Path of the Hunters - NSFW

Aurélie smiled. "Efficient. I like it." She also liked knowing that she would be staying with the echidna. She wanted to know when Nova would be up and about.

Cross turned his smile in the dog... "We pride ourselves on efficiency." Then turned back to the unit. "Now, we have a long night ahead of us. I wish you all the best of luck. Move out!"

Elesis ran inside to watch over her charges. Sol and Mani jumped back into the van, and drove off toward downtown. Cross turned back to Aurélie. "So, what has Nova let slip about me?"

"That you have a very dangerous side due to a past 'e didn't divulge."

"And I don't think I will, just yet. It's painful stuff. Anyway, let's get going. We have to be ready, in case she decides to come in early." He started for his vehicle.

"Should I ride with you?"

"It's a long walk to the airport," he mused. "Besides, two cars heading there would be more suspicious."

She laughed. "You 'ave a good point."

"Come on." He opened the passenger door, offered her the seat.

She slid in, smiling. "Merci."

He closed the door, and slid into the driver seat. The next second the car rumbled to life, and they took off. "It's funny," he remarked. "Of all people, I never would've suspected Nova having family he cared about."

"The strangest things, " I find, "come from the most unexpected of people."

"So, you have been affected by him."

Aurélie lifted a brow. "And what makes you say that?"

"Aurélie, I've been there. Knowing he's affected you, and not willing to accept it. I can see it written all over you."

She sighed. "It isn't supposed to affect me."

He smiled. "I felt the same way. Back then, I was quite the loner, too. Thought attachment would only hurt you, in the end."

"You are not me. I 'ave spent my entire life breaking off attachments once they stop meaning anything to me. If my own parents started to be meaningless, 'ow is Nova supposed to compare? Even if I am not 'urt, then 'e will be."

His expression grew somber. "I've broken attachments, before. But in a much more permanent way..."

She frowned, looking out the window. "There are times when such permanence is advantageous."

"Maybe. In hindsight, if I hadn't done what I did back then, I would probably be dead, and I wouldn't have these powers...

"But Nova's different. He's not gonna try and attach himself, and he'll deny it if it happens."

"It's what we agreed." She shrugged, glancing back. "It was agreed that neither of us would get attached and if I do, then it is my problem. I still plan on leaving in a few days."

"He'll probably go off somewhere to clear his head, too." He sighed, looking toward the night sky. "I wonder how much I don't know about that wolf..."

"I doubt you could know more than I." She shrugged. "He trusts you."

"He trusted you with his real name," he pointed out. "I only found out through tons of research and pure luck. I think that say something about how much he trusts you."

Her frown deepened. "It was a complicated morning... Not trust, just circumstance."