Like the ocean that's ::running:: dry {Axel}

[Anna Banana]

[atrb=background,http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg608/meghanpawolfe/XanderBackground_zpse7a70624.png][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,width:500px;] As soon as I got out onto the porch I knew she was mad at me, if her body language wasn't enough for me to know the way her eyes seemed to bore into me told me the whole story. She wasn't just mad at me, that would have been an understatement, she was furious at me and was about as likely of letting me off the hook for this as President Snow canceling the Hunger Games. So I did the only thing I could think of, the one stupid thing that I should never have done...I asked her if she was alright. I probably could have hit myself in the head, or hit it against the wall because I had just invited myself to be the person she abused and took out all her anger on. I had a feeling that love was about as far off of her mind right now as just about anything, right now it was pure anger, and I braced myself for the worst. "No I'm not okay! You just shoved me out of my own house, Xander! The baby can feel what I feel? Could you have not come up with a better excuse than that?! You know I hate it when you do that. You can't just cut me off from my problems! You can't fight them away, Xander. They're not yours to fight okay!" Why didn't she just tear my heart out and throw it back into her house, I had a feeling it would hurt less to go through that again than face Renn out here.I knocked the toe of my shoe against the porch not wanting to look her in the eye. I knew part of what she said was right, I shouldn't fight all of her battles and cut her off like that. Then the was me, I knew better than to believe she could have kept her composure in her own home, her being there when my family kicked me out was one thing, but actually looking your parents in the eye as they told you to get out was a different story. I didn't want her to have to go through that, to suffer any more then she had to, but there was no reasoning with her at this point. As much as I wanted to tell her to stay calm for the baby I had a feeling that wouldn't improve the situation at all so I simply looked down at her frail looking form and nodded. Than she drew the metaphorical knife and stabbed it into my heart with one last statement. She told me that if I really cared about what the baby feels then I wouldn't have dragged her out here against her will. I hung my head in defeat, even when she couldn't draw a real weapon on me and knock me down like she had that first day we met she knew how to take me down. It was like she had swung her fist at me and hit me on one of the bruises that still dotted my back from my encounter with my own family. Grimacing from the memory and perhaps the blow that Renn had just dealt to me. She was beyond mad now, beyond the point where I could simply rap my arms around her and tell her it was okay, she didn't want to be coddled she wanted to be back in a training facility right now. We were past that now though, with a baby growing inside of Renn both of us would have to devote our lives to our child. Any chance of returning to the facilities for training was over, more so for her then for me but I couldn't bring myself to tell her any of this. I just watched her as she stepped away from me, her fists clenching and unclenching as she tried to get a hold of her emotions. I could almost see the struggle going on as she fought the war within herself, and she was about to crack. As foolish as ever and oblivious to everything I put my hand on her back and pushed her down the steps. "Come on Renn, let's just go home now, we can go back to our home". Her eyes dialated and they formed into slits as she stepped back into me spitting out words at me like venom. She was her father's daughter there was no mistaking it, the way she could make words hurt you, but she was also a Thrash, Renn Thrash, and she knew when to move in for the kill in a fight. "I don't have a home anymore, not with you, not with anyone." I couldn't take it anymore and apparently neither could she, spinning around and away from me she began to walk down the street. At first I didn't follow, part of me knew what she was going through, and part of me wanted to believe that she hadn't meant what she had said. I knew better than to think that though, I knew that were I in her position I would be no better, and I would believe that I had no where to go, no where to call home. Slowly I walked off the porch of her house and turned around to take it all in, the place where Renn was born and had grown up and trained and felt loved by her parents. Something had been taken away from her, something I could never replace...her parents love. Because of me she had lost her old life and two very important people...because of me she was going to be a mother. Maybe we weren't ready for this after all...maybe it had all been a mistake...maybe we had made a mistake.

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[mcmarti99]

Renn Perrysworth

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Can you feel me when I think about you?
With every breath I take
Every minute, no matter what I do
The world is an empty place[/i][/center][/size]

"Renn. Wake up. Renn, it's Jameson, you gotta wake up. Please... open your eyes."

Light shone through Renn's heavy eyelids, creating swirling peach patterns against the black curtain of unconsciousness that held her captive. Jameson's strained voice hit Renn's ears again, urging her to wake up. Her head was in his lap, and he was brushing her tangled hair from her face. There was a loud pounding in the back of her head, a lingering taste of vomit in her mouth. She opened her eyes, bringing a hand back to shield them from the light. In a voice that sounded none like her own, Renn said Jameson's name, question ringing in her voice. She tried to sit up, but vomit began to surface in her mouth and her head pounded even harder.

