Chapter Eight:
Parallel Lives
Birds were singing, the traffic was muted by a screen of trees, the sun was shining and� Cecily McRae was deeply lost in her thoughts as she jogged through the park near her flat. Life had certainly become more interesting since she was packed up and shipped off to Rome. More interesting and more complicated and, amazingly enough, more dangerous than walking a beat in London. Her foot hit the packed earth path awkwardly and she grimaced as a bruise on her hip was jarred at the impact. Ah, the trophies of battle. A faint, amused smile replaced the grimace then as she regained her stride. At least she felt useful again. That was a definite bonus to the madness.
A ribbon of contentment flickered deep within her and she sped up her pace, dimly noting a petite lavender-haired girl as she passed.
Eleanor Daray jogged more out of habit than anything else, a relic from when she was thirteen, more of an excuse to get out of her apartment and away from her thoughts than anything else. If she did it early enough in the morning, there was nobody but self-absorbed male joggers who noted that she was wearing shorts and socks easily hid the bruises on her ankles. She was lagging this morning because of them. Bloody Derek, bloody patrol, bloody...
Lost in her own thoughts and unsteady on her feet, Nell unsteadily tripped into an innocuous little clump of grass disguising a hole and let out a string of Australian-tinged English epithets as she immediately fell on her face, ankle screaming in protest. The swearing was cut off immediately due to the pain - oh, goddess, how embarrassing - and she attempted to sit up, ankle hurting more than she'd expected. Oh, damn. Now she was in trouble.
At the sound of a cry and pained English, Cecily immediately swung around. The little girl she had passed was face-first on the ground, trying to sit up and muttering and whimpering under her breath. She pulled a face and tried to pull back her instant need to check on the girl. This wasn�t England, it wasn�t London, and she didn�t have any duties to anyone here. Oh, bugger that. Trotting over, she went into a loose crouch beside the girl. "You okay?" she asked roughly.
Nell looked up at the stunning blue-eyed redhead and immediately flushed pink, looking down, whitelavender spikes falling over her face and coming out of her clips. "Um," she said, slightly strained. "If I said yes, I'd kind of be lying. I think I just buggered up my ankle a bit. I'll be okay, honest. No worries."
"Right. Hmph. Then you won�t mind me having a look, will you?" Gently, Cecily stretched out the injured leg and studied it, a thoughtful frown flickering over her fair face. "Can you bend it at all?"
Nell attempted to flex her toes and foot on the injured ankle, but immediately stopped due to the stabbing pain. Her gasp said everything, lip being gnawed upon hard. "Sorry," she muttered.
"For what, gel? Did you fall on purpose?" Cecily impatiently brushed back a loose curl that had escaped her messy ponytail as she bent her head over the foot. "I didn�t think so� The name�s Cecily, by the by."
"Nell. And for being a bother and for being stupid because you must really think I'm a moron and I didn't mean to interrupt your run and..." The pale-haired girl released a breath, tears pricking at her eyes. "Ow."
"Easy now, Nell, easy." Cecily smiled reassuringly. "How about we get you off the path and onto that bench over there?"
"All right." The girl's voice was soft. "I, I just... kind of hard moving."
Cecily stood and gazed down at the smaller woman contemplatively. "Hmm, point," she muttered. "Well, I think it�s easily solved, though. Relax and let me," she commanded. With that, she bent and slid a strong arm under Nell�s and around her shoulders. "On the count of three. One, two, three." Biting her lip, she straightened, pulling Nell up with her. The girl was light, true, but it was a hell of an awkward angle and she was so much shorter. "Okay, now try not to put weight on that and I�ll get you over there. Right, gel?"
Nell immediately went wide-eyed, pulled close, leaning on her good leg and trying not to wince as she began limping to the bench. She sneaked a look over at the other woman as she helped her - English, she could tell, by the accent - hair that was really red and a mass of beautiful curls, and blue eyes so pale that if they were any lighter the woman would look nigh-on insane. As it was, they were just intense. "Thank you," she murmured gratefully.
"No worries." Carefully, Cecily lowered Nell onto the bench and then crouched again to study the young woman�s ankle, balancing expertly on the balls of her feet. Bloody hell, Nell was just a little bit. Taking her ankle gently in her hands, the redhead wondered that her ankle hadn�t just snapped and had done with it. Carefully, she began to peel back the sock, fingers cool on the heated, strained muscles. "Let�s just see what you�ve done, hmm?"
