Seperate Lives (Cain/Open)

[Zen]

As the bell rang for class to end, Zen looked toward Cain with a bit of a nervous expression, motioning her head for him to follow her as she shouldered her bag and made her way out of the classroom, taking his hand in the process and lacing her small fingers with his....

She had a break between classes now, and even if he did not, she supposed that he would not mind hearing her explination..So, she sighed as she began to move down the hallway, deciding the best place for any amount of privacy would be to go up to the roof....Her almond eyes casting a look up to him as she spoke softly.....

"Come on.....Lets go to the roof....I..I will explain everything...."

She then turned, tugging him up the stairs and toward the entrance to the roof. Pushing the door open she looked about to see that so far they were the only one up here.....

It was then that she released his hand, moving away from him to take a seat on the edge of the roof, her feet hanging over the side and her hands setting her bag down behind her before gripping the edge of the ledge. The wind caught her hair and shifted it about softly, a few locks being blown into her face as she lowered her head, partially to watch the people that walked about below and partially because she did not want to look at him.

Could you blame her? She was scared. At least, in front of him she was....During the entire class she had acted as the tough girl he had met in the hallway...The one who got bored easily, didn't take anyone's shit and seemed to have something against the world.

Yet now that they were alone, she was completely different. Gone were the harsh eyes and the constantly pissed off attitude..No, now she was the girl he had met the night before...And she was scared, that the realization of the other side of her would be enough to drive him away.

Drawing in a deep breath, she closed her eyes, somehow thinking that maybe that would make this easier...but even still the words were hard to find as she sat there her knuckles turning white from the grip she had on the ledge.

"You can ask now...."

She captured the corner of her lower lip between her teeth and waited, her entire little form tense with anticipation. Would he even bother to ask? Or would he just simply turn and walk away?

She did not know why the idea of him doing such would bother her so much, but it did.....She had know, looking into his eyes last night, that the connection she felt for him would not fade with the effects of the drug or the alcohol, yet she had not anticipated what would happen when he saw the way she was toward the world......Now, sitting there in silence, she waited, her heart pounding in her ears and her chest tight with the breath that seemed to be lodged in her chest.........

[Cain]

Though Cain had first asked, Zen did not have the opportunity to explain her earlier actions and behavior as the teacher had demanded for their attention. Apparently, she was smart enough to tell that there was some personal matter going on between the two, and she did not want that in her lesson. It was obvious enough, really. She was constantly glancing towards their direction, after all. So, the two had been forced to hold their much-needed conversation to after the lesson, the wait distracting Cain more than he would have liked.

Then, the bell rung, a wave of relief enveloping Cain as he looked towards Zen, that curious and concern look on his face reacting to her nervous expression. The gesture of her head was understandable, the Junior getting up and holding his backpack in his right hand, before pulling the strap over his shoulders. Then, she led the way, grabbing his hand as she did, the awkward Junior being forced to follow, not having been used to being dragged around like that.

Well, he did have Mathematics class now, but he figured he could skip it for this conversation. Besides, it did not seem like Zen was going to take no for an answer now, considering she was the one leading the way.

"Come on.....Lets go to the roof....I..I will explain everything...."
"Uhm, ok."

Cain could only mutter as he was continued to be dragged through the hallways of #774, the Junior catching sight of two conflicts in their small journey towards the remote part of the school, feeling quite sad that he was probably never going to get into a fight that day. Then soon reached the roof, Cain followed in after her and closing the door him. And she moved towards the edge of the roof, climbing onto it. What the fu- Cain leapt forward, his right hand grabbing Zen's left wrist and staying there, even after she established a balanced sitting position on the ledge.

"You can ask now...."

Cain looked towards her, though she refused to look back at him. He sighed softly. Obviously, she seemed pretty unsure of herself now, a complete contrast to the bad-ass rebel that he had seen her to be before class had started. Was that who she really was? Was last night really all a facade just to get him to like her? Was he actually getting pranked here? Well, a far-fetched thought, but yeah, it was just Cain's imagination going wild.

