I hate running... [Open]

[Sara Quinn]

Sara entered the park at a slow jog. She could feel the pain throbbing in her muscles as she ran. She had woken up this morning, barely able to get out of bed. She had been in so much pain, and during her shower, she had realized that her body was pretty much covered in bruises. In the past few days, she had been in so many fights she wondered how she could even walk, let alone jog.

It was the weekend now, early Saturday afternoon, and she figured that her mind must have finally assumed it was okay to let her body feel the aftermath of a terrible week. She pushed herself to go slightly faster, her mind repeating over and over how much she hated jogging. But after noting how stiff she was, she decided a little physical exercise to work the muscles might be a good thing.

She had donned her black sweat pants, and a pair of running shoes, her tank top, and her light spring jacket and set out. Thankfully, her house hadn't been to far from the park, and the trip had been quick. Now she just had to relax and let her legs carry her... Oh who was she kidding, she hated jogging. She slowed to a walk, stuffing her hands into her pocket, catching her breath.

[Akira]

The night had been a rough one, Akira had a horrible trip the night before, he started out in city, but when he woke up he was in a tree, not even wearing a t-shirt. Instead his bare chest was scratched from the bark of the tree, his hair had leaves and bits of bark in it, and he was doing quite alright until the sun hit a spot that wasn't blocked by tree branches or leaves. Akira brought his hand up, feeling sick suddenly, he fell out of the tree, his hair feeling a bit of a pull as some of the hairs were stuck on a branch.

He landed hard on the ground and got up slowly, his hair going all over his face, he was feeling like he would throw up, but he held it in. Reaching into the pockets of the girls jeans he was wearing he pulled out a stick of gum and began chewing it. He looked around, noticing a man sitting on a bench, facing away from Akira. Akira walked over slowly, and snatched the sunglasses that were set down next to the man, being quiet as possible. He then walked away wearing them, when he saw the cutest little thing walking his way.

Akira approached the girl, adjusting his hair as he did so, not paying much attention to the fact his bare chest was riddled with small red lines where the tree had been scratching him. His Irish accent had a bit of a slur since he was still a little inebriated from the night before.

"Good morning gorgeous, you're quite the sight for hung over eyes."

He'd stumble a little as he made his way towards her, chewing his gum rather loudly.

"What is a pretty little thing such as yourself doing alone so late on a friday night.... err... so early on a Saturday morning.... Saturday right? God I hope it's still Saturday at least....."

[Sara Quinn]

Sara had been watching the ground, thinking about starting to jog again and the pain in her muscles, wishing she was back in her bed, when she heard a loud thud. She stopped, her head turning in the direction of the noise. What ever it was must have been blocked by the tree so she continued walking, figuring it to have been an animal or something. She sighed, her gaze now up as she wandered.

She found herself continually glancing at the tree, and finally, she saw it. A young guy, walking out from behind it towards some guy sitting a on a bench. Sara watched him, knowing he was probably going to steal something. She stayed out of it however. In today's world, it was always best to stay out of things like that. Keep your head down and keep moving. You stayed out of trouble like that.

And sure as shit, the guy picked up a pair of sunglasses and slid them on. She sighed, dropping her head down, staring at the ground. Please don't come this way... Apparently, luck wasn't with her.

"Good morning gorgeous, you're quite the sight for hung over eyes."

Hungover eh? He still sounded drunk. She stopped walking, staring at him. He had no shirt and his chest was covered with small red marks. That thump she had heard... Had he been up in a tree...? She sighed, avoiding his eyes as he asked her what day it was. She would answer him, and be on her way. Hopefully there was no trouble, because she had nothing on her anyways. Her wallet and everything else had been left at home in her bag. But he wasn't stupid enough to try something out here in the open was he?

"Ya... It's Saturday. I take it it's good morning to you?" Her tone was sarcastic, and as soon as she finished, she would step to the side, and try to skirt around him to continue on her way.

