:feesh:

Go avay

Just kidding.

Hi.

Who's posting first?

Meeee i guess xD))

Scampering into the dense streets of New York was a tattered, dirty female. She screeched loudly, though everyone seemed to ignore her with their own lives being hectic. With tears staining her face, Echora dashed down an allyway just long enough to lose her footing and smash into the ground. She coiled her body tightly to her as she looked at the figure in the entrance of the ally. Echora stacked her bags in front of her to protect her as tears fell hysterically. Her mysterious nightmare came closer and she sighed shakily, resting against a trash can. She would take her last breathes here and she knew it. Lips pouted, Echora closed her eyes and embraced the pain that stabbed her arms and then her stomach. She let out a piercing scream and fell on her side, holding herself while more tears fell down her face. The hooded attacker didn't leave though, he sliced a cut into her right temple. Whimpering, Echora watched as he went through all of her stuff. He growled and grunted at her. "You don't even have anything valuable. You're a waste." He sneered and gave her side one last slice before he smirked, kicked some rubble at her, and walked away, hiding his knife again as he disappeared. Quietly, Echora started muttering to herself.

"Please....someone save me...I have to get to my cousin. I didn't do anything wrong...What did I do to deserve all this shit?! If I have to die just hurry it up..." The ebony haired beauty was hysteric with pain and distress. She lay her head down and whimpered silently, letting a comforting darkness approach her.

Rediculous. All his efforts and the girl had stumbled into even more danger than she'd been in before. He hadn't wanted her to run. the aim was to get her to her cousin's house, yes, but in a safe manner. New York was no place for a young girl to be running around all alone. And now her life was at risk. This called for serious measures.

The ground was solid beneath his feat for once. Aiden looked down to see his reflection in a puddle that had gathered on the brick florr of the ally. Hazel eyes that glinted nearly orange stared back at him. His hair was jet black and hung in front of his face. His skin was pale. His clothes were dark. It was just as he had been.

Looking up, Aiden located his charge. She was crumpled and bloody. The scene made Aiden want to kneel down and cry. he was an aweful guardian. Given his charge was no eay charge to watch over, he'd still let her down. Wasteing no more time, he walked forward and slid off his black hoody. There was the sound of ripping fabric as he took off both the sleeves. Long strips were wrapped around the wounds so gently, he could kick any doctor's ass in emergancy care.

"It's alright." Aiden said softly. "I'll patch you up and we'll get you to a hospital. You'll be just fine." His voice was soothing. Hopefully she would pick up on the kindness in his tone. He didn't want her to think that he was some kind of creeper, out for his own selfish needs.

Whimpering, Echora came to again. She peered her eyes open and pouted, her lips quivering under the dim light of the near broken street light above them. She gazed at her mysterious stranger and gasped, first startled as she tried to push him away. Then, weak from the bloodloss and scared after the attack, Echora used all her strength to grip onto her protector. Echora buried her head in his shirt, crying and sobbing and becoming hysteric all over again. "Please don't hurt me. Don't hurt me, I don't wanna die! I have to get to her apartments!" She hiccuped and snuggled her face further into his shirt. Her wounds were starting to bleed heavier from her movements, but Echora fought to keep consciousness.

"Hey..." Aiden whispered into her ear, stroking her hair. "Echora, I'm not goin to hurt you." He said, holding her close. Suddenly he felt something on his shirt. A warm wet crawling across his skin. it wasn't her tears. Her wounds were to blame. Aiden knew she wasn't going to last a trip to the hospital. If he didn't do something quickly, she would die right here, in the arms of the one who was supposed to save her. He couldn't waste any time. Gently, he pushed her away from him and laid her back on the ground. Slowly, he pressed his hand against the worst of the wounds. It would make the pain flare up, but only for a moment. Now her skin was sealed together. She'd still feel the pain of the stab wound, but at least she was no longer bleeding. Aiden performed this process for each wound, doing his best to patch her up. It was hard, draining work. He would need rest soon, however his charge was a higher concern than his own well being. If he lost her now, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. guardians only got one charge, one chance. Until old age got the better of that charge, they weren't allowed another. If the charge was lost to anything not relating to old age, there would be no more charges left for that guardian.

Besides all this, Aiden had formed a certain emotional connection with this charge. She was his first charge and he had taken a likeing to her from the moment she called out for help. She meant the world to him.

