Just a Flesh Wound. ~Max and Peyton~

[bellz]

"Really don't see why I get myself in such situations." I knew I was talking to myself, but I just couldn't seem to stop. I knew that I was getting weird looks from people that passed by me and realized that the conversation included only yours truly. It was an annoying habit that I had tried to stop, but was as of yet unsuccessful. So without further ado, I continued to do so. "In front of people who knew who she was, I tried to make a fool of her and succeeded in making myself look like an idiot. Something that I am still doing right now as I talk to myself walking down the road." I finished by clamping my mouth shut firmly and biting my tongue. I really wanted to throw a royal hissy fit, but would not condemn myself to the childish image I would present if I gave into the urge. So instead I tried to focus my mind on other things. For instance, how horribly hot it was out today. The sun was struggling to shine through the clouds in the sky, and only managed to make the humid day more oppressive. To top it off, I had managed to pick out a black outfit today. From my black tank top, black jeans, and black boots, I was smoldering as every article soaked up the heat from the sun's weak rays. I picked at the hem of my shirt and muttered a curse as it peeled from my skin. I was sweating, and I hated to sweat. 


I adjusted my belt that was forever present on my person and pulled down my shirt over it. The Peacekeepers would probably frown on having weapons on me, but I refused to leave the house without them. It was like deep down I was afraid that someone would break into my house and steal them. It was an unfounded fear, I know, and I was ashamed of the fear itself. I was a Career. I was training vigorously every day to compete in the Hunger Games, but I was afraid that someone was going to steal my things? Childish and ridiculous. I smoothed my hand down my shirt and over the slight bulge that the hilts of my knives made. They were precious to me. They meant so much more to me than a material possession. They were a gift from my parents, them accepting who I was and what I wanted. That meant more to me than anything. I tried to take a calming breath and relax. I could feel how tense my muscles were and my neck hurt. I raised one arm to rub the stiffness from my neck, and managed to elbow someone in the shoulder. I muttered an apology and continued to walk. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one in a bad mood today. As I was taking a step forward, I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me back.

"What the?!" I yelled as I tried to catch my balance. After a slight stumble as I tried to get my feet back underneath me, I managed to straighten up and turn around. Ready to do battle, I felt my face pale as I saw not one but three men standing behind me. I know when I don't stand a chance, so I go to back away when all three of them advance on me. My hands unconsciously go to my knives, but are hindered by my shirt. With a muttered curse I go to raise it up out of the way and remember that I can't kill them. As much as I wished I could, I have to force my hand away from my knives. I see their eyes follow my movements and realize that I just gave away that I was not unarmed but was unwilling to use them. With a grin the one in front comes at me. None of the guys were small, and all of them were mean. I could tell just by the look on their faces that I was in trouble.


"Well shit." I managed to mutter as I turned to make a run for it. I didn't get even a step away before I was knocked to the ground. I felt the air rush from my lungs and I struggled to catch my breath again. I felt the panic of not being able to breath. Before I could get it back, I was summarily kicked in the ribs. What little air had remained in my lungs came out with an audible, "Oomp." I was ashamed of the weak sound but unable to stop it. All of my training went out the window as I was hit, and I felt hands reach up my shirt to jerk my knives out of their hilts. The crazy thought that it would have been easier to just take my belt exposed just how deeply my panic had altered my state of mind. With all the pain I was feeling, the only thought that cohesively passed through my head was, Please don't take them.

[Artemis]

It had been entirely too long since Max had gotten a day off. Between his shifts at ungodly hours of the night at the Detention Center and generally tending to most of this district's supply of police dogs, he was growing increasingly louder in his Captain's ear to quit fucking with his schedule.

Not in so many (or as profane) words, but the point was the same.

He was out for a run (In the daytime, of all times!) for the first time in what felt like weeks --it had been days-- with Kaiser keeping pace at an easy canter beside him. The dog, of course, was happy to be outside at any time of the day or night as long as Max was there; hell, he'd be content to be a couch potato, if not for the fact that Max couldn't abide by that much laziness.

He could abide by other kinds of laziness, but neglecting his body wasn't one of them. Max was much too vain to let his physique fall by the wayside.

Max was only about halfway into a several-mile run, and though he was in civilian clothes most of the passers-by on the street cleared a path for him. He suspected it had to do with the huge police dog at his side, but Max was no pushover either; though it was obscured by his shirt (discarded a mile ago and tucked into the waist of his shorts), Max's badge was clipped to his waist.

If anyone was foolish enough to try and give him trouble, Max had no intentions of sitting there and just taking it.

Giving others trouble, however...

Max slowed down to a walk as he approached a gap between two large buildings; even over the sound of his music (he looked around as he took the buds from his ears), he could hear a scuffle further down the alley. Normally, he could run by without so much as a backward glance, but... It was three on one. The three were grown men. And the one was a pixie of a redheaded girl.

Even Max remembered the Peacekeeper that had bailed him out of what could have been a disastrous fight; as much as he wanted to continue on his merry way....

I don't fucking think so.

Kaiser's ears were perked up, the hackles on his back raised and a low growl coming from his throat. The dog wasn't a police dog by trade, but he was trained as one. Max touched the back of the dog's neck, and he took off like a bullet down the alley towards the nearest perpetrator with his master pounding the pavement behind him.

"Hey, FUCKFACE!"