[Akira]

"Ya... It's Saturday. I take it it's good morning to you?"

Akira looked up at the sun, using his hand to further shade his eyes from all of the light. He guessed it was definitely in the afternoon sometime. Which was a bit early for him, since he didn't usually wake up till the sun had gone down on weekends. He then looked around as the girl walked around him. He didn't know where he was, and the girl looked like a high school student. So he quickly turned and caught up to her.

"Not so fast, darlin', I was wondering if you could do this poor bloke a favor and maybe let me walk with yeh. I don't exactly know where I am right now, I'm pretty new to this city and everythin... and I could use company..... and for that matter I could use a shirt. Don't suppose one of these jogger types are simple minded enough to have their hoody lifted while they are still wearing it....."

He'd scratch at his head, which was killing him. Stumbling a little as he walked, he'd bump into the girl slightly, his hand would attempt to graze her ass for signs of a wallet or something like that. If he managed this he would find that she wasn't carrying anything what so ever.

"Oh, sorry, I'm afraid I'm a bit clumsy having woken up to a falling down and such....."

Akira continued fighting the urge to get sick behind a tree somewhere. He hated the smell and taste of vomit, and he'd have a hell of a time trying to keep some company if he was half naked and smelled like vomit. But the truth was, he'd feel a little less awkward if he had company with him, so he'd continue the fight the urge even if it would make him feel a little better.

[Sara Quinn]

Sara managed to skirt around him and breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't immediately follow her. But that relief was short lived. He quickly caught up to her. She tried to ignore him, but he had the nerve to ask her for a favor and openly talk about stealing someones jacket. At that, she paused, but continued walking. Well... Was it really so bad? He simply wanted some company. If he put on a jacket, she might just let him follow her around, but she wasn't about to let him steal someones. And her had nothing in it except for some loose change.

She was just so thrown off by the fact that he would openly talk about lifting someones jacket in front of a stranger. She dropped her head again, refusing to answer him when she felt something brush her ass. She stopped walking, swallowing the urge to beat him senseless. She had overreacted so many times before that she needed to really learn to control herself. ~Yes, the first time someone intentionally grazes her ass, and she doesn't beat them.... Poor Sara~

"Oh, sorry, I'm afraid I'm a bit clumsy having woken up to a falling down and such....."

Her voice was hard and she refused to look at him. She unzipped the jacket she was wearing, pulling a few dollars out of the pocket and slipped it off. She shivered, having only a little black tank top on. It was a cool afternoon, and the light breeze made her arms break out in goosebumps. She offered it out to him, slipping the change in her front pocket.

"Look, if you're going to follow me around, you're going to have to wear this. And don't even think of running off with it," She paused to look up at him, and if looks could kill, her gaze would have made him explode. "'Cuz I'll find you." She crossed her arms, aware of the fact that her shoulders and neck were bare to him.

[Akira]

She didn't react much to him brushing against her ass, something that made him wonder if she wanted him to touch her, but he put it out of his mind. That is, until she started unzipping, he looked around and wondered if they were going to have a good tumble right then and there, and perhaps the money she pulled out of the pocket was to pay him for his services. He had to admit, it had been awhile since he had done that type of work, but it was probably like riding a bicycle.

"Look, if you're going to follow me around, you're going to have to wear this. And don't even think of running off with it, Cuz I'll find you."

Akira took the thing, putting it on and zipping it up. He was taller then her, but he was really thing and small so the jacket at least fit, even if some of his mid drift was being exposed by it. He put his hands in the pocket, taking one out to brush some of his hair out of his face, realizing he probably looked a lot like a girl right now with the jacket and everything. Sure his chest was flat, but with a jacket on you couldn't really tell.

"Is that a promise? Don't worry, I'd feel strange stealing this thing, it'd be too easy if you just handed it to me. Where's the sport in stealing something someone let you borrow? You know... you remind me of this girl back home I used to know. She was kind to me when we first met......"