Echora screamed in pain at his pressure on her wounds. She sqiurmed and whined, more tears stinging the edges of her eyes. Slowly she stopped crying and looked up at him, reaching her hand up to run her fingers through his dark hair. She blushed but she wasn't sure if it was from blood loss or embarassment. "H-how do you know me?" She asked, tilting her head and pushing herself up. She scooted her body over to him and wrapped her arms around him, feeling more secure.

With a small rub of her head on his shirt, a smile spread to her lips. She had no idea just who this boy was, how he helped her, or how he knew her, but she felt comfortable around him. "You smell nice..." She whispered suddenly as her grip around him increased. "Where do we go? What should I do? Who are you?" Echora's questions were all muffled and squished together but they were still clear.

Aiden didn't respond to her. He was worn out. But she was alright now. So he only held her close. It felt strange to actually be making a connection. He'd wrapped his arms around her so many times. It wasn't until now that she had returned the gesture. He wanted her to be safe. He wanted her to be happy. Neither of those factors were going to be found here, alone and on the run. "You weren't supposed to run." He finnally said, the exhaustion obvious in his voice. "You were supposed to stay put until she came to get you." He felt a little angry with her. But he tried not to be. It wasn't like he had given her instructions on what to do. "It doesn't matter now though." He said, holding her back a little so that he could look her in the eyes. "Now we need to get you cleaned up, and we need to start moving. I can't stay with you long. But I'll get you to where you need to go." He had enough energy to stand, so he did, gently helping her up with him. "We'll get you some new clothes first."

~

((I'm just gunna give Ane the news. xD Come in if you want idc.))

A nice warm cup of coffee. She had been right. It was exactly what she needed. Ane put her lips to the rim of the cup, but didn't drink. Instead she only inhaled the steam, letting it warm her tired face. It was so late. She wanted so badly to be home, but there was no way she was going to risk driving in the state she was in. Tucking a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear, she finally took a sip, feeling the liquid scorch down her throat.

A vibration in her pocket nearly cause Ane to spit her coffe out in surprise. She was so jumpy tonight. "Hello?" She said into the speaker of her phone. A voice began speaking. She recognized her aunt's voice. Her aunt began talking franticly as Ane sat in silence, obsorbing what she had to say. Finally, she let out a small "Uh huh, bye." Before hangin up the phone. She set it down on the cafe table in front of her, her eyes not even moving from the position they'd been in. Shock was coursing through her body, complimented by a few spoonfulls of worry. Echora was missing.

Echora frowned and tightened her grip around her unknown savior. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to I just...daddy wasn't good for me. And mom wouldn't stop him..." She raised herself up when he stood, accepting his help. She paused then, removing her tight grip on him. Her fingers were nimble and loosely held on the corners of his sleeve. "How do you know me?" She asked again. "You know my name...the fact that I was running away...How?" Her voice was deadly curious and creepily serious. Echo pursed her lip and waited for a response. With a small sigh from her pale and broken lips, matching her broken heart, Echo stood tall and struggled not to keep her hands on her protector. It hurt to move but she was curious and he was giving her no answers. "I have barely any money. I can't afford clothes at the moment sir." She referred to him, seeing as he wouldn't give her a name or occupation. Echo started to walk forward and towards the bright lights of the urban street. As she neared the entrance of the ally, she stumbled and had to grab the side of the brick wall near her to keep her balance. She was dizier than hell after all the blood loss.

"Whoa," said Aiden, grabbing hold of the girl to steady her. he wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from falling over. "Take it easy for a moment. We're both sort of worn." He smiled. The girl was so curious. It was amusing to Aiden how she reacted to his lack in answers. However he knew that answers were one of the simple things that would make her feel better right now. So he gave her some by saying, "My name is Aiden. I've known you all your life. You're my charge. Usually we don't take a physical form on earth unless the situation is life or death. So I've saved your life and now my clock is ticking. So I need to get you to your cousin's house quickly and safely, then get you on your feet so that you can live on your own without having to go back to your parents." He began walking forward again, slowly this time, keeping his eyes on her to be sure she didn't stumble again. His arm remained around her waist so that if she fell or passed out, she wouldn't find herself tumbling to the ground.

With a smile, Echo nodded and leaned into the embrace. She'd never felt something so comforting before in her life. "Thank you." She dipped her head down, blushing and avoiding his gaze. "I'm...." Echo paused, realizing that if he had indeed known her for her entire life, there was no need to introduce herself. "Pleased to finally meet you Aiden." Is how she finished herself off. "Are you my guardian angel?" She asked quietly, lifting her doe eyed glance to him, a pale blush still gracing her delicate features. Quietly, Echo giggled. However in doing so it sent a sharp pain through her side and she flinched, trying to coil herself in half only to find Aiden's arm in the way.

