Smoker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
justicereigns) wrote2009-12-08 04:11 am
justicereigns) wrote2009-12-08 04:11 am
Finished log
Who: Smoker/Karen w/ early cameo of Happy per Moosey's guidance/permission/request
What: Fighting mostly
Why: Smoker can't let things go
Where: Retwin Island
When: Fudging it a little, the 7th/8th
Rating: PG for language and Karen beating up Smoker
Grabbing a seat in the small diner, it was almost more like a ski lodge. Festively decorated with Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly, wreaths, brightly colored presents and candles, and offset with a fire place in the corner. Definitely not a typical diner. Still it worked. Smoker grabbed a seat in a booth near the window and propped up his newspaper. He ordered a large black coffee and waited, stalking his prey.
While talking to a random bar owner, Karen giggled and smiled to the man, perhaps being a little flirty but more so doing it for a free cup of coffee to keep herself warm on the winter island. She didn't exactly have the warmest of clothing, and while it snowed and was cold in Tokyo, the exhaust in the air often made snow melt before it could even hit the ground. This was more like Northern Japan coldness. Unaware of her "stalker", she sat at the bar with the cup of free coffee, sipping it quietly.
Well at least she was giggling again. Even if it wasn't something he caused, he wanted her at least to be happy. Smoker's hand clenched on the coffee mug with restraint. Happy was along with him, also hiding behind a newspaper mostly so that Smoker would have someone he couldn't lose control in front of. Someone to keep him safe and in check and from acting too rashly. The cat was perfect for that, a good marine and friend but not someone who would mind being treated as anything in particular by Smoker, be it cat, marine, or someone he just looked out for too. Seemed women needed the freedom to test their wings. After a couple minutes Smoker pulled out a case file and started working. He might be away from his men but he was still a workaholic sometimes. Luckily it didn't interfere right now, just gave him something to do.
After a long, possible half an hour, Karen stood from the bar and gave a gentle kiss to the barkeeps cheek for the free coffee. She wrapped her black laced scarf around her neck and waved happily, exiting from the building. Time to scope out some kind of place for shelter. Usually she had an apartment to go back to in Tokyo, but even then it was a rather lonely life being in there with just herself and Po for company.
Heading down the street, Karen rubbed her hands together, small sparks flying with hints of flames whisping from her palms to keep her at least a bit warm. She was definitely out of her element.
Smoker watched out of the corner of his eye as Karen got up to leave, watched as she adjusted the black scarf waited until she was outside and grabbed the cat marine to leave and follow. He left some berri on the table and let Happy sit on his shoulder per the cat's request. It couldn't hurt. Smoker was still wearing his characteristic jacket and blue jeans, even the jitte so he'd be extremely recognizable but he couldn't bring himself to really mind very much. She was bound to figure it out eventually, especially with her worry about Nataku's former team following her into this world. It was one of many reasons he couldn't just let her be. No matter how capable she was, he could help and it wasn't justice to stand by and do nothing. He kept a good distance in the snow, not wanting to be too extremely visible but from the distance he could still feel the fire tug at his smoke. At least she wouldn't be too cold in the nighties. Had she decided not to wear any of the sweaters and turtlenecks he'd gotten her? Maybe she didn't want the reminder or to feel indebted him. Smoker pinched his furrowed brow, determined to remember to get her pension transferred completely to her control. However much she protested she wasn't a good marine, she'd still gotten paid completely with bounty bonus before.
She knew at least she was being followed. By whom was still a secret since she didn't exactly take the time to look behind her. Karen rubbed her neck, small flames coming off of her hand to help warm her touch and ease her sore muscles. She had earned a few extra dollars by giving massages at boutques that were scattered around town.
Rounding a corner, she headed down an alleyway, hoping to quietly lure whoever was following her into a secluded area. If there was a battle coming, she wanted some kind of upper hand.
The marine paused about ducking into the alley. Either she was planning on turning around and losing her tail or confronting them and he wasn't sure how ready he was to let her know he was there. He debated just strolling in like he was passing by but knew the minute she saw him, she'd know what he was up to. She knew him well enough for that. Instead Smoker used his logia to climb to the rooftops and lean over the edge. From there he'd be able to keep an eye on her and make sure she wasn't attacked and he could still follow her unobserved. The icy slanted rooftops made it more difficult to get a good footing but logia helped and Smoker didn't have to worry about Happy with those wings.
As soon as that smoke went up though, even if he was curious if she would attack, she did. A large and rounded fireball shot up through the narrow way of the rooftops from the alley ground only to soon be followed by another and another fireball, swirling in the air.
She stared up and squinted her eyes a bit before she took off again, back out to the mainstreets as the passerby's looked idly on at the roof that caught some fire in the wake of her abilities.
Smoker's eyes widened at the fireballs, turning into smoke and putting them out through instinct. Either she'd know it was him and was sending a warning or she really could have endangered anyone else. "Shit!" he growled out loud after the fire was choked out by his smoke. He took off running along the rooftops trying to keep out of any visible sight but still trying to find where Karen had run off to now.
Turning one of the corners down the block away from him, Karen caught a glimpse of Smoker, knowing perfectly well he probably caught one of her, too. So for him, she gave a small smirk and smile before she hurried back down the busy streets. Just like when they met...the chase was on.
Catching her smirk himself, Smoker couldn't help the grin that spread over his face. She knew it was him and was egging him on to catch her. He'd thought she'd be mad if she found out but this was exciting. His heart raced, truly anxious but enjoying himself for the first time since she'd missed the train. A long jump over the street and he cut some of the distance on her trail since she already knew he was there and just to prove he could.
She wandered down the street idly, smiling at a few people as she passed them by. She was a little bit angry at him for what he had done, following her like this, but she had to admit it was a bit invigorating how he did indeed stalk her.
Karen rested her arms behind her back and idly looks around as if nothing was bothering her at all or as if she wasn't even being stalked by her ex.
Smoker jumped down the alley way a few feet in front her so she'd have to either run into him or turn around. He was blushing bright red and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Alright alright," he admitted, grinning the wry 'I've been bad but you love me anyway don't you?' look he usually used to get out of trouble with angry women like Hina or Elphaba. "I probably shouldn't have done that," he blushed further but his grin spread even though they were in public and people were starting to stare. "Forgive me?" He had a feeling flipping a coin on this one wasn't going to let him have his own way this time.
She stopped short when he fell in front of her and she stared up at him with her eyes still rather hard. Even when he asked for forgiveness, Karen slammed her fist across his chin in an uppercut. "Hardly." She said and brushed past him, continuing on about her business, idly wandering as if nothing happened. Much like the fire going on down the road. That look wasn't about to win points with her. Wounded large puppy or not, she'd know when a look was reserved for her, not something to get her out of trouble. "You should go back to your ship~" She waved a hand over her shoulder. "No doubt you have others waiting for you."