He wouldn't continue the story, mostly because it lead to him paying her fifty bucks for a lay and some of her crack pipe, and then she got him into all the fucked up stuff she was into. Although he felt bad for wearing the jacket, since the girl looked cold, and he didn't like that.

"If you want me too I could just steal you a jacket to keep you warm, love. That way I'm not wearing a stolen jacket, and you're just wearing a jacket I gave to you in return. Besides, I don't want a pretty bird such as yourself to get a cold or anything because of me.... "

Akira noticed bruises on her arms, and got a little upset. One of the things he had dealt with himself, though he was recently clear of bruises thanks to some quality time off of the street.

"Or if you want to hide those.... I can always give this back to you and shove off....."

[Sara Quinn]

She was relieved when he took the jacket from her, slipping it on. It was small for him, but it somehow suited him just fine. It showed his midriff, but it looked cute. He kind of looked like a girl. She could live with that. Less people looking at her considering how good he looked. She was about to start off again when he started talking. Oh joy~Story time. But thankfully, he left it hanging in the air. She wasn't sure she wanted to know how the girl had been kind.

She shrugged her shoulder at his story, and looked away. She just didn't want him following her if he was going to have no shirt. That would draw to much attention. Then he got her confused offering to steal a jacket and give it to her so that... What...? But it did prompt a laugh from her, a small giggle and a smile. Damn him. Don't encourage him.

"Or if you want to hide those.... I can always give this back to you and shove off....."

Eh? She looked down at her arms. Oh shit... She had forgotten about the bruises. She blushed deeply, running her hands up and down her arms and turned and started walking. She would like the jacket back, but it didn't bother her to much. She was actually in some ways proud of her bruises. Trophies of her fights... Even if she had lost. But even a lose counted if you learned from it.

Assuming he would follow her, she spoke. "No, that's fine. I don't mind them." She was a little embarrassed. She didn't want him to pity her or anything, she had brought these on herself. She tried to make a joke out of it. "I'm a real bad girl, I got these fighting tough guys. They left looking a lot worse when I was through with them~"

To reinforce this joke, she laughed and turned her back back, winking at him. "Keep that in mind when it's time to give me back the jacket." Although... She did kind of hope he would steal her another one. She liked his sense of logic, but she wouldn't condone his methods.

[Akira]

"No, that's fine. I don't mind them. I'm a real bad girl, I got these fighting tough guys. They left looking a lot worse when I was through with them~"

"Boy you're a real feisty one aren't you? A little spitfire alright."

He walked with her, keeping next to her as they walked through the park. He couldn't remember anything from the night before, but he knew that he was hungry, and a bit thirsty. So he turned to Sara, and old habits started to kick in.

"Wait right here, love. I'm just going to make us some breakfast real quick."

Akira stepped over, it was such an easy target he almost felt bad doing it. People did this to themselves though, they got doughnuts, coffee, bagels, you name it. They sat at a bench, and then they read the newspaper. And all that paper blocking all that vision from the front it was almost child's play taking the coffee. Of course, the real trick wasn't to sneak up slowly or hurry away. The real trick was to walk over, pick it up like you left it there and walk back slowly. Preferably at an angle that made it look like you were coming from somewhere else.

So that's what he did, he walked up to the picnic table, picked up the coffee and a maple bar off of the napkin in front of the guy who had been reading the morning paper, turned and walked back towards Sara, pivoting slightly partway there so it looked like he had come from a different direction when the guy turned the page. He put the maple bar in his mouth, and ripped off half of it with his hand, handing it to Sara. And with the bit of food in his mouth he'd manage to say,

"Bon Appetite."

Akira would then down the half of the maple bar he had and take a sip of the coffee, only to shiver a little bit and tilt it over to Sara.

"Did you want this? I'm really not much for vanilla latte's. Frankly I like to Irish up my coffee a bit. Funny, I had that guy pegged as a drunk, guess you can never judge a book by it's cover, huh? So, what's your name, la?"

