She... blushed. Yep. Too late to take it back now. 'exceptionally talented' had sprung up and punched her right across the face. "Well... I mean, I've bested a lot of people, yes. I've got a few medals for it, too." Don't brag, Annie, it's unbecoming. She cleared her throat and noticed offhandedly that he had sped up. In fact, he passed her a little.

Her eyebrows shot damn near into her hairline.

Oh? He'd said he wasn't much into jogging? Maybe her little bit of bragging had spurred some competitiveness in him?

She sped up to match, and then pass him a little, and glance at him from the side with a smile.

He was lucky he was just a little behind her when she blushed. He might have tackled her right then and there. He spent much of his time on the verge of retreating, or doing just that. It was the balance of an intense battle, though with words and subtle actions.

Until she bragged about her exploits once more. He was lucky once again that she couldn't see his face... His eyes widened intensely as she mentioned her medals for defeating people in bed. They... Gave medals? And he didn't have any?!

This drove him further. Forward. Past her. She sped up in response. She was using this... as a metaphor for her prowess. He had to perform. He had to show her she had met her equal. "I, too have bested many! Perhaps we will see what you are made of!"

He sped up once more. He was fast. Very fast. Many times, being just a little faster than his opponent had lead to victory. Confidence in that speed was intertwined with the swagger he carried himself with.

He was more built for going faster, for a shorter amount of time though. He couldn't keep this pace forever.

Was... was that a challenge? Had he just-

He took off running and she gaped at him from behind. Yup. Definitely a challenge.

A tiny voice, the one that was normally loud and reasonable in her head, cropped up. It said 'Don't do it, Annie! You're not ready! You'll regret it!'

It was kind of being drowned out by a growing sense of competitive excitement, though.

'Annie, no! Nononono-'

She slowed to a stop, knelt and extended one foot out behind her. Ground her sole into the pavement and breathed in deeply.

'Annalise don't you da-!'

Her hips lifted and she shot off. He may have been bigger in muscle and stature, but she was trained for this. Years of her life spend running tracks reaching for record-breaking speed.

The sound of her shoes slapping on the ground quickly approached and then whizzed past him. She barely paid any attention. Her head was in the game now, eye focused on the path ahead that had swiftly become her lane. What had her best time been all those years ago? Nine point something?

It had been a while, she knew she was rusty, but she was gonna push herself for that same time if this was going to be a race.

She was about 40 meters in and coming up on a curve on the road... and that's when disaster struck.

She braced herself for the turn and her knee protested painfully and then flat gave out on her. The momentum sent her hurdling off the path and into the thick bushed beside the track with a startled shout. She landed, ate dirt (thankfully not literally) and rolled a bit before coming to a stop.

"Ah, @#$%... pushed myself to hard." The little voice in her head was singing 'I told you so!' loudly, while she propped herself up on her elbows and caught her breath.

... Damnit. How embarrassing.

A smile of intense satisfaction settled on his face as he heard her footfalls dying off behind him. He had defeated her. He was more of a force of nature, a deity of death beyond compare. How could he think for a second that someone might be more dangerous than he? What was that sound... Was that-

Thud-thudthudthudthudthudTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD

She was past him in an instant. His eyes widened as he watched her zoom past. It couldn't be helped, she was an olympic level dasher, not that he knew. Instead, he just knew she was FAST. The way she moved in that moment, with such grace, power, and confidence.

He had to know.

He had to know for sure, metaphor and comparison aside. Who was the better warrior? Maybe she would keep running, now that she had bested him in this. It would be a wise move, to just keep running, leave him in the dust, wondering.

It would slay him as surely as she would try to do when he finally caved and crawled into her bed.

Oh, wait, An-Chan, you are supposed to turn ther- Oh, ouch. Moments after she ate shit, he hopped off of the path, and landed in a three point slam, looking up to her to examine her.