All three of the men turned, just in time for one to have a large black dog lunge for his face and the other to have someone his own size plow into his abdomen in a headlong sprint.

a4ceff - Peyton
45583a - Max

[bellz]

I knew that I was close to blacking out. A body could only take so much pain. In the distance I swear that over the sound of my own flesh being pummeled, I could hear something else. Whatever it was, I couldn't pinpoint it, and right now I had enough to worry about. I could only guess what would happen when they realized I was almost unconscious. They had already stripped me of my knives, and my belt. Adding to my humiliation, my shirt was half-way up my back, exposing the soft skin to the pavement and my stomach to the harsh reality of the man in front of me in the form of his steel-toed boots. I tried to figure out why I had deserved this. What did I do but accidentally bump him with my elbow. "Son of a bitch." I manage to mutter, spitting the blood that I had coughed up in his face. I know that it was stupid, but really what more could they do to me? One was most assuredly going to show me, but that incessant sound presented itself. It was a man and his dog. Was this a joke?

The dog went after the man that had drawn his hand back to hit me in the face, the one spot they had managed to spare on my battered body. "Hey, FUCKFACE!" was all I heard before the man kicking me shot over me like a rocket. He was propelled by the man that had launched himself into him like a human cannonball. The third man ran in the other direction, showing that at least he had some common sense. It was one thing to go after a girl, it was another to go up against a full grown man and a large dog. I slowly rolled over while they were preoccupied. I coughed again and sent blood splattering across the pavement. I wiped my mouth and proceeded to get my body slowly up to my knees. With as much effort as I could manage I pushed myself to my feet. I swayed and caught myself against the wall. I had never in my life felt so much pain. "That's gonna hurt tomorrow." I muttered, then chuckled at my poor joke and groaned at the shot of pure agony shot through my abdomen.

I turned my attention to the men that had not been so fortunate as to get away. The dog had no trouble subduing it's victim. Though viewing the man as a victim was a stretch for me. Further down I saw the man that had come to my rescue. I hated the fact that I had to be rescued but it was a fact that I couldn't deny. He had no trouble either that I could see and I realized that for some reason he was shirtless and sweaty. Sweaty I could understand since it was so hot out here, but it wasn't from effort. He didn't look like he was even having to try. I felt envy at his strength and awe at the muscles that bunched and flexed as he moved. I didn't know why I was rooted to the spot, didn't know why I couldn't look away. It wasn't that I was offended by the sight, I quite enjoyed seeing the man get a piece of his own medicine. Both of them to be exact.

I caught myself staring not at the man that had attacked me, but at the man that had come to my rescue. He was absolutely stunning. For a minute I assumed it was just a reaction to being saved, but I doubted it. He was a grown man, and I was only fifteen, but the thoughts that went through my head were hardly child-like. I felt my face flush and was glad that he wouldn't be able to tell that it was my reaction to him. I wanted to reach out and touch him, just to see if those muscles were as hard as I was sure they were. I was never so glad of a wall as I was the one that was behind me. I had to get my knives back though, and thankfully the one that had taken my things was the one that had gotten taken down by the man's massive dog. "Um.." I pointed to the dog. "That one has my things." I didn't think ahead how I was going to explain the knives, I just wanted them back.

[Artemis]

The perp that Kaiser had launched himself at wasn't going to be an issue; he was thrashing around on the ground, trying to shake the vice-like clamp of the dog's jaws on his arm off and finding himself incredibly unsuccessful. When Max had found the dog, he'd fully expected Kaiser to be the runt of the litter; by the time he was barely a year old, the dog looked like he might as well have been a wolf. The man he had tackled was curled up on the ground, breathless and looking about ready to vomit; Max had driven his weight through his knee into the man's groin as he took him to the ground, and it didn't look like he was going to get back up any time soon. His eyes fell on the third man, who was looking at him like a deer in headlights, knives in hand but looking unsure whether or not to use them.

What it was about these people in District 2, Max didn't think he would ever understand; something about the Career districts made these people fucking crazy.

"You want some too, motherfucker!?" He shouted, advancing on the third assailant.

Against all common sense, the man charged at him with a yell; obviously he didn't know who he was dealing with. Max was trained in hand-to-hand combat just like every Peacekeeper was, but more importantly, even lacking Career training he'd had to hold his own for many years.

And Max just loved fighting dirty.

The assailant wasn't entirely stupid, and didn't just come running at him with a knife over his head (and inviting any number of blows to his torso); Max jumped back to avoid a slash, catching the assailant on the sweep down and smashing the heel of his hand into the man's nose. The crunch told him that it was broken, and blood started to pour from his opponent's nose; Max didn't waste a second as the man's eyes watered and obscured his vision, getting in tight and lighting up his abdomen with punches and elbows. A punch to the throat finally landed the last assailant on his back, gasping for air and holding his arm out; he was done, he gave up.

Kaiser still had a death grip on the first man, who hadn't stopped trying to get the dog off but had lost his voice from screaming; Max sighed, walking over to the dog and touching the back of his neck. Like pushing a button: Kaiser released the arm, which was slick with blood and saliva and nearly shredded from the man's struggling against the dog's teeth. Max grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket, hauling him up so they were face to face.

"You like ganging up on kids, you piece of shit?" He snarled. Behind him, Kaiser growled sensing his master's anger; the fear in the first assailant's eyes was unbearably satisfying. "Three on one, those are your kinds of odds?"