She was in pain, Aiden could tell. "Do you want to sit down for a while?" He asked her, concern in his voice. "And yes, that's exactly what I am." He added quickly before looking up, trying to find a place to sit down that wasn't quite as dangerous - or dirty - as the floor of a New York City ally. He moved his arm over and moved in front of her, keeping his hands on her hips for stability. now she had room to double over if she needed to, however he could still catch her if she fell. He understood that she was in extreem pain. His healing could only do so much. It would repair the wound, but the pain would sitll be there.

Echo smiled gratefull at him and nodded, shifting downwards as a sigh left her lips. "I'm so happy...I've prayed for you to come to me for so long." She held his eyes firmly in her gaze and put a hand, dried blood covering it, onto his cheek. She rested her body down more. Soon she realized the...animalistic style she'd accidently put them into in public. Suddenly a shiver went up her spine. His hands were on her hips and she was bent over in front of him. Standing straight suddenly, Echo pulled away and faced him, hand placed against a wall in case she felt woozy. "What did you mean by you're clock is ticking?" She asked to avoid the embarrassment she'd suddenly felt. Echo felt like she'd lose this boy in front of her at any minute and she didn't like that feeling. Stepping closer, Echora brushed her hands on his waist and gripped the sides of his shirt. Her big, dark blue grey eyes held sadness at the thought of being seperated from someone who'd fought to keep her alive.

There was a sudden realization that clicked in Aiden's mind that she was terrified of losing him. His eyes became sympathetic and he took a hold of the hand that was hooked onto his shirt. "Oh Echora, I'm not ever going to leave your side." He reasureed her. "I'll always be around. However the situation right now is a desperate one and that means depserate measure. So once you are out of harm's way, I won't be physically next to you. But don't worry, i always be watching over you. I won't let anything else bad happen to you." He promised her, feeling guilty that he'd already let her get severely hurt once. He reminded himself that he couldn't be too harsh, since her running away wasn't something that he could have prevented. He gently hugged her saying, "Echora, you are my charge and I would burn in hell if I lost you.... literally. But it's not just that. If I lost you, if I let you down... How do I explain this?" He laughed a little at his rediculous troubles in getting this emotion into words. "You're important to me. You're important to more people than you even realize. But you're important to me and... I wouldn't bbe able to live if anything happened to you... figuratively since, you know, i'm not actually living." As he spoke, his voice become softer and softer, decrescendoing into a mumble as embarassment engulfed him. He felt so silly trying to explain this. "But I don't have long. because I'm going to do my best to get you safe as quickly as possible. Once you're safe, I'll go back to watching over you from where I have been."

Echora's eyes filled with childish tears. "Stay here. Physically." she begged to him quietly. So quiet in fact, Echora wasn't sure Aiden had heard her. And with that in mind, she got her point across physically by linking her arms around him and burrying her face into the crook of his neck. "I'm not alone anymore. You have to stay." She demanded "I'm important to someone other than my cousin. You have to stay. You can watch over me like this too." Echora was desperately trying to find any reason to make him stay. She'd purposely get herself hurt if that's what it took to make him stay. "And if I hadn't run away, I wouldn't realize you're here with me now." Echora explained, her lips turning into a small, sad smile as she continued to hold his glowing gaze. "Please promise me you'll physically stay with me?"

"I won't promise that, Echora. I can't," Aiden whispered softly. "I'm doing my job. I don't stay here for liesure. I'm here for an emergancy.... And don't you dare even think about purposely causing an emergency to drag me here again. They may transfer you to another guardian. Or they might take me away from you because i can't keep you safe." His voice was suddenly urgent. "Echora that is my soul purpose; keeping you safe. Please do your part and help me with this. I promise I'll always be here." He held her at arm's length once more. "Now," Said Aiden, a new purpose in his tone, "Let's get you cleaned up. I've got money. There's a clothing store just around the corner." He returned to his original position of standing at her side with his arm around her waste for ballance.

