It's hard being the best(Kiara)

Put Your Lips Next to Mine

Xander smile met Renn's eyes and sparked excitement in her. Of course he loved her. He came all this way, and half beat her old boyfriend to save her. She supposed any strong big-headed by-standard would have lent her a hand, but none would get so into it that Wade would be struggling for breath, his heart aching to beat regularly again. No. A passing by-standard would have gave him one good punch and run off with the girl. They wouldn't be as bold or brave, and they most certainly wouldn't have been enduring the pain Xander had as he carried her away. At first, she struggled against her grip, seeing the pain it brought him, but then she realized that he wouldn't let her go and she was just causing him more pain than necessary. Her world spun, but she calmed it, selfishly indulging in every inch of warmth and protection she could feel from Xander's bloody body.

He was so brave, so daring, that it almost scared Renn. He had proved that anything he could ever do to ensure her protection and comfort. But instead of spreading warmth throughout her veins, it made her shiver in fear. The things he would do for her.. and she still hadn't necessarily recovered from her broken heart. Bringing Wade into the picture just screwed up her emotions even more. He obviously didn't care for her as much as Xander did, but one can never undo their feelings for another with the simple pull of a string. Renn had lost all respect she had for Wade the minute he didn't respect her decision to leave. But then again, would Xander? It had been such a hard decision for her, and she spent the time she had at home while Wade was off gallivanting with his child's mother, she had devoured every option, and spent noiseless hours contemplating her every thought. The pro's outweighed the cons. Wade vs. a life well lived. Wade vs. the safety of knowing how to fight. Wade vs. her life dream, which had crumbled into a million pieces once she arrived. It would have been hard for Xander too. He would have been more convincing, or even compromising about it though. He more than certainly wouldn't have slept with another girl. Not that Wade had ever slept with Renn. Her parent's strictly forbid it, putting Wade in the room next to theirs. Renn remembered yelling obscurities at them and begging them to give him a chance. To give her a chance at love. But she had blown that chance entirely on her own, but now, she found herself not regretting it.

Xander slipped through the crowd and into a bar. What good would it do for them to be in a bar? Both under aged for drinking, both bloody and emotionally unbalanced, they would be obvious targets for Peacekeepers. Renn swung herself out of Xander's arm and started to pull nervously on his sleeve. She whispered his name urgently, not wanting to draw any more attention to themselves then she already had. He pulled some coins out of his pocket. Renn reached for them, but he had already given them to a man and said something to him quietly. Renn couldn't hear exactly what he was saying, but she still tugged at his shirt. She wanted out of there now. What in the world could him have been paying him for anyways? A thought of him handing her over to the man made her skin crawl, but she shoved it away as Xander swept her back up into his arms and carried into the chaos on the street. Had they caused all of that? Then she saw the man Xander had paid. He was loudly informing people of the arrival of Peacekeepers. Renn giggled as she playfully punched Xander in the chest. She straightened in his arms as they passed Wade's bloody body. A few men around their age were dragging him out of the street, a nervous woman was cleaning the blood with a mop and bucket. One of the men locked gazes with Renn, clenching his teeth and mouthing something to her. Had she imagined that?

The simple sway of Xander's feet soon grew choppy as his hero spirit deteriorated. She wiggled in his arms again, urging him to set her down, but he ignored her, just like before. He sprinted towards an abandoned apartment building, running so fast that Renn couldn't fully process her surroundings. Instead, she let her eyes waver on Xadner's, fear flashing through the pair. She hated this. She'd been plenty weak for one day.

He stumbled in a door and placed her gently on a couch in the middle of the rather empty room. Xander slumped onto the floor next to the couch out of exhaustion. Sure, Renn was bad, but he was worse, and it was her turn to be strong.

"Welcome to my home away from home Renn. I took over this place when my family got to much to bear. I come here every now and again when I want to be alone, but now it can be our place, for when we want to get away. I'm sorry that I...didn't get to you faster...I should never have...let you...go...I should have protected you."

But how could she be strong when his words made her legs grow weak. He had no obligation to her, why couldn't he see that? His last words faded into a whisper, then his eyes fluttered close. At first, Renn felt the need to shake him awake, willing him to live for her, but the steady rise and fall of his chest calmed her heart a bit. She willed herself to her feet and carefully stepping around him, she made her way around. She needed something to tend to his wounds with. The one's she had caused. Tears dripped down her face as she checked every cabinet and cranny for some kind of something she could use.