"Um," Nell started, but it was too late; the sock was back. There was no small amount of swelling, but the entire ankle was ringed with old bruises, too old and nasty to have been inflicted that morning with the hole.
"I have a bum ankle already," she apologized quickly.
There was a moment of silence and then Cecily nodded, the movement reluctant. "I see," she murmured. Lightly, her fingers began moving over the abused skin, testing and massaging. "This is a right job you�ve done, Nell," she finally announced, looking back up to meet the other woman�s blue eyes, her hands still on her ankle.
"It's not sprained, is it?" she asked anxiously. "Oh, goddess, I've done myself in, haven't I?"
"Easy, pet, easy." Cecily gently rolled the sock back up and smiled warmly, hand rubbing the ankle in a reassuring manner. "We�re not going to have to shoot you quite yet. I think it�s just a bad strain. You�ll be fine if you keep off it some."
Nell groaned. "Oh, no. I'm so dumb." Looking up anxiously at Cecily, she offered her a wan smile. "Thank you for being so nice to me. Your Italian's very good."
"Hmph. My English is better." Carefully, the redhead lowered Nell�s injured ankle to the ground and then stood to slide onto the bench next to her. "Mind if I switch?" she asked. "Since I�d swear you�re an Aussie from your accent."
The smaller girl smiled, immediately making the transition, though it was slightly jerky. "Sorry," she apologized. "Haven't used English in a bit. It's great to hear it again, though. You're a Brit?"
Cecily nodded, reaching up to tuck away the same stray curl again. "Born and bred in London."
"And over here for hols, then?" Nell sat up fully, wincing only a little as she tried to peel her sock back. "Sorry to ruin your morning."
"You didn�t, Nell." Her hand reached out to steady the smaller woman. "I was just running."
"I still feel bad." Nell looked up at her, tilting her head slightly, pale eyes wide. "I should make it up. Or something." A small smile touched her mouth. "Besides, you didn't have to come get me."
"I was supposed to leave you face down in the dirt?" Cecily chuckled. "That�s hardly polite now, is it?"
Nell looked at her keenly. "Maybe not, but a lot of people would do it, you know. Especially for a stranger." And especially if you're so beautiful. People that beautiful don't often care for anybody but themselves. "I'm grateful."
Shrugging, Cecily smiled faintly. "If you insist but I tell you that it�s nothing. What I�m concerned about, to be honest, is how we�re going to get you out of here and back to your home." She tilted her head, considering the younger woman. She was half-tempted to ask about parents but decided against it. She was notoriously bad at judging ages and shuddered to think of getting it wrong once again. Let�s go for the tactful route, shall we? "Is there someone I can call for you? To get you home?"
Nell made a face, pale eyebrows quirking. In the pale morning sunlight, she was faintly blue, the veins showing in her wrists. "I live by myself. Not the smart thing, huh? I'm lucky you came by, actually."
"It would have been a sight luckier if you hadn�t tripped at all," Cecily returned solemnly. "To be fair, right?" Thoughtfully, she nibbled on her lower lip. "But how to get you home is the bloody problem now."
"I don't know." Nell tore her eyes away from Cecily's pouting bottom lip. "I usually walk, I only live a block or so away, but..."
"But you�ll never make it on your own. Hm, right, then." She stood, smoothing down her running shorts with a quick, business-like motion. Then she refocused on Nell. "Do you reckon you could make it if I helped you?"
"Yeah. It's really not far." The look in Nell's blue eyes was meltingly sweetly grateful. "Thank you so much, Cecily."
"No worries, pet." Stepping closer, the tall redhead extended a hand. "Let�s just keep your rubbish ankle towards me, right?"
The tiny woman grasped it carefully, sliding off the bench and wobbling precariously as she leant on Cecily's arm. She limped terribly, but if she used the good foot, she could make it.
"You sure about this?"
"Double sure," Nell said lightly. "I'll be fine, just - " Taking a few wobbly first steps, she half-tripped, stumbling into Cecily.
"... wobbling."
