Food is always good! (Zade)

[Zade]

It didn't take Zade long to finally finish his sundae. He had already lost to Aurora once. He wasn't gonna lose again. Finally taking the last spoon of his sundae, he looked up, only to see that Aurora was already cleaning up the mess they had made. He sighed, finally realising that despite how fast he had eaten, he still lost to Aurora. He grabbed a nearby tissue and wiped the area around his mouth, making sure that there was no chocolate or ice cream around his lips. It would be embarrassing to let Aurora see him like that. Standing up the same time Aurora did, he followed her as she went to throw away their rubbish. "Well, shall we head back home?"

He gave her a smile, wondering if she did want to go home. If not, then he would give her another choice. "Or would you like to wander around for a few more minutes?" He looked out, knowing how dangerous it was outside. Still, he knew how to fight, so hopefully the thugs here were weaker than where he had grown up in.

[Aurora]

"Hmmm...more choices..."

Aurora looked around when Zade did, as if to see what he was seeing. But the red head saw nothing. At least nothing that caught her eye. Now then...back to the choice Aurora had to make...

To stay out and wander around the city. They could have a bunch of fun. Aurora could think of plenty of things to do or places to see out in the city. And yet...

She wanted to go back home, unpack...clean the apartment. Fix everything... but some food!!! They'd need it for breakfest in the morning. Her dark eyes closed as she thought.

"Home...Let's go home Zade."

Aurora smiled up at him, nodding out to the street. It wasn't that far home, and it'd be a nice evening of getting settled. Odd...she was already considering it home.

[Zade]

Home. Yeah. Home. Zade looked at Aurora for a moment, a peaceful smile on his face. He nodded his head slowly. "Yeah. Home it is, then." Zade turned on his heels and walked towards the McDonald's entrance. He had been wanting to walk around a little more with Aurora, but it seemed that she was tired from the trip. Well, he wouldn't force her. He pushed the door open once more for her, then stepped outside. Placing his hands in his pockets, he walked in front of Aurora, not wanting anything to happen to her. For some reason, he just wanted to. "So, Aurora. What made you apply for my apartment?" He asked, turning his head slightly to look at her. Giving her a smile, he slowed down to let her catch up. A cold wind suddenly blew past, but it didn't really bother Zade much. He was, after all, wearing a vest.

He couldn't help but look into her hazel eyes. It always seemed to capture his gaze and pull him into it. It took him a while and a lot of effort to look away. Man, what was wrong with him? Don't tell me he fell in love with her?

[Aurora]

"So, Aurora. What made you apply for my apartment?"

The question made her look up at him. A sheepish sort of smile played on her lips. To tell the truth or just "um" her way out of it? But lie to Zade? Aurora...just couldn't. Once again she felt silly.

"This will sound sort of silly when I start explaining...so please, bare with me here Zade. But my father died when I was little... Mom tried to make ends meet...but couldn't. So..she remarrired. My step father...already had two children... and didn't want another man's child in his house." It was a bit of a sad story, and it hurt her even to explain it all. But Zade should know it. She felt as if he should. "So my mother came up with the idea to send me to the other end of the state and a monthly amount of cash to live on my own...sort of. But I'm not sad. I understand why he could feel that way..."

But honestly, she almost felt unwanted. Her real father had spent time with her everyday, laughing and joking. It was hard to realize not everyone is like that. Like he was.

"I'm actualy kind of glad. I got to meet you after all!" There... a smile. A real one, not one that was fake or was used to cover up something. Aurora was glad she had got to meet Zade.

[Zade]

As Aurora told him her sad story, Zade couldn't help but look away. He knew how hard it was for her to say it from her tone, and he figured looking at her would only make it worse. It seemed that Aurora was rejected by his stepfather. Rejection. Somehow, that word seemed familiar in Zade's past. Yet, his parents didn't reject him. No. It was the other way. He rejected his parents. And as such, they died. He was the cause of their death. He turned back to look at Aurora when she said that she wasn't sad. Well, he was glad she wasn't. It had taken Zade a while to actually create a fake personality, one that would hide his horrible past.

And then, she told her the reason she was glad and he stopped in his tracks, a little surprised. He turned to look at her, noticing the smile on her face. An honest smile. Zade replied the smile with one of his own. A sweet one. He turned on his heels, continuing on their journey back home. "Guess it's my turn to tell the story, eh?"

"I was born to a poor family, in a bad neighbourhood. Basically, when I went to middle school, I mingled with the wrong people and became a gangster myself. When my parents found out, they tried to pull me away. I rejected them, and I got my dad stabbed in the back of his head. My mother was run over by a car as she tried to run away." Zade explained, his voice monotonous, as if trying to hide his emotion as he explained like some narrator. It was a hard story to tell, and not a common one. Still, it seemed easier telling it to Aurora, for a reason. "I killed my parents, Aurora. They still haunt me in my sleep."

Zade sighed, and was about to turn at a corner that led to the road where their apartment was located, when he bumped into someone. Someone defintely larger. He looked up, only to see a large black muscular guy looking angrily at him. "Hey, kid. Watch where you're go-...Hey, pretty lady. What are you doing, hanging out with a guy like him? Come with me and I'll show you what manly really means." The guy grinned at Aurora, which simply made Zade much more pissed. Standing in front of Aurora, he glared back. "Leave us alone. Now."