"... Just now... What was that about?"

He asked, though he knew well that Zen was already aware of the question and probably already had an answer prepared.

[Zen]

Her eyes looked down to that hand on her wrist, knowing that it was there to keep her safe from her current seated position. A soft sigh passing her lips as she let him speak.....Continuing to bite her lip as she heard the question, she shook her head...She had known that was the question and as she drew in a deep breath she tried her best to explain.....

"When I was younger....before he died...my Father would beat me. My brother Erik tried to protect me, but it always made it worse....Then, at school kids would make fun of me...for everything......So, when I got older.....I shut down..I...I started to push...everyone away....."

She then, finally turned her head so that her eyes could look up to his, shimmering softly with tears that she refused to let fall....It was not something she spoke of..not something she had ever told anyone.....Only her brother and Mother knew.....

"I just...always figured.....it was easier that way, than getting hurt...."

She gave him one last, honest look before turning away once more...A soft whimper escaping her as she closed her eyes.....She half expected him to turn and leave...or to say something that would destroy her inside, even if she would never let him see it.....She would hide it if she had to....shut him out like she had done the rest of the world.....

Openin her eyes, her hair fell to the sides of her face, shielding her from view as she felt the heat of her tears slide down her cheeks.....Not many, only a simple few which had escaped her control....

Her small hand coming up from the ledge and wiping them away. Hopefully before they could be noticed......Already too worried about what was going on and not wanting to add to the pressure she felt.

[Cain]

And she started to explain and boy, was her life story so familiar. She grew up under the influence of an abusive father who seemed to have passed away and had been bullied at school for it. Cain pretty much knew how it felt, for he himself had grown up with such a past. But let's let Cain's analytical mind focus on Zen for a moment. At that point of time, she was still young, but life had already been incredibly hard for her. And having failed to find any strong source of moral support or hope, she had been forced to develop a sense of independence. In her perspective, being a tough cookie was the answer for it.

And she had been doing it for such a long time it seemed that the tough personality had someone stuck onto her. She depended on no one else but herself, for literally everything. Support, protection, strength, the likes. To her, all she ever needed and wanted could already be found herself... Until, that is, last night. She had been drugged and forced into a situation where she had no control and no chance to defend herself. She had been at her weakest. And Cain had found her like that.

Had she thought it pointless to put up that tough exterior on him since he had already seen her softer and weaker side? Well, probably, but it seemed that she had shown him a whole lot more than anyone had for years. At least, that's what Cain figured. He himself had grown up under an abusive father too. When Cain had been born, his father never even bothered to acknowledge his existence. And he too was bullied in school. Like her, he could not take it anymore, and lashed out at the bullies.

It caught his father's attention, and since he was an underground street boxer, he took Cain under his wing. And boy, was it a really painful place to be in. Cain turned to look at Zen, noticing the glint of light reflecting from the tear that rolled down her cheek. Cain sighed. For some reason, he could not take seeing her like this. And then, he let go of her wrist. Yes, he let go, disappearing from her side.

Do not worry, though. He did not leave. Instead, he stood behind Zen, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind. His arms would tighten their grip around her as he embraced her from behind. With the elevation of the roof ledge, they were almost the same height as Cain placed his forehead on the back of her head.

"... Remember the promise I gave you last night?"

[Zen]

She stood there, listening to the silence that now filled the air around them, savoring the warmth of his touch upon her wrist, for however long it would remain. Her heart seeming to slow with the time that crawled by, aching with every moment he did not say anything.....and yet she found herself wondering why?

Why was it, that after all this time, she had let somebody in? And not just a little, she had let him in fully, giving him everything she had left that made her innocent and pure in a life where she had felt tainted since the earliest of memories.......

She had always heard of that connection between people...The one that could not be explained....just a simple look and they were hooked on each other......But she had never thought it was real until last night.......Until she had fallen for a guy she had just met.....had shown him the softer side of her...the real her that hid behind the tough exterior and the harsh words........

