he scanned for the possibility of any unopened packages or roles of cloth even – more hope in the former than the later. Nothing good and by the time she’d asked him about gangs and offered the possible invite into the Falcons, he’d found himself moving towards her location again. With a swift jump, he was over a toppled shelf and near her again, crouching playfully to turn and look at her face again. “What if I was in a gang, would you knife me? I think we covered already how humiliated I’d be if you beat me like that.” A chuckle, not suggesting she couldn’t win or he’d even entertain such a fight so much as it would mark the second time they’ve discussed the topic.

While he let the question hang in the air, perhaps seeing her reaction, maybe avoiding the question in a round about way, he pondered the latter and shook his head. Simultaneously, he was reaching for a pill bottle under a shelf for the moment. “I couldn’t join the Falcons Lexi … taking for granted being around you would be something worth thinking about … just, I don’t know if I could stand seeing how that guy treats you. I’d probably end up dead if I had to watch anymore of that.” Silently he looked down a moment, “I see it enough, but I can’t stand to think of it happening to you.” As if to help him get off the topic, there was a rattle to one of the bottles, he pulled it up and it had a few pills in it still. He asked, “How about Mebendazole?” He didn’t know what it was, but who knew if it would help or not.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Picking up a tube, she raised her eyebrows as she read the tube briefly and unscrewed the bottle to check the cream inside. Putting the lid back on, she quickly stuffed it in her bag that she had pulled over her shoulder deeming it usable. She wouldn't have to take his things after all; the thought made her smile with a small sigh. Upon hearing the other approching behind her, she turned and looked over her shoulder to watch him with a confused flutter of her eye lashes. As he crouched besider her, Lexi kept her eyes on him as her hand picked up something absent mindedly.

The red head raised her eyebrows at his question and she grinned playfully. "Maybe. Maybe not." She didn't really think that the other would be apart of another gang, which was why her answer was so light. "Don't worry over it, I wouldn't do that to you." She raised her hand and gave him a playful push to his shoulder with a large grin. Lexi turned to look down at the pill bottle in her hand as he declined her invite to the Falcons and explained his reasons. She tossed the bottle off to the side with a frown and then gave a small shrug. "I guess I understand. What I don't get is how you can bare to be alone." If he wasn't in a gang then how did he manage to stay alive with his sanity unharmed?

As he raised a bottle, she turned and reached for the item he had in his hands. "Mebendazole? It deals with parasites, right? Worms in particular. I guess it would be helpful, thanks." Slipping it into her bag, she reached under one of the shelves and grabbed another bottle only to flinch when she pulled her hand back out. "Ouch." Frowning, she glanced at the small cut on the back of her hand. "Musta caught it on a loose nail or something." She mumbled to herself before shrugging quickly and going back to reading tabs of bottles. For some reason she couldn't get the thought of Jimmy joining the Falcons from her mind; though she was sure it would be in his worst interest.

 

[Lotherio]

Chuckling lightly himself when she pushed him, he couldn’t keep his eyes quite off her when she grinned. Maybe that was something in itself, despite the conditions they all lived in, seeing someone smile made up for all the wrong’s he’d seen or, worse, committed. Perhaps it was her and he knew he’d hate himself once they parted and she returned to the Falcons, memories of her and the possibilities if circumstance was different would probably haunt his nights. Yet, here she was, real and friendly, cute, smiling, playful. As she was pondering the parasite pills, he was about to discuss being alone, maybe tell her something more but she cut herself.

His arm came out to hers when that happened, as she went back to looking at bottles. It wasn’t forceful, but he pulled at her arm so that he could see the cut and if she allowed him to do just this, his other hand took the injured hand within its folds so he could look at it. Gentle where his movements, tender. His focus only on the cut, and if to explain his actions, he offered, “We’re in a medical store, most loners and crazies that would scavenge here may have been injured themselves. No telling what you might pick up around here.” Looking more closely, his breath rolled onto her hand, “Let me give you some of those supplies, I have some antiseptic, at least put that on the cut.”