Freezing at the slap, Smoker felt like she'd turned him into an ice statue the way Aokiji did to pirates. Every muscle tensed up and his face fell instantly, feeling extremely hurt and looking stunned. It took him a moment to collect himself. He thought she'd been playing along but now felt like he'd just been lured into a trap. Probably should have stayed hidden. Well fuck. "K-Karen?" he croaked out, muscles finally moving to follow after her. He felt more hurt and sounded it. "Hey... Hey." He ran to catch up with her, eyebrows furrowed in pure hurt confusion even though he knew it was his fault for following in the first place. "I took off. To come make sure you're okay...." He was worried and depressed again, trying to keep himself steady and wishing she'd turn around. It wasn't the best idea he'd ever had but he wasn't about to break his promises to her either even if they meant nothing to her anymore.
"And did I ask you to come after me?" She shot and turned her head to look up at him fully. "Promise or not you still followed even if I asked you not to." She said once more before she turned away again and continued walking along her way, arms folded across her chest in a huff.
"You did not ask me not to follow you," Smoker growled, rumbling a little furiously, mostly with himself. "And we need to talk. Run as long as you want but I'll keep waiting until you're ready." His shoulders were hunching unconsciously inward from stress, pressing up the the jitte against his spine. "And you... remember the promises I made so you should know me better than that Karen." Hurt covering over with resentful fury kept in check by willpower and determination. He didn't want to hurt her and she was clearly angry enough.
"There's nothing to speak or talk about, Smoker." She said quietly while she continued about her way on the street. Idly she looked at some of the stalls. Anything to take her mind off of things- those things being what was following after her. "I honestly believe you should possibly head back to the ship. You're still a good few days from docking. What, did you get too bored and have to follow me?~"
Smoker took a deep breath and sighed, running a hand through spiky hair trying to collect his own temper, not about to let his frustration explode. "Forgive me for caring," he stated calmly, icy mixed with heated passion again, the tone frostier than the city. "I haven't been bored I've been--" Dying. Lonely. Exhausted. Miserable. It had quickly turned into the worst time of his life. "Concerned." He looked it too, certainly not needing to lie, his feelings still too raw and genuine about her. "Karen. Were you just lying to Zenigata to get him to leave you alone or do you really hate me so much that you would..." he trailed off with no way of finishing that sentence. He held her in steely grey eyes seriously, hurt, confused, but he shifted on his feet to block anymore slaps to the face.
"That I would what?" She asked idly as if it mattered not. Soon it registered what exactly he had asked and she glanced up with a dry laugh. "Ah so he couldn't keep his mouth shut, could he?~" She laughed and shook her head. "Did he also tell you he confessed he was in love with me, too?" She said quietly. Though..it was rather sweet of him to admit to her. She wasn't the right person to return the feelings though... Plus she wouldn't ever EVER be able to do that to Smoker.
"He did yes. And I know you better than to think you're the kind of girl who would just say that to get a man to leave you alone." Smoker sat in a snowbank staring at her as small white flakes started drifting down and getting stuck in her hair before melting. Always so beautiful. The snow too. "I'm confused as to how you could say you love me and yet still be determined to..." the sad stare turned a little angrier, teeth clenching on cigars, and Smoker shook his head, clearing off the anger. He sighed thoughtfully, still staring at her from his snowy throne, "He said you wanted to take care of me but that seems a little impossible if you run away." He closed his eyes. It was painful. He hated doing this in public or at all. He felt like he was baring his heart to her to get it stomped on. A soft smokey sigh drifting with the falling snow and he opened his eyes to watch her again. Better said now than never and if he had to keep chasing her maybe she really would grow to hate him. Was that she wanted? All to get away from him. "Do you want to hate me?" his voice and shoulders trembled, shaking with suppressed fury and nerves, too hurt to even hide it from anyone anymore much less her. He swallowed hard his mouth suddenly dry, and braced for an answer he suspected he would hate, just like he'd hated the rest.
"If it keeps you away." She said truthfully and looked down. The snow speckled her hair along with her long lashes, decorating her black dress that hung tight against her. "You get angry at me when I do flirt yet you go and do the same. You still keep me at a distance that I can't even hope to achieve like Tashigi. The way you look at her, the way you talk to her...something I can't even get with you. She can get a look while I have to work for just a glance." She sighed and rubbed her forehead, shaking her hair free of the snowflakes.
Her own shoulders slumped and she turned away again, high heeled boots crunching the snow. "Don't explain. Don't get mad. Just...go back to your ship and live your life." She said quietly, holding out her hands for a small flame to keep her hands warm.
Smoker stared at her even more shocked than before and got up following behind her like a loyal guard dog. "I flirt with... who?" Smoker demanded genuinely flustered. "Karen I only flirt with you and I can barely do that. I'm not a guy who can flirt easily you just make it fun... easy." He was blushing bright red to his ears. He paused in the middle of the street, midstep as the part about Tashighi sunk in. "Tashigi? My Ensign? What are you... what are you talking about?" He felt like she'd just declared black was white and white was black and that he didn't get it was why she'd dumped him. And he was pretty sure she genuinely believed it. He reached a hand tentatively on her shoulders begging her to turn around. "The looks I give her? Like a daughter if I had one? That's why she yelled at me." His eyes hardened, begging her for help because everything in his life had been dumped inside out and he needed someone to help him make sense of it.
"That's what Lavi and Leo and... they all say I treat my recruits like my kids." He frowned, everything falling apart at the seams faster than he could grab threads and tie them back together. "You want to be treated like that? Like I do with Nataku?" That was well odd. And stung. She loved him but only platonically? He could live with that. "Karen...." he felt like his knees would bend or break. No... he shook his head. That made... less sense. She'd crawled into his bed, kissed him first, why would she... did she think Tashigi was something else or that he saw her differently? Like what? "Karen please. At least... at least help me understand. Please," he begged, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't need that much."
Idly, Karen rolled her eyes at that a bit. So apparently he just did is subconsciously then? Sighing, her arms kept tight around her as she continued about her way, albeit a little slower now. The touch on her shoulder though made her look back and up at him-- attempting but failing-- at masking the hurt in her eyes. "There's nothing to understand, Smoker..just- leave it please." She said while she shook her head and turned back around, trying not to let her tears run down as she hurried back along the path, away from the staring eyes of onlookers.