Then, he released her, and her heart no longer slowed, it simply seemed to stop....a shudder running through her as she felt a tinge of pain....the one emotion she had tried so hard to avoid for so long now seemed to be creeping slowly into her heart......

Had he really thought that badly of her? She could not blame him if he did.....she had not been honest, at least not in her eyes, and though it had been a first for her, it had also been for him......She could understand if he walked away right now and never looked back......

But before she could utter a single whimper in reflection of her own pain, she felt the warmth of his arms wrapping about her as she stood there upon that ledge.....Then came the feel of his forehead resting against the back of her own....

He did not say much, but what he did say echoed in her mind. Of course she remembered..it had hit her so hard that she did not believe she would ever forget those words......

Unable to help it, she sniffled once, a few more tears sliding down her face as she nodded softly.....

"That you would never let anyone hurt me again as long as you are around....."

She almost whimpered the words....She could not contain the softer side of her when he held her the way he did....He made her feel safe enough to be herself without fear of being lashed out at for it..........

He was special to her, in a way she could not explain, but that she did not care to question....She just knew, that wanted him....and that was all that mattered at this moment...

[Cain]

She was crying, and Cain felt kinda guilty now, pushing her to say and open up so much to him. It had probably been a long time since she had done so, and she was uncomfortable with it. Cain knew. He had been a little bit selfish there. But he just felt that he had to know, after all. He was just worried that, after seeing how she was in the morning at school, last night was really just an influence of the drug, despite her words. And now, after learning a little bit more about her, he felt kind of guilty.

"That you would never let anyone hurt me again as long as you are around....."

"Mmhm..."

He wondered then, that with him around now, if she would still put up that tough exterior of hers. It was obviously already created a reputation for itself here in #774. A sudden change in personality would indeed raise some questions and attention. And Cain could only figure that most of it were unwanted ones, coming from those that Zen had lashed out at, just like those four football players. Had he a choice, he preferred that she kept that part of her. Despite that promise, the realistic side of Cain knew that he would not always be there for her, all the time.

Then, he gave her body a soft tug. Yeah, he had been aware of the danger that Zen was pretty much placing upon herself by sitting on the roof ledge, and Cain's heart had been racing ever since she had seated herself there, jumping with every movement the girl made, scaring Cain to his wits.

"Now, get down from there, please?"

He would ask with a hint of worry in his voice, his arms loosening for a bit to give her more space to move. And once she had, Cain would make sure that they were facing each other, before giving her another tight and warm embrace, giving her forehead a peck as he smiled.

"Stop crying already, alright? I'm here. Besides, you look a lot more beautiful when you smile, so cheer up."

He pulled back for a moment, looking into her eyes, that smile never leaving his face. Yeah, with that development, he had grown a whole lot more attracted to her, for now he could really feel that sense of responsibility and need for him towards her. With that promise and everything else, he knew that he would really have to be there for her, and the fact that she needed him there made him feel a whole lot more... Elated.

She needed him, and being needed was an incredible feeling on its own. Cain had never felt such joy before in his life, and he knew that it was achievable only because of her. Yeah, he needed her just as much too. He just... Did not know how to express it. In words, that is. However, he was going to prove it to her as much as he could.

[Zen]

She drew in a soft breath as she slowly started to relax, feeling the tension in her muscles begin to relax as she simply enjoyed the feel of his embrace around her body. Then he spoke, a hint of worry in his tone as he asked her to remove herself from the ledge....Inwardly it made her smile, to think that somebody actually cared enough to worry about her......Sure there was Erik, but it always felt like he did such more out of obligation than real worry........

Nodding once more, she felt his arms relax just a bit to allow her room to step down, feeling his muscles tense as she did such. She guessed just in case she slipped up........

Either way, she soon found herself facing him and that kiss to her forehead made her smile slightly...then his words that followed succeeded in bringing forth the full and real thing upon her lush lips.