Then he was standing and either she was too, or he was alone. “Come to my bike, I’ll look after it,” is all he said then he was moving towards the door. He did turn to look at her and his thoughts returned back to that question in her mind, “I’m not exactly alone, but when I’m out here scavenging, I like the freedom of thinking I’m alone.” Then he smiled a little, “If I could just leave the city now, I probably would, I don’t like everything I see around here – its either join a gang or be victimized by the gang and, even then, being in the gang isn’t a good life. Its just a life. I’d rather forget all that right now, just enjoy being with you in this short time we have before you return to the Falcons and I go back to where I come from.” In part he was avoiding the question of gang affiliation, as if he didn’t want her to thinking that at some point they would have to go back to being rivals.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

It came as a suprise as he pulled her arm across her body to take a look at the small cut in her flesh. She stopped what she was doing and raised her eyebrows as he seemed to inspect the injury; she hadn't thought twice about what bacteria or disease could be floating around the place. Another thing that came as a suprise was the tenderness of his actions and the softness of his hand. It was rare she was treated with such courtesy and benevolence. "I don't really want to use your stuff." For an odd reason, she felt as if she would be stealing; not that that concept had stopped her from raiding or looting in the past.

As he stood from his crouching position, Alexis followed suit and stood. When he mentioned his bike, her face filled with excitement. "A bike?! You have a bike? That's so cool!" She had always wanted to ride one, but she had never learnt how to drive anything other then a push bike so it was absolutely out of the question unless she could get someone to teach her. She probably only end up flying over the handles and wounding herself. The girl followed after him, shuffling her back on her shoulders a little as it pressed the leather onto her skin which caused her to sweat in the heat.

Upon hearing his voice again, she sped up to step to his side to look up at him as if she were examining his expression to see if they matched his words. So was he apart of a gang or not? She kept the question to herself, afterall, it would be better for her if she didn't know. That was she could act natural with him. Her blue eyes peered up at him as they exited the store through the front. "You'd really leave? I don't think I could." The red head paused with a frown as she looked forwards. "I mean, I don't like it either, I don't enjoy seeing the bad things and I don't enjoy it happening to me or my friends, but I couldn't leave. People need me. Imagine if I disappeared one day? I'm sure the girls wouldn't be able to cope." The image she'd conjured in her mind as she spoke made her wince and she quickly shook her head. Leaving was out of the question. "Rather me then them."

A smile returned to her face as he admitted to enjoying her company. "Alright. Let's drop the whole gang subject then. I don't think I want to know if you're a part of one or not anyway. I prefer it like this." The idea of him being a part of a rival gang was painful. Even though they'd just met, she already felt close to him and partly trusted him.

 

[Lotherio]

Occasionally glancing down at her as she spoke to him, Jimmy offered the occasional return smile. This could be normal, they could be walking down the halls of a school together, or at a mall, or in the park, or at work. This is what normal people did once before. “I prefer it like this too,” he offered in response to dropping the subject of affiliations. “If you did just disappear one day, wouldn’t you rather it be because you made a choice and not because someone took the choice from you. One crazy taking a shot, another gang, or anything really. The girls would miss you just the same in that case, but if you choose to go, imagine if you did find some place better, you could come back for them.” It was a thought, and idealistic thought from someone feeling like they were in a desperate situation.

Even as they walked, he knew she wouldn’t leave the Falcons, at least not the way things were in her life. She was right, best to drop the subject before real emotions are stirred up and the ‘date’ came to an end. Better to focus on the good things, as they left the strip mall, he lifted his chin towards the wash were he parked his bike, the bridge overpass there was partially collapsed. “They don’t let you take a vehicle to scavenge …” he pondered at first regarding her enthusiasm over the bike, “I mean, the bike is mine, but if someone needed it and I trusted them.” That statement was left unfinished, seeming more and more real topics they ventured on lead to bad emotions. “You can ride it if you like,” he offered, hoping that might make it back into the good realm of emotions.