"It was your knee, was it not?" He immediately stood and walked over her, feeling her leg for signs of injury.

It was a shame, was it not? That she was hurt so. Such an impressive being, damaged in such a way. He hadn't understood the extent of it until just a moment ago; she was simply the fastest person he had ever seen in person, and here she was, fallen after a short sprint.

"You are fast." It was a simple statement, but to him, profound. He checked for any swelling as he made eye contact, and started trying to bend the knee to see if she still had full range of motion, and if it was painful to move. "That was... foolish."

Raijin appeared and she mustered up a grin that was half humorous and half guilty. "Hahah... yeah."

She sat up a little more, propping herself up on one arm and checking to make sure her gun and other defense tools were still on her. Once she was sure they were she rested on one arm and lifted her knee a little. It protested, but she could tell it hadn't ripped again at least. That much was a relief.

It was a lot easier not to blush at him touching her with avid pain present. Twigs and leaves in her hair and a smudge or two of dirt on her face helped too, she guessed. "I should hope so. I trained for years specifically to get fast."

Bending it fully wasn't going to be a thing that was happening any time soon and she was starting to worry about putting weight on it. Great. She'd have to make an appointment to go see her doctor sometime soon and get chewed out by him and her physical therapist too.

And apparently Raijin too.

She tried not to move much and definitely hissed a little bit at some of his moving of her leg. All she could do was laugh shamelessly, "Yeah, I suppose so, but I'm an insanely competitive person so it couldn't be helped. I should probably blame you anyway since you went and had to challenge me."

Annie grinned. Wait... that had come across like a joke, right? Of course, she didn't actually blame him.

She sat forward a little and moved to try and get up, and was finding it rather difficult.

She was laughing it off, though he supposed it was her coping mechanism. He tended to stay silent through pain. People who fought and killed as often as they did always had some way to deal with pain. She was going to be lighthearted about it.

She stated what he'd gathered, she'd trained hard for her quickness. It had likely helped her in many occasions. He paused to reach up and brush some dirt from her cheek. She stated that she was competitive, and that he'd started it.

Had he? Was he responsible for this? "Well... Then I should take responsibility."

As she tried to get up, his strong arms gently looped around her legs and back, and he lifted her up in them. "There. Do you wish to go home, or to a place to be seen?"

He didn't seem to be too encumbered by her weight as he climbed into the path once more. "I feel this is an unfair way to settle our challenge. I am not satisfied with calling this a victory."

Annie short-circuited a little as he brushed dirt away from her face, and then she definitely blushed. Not beet red, mind you, but visibly rosy. Maybe she could blame it on the weather? Also, she was definitely going to have to revisit the whole idea that he was simply looking for a jogging partner. Did normal people do things as lifetime-movie-romantic as that? Did... did he like her? Like like-like her?!

"Huh?" Responsibility? What? She found, all too suddenly, that she was off her feet and cradled in his arms and... oh, god in heaven. Father, Son, and the holy ghost, he was jacked and his tracksuit seemed to be doing a damn fine job of showing it off with how she was suddenly snuggly pressed up against him.

She barely held back a strangled grunt, managed to pass it off as her knee being jostled a little in a new position, and then focused on not moving a lot. It wasn't the first time she'd ever been picked up like this. She'd been a cheerleader for many years so she was used to being picked up and help and thrown about by boys. Truthfully it had been a lot easier to ignore the closeness back then...

"Oh, um. I'm fine, really. I probably just need to ice it. I guess.... just take me home?" The last part squeaked out a little because SHE'D NEVER TAKEN ANYONE HOME BEFORE. AHHH! Had she put all her laundry away?! Were her dishes done? What was he going to think of the size of her place? What about all of her plants?

Oh, god, had she put her guns away properly?!

"O-oh. Well, how would you wanna settle it then?" Yessss, a distraction. Focus on something other than his hands on you, Annie. "Chess? Checkers? Rock Paper Scissors?"