"Karen," Smoker's heart broke again, shattering to pieces. He couldn't let her go. Not almost crying, not from something he did. He ran after her and got down on his knees grabbing her hand so she couldn't escape yet. "Karen... I love you. You're the only woman I want to be with. You're the only woman I think about when I get up in the morning and when I got to sleep and at every other interval in between. You're the only one who can really genuinely make me smile just because you're happy. You're the only woman I want for the rest of my life. Does that mean nothing?" There wasn't even any anger left. Just pure hurt. Smoker's eyes were damp and he hoped it was from snow more than the idea that he'd hurt his angel in a way he was too stupid to understand. She was determined to hate him so there was nothing he could do but he couldn't accept it. Had to keep trying to make her see the truth for what it was because justice without the truth wasn't justice at all.
Karen just stared down at him as he knelt in front of her. Even if he said all those things to her, it meant nothing if they were just going to leave the world from one another. He even said he wasn't the kind to marry her... Not that she wanted that she just- maybe just the hope of a possibility someday. Something to hope for..not just a never.
She shook her hand and tugged her hands away, resting her hands gently on his cheeks. "You need to go back to your ship, Smoker..you have so much weighing on your shoulders."
Smoker climbed to his feet and shook his head. "Stop saying that," he took her hands from his face. "Please stop saying that. Stop putting them before yourself. Stop deciding where my loyalties should lie." He couldn't help it returning her actions in kind, brushing her cheek softly with a gloved hand before letting it fall away. "Karen one last thing you should know," he wasn't going to give up. He'd meant it when he said he'd cross to another world to help be there to protect her, and he wasn't about to let go of that promise. It wasn't justice to do nothing, not while he could. Not while doing nothing meant regretting every last day of his life never knowing if she lived, died, or succeeded.
"I was afraid of you when you first came here. Because I could tell if I fell for you it'd be harder than I ever have for anything and I've never let anything have that much control over me. I knew if I fell for you, you'd be the one woman I'd consider leaving the ocean for. Because you are justice incarnate and you're beautiful and you're perfect and I knew I didn't deserve that and I'd lose my head. But when you snuck into my room, I didn't kick you out, I held you tighter. And when you kissed me, I kissed back. Because I realized the only way you'd be able to do that is if I wanted to let you and the only reason for that would be if you were that perfect." He bent down and kissed her forehead, blushing that he'd taken even that action. "I'll walk away," he squeezed her hand lightly, "But the only way I'll leave you alone is if you can really and truly be happier alone or with someone else than with me. I can't accept anything else. Even if I make you hate me for trying, I have to know you'll be better this way. Happier and following your justice in a way I can't fulfill. Nothing else." He regarded her calmly, seriously but extremely intently, determined to make her get that much at least.
Slightly freezing, Karen just stared up at him, at how hard he was trying with her. And what was she doing? Denying herself the one thing she HAD to live for in this world. Smoker and Nataku were the only reasons this world was worth protecting to her. Tokyo could wait if those two where there.
Closing her eyes, she gave in to her heart's desire and leaned up, in the middle of a busy street, and kissed him deeply. Nothing lewd, nothing dirty, just love she had for him manifested in her kiss. Her lips were warm like the fire she conjured from within.
Knees softening even more Smoker melted into the kiss. He'd been about to walk away and give her the space she so desperately craved and now she kissed him? He blinked in confusion but closed his eyes and kissed her back melting into it praying it would last. Still he broke off, not wanting to force her too fast and held her face in either side of his big hands, unconsciously leaning into the warmth she radiated just like an angel. "What--- what changed?" he blushed bright red. Happier but more confused than before for it. Was it a farewell kiss? A thank you for giving her a break?
"Just shut up..You made your point.." She whispered softly to his lips and leaned in, kissing him deep again while her hands ran up to his and cupped the back of his, her touch still rather hot from her flames. Karen tilted her head and deepened the kiss slightly, her passion still enveloped like fire, running from her lips to his.
"Hn," a soft grunt even though he still felt confused and hated taking orders. But the fiery kisses were too much on him, exactly what he'd been craving and longing for, missing too much. He deepened the kiss right back not caring that it was a middle of a crowded street or that they'd been fighting only seconds earlier. So fiery, feisty, all the things he loved. "Mm... Karen," he mumbled trying hard to put thoughts together even though she'd effectively shoved them out of his head. He sucked lightly on her bottom lip with a playful tug and placed several dozen affectionate kisses down her jawline and neck, and softly nuzzled her ear with his nose, letting the snow fall all around them.
She blushed just a fraction at how he was trying to heat her up or, proverbially stroke her fire. She glanced around and then peeked up at him. "People are looking at us, Smoker." She said quietly only to bite softly back at his lip, giving it a tug with a faint moan. "Drawing...a crowd."
Eyes widened and he blushed bright red, and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. He scooped her up in his arms, not slinging her over a shoulder this time, and chivalrously requested, "Where to m'lady?"
Blinking, Karen flailed a bit and tilted her head up at him. "Ah y-you're carrying me there?" She asked with wide eyes up at him. "Anywhere you want to. "
"Yes," Smoker grinned proudly, drinking in the golden eyes. He strode off, gathering no less stares by insistently carrying her but he ducked down less crowded streets and got them to scram mostly. "Ah I could take you back to the hotel room I got. But uh don't think you have to do anything you're not ready for. We can just talk or something." His cheeks were still tinged red and however much he missed her, he strangely missed talking with her most of all and desperately wanted to hear her voice explaining to him the things he didn't get.
Karen tilted her head and smiled faintly. "Hm..You say that but I can feel it." She teased. "I don't mind either or wherever we go. I don't...exactly have a room anywhere near here." She frowned and looked around the city scape. Even if it was shrouded in white, it was beautiful in its own way.
"I'll have to get Happy another room," Smoker noted to himself. "Angel you know you got paid for while you were in the marines. And promoted." He grinned. It really seemed she hadn't realized, taking off without any of the money she'd earned. He ducked in a back door to the hotel and climbed the stairs, still carrying Karen in his arms bridal style.
Idly waving a hand, she glanced up at him. "Give it to the children's hospital." She said. "Money...isn't something I need. Just another luxury. I'd much rather have this." She said quietly while her head lay softly on his shoulder. Even if they didn't do anything, being able to lay in warmth like this would be nice especially given the cold atmosphere.
"Karen," Smoker swallowed and grinned ear to ear, "You're coming back?" He could hardly believe his ears, somehow expecting something even more difficult, as close to breaking as he'd felt already. She hadn't yelled at him for calling her an angel again either. Shifting the weight carefully he pulled her closer and nuzzled her cheeks softly as he got the hotel key in and opened the door to the Christmasy decorated room.
"Perhaps." She said softly and turned to look at the decorations that were decorated. "It's so pretty here.." She said quietly and looked up at him once more. She still squirmed slightly in his arms, hardly ignoring the looks that were given to them both as they wandered up here. "People are going to think we just got married."
