Desire To Protect

[Rob]

Here it comes again. Heatwave. It won't be long before Jericho- dressed in faded blue jeans and a sleeveless Heatwave X t-shirt- sits among the crowd to take in another spectacle of violence. Sports bag slung over his head and one broad shoulder, he makes his way to the site of the event. Luckily, it wasn't yet time to set up, leaving the spot the way it is 364 days of the year.

It only took Raze of few steps to realize that someone was staying in step with him.

More specifically someone with long black hair and exotic dark eyes. Eyes filled with mischief and mayhem, with a devil-may-care smile to boot. Jericho returns the smile, he was always happy to see her.

Raze: Glad you made it.

Munin: I think I should be saying that to you. You're the one fresh off the plane after all.

Raze: I headed over as soon as I saw your match update. Figured you might need someone watching over you.

She side stepped in front of him to face him as they walked, and in effect slowed his pace to a more comfortable speed. Her smile was unrepentant as fellow pedestrians moved out of the way. Some looked annoyed, but most seemed as amused as Raze was by her whimsy.

Munin: Oh I'm sure most people think I need a watcher, though in the past they called it a keeper...Thank you for watching my back though, you're one of two people in this company I would trust to have it.

Her eyes and smile said more about her appreciation than her words. Neither of them had ever needed an overabundance of words to communicate.

Raze: Good. I have something for you. For Heatwave.

Munin: Oh?

Her eyes instantly lit up with curiosity and excitement. Raze always gave the best presents. Unless they happened in the ring, those were guaranteed to be painful.

Raze: Yep.

Taking the sports bag off, he sets is on the ground and opens it, grabbing a handle. Standing back up, he takes out his signature weapon, Despair: the red and black metal baseball bat with four empty Jack Daniel's bottles taped to the end and hands it to her.

Raze: this should help even the odds if I can't get to the ring. I don't see the rest of Clan Mayhem simply watching from the back.

Munin took the bat with sudden solemnity. It felt right in her hand, a weapon of destruction that had seen the bloodiest days of GZW. It was an honor to hold it, the way it was an honor to hold one of her families katana. This bat was not just named Despair, it had been crafted into the embodiment of despair. She would use it, she couldn't afford to be the person she had become in that ring. She had to go back to who she always was. She had to go back to the bloody days.

Munin: Thank you Jericho..."

Raze: Anytime. The rest of those fools come out, that'll do a lot of damage. Keep him fed and he'll look out for you. People have learned to fear that weapon. If the rest of Clan Mayhem show up, teach them why.

Munin gave him a sharp salute before returning to his side. A wide grin was plastered to her face, and for the first time in awhile things were starting to feel right.

Munin: Yes sir, but do you think that perhaps you should carry it in your bag? Just till we reach the hotel?"

Raze: Makes sense to me.

Carefully placing it bag in place, he zips up the bag and put it on again, as before.

Raze: what's the plan going into this?

Munin: Going back to the basics. No mercy and no holding back. If I can take one of them out for good I will.

He smiles, impressed with her resolve. From Munin, he'd expect nothing less.

Raze: That's my little psycho.

Munin: Well you know what they say psychos have all the fun.

Raze: Just remember, four, maybe even five, is too big a number for just one person. Be careful in how you respond. Stay focused on the big two and keep both in front of you. Your speed advantage is going to play a big part in the fight.

She nodded her head in time to his words. Her eyes taking on the hyper focus that comes from strategizing.

Munin: And use the ropes to my advantage."

Raze: Use everything.

Munin: Use everything...Jericho if things go wrong will you check in on Travis? I've already spoken to Eva...and Hugin. I would feel better knowing that you would stay in touch.

The silence that followed was heavy and they both had to wonder at how much certain things had changed. Munin wasn't entertaining thoughts of defeat, she was playing to win. However having another person in her life that she was responsible for changed things.

Raze: An unusual thing to ask. What are you worried about?

Munin: You and I both know that anything can happen during these matches. I'm not saying that I doubt my capabilities or that I'm necessarily worried...I guess I'm just more aware. I never cared in the past about what would happen if things did go wrong, but now that I have Travis it's something I have to face before I step in the ring.