Those almond eyes, slightly red from her crying, looked up at him now as she brushed her hand against his neck, just the tips of her fingers lightly grazing over his flesh as she tilted her head just slightly.

"Thank you...."

She said nothing else, just let her body lean into his and rest her head against his chest....a soft sigh passing her lips as she wrapped her slender arms about his waist......Offering a gentle nuzzle into him, affectionate in nature....all the while taking in every feel he offered, every scent that surrounded them....

Finally however, she would pull back, biting her lip nervously, even though she did not realize she did it half the time......

"S...So where does that leave us?"

She really was curious...what were they? He had not asked her to be his girlfriend, and she felt like presuming such was just wrong....but she could not help but feel that way.....especially given how she felt about that one girl in class who had waved at him...That spark of jealousy coming up just thinking about it....She would ask him about that later....But for now...she waited nervously for his reply......

[Cain]

"Thank you...."

Cain's smile widened for a brief moment as he acknowledged it. There was no point in saying that she was welcome here, for Cain had her to thank too. They are now at the point of a relationship now where everything they did was for the other, and it had become a natural action for them. And there they stood, at the edge of the lonely roof, in each other's arms. As tiring as this would have been, Cain could not really begin to care. He was happy. Yeah, he could really work it out having her in his life.

However, there were things that Cain was somewhat unsure of. The two of them had only met the night ago, and here they were, acting all mushy and stuff. Cain was not even aware that Zen was not really her full name and had a hint of it when the teacher had called her by her full name earlier. Something like Zenevieva, was it? She had introduced herself to him last night as Zen Maddox. A nickname? Understandable, but it still proved a point to the young Junior. Despite the desires and tugs of his heart, it seemed that the rational part of his mind still reigned true. It had always done so. Cain was never one to fall in love so deeply, so he was still unsure on how to actually follow his heart.

"S...So where does that leave us?"

Cain looked at her, that smile fading away for just a bit. He sighed, looking past her for a moment, before pulling his arms away from her waist. Instead, he would move around her, so that he stood behind her, his hands on her waist now. Then, he would proceed to sit himself down onto the floor of the roof, his back leaning against the ledge, his eyes on Zen. The reason he had put his hands on her waist and tugged on them downwards slightly was to indicate that if she wanted to, she could sit on his lap. Either way, she would have to sit down anyway, since this was going to be quite a long conversation.

"Well... As much as we want to, I don't think we should rush these things, Zen. I mean, we barely know each other, as comfortable as we feel. Maybe we should try doing that first?"

And then, to comfort her were it not to be the kind of answer she wanted, he would grab her hand and lean forward to give her a soft peck on the cheek, a cheeky and yet warm smile plastered upon his face.

"And we can always start now?"

He chuckled softly.

[Zen]

She noted the way he looked past her, and the rational part of her mind was already thinking that yeah, she had to pull herself back some too....She was letting him in too fast and he could still hurt her...As much as she did not think he would, it was still something she could not say for sure......Then he moved, his arms leaving her and her own falling away from him.....

Soon enough, he was behind her, his hands on her waist and tugging her down and into his lap where she settled comfortably and shifted so that she could look into his eyes as he spoke.

The words were somewhat along the lines of what she was thinking, but at the same time it was a scary prospect of letting somebody actually, truly know her.......

But as he kissed her cheek she could not help but smile....Nodding softly as she drew in a deep breath....

"Zenevieva Aurora Maddox. Born in Scotland, moved to Brooklyn....and recently moved here. Just me my mom and Erik my brother...."

She smiled honestly and sweetly as she offered up the general information about herself....Figuring that was as good a place to start as any.....and it was a good way of showing she understood and was willing to do as he requested. Sighing softly, she would take the opportunity to lean her head against his shoulder, her fingers tracing lightly over his chest as she shrugged a bit......

"My mother hates me...because......."