Echo whimpered and let her eyes fall. "Fine." She whispered, her tone was harsh but her body was shaking and broken. She shook her head quietly, fighting away any unhappiness. "Let's go then. I didn't bring much as you obviously know." Echora closed her eyes and gently and very reluctantly pulled herself away from his embrace. She sighed and walked with her head looking up at the sky and the lights that surronded them. Echora walked into the clothing store and started to gaze around. There were so many cute clothes and she could only take so many. Echora started to grab a few things, including some undergarments and a bathing suit. She blushed as she looked at her recent grabs. Looking around, Echora watched Aiden come into the store. She walked to him quietly and blushed. "I-if I need to, could I get your opinion on all my clothes?" She asked nervously, her undergarments and bathing suit being the front most of her current selections. Echora picked crummy clothes for her body style and she knew it. "Or should I just ask my sister to buy me some clothes?" The poor girl didn't even know if Aiden watched over her when she was dressing or bathing!

Aiden playfully and gently placed his fist on her shoulder, as though he were fake punching her. "Hey, what better oppinion than that of the opposite sex? That's who you're ultimatly trying to impress, right?" He smiled. "They way I see it, at least. I don't have the slightest clue about fashion, but I can definitly tell if something looks good on a girl or not. You can get just a few clothes for now if you want, then get some more once we get to your cousin's place. She's in a good business, so she'll be more than willing to help you out." He took her shoulders and turned her towards the dressing rooms. "Anything you're in doubt about, just ask me. I'll wait right outside the dressing room door for you." He reasurred her. "And don't worry, I won't leave you." He added, hopeing to hush any fears before they could surface.

Before Echo could respond or protest, she was put into a dressing room and she silently stood there, clothes still in hand as she blushed brilliant shades of red. Slowly she undressed herself, suddenly feeling self conscious about her body. Bathing suit first is what she'd decided. The bathing suit she'd picked out complimented her pale skin and beautiful eyes. It was a sun yellow bikini halter that had small, red and blue astericks all over it. She looked at herself in the mirror and adjusted the bikini some. A heavy sigh escaped her. This was going to be embarrassing. "A-Aiden? I um...I'm not sure about the swim suit I picked...." She murmured just loud enough for only his ears to hear. "Could I come and show you? Or um...can you come here please?" Was Echora's tiny request as she face blasted up in flames of red.

Aiden smiled, knowing that the girl was probably so red that the yellow bikini he'd spotted her holding would probably seem extra bright against the tomato shades. He leaned against the wall next to the door of the dressing room. "Open the door a little. No one will see you." The reasurrance was beginning to become a common occurrance, but that was fine. If it meant that Echora felt better, then there was nothing wrong with it. "Don't be shy," the angel added, smiling. "I don't judge. I'm honest, but i'm friendly about it. Promise." Although Aiden already knew that the bathing suit would look good on her. He quickly glanced at the bathing suit section. There were a few other colors that would probably look good on her, however he was sure the yellow would look just fine.

With a nod, as though Aiden could see her already, Echora opened up the door and let it creak itself open the rest of the way. She smiled sheepishly and her mouth dropped open a little when she saw him staring at her. She covered her arms across herself and meekly gave another grin to the ground. "How does it look?" She asked, tucking a lock of her dark hair behind her left ear. Echora slowly dropped her hands to her side and stopped hiding her body from him. She stood tall, fit, and proud before giving a slow twirl. "Good enough?" She asked and laughed, suddenly forgetting why she'd been so nervous to begin with. Echora felt content and relaxed around Aiden...She supposed it was because he was her guardian. Either way, Echora gave Aiden one more twirl before snatching her ankle around the curtain that lay in the dressing room. She yelped and squealed, slipping forward and stummbling out of the dressing room, gracefully making sure to avoid her guardian's body.

Despite her attempts to avoid crshing into him, Aiden made sure that he was there to brake her fall, reaching out his arms so that she didn't go forward more than a few large inches. He laughed a little, good naturedly. "Careful now, I just saved you from bleeding to death. i don't need all that going to waste with a face plant." He helped her to stand up straight before hugging her. "You had me worried for a moment." Laughed Aiden before he released her. "You look great. Put it in the 'yes pile', I guess. "Now go get something else on so we can get to moving." A smile and a little wave to usher her back into the dressing room. As much as he loved seeing her pretty figure, he knew that they needed to get moving. The sooner they could both find a good night's rest, the better. Aiden had a credit card that was hooked up to a bottomless pit account.... however he knew that abusing the privlages of the card would get him in trouble. In Aiden's eyes, that just meant no mansions or fancy sports cars for little Echo. However he would be able to get away with a few nice hotels on their journey and the essentials that each of them would need.