[Sara Quinn]

After her wink, she turned back and continued walking. Her face fell, losing the smile. She was a lot more embarrassed about it then she was letting on. Sara noticed him catch up to her, and she let her mind wander to the pain in her legs and back as she walked. She was so stiff. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, playing with the change as she tried to push away the urge to stretch her back.

"Wait right here, love. I'm just going to make us some breakfast real quick."

She stopped, turning to watch him as he walked over to a table and picked up some poor mans coffee and some sort of maple bar. She wasn't sure what to think of this. On a better day, when she wasn't so sore and tired, she might even have stopped him, doing her duty~and beating the shit out of him. But that wasn't the case today, so she turned away, letting him do his thing and took the chance to stretch her back, hands moving to her hips, pushing forward as she tensed her back, arching it slightly. That felt better~...

And then he was back, holding out half the bar to her. Sara took it, looking at it suspiciously. She watched him chew, and when he didn't drop dead, she took a small bite herself. As soon as she tasted it, she smiled. It was good, and she hadn't realized she was hungry. She wasn't starved, but it was still nice to nibble on it. She took another small bite off the corner. Eating in front of people had always been something that made her slightly uncomfortable. Something about looking like a pig... She actually had a tremendous appetite despite her small form and could probably eat a buffet out of food.

"Did you want this? ...So, what's your name, la?"

She looked down at the coffee he offered her. Flavored was it~? Well... She did love her flavored coffees. They didn't need as much sugar as regular coffee. She took a big bite of the bar, eating half of what he had given her, and held out the rest to him, taking the coffee from him. "Thanks... I'm uhh... Sara."

If and when he took the bar, she would turn, looking for somewhere to sit. Her legs hurt, and she didn't feel like standing anymore. She saw an empty table close by and walked over to it, sitting down on it, leaning her back against the edge of the table top, and crossing her legs as she warmed her hands on the cup he had given her. She hoped he didn't have anywhere important to go... He seemed like the type though that if he did, he would leave... hopefully leaving her jacket behind.

She would wait for him to sit next to her and then take a sip from the cup. She was never one to worry about germs and stuff. But she was curious, and starting to loosen up around him. She smiled, looking over at him, a little laugh in her voice. "So, what the hell were you doing in a tree?"

[Akira]

"Thanks... I'm uhh... Sara."

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, 'uhh Sara'. My name is Austin, but everybody just calls me Akira."

He took what she didn't eat, and didn't question the gesture. Instead he quickly ate what she gave him, after all he was the one who hadn't eaten in quite some time. He was extremely glad to have food in his system though, especially given the time and how long he must have been out. She took a seat on one of the picnic tables, and he took a seat next to her, keeping an eye out for a stray jacket, but he couldn't find any. Instead he looked over to her, she smiled, looking back at him.

"So, what the hell were you doing in a tree?"

"Well, I believe I was sleeping off the bad trip I was having... had a bit of a wild night I guess you could say. And ending up here would be the fruits of my labor. Of course, I have no idea where my shirt is, and I have the sneaking suspicion that these aren't the same pants I put on yesterday... not that they aren't something I'd wear. I just think I'd remember something like these..."

He looked down pulling on the pants slightly trying to remember, but failed to do so. In fact, he could only remember taking off his shirt because he felt extremely warm. He didn't know why he just did at some point last night. The memory wasn't all there, just a few of the thoughts that ran through his mind. One of them was him running from someone... and hiding in a tree... well, that explained that part of it.

"In any case I shouldn't be too awful worried since I'm here in one piece more or less, and in the company of a very pretty girl, and a bad girl at that. So you fight people, you said? I've never been much for fightin. I'm more into the kicking low and running away meself."

[Sara Quinn]

"In any case I shouldn't be too awful worried since I'm here in one piece more or less, and in the company of a very pretty girl, and a bad girl at that. So you fight people, you said? I've never been much for fightin. I'm more into the kicking low and running away meself."