She stopped there and just shook her head, nuzzling her nose lighytly against his neck and then settling upon his shoulder once more....her free hand twisting a bit of her hair nervously as her other hand continued to trace over his chest....She was not used to opening up....and though she had started to.....she was scared......very........

Drawing in a deep and shakey breath, making it clear whatever topic she had just faltered upon was one that scared her deeply, she would try and surpress it for now....Instead turning her focus onto him.......

"What about you?

She wanted to know him better as well, to know this guy that she was so drawn to in every way possible......To try and understand why she was continuously pulled toward him despite her own personal warnings.......

She was just worried that what he found out about her, may end up pushing him away, and though she knew it should not hurt to think that, it did.....she needed him.....for whatever reason it was.....she did....She just hoped that maybe one day he may need her to......Seeing as how the thought of him ever doing such was so far fetched she did not even suspect it of him now.....In her mind...she was not much....she was insecure.....she just hid it very very well.......

[Cain]

And she would sit upon his lip in a sideways manner, her legs laid out to his left, Cain's right arm wrapping itself around her lower back, his hand coming upon her waist. His other hand would lay itself then upon her lap, placing itself gently upon her opposite thigh, the Junior subconsciously pulling her closer to him and keeping her upon his lap. And then, with Cain's reassurances, Zen started to trust him and finally opened up. So far, Cain had a brief glimpse of what her past was like, but as for the general present, he was still unsure of. Plus, the many little yet important details like, I don't know, her favourite color?

"Zenevieva Aurora Maddox. Born in Scotland, moved to Brooklyn....and recently moved here. Just me my mom and Erik my brother...."

Zenevieva Aurora Maddox, huh? So, she was Scottish. Cain had been right in his hunch that she was not from around here. And she had been to Brooklyn? She was from New York too? Cain looked at her, eyes wide in surprise. Well, Cain was from the other side of New York, but still... They were both from the same cosmopolitan. Her mom and her brother, huh? So, she still had family. It got Cain thinking then. Would her mother approve of him? Was she friendly? Nice? And as for the brother... Oh, Cain only hoped that the guy was not that protective over her.

Her mother hated her? Cain's eyes never left hers, showing that he was indeed paying full attention to her. Her mother disliked her, huh? Though, it did not seem that she was ready yet to tell him why. Of course, he was not going to probe, knowing that she would tell him soon enough, once they were able to put more cement upon this rapport between them.

And then, she asked about him. Cain raised his eyebrows for a moment, almost caught off-guard by the situation, his mind still focused on the mother-hating part. What about him? Well, she had pretty much told him a lot about herself. Or in a way, Cain managed to figure it all out from those information. Might as well return it all, right?

"My name's Cain Aurelius, but you already know that. Uhm, I was born in New York and raised in New York. My mom died giving birth to me, and my dad hated me for it. He was an underground street boxer. For the earlier part of my childhood, he never acknowledged my existence. I was forced to pretty much take care of myself since I was a baby. I was bullied in Grade School too, until I couldn't take it anymore and lashed out. Fighting was my escape. My dad acknowledged me then, but only as a fighter, so he took me under his wing and started to train me. And it wasn't easy."

Cain sighed, looking away for a moment. Honestly, as impossible as it sounded, it had indeed been hard for the young boy to have handled himself during those years. Many times, he had actually wished himself dead.

"He died some years after, and I started to live on my on in New York, in #552, before moving here recently too. You've been to my apartment. I live alone."

[Zen]

She listened to every detail he spoke, making sure to keep it in her mind and not forget a single thing. She was a very bright girl...even if nobody ever saw that in her......Not many got past the looks, which was something she never did understand..

Noting his history she found it a bit odd that they had come from the same place, just opposite ends of the spectrum so to speak....Finally when he was done she would let her hand fall from his chest and and take up the hand he had resting on her thigh, her other hand releasing her hair so that she could gently brush her fingers across the knuckles of his hands...