Jameson pressed gently on her forehead, pressing her head back into his lap and shushing her. He bent down and kissed her nose, saying how happy he was that she was okay. Renn let her eyes drift back close, her hand moving to her head. It hurt. Images flew back to her faster than she could handle. Of her crying in the woods, talking to herself about how it was so inconvenient to be pregnant. Then something hit her. Something that slammed her up against a tree and punched her until she was unconscious. It didn't add up. It didn't make sense, and it made Renn's head spin until she was on the verge of slipping away again. She righted herself, leaning against Jameson's body and spitting out the taste of vomit.

Questions tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. Where am I? What happened? When did you get here? Why does it hurt? Why am I hurt? Why does it feel like my guts are gonna spill out? Jameson's eyes darted around, avoiding Renn's and looking to an alley like he was expecting someone. He sighed heavily, helping Renn to her feet. Dizziness hit her like a wave and she collapsed against Jameson. Her vision turned foggy, and she rubbed her eyes to undo the haze that clouded her. Her head pounded like her brain was trying to break out of her skull.

Then she saw something that moved her to stand on her own feet, something that was bright and clear through Renn's clouded vision. It was Xander, his form bent over, his forehead bleeding. Renn felt Jameson's arm tighten around her waist. "Renn. He just killed Wade okay, give him some space, he might hurt you." Renn couldn't have cared less. She wrenched herself from Jameson's grasp, and took off towards Xander. Then the words hit her. He just killed Wade. The nonchalance of Jameson's voice when he said it, it must have not processed. Until now.

Renn collapsed again, sinking to her knees and crying into her hands. The pounding in her head intensified, the vomit threatening to surge back up her throat. Someone was lifting her up, familiar arms that she was trying to run to seconds ago. Xander was holding her, he was squeezing her so tight that her feet were off the ground. Renn sobbed as he held her, his hands wrapped around her waist, where they should have never left. She moved her frail, shaky fingers through his hair and around his neck. She pressed her lips into his neck, responding to his every touch. His hands ran over her, and after he set her down, her's went over him. Xander wiped tears away from Renn's face and she let out choked little laughs, trying to be strong for Xander.

It was a blur of movements, them clambering over each other for some sort of grasp on reality. Renn hugged Xander and he hugged her and they kissed each other all over. Renn's lips ran over Xander's cheeks and nose, her shaking hands wiping away the blood trail on his forehead and patting away the collecting sweat at his brow. How could Renn have ever thought about leaving him? He was falling apart without her.[/blockquote][/blockquote]

The stars are burning I hear your voice in my mind
Can't you hear me calling
My heart is yearning
Like the ocean that's running dry
Catch me I'm falling

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[Anna Banana]