Jesus, it was like she hardly weighed anything to him. [/i][/i]

The ronin didn't humor her Huh. He felt it was all pretty self explanitory. He had pressured her to compete in spite of her injury, and she had iritated it in the process. He was responsible, and thus he would take responsibility.

He looked to her as she grunted, wondering if he'd caused her more pain. For a brief second he wondered if he should toss her into traffic while he had the upper hand, but no, that would be the weaklings way through this situation. He would take her home.

Raijin nodded as she opted to be take home, and awaited directions, walking to them as she did. She asked how he planned to settle their bout, and he couldn't help but chuckle at her obvious joke suggestions. "I think, we focus on icing you first. Then we can talk how we settle."

He felt a tension, and it wasn't her weight, as he trodded along with her in his arms. She could likely shoot him right here, with his arms taken up by her. He would be defenseless, but he had the feeling she was the same as he was. She wanted a good victory, and he respected that.

"If I have set you back in your recovery, I will have to make it up to you." He spoke off handedly as he made his way quickly. Even to someone as strong as he, he didn't exactly want to loligag while holding another fully grown human being. Especially one who may change her mind about killing him any second.

Part of him wondered what her living space would look like... It would tell him a lot about her, at least. Unless she'd planned all of this, and he was falling into her trap.

Directions were prompt and to the point. She was good at giving directions in all manner of things. It also helped to keep her from spiraling away into fantasy. It didn't take too long for them to get to her place. She walked or jogged most of the way there, sometimes took the bus if it was raining too badly.

She worried and fretted a LOT more as soon as they were at the entrance to her complex. She lived in a... fun part of town. It wasn't exactly a slum but was damn close to it, and pretty dangerous at night. The apartments were up a flight of stairs (there was no elevator), and her's was situated two floors above a laundromat. It was convenient, which was part of the reason she chose the place.

She unlocked the door as soon as they were there and immediately kicked herself. Her guns were indeed out and laying on her table. Super irresponsible, Annie. Literally one of the most important rules of gun ownership was proper storage! He was going to think she was a nutcase for sure.

"Thanks." She got herself into one of her kitchen chairs and got her leg in a good position so that it didn't ache as bad.

Her place was small. Literally, a living room combined with a very small kitchen and a tiny bedroom off to one side. She was lucky to have a bathroom in her unit though, as well as a functioning shower. So many other places in her price range had simply been one-room apartments with no bathroom or kitchen.

"There's an ice pack in the freezer if you would be so kind."

Right off the bat, it would be noticeable that she didn't have many things. Just enough things. A few decorations here or that that looked like they had been chosen specifically for the theme of the place. Her table and chairs were older and solid wood. Her curtains matched the color scheme of the walls and other scant furniture. She had a small couch, a small coffee table. A mix between vintage and modern design. Her appliances were clean and polished, but not brand new. She was clean and organized, liked things tidy and neat. She also liked plants.

Lots of plants.

Hanging ivy in a few corners and on one shelf. A few pots in the main window, even more in her bedroom. Her bathroom was full of plants that did well in humid environments. It wasn't exactly a jungle, but it was clear she liked having a bit of life inside and had a rather green thumb.

She set about methodically putting away her weapons, clearing off the table so he could sit. It was hard not to blush in embarrassment while doing it, too.

"Er... would you like anything to drink?" Once she had everything neatly put away in their cases, she locked them and sat them on the floor beside her chair, up against the wall. "I have lots to choose from... in the fridge, or the cupboards."

She had a stash of various juices, some milk, cold water in a pitcher in the fridge, and in the cupboard beside it on an upper shelf she had a small shelf of fine liquours her father kept giving her every year for christmas. She wasn't much of a drinker, as the Bronx tended to come out of her when she partook, but most of them were open from small cups of things here and there while working on larger projects.

Or handling incompetent clients.

