Ghost in the Darkness (Freya)

[Freya Elensar Ashe]

Tari was overly protective sometimes, and it was really irritating right now because she was blaming the entire event on Rory. He wouldn’t have been able to stop it from happening! If Rory had been there, he most likely would have been killed at the start of it. No one would have been able to stop what happened, no one… Except for maybe Tari. When they two got in a fight against someone, you were as good as dead, because no matter what you threw at them, one of the twins could counter it. What was one’s weakness was the other’s specialty after all.

Freya knew that look Rory was giving Tari. She’d seen it only a few times before, but events that followed it were never pleasant. Thankfully? He wouldn’t do anything to Tari. Not unless he wanted to cause a whole mess of problems.

The next look though… She’d never seen Rory look so concerned. It wasn’t like she’d ever given him a reason to be so concerned after all! Freya could only stand seeing that concern for a few moments before she quickly looked away, her gaze on the ground. Why had Tari told him..? He only made things worse when he insulted Tari, but that wasn’t anything new. Tari and Rory had never gotten along. Or… They hadn’t when Tari found out just how close the two really were… Right after their trip to the Himalayas. After that, things had just gone down hill between the two.

With a sigh, Freya looked up again, forcing a small smile to touch her lips. “Someone should have warned me about him somehow making himself stronger.” She wouldn’t admit what had happened, but she wasn’t denying it either. She’d made a fatal mistake in that fight. She’d underestimated him.

Freya’s eyes went wide when Tari mentioned Aaron. Now, she didn’t hate Aaron, but the fact that Tari wanted to call him in? It would be embarrassing if he knew what happened! He’d never had to heal her before! She wanted to keep it that way. “You don’t need to go calling him! I’m fine!” Fine meaning she’d burned the worst wounds shut, and just kept the others bandages. She hadn’t even gone to a hospital after the attack! She was far to stubborn for her own good.

After that though… Tari seemed to get moody. Why was Tari acting like that? She didn’t bother responding though, just watched Tari leave the room with a somewhat confused look. Why was she upset?

Finally, Freya sighed again. Her face had lost a little more color from all the standing, so she finally sat back down on the couch, her gaze back on the floor. “I sort of thought you would have known… It was all over the news… You can google pictures if you wanted!” She was obviously angry that there were pictures flying around.

[Rory Ashe]

Rory watched Tari for a moment as she started speaking again, confirming to Rory that it was Cain before Freya could even speak. Instantly, an anger lit up inside him that he hadn't felt in a very long time. In fact, the last time he remembered wanting to spill someone's blood this bad, it was back when he was in the Agency and he felt this way every day.

The only thing he could think about was Cain suddenly, he wanted him to be in this building right now so that he could kill him. Rory wanted nothing more than to cut Cain, watch the blood slowly bleed from his body, and be the one to watch life drain from his face.

There would be no torture for this man, instant death may be too good of a outcome for him, but it was what he deserved and Rory was going to give it to him. There was a slight temptation to walk out of this room this instant and find him, but he held it back for now... For now.

Just then, Tari started to leave with a strange look on her face. It almost looked like regret and sadness. On the outside Rory showed no emotion, but inside he was almost a little happy. He knew she despised him, and he hated her just as much. Their personalities were clashed far too often for either one to ever like the other.

He turned back to Freya as she spoke though, walking over to her and kneeling down so that he was eye level with her as she sat. After she spoke, he couldn't stop himself. He leaned forward and hugged her lightly, not squeezing hard enough to hurt, and then kissed her softly on her cheek and then lips.

"I haven't been anywhere with television or internet... But I 'ad heard rumors." He looked over her pale face again, pale and not as full of life but still so amazingly beautiful. He kissed her cheek again, "Listen, if this Aaron guy is a doctor ye should talk to him... For me, please."

Then it occurred to him that the only person who probably saw or heard where Cain was going next would be Freya herself, "Listen... Sweetheart... Do you know where Cain went?" He asked, staring into the eyes that had charmed him when they first met, so long ago.

[Freya Elensar Ashe]

Freya knew what Rory wanted to knew. She knew it the moment Tari told him, before he’d even decided himself. He’d want revenge. No doubt about it. He wanted to go out the door that very moment to go hunt Cain down and kill him. It was one of the reasons she hadn’t wanted Rory to know. Her other reason for not wanting him to know? He’d worry… A lot… And, as impossible as it sounded, he might actually blame himself for what happened!