She had noted the night before, that he had the hands of a fighter...but only now did she pay close attention as the reason for such came to light.....A soft sigh passing her lips as she continued to delicately touch over his flesh....

"I try to avoid fights...they scare me...deep down I am terrified each time I get into one....I go home and just....break down each and every time....."

It was from the abuse her father had dished out...The fear of being hit, and the fear of the aggression and anger...

"I am so scared of my brother....When he gets mad at me and yells......I guess because I do care about him, it just....it brings back memories and I end up trying to hide from him......"

Erik hated when she did that, but so far every time he lost his temper with her, she ended up shrinking away and hiding....Fearing he would hit her because she had done something to dissappoint him.......

"What do you fight for now?"

It was a very simple question, yet at the same time it was not...Did he have a purpose for his fighting, or did he do it just to feel alive......there was always a reason....something that drove the fighter to continue on......She only wished to know his......

"I know that....when I fight, even verbally...it is to fill myself with some form of purpose...as though I am doing something worthwhile for once.....like being mean is all I am good at.......When all it is, is that I simply need something to fill the emptiness inside me.....?

Every figher, I believe...has some need that must be filled....that fuels that rage......and then, some have that void filled and continue on, in order to protect that which now makes them whole...."

To her they were just words, her own personal opinion on the matter from the things she had seen in her life...the things she had experienced.........Releasing his hand finally she would draw in a deep breath and sigh.....

"What is it that you need Cain?"

[Cain]

He felt her familiar warm and soft touch on her knuckles, his eyes turning back to his hand, her fingers seemingly tracing the scars, bruises and wrinkles on his knuckles, those part being the roughest part of his whole body. They had met many surfaces, tore open many times and had suffered many bruises, but incredibly, they recovered quite quickly, allowing Cain to handle even more fights after that. Hell, they had gone to a point where Cain could no longer feel anything on his fists.

"I try to avoid fights...they scare me...deep down I am terrified each time I get into one....I go home and just....break down each and every time....."

Cain looked back at her then. That knowledge only served to raise Cain's concern for her. If she had been acting this tough for as long as she had, that meant that she had spent many nights indeed crying herself to sleep. A soft inaudible sigh escaped his lips. And what of tonight? Would she cry about what happened before class?

The topic then turned to her brother. Ah, so he was indeed one of those tough and rough individuals, much like Cain was. He figured that since she had been the tough cookie, that the brother would be the soft-spoken shy kind. However, it seemed he was wrong. Well, it certainly painting a bad picture of Erik for Cain. He took note to talk to person some time soon, but not piss him off at the same time.

"What do you fight for now?"

What did he fight for? Cain looked at her, caught off-guard indeed by the question. What did he fight for? Well, he used to have a simple reason, and that was to entertain himself. However, he himself knew that it was just a front. He fought for a much deeper... Purpose, he figured. He had felt weak under his father's training methods, and to find a way through it all, he had forced himself to enjoy the pain, the adrenaline, the pump. And it had grown into his personality then. However, he knew that it was just a reminder to himself that he was growing stronger with every day that passed. That he was not as weak as his father thought him to be.

Though, it had been a long time. And her words were ringing true in his head. Yeah, perhaps he did need to have something in him filled up. Like a drug, he was simply fighting to keep himself pushing forward, something to distract himself with. But now...

"What is it that you need Cain?"

He looked at her for a brief second, a soft smile on his face as he gazed deep into her almond hues. At that, he let his arms tense up a bit, moving her just a little bit closer to him.

"You..."

[Zen]

Again there seemed to be a silence that drifted between them, she was quickly coming to understand that silence as his time of thinking over what she said, not simply stating the first thing that came to his mind...which was so often the downfall of many guys.....and girls alike....

Simply settling there against him, she let him think over his reply, wondering if perhaps her question had been too personal. But then, given the night the two had previously shared it did not seem likely...Then he moved, his arms tensing up around her as he tugged her lithe form a bit closer to his own. Her head lifting with a curious little look in her almond eyes as she tilted her head slightly.

