i'll be with you still

you are the angel that I couldn't kill

The pair left the welcoming warmth of that delectable smelling, shop with a few of their spoils. The sweet smell still lingered within his nose as he guided the ballerina down the city streets. It wasn't long before they made it to the apartment building, his long muscular legs slowed his usual brisk, soundless pace in exchange for a far more leisurely one. The building itself was unimpressive yet lived in and clean. But it was not the building he had wished for her to see. He could see the woman assessing it with her warm chocolate stare, vastly unaware of the conclusion she had come to. The hunter was able to study is prey but a woman, he was entirely... clueless to the train of thoughts that might of percolated within her mind. That this might have been his apartment building. Her inquiring eyes shifted from the building to him. "You will see." Adrien offered meagerly, a subtle flicker within his eyes of.... Eagerness as he drew her further drawing her toward the back of that building, down a darkened alley that she had made her once swear to stay out of. With him, he was assured completely that she was safe. Like he transformed into her personal guardian, completely aware of every movement she made even though his shadowy gaze remained trained for anything out of the ordinary.

Outwardly, it seemed like a peculiar place to take a date. The park would have been a far more likely choice. Or perhaps.. A far more frequented view that tourists seemed to flock towards had made far more sense than this dreary, nondiscript building... Hence the trust he had spoken of before, he supposed. He gestured toward the steps, adjusting the bag that he had uncharacteristically offered to take as if he was truly some kind of gentleman. This was night after all, an unforgiving playing field that often took no prisoners, remaining at her back as if instinctual to keep it guarded. His boots thunked hallowly against the steel grates until Audette casted a simple glance over her shoulder, a question about the vampire problem upon her lips. That mere look along caused him pause for a briefest of moments. There was no harm in sharing the story. That pause was brief as if recalling the memory. "It was a coven of some shady vampires. But they operated like some kind of gang." The pair continued their upward ascent, his voice oddly soft but loud enough to cut through the space between them. "They blackmailed several buildings in the area.. Looking for quick payouts.. But even though they were offered those ridiculous payments out of fear... It quickly escalated, unsurprisingly...." The pair had already reached to the top of that building and Adrien hadn't even finished his story. "The vampires claimed it was only money they were after. Like they weren't the enemy, but protecting them from other evils looking to prey on them... They do what vampires do.. They continued to take. They fed off their money and their blood and who the hell knows what else... That was about the time when I found out about their problem. I was still new to the city at the time.. After a few nights of staking out the place, thats how I found out about the view." He rose a hand that held his coffee, gestured toward that sprawling cityscape and then some. He placed her bag on the dry floor. "I come up here a lot since then.. The owner insisted I.. have a room here which I only use on the nights I am here.. Him and his wife are good people." He took a guiding protective hand to press at her back, he was in his element now. Gone were the nerves that threatened him before. This was where he felt most alive, without walls surrounding him. Without the chaos of people. It offered him all the clarity he needed and more. Her french lilt uttered those words as she took in that sight with awe.

Her face lit up as she took in all in as if she wasn't truly believing her eyes. He had only realized then how his hand pressed into her back or their proximity. He could even gather the scent of her, or how her blonde hair looked luminous even in the darkness of night. He was nothing but aware all of a sudden, his hand retreated as if her words chased him away. Her comment of that city had his head bobbing. "You really can. There aren't that many vampires slinking around here anymore. I guess word gets out where the hunters tend to linger. But it makes the land owner happy... and their tennants even happier." His face softened a little, joining her at the barricade at the ledge that she climbed and perched upon like a bird with her feet dangling off its edge. He wondered if she would fly away. Instead, she pat the vacant space beside her, that wordless gesture to ask him to join her there. He was not willing to deny it, a perfect place to enjoy those baked goods. He lowered his much larger form upon the ledge, his legs draped over, swaying momentarily, freely. He felt like a boy then, which was a rare feeling for him in a hardened world.

The blonde ballerina then spoke again, admitting it was a much nicer part of the city before questioning the hunter if he had a croissant before Adrien as drew a sip of his potent espresso brew within his paper cup. "Not in a very long time.. I don't even remember the last time I had a cookie." He admitted... placing the cup beside him as he opened the crinkling paper bag that contained their treats. He looked inside curiously before allowing her first pick, the hunter picking the remaining one. They were powdered with sugar... and smelled lethal but irristable. Far too many carbs and processed sugar and... he stopped himself... that buttery scent enough to make his mouth water. One croissant wasn't going to kill him. He was immortal.. He could eat a hundred croissants if he wanted to.

He removed his own from the bag, studying it only for a second before he drew it to his lips... and took a bite, teeth sunk into the flakey, delicious pastry and getting that first taste of chocolate. Oh, that was too good. How his tastebuds were not used to such things, he could not even remember the last time he even ate dessert. "This is... really good." He echoed his thoughts with a considering frown, knowing damn well the usually meticulous hunter was breaking all the rules now. When would it end??? It was like tugging at a damn stray threat that unravelled the whole thing! Adrien was unaware that some of that powder had stuck to the tip of his nose and the corner of his lips. Flakes from that delicate, tasty pastry were going everywhere....the white dusting starkly glaring upon his mostly black attire.

"What was it you called them again?" He turned his head slightly to peer at her, before stuffing another delectable bite into his mouth.. Savouring the sinfully delicious treat along with that strong brew within his cup. This was.. Actually quite nice..His shadowy purple eyes lingered upon her delicate features.. She was beautiful, even stuffing her face with chocolate pastries.Why was it that something so simple seemed to ensare him?

Yet there was a question that lingered within his mind... "Earlier you said something about having enough of my city's hospitality. What did you mean by that?" The rich baritone of his voice formed that question, his head tilted curiously to the side to watch the subtle shifts upon her delicate face far more intensely than he intended.

Adrien Westward