Of course they were. The three of them nearly shit their pants faced with an opponent their own size. Max unceremoniously dropped him, suddenly remembering that there had, in fact, been a victim; he tapped Kaiser's back, directing the dog to sit and guard the would-be assailants. The Peacekeepers were going to have a field day with these assholes. Max turned, finding the redheaded girl who had been curled up on the ground had managed to lean herself up against the wall of the alley; there was blood on her lips, dirt and boot prints smeared all over her clothes, and an expression that looked like she'd just been rescued by a knight in shining armor.

Max didn't honestly hear what she said; his pulse was hammering in his ears from the adrenaline rush. Equally unceremoniously, he strode over to whom he supposed would be the 'damsel in distress' --to run with the analogy-- and scooped her up into his arms; she was barely standing and clearly needed medical attention. He started moving back towards the mouth of the alley, glancing back at Kaiser.

"Kaiser. Fetch."

Kaiser was on his feet, growling and snarling and barking at the three assailants; the three of them clamored to their feet as the dog herded them in his master's direction. Someone had apparently overheard the scuffle, and the sound of sirens became audible somewhere nearby. The authorities would be here soon.

a4ceff - Peyton
45583a - Max

[bellz]

I hated feeling weak, but my legs almost wouldn't hold me up any more. I watched him with wide eyes as I finally got to see his face. His fists moved so fast, I couldn't keep up. I had finally gotten to see his face and I felt my heart beat faster, and unfortunately I had lost my breath again for another second.This time it wasn't from the pain, but the breathtaking face that had just turned toward me. My lungs and throat were burning. I figured he didn't hear me when I said the man had my things, mostly because my voice sounded weak to even my own ears. He turned to face me, eyes alighting on me for seemingly the first time. His words were harsh to the men he had beaten within an inch of their lives, but when he approached I wasn't afraid. Just as my knees were about to buckle, he picked me up. It was a relief and a thrill at the same time. He was still shirtless, smelled like sweat and blood and everything was male. He strode away and called to his demon dog. I would love to have a dog like that. Those fuckers wouldn't have messed with me then. I strained my head to see over his broad shoulder and placed one hand on said shoulder to peer over. The dog was herding the men like sheep down the alley. For a moment I frowned as I wondered how they had gotten me into the alley, then remembered that I had tried to run. 

I heard the sirens and the sound grated. My head was throbbing and it sounded like nails on a chalkboard. I cringed, unable to stop myself. With that worry, another came with the fact that still the man still had my knives. With the sirens meant people asking questions, and confiscating my weapons. "Well shit." How in the world was I going to get them back? I would let my parents take care of it. When they heard what happened, they would understand I was sure. I let myself back down when I had assured myself that they weren't going to get away, that his dog wasn't going to let them go anywhere. It brought me back to the reality of the man that was now carrying me. His muscles were just as hard as I had thought they would be. He was slick with sweat and I just unobtrusively ran my hand down his chest. I shivered a little and bit my lip. I closed my eyes as I felt his muscles tense under my hand. His heat permeated through my shirt and jeans, and I could feel my stomach clench. I had never felt more secure as I did in his arms, but neither had I felt so small. I could only imagine that he was taking me somewhere to get medical attention. When I started coughing up blood I figured that denying it would be futile and ignorant. I really did need help. I just hoped that he would carry me there the whole way. 

I let my eyes wander over his chest, the arm that disappeared underneath my legs, and what parts of his face I could see. Did he realize just how gorgeous he was? I wanted to run my tongue across the length of his strong jawline, and I couldn't believe the thought even as it finished in my head. The urge was almost irresistable, but I managed. Barely. My hands curled up into fists in anger and frustration. Never had I been so hyper-aware of another human being. But I was only fifteen, this man would have nothing to do with me. It was almost enough to set me off in a fit. Well, what the hell? I nuzzled my head under his chin, and wondered at how gently he was holding me. After all I had been through he wouldn't begrudge me that would he? He wasn't jostling me, or gripping me too tightly. It was amazing to just be held. By him I mean. I breathed in deeply, not caring that most people would be disgusted by the smell of sweat, but I reveled in it. 

I didn't bother to ask him where we were going, or how far help was, or why he wasn't even glancing back to see if the men had gotten away. He must have absolute faith in that dog of his. What did he say it's name was? Kaiser? What a strange name. I didn't know how to handle or process the strange feelings and wants that were so new to me, so my mind focused on the most inane things. For instance, the fact that I didn't even know my savior's name. I wonder if I would even care if he didn't look as good as he did. I probably would have made up some smart-ass comment and stumbled away. Yeah, his looks definitely had something to do with my attitude, or lack thereof. That and the way he handled them, and all the things he said made her all tingly inside. He was a grown-up male version of herself and she thought that was hot as hell. I waved one hand up slightly and weakly. "Name's Peyton, by the way." My hand fell as I couldn't keep it up anymore. "Um...thanks." Wow, was that awkward or what? Well, all or nothing I guess. "Who are you? Why did you name your dog Kaiser?" I knew that in a moment I was going to black out completely, so the question about the dog wasn't supposed to come out, just did. Slightly slurred, but out nonetheless. I just hoped that I could catch his name while I could hear it. He was the kind of guy a girl wanted to remember. 