Not sure what was going through that head of his though very curious to find out....Which she did...

A single word slipped free from his lips and instantly she felt that tug at her heart even more so than before....A soft smile, one of affection and happiness spreading across her silken lips as she drew in a soft breath before leaning in the short distance to place a kiss upon his own. Her hand coming to rest at his side, a gentle grip applied to his shirt tugging him into her.....

Though it was not in a lustful or passionate manner...but more so as an unspoken way of saying that she needed him.......

Pulling away from him, she let her gaze fall onto his own, a gentle breath released as she spoke ever so softly toward him now...words that were meant for only his ears, even though there was no one else around to hear them......

"I wish I could explain why I feel the way I do...I know it does not make sense.....but....I still mean what I spoke to you last night....I need you....I need you to fill this emptiness within me...When I am with you.....the world is not so cold......"

She brushed her hand against his neck, another soft kiss given to his lips...her eyes closing for the briefest of moments before suddenly the door to the roof was thrown open.

Before she could even register what was happening, her arm was grabbed, the same one that her shoulder had been injured the night before.......Her little body jerked upright and away from Cain as an angry growl sounded from behind her......

Erik.......

She knew that sound anywhere......He was just like her Father in so many ways...and instantly she seemed to try and shrink away from him.....

"What do you think you are doing? Have you not given Mother enough grief lately? Yet here you sit, while you should be in class? With some boy!?"

Apparently he was still angry about her being gone all night..and her refusal to talk about it this morning.....Just then, his grip on her arm tightened, making her cry out in pain as she shook her head....

"No...Erik I had time between classes..I promise....Please.....I was not skipping......"

But he was not listening, his mind had put two and two together and his rage now filled his face...Finally those almond hues dared to glance up at him......

Standing at 6'2" in height, he was much larger than she, his hair the dark shade their mother held......his eyes a grayish color in the light the day was giving off.....Yes, he was mad and as his eyes shot between her and Cain he jerked her body up by her arm, so that her face met with his own....

"This is why you did not come home!"

It was not a statement, just a matter of fact now...her entire body trembled as she tried to look at him, but pain was coursing through her and he had succeeded in pulling open the wound on her shoulder, fresh blood seeping through her shirt and down her back.....

She had been getting to the part of more detail about Erik....but had yet to get that far..now it was more than clear exactly what kind of big brother she really had............

[Cain]

And he received her reply with a kiss, the Junior passing her as smile as she did. He felt the tug, of course, but more importantly, he felt the attraction that he had towards her. Yeah, it was more of a gut feeling, from how much was pulling him towards her. And of course, he could feel his body moving on its own towards her too. Of course, in the beginning, it was all but physical attraction. In some cases, such attractions were easily overcome by personality. However, Cain was glad that instead of destroying that physical attraction, their complimenting personalities only helped to strengthen and develop it into something more.

"I wish I could explain why I feel the way I do...I know it does not make sense.....but....I still mean what I spoke to you last night....I need you....I need you to fill this emptiness within me...When I am with you.....the world is not so cold......"

Cain smiled, his arms around her only growing tighter with every pulling word, as if his heart was demanding his body to pull her heart right beside it. Yeah, none of it made sense at all, how far and deep they had fallen so quickly. But it did not change the fact that they had fallen nonetheless. He returned the soft kiss once more, before finally opening his mouth

"It doesn't matter why... What matters is that we're both here now, as we would alwa-"

And the door smashed open. Of course, with Cain's angle, he could see what was happening. However, there was something called reaction time. More often than not, when something surprising and shocking happens at a time when you are focused deeply in something else, you take a longer time to actually register what was happening. Such was the case here. Cain could only watch as the large man approached them.

And right when Cain finally realised what was going on, he pulled Zen out of his arms, the Junior being outmuscled here, in this case. However, the fighter in him would refuse to back down as he quickly got up on his feet, fist clenched. Yeah, he was just about to lash out at the male when something he said caught Cain's interest.