He would follow her directions promptly, thankful it was a short trip, though not too overburdened by carrying her all of the way. She was good at giving instructions, and he was strong. The part of town didn't bother him in the least. He had lived in many different kinds of places and settings in his life. Crouching down a bit to allow her to unlock the doors, he helped her in, and immediately noticed the collection of weapons.

He wasn't surprised. The cavalier placement told him she feared nothing. If someone broke in, they could have their own gun. They would need it to try to protect themselves from her. He found his heart bumping quickly. Scanning the rest of the surroundings he saw... She was neat. Her sense of style was... oddly phoned in. Ah. KGB? A sleeper agent of a sort? He retrieved the ice pack for her, and quickly moved to help her as she started moving things around.

"You are okay to move things?"

Stubborn, wasn't she? Maybe not used to having people see her vulnerable like this. He wondered how she managed to fight in such a cramped space, though. Perhaps she more often did her business in the homes of others.

Wait... if that was the case. Did that mean. He looked back to her as she spoke. "I will make us some." He assessed what was there, and got started making a few drinks. He'd actually been a bartender before, though it was more as a cover for a trafficking operation. Still, he'd managed to pick up a few things.

In moments, he was taking a seat, and passing her a drink. He was a bit of a heavy pourer, but his mixing sensibilities made, well, sense.

He took a sip of his drink, and then sat, comfortable, and watched her, silently. Intently.

"Sure."

Wait... 'Us'? Oh no.

She watched, silently horrified, as he seemed to expertly prepare two drinks.

Ohgod.

She decided to make absolutely sure that she sipped at it. Being a notorious lightweight who could have a bit of a temper was not a great look in most cases.

She eyed the drink he passed her a bit tensely, reached out to pull it closer, and lifted it to take a sip. Blech! Holy @#$% that was strong! Normally she just added a little splash to her soda every now and then. Annie valiantly fought back a grimace, swallowed, and set her cup back down.

"Thanks!"

And then commenced a somewhat awkward, slightly intimidating staring. She stared right back for a bit, waiting for him to speak. Like.. say anything. Do something. Anything! Eventually, she looked away first and focused on how she had the icepack on her knee.

Had... had he taken her super serious about that whole 'it's your fault' thing? Maybe she hurt his feelings?

Damnit, maybe she really did need to drink a bit. This whole ordeal was going to give her an ulcer.

She... Didn't say anything. Was she waiting for him to speak? Was... she trying to force him into a position of weakness? No. That was silly. She had invited him to her inner sanctum. She was clearly, madly in love with him. He couldn't blame her.

He took a long sip from his drink, and set it down, looking to her for a little bit longer before turning his attention to the room once more. "You tend to a lot of plants." He stated, reaching out to stroke a vine next to him. "You have a lot of guns." His eyes drifted to her book shelves, reading the spines.

"You are an interesting woman."

He looked down to her knee once again, frowning. "I hope it does not hurt too badly. I do feel like I owe you, now." Crossing his arms, he leaned back in the chair. "I have read many of these books. My favorite. Right there." He pointed to the book of five rings. It was in Japanese. She was well traveled, which made sense.

"I would like to stay here, tonight." He... wasn't the type to beat around the bush. All cards on the table.

"Plants are easy to take care of and don't care if I'm away for a while." So... he liked plants then? That was nice. Good. She liked plants, too. She sipped at her drink again.

"...I like guns, too." She wasn't ashamed to admit it... not really. She just usually didn't break out that conversation topic on like the first da....aaaaaa- meeting. "I just finished cleaning them and forgot to put them away." Speaking of, she still had one strapped to her, didn't she? She pinned her ice pack between her knees and say up a little so she could unclip her harness from herself, pull the whole thing out, and turned to set it on the set-in window sill behind her. She fished out her knife and pepper spray and set them aside, too. "I like to be prepared."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Really. I shouldn't have pushed myself like that. It's been years since I tried to run like that again."