Smoker grinned at that. "Good. They should." He was lousy at keeping secrets from her. In St. Poplar he'd been hoping she could pick it out with him but with her or not he'd still gotten her Christmas present. "Because I'm not letting you go. You said I shouldn't promise to come help you in your world because that's a lifetime commitment but I still did. I know it is." He chewed the cigars a little nervously now. He'd been meaning to wait for the perfect time. Or barring that, toss it to her on Christmas day when no one else was around. "I mean it doesn't have to mean anything extra just..." Smoker shrugged, and closed the door behind him, setting her down on top of the writing desk while he took a seat in the chair that went with it. He fiddled with the small box in his pocket, debating with himself.
"Just if you want it to," he added in a soft mumble around the cigars, looking away from her in embarrassment, leaning back in the chair and thinking to himself.
She sat on the table with her legs idly swinging as she studied him for a moment. Soon after she looked away and leaned back on her hands. "This...isn't a promise I'll return." She said quietly and tilted her head to glance back at him. "For that I apologize, but- I'm still unsure just how to return. I am prideful after all." She teased with a playful smile, still fake, but still there just for him.
Kicking his feet up onto the desk and leaning back in the chair with his hands behind his head, still concealing the box Smoker studied the woman intently with grey eyes. "No more fake smiles Karen. I want you to come back but not if you won't be happy." He growled and let out a short sigh. "I thought I started making you miserable and then I just realized... you've been miserable. You just hide it less because you trust me more." He was sure of it. Abruptly taking his heels off the desk he stood up and jammed the box back in his pocket before leaning in to sit on a corner of the desk with her instead. "And that's good. But I don't want to be the one telling you everything and for you to only listen in return." He held a small red curl in his fingers, about to lean in closer to kiss it when he paused and blushed, remembering that she still wanted distance.
She blinked and cocked her head towards his fingers that held onto her curl. She watched for a moment then glanced up at him, squinting. "Hm, I hit you pretty hard, didn't I?" She sighed and slipped off of the desk, moving to the bathroom.
After a moment she emerged again with a bowl and a heated washcloth. Setting the bowl on the table, Karen delicately wrung the water from the cloth and rested it against the new wound he sustained...thanks to her.
"Karen..." he started to protest softly but grinned wryly and shook his head in amusement instead. "And you think you'd make a bad marine?" She was still avoiding the point he'd tried to make but he couldn't bring himself to press her on it given the circumstances. He blew a short sigh of smoke. "I probably deserved it. I said I'd give you space but..." he shrugged broad shoulders, still watching her intently. "Only so much I could take before I started going crazy."
"You shouldn't go crazy over insane and pointless things you know." She said quietly, dabbing his cheek gently. Her eyes didn't focus much on his own, just looked past him to where he was injured while she worked on cleaning the wound. "Is that why you've decided to follow me this entire time? Because you started to go crazy?"
"Pointless?" Smoker echoed sounding flinty, "You think this was pointless?" He grabbed her wrist gently but firmly. "I hadn't had my heart broken before," he stated firmly, looking at her unblinking. "I told you I'd follow you to your world, holding back when you're an island away was one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do. It wasn't pointless. I followed you because I wanted to see you happy again. Even if not with me. I told you that." He grit the cigars in his mouth hard and tried not to scowl, releasing the hand apologetically the second he realized he'd been holding it.
Her eyes scanned down to his hand around her wrist...no doubt with how massive his hands were she could crush her wrist. The price of being small, she supposed. She sighed quietly and sets the cloth down in the bowl with her free hand. "Stop with that 'following' me...Do You think I WANT you to do that? This world is a second chance, yes, but once I return to my world, there is no second chance. Life will resume. My work with the men at the bath house will continue and the seven of us will proceed to save Mankind from its own fate. Here, I know I cannot die because of you. But there...I can die for the world because of the justice I believe man kind deserves. But if you were to go there, how could I be fine in heaven knowing I left you in our sinful world?"
His expression didn't change as he leaned forward to kiss her despite her fury. That was the Karen he'd been expecting since he'd first told her. He picked up her hands softly in both of his. "Angel. I know. But if it's your job to be justice, it's my job to protect justice." He still couldn't tell her that sometimes people only wound up in his world from another when they'd already died. He'd already suspected for too long that she had died in her own world without realizing it. "If I can get to your world I can get back to mine. But I'd rather die fighting alongside you than never know what happened. Than spend the rest of my years heartlessly pretending not to hurt. I'd rather die there than live here. Understand that." He brushed her cheek with his hand, surprised at his own calm. He felt like a stormy ocean, genuinely scared she'd bolt from him like wildfire again, and a touch angry at a world that would let someone like her die never knowing her sacrifice but above all else, he was relieved that she'd finally said the words he'd been expecting what felt like months ago.
The kiss startled her and she quickly pulled away from it, touching her lips with a bit of an anger flaring up. Why did he have to be so difficult and go and do things like that. She looked down at their hands and tugged hers away from his quickly. "You don't understand it. You keep saying I don't listen to you but you just repeat the same thing over and over. Don't you have someone else to do this to, Smoker?" She shot at him, tossing the damp but still warm cloth on his lap and turned away to walk on the other side of the desk. "I'm leaving. Just...go back to doing what you did before I even arrived here."
Smoker's cheeks flushed in his own fury. "I wouldn't keep saying it if you got it!" Shit. He hadn't meant to yell but he was losing it. "I don't understand? I don't understand?! I understand justice. Why do you have to die alone for it? Why does a kid like Nataku get wrapped up in the plot of some adults? You both have a chance for better here. Fine I don't get it. Why are you so adamant that I can't come with you, that you have to die alone? I made you a part of my justice, why don't you trust me enough to just let me--" he cut himself off with a growl and slammed his head into his own fists.
"Because that is God's will!" She shot back harshly to Smoker before her hand grasped the door knob tight, nearly burning the metal with her searing touch. "Find your other Justice. I'm not the justice you think I am." With that she pulled the door open rather harshly and it hits back against the wall.
God's will? He wanted her to die? For what? To end the world? No. Smoker couldn't believe that nor accept her determination to do nothing. He let her go. Fighting wasn't going to solve anything but a large hand closed on the box in his pocket and chucked it into the nearest wall. Justice? Ha. Fate? Ha. He was reminded sharply of the first time he faced absolute justice, the same bitter taste left in his mouth. No. There was a god, Smoker was sure, but there was no point in creating the seals or giving them guardians just to end her world. No point sending her here, in sending Nataku here, if there wasn't supposed to be something done about it. "Karen..." he growled furiously wanting to kick something but instead suppressing his temper and walking to the bathroom for a shower. This month just got a lot longer.