She smiled at his comment. Despite the fact that she didn't completely agree that she was pretty, and she wasn't one for compliments, it was still nice to hear. It called a small blush to her cheeks as she sipped some more coffee. She looked down at his pants as he tugged at them. They looked like girls jeans, but they somehow suited him. Interesting. Cute in a way. They were nice to.

For some reason, she didn't find his story all that strange. Most people would have looked at him, heard his story, and assumed he was some dangerous addict. It didn't seem to bother her. She had been there, if only briefly. He seemed to be all there right now, not high on anything, so she assumed he was only an occasional user of what ever he had been on, and as long as he didn't bring it around her, that was fine. She doubted she would see him again after today anyways.

Onto his question though. She sighed, dropping her head back and looking at the sky as she tried to decide how to answer it. "I... have a bad tendency to lose my anger easily... And a nasty habit of picking fights with people I shouldn't." She avoided his gaze, not quite sure why she was telling him. She should have just left it at she liked to kick the shit out of people. She dropped her head to the side and looked over at him. She liked to think that what he thought of her didn't matter, but it always hurt more when strangers said mean things. "I don't think I could ever run from a fight. Not because I think it's wrong, so no offense, if that's how you fight best, then all the power to you. But I just... It's like my legs won't move when I think about running away."

"Anyways..." She needed to change the subject. She tried to think of something quickly. "........." She sighed softly, her mind racing for something to change the subject. "My butt hurts."

................... Oh nice Sara.............. She froze. That... wasn't what she meant. Well she did, but man that sounded wrong. Her face turned beet red. Oh man... Her butt hurt because of her fight the other day when she had been slammed into a table, and from trying to jog this morning. And the only reason it was bothering her was because she was sitting on a hard bench. She let out a nervous laugh. "I uh... Didn't... mean that..."

[Akira]

"I don't think I could ever run from a fight. Not because I think it's wrong, so no offense,"

"None taken."

"..if that's how you fight best, then all the power to you. But I just... It's like my legs won't move when I think about running away."

She seemed to want to stop talking about this. He was wondering why she was quite so embarrassed about this all, or at least seemed to be. Of course, the next thing she said, nearly made him bust out laughing but he tried to hold it in as hard as he could.

"My butt hurts."

He looked over at her and coughed, trying to keep from laughing, but he couldn't help it, he started laughing a little, and then a lot, in fact it got so bad that he threw his head back and held his stomach with both hands. Slapping his knee a little he heard her say in the midst of all of that,

"I uh... Didn't... mean that..."

"I don't know what to tell you love, I get the same way when somebody calls me a coward. I mean it's like one second I'm perfectly alright with runnin till I'm in another country, but then the second somebody tells me that I'm a chicken, that I'm just afraid of a good tumble.. I don't know I just get prideful out of nowhere and I stand and fight. Luckily this usually takes place in a pub where there are plenty of people and objects at my disposal, and it's not like it's a major thing if you lose in a bar fight. But I don't know...."

He put his arms around her shoulders. Not in a hitting on her way, more of a friendly way. He liked this girl for some reason, he couldn't quite place his finger on it. There was just this... this vibe he got from her. That somehow in her insanity of wanting to fight, a cowardly thief such as himself could find some sort of safety, some sense of security. Like maybe she could protect him, or he could be there for her.

"Listen though, if your arse is sore you should probably lay on your stomach. I'm sure if you wanted to I could give this park a few runs and earn enough cash for a couple massage's down in one of the Asian districts. Hell if I get enough I could probably buy you a happy ending with one of the cute girls who work there. Come on, the day is young, what do you say we leave the park and go look around the city. Besides, I could always steal some better clothes once we get there."

[Sara Quinn]

She snorted a laugh. Yes. Unfortunately, she snorted. But she would like to think it was cute. But the snort turned into a laugh, and then she was laughing as hard as she was. It had been his comment about the happy ending. Oh wow. She had to put the coffee down, leaning forward, her hand covering her eyes as she laughed loudly at him. Well that made her feel better about her butt comment. Seemed he didn't think she was nuts, and had understood what she meant. And that was good.