Raze: It'll be fine. It'll hurt, but it won't be any worse than before. Not if I have anything to do with it.

Munin: Pain is never a problem, at least not physical pain.

Raze: I know. This won't affect your relationship with Travis. Don't worry about that.

She nodded her head in thanks and acknowledgement. She was relieved and now she was ready for anything. Seeing her expression soften felt better. He had never seen her worry before and definitely didn't like it.
For a moment they walked along lost in their own thoughts, until a slight giggle from Munin broke the silence.

Munin: You know I've been on my best behavior for a while now, and I'm truly horrible at it.

Raze: you're actually doing quite well. Feels weird at first.

Munin: It really does, it will be nice to let loose again."

Cross gives a sideways glance as they walk, hoping she didn't notice as he tries to keep himself composed.

Raze: Well, you can always be yourself around me.

Munin: Oh I am never anything but myself with you Jericho.

She was to busy watching the various people around them to notice Raze's glance.

Raze: I know. One of the reasons you're so much fun.

She turned to look at him with laughter dancing in her eyes, and an extra skip in her step.

Munin: That's what I keep telling people, but for some reason most don't agree.

Raze: That's something I understand well. You take on a different perspective and suddenly, you're a lunatic.

Munin Rolled her eyes in derision, she knew all to well what he was talking about.

"Munin: Yes because holding honor over fragile shifting morals makes you a sociopath.

She had to scoff at the ridiculousness of society. Munin Rolled her eyes in derision, she knew all to well what he was talking about.

" Yes because holding honor over fragile shifting morals makes you a sociopath."

She had to scoff at the ridiculousness of society. Raze gives a low chuckle. Her brand of sarcastic humour matched his own.

Raze: So, anything else I can do?

Munin: No, you just being here-

She cut herself of mid sentence, her attention had been deviated by sure deliciousness.

Munin: Steam buns! We need those in my life.

Before he knew what was happening, the Dread King was allowing himself to be dragged towards the waiting food vendor.

Raze: You know, I can always be here. You know... erm, hang about and whatnot.

Munin: That would be nice, Eva says that I'm spending to much time alone when I don't have Travis with me. And its not like she has time to hang out often as of late.

Smile slightly strained she paid the vendor and thanked him for the food. She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her left ear as they walked away, lost once more in her thoughts. Her white paper bag filled with warm steamed buns clutched to her chest.

Munin: Its funny, I used to think that being alone didn't bother me, but honestly looking at things now I realize that having too much time in my own head might be a bad thing.

She had a good point, he couldn't argue that. He liked being alone, but keeping things to himself was getting old. It's been years now, would he ever tell her? His intention was to sit at Heatwave, watch, cheer and that was it. The match announcement changed that, however.

Raze: Tell me, then; what is it you're looking for?

Munin: Looking for...I don't know.

They continued to walk in silence, turning to one of the many city parks. It was a comfortable silence, and dappled by the warm sunlight through the leaves over head branches, Munin gathered her thoughts in peace.

Munin: I don't know Jericho, I know what I want in the ring, but outside of that I'm just...lost. I feel like I'm missing a part of myself, my life. I've been mourning since Alex and I had our altercation, but I can't keep doing that. Travis helps make everything better, but he has so many academic opportunities right now, and I don't have the heart to chance holding him back.

With a sigh she pulled one of the hot buns from the bag.

Raze: Well, it's not as though there's a time limit. Get through the match and then get some down time. Should help calm things down a bit.

She glanced at him with a small smile, and offered him the white bag.

Munin: I guess so, this was nice...it seems like forever since I just walked through a park.

Accepting, he took the bag and removed a bun, handing the container back to her. Things were hard enough on her. No need to complicate things further. That's what he'd tell himself, anyway. Again.

Raze: Trust me. It'll help. We should definitely do this again before you leave Hong Kong.

Munin glanced over at her companion, and found herself freezing for a moment. She had rarely seen the Dread King so relaxed and unguarded, and for some reason she knew that this moment might be important to her one day.This moment when he had a slight smile and an odd yearning in his eyes.

She looked away after an instant, but the picture would linger in her mind for reasons she could not yet identify.

Munin: Yes...yes we should.