What: Fighting mostly
Why: Smoker can't let things go
Where: Retwin Island
When: Fudging it a little, the 7th/8th
Rating: PG for language and Karen beating up Smoker
Grabbing a seat in the small diner, it was almost more like a ski lodge. Festively decorated with Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly, wreaths, brightly colored presents and candles, and offset with a fire place in the corner. Definitely not a typical diner. Still it worked. Smoker grabbed a seat in a booth near the window and propped up his newspaper. He ordered a large black coffee and waited, stalking his prey.
While talking to a random bar owner, Karen giggled and smiled to the man, perhaps being a little flirty but more so doing it for a free cup of coffee to keep herself warm on the winter island. She didn't exactly have the warmest of clothing, and while it snowed and was cold in Tokyo, the exhaust in the air often made snow melt before it could even hit the ground. This was more like Northern Japan coldness. Unaware of her "stalker", she sat at the bar with the cup of free coffee, sipping it quietly.
Well at least she was giggling again. Even if it wasn't something he caused, he wanted her at least to be happy. Smoker's hand clenched on the coffee mug with restraint. Happy was along with him, also hiding behind a newspaper mostly so that Smoker would have someone he couldn't lose control in front of. Someone to keep him safe and in check and from acting too rashly. The cat was perfect for that, a good marine and friend but not someone who would mind being treated as anything in particular by Smoker, be it cat, marine, or someone he just looked out for too. Seemed women needed the freedom to test their wings. After a couple minutes Smoker pulled out a case file and started working. He might be away from his men but he was still a workaholic sometimes. Luckily it didn't interfere right now, just gave him something to do.
After a long, possible half an hour, Karen stood from the bar and gave a gentle kiss to the barkeeps cheek for the free coffee. She wrapped her black laced scarf around her neck and waved happily, exiting from the building. Time to scope out some kind of place for shelter. Usually she had an apartment to go back to in Tokyo, but even then it was a rather lonely life being in there with just herself and Po for company.
Heading down the street, Karen rubbed her hands together, small sparks flying with hints of flames whisping from her palms to keep her at least a bit warm. She was definitely out of her element.
Smoker watched out of the corner of his eye as Karen got up to leave, watched as she adjusted the black scarf waited until she was outside and grabbed the cat marine to leave and follow. He left some berri on the table and let Happy sit on his shoulder per the cat's request. It couldn't hurt. Smoker was still wearing his characteristic jacket and blue jeans, even the jitte so he'd be extremely recognizable but he couldn't bring himself to really mind very much. She was bound to figure it out eventually, especially with her worry about Nataku's former team following her into this world. It was one of many reasons he couldn't just let her be. No matter how capable she was, he could help and it wasn't justice to stand by and do nothing. He kept a good distance in the snow, not wanting to be too extremely visible but from the distance he could still feel the fire tug at his smoke. At least she wouldn't be too cold in the nighties. Had she decided not to wear any of the sweaters and turtlenecks he'd gotten her? Maybe she didn't want the reminder or to feel indebted him. Smoker pinched his furrowed brow, determined to remember to get her pension transferred completely to her control. However much she protested she wasn't a good marine, she'd still gotten paid completely with bounty bonus before.
She knew at least she was being followed. By whom was still a secret since she didn't exactly take the time to look behind her. Karen rubbed her neck, small flames coming off of her hand to help warm her touch and ease her sore muscles. She had earned a few extra dollars by giving massages at boutques that were scattered around town.
Rounding a corner, she headed down an alleyway, hoping to quietly lure whoever was following her into a secluded area. If there was a battle coming, she wanted some kind of upper hand.
The marine paused about ducking into the alley. Either she was planning on turning around and losing her tail or confronting them and he wasn't sure how ready he was to let her know he was there. He debated just strolling in like he was passing by but knew the minute she saw him, she'd know what he was up to. She knew him well enough for that. Instead Smoker used his logia to climb to the rooftops and lean over the edge. From there he'd be able to keep an eye on her and make sure she wasn't attacked and he could still follow her unobserved. The icy slanted rooftops made it more difficult to get a good footing but logia helped and Smoker didn't have to worry about Happy with those wings.
As soon as that smoke went up though, even if he was curious if she would attack, she did. A large and rounded fireball shot up through the narrow way of the rooftops from the alley ground only to soon be followed by another and another fireball, swirling in the air.
She stared up and squinted her eyes a bit before she took off again, back out to the mainstreets as the passerby's looked idly on at the roof that caught some fire in the wake of her abilities.
Smoker's eyes widened at the fireballs, turning into smoke and putting them out through instinct. Either she'd know it was him and was sending a warning or she really could have endangered anyone else. "Shit!" he growled out loud after the fire was choked out by his smoke. He took off running along the rooftops trying to keep out of any visible sight but still trying to find where Karen had run off to now.
Turning one of the corners down the block away from him, Karen caught a glimpse of Smoker, knowing perfectly well he probably caught one of her, too. So for him, she gave a small smirk and smile before she hurried back down the busy streets. Just like when they met...the chase was on.
Catching her smirk himself, Smoker couldn't help the grin that spread over his face. She knew it was him and was egging him on to catch her. He'd thought she'd be mad if she found out but this was exciting. His heart raced, truly anxious but enjoying himself for the first time since she'd missed the train. A long jump over the street and he cut some of the distance on her trail since she already knew he was there and just to prove he could.
She wandered down the street idly, smiling at a few people as she passed them by. She was a little bit angry at him for what he had done, following her like this, but she had to admit it was a bit invigorating how he did indeed stalk her.
Karen rested her arms behind her back and idly looks around as if nothing was bothering her at all or as if she wasn't even being stalked by her ex.
Smoker jumped down the alley way a few feet in front her so she'd have to either run into him or turn around. He was blushing bright red and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Alright alright," he admitted, grinning the wry 'I've been bad but you love me anyway don't you?' look he usually used to get out of trouble with angry women like Hina or Elphaba. "I probably shouldn't have done that," he blushed further but his grin spread even though they were in public and people were starting to stare. "Forgive me?" He had a feeling flipping a coin on this one wasn't going to let him have his own way this time.
She stopped short when he fell in front of her and she stared up at him with her eyes still rather hard. Even when he asked for forgiveness, Karen slammed her fist across his chin in an uppercut. "Hardly." She said and brushed past him, continuing on about her business, idly wandering as if nothing happened. Much like the fire going on down the road. That look wasn't about to win points with her. Wounded large puppy or not, she'd know when a look was reserved for her, not something to get her out of trouble. "You should go back to your ship~" She waved a hand over her shoulder. "No doubt you have others waiting for you."