[Artemis]

Honestly, Max hadn't been paying too much attention to the girl; his bedside manner with animals was considerably better than it was with people. Not that she seemed to mind being swept up into his sweaty arms; the girl even had the wherewithal to look back at Kaiser as he herded the three suspects down the alley after them. Max didn't have to look to know all three of them were still there; Kaiser came nearly to his hip, one wrong move attempting to flee or to harm Max and any of them would be down for the count.

The sirens, thankfully, were slowly getting closer; he could see a woman with a couple of small children clinging to her legs, peering nervously around the corner of the alley. No doubt she was the one who had called in the Peacekeepers. The girl in his arms winced at the steadily growing high-pitched whine; great, she probably had some head trauma on top of what he could already guess was going to be a slew of bruises and lacerations.

Why did it have to be a human they had to pick on? Give him a cat, a dog, a goddamned muttation, Max would know how to patch it up on the spot. Humans, not so much; it had been so long since he'd taken first aid at the Academy it would probably do more harm than good trying to apply it.

By the same token... his usual patients didn't generally get this cozy with him. Max opted to ignore it at the hand on his chest, though he couldn't quite suppress a shudder; the girl was cute, certainly, but she was clearly underage and no thank you. He had morals, thank you very much, and far too many sisters to even consider it. She didn't seem to mind this arrangement, though, eyes raking over his bare chest, his arms and finally settling on his face for a moment before tucking her head under his chin. Max frowned when she inhaled against his neck; he was positive that he reeked both from the run and the exertion of handling the three behind him. Inwardly, he sighed.

Few more minutes, the medics will take her and she'll be out of your hair.

"Name's Peyton, by the way."

Her proximity was damn near the only reason she was audible.

"Um... thanks."

"Yeah, yeah." He replied nonchalantly.

Peyton was weird, that much was certain, but even Max wasn't so heartless that he'd let three grown men kick the crap out of a teenage girl.

"Who are you? Why did you name your dog Kaiser?"

She was starting to fade; shit, where were those Peacekeepers? For all he knew she was bleeding in the brain or something, and he was standing around with a dying girl in his arms. Probably best to keep her talking and alert.

"Max." He replied brusquely, getting out to the street and seeing the white cruisers just a couple of blocks to his left. "And why not call him Kaiser? It's a good name. You were expecting 'Fluffy', maybe?"

Max barely had time to complete his sentence when the white vehicles pulled to a sharp halt at the scene; one of them, thankfully, was an ambulance. Rather redundantly, the woman with the children pointed to them, saying she had called for the girl; the Peacekeepers in the cruiser turned, already knowing who he was.

"These are them." Max said to them, jerking his head towards the three men cowering away from Kaiser's snapping jaws. "Kaiser. Heel."

The dog growled at the three as he backed up to stand by Max's side, ears pointed all the way forward and hackles raised, daring any of them to lay a hand on his master. If his hands weren't otherwise full, Max might have knelt on the ground next to his dog, scratching his neck and praising him on a job well done; Kaiser was only a few years old, but he was impossibly smart and probably the best-trained dog in the district (if he did say so himself... which he did).

"Oy, medics. Today would be nice."

a4ceff - Peyton
45583a - Max

[bellz]

The first time I heard him speak, yelling not withstanding, he had a pleasant rumbling sort of voice. He merely acknowledged that he had saved my life. I couldn't help but wonder why he didn't seem to care. I would admit to myself later how much it hurt that he took so little joy out of saving me. For the moment, I couldn't open my eyes anymore. I could still feel the vibrations of his chest as he spoke. His name was so simple, short, but infinitely sweet to my ears. Maybe I had a concussion? Maybe that was the cause of my reaction to him? I could only hope that I had a logical excuse to this physical pull I felt toward him. It was a disgrace how much I wanted him, I was much too young.

He was brave and strong, and I sound like a little schoolgirl even to myself. Thank God I didn't say any of this out loud. Even if I did, would he hear me? Even my thoughts are lowering in volume. I'm straining to hear my own thoughts. That is a strange sensation. He is still talking, trying to keep me awake I guess. How sweet. His comment about naming his dog Fluffy elicited a weak chuckle. The sirens had gotten louder, but funneled at a distance. I perceived it, but it no longer held any forbearance, nor did it make my headache worse. Nothing could at this point. I was sliding toward a black pit of pain. How badly had they hurt me? How long had they been doing that to me before Max came along? 

Max. What a lovely name. Wow, I really was losing it. I felt more than heard him say something, then with a rough jostling I was being handed over to someone else. Of course he would, but it hurt that he would. I didn't want to let him go, but my hold was weak, if non-existent. My head bounced and I managed a whisper. I made it count, too. "Son of...a ..bitch." I hope they heard me. I felt a needle in my arm and gave a shuddering breath as all the pain seeped away. Unfortunately so did the last of my conscious thought.         


...



I woke up a little while later, or a long while, I don't know. There wasn't a clock and I didn't know what time I had been attacked, or how long it had taken place, so even if there was a clock, it wouldn't have helped me. I groaned and threw an arm over my eyes. Medicine is great and all, but it wore off way too soon. The light speared my eyes, and the pain took my breath away. Yep, definitely a concussion. I had yet to try to move anything else, but I was sure it would hurt like hell when I did. So instead, while I shored up my courage, I thought back on the day I had. What the hell had happened today? First that bullshit with Kyanite, then getting jumped by three guys? This was supposed to be my day. The day my parents gave me to be myself and do what I love. The thought of my parents and the gift they had given me that I had lost hit me, and for the first time that day, I shed a tear. A few, as a matter of fact. I was alone in the room, so I was alone with my grief. I would suck it up and put on a brave face later, but for now, I was damn well going to wallow in my misery. I deserved it. After a few minutes a nurse came to check on me and I dried up my tears. 