She almost sighed when she felt his arms softly wrapping around her, almost in relief! He wasn’t running out for revenge… Finally she lifted her gaze enough to look at him. It’d been four months since she’d seen his face, it was still a little unbelievable that he was here! Somewhere she thought all of this was a dream, and any moment she’d wake up…

“Probably didn’t cross your mind that the idiot was me, huh?” She tried to smile a little, but already she could feel her mood plummeting even more. That was just great, the whole world knew about what happened… Actually, did the world even know she’d survived? Oh that was reassuring! Freya shook her head, as if wanting to laugh. “Great. The whole world probably thinks I’m dead…”

Why had Tari brought Aaron up? Now Rory wanted her to contact him! “I’m fine, really. Besides, he wouldn’t even be able to get here for at least a day.” If she’d thought she needed Aaron she would have contacted him right after the attack.

Rory really was one to seek revenge. But it was natural he’d ask her that. Tari had asked the same thing. Anyone would have asked her! Cain had disappeared after leaving her for dead, after all! She’d been the last person to see him! Freya just shook her head. “No… He’s not one for shouting his plans, after all.” Not to mention she’d a little busy when he left, she hadn’t even realize he was gone until someone had pulled her free…

[Rory Ashe]

There was one thing he had to admit, having Freya in his arms again was a wonderful feeling. It felt like years since he held her in his arms, far, far too long by his opinion. Honestly, he didn't want to let her go, ever again. Just to stay here like this with her next to him would be perfectly fine.

However, he knew the circumstances were going to split them eventually. He was going to go hunt Cain down, she needed to be healed by someone. Sooner or later he was going to have to let the beauty go, and it was going to be sooner than later he knew.

"Well, hehe... Truth be told, I did think that whoever took Cain on one-on-one was an idiot." He said with a slighty grin, "Had I known it was you, though, I would have been more worried for Cain's safety... I am surprised he was able to do this to you." Rory said, pulling away and looking down Freya's body for a moment, though still refusing to let her go.

He really did think that Cain would have been in over his head fighting an Elensar without any advantages... But then... Maybe he did have an advantage somehow. Rory didn't know what really happened, only that the man hurt Freya and he wanted the man dead.

Rory looked down slightly when she said she didn't know where he went, thinking. Then he slowly looked back up at Freya, he knew that she already knew what he was thinking. He owed her the common decency to just tell her, "I'm going after Cain." He said simply, not saying anything more, and just cutting straight to the point.

[Freya Elensar Ashe]

A part of Freya wanted to be mad at Rory, for leaving her for so long. For not sending her any letters, or called, or anything! She’d never known if he was alive, or if somehow he’d managed to permanently die, or if he’d been taken captive, or who knew what! Over the months she’d come up with plenty of reasons why he hadn’t contacted her. At this moment though, that anger towards him was suppressed by her relief that he was finally back. But who knew for how long?

Freya just sighed, leaning into his embrace a little. Yeah, she had been an idiot. Even Rory had thought so! “Well, you forget I can sort of get a little to overconfident in a fight…” That really had been her downfall. Freya had assumed instantly that whatever Cain threw at her she could hit him back ten times harder. If only she’d known before that Cain had somehow managed to make himself more powerful…

It wasn’t that Freya was always so overconfident, but it wasn’t exactly a rare thing either. And when she did get a little overconfident there were only two outcomes. She’d either do much more damage than planned, or she’d make fatal mistakes.

So far, Rory only knew about the smaller, but multiple injuries scattered across her body. He’d only been told that she’d been Crucified, but what was it that had let Cain do it in the first place? She wouldn’t have willingly let him do such a thing! Whether Rory knew it or not the only fatal injury she had was on her stomach, where she’d been impaled, and resorted to searing the wound shut with fire…

His last comment though… Her expression dropped a little. She’d already known he would, but hearing him say it was worse. She didn’t want him to go. “I know…” But when? How long would he stay with her before leaving again?

[Rory Ashe]

The last few weeks had been horrible for Rory. He had been in the Middle East, taking care of some old threats that worked for the Agency, solidifying has safety back in America. There had been a lot of death, a lot of death, but Rory was the only one out of the people who died that had come back. Strangely though, some of the wounds inflicted on him by one of the mutants hadn't healed completely.

As if that weren't enough, he comes back after he finishes his jobs and finds the woman he loves severely wounded and finds out that she had almost been killed only a short time ago by the most hated man in the world. Of course, he knew Freya had it worse. He left without any word for four months only to show up AFTER she needed him the most.

This was all his fault. If he hadn't left in the first place, Freya would have never left for France and met up with Cain. She would have never fought him and she would have never been hurt. It was his bull-headed nature that put her into this mess, but he was going to rectify it. He was going to get the head of Cain, and put it on a pike for the world to see.