"Whoa there." Quickly, Cecily pulled the smaller woman tight to her side, keeping her upright by main force. "Wobbling is one thing but falling over is another. You said it�s only a block, right?"
Nell tilted her head up, flicking a thumb in the direction. "See that tall building there? Beige-y? That one."
"Well, then. Let�s go." Carefully, Cecily began a jerking, staggering walk with her patient. "As slow as you like," she added, arm tight around Nell�s shoulders.
Nell pulled herself to her full height, which wasn't much, and began to move. If she went too quick, she'd be arse-over-end again. "So," she managed, voice still bright despite the pain, "how long have you been here?"
"Couple of months now�"
Nell eased herself carefully onto the concrete footpath. "Great place, isn't it? I mean, it's not for everyone, and it's not like London or America or most English-speaking places, and you have to basically get used to being European and people nude sunbathing everywhere, but I love it."
"It is different," Cecily agreed carefully.
"You miss England, though, don't you?" Nell looked at the older girl compassionately. "Y'know, I have some marmite in my cupboards."
A genuine smile broke over Cecily�s suddenly solemn face and she chuckled, adjusting her grip on Nell. "Where on earth did you find it?"
"Mum sends me food packages. And there's a little weird food store I know of in the inner-city that sells some stuff." Nell beamed at her companion, glad to see her expression. "Baked beans, Campbell's soup, that sort of thing..."
"And you�re going to tell me where it is, right, pet?"
"You bet." The pale-haired girl giggled, leaning slightly heavier, finding a rhythm that helped her walk. "And if I ask, Mum'll give me extra marmite, so I'll pass that on, anyway. You just can't find that stuff here."
"You�re telling me. I know. I�ve bloody tried for the past couple of months." Cecily shifted her hold, accommodating for the weightier pressure on her hip. "And Mum refuses to send care packages of any kind."
"My mum knows I whine. Besides, she's frantic to feed me up. Not that I need it - Italian food's so rich." Nell shrugged amiably. "So you moved here alone, then?"
Voice going guarded again, Cecily nodded. "I spent the first bit in a pensione."
Nell's eyes went huge. "Alone? In Italy? And you just a girl? You could've been killed, or worse, or..."
"Or wound up serving time in an Italian prison for strangling some pervert down the hall," the redhead replied dryly.
Another giggle escaped Nell's lips and she looked at the redhead in a new light. The arm slung around and helping her walk was strong and sure; if she felt, she knew she would've found muscles. And her legs went on and on and... Feeling her mouth go dry, she swallowed. She wasn't the only one appreciative; all male pedestrians were staring at the English girl as if she was some particularly tasty piece of candy. "I hope you got away."
"Quicker than I thought I would," Cecily admitted ruefully. "I�m sharing a flat with an Italian girl I met pretty soon after landing. Savina�s a pet."
"Well, that's a relief." Nell was honestly sincere. "Those things are dangerous."
"Not if you can handle yourself." Cecily looked ahead of them, gauging the distance to go. "Just a bit farther, pet," she announced.
"I can make it." Her ankle was screaming now, little coloured dots in front of her eyes from the pain. "Thank you, Cess... Uh, mind if I call you Cess?"
She shook her head, the same loose red curl making another break for freedom and sliding down her cheek at the motion. "Cess is fine."
"Thanks. 'Cecily' keeps on reminding me of The Importance Of Being Ernest." Her eyes twinkled, limping forward, goal in sight. "It's a pretty name, though. I just like 'Cess'. Short and cute. Um, you're going to be thinking I'm a moron right about now, so I'm gonna shut up. Blame it on pain."
Cecily chuckled softly. "I don�t mind. You�re taking up my slack, pet." Then she paused before continuing, voice edged with concern, "The pain�s not so bad, is it?"
"No," she lied cheerfully. "Y'know, I bet it's not even sprained, just a little twisted or something."
The redhead frowned slightly but finally nodded. "Well, we�re almost there and then� You stay off of it, right?"
"Promise. Cross my heart." The girl smiled at Cecily, whitelavender spikes of hair glinting. "Hey, you have to contact me again, you know. I have to give you marmite as a reward."
"No worries. Honest."
"Nuh-uh." Nell pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, thankful that she kept scribbling pieces of refill. "Look, here's my number anyway, if you change your mind."