[Aurora]

Aurora in return listened to Zade tell his story. Her eyebrow furrowed together and she reached out, touching his arm for a moment. The girl felt like hugging him, just holding onto Zade tightly for some odd reason.

"Zad--"

He had bumped into some one. A rather large...someone. Aurora blinked up at the third party. He was...for lack of a better word, a reason for her to feel nervous. This feeling only doubled when he spoke.

"Hey, kid. Watch where you're go-...Hey, pretty lady. What are you doing, hanging out with a guy like him? Come with me and I'll show you what manly really means."

Aurora's eyes went wide. Yeah, her nervous factor went up even more. Good thing Zade stepped in the way! Aurora would have fainted!!!

"U-um... No that's--"

"Leave us alone. Now."

Aurora's eyes softened. Zade. What was he doing? Protecting her? She couldn't help but smile.

[Zade]

"Leave you alone? Fine. I'll leave you aline, but I'll be bringing the chick with me. Got it?"

The larger man replied with a smile, the smaller white guy beside him chuckling. Zade simply kept his fierce gaze, looking back into his eyes. He kept silent, his right hand raising and shoving Aurora behind him as gently as possible. Zade opened his mouth once more. Looks like whereever he went, he would always be involved in violence. "Last warning. Leave us alone." Zade threatened once more, this time pissing the thug off. The thug stood up straight, towering over Zade. And the next thing Zade knew, he felt a strong force hitting the side of his head. He was thrown to the side, onto the road. Lucky for him, he landed on his shoulder, so the damage wasn't that bad. He reached for the side of his face, the place where he had just been smacked. In the background, he heard the white guy cackling. Zade shook his head, trying to shake off the dizziness. He stood up, taking a step sideways to regain his balance. He turned around, only to see the black guy nearing Aurora.

That did it. In the next second, Zade was charging forward. He shoulder rammed the guy's open waist, smashing him against the wall. That didn't knock him out, but it did give Zade enough time to get Aurora out of the situation. "Move back." He told her as he stood once more in between her and the two thugs. The white one came in front and dashed forward, sending a flying roundhouse kick at his face. Zade twsited his body, sending a punch at the guy's shjin, probably breaking it.

[Aurora]

Aurora listened to the talk between the two. She moved when Zade gently pushed her. Then her eyes went wide as the big guy smashed Zade into the street.

"ZADE!!!"

The big guy moved closer to her and she froze. Her knees locked and she could only watch. Some fighter she was. Couldn't even really defend herself. Only clutch her purse to herself. Oh, this was fun.

Then Zade came out of no where and smashed into him, pushing him away. And once again, she could only watch. Aurora felt...useless. Weak. Like she couldn't do anything to help Zade.

"Move back."

That only confirmed it...but she listened and moved back. She could only watch and hope at this point in time.

[Zade]

The smaller guy, who had tried to bring him down with such a simple kick, spun around as he was forced the other way round, landing on the floor on his knees. Painful. The larger black guy had recovered from the earlier attack and tried to avenge his fallen comrade. He threw a large fist forward. Zade considered dodging it, but that would mean that Aurora would get hit instead. He quickly crossed his arms over his chest, taking the impact of the fist. He took a step back to stop himself from falling backwards, his teeth gritting from the pain. From there, he pushed the fist back, and then leapt forward. He threw his own fist at the side of the guy's face, casuing him to lean to the side. Exactly what Zade wanted him to do. Once he landed on the ground, he spun around, sending a roundhouse kick to the side of the guy's stomach, where the sensitive nerves where. WHAM!

Zade heard the guy gasp for air, then fall backwards with a thud. Zade stood straight, breathing heavily. He closed his eyes for a moment, celebrating this small victory. He turned back to Aurora, then asked a very simple question. "You alright?" The side of Zade's face was red, and the top part was a bit black. Also, his fist seemed to be shaking. Probably cause punching the shin wasn't exactly the smartest thing to do.

[Aurora]

Fight over? KO's? Safe to re-enter the area? Aurora didn't give a damn. She rushed over to Zade as soon as she could. At least the other two didn't seem as if they would be much trouble now.

"I'm fine! Are you alright?"

She reached a hand out to the side of his face. That...looked a bit painful. She winced just looking at it. Aurora didn't like the thought of pain too much. She bit her bottom lip. Zade...

"Let's get home and get you cleaned up..."

She grabbed his hand, and headed back to the apartment. Down the street, walking quickly. Her fingers would tighten around his, pulling him along whether he wanted to or not.

[Zade]

"Yeah. I'm alright. This will heal."

But still Aurora didn't listen to him. The next thing he knew, Aurora already grabbed his hand and dragged him. It took Zade a few feet to finally get regain his balance. "Aurora, I'm alright." Though, she doubted that she would listen. He sighed, having no choice but to follow her, keeping his pace so that she didn't have to drag him. Now, it seemed as if they were walking, hand-in-hand. That really made Zade blush, and since the blood rose up to his head, it hurt. Zade shook his head, trying to cool himself down. He had to admit, though, Aurora seemed more useful that she seemed. not only could she cook, but she knew a little of first-aid too. Zade didn't even know how to put a proper bandage on. All he did was wrap it in wet cloth. That was how his old gang brethren taught him to tend to wounds.