Freezing at the slap, Smoker felt like she'd turned him into an ice statue the way Aokiji did to pirates. Every muscle tensed up and his face fell instantly, feeling extremely hurt and looking stunned. It took him a moment to collect himself. He thought she'd been playing along but now felt like he'd just been lured into a trap. Probably should have stayed hidden. Well fuck. "K-Karen?" he croaked out, muscles finally moving to follow after her. He felt more hurt and sounded it. "Hey... Hey." He ran to catch up with her, eyebrows furrowed in pure hurt confusion even though he knew it was his fault for following in the first place. "I took off. To come make sure you're okay...." He was worried and depressed again, trying to keep himself steady and wishing she'd turn around. It wasn't the best idea he'd ever had but he wasn't about to break his promises to her either even if they meant nothing to her anymore.
"And did I ask you to come after me?" She shot and turned her head to look up at him fully. "Promise or not you still followed even if I asked you not to." She said once more before she turned away again and continued walking along her way, arms folded across her chest in a huff.
"You did not ask me not to follow you," Smoker growled, rumbling a little furiously, mostly with himself. "And we need to talk. Run as long as you want but I'll keep waiting until you're ready." His shoulders were hunching unconsciously inward from stress, pressing up the the jitte against his spine. "And you... remember the promises I made so you should know me better than that Karen." Hurt covering over with resentful fury kept in check by willpower and determination. He didn't want to hurt her and she was clearly angry enough.
"There's nothing to speak or talk about, Smoker." She said quietly while she continued about her way on the street. Idly she looked at some of the stalls. Anything to take her mind off of things- those things being what was following after her. "I honestly believe you should possibly head back to the ship. You're still a good few days from docking. What, did you get too bored and have to follow me?~"
Smoker took a deep breath and sighed, running a hand through spiky hair trying to collect his own temper, not about to let his frustration explode. "Forgive me for caring," he stated calmly, icy mixed with heated passion again, the tone frostier than the city. "I haven't been bored I've been--" Dying. Lonely. Exhausted. Miserable. It had quickly turned into the worst time of his life. "Concerned." He looked it too, certainly not needing to lie, his feelings still too raw and genuine about her. "Karen. Were you just lying to Zenigata to get him to leave you alone or do you really hate me so much that you would..." he trailed off with no way of finishing that sentence. He held her in steely grey eyes seriously, hurt, confused, but he shifted on his feet to block anymore slaps to the face.
"That I would what?" She asked idly as if it mattered not. Soon it registered what exactly he had asked and she glanced up with a dry laugh. "Ah so he couldn't keep his mouth shut, could he?~" She laughed and shook her head. "Did he also tell you he confessed he was in love with me, too?" She said quietly. Though..it was rather sweet of him to admit to her. She wasn't the right person to return the feelings though... Plus she wouldn't ever EVER be able to do that to Smoker.
"He did yes. And I know you better than to think you're the kind of girl who would just say that to get a man to leave you alone." Smoker sat in a snowbank staring at her as small white flakes started drifting down and getting stuck in her hair before melting. Always so beautiful. The snow too. "I'm confused as to how you could say you love me and yet still be determined to..." the sad stare turned a little angrier, teeth clenching on cigars, and Smoker shook his head, clearing off the anger. He sighed thoughtfully, still staring at her from his snowy throne, "He said you wanted to take care of me but that seems a little impossible if you run away." He closed his eyes. It was painful. He hated doing this in public or at all. He felt like he was baring his heart to her to get it stomped on. A soft smokey sigh drifting with the falling snow and he opened his eyes to watch her again. Better said now than never and if he had to keep chasing her maybe she really would grow to hate him. Was that she wanted? All to get away from him. "Do you want to hate me?" his voice and shoulders trembled, shaking with suppressed fury and nerves, too hurt to even hide it from anyone anymore much less her. He swallowed hard his mouth suddenly dry, and braced for an answer he suspected he would hate, just like he'd hated the rest.
"If it keeps you away." She said truthfully and looked down. The snow speckled her hair along with her long lashes, decorating her black dress that hung tight against her. "You get angry at me when I do flirt yet you go and do the same. You still keep me at a distance that I can't even hope to achieve like Tashigi. The way you look at her, the way you talk to her...something I can't even get with you. She can get a look while I have to work for just a glance." She sighed and rubbed her forehead, shaking her hair free of the snowflakes.
Her own shoulders slumped and she turned away again, high heeled boots crunching the snow. "Don't explain. Don't get mad. Just...go back to your ship and live your life." She said quietly, holding out her hands for a small flame to keep her hands warm.
Smoker stared at her even more shocked than before and got up following behind her like a loyal guard dog. "I flirt with... who?" Smoker demanded genuinely flustered. "Karen I only flirt with you and I can barely do that. I'm not a guy who can flirt easily you just make it fun... easy." He was blushing bright red to his ears. He paused in the middle of the street, midstep as the part about Tashighi sunk in. "Tashigi? My Ensign? What are you... what are you talking about?" He felt like she'd just declared black was white and white was black and that he didn't get it was why she'd dumped him. And he was pretty sure she genuinely believed it. He reached a hand tentatively on her shoulders begging her to turn around. "The looks I give her? Like a daughter if I had one? That's why she yelled at me." His eyes hardened, begging her for help because everything in his life had been dumped inside out and he needed someone to help him make sense of it.
"That's what Lavi and Leo and... they all say I treat my recruits like my kids." He frowned, everything falling apart at the seams faster than he could grab threads and tie them back together. "You want to be treated like that? Like I do with Nataku?" That was well odd. And stung. She loved him but only platonically? He could live with that. "Karen...." he felt like his knees would bend or break. No... he shook his head. That made... less sense. She'd crawled into his bed, kissed him first, why would she... did she think Tashigi was something else or that he saw her differently? Like what? "Karen please. At least... at least help me understand. Please," he begged, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't need that much."
Idly, Karen rolled her eyes at that a bit. So apparently he just did is subconsciously then? Sighing, her arms kept tight around her as she continued about her way, albeit a little slower now. The touch on her shoulder though made her look back and up at him-- attempting but failing-- at masking the hurt in her eyes. "There's nothing to understand, Smoker..just- leave it please." She said while she shook her head and turned back around, trying not to let her tears run down as she hurried back along the path, away from the staring eyes of onlookers.