[atrb=background,http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg608/meghanpawolfe/XanderBackground_zpse7a70624.png][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,width:500px;] Slowly I turned away from the one building that I had hoped would be some sort of safe haven for me...for us...sadly though it was just another place on a growing list of places that we were no longer welcome to. If this was what growing up and taking responsibility for your actions were like then I wasn't sure I was entirely ready for something like that. No amount of Career training prepared you for the grim reality that was the real world, I couldn't swing a sword at the troubles that were closing in on me and expect them to fall away. No, things weren't that simple and now we were dealing with the results of the choices Renn and I had made...quitting training...starting a family. We had known it would be hard, but we weren't prepared for how difficult it truly was. Today had proven that during that short time we were the only ones that knew of our child we had been happy, but there would be those out there that would not share our happiness, and that would weigh heavily on our hearts. My pace quickened hoping to put as much distance between myself and that house as I could. Nothing lasts forever...and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that we would never be accepted by her family again...that the words Renn had spat out at me with such venom would echo around here for years to come. The faster I got away from here the better, the faster that both of us, my beautiful Renn and I, got home the better. I couldn't fine her though, my wandering eyes could not find the one person that I longed to hold in my arms, the one person that I feared I had hurt through what I had done. She couldn't have gotten that far, and I know she'd hate me for saying this, since she was pregnant, her stamina wouldn't exactly be at maximum efficiency. That was when I saw something that made the world around me seem to come crashing down around me. The hand of the person that I hated more than anything or anyone holding the throat of the one I loved. Lifting her off of the ground with such ease, as if she weighed no more than the air itself, he pushed her frame up against a tree. Her eyes betrayed her panic, only minutes ago they had been filled with rage...now though...now she was afraid for her life. Her eyes locked on mine a moment of relief on her face as she looked at me, but I wasn't the only one that noticed. Wade turned briefly to flash me a smile that made my heart stop and my blood run cold. With his hand still around Renn's neck, lifting her off the ground, he brought his fist back and after a moments delay slammed it into her stomach. Renn let out a cry of shock and pain and I felt a stabbing pain in my heart as her body crumpled to the ground at his feet. He turned around to look at me, a crooked smile on his face, and he looked down at Renn's crumpled form giving it a kick. Before I even realized what I was doing I found my feet pounding along the pavement towards Wade. It was like I was watching it all from a different place though, I was simply a spectator as years of training kicked in and I executed the moves that I knew were capable of killing...killing another person. I couldn't even feel Wade's blows crashing into me, his hand scraping against my face leaving a bloody gash. It seeped into my eyes, blurring my vision and ran down into my mouth, the metallic taste of my own blood making me gag. Wiping it away with the back of one of my hands I tried to focus on Wade, and with a yell more like an animal I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him from the ground just as he had done to Renn. For the first time I saw something reminiscent of fear flit across Wade's face, but I was so filled with hatred for him that I didn't even care anymore. Repeatedly I smashed my fist into his stomach before I threw him to the ground watching him slide along the ground until he hit the wall leading into an alleyway. I didn't even give him time to get up before I was over his body slamming my fists into him, his own fists vainly struggling to land a solid blow on me. Over and over I slammed my fists into him before I grabbed his throat and squeezed, squeezing the life out of him breath by breath. I saw it again, that fear in his eyes as he looked up at me, his mouth moving, but his words falling on deaf ears. I only squeezed harder until I felt his body go slack underneath me, and I rose up and hunched over at the end of the alleyway. I looked at my blood soaked hands and reached up to run my fingers along a jagged cut that ran across my forehead dripping blood into my eyes. I didn't understand though how had it happened, what had I done, why was I hear...the last thing I could remember was...RENN. Bolting upright I looked around in a panic until my eyes found her collapsed on the street only a few feet away from me. Neither of us had been over here before, none of this made any sense to me. Never the less I ran towards Renn scooping up her small frame in my arms and holding her close to me. I should never have let her go I had been a fool, something had happened, the blood on my hands was evidence enough of that. When at last I let her go she only ran back into me wrapping her own arms around me. I pressed my lips into hers never wanting to let her go again lest I lose the only thing that I really cared about. I didn't care what had happened to me as long as she was safe, as long as I knew that she and our baby were still alive. I didn't understand how we came to stand here now but I knew that I loved Renn and despite the confusion in my mind I knew one thing for sure...I would never leave her again. "I don't understand what has happened Renn but I should never have left you. I'll never leave you alone again I can't lose you not now not ever. Looking at you now I know without a doubt that I can't live without you." I raised my hand and caressed her face and pressed my lips into hers again, and wiped the tears off of her face. "Are you okay Renn...the last thing I remember...the last thing I remember is Wade...hitting you."

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[mcmarti99]

Renn Perrysworth

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Can you feel me when I think about you?
With every breath I take
Every minute, no matter what I do
The world is an empty place[/i][/center][/size]

"I don't understand what has happened Renn but I should never have left you. I'll never leave you alone again I can't lose you not now not ever. Looking at you now I know without a doubt that I can't live without you."

Xander's hand went to her face, leaving a trail of blood down her jawline as he caressed it. Renn shook with terror. She had Wade's blood on her face. No. She didn't want to think his name anymore, it was Xander's blood. As far as anyone knew, that was a dribble of Xander's blood. He kissed her, the smooth, familiar touch of his lips comforting. Renn buried her face in Xander's chest, finding relief in his tall form as it protected her from whatever the world decided to throw at her next.

"Are you okay Renn...the last thing I remember...the last thing I remember is Wade...hitting you." Xander, typical, ordinary Xander. He'd just killed someone, really and truly killed, and all he was worried about was Renn. She laughed into his chest, the sound absorbed by his dense muscle, but he shivered as the vibration moved through him. He ran his hands through her hair, cradling her face in his arms. "Xander, I'm fine baby. He didn't hurt me, and it doesn't matter now. Can we go home?"[/b] Jameson touched Renn's arm. She almost expected Xander to smack it away, she felt him tense against her, but he loosened back up after Jameson moved away. "Renn. I think it's best you come back to the house for a few days. Maybe some space would be good for the both of you."

Did he not just hear what Xander said? Did he not hear the desperation in her heart? Could he not see that the idea of being separate from each other tore them apart? Renn gently moved Xander's hands away from her face, pressing his hand against his chest and nodding slightly before taking a step towards Jameson. Like his arms couldn't bare to not hold her, Xander's hands shot around Renn's waist, and he stood behind her as she spoke, not daring to let her go. "Jameson, we haven't been alone for a week. Give us some space. I'll come back to the house soon, okay?"[/b] Rahm came up beside Renn, running a hand through her hair once before stepping over next to Jameson. "She'll be alright." Rahm said simply. He and Jameson both gave Renn a hug, and Rahm pat Xander on the shoulder before they left. Leaving the couple alone for once.