Accepting it with her free hand, Cecily glanced at the scrap of paper. Then she nodded and bent her arm up and over to tuck it under her bra strap with an apologetic smile. "No pockets," she explained. "But, right, I�ll be calling to see how your ankle is doing."
Nell tried not to stare and failed miserably, covering it up by smiling back at her. "Awfully mothery," she commented lightly. "Thank you so much. I don't know how I would've gotten up without you."
The tall redhead shrugged. "I�m sure some bloke fancying himself to be a knight in shining armor would�ve stumbled over you," she replied lightly.
"Your armour was just as shining. I promise." Nell carefully detached herself from Cecily, testing how much she could hobble on her good leg. It worked. "Besides, I don't think I would've liked to meet a guy there all alone like that."
Something in the way her smaller companion said those last words made Cecily frown slightly, alarm bells ringing in her head. Had someone hurt Nell in the past? Someone male and forceful? She glanced at the tiny young woman testing her ankle beside her. Bloody hell, if that was the case, she was lucky she hadn�t snapped in half but� Bloody hell. She felt her jaw tighten and looked away slightly, ordering herself to calm down. She was still too "cop". Such a comment could have a perfectly innocent explanation. Realizing she had been silent a breath too long, she shrugged. "How�s the ankle?"
"Sore," Nell admitted. "It's much better, though. I should just get it in some ice and everything will come up clover." She gave Cess a warm grin; nothing about the giggly teenager seemed in any way to point towards abuse. "I just won't use the stairs, shall I?" She tilted her head, babyblue eyes soft. "Thank you again."
"And I said no worries. I was glad to help." She motioned vaguely at the building. "Now you go and take care of that ankle, right?"
"Aye aye, ma'am!" Nell threw off a salute before hobbling away, one hand waving a goodbye before she disappeared into the building.
Cecily remained in place a moment longer, a thoughtful look growing on her face. Then she shook her head and rubbed her hands together. Now that Nell had left, she realized that some vague form of edged tension had also left. Funny, that. Nell Daray was the least offensive person she had ever met. A complete sweetheart of a girl. Shaking her head again, she dismissed the tension as concern over Nell. That would be solved with a phone call later in the week. She reached up and checked that the slip of paper was still lodged firmly under her bra strap. Then Cecily smiled. Well, that was her proper run shot for the day. Best get back to the flat and get the day going proper-like. With that thought, she set off at a brisk pace, heading for the nearest train station, her strange tension relegated to the back of her mind.
Nell sank back on her couch with a sigh, a cold compress around her ankle and a couple of painkillers popped. Much better. Now she could actually think about what had happened.
Curling back, she pressed her head to the cushions. Goddess. Cecily. She'd practically thanked the hole for hurting her ankle, after a rescue like that. Unfortunately, the curly-haired redhead was almost certainly not interested in her, but it didn't hurt to think, right? A dreamy smile spread across her lips. At least she could see her, then, maybe be her friend - it was nice to hear native English spoken.
The ankle, though... That was okay, no liability. Derek had gone back to Australia. It'd heal before it became dangerous. Patrolling was different.
"Besides," she said aloud, "it was worth it. She was really cute."
"Who, dear?" Lucretia asked distractedly, on her ankle and examining the swelling.
"Nobody. Just thinking aloud, Luce." Nell beamed at her bumblebee guardian. "Say, if somebody rescues you from having a bent ankle when they have no idea who you are, does that mean they like you?"
Lucretia rolled her eyes.
Hodr stretched her arms above her head and rolled her head. What a night. Warm and muggy and, of course, it had finally decided to start raining. She grimaced and then reached up to release the clasps on her shoulders, her half-cape falling to the pavement. It would show up again next time she transformed; she knew from experimentation. For now, though, it was a liability in the rain. No, the downpour. "Bloody hell," she muttered. "And me wearing light grey. Hmph. At least it�s not white. I�m glad Savy didn�t come. Poor thing would�ve been scarlet with shame."