He pulled away from the embrace slightly, though still had his arms around her, as she spoke. JUst as he thought, she knew he was leaving, but she apparently wasn't happy about it. "I'll be leaving as soon as possible... Maybe even now. If he just attacked you that means his trail is still hot and maybe, just maybe, I can catch him."

As he glanced over her body and wounds again it struck him. None of the wounds he could see were incredibly severe, she had been through worse just with him on some of their missions. Slowly, he ran a hand down her body, as if counting the wounds, "Freya.... Where else are ya hurt?" He asked, looking back up into her eyes, praying she told him the truth.

[Freya Elensar Ashe]

Who knew what would have happened if Rory hadn't left. They still could have been in France, because Freya had sworn she'd bring him back here someday. Cain could have attacked the school instead of Paris. One thing seemed certain in her mind, even if Rory had been with her, she would have still attacked Cain on sight. She would have gotten hurt regardless. The only difference would have been was Rory being the one to tell her to hang on, and not complete strangers.

Rory might not have noticed, but just because he hadn't been there, didn't mean she still didn't need him. After what happened, she'd gotten a little paranoid. Cain had obviously meant to kill her, to let her bleed to death. If he found out that she had been saved... What if he came back to finish the job? Cain didn't leave people alive, he didn't leave witnesses. At least, not intentionally.

Freya slowly closed her eyes when he spoke. She already knew what he was planning, and like before, hearing it only made it worse. "Why..? You just got back..." She pause for only a moment, her eyes opening again to give him an almost pleading look. "You wouldn't be leaving if this hadn't happened..."

His next question though... Freya didn't want to answer. Who would? Who'd want to tell the one person they loved that they'd actually been impaled? But... She'd kept everything else a secret, or tried to... And he'd find out sooner or later. He might even resort to looking for the injuries himself if she didn't tell him. Finally she sighed, as if giving up. Slowly she moved her hands to rest right over the spot she knew she'd been impaled at...

[Rory Ashe]

Rory stared into the eyes of Freya, an almost apologetic look on his face. She was right, he had just gotten back after having been gone for so, so long. It felt like ages since he had seen her, yet, deep inside him there was a fire burning so furiously that he couldn't ignore it. This fire was started by the knowledge that Cain had done this to Freya and the fire seemed to be screaming at him, screaming one thing; kill. Forget torture or maiming, Rory wanted nothing more than to have Cains head on a pike.

Yet, the other side of him was completely torn, he wanted to be with Freya. He wanted to stay there with her and comfort her while she was hurt, it was as if his mind was having a civil war in itself, torn between hate and love.

"'Cause love... The trail is still hot, if I wait any longer... 'E may ge' away." He said, softly running a hand down the side of her face, "An' I wouldn' be doin' this if this hadn't 'appened... Tha's exactly why I 'ave to go though." He said softly, leaning in and kissing her softly on the forehead.

As she lifted her shirt though, his eyes slowly found the massive bandages that were covering what was obviously a massive wound. Rory lightly touched the bandages, then leaned around and looked behind her to see them on the other side too... She had been gored by something. The fire inside Rory was in full blaze, but was a stark contrast to the extreme compassion he was feeling for Freya now.

"Freya..." He said softly, bringing her into a light embrace, not squeezing so hard it would hurt her, but enough to show that he had her. "Tell me what happened." Rory said as he pulled away slightly, looking down into her eyes.

[Freya Elensar Ashe]

Freya downright hated the idea of him leaving right now. Especially after just asking Tari to leave them alone for a bit! She’d asked her own sister to leave so she could spend time with Rory! And here Rory was, wanting to leave right that second to go make Cain pay for what he’d done to her. Sure, if Rory had gotten hurt, Freya would feel the same way! But if he had asked her to stay, would she have been able to go? It was all so confusing, trying to decide if she’d do the exact same thing in his shoes…

Still, neither of them were the type to just sit around when someone angered them. And Rory was completely furious. She couldn’t blame him for wanting revenge. So… the redhead just sighed when she felt his touch on her cheek. He wanted his revenge, so how could she stop him? “I won’t stop you from going… At least…stay the night?” He wouldn’t stay long, and asking for more time then that would be unfair to him.

Freya muttered something under her breath when Rory went about touching the bandage and then checking her back. Why he thought of checking her back… Then, he was holding her again, far more careful then he’d been before, as if finally realizing the severity of her injuries. And then he was wanting an explanation. She just sighed again, lowering her gaze a touch. Finally she gave in, if she didn’t tell him he’d just go ask someone else for an explanation. She gave him only a quick and simple overview, leaving out their bantering back and forth and most of the fight, to be honest, but it probably wouldn’t be hard to guess that she’d been taunting Cain the entire time, so in a way she had ‘sort of’ asked for it…