Echora smiled softly as her thoughts started to race. He was worried about her and it made her feel glad. She nodded vigorously though and she dashed back into the dressing room, shutting the door and changing into various different outfits. She came out, never having him look at another outfit and put her few 'no's' on a hanger outside the dressing rooms. "Sorry it took so long. I just...I didn't want to bug you with having to approve or disprove all my choices. So I did the best I could on my own." She smiled a pretty and innocent doe smile. Slowly, Echora walked to the cash register and reached her free hand behind her to grip her fingers in between Aiden's to drag him along. "You're so slow. How do you keep up with me anyways?" She laughed and set the items on the counter. In the end, there were seven tops and five pairs of pants, along with 3 pairs of undergarments and a bikini. Echora frowned. "Are you sure I can get this stuff? I feel bad about you spending money on me." the teen pouted.

Her pouting was cute, Aiden had to admit to himself, despite how frequent it was. "Don't worry about it." Said the guardian, pulling his card of of his back pocket. "Being an angel has it's perks." He smirked, walking in front of her to confront the cashier. She was lady that appeared to be in her late twenties. Her smile was a little coffe stained, but perfect otherwise as she greeted Aiden with a "Hello. Did you find everything alright?" Aiden nodded a yes as she began running the tags of Echo's clothes under a scanner. Once she was ready for the payment, Aiden handed her his card and patiently waited for it's return, signing the reciet when it got to him. He signed his name as 'Alex Lumney', using the name that held the card's account.

Once this all was finished, Aiden took Echo's bag, said goodbye to the cashier, and took Echo's hand to lead her to the door. This was progress. Progress was good. They could find a hotel now and get some much needed rest, then get to Echo's cousin's house in a matter of days. Once they were there, he would help Echo find a job so that she could get by on her own. Then he would be able to return to watching over her from afar. Aiden felt a slight twinge of sadness in his stomach, thinking of this. After so long he was finally able to be physically next to Echo and he would be leaving her so soon. But he wasn't here to hold her, he reminded himself, he was here to get her out of harms way. So that was the mission he would stick to.

Echora made her frown disappear and she followed him quietly, gripping his hand with a content gleam in her eyes. "Where to now Aiden?" She asked once they were a few blocks away from the store. The silence could kill her seeing as she loved to talk so much. By now, Echo had snaked her arms around the one of his own arms. She was comforted and relaxed and desperately trying to avoid her thoughts from Aiden's soon departure. Looking around, Echo found it easier to distract herself as she held onto her guardian. There were multiple buildings just practically laying on one another with streamers of lights engulfing them.

A popular hotel caught her eye and she smiled with the image of how much it could make you feel like royalty. Echo sighed dreamily and watched as they slowly approached the hotel and started to pass it by. She suddenly stopped Aiden's walking and her own. "Um...Could we stay here? I've always wanted to...I mean I know it's expensive so it's alright if we can't but it's just really pretty and I just thought since there was no harm in at least asking that I'd try it..." Echo seemed to babble on endlessly as she fiddled with her guardian's fingertips. A yawn came from her lips and it was at that point that Echo realized she'd be fine anywhere so long as she could have food, a comfortable bed, and good company. She already had one of her three so it couldn't be too hard to come across the other two.

Pondering her arguments, Aiden looked up at the hotel. His first thought was to go for it. it was a nice looking hotel and Aiden would have loved to stay in it. But he also knew that if he were too careless with his bottomless card, he could get in trouble. "Alright." He concluded. "But the rest of the hotels we stay at will have to be a lot cheaper." He told her, holding her gaze so that she knew he was serious. Then, with a smile, he turned and lead his charge towards the doors of the hotel. He held open the glass door for her, waving her inside to a lovely, lush, red carpet with gold-colored furneshings. It was very classy. The lobby had a tall ceiling and gold light fixtures hanging from it's walls. Gold luggage carts rested on a wide, red tile path that led to the elevators.

making his way to the consierge desk, Aiden took out his card. "Do you have any rooms available?" He asked a tired-looking, dusty blonde boy. The clerk looked at a computer screen, clicked on a few things, then looked back up. "There's a room on the fourth floor with a king bed and double bathroom." He said. Aiden thought for a moment. There wasn't anything with two beds available? He would have asked, however the boy looked incredibly impatient and Aiden didn't really have the patience to put up with it.

"That'll work, thanks." Siad Aiden, sliding his card towards the boy.