Chuckling, the redhead reached for her spear, neatly pulling it from its resting place against the wall. Then she brushed at her top uselessly, frowning again at the way the fabric was very nearly translucent from the earlier soaking. Oh, well. Who would be interested in a senshi�s undergarments anyway? Stepping out, she smiled grimly at the light drizzle and started walking again. Another hour and home it was�
Diana tested her ankle lightly. Hn. No pain or twinges any more; it had had a week to heal, but had still been bruised for a while. Idiotic weakling her body was; couldn't even see a godsdamned rabbithole, could she? Pah. She'd be much better off controlling her all the time...
Ah, rain. The moon senshi loved it. Her tunic clung to her body and she considered getting rid of it, but the incident with Poseidon still sent chills down her spine in red-hot fury. Leave it. It would not matter.
Shrugging, the pale-haired Romanus began her patrol, jumping down from the roof to the next building...
Squinting into the night and cursing her eyesight once again (despite the fact that it was actually quite a bit better when she was transformed), Hodr frowned. She had seen a slip of pale on the next roof, moving lightly and quickly. Enemy or friend? Judging by the way her teeth were grinding, she was betting enemy. Made a patrol not such a waste she decided as she gauged the distance and then took a running leap to land, cat-like, on the roof in question.
Diana spun around, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the figure reverentially. The redheaded Noord. Hodr. And, oh my, the rain was her friend tonight; soaked her clothes wet so that she could see every line of the trim, powerful body - one she'd like to own. In both meanings of the word, she smirked, turning around fully to face the senshi of blindness.
"Hodr," she purred. "You're looking... ravishing."
"Diana, right?" Hodr grimaced and flowed to her full height, spear held firmly to one side.
"You remember me." The senshi beamed at the spear-wielder, stretching up in the downpour, her tiny form arching. "You're still as beautiful as when last we met, maiden."
"Oh, you mean when you threw my mate and me off a roof?" The tall redhead shifted her weight, resting lightly on the balls of her feet in anticipation. "Yeah, I remember that one."
Diana nodded her agreement, beaming and radiant. "I was terribly glad when you failed to die, precious."
A thin sliver of gleaming white hinted at a dangerous smile. "I�m sure your mates would love to hear you say that."
"Kemets." She shrugged. "Young. Green. I could not have cared less if your other companion died. Heimdall, hmm? But you... you're special." Diana grinned back, pale and wild-eyed. "Have you heard the comparison of fighting to lovemaking, precious?"
"Oh, of course," Hodr snarled, mouth again curving dangerously. "I�ve also heard �Why do you make me hurt you, baby, you know I love you.�" She spit on the ground. "Now, then. Are you going to bugger off or give me a chance to push you off a roof as thanks?"
The Romanus burst out in amused laughter. "I'll take the latter, Noord. I did not come out in the rain for nothing, you know." Her gaze deliberately dropped to Hodr's chest.
Stifling the urge to cross her arms over her chest and interrupt the tiny Romanus� gaze, Hodr took a step forward and shifted her spear in her hands. "Right, then. Now you see me," abruptly, her left hand swung up in front of her face and she grinned from behind it, "Now you don�t." A faint shimmer obscured her and then� She was gone.
Diana immediately fell into a defensive position, eyes straining in the darkness to catch sight of the Noord; she was nowhere to be seen. She could have teleported, possibly - but she was the warrior of blindness. An eye illusion. Her own narrowed as she stepped forward.
"Where are you hiding, my sweet?"
Her only answer was a quick, sharp blow to her side.
Diana cried out in immediate pain, twisting to kick whatever was beside her, but it had already moved and she staggered. Panting, she attempted to smirk, clutching her side and backtracking.
"Very clever," she purred.
Silence answered her for a long moment and then another jarring blow slammed into her other side.
This time she was ready and she flung her leg out as hard as possible, hoping to connect with the other senshi's ankles and trip her up.
While she connected with something, it wasn�t a full-force blow and she gasped as it stumbled, grunted and then grabbed at her ankle. The momentum of the stumble and the iron grip on her, though, pulled her over and she found herself flat on the hard rooftop.
All the air got knocked out of her lungs, but she managed to smirk, arching her hips up slightly. "Mmm, Noord, this far already?"
The tall redheaded senshi faded into view again above Diana, pinning her roughly to the rooftop. "Next stop, over the roof, mate," she muttered. Neatly, she angled most of her body away from the taunting motions of the other woman, her hands clamped on tiny wrists while her knees pressed in tight on her thighs.