My knives. My beautiful knives. All gone. For what? Someone being as conceited as me, I guess. Difference was, I put up a fair fight. One on one. I don't cheat. I lost to Kyanite didn't I? I also lost that fight if a fight is what it could be called. Well, at least I got carried by a handsome stranger. He wasn't exactly a stranger, I knew his name. Later, when I was more myself and could stand on my own, I would find him and thank him properly. It was going to be hard to find him when all I had was his first name. I could always ask around for a smoking hot Max who can fight like he had the devil himself on his side. Who would know who I was talking about and who would just laugh at me like the love-struck idiot I was? No one and everyone, consecutively. Well, I guess I could get someone to get my parents for me. Maybe they could get my knives back from the Peacekeepers. 

[Artemis]

Max had handed the girl --Peyton-- off to the medics, answered a few questions and signed a few papers as the perps were less-than-gently loaded into the back of the cruiser that had arrived on the scene. He'd finished his run and gone on with the rest of his day, not expecting to hear anything further about the matter.

On Monday, as he returned to his office, there was a box sitting on his desk, filled with a coiled-up leather belt and a handful of small, dainty-looking knives inside of it. One of the enlisted (he really didn't give a shit who it was) had left a note, saying that the knives had been determined not to belong to any of the perpetrators; Max had merely rolled his eyes, dumping the contents of the box into the top drawer of his desk and forgetting about it.

Then the hospital called. Apparently, the medics had put his full rank and name on the paperwork to process their patient; fate, the universe, whatever it was just wouldn't let this thing die.

"What do you want."

"Sir. We're following up with you about a patient Peyton Edric."

"Who?"

"Peyton Edric. You were listed as the Peacekeeper on scene where our medics picked her up. She was physically assaulted by three men."

Oh, right. The oddball who liked the smell of sweaty older guys.

"And?"

"She's awake, sir."

Max was very nearly about to demand 'and??' again from the staff, when something occurred to him; he slid open his top drawer, where the belt had come uncoiled and the knives were haphazardly scattered around with various pencils and stamps and the like. They were far too dainty for a bunch of guys like the ones who had attacked Peyton, but they certainly looked like the weapon of a petite teenaged girl. Normally, he'd have rolled his eyes and swept it under the metaphorical carpet, but after she had passed out almost as soon as she hit the gurney...

The kid was probably going to need those.

Max sighed. "I'll be by."

He'd hollered at his clerk that he was going out, only catching the former half of the 'yes, sir!' directed at him as he left; Kaiser trotted at his heels, as always. Max bullied a newly-pinned Corporal into bringing one of the government cars around, directing her to drive to the hospital; he knew she was going to be spending an eternity getting the black dog hair out of the gray interior of the car, but that wasn't Max's problem.

The receptionist at the front desk had been ready to put up a massive fight against having Kaiser in the hospital, but had immediately gone silent seeing the gleaming silver bars on his collar; anyone who thought to nut up against an enlisted Peacekeeper rarely had it in them to try and impose their will on an officer. So he was following a very nervous scrub-clad nurse down the hallway, disgusted by the smell of antiseptic and wanting more than anything for this to be a quick trip.

The nurse left as soon as he pointed out Peyton's room; Max leaned lazily against the door, letting the belt in his left hand uncoil with all of the knives back in their rightful places.

"I believe these are yours."

19e6de - Medics/Nurses
a4ceff - Peyton
45583a - Max

[bellz]

With more than a little effort, I had managed to maneuver my way up the bed. I slowly, with deep breaths and many curses, brought up my legs and twisted my torso. It wasn't going to be a quick recovery, I knew, but I am completely impatient. If one were to ask any of my many nurses, they would concur. Wholeheartedly, at a guess. They did not like me, and I didn't care. I chuckled as I remembered the first one I had managed to make cry. If she had done her job and gotten out like I had told her to, it wouldn't have happened. Some people never learn, though. She came back later that day to bring me a meal. Liquid, blended up meat and vegetables. Really? What did that woman think I was? An octogenarian with no teeth? I thought the colors made a nice compliment to the color of her clothes. It was nice for her since she was wearing my lunch when she left. She hadn't been back since. Thank all the stars in heaven for that. I had finally gotten a proper meal some time later after all the mayhem I had caused calmed down. I had finished and pushed my tray out of the way when I heard a clicking down the hall. I frowned and concentrated on it, trying to figure out what the new sound was. 

The nurse at the station was talking, his loud voice causing my frown to deepen. Had someone said my name? The clicking sound was now accompanied by not one but two sets of footsteps. One was easily identifiable as a nurse or aide. Their squeaking shoes had been keeping me from taking a nap for hours now. The other set were a more solid and not nearly as annoying. I saw a hand point into my room and then disappear. If my frown got any worse it would be stuck permanently onto my face. The clicking and footsteps approached as the squeaking went quickly away. No one wanted to stay in my room for long, or even around it for that matter. It was undoubtedly because of a certain bedpan that had come flying out when they suggested that I use it instead of helping me to the bathroom. They didn't want to put themselves into one of these hospital beds and I was more than obliging to put them there. Let them see what their shitty service was like.

