your l.o.v.e. is MINE for the tAkInG! (Echo)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He watched her go and followed a few seconds after, stopping in front of her door. "Do you need anything else tonight?" he asked through the wood.

[~echo~]

Rhea looked up at the closed door, swallowing so her voice would be steady. "No, thank you," she said clearly. "I'm okay."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He was silent for a second. "Okay," he said finally. "Goodnight."

[~echo~]

Rhea nodded to herself and buried her head in her hands again.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He walked down the hall to his bedroom and stripped down to his boxers, then put on some sweatpants. After locking his door and removing his mask, he lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling for awhile, just thinking.

[~echo~]

Rhea crept over to the window in her room and opened it. She gazed down at the ground, wondering at how easy it would be to just... fling herself out the window. She shivered at the cold air and put her head back in the room.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He rolled over onto his side, turning over a few times trying to get comfortable. It didn't work.

[~echo~]

Timeskip?)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Yeah. Something should happen, like the government raids his house)

[~echo~]

(Okay)

It had taken a week or so but the government had managed to find her again. She was holed up in some rickety old house, they were sure of it.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

There were no sirens, but when he looked out the window that morning and saw the cars pulling up, he knew. He raced down the hall and into her room without bothering to knock. "They're here!" he gasped. "They found you."

[~echo~]

Rhea gasped and yelled, "Whoa! What am I supposed to do? You have to get out of here, they'll probably kill you for harboring me!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He barked a laugh. "They'll definitely kill me for harboring you. I'm more worried about you right now, though." He glanced out the window and swore quietly. "You should run. I'll hold them off."

[~echo~]

Rhea growled in frustration and concern. "John, I can't just leave you! I owe you for saving me, like ten times! Please, come with me!" She said urgently.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He shook his head. "Now I have to save you one last time," he said. "Please."

[~echo~]

Rhea growled again in frustration. She clenched and unclenched her fist, then suddenly hugged him. "Be safe," she whispered. "Please don't die. I will find you."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He smiled behind his mask. "Not if I find you first." He watched her with twinkling eyes. It was probably the first time he'd looked... happy. Alive.

[~echo~]

Tears twinkled in her eyes but she smiled through it. "Be careful." With that, she transformed into an osprey and hopped to an open window away from where the government cars were coming.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He swallowed and then turned. He headed downstairs, ready to meet the police. Ready to go to his death to protect her.

[~echo~]

With a split-second decision, Rhea flew around the side of the building and dove towards the cars. She was too small to be hit with bullets. She screeched and tore at the hair of several guards before rising back up into the air.