Diana immediately lashed out, writhing and attempting to kick, though Hodr's hands remained steadfast; she glared and spat, unsuccessful in pushing her hands away. "Nordic whore," she hissed.
"Oh, is that it now?" Hodr flowed to her feet, stepping back neatly, and dragged Diana to her feet as well. "Nice little change of tune."
"Oh, I never said I didn't like it," the moon senshi purred and launched herself at Hodr, small fists flying.
Blocking the blows with faint grunts, Hodr moved backwards. She was surprised at the power in the tiny senshi but quickly decided it was more rage and spirit than actual physical strength. Neatly sidestepping, the tall redhead jammed her spear in between Diana�s legs and twisted at the ankles, disrupting her balance.
Diana immediately fell into a forward roll, springing back and flipping on to her feet as she moved into a defensive position. A self-satisfied smirk graced her mouth again as the pearls at her waist and arms clinked softly. "Look at me, Noord," she cooed. "Stellaphase!"
A silver globe immediately formed in her hand and she flung it deftly over her head; it shone blindingly bright gold and the moon senshi blazed into shifting yellow-silver radiance so bright it hurt to see.
"Bloody hell!" the blind senshi hissed, hand raising reflexively to cover her eyes. Then she crouched, tightening her muscles instinctively, minimizing the vulnerable areas. Then she closed her eyes completely and concentrated. Funny how she had always laughed when her fight instructor had brought out the blindfold. Now she understood once again. She couldn�t see her opponent but she might be able to hear her just enough.
Diana smiled grimly and stepped forward, eyes completely and eerily blue as she surveyed the redhead. Raising one bound foot daintily, she spun it forward to aim a vicious whip kick to Hodr's face.
The tiny sound and the whisper of air was Hodr�s only warning and she suddenly dodged, managing to instead catch the full blow on her shoulder. She gasped at the sudden shock, grimacing at the sharp pain, and stepped back quickly. After a quick roll of her shoulder, she brought her spear up cross-wise in front of her, senses once more straining.
There was a howl of indignant pain as it caught the Romanus' midsection, forcing her to stumble back and glare at the Noord through a haze of gold as she clasped her hands over the wound. It was shallow, but the tip had been razor-sharp. "You made me bleed," she purred breathily, eyes narrowed. "Are you going to kiss it better, beautiful?"
"Oh, of course, sunshine," the redhead snapped. "Just dim the light show and I�ll make you feel right as rain."
"Give me your spear and I'll thrust out your eyes," she giggled, a sound without much bubbly cuteness. "A blind Noord can still feel between my thighs - hmm, concubine?"
What the hell? Was this silly little senshi completely insane? Bringing her spear up and to the fore again, Hodr practically growled in irritation. "This is a battle, you silly cow, not a dating game."
"Spoils of war, sweet flower. You think the other gods don't ravish their prisoners when they're finished with them?" Deftly, Diana immediately struck out hard at the Noord's wrists, aiming to disarm her.
At the blow, the long spear went spinning away, sliding out of reach across the roof. However, while it lost Hodr her weapon, it had brought Diana close enough to grab and she seized the chance, wrapping an iron grip around a slim wrist wordlessly.
Diana tried to break free initially, but the other woman was too strong; stupid, stupid body! She had been able to grind bones to dust in the other one!
Instead, she just smirked, immediately pushing her body up against Hodr's equally wet one and blowing her a kiss. "You like it standing up?"
Not answering, Hodr spun the smaller woman, bringing her arm up tightly behind her back painfully.
"And rough, too," the pale-haired Diana cooed, apparently unfazed. She arched up to press her hips suggestively against the Noord's, smirking hugely. "By Venus, I have a live one here!"
"Sorry, mate, but I�m the one who has you," the redhead growled in her ear, pressing the arm further up at an even more awkward angle.
Diana's eyes were dark with pain, but she ignored it, the smirk still broad. "So you want to be on top, hmm? I can handle that."
"You want to handle an awful lot, sunshine. Not happening." The brightness of the Romanus in her grip had started to fade and Hodr found herself blinking, relieved to be able to make out her shape once more.