He absolutely piqued her interest when he mentioned having read some of the very books on her shelf. She straightened in her seat and took a bit larger a sip than she ought to have. "Really? Aren't they just fascinating?" She spied the one he was talking about and smiled. "That's a great one. The original version is way better a read than the translated ones. Way more meaningful. Have you ever read 'Meditations on Violence'? It's a pretty good read too." Goodness, she had so many books to choose from. The variety of reading material in her apartment ranged from topic to topic, somewhat all related, and in organized sections. She had everything from language to antique firearms and even some ancient medieval European combat stuff. When she got hooked on a topic, she really got hooked!

He surprised her a bit at his statement. It felt a bit like it had come out of nowhere, but her mind picked up quickly and put the pieces together.

Oh.

He obviously felt really guilty and wanted to make sure she was alight, right? That she could get around fine and wouldn't fall and lay on the floor neglected for days or weeks? How sweet!

"Oh. Sure!" It was a little strange as she hadn't had anyone stay overnight in this place. It was pretty small... but, that wasn't to say she wasn't prepared for that eventually.

She stood, carefully hobbled her way over to the couch, and started removing cushions and pillows. A fold-away bed was easily pulled out as she scooted the coffee table away with one foot. She tossed the cushions to the side. "I hope this is alright? I know it's pretty small, but it's decently comfy." She spotted a knife wedged in there between the mattress and the frame.

"Oh, hey... That's where you went." Annie pulled it out and tucked it in the back waist of her pants as she threw the pillows back on.

He nodded at her statement. "I have Bonsai." He wondered how they were doing. "I like guns. I am not a very good shot. I am better with a sword." He watched her disarm herself with invested interest. What a bad ass.

Damn.

And then she started talking about books about killing people. He tilted his head at her suggestion. "I have not. Maybe I should."

He started a bit as she began to fold out the couch, nodding to himself. They were doing this; it made sense that she would want the small bit of extra room this space allowed. He stood to go help her, nodding as the folded out, and he gave it a good long look over.

"Yes, is enough space for us." He turned and walked back over to his drink, finishing it off before looking back to see her tuck away the knife.

Wait, what? Was she still trying to... Oh... This might still be a battle. Such an added implement wouldn't be as much of an issue, now that he was aware of it. Still, why was she so eager? He would be happy with waiting until her condition had improved before their impending battle to the death.

In the meantime, there were plenty of ways to pass the time without her having to bend that knee all too much.

Space for... us?

Hm? She blinked a few times, first at her wall, and then at him. Head tilted a little. What was that about 'Us'? Slip of the tongue maybe?

There was no way he could-

Nah.

No way.

... Right?

"You should!" She skipped back to the book, which was an area she was comfortable in. "It really dives into an in-depth look at what people expect when going into martial arts and combat, and what the reality actually is." The couch still needed sheets. Hm... oh, and pillowcases! She had some extras in the same closet that had her knee brace.

"There's a whole section on Kata as a military training method. It's pretty fascinating."

She carefully limped away to go find sheets and her knee brace, and when she came back out from her room she was lacking the knife she'd found and had a non-sweat covered clothes on. She'd specifically chosen NOT to wear the one with pizza cat on it. Instead she just had on a loose pull over that covered her hips well (good for conceal carry) and a pair of black jeans with a little stretch. She had decided to wear another one of her collection pieces. Technically it was a two piece, with a garter, and all in black lace. Easy enough to hide and bulky enough she didn't feel like people could see it through her clothes. It was just the minimal confidence boost she figured she'd need seeing as this whole encountered was definitely starting to fee more like a date. 

"Are you hungry? Have you had breakfast already?" Wait, what time was it even? "Or brunch?"

"I make a pretty killer omelette." With her brace on, which stretched from mid-thigh to mid-calf, she was able to walk easier. It had sturdy-yet-thin metal hinges on either side that made putting weight on the old injury a lot easier.