ι'м ησт qυιтє нυмαη, вυт ι'м ησт qυιтє α мα¢нιηє {Rue}

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron walked up to a fence that said 'Danger: Authorized Personnel Only'. He completely ignored the sign and ducked under a hole in the fence, then held the chain link up for her so she could come through.

[assassinrue]

Valerie glanced at his face for a fraction of a second before glancing around then climbing through.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron dropped the fence and started across the empty lot. It was clear they were prepping to build something there, but right then there was just a big hole and a pile of dirt. He skirted around the pit and continued to the partially built building behind it. It was just a shell, the skeleton that would keep the building standing upright. Strange thing was, there were no signs of work being done on it. No scaffoldings or pulleys. There was even a little bit of rust on the metal beams, as if it had been there for a long time. "You're not afraid of heights, are you?" he asked her.

[assassinrue]

Valerie shook her head and looked up at the skeleton of the building.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Good," Aron said. He grabbed one of the beams and pulled himself up, his strong arms making it seem effortless. He braced himself and then offered her a hand to help her up.

[assassinrue]

She hesitated. She knew she needed his help to get up there with her arm but she was afraid touching him would make him upset. Gingerly she placed her hand in his.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron hauled her up and made sure she was steady on her feet before letting go of her hand. The rest of the climb was much of the same, only the higher they got off the ground the more adrenaline course through Aron's veins. He wasn't afraid of heights; they exhilarated him. He was a bit of a daredevil, something he didn't even attempt to suppress.

[assassinrue]

Valerie could sense the build up of excitement in him and felt it reach her and she found the higher she got, the less her arm hurt, the easier it was to go up.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron didn't go all the way to the top, but they were pretty close when he stopped. He held onto the vertical beam beside him and looked out over the city. A pretty damn good view, if he did say so himself.

[assassinrue]

"Wow." Valerie finally said, sitting beside him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"The guy who turned me brought me here when I was thirteen. He said I had to be strong and face my fears, so he made me climb to the top of this. It took me ten tries to make it all the way to the top, and I fell twice. The first time, I broke my leg. The second, I broke my arm and my collar bone, and got a concussion." Aron lowered himself so he was sitting on the beam. "After I recovered, he made me go right back up."

[assassinrue]

Valerie stared at him. "You knew who it was?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron nodded. "He practically raised me. Taught me everything I know." He looked over at her, his eyes shadowed. "He taught me not to make emotional attachments."

[assassinrue]

Valerie frowned. "Because you're a werewolf or because you're a man?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron considered that, a frown on his face. "Both, I guess."

[assassinrue]

"Being a werewolf doesn't matter as long as you know what you're doing when you turn though right?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"We never know what we're doing when we turn," Aron said. "Packs have found ways to contain themselves, make it safe for them to live in the city. I lock myself up in a silver-walled vault."

[assassinrue]

"And what if someone was ok with you doing that? If they knew and they let you go be safe and welcomed the human you back with open arms?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron didn't look at her. A sense of emptiness settle in his chest, leaking down to his stomach. "I don't think there is a human part of me anymore."

[assassinrue]

"There is." Valerie sounded completely certain and this time she dared to look him in the eye again.