I looked out the window, finally the shades were drawn and I could see the outside. I longed to be out there, breathing in the fresh air. I heard someone leaning on the door frame and knew that it wasn't another doctor coming to poke and prod at my stomach. They still came back, sporting black eyes, brave little shits, but they never leaned against my door. I also heard a familiar voice, "I believe these are yours." I turned my head slowly and realized just who was standing there. Looking sexy as hell with that arrogant look on his face, his hand unclenched, sending my belt and knives chiming and glinting in the harsh hospital light as they unfurled. My heart skipped a beat, or it seemed like it. The machine still attached to me didn't make a noticeable beep, but it did show that my heart rate had risen just a tad. I was mortified, but figured I could account it to my excitement at seeing my knives.  I was suddenly aware of just how awful I looked. I had seen myself in the mirror. At least the hospital had a comb that I was able to use to brush my hair. I struggled to come up with something to say. For once in my life, someone had made me speechless. 

I reached my hands out for my knives. "I thought you hadn't heard me. How did you manage to get them from the Peacekeepers?" I let my impatience be known by flipping my covers back, straightening my gown and swinging my legs from the bed. With no more sound than the grinding of my teeth, I pushed myself up. The gown was secured tightly in the back, I had made sure, since no one was going to see my bare ass. I pulled the I.V. bag pole with me as I made my way over to him. I realized as I got closer that the clicking sound was his dog that was still at his side. I paused as I seen it, not wanting to get any closer. I had seen what that dog had done, and I didn't want to be on his menu. I hoped that Max wouldn't let him do that, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I put my hand out again. "You don't know how much this means to me. My parents got me those as a gift." I longed to hold them again, to feel their familiar weight around my hips. 

It was then that I saw that he hadn't gotten them from the Peacekeepers, he was a Peacekeeper. Now that brought me up short. I shouldn't be as surprised as I am. Someone who fought as fiercely as he did would be a Peacekeeper. I coughed and looked away as I remembered the second sentence that had come out of my mouth when he had appeared. After our first meeting, he must surely think I am crazy, weird, and now stupid. I had never had such a horrible day. Or week, as I had found out later than I had been out for a few days. My parents had come by while I was out, but I hadn't gotten a chance to tell them what had happened. At least now I didn't have to ask them to get my knives back. They would have been so disappointed in me. "So...Peacekeeper...huh." I just kept stumbling around like my tongue was tied in knots. I was wrong, it wasn't just my condition that had me attracted to him, it was the man itself. Peacekeeper or not, I still wanted to do ridiculous things to him. I would just keep those thoughts to myself. He didn't even seem to care that I existed, but he had brought me back my knives. "Why did you bring them back to me?" I couldn't help but ask. Too many questions, talking too much. Why couldn't I stop myself?

[Artemis]

From what the nurse had been telling him when Max had asked for Peyton's room, she had been an absolute hellion since she woke up; assailing nurses, snapping at the doctor that had been checking her over for injuries, and apparently had reacted rather violently to the suggestion of a bedpan.

He was not entirely expecting her to be so happy to see him.

The beeping of the EKG machine increased ever so slightly; whether it was the uniform, the fact that he had her knives, or him he wasn't sure. But Max was quite positive that the hand down his chest and the rather shameless ogling hadn't been accidental. Peyton swung her legs out of bed, and Max immediately picked a spot out the window to stare at; the hospital gown hadn't revealed anything indecent, but it wasn't very modest either. Paired with the fact that the nurse had left him alone with a teenage girl who seemed to be, at best, creepily infatuated with a man 10 years her senior...

Why the hell am I here again?

Right, because in spite of the fact that she owned a set of rather impressive knives, she apparently sucked at self defense and reminded Max a little uncannily of a younger, scrawnier, scrappier version of himself.

Only when a Peacekeeper had taken Max under his wing, he hadn't repaid the favor by creepily ogling the man.

"I thought you hadn't heard me. How did you manage to get them from the Peacekeepers?"

Wow, how hard had the kid hit her head? Max was standing there in full uniform, just shy of having his helmet tucked under his arm, and she was asking how he got them from the Peacekeepers? To be fair, though, she had apparently been out cold for days, considering the hospital had only called him after the weekend had ended. Peyton gave pause when she saw Kaiser; she remembered him, at least. The dog's ears were perked up, mouth closed and his tail was wagging slightly; ignoring the girl for a moment, Max turned the dog and scratched him behind his ears. Kaiser leaned his head against Max's leg, smiling in the way only a dog could. There were few things that made the dog happier than when Max gave him attention of any kind, but especially scratches behind the ears.

"He's not gonna bite," Max remarked, almost offhandedly. "Unless he thinks you're a threat."

Kaiser had the spirit of a puppy, but he was a well-trained police working dog; more than one perpetrator or suspect had found out the hard way what happened if they raised a hand to Max.

It took a moment, but Peyton finally seemed to register who he was, coughing and looking away awkwardly; she looked terribly small and somehow even younger, standing there barefoot in that hideous hospital gown in the middle of a rather oversized hospital room.

"So... Peacekeeper... huh."

Max rolled his eyes while she was still looking away from him. It was official, Peyton was a nut.

"So you noticed." He replied dryly, before it occurred to him that she was still standing there. "Back in bed, you."

