Part 9 (1/2)

Finlay put his hands up against Ash's chest and slammed him against the wall. Ash flinched when he felt his breath leave his body. He heard the metal behind him start to give way. Ash smirked as Finlay pushed him harder against the wall.

”Oh really?” he forced out with the remaining air in his lungs. ”Because neither do I.” Ash took his left knee and swiftly jammed it right between Finlay's legs. Ash was promptly released from the hold as his opponent fell to the floor holding his crotch in pain. Luckily, male seraphs had the same weakness as humans.

”Try using it on Arie now, Fin.” He smirked at his victory as he stepped around him to go sit down in the main room.

As he looked up, he noticed both girls watching from the bedroom doorway.

”Ash- what are you doing?” Arie demanded walking up to him and punching him in the shoulder. Ash glared at her, he couldn't believe how hard she had hit him.

”Finlay doesn't fight as much as you do. That was uncalled for and unfair.”

Annalise peeked out from behind Arie's tall form.

”Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?” Annalise grabbed his arm and started to check his body for signs of injury. It was then that Ash noticed what Arie had dressed her in. Ash had to look away. If she wore that the entire trip, the fallen might as well kill him now.

”Seriously Anna? I am not helpless. I can handle myself,” he bragged.

Arie started in on her usual lecture. ”Look where that boasting got you, Ash. You almost died once already.”

Ash shook Annalise off of him; he certainly didn't trust himself to be that close to her while she wore something that tight. And her hair was pulled up off her face; it kind of made her look a bit dangerous. This was something he could definitely get used to. Arie scoffed at Ash's gawking and stomped off towards Finlay.

”Anna you look so...” He couldn't think of the words to use. She didn't look so innocent and child-like anymore.

”You look great.” He settled on the only thing that came to mind. It was a lame compliment, but he was sure she wouldn't notice the difference. She tugged at the fabric a bit with her hands.

”Thank you Ash. It is a bit uncomfortable, but I think it will do.” She started to frown as the sounds of yelling filled the air. She peered around him, and Ash turned around toward the sounds.

Finlay, who looked uninjured now, stood with Arie whose face was almost as red as her hair. Ash and Annalise both stood uncomfortably as the other couple's voices got louder.

”I fight people all day long. Dangerous people. I am coming along. I know all about the fallen. I've been tracking Loki plus I have killed a few fallen along the way.” Arie demanded. Ash knew she was not being honest.

”That's a load of cowl and you know it.” Ash muttered. Arie shot him a look that told him to shut up, that he wasn't helping her case against Finlay.

Finlay shook his head firmly and put his hand on her shoulders. ”I am sorry Arie, but you can't. It's too dangerous.”

Arie put her hand inside her slim knee length boots and pulled out an odd shaped gun.

”I still have that weapon you gave me. I can still take Loki down.”

Finlay grabbed the gun from her hands. ”Don't fight with me, you are not going and that is the final word.”

Ash grabbed Annalise's hand and started to drag her to the chair.

”We better sit down. We may be here a while.” Annalise followed quietly, but he could still tell she was quite engrossed in the fight. Finlay was fighting a lost cause; Arie never backed down. She didn't get to be a sought after bounty hunter on her looks, though they helped. It was because she was smart, cunning and brave. Thanks to their weekly spars, she was getting to be a better fighter as well. She could think on her feet, she could speak thirty different languages, she knew the entire planet like the back of her hand, and she could change everything about herself to blend in. The list could go on and on, but the truth was, Ash wanted Arie by his side in this. In the past, they had worked together for the keepers. Usually it was to find some criminal or a crazy rebel threat, but right now he knew they needed all the help they could get. Innocent Annalise, here beside him, had never hurt a fly and Finlay would be preoccupied by Loki. Endarial had looked pretty tough, but he couldn't take on her minions and her at the same time. Ash wasn't stupid enough to go it alone.

”This is an interesting quarrel,” Annalise whispered in his ear.

Ash noticed how fascinated Anna was with the emotions in the room. He looked at Annalise. ”What do you mean?”

She still continued to stare at them.

”He wants her to be safe, but she wants to keep him safe. They really seem to care for each other, but this is forbidden. A union like that is not allowed.”

Ash cringed at the word ”union” and shrugged. ”Well you know Fin- He never plays by the rules.” He repeated Finlay's words to him from earlier.

”I wonder if it could work.” She c.o.c.ked her head to the side slightly. Ash groaned in frustration and yanked on her ponytail gently. She made a slight squeaking sound before grabbing her hair and turning to face him.

”You pulled my hair,” she said, confused.

”Sure did, only because I like you.” Ash tried to reach out to her hair and give it another playful tug but she dodged him.

”You mortal men are so confusing.” Her face was turning a slight shade of pink. Ash put his hand to her cheek and stroked it.

”You look so cute when you're all embarra.s.sed,” he said, catching her gaze.

Anna froze, even her wings didn't move.

”I am not,” she said quietly.

”Not what? Embarra.s.sed or cute?” he teased.

She let a small smile reach her face and her bright blue eyes lit up. She opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by a shriek.

”You are like her? Like that winged mutant over there?” Arie yelled pointing at Annalise.

Ash sighed and ran his hands down his face. He didn't have time to wait all day for the two of them to catch Arie up on the comings and goings of the situation.

”Oh moons, Arie!” Ash stood up and turned in her direction. He felt Annalise move behind his body, and he instinctively grabbed her hand as he felt the fear roll off her body. There was no reason for her to be afraid.

”First off, she is not a winged mutant. She saved my life. Second, Jedzia is dead and that's why I need to do this. I need to make things right. Someone trusted you to hunt their leader, Loki- so obviously you can take down some lowlife minion right?”

Her hand shot up to cover her mouth at the mention of Jedzia's death. They had only met once, but Arie understood how much she meant to Ash. She looked at Finlay.

”Someone trusted me to take down Loki,” she repeated to him, trying to convince him to let her go.

”That was different. You were on your territory. This time, we will be entering his.”

Ash didn't want to interrupt, as much as he was still mad at them for hooking up, he knew she was a grown woman who could take care of herself. Besides, he wasn't all innocent himself. He had been pus.h.i.+ng away thoughts of Annalise in her tight black jumpsuit since she put it on.

Arie turned to Ash and gave him a 'help me' look. Ash only responded with a shrug. He wasn't about to get on Finlay's bad side again.

”I can help. This is no more dangerous than what I do every day, but you will leave me here all alone?”

Finlay stopped to think for a moment. What Arie had said made sense to him. He didn't seem to want her to be left up here alone.

”Fine. You can go, but if you get hurt then, Annalise- you are going to heal her.” Finlay rubbed his hands over his hair and sighed in exasperation. Arie smiled proudly and gave a little victory dance.