Noticing some of the sweat on her in the heat, not unlike his own, his hand came up and brushed at her hair. It was as if the light punches and the touches they’d shared made him more forward or as if there was a natural comfort around her. Sure, James’ had claimed her, but he wasn’t here. Here she was a free woman. “Its not a choice about using my stuff, consider it our stuff. I’ll let you take some back to your friend Mandy, I can see you’re worried for her.” Then he took the hand from her hair as the walked and held it up to raise objections, “I don’t want to hear no. You’re so damn cute, you’re the kind of girl that I know could break my heart, and I’d let it happen anyways. I want to do this … for you.” He paused to look at her as he said that, they were nearing the access ramp into the ditch, it would a short jaunt down to where his bike and gear waited.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Lowering her head to stare at the floor thoughtfully, she balanced the options without much of a decision. "I'd rather not disappear at all." She let out a light chuckle as she brushed off the idea of being slaughtered by some loon or another gang; even her own gang could do the same. Maybe she wasn't as protected as she thought. Then he mentioned leaving to find another place, a safer place in another part of the world that the could call paradise. "And what if they were gone before I came back? I couldn't have all that shit on my hands."

Lexi continued to walk beside him, not wanting to be a step behind or a step ahead. Her blue eyes followed the gesture that indicated where his bike was hiden. She silently pondered his comment of trusting someone as she started over towards the overpass the bike was hidden under. "Ride it? Serious?" The red head glanced up to him with a large grin. "I wish I could!"

As his hand brushed at her hair, she blinked and turned to look at him again, her steps slowing ever so slightly. It was strange how comfortable she felt with this man she'd just met in such a bleek world; if she wasn't careful terrible things could happen to her, though she couldn't help but feel secure around this guy. It was completely the opposite with James. She would always be on her guard around him, always be two steps ahead of him, always on alert and ready to take a beating to protect someone else in the group. "Our stuff? And how'd you figure that?" When he mentioned Mandy, the girl sighed a little and turned to the side. "Can you keep a secret? She's not injured or hurt, she's pregnant." Alexis continued to stare off to the side as she mumbled out Mandy's 'illness'. "She's due in a few days and I'm expected to deliver it because I used to work in a drug store." She pityed the kid and what would happen to it growing up. She pityed the mother because she didn't know if she would survive to see her child grow up.

Her attention turned back to Jimmy as he called her cute, no, not just cute, 'so damn cute.' A light blush started to grace her features so that the two cheeks were near enough the same colour of redness. Lexi paused as he finished speaking and she stared at him silently. "You're so..." She paused with her comment before taking a small step towards him while extended a hand to press against his chest, where his heart was currently beating. "I couldn't do that to you. Not on perpous anyway." Her fingers clenched around the material over his chest for a brief second before she released him and turned to begin walking once again, the ramp now visable.

 

[Lotherio]

“Our stuff as in, you can take what you need because I wouldn’t do anything to stop you,” said Jimmy in response, “I said you could break my heart, even if not on purpose. I have more, this here is I just have what I can carry out for trips like this.” He offered turning and moving to walk with her down the ramp then. “And knowing your friend’s situation, you need it more than me anyways.”

The bike was under the overpass, on the wall of the wash outside the main channel. Despite the channel being empty now, where it still remained it showed green mold or algae lines where most of the water had been. There was some rubble at the base of the middle pylons over the water where it had partially collapsed and inside there was a nest or two of dirty cardboard and maybe blankets and such. It was not fresh, just the sign that at some point, someone had called this home. They had since moved along and even those nests had been scavenged, echoing the state of the world these days.

His bike was nothing fancy, the sort of vehicle that was used for off road purposes only previously. It was black and yellow where color remained or the plastic guards were still on and it had knobby tires for traction. The rest was held together by duct tape and metal wire hangers, but overall it was in good condition all things considered. It had a couple packs strapped to the back, sort of like saddle bags, olive green as if they were old army bags or something at one point.