He shooed her back to her hospital bed, taking the seat beside it but keeping just out of arm's reach. There would be no funny business this time.

"Why did you bring them back to me?"

Max raised an eyebrow, holding up the belt for emphasis. "More to the point. I get that you were outnumbered, but do you actually know how to use these?" He hadn't seen a single scratch on the guys who had ganged up on Peyton, so he couldn't help but believe she just might suck at using her weapon of choice.

19e6de - Medics/Nurses
a4ceff - Peyton
45583a - Max

[bellz]

"Oh, okay. For a moment there all I could think about was how he took down that man. Really didn't want to be next." I chuckled and winced at the pain. Good to know that he was trained. Kaiser had perked up his ears and wagged his tail, and I couldn't help but smile. He really was a beautiful dog. "And don't get snippy with me, I was focused on my knives and the dog. I didn't notice the uniform." I waved a hand up and down, unable to not notice just how good it looked on him. When he shoo'ed me back to bed I shot him a frown, but couldn't be mad. It was sweet all the same that he even noticed, or cared. Since he was right that I shouldn't be standing, I shrugged and made my way back to the bed. After I was settled, he chose a chair close enough that we could talk normally, but not where I could easily reach him. It was like he was afraid I was going to jump out of the bed and molest him. It didn't matter that I really wanted to, I wasn't going to. Instead of answering why he had brought them back, he asked if I even knew how to use them. I rolled my eyes in exasperation. I motioned for him to bring them closer and took one of the knives out of the belt. With a raised eyebrow, I flipped the knife and sent it flying across the room. It lodged hilt-deep into the wall.

"Of course I know how to use them. Really... to think I would carry around weapons that I didn't know how to use. I think that is why those guys attacked me honestly. I didn't use them, because instead of coming to my rescue, you would have been arresting me. I reached for them, then realized that without actual provocation I couldn't legally use them. I tried to run instead. By the time it would have been deemed self-defense, I was already royally screwed." I shook my head and flung my arm over my eyes. I muffled a curse when it jerked the I.V. in my arm. "Son of a...Geez."  I looked back down at it with a grimace. "This sucks." I bit my lip when I looked back up at him. "About when you saved me..." I started, but had to pause to think about what to say that didn't make me sound like even more of a fool than he probably already thought I was. "I'm sorry about what I did. Usually I can control my actions, but I got hit pretty hard on the head when they knocked me down." I rubbed me head for emphasis. There was a nice lump back there. "I was going to try to find you to thank you properly, and to apologize." It wasn't fair that I had to. Life sucked that way. Finally I meet someone that I'm attracted to, and he is way too old for me. Even knowing this wasn't enough to stop me from reacting to him. I could get some sense into my head and stop staring. He already seemed a little skittish around me. I can't rightly blame him after I felt him up and sniffed him. Oh, geez. I sniffed him. My mortification was complete.

I resolutely looked out the window, determined to stop wondering at the color of his eyes, how best to describe the shade. I was making a fool out of myself. I wondered what it would take to keep seeing him, just to be able to be around him. Probably wouldn't happen when he already thought I was weird. Hell, at this point even I thought it. "Back to the knife issue. I used to think I was the best at throwing knives." I gave a very un-lady like snort. "I actually challenged Kyanite to a contest. I lost horrendously. Then I got jumped by three assholes. I made a fool out of myself with you. Then ended up in the hospital for days. Been a pretty shitty week. The only highlight, is the fact that you brought my belt and knives back to me. You still didn't answer my question. Why did you bring them back?" I was still staring out the window. Maybe he wouldn't bolt if I didn't stare at him. I felt better just knowing that he was there though. My parents hadn't come back since the first day. Without an explanation, they probably thought it was my fault. In normal circumstances, they would be right. I have gotten myself in trouble before. The nurses hadn't given me a phone to call them. I hadn't given them a chance anyway. So it was nice to have someone who knew what had happened and would actually talk to me about it. Now that I thought about it, I didn't see any weapon visible on him. I know that he uses his body as a weapon, one he wields with expertise, but did he use an actual weapon? "What do you do? Other than beat guys to a bloody pulp with your fists, that is? I use knives, what do you use?"

[Artemis]

Maybe it was years of having an itchy trigger finger bred into him, maybe it was just the fact that Max hadn't actually expected Peyton to know what she was doing with a belt full of throwing knives; he started in his chair as she flung the knife at the far wall, Kaiser was immediately on his feet, hackles raised at his master's alarm with a low growl in his throat.

"Of course I know how to use them. Really... to think I would carry around weapons that I didn't know how to use."

He leaned forward in his chair, his tone serious and low.

"And for all your legal-ese, you realize that little demonstration could have constituted assault on a Peacekeeper." Max warned, "You're lucky I'm in a good mood."

He draped the belt of knives over the back of his chair, none too keen on repeating the experience. Kaiser looked at Max, then at Peyton, and having decided she wasn't a threat had laid back down at the foot of the bed, but was keeping a wary amber eye on the girl. The dog didn't care about gender or age; all he cared was that Max was safe, and he'd neutralize the threat if one arose.

"About when you saved me..." Peyton started, and suddenly the awkwardness in the room became so thick you could cut it with a knife. "I'm sorry about what I did. Usually I can control my actions, but I got hit pretty hard on the head when they knocked me down."

Great, so she was infatuated with him; she was just apologizing for feeling him up.

"I was going to try to find you to thank you properly, and to apologize."