"What do you think you are doing? Have you not given Mother enough grief lately? Yet here you sit, while you should be in class? With some boy!?"

Mother? Cain's eyes widened as his body relaxed, though only so slightly. Mother? Wait... This guy was Erik. Holy crap he was huge. Cain watched Erik then, unsure of what to do as of yet.

"No...Erik I had time between classes..I promise....Please.....I was not skipping......"

And his grip on her tightened, Zen letting out a yelp of pain that sent daggers stabbing into Cain's heart. That's it. He had enough. He cared not whether this guy was her brother or not, Cain was not going to let anyone hurt her. He had made her a promise, and he was going to keep it. Cain focused his attention now on Erik as his gaze moved from either Junior to the other. And finally, he spoke once more.

"This is why you did not come home!"

And that was all he would be able to say as Cain drove his fist into his solar plexus, finding his diaphragm. Although Cain may not be the hardest of strikers, but he had a good knowledge of the human anatomy. And a hit to the diaphragm always had a numbing effect on the body, for it was the muscle that made the lungs move. As soon as the hit found its way home, Cain would grab the arm that was holding onto Zen and pull her away, with his other arm, continuing to do so until they were at a safe distance from Erik, he would most likely still be doubling over.

Cain supported Zen with his hands, placing one of them across her back and the other on the shoulder nearer to him, holding her steady. He looked towards her.

"You alright?"

Then, he felt a warm liquid run onto his hand, his eyebrows furrowed in fear and concern. He moved his hand away from her back, looking at the familiar scene of crimson. Blood. The wound from last night. Erik had opened the wound.

"Shit."

He looked towards Erik, a sense of determination and fury overcoming him. Were Erik to stand up and charge towards them, Cain would react in kind. As said before, he cared not whether he was her blood. If anyone hurt Zen, they were not going to get away with it.

He was going to keep his promise.

[Zen]

That hit did indeed hit Erik in a soft spot so to speak causing him to double over and his grip on Zen to loosen just enough so that Cain could pull her away......Her entire form trembling as she struggled to speak in reply to his question....breath even......But then his hand touched her shoulder, and given the moment she was in, her initial reaction was to whimper and shrink away from the touch as the pain hit her.....Yet she did not move away from him....instead her eyes turned to her brother who was now beginning to stand up once more.....

"Zenevieva! Get your ass over here now! We are going home!"

She shrank back and hid herself slightly behind Cain...Though she knew the truth..she would have to face Erik eventually......

"Please Erik...I am sorry...I will go to class...I promise...."

The blood now making her shirt stick to her back as she felt her knees getting slightly weak...Yet still she moved to grab her bag, eyes cautiously watching over Erik as she did such.....So far the thought of her leaving this place and getting back to class seemed to be calming him down.......Which was good.....In her mind....she did not want him to hurt Cain...she would rather suffer it then know that she had caused it...just like the bruise on his face....a reminder of the night before......

Turning back to Cain, she moved toward him, her hand brushing over his neck softly in a reassuring manner and then falling to rest over his heart, feeling the heavy beat of it in response to Erik....Leaning in, she spoke softly....

"This is one time....you do not....have to fight for me...."

A kiss given to the bruise on his face...another silent gesture as to what she really meant....Why she would say such a thing......she then turned to move away from him...cautious of Erik as she took a few more steps...only to feel her head spin with the stress of the situation, the loss of blood......not to mention still tired from the night before and whatever drug was left in her system.....however little it might have been....

She stumbled slightly....ending up on her ass on the rooftop as she stifled back another whimper of pain....Again however she tried to get up.....she had to get to class....to get away from Erik and stop this.....

His lack of concern for her at the moment only showing how much he really cared about her and how much was just obligation....Just as she had said.......As she tried to get back to her feet she found she was having a very hard time.......Yeah....this was gonna be harder than originally thought......

All the while her brother standing there....watching.....his eyes demanding she do as she was told........She knew that look all too well..........