Diana was dimming like a cloud over the moon, her gaze deliberately falling to Hodr's breasts as she quickly contemplated what move she could make. "My hands aren't that small, Noord."
"Neither is your bloody mouth, unfortunately," the taller senshi growled. Suddenly, she sent the other woman spinning away from her with a deft tug of her arm and then moved quickly to retrieve her spear.
She was ready for it, though, flinging herself down and rolling to immediately make a grasp for the spear; Diana was frighteningly quick..
The quicksilver little senshi reached the spear a split second before Hodr but momentum and weight told in the end and the taller woman clamped a hand down over top of the Diana�s. "That�s mine," she snapped.
"And so dangerous, beautiful," Diana cooed. "Let me take care of it for you." Vindictively grinning, she wedged a hand up to Hodr's chest, glowing blue. "Lunar Tide!"
All it needed, at such close quarters, was a small push to tumble her back.
"Not again, dammit," Hodr hissed as she felt the force shove at her. Unfortunately for Diana, the split-second of anticipation afforded by familiarity with the attack�s name had signaled the redhead�s hand to close even tighter around Diana�s and the spear and the smaller senshi was yanked off-balance.
The moon senshi was immediately tugged forward as Hodr felt the force of her blow, the massive spear in her free hand as she struggled to break free. "If this keeps up, my lovely, I may just want to kill you and not bed you."
"Oh, somehow I�ll manage to get over that," Hodr grunted, straining to keep her grip on both the spear and Diana as the attack continued to buffet her.
Diana dropped the spear abruptly, forcing Hodr to stumble back as the force was suddenly lessened on one end. "Can't have that, my maiden. I can't kill you now."
"Too bloody right," Hodr snapped, recovering her footing expertly and glaring.
"I'll have to let you live so I can bed you later," Diana said gaily. "No point in being out here tonight, then, beautiful."
Gripping her spear, the redhead studied the other senshi narrowly. "You�re running away," she finally muttered, voice disdainful.
"I don't run from those I want dead, Aesir."
A dangerous smile appeared on Hodr�s face. "Then what do you call this, mate?"
A pink tongue ran over Diana's pale lips, blue from rain and cold. "Flirting."
"Oh, of course. Silly me." Hodr glared, shifting her weight forward onto the balls of her feet, ready for a sudden movement on the other woman�s part. "What else would you do in a bloody rainstorm with a mortal enemy?"
Diana stepped back daintily onto the edge of the building, her smirk growing wider. "Make love to them, maiden, but that will have to wait for another time, won't it?"
"Oh, the anticipation is just going to kill me," the redhead replied dryly. "However will I survive?"
"You'll just have to wait until next time," Diana grinned. "I know I tremble at the thought, my beauty."
With a crazed grin, the moon senshi stepped back off the roof.
Fighting every urge to rush over and peer over the edge, Hodr remained locked in place, nerves tense. She herself had pulled the disappearing over the edge of the roof trick before; she wouldn�t put it past that crazy bitch to duplicate the stunt. Finally, after a long count of fifty, she padded over and carefully looked over the edge. She was gone. Straightening, Hodr grimaced. "Good," she muttered. "Barmy little cow. Hmph." Turning on her heel, she headed for where she knew there was a fire escape. It was time to go home� And, if she ever met that Diana again, well� It would be too soon but it definitely would end in a much more fulfilling way�
"That was so embarrassing," Nell wailed to her guardian later that night. "I remembered almost every bit. It was horrible. I can't believe Diana would say that sort of - "
"Promiscuity," Lucretia sighed. "And the urge to control. Be wary of the Huntress' words, my dear. She never says anything lightly."
"But... but to talk about..." The short girl's eyes grew hard, dipping her head so that her whitelavender hair fell over her face. "Hypocrite. Talking about rape that way. I... I sometimes feel dirty, having her in my head."
The bumblebee's voice was soft. "Don't, Eleanor. Just... the gods work in mysterious ways."
"Ha. I should be so lucky." She suddenly felt dreadfully tired, but she was thankful; thankful she had Lucy, thankful that Hodr hadn't been hurt, thankful she was still alive. "I'm going to bed, Luce."
"Dream sweetly, Eleanor."
Padding off, Nell thought again of Cecily before she fell asleep and wondered why.