Max sighed, folding his arms.

"Accepted. But I'll tell you now before you get your hopes up, you're way too young for me." Nip it in the bud; the last thing he needed was to be followed around by jailbait and have someone above him getting the wrong idea. Peyton, if he had to guess, couldn't be older than 16, if he was being generous.

If he was being honest, the minute Peyton started talking about her skill with the knives, she'd lost Max; he had no interest in them, hadn't the foggiest idea who Kyanite was, and he almost missed the question as to why he'd been compelled to bring them back. Max sighed, unwillingly reminded of himself at her age; he'd been bigger, but not so much stronger. He hadn't gained this much muscle until he was nearly 18, when he'd begged his mentor to help him prepare for the Academy.

"You still didn't answer my question. Why did you bring them back?"

"Obviously you need them, if you didn't manage to put a scratch on the assholes that jumped you." He considered for a moment, "You haven't been to the Training Center yet, have you. There's a guy there you might wanna try; you know the Peacekeeper at the Olympics? O'Rourke? His father works the center from time to time, I've heard he's a good teacher."

"What do you do? Other than beat guys to a bloody pulp with your fists, that is? I use knives, what do you use?"

"Bo staff."

It was a simple, but very elegant weapon; in District 8, bladed or metal weapons were absolutely out of the question. Even if they'd had the money to get a hold of them, not being the Capitol's pet like District 2 was made them strictly off-limits; a bo staff, however, could be easily improvised and quickly disposed of in an inconspicuous manner. It seemed highly unwieldly, but in the hands of an expert it was beautiful to watch. Max had been fortunate enough that his mentor, besides being a terror with his fists, had been a very talented staff wielder.

19e6de - Medics/Nurses
a4ceff - Peyton
45583a - Max

[bellz]

His words were a blow to my already fragile ego. Just a few days ago I had felt on top of the world, now I felt like scum. I waited until Kaiser had settled back down, and Max's chair was on all fours again. I had given him quite a start. "As glad as I am that you are in a good mood, don't bait me with a ridiculous question, then misconstrue my actions." I couldn't help but be a little ruffled. What did he think I was going to do when I grabbed the knife? Twirl it in the air. I swear he was treating me like a five year old. I know I am too young for him, but I am not a toddler. The fact that he even brought up the age difference was like a slap in the face. I didn't need to be told. I know better. "The fact that you think you need to tell me that. It's obvious, I know. Don't blame me when you walk around looking as good as you do. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has felt this way about you. I was just telling you that I was sorry. I'm probably the only one that acted on the impulse, but it's because I couldn't help myself." I hated having to explain myself to him, hated that he was too old for me, hated the tone of voice I was using. I could hear the self-loathing. My anger wasn't directed at him, but at myself. Did he think I could just turn it off? Act like he was nothing to me? Not only was he everything I could ever want in a man, he saved my life. Under normal circumstances, I probably would have written him off as cute, and kept walking. He had made an impact on my life, whether he like it or not. 


I was busy staring at the covers on my bed, smoothing them over my legs, when he asked me if I had been to the Training Center. I raised my head and shook it as I looked at him. I always wanted to go, but my parents would never let me. Maybe once they heard what had really happened, and how responsible I had been, they would give me the benefit of the doubt. Maybe now they would see that I didn't just want to go, I needed to. I would have been able to protect myself. I felt my eyes get huge, I couldn't believe he was going to help me. Even if it was just referring me to a teacher. "I would like that very much. Who taught you how to fight? I've never seen anyone fight quite like you, even when watching the Hunger Games." I was still impressed by his skill. He didn't have a single scratch on him, even after taking on three grown men. He was sitting there just looking at me, and I couldn't help but think that he could have just given me my knives and left. My eyes wandered to the back of his chair, again placing something safely out of my reach. I scratched my chin and gave a rueful smile. "You know, you don't have to keep my knives away from me. I have had them for quite some time now, and if I didn't use them on the assholes that attacked me, you can bet your sweet ass I'm not going to use them on you. Earlier was just a...demonstration. For some reason I felt the need to prove to you that I'm not completely helpless." 


It was wrong of me to goad him, I just couldn't help myself. He got this cute little line between his eyes when he frowned. It seemed to be the only expression he wore around me. At least he didn't run off screaming like most of the people that met me. Brownie points for him there too. I wondered if this was how people viewed me. Stubborn, rude, and unapproachable. Surely that is why I had no friends. I never let anyone close. What if I befriended someone and they got reaped for the games? What if they were one of the unfortunate many that didn't make it back? I didn't think I could handle that. I knew how my parents felt about my goals in life, and them accepting it showed just how much they loved me. They were mad at me now, sure, but they would forgive. I made up my mind right then to tell them just how much I loved them when I could. I started when I realized that I had been musing inside my head. I had practically blanked out for a minute. I did, however, catch the fact that he used a bo staff. "Wow. Bet you kick ass with it too, huh? I've tried out a lot of things, but never a staff. I figured if a sword was too unwieldy for me, a staff would most definitely be. I wonder if maybe... If I promise not to touch you again.." I wouldn't let my hopes up, but I had to ask. I had wanted to try to keep him around, even if I couldn't have him for myself, so this seemed like the best bet. "If you could maybe teach me how to use one?" I gave him a hopeful look, and raised my eyebrows as I waited anxiously to see if he would give me just a little more of his time.