Finally, after searching every single cabinet and nook and cranny in the entire damned apartment, Renn finally found something. In a drawer in the large coffee table near the door, was some fishing line and a sewing kit. In a cabinet in the small and undoubtedly unusable bathroom was a few dusty washcloths. She ran each tool she'd found thoroughly under the faucet, scrubbing every bit of unwanted substance from it away with her fingernails. Renn knew she was running out of time. She had to sew up Xander's wounds before he awoke, hoping to save him from more pain than he'd already faced.

Dried blood covered most of the front of his shirt. There was only one way to reach the actual impact point. She had to pry the shirt from his limp body. Kneeling next to him, she slowly removed his shirt from his body. Renn felt the strong need to lean down and kiss him. He couldn't return her kisses, but that was what she needed. She needed the feel of her lips pressed against his, but she needed him to not love her back. Renn knew she wouldn't be able to deny him now. If it saved him pain now, she would do it. Renn would do anything for Xander. She could never repay him, but she might as well start now.

Despite the need to kiss and hug him, she stuck to her work. She sewed up his wounds as he twitched quietly. She drew all the blood from his skin with her washcloths. Her hands guiltily slid over his wounded areas, putting pressure on the surrounding areas to see if blood leaked out anywhere. He was an athlete, a warrior, his body was buiilt for this sort of thing. His cells knew exactly how to react to cuts and scrapes and bruises, and most of them vanished as quickly as they came. But others, like his deep shoulder wound, required special attention. It calmed her to see his calm state and her hands guide the cloth over his skin.

Xander started to stir, his heartbeat becoming more alive than before. Renn threw the bloodstained cloths behind the couch and carefully slid on top of him. She had the thought while she was cleaning his bloody shoulder. She was trying to simulate earlier in the day, hoping it would lighten the mood and make him happier, as she had done all she could do for his pain. He was mostly bruised and damaged in his upper half, so Renn knew it wouldn't hurt him as she settled her torso on his abdomen. Just like she had this morning. Blood still stained her, but she didn't care. He was clean, and his eyes were slowly opening. Suddenly, they shot open, probably because of the feel of her weight on him.

"Hey Pretty Boy, let's dance,"

Put Your Lips Next to Mine

Renn felt Xadner's eyes examine her. At first, he'd been surprised to wake up of the weight of Renn's body on top of his, but he seemed to warm up to the idea rather quickly. He sat up, groaning at the exertion it took him. Renn fell from his abdomen to his lap as he pulled her into an embrace. Had he really missed her that much in his unconsciousness? She giggled a little against his bare chest. He pulled her face up with gentle touch so that their foreheads touched. Everything in Renn's heart and mind told her to get up and get out. Red flags popped up at every single thought that entered her mind. She knew this was wrong, and that they shouldn't be here. Her in his lap, their foreheads touching, but she couldn't deprive Xander of something he wanted. Not now. Not now that he saved her life and risked everything, even his chance at fame and glory to be with her. Renn knew she would never convince him that he wouldn't be happy without her. So she let him put his lips into hers, she let each curve of his lips fill the crevices in hers. She let his lips linger, craving he do more than merely kiss her. He fell back, and so did she, but she was in guilt, and it seemed he was out of breath. Xander was a great kisser, but she wondered if she reciprocated the feeling to his lips. He still held her close, and she let out a few childish giggles into his bare chest. He was half naked. Shut up, Renn.

Put Your Lips Next to Mine

Xander's lips found Renn's automatically yet again. They'd only known each other for, as the setting sun announced, a day, and yet, the feeling of his lips pressed into her's was so familiar. He sat up, taking Renn with him so that she was up against him again. He was so warm and comforting and safe. Never, before today and before Renn's training, had she felt afraid, or even needed comfort. But now, she couldn't imagine living without it. Even so, she wasn't one to depend on anyone, for anything. "Something about the look in your eyes tells me you don't want my parents money to fix up this place. I'm not to big on working for money, but if this really is going to be our place than I need to pay for it myself. Otherwise I we would be at the mercy of my parents, and that definitely wouldn't be good. I'll think of some way to pay for it I promise. Either that or I'll fix it up myself."

He was so observant, or had he just adored her eyes that much? Renn almost slapped herself for thinking that. Her eyes were green. Period. His though, were a majestic and metallic bronze that shimmered off of every surface and in every light. They shimmered now, making Renn let out a sly giggle, but then she refocused and thought of a reply for Xander's statement. "You don't need to fix it up, Xander. It's perfect just the way it is. Besides, don't you think the dust in here makes it a bit more.. romantic?"