"Karen," Smoker's heart broke again, shattering to pieces. He couldn't let her go. Not almost crying, not from something he did. He ran after her and got down on his knees grabbing her hand so she couldn't escape yet. "Karen... I love you. You're the only woman I want to be with. You're the only woman I think about when I get up in the morning and when I got to sleep and at every other interval in between. You're the only one who can really genuinely make me smile just because you're happy. You're the only woman I want for the rest of my life. Does that mean nothing?" There wasn't even any anger left. Just pure hurt. Smoker's eyes were damp and he hoped it was from snow more than the idea that he'd hurt his angel in a way he was too stupid to understand. She was determined to hate him so there was nothing he could do but he couldn't accept it. Had to keep trying to make her see the truth for what it was because justice without the truth wasn't justice at all.
Karen just stared down at him as he knelt in front of her. Even if he said all those things to her, it meant nothing if they were just going to leave the world from one another. He even said he wasn't the kind to marry her... Not that she wanted that she just- maybe just the hope of a possibility someday. Something to hope for..not just a never.
She shook her hand and tugged her hands away, resting her hands gently on his cheeks. "You need to go back to your ship, Smoker..you have so much weighing on your shoulders."
Smoker climbed to his feet and shook his head. "Stop saying that," he took her hands from his face. "Please stop saying that. Stop putting them before yourself. Stop deciding where my loyalties should lie." He couldn't help it returning her actions in kind, brushing her cheek softly with a gloved hand before letting it fall away. "Karen one last thing you should know," he wasn't going to give up. He'd meant it when he said he'd cross to another world to help be there to protect her, and he wasn't about to let go of that promise. It wasn't justice to do nothing, not while he could. Not while doing nothing meant regretting every last day of his life never knowing if she lived, died, or succeeded.
"I was afraid of you when you first came here. Because I could tell if I fell for you it'd be harder than I ever have for anything and I've never let anything have that much control over me. I knew if I fell for you, you'd be the one woman I'd consider leaving the ocean for. Because you are justice incarnate and you're beautiful and you're perfect and I knew I didn't deserve that and I'd lose my head. But when you snuck into my room, I didn't kick you out, I held you tighter. And when you kissed me, I kissed back. Because I realized the only way you'd be able to do that is if I wanted to let you and the only reason for that would be if you were that perfect." He bent down and kissed her forehead, blushing that he'd taken even that action. "I'll walk away," he squeezed her hand lightly, "But the only way I'll leave you alone is if you can really and truly be happier alone or with someone else than with me. I can't accept anything else. Even if I make you hate me for trying, I have to know you'll be better this way. Happier and following your justice in a way I can't fulfill. Nothing else." He regarded her calmly, seriously but extremely intently, determined to make her get that much at least.
Slightly freezing, Karen just stared up at him, at how hard he was trying with her. And what was she doing? Denying herself the one thing she HAD to live for in this world. Smoker and Nataku were the only reasons this world was worth protecting to her. Tokyo could wait if those two where there.
Closing her eyes, she gave in to her heart's desire and leaned up, in the middle of a busy street, and kissed him deeply. Nothing lewd, nothing dirty, just love she had for him manifested in her kiss. Her lips were warm like the fire she conjured from within.
Knees softening even more Smoker melted into the kiss. He'd been about to walk away and give her the space she so desperately craved and now she kissed him? He blinked in confusion but closed his eyes and kissed her back melting into it praying it would last. Still he broke off, not wanting to force her too fast and held her face in either side of his big hands, unconsciously leaning into the warmth she radiated just like an angel. "What--- what changed?" he blushed bright red. Happier but more confused than before for it. Was it a farewell kiss? A thank you for giving her a break?
"Just shut up..You made your point.." She whispered softly to his lips and leaned in, kissing him deep again while her hands ran up to his and cupped the back of his, her touch still rather hot from her flames. Karen tilted her head and deepened the kiss slightly, her passion still enveloped like fire, running from her lips to his.
"Hn," a soft grunt even though he still felt confused and hated taking orders. But the fiery kisses were too much on him, exactly what he'd been craving and longing for, missing too much. He deepened the kiss right back not caring that it was a middle of a crowded street or that they'd been fighting only seconds earlier. So fiery, feisty, all the things he loved. "Mm... Karen," he mumbled trying hard to put thoughts together even though she'd effectively shoved them out of his head. He sucked lightly on her bottom lip with a playful tug and placed several dozen affectionate kisses down her jawline and neck, and softly nuzzled her ear with his nose, letting the snow fall all around them.
She blushed just a fraction at how he was trying to heat her up or, proverbially stroke her fire. She glanced around and then peeked up at him. "People are looking at us, Smoker." She said quietly only to bite softly back at his lip, giving it a tug with a faint moan. "Drawing...a crowd."
Eyes widened and he blushed bright red, and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. He scooped her up in his arms, not slinging her over a shoulder this time, and chivalrously requested, "Where to m'lady?"
Blinking, Karen flailed a bit and tilted her head up at him. "Ah y-you're carrying me there?" She asked with wide eyes up at him. "Anywhere you want to. "
"Yes," Smoker grinned proudly, drinking in the golden eyes. He strode off, gathering no less stares by insistently carrying her but he ducked down less crowded streets and got them to scram mostly. "Ah I could take you back to the hotel room I got. But uh don't think you have to do anything you're not ready for. We can just talk or something." His cheeks were still tinged red and however much he missed her, he strangely missed talking with her most of all and desperately wanted to hear her voice explaining to him the things he didn't get.
Karen tilted her head and smiled faintly. "Hm..You say that but I can feel it." She teased. "I don't mind either or wherever we go. I don't...exactly have a room anywhere near here." She frowned and looked around the city scape. Even if it was shrouded in white, it was beautiful in its own way.
"I'll have to get Happy another room," Smoker noted to himself. "Angel you know you got paid for while you were in the marines. And promoted." He grinned. It really seemed she hadn't realized, taking off without any of the money she'd earned. He ducked in a back door to the hotel and climbed the stairs, still carrying Karen in his arms bridal style.
Idly waving a hand, she glanced up at him. "Give it to the children's hospital." She said. "Money...isn't something I need. Just another luxury. I'd much rather have this." She said quietly while her head lay softly on his shoulder. Even if they didn't do anything, being able to lay in warmth like this would be nice especially given the cold atmosphere.
"Karen," Smoker swallowed and grinned ear to ear, "You're coming back?" He could hardly believe his ears, somehow expecting something even more difficult, as close to breaking as he'd felt already. She hadn't yelled at him for calling her an angel again either. Shifting the weight carefully he pulled her closer and nuzzled her cheeks softly as he got the hotel key in and opened the door to the Christmasy decorated room.
"Perhaps." She said softly and turned to look at the decorations that were decorated. "It's so pretty here.." She said quietly and looked up at him once more. She still squirmed slightly in his arms, hardly ignoring the looks that were given to them both as they wandered up here. "People are going to think we just got married."