And top of that, he got what she meant about not being able to run away. She was liking this guy more and more. There was just something very nice about him, something that made her want to get to know him better. To be his friend. She didn't even mind his arm around her shoulders because for once, it wasn't in a sexual way. And that was nice. Ya, she liked him. He could stay.

Still laughing, she sat back up straight, slapping her knee as she pushed herself to her feet and took a few steps away. "That sounds like a great idea. Ya. Lets go look around the city." She didn't even care about his stealing comment. If that was how he did things, that was fine. The coffee had been nice. She wouldn't have had the coffee if he hadn't stolen it. Point made. Lesson learned.

She turned back to him, still laughing softly, a large smile on her face as she waited for him to follow. For possibly the first time in her life, she was glad she had gone running.

When he caught up with her though, the smile would drop. She felt the need to say something about what he had said. "You know... I don't think you're a chicken. Even if what you do is... not legal... It takes a lot of courage." The smile returned. "I never could have just walked up and taken that guys coffee. I would have had a heart attack before I got within ten feet of him."

[Akira]

"That sounds like a great idea. Ya. Lets go look around the city."

"That's the spirit love! I wish more people in this school were a bit like yourself. You wouldn't believe the hard time I've been havin just trying to find somebody to have a fun time with."

"You know... I don't think you're a chicken. Even if what you do is... not legal... It takes a lot of courage. I never could have just walked up and taken that guys coffee. I would have had a heart attack before I got within ten feet of him."

"Trust me, love. If you've been where I've been, and seen what I've seen. You learn how quickly things can get all the scarier if you can't bring yourself to steal. I've seen and done some crazy shit for money. At the end of the day, jail looks a hell of a lot better then endin up passed out in an alleyway with your entire body sore."

He was caught up with her by now, walking with her towards town. He had an idea too, as they got out into town he would point out the first clothes shop they found.

"How would you like some new threads, love? I know I could use some fresh clothes, and it's really easy to fleece t-shirts...... fleece meaning steal of course. God I've got to learn how to speak in this country...."

He lead the way, hoping she would be ok with what he wanted to do. After all, stealing clothes was one of the easiest things to do. You just couldn't steal the newer clothes that had those tags on them unless you were skilled with taking them off. The easiest thing to do was to just steal whatever didn't have them, even if they were off the clearance rack, it was better then getting beat up by rent-a-cops.

[Sara Quinn]

He had caught up to her, and she looked at him, seeing him in a new light. As they walked into town she considered him. He didn't look very strong, but he looked like he might be fast. She figured he would have to be. He really looked like he didn't do much fighting. And he seemed to just have a way about him, the way he spoke and moved, that made him seem to... innocent to hurt. But obviously people had hurt him, if he had ended up in an alley beaten. He seemed like a nice guy though. Her jacket was still around wasn't it?

She occasionally glanced over at him as they walked, but she was otherwise lost in though as they entered town. She was pulled back when he pointed out a clothing store. She paused, looking up at the sign. Hm. Looked like a nice place. And if he always dressed the way he did, they might both be able to find some stuff here.... Was that a good thing? She considered what it would be like to go shopping for jeans with a guy... And have to compete with him over styles and sizes...

But then she realized he was talking about stealing them. She looked over at him apprehensively. It was one thing to steal some guys coffee and bar, but to steal clothes? She rubbed her arms again, realizing it might be a good idea... If he could pull it off. She didn't have any money on her, having left everything back at home, so the only thing they could do was steal them. Or... he could...

Her gaze flickered once more between the store and him as she followed behind him. She needed to calm down. She took a deep breath and stood straighter, dropping her arms from her chest for practically the first time, and let them hang loosely at her sides as she entered the store and looked around, her gaze falling to him with a wicked smile on her face. "So... What first then?"