As they were moving down the ramp and into the shade of the streets above, he continued talking, “If you want to trade for the supplies, I’ll make a deal. Let’s forget for a moment about everything else. No friends, no gangs, no worries. What I want most is just to see you smile right now and think the world is normal. After we fix your hand, and see about you riding the bike, and our good date here, we’ll part ways and we can think about the gloom then. But here, now, its just you and me Lexi, this is our world.” If being under the overpass in a rubble strewn wash was much of a world, he even spread his arms out a little to encompass everything, then chuckled a little and kicked small piece of concrete. It scattered and disturbed a hidden pigeon that cooed its shock before taking flight. Aside from their conversation the surroundings where quiet as was normal, the beating of the wings bounced off the devastated city in reminder of reality.

 

[SugarPlumCoatedGun]

Alexis stumbled quickly down the ramp before regaining her balance at the bottom on the flat concrete. She turned to wander under the overpass and was suprised at how cool and dark it seemed to be considering the day was so bright a humid. She grinned when she saw the bike and stepped swiftly towards it. Her face brightened and she ran her fingers along the frame of the vehical before crouching to take a look at the wheels and other metal work on the bike. Giving a nod of approval, the red head turned and stood straight, her back now to the bike as she watched Jimmy when he began to talk.

The shelter made her feel slightly safer and the cool air made her feel more comfortable, as it would do on such a warm day. Her blue eyes watched the male as she removed the bag from over her shoulder; she lifted it over her head before lowering it down to the ground to lean against the bike. "Deal." Lexi mumbled as he finished and she took a few steps towards him quietly. "I want to forget too." She completely ignored the pigeon that jumped into flight after being startled, she could only look at Jimmy with smoldering eyes. "I could tell you something else I'd like to ride." Again, her voice was low and quiet as she paused in front of him with a sensual expression.

She wanted to forget, she wanted to change everything back to how it used to be, she hated this world. Lexi reached up, one of her hands slipping behind the brunette's neck to gentle pull his head forwards as she stretched up onto her tip toes to meet him. Pressing her lips against his doftly, her eyes closed tightly for a moment before she relaxed into the kiss. She wondered how he would react, but at the same time she didn't care; she just felt that she needed this, this company, this moment.

 

[Lotherio]

Standing tall over her as they were in close, under the cool shade of the overpass, he watched her light steps and listened to her quiet voice. The deepening of his breath indicated initial reaction to her words of what else she’d like to ride. He let her hand at his neck up in emphasis to her words and his first response was to whisper softly, “Show me.” It was lost in the steam of her lips against his perhaps, his eyes were swimming within hers the closer she got but the closed, in mirror to the darkness under the overpass, as her lips met his.

At first he enjoyed the soft sensation of the kiss, one hand coming out to her hips and, as she was stretching up towards him, perhaps it slipped under her jacket and ran fingertips along the top of her shorts while it searched for the small of her back. The hand found a loop which he used to pull her in even closer, if that was possible, so that his body melded against hers. Then the kiss started to incite a passion within him, his other hand going to her neck as well, those fingers craving her hair. The flames came to his lips and he nibbled at hers as the kiss deepened.

While his breathing intensified with the excitement of the moment, the fingers in her hair slipped further up. There was a moment where he grabbed her hair and pulled her away from the kiss, his eyes half opening in that moment as if to say something. Perhaps it was something about the situation or the world or just how hot she really was. Those words slipped off his lips as the heat of her own lips faded, and the thought forgotten as he glanced at her, he pulled her back into a kiss. This was the kiss that damned tomorrow or the next moment, there was just her body against his and he wanted more of her. Without thinking, or expressing, he used his hands to push her against the bike and then there was a nudging of those hands, or perhaps even a direct lifting, to get her seated on the bike. There was some force in his movements, but it was the sort that only pushed/lifted her so long as she didn’t outright resist.