Smoker grinned at that. "Good. They should." He was lousy at keeping secrets from her. In St. Poplar he'd been hoping she could pick it out with him but with her or not he'd still gotten her Christmas present. "Because I'm not letting you go. You said I shouldn't promise to come help you in your world because that's a lifetime commitment but I still did. I know it is." He chewed the cigars a little nervously now. He'd been meaning to wait for the perfect time. Or barring that, toss it to her on Christmas day when no one else was around. "I mean it doesn't have to mean anything extra just..." Smoker shrugged, and closed the door behind him, setting her down on top of the writing desk while he took a seat in the chair that went with it. He fiddled with the small box in his pocket, debating with himself.
"Just if you want it to," he added in a soft mumble around the cigars, looking away from her in embarrassment, leaning back in the chair and thinking to himself.
She sat on the table with her legs idly swinging as she studied him for a moment. Soon after she looked away and leaned back on her hands. "This...isn't a promise I'll return." She said quietly and tilted her head to glance back at him. "For that I apologize, but- I'm still unsure just how to return. I am prideful after all." She teased with a playful smile, still fake, but still there just for him.
Kicking his feet up onto the desk and leaning back in the chair with his hands behind his head, still concealing the box Smoker studied the woman intently with grey eyes. "No more fake smiles Karen. I want you to come back but not if you won't be happy." He growled and let out a short sigh. "I thought I started making you miserable and then I just realized... you've been miserable. You just hide it less because you trust me more." He was sure of it. Abruptly taking his heels off the desk he stood up and jammed the box back in his pocket before leaning in to sit on a corner of the desk with her instead. "And that's good. But I don't want to be the one telling you everything and for you to only listen in return." He held a small red curl in his fingers, about to lean in closer to kiss it when he paused and blushed, remembering that she still wanted distance.
She blinked and cocked her head towards his fingers that held onto her curl. She watched for a moment then glanced up at him, squinting. "Hm, I hit you pretty hard, didn't I?" She sighed and slipped off of the desk, moving to the bathroom.
After a moment she emerged again with a bowl and a heated washcloth. Setting the bowl on the table, Karen delicately wrung the water from the cloth and rested it against the new wound he sustained...thanks to her.
"Karen..." he started to protest softly but grinned wryly and shook his head in amusement instead. "And you think you'd make a bad marine?" She was still avoiding the point he'd tried to make but he couldn't bring himself to press her on it given the circumstances. He blew a short sigh of smoke. "I probably deserved it. I said I'd give you space but..." he shrugged broad shoulders, still watching her intently. "Only so much I could take before I started going crazy."
"You shouldn't go crazy over insane and pointless things you know." She said quietly, dabbing his cheek gently. Her eyes didn't focus much on his own, just looked past him to where he was injured while she worked on cleaning the wound. "Is that why you've decided to follow me this entire time? Because you started to go crazy?"
"Pointless?" Smoker echoed sounding flinty, "You think this was pointless?" He grabbed her wrist gently but firmly. "I hadn't had my heart broken before," he stated firmly, looking at her unblinking. "I told you I'd follow you to your world, holding back when you're an island away was one of the hardest things I've ever tried to do. It wasn't pointless. I followed you because I wanted to see you happy again. Even if not with me. I told you that." He grit the cigars in his mouth hard and tried not to scowl, releasing the hand apologetically the second he realized he'd been holding it.
Her eyes scanned down to his hand around her wrist...no doubt with how massive his hands were she could crush her wrist. The price of being small, she supposed. She sighed quietly and sets the cloth down in the bowl with her free hand. "Stop with that 'following' me...Do You think I WANT you to do that? This world is a second chance, yes, but once I return to my world, there is no second chance. Life will resume. My work with the men at the bath house will continue and the seven of us will proceed to save Mankind from its own fate. Here, I know I cannot die because of you. But there...I can die for the world because of the justice I believe man kind deserves. But if you were to go there, how could I be fine in heaven knowing I left you in our sinful world?"
His expression didn't change as he leaned forward to kiss her despite her fury. That was the Karen he'd been expecting since he'd first told her. He picked up her hands softly in both of his. "Angel. I know. But if it's your job to be justice, it's my job to protect justice." He still couldn't tell her that sometimes people only wound up in his world from another when they'd already died. He'd already suspected for too long that she had died in her own world without realizing it. "If I can get to your world I can get back to mine. But I'd rather die fighting alongside you than never know what happened. Than spend the rest of my years heartlessly pretending not to hurt. I'd rather die there than live here. Understand that." He brushed her cheek with his hand, surprised at his own calm. He felt like a stormy ocean, genuinely scared she'd bolt from him like wildfire again, and a touch angry at a world that would let someone like her die never knowing her sacrifice but above all else, he was relieved that she'd finally said the words he'd been expecting what felt like months ago.
The kiss startled her and she quickly pulled away from it, touching her lips with a bit of an anger flaring up. Why did he have to be so difficult and go and do things like that. She looked down at their hands and tugged hers away from his quickly. "You don't understand it. You keep saying I don't listen to you but you just repeat the same thing over and over. Don't you have someone else to do this to, Smoker?" She shot at him, tossing the damp but still warm cloth on his lap and turned away to walk on the other side of the desk. "I'm leaving. Just...go back to doing what you did before I even arrived here."
Smoker's cheeks flushed in his own fury. "I wouldn't keep saying it if you got it!" Shit. He hadn't meant to yell but he was losing it. "I don't understand? I don't understand?! I understand justice. Why do you have to die alone for it? Why does a kid like Nataku get wrapped up in the plot of some adults? You both have a chance for better here. Fine I don't get it. Why are you so adamant that I can't come with you, that you have to die alone? I made you a part of my justice, why don't you trust me enough to just let me--" he cut himself off with a growl and slammed his head into his own fists.
"Because that is God's will!" She shot back harshly to Smoker before her hand grasped the door knob tight, nearly burning the metal with her searing touch. "Find your other Justice. I'm not the justice you think I am." With that she pulled the door open rather harshly and it hits back against the wall.
God's will? He wanted her to die? For what? To end the world? No. Smoker couldn't believe that nor accept her determination to do nothing. He let her go. Fighting wasn't going to solve anything but a large hand closed on the box in his pocket and chucked it into the nearest wall. Justice? Ha. Fate? Ha. He was reminded sharply of the first time he faced absolute justice, the same bitter taste left in his mouth. No. There was a god, Smoker was sure, but there was no point in creating the seals or giving them guardians just to end her world. No point sending her here, in sending Nataku here, if there wasn't supposed to be something done about it. "Karen..." he growled furiously wanting to kick something but instead suppressing his temper and walking to the bathroom for a shower. This month just got a lot longer.