Adrien felt like a ruthless tiger with a small timid bunny pinned between his claws. He moved sharply, quickly, his eyes narrowed and assessing. She was not human, he could feel that. It should have been clear what he had to do. The laws of nature were simple for him. He would not stop until every last vampire and were creature were dead. He had hunted countless of them, watching them die by his hand, or by his shadows, he had seen more gore and violence than most had in a life time. It was his very mission to fight back the darkness with his own shadows, to perhaps keep the innocent that way until there was nothing more he could do. But this woman, she was so very different. What exactly was different about her he couldn't quite place, but that shimmering light she emanated even burned the body of the beheaded vampire corpse. Its skinned bubbled and peeled as though sunlight caressed it. How curious.

He moved like a predator because he was one. He never hesitated, never, until this day.

That very light seemed to attack his own shadows, like a veritable sun, devouring them like his darkness would often devour light. The hunter didn't test his abilities against it although he couldn't help but wonder if they would be rendered useless around that light. It seemed almost protective of the blonde fae who appeared so timid and frightened. He hadn't even hurt her. If her body could have gotten smaller she would have reduced herself to the size of an ant as she recoils from him and he cannot blame her. His shadow binds were devoured by her light and he didn't bother to fight it despite that urge to do so.

A realization had struck him so fast and perhaps it disturbed him in those very precious moments where her life hung in the balance. A frown crossed his face, tormented by the cold truth behind that fleeting and brittle comprehension.

What made him any better than the empty hearted heathens that killed mercilessly? He certainly felt no different, right at this very second while his much larger form seems to hover over her dainty figure. She was so slender and perhaps even angelic. If he could see himself, he would have been disgusted. The man was so many things, a hunter, ruthless, without mercy, an unyielding force of nature and yet now he seemed like a tyrant instead of a protector. Yet, maybe that was all he was, an oppressor. Maybe he had somehow lost his way and became those monsters he hunted. He was a honed killer to snuff out the vile life or whatever magic animated the bodies of those vicious beasts that harmed, that murdered and mutilated innocent humans. Beasts that were creatures designed for hell itself and not earth. Abominations.

He didn't care the depths he had to travel to be the man he needed to be to save another family from the same fate his own suffered. He remembered their mutilated bodies every damn day, remembered the blood, all that blood. It was so shocking to him them how much one person could bleed. He remembered Harley and how she might as well have died there with them that day. He remembered that fight she had with their parents that made her storm out of the house, breaking the fucking lamp within all that angst. Such angst inside such a tiny person. Those lashing words she said before she slammed the door. It was the last time she saw them alive and she was the first one on the scene, their bodies only just turning cold. He came home as soon as he got the call, the feeling he felt was a distinct one. He remembered, everything in vivid detail. Remembered the look on his sister's face. He remembered everything in vivid colour. How his thoughts, even so briefly caressed the memory from that night. The catalyst of where it all began. The beginning of this hate for the feral monsters that deserved to die. He blinked looking at the glowing fae, knowing very well that she was a victim and not the beasts he would quest for.

She was light and timid, beautiful.. he hated to admit it, but it was obvious to him. Not even darkness could conceal that. It made his hands nearly clench into fists from that thought in which revolted him. Those were thoughts he shouldn't be having. Not for anyone.. Especially not for the supernatural.

Adrien knew that if he killed her, even if he did it in a way where she felt no pain, her face be burned into his mind to haunt him. He knew that light would be tarnished and he would be the one to do it. His life was so cut and dry, but this moment, she made him hesitate. His hardened angry face looked upon her, tumultuous conflict creeping within his dark purple eyes.

He inspects her as if looking for an inkling for nefarious intent, to catch a glimpse of the real beast beneath. He looked for a reason to snuff her life out, a reason to not feel guilty about this afterward. Nothing, he found absolutely nothing. No matter how hard he looked, she seemed more like a victim. She continued to ramble on from her frayed nerves, he didn't consider what it would have felt like to witness such brutality in front of her. Her eyes turned glassy and he could not see because she burned so brightly. He remained apathetic even though the conflict still waged on within his mind. She recounted him chasing after her through those streets, he was so positive that she was up to no good. She was supernatural after all, he just knew she would be like the rest. What completely caught him off guard were the apologies falling from her lips like some desperate plea. Had she even done something wrong to meet the reaper's blade? Did he even need a reason?

But then she began to weep, and those glowing tears streamed down her angelic face. He nearly swore. Now he had made her cry and had no idea how to handle those tears. Those tears felt so human even though they were far from it. He didn't know how to get them to stop. Please stop... his mind pleaded but his words were lost for the moment. He was a reaper and he was no stranger to death, no stranger to taking life if you could even call whatever animates supernaturals a life. But these tears seem to make him hesitate in a way he never did before. All he knew was he wanted her to stop crying.

That callused gaze seemed to falter, his heart seemed to defy his steely resolve. What the fuck was he doing? He reaches out tentatively, his touch so surprisingly gentle as though he were caressing a something as fragile as a butterfly's wings. He tried to wipe away those tears, mesmerized by them, by her. He was on autopilot, unable to control himself. Unable to rule over his very own actions in that very moment as he crouched before her, his large form still looming too close. That light seemed to burn his eyes as though he wanted to blink and look away but he does not whilst she desperately tries to not make eye contact. As though completely terrified to look upon his face. He went from savage to conflict to soft so fast that it didn't make any sense. None of it did. He was disgusted by himself and yet he could not help but feel accountable for her, worried for her. His words, gentle and compassionate, helplessness drop from his lips. It hardly sounded like his voice at all.

What would she have him do?

She asked him not to kill her. He felt like such a domineering asshole. She even pleaded and promised to be good. He believed her and he felt defenseless. He coughed out a bitter laugh. Was this even happening right now? Did the vampire somehow make him stoned out of his goddamn mind? "I.." He searched for the words and they are lost to him. He shook his head as if trying to rid what he thought was a fit of madness that had befallen him. A spell that changed reality to him. He questioned everything. "Come let me take you home.." But then he realized he couldn't very well walk down the street with her glowing like a fucking lightbulb.

"Can you turn that off? I won't hurt you tonight." His words are meant to be reassuring instead they came off ominous and gruff. As though he forgot how to be caring and gentle. Could he hurt her another night? He sighed, rising to his feet before offering a strong hand, fully anticipating her not taking it. "That's enough bloodshed for one evening.." He spoke those words still utterly confused by this whole encounter and uncertain why he was even offering to walk her home.. He felt that urge to make sure she at the very least made it home unbothered, even if the walk was going to be as awkward as they came.