Renn spun around, launching herself into Xander again, and forgetting the strength it must have taken him to ... she didn't want to think it... she almost knocked him over. This time, he was the weak one, and she had to carry him home. Not literally of course, but Renn knew as long as she was near him, Xander would keep going. She hugged him tight, standing up taller to kiss him. It was the most intimate kiss they'd had in weeks, wrapped up in each other's arms, safe and sound.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

The stars are burning I hear your voice in my mind
Can't you hear me calling
My heart is yearning
Like the ocean that's running dry
Catch me I'm falling

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[Anna Banana]

[atrb=background,http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg608/meghanpawolfe/XanderBackground_zpse7a70624.png][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,width:500px;] To say that I felt like I had been hit by one of the Capitol trains would be an understatement, infact to say I felt like I was completely with it would be an understatement. A sharp pain in my side every time I inhaled gave me the impression that several ribs were broken, and it was killing me to not understand how or why. My memory of the events that had passed within the last, who knows how long, were blurry and impossible for me to access in my head. Something had happened, something or someone had caused me to bleed the way I was and suffer a few broken ribs. There was no way I could ask Renn about it though, the look on her face told me silenced any questions that were on my mind. There was something...undetectable on her features...something that made me worry, like she knew something I didn't. I never wanted to let her go though because letting her go could possibly mean going through this all over again, or even losing her forever. I should never have angered her the way I had, just as it had been my fault that she was no longer welcome at her home I was responsible for her discomfort now...and her pain. I couldn't help but run my hands over her gently, making sure that she was okay, despite the fact that she assured me she was fine. Closing my eyes I just stood in the street with Renn in my arms, rocking back and forth, taking in her smell and the way she felt, the fear in my chest dissipating the longer I held her. I felt the pressure of another hand on Renn and my eyes snapped open prepared to assualt whoever it was touching her. Part of me feared that feeling though, I had always been defensive of Renn, but what had possessed my heart and mind to make me want to assualt someone. Then when I looked at who it was I felt an even bigger wave of guilt wash over me, I couldn't attack her family, foster family or not. I had already been the cause of loss on her account, I couldn't make her lose what family she had left. My arms wrapped around her instintively, holding her close, for I knew what Jameson was about to say, he was going to take her away from me. Renn's voice protested as I had hoped it would, but I could see the look of determination on Jameson's face as he was intent on taking her to her other home...her foster home. Ironically it was Rahm that stepped in and convinced Jameson that Renn would be fine with me, and before he turned away I gave him a nod in appreciation. It was strange but I felt like Rahm and I had formed a tentative brotherly bond with eachother, and he knew that now of all times I couldn't be separated from Renn. When Jameson had reluctantly turned around with Rahm at his side it was just the two of us, Renn and myself, standing alone on the street. When she jumped into my arms and kissed me I wrapped my arms around her wanting to keep this moment forever, keep her lips connected with mine. It was a simple and pure kiss, one that conveyed our feelings to eachother, intimate and loving, and I wanted it to last forever. Sadly though, just like everything else in my life, it couldn't last forever, we needed to get home, wherever home was now. I felt so weak though, I couldn't make the distance to our apartment, and in truth I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make even a few steps. Straightening myself up so Renn wouldn't be able to sense my discomfort I lifted her up, with much pain to my sides, and put her on my feet, beginning to walk down the road. I knew I couldn't make it far though, already what little strength I had remaining was leaving my body, and it was a struggle to keep the two of us the way we were. Walking into one of the side alleys I put my back to the wall sliding down to the ground, using what little strength I had left to hold up Renn and place her on my lap. Maybe it was time to admit I couldn't make it, that I wasn't as invincible as I thought I was. "Renn, I can't make it any farther, I really can't...my strength...it's failing me. I think that maybe...maybe I have some broken ribs, and I have a feeling I lost more blood than I thought I had. I'm not sure what happened back there, and I'm not going to ask you what it was because...I don't think I'm ready to know. As long as I know you're safe I'm happy. Why don't we just stay here for the rest of the day, give me some time to rest and heal up, and tomorrow we can try and make it to our apartment, or even visit your other family to let them know you're okay. I didn't even get to finish my thought though, or even hear Renn's responce, my head felt like it was spinning from side to side, my eyes slowly closed, and I welcomed the oblivion of fainting.

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