“Who sent you?” The elementals voice was surprising calm, almost bored, as his azure eyes slowly took in the varying degrees of damage which had been dealt to his apartment. Glancing from the decimated kitchen which had taken the brunt of the initial gunfire to the unsightly soup stain he’d created on the opposing wall to buy himself the bare moment of time he’d needed to deal with his… guest.

“Fuck you! You’re dead anyway.”[/color]

Ignoring the urge to sigh at the all too trite response Zephyr lifted his gaze to the figure still struggling futilely against the force which held it to the ceiling. The would be attackers expression was one of poorly disguised fear and Zephyr easily ignored the glare which was sent his way, merely raising his hand and making a pinching motion as he applied pressure to figures throat in order forestall further vulgarities.

“Believe me, I’ve lived through far worse than a bullet wound. What you did barely counts as a scratch, less than actually. In fact, I don’t believe you appreciate your present position.” The elementals words were still cool, almost lecturing, as he moved to a nearby couch and seated himself without shifting his gaze. “There are two ways I can deal with you. There is the hard way which, as you can see, is trying my patience but gives you a chance to keep your limbs, or there is the easy way, which shall be far quicker and requires less effort than any trigger. Think carefully about which method you want me to use before you say anything.”

Zephyr then released the pinching gesture and, as his ill fortuned assassin descended into desperate gasps for air, took the opportunity to retrieve and idly examine the man’s wallet, carelessly scattering the few notes and coins of currency as he searched for anything of relevance.

By the time his attacker had subsided into pained wheezing the elemental had defenestrated the wallet and his fingers were toying with the stub of a greyhound bus ticket while his thoughts wandered down the various paths of implications.

“I find it difficult to believe that a hired gun would take the bus for work, even more so when it implies you came from Chicago. That’s Jarcones territory and he has no reason to want me dead, quite the opposite really, yet I’m being pointed in that direction…”

Trailing off Zephyr glanced back up at his captive with an expectant expression; however whatever minute amount of optimism he’d possessed was swiftly crushed.

“Screw you, fuckin mutey freak. I ain’t saying nothing.”

With an all too weary sigh Zephyr rose from his seat and slowly began to wander towards the shattered remains of his balcony door. “Tempting as it is to point out your double negative, I think what’s needed here is a change in perspective...”

“H-Hey what’re you doing?! Let me go! Don’t!-“[/color]

---
“Alright! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Jarcones gone, no one’s seen him for weeks and Chicago’s turning into a f***ing free for all. Biggs just told me to get you out of the picture.”[/color]

Annoyingly that raised more questions than it answered; mob bosses didn’t simply disappear, or if they did the chaos was normally kept to a minimum purely because it was too costly in the long run. However, if the thugs increasingly pallid features were anything to go by then he was likely telling the truth; viewing the Hudson River at 37,000ft without an aircraft tended to make most individuals surprisingly honest.

Unfortunately it also indicated that the man knew nothing else of relevance, and while this also was irritating it did make his next choice rather simple. After all holding ones grip required effort, pulling a trigger required effort, but letting go, letting go…was easy.

A short while later, after having rid himself of his burden Zephyr paced back and forth across one of the many innumerable skyscrapers which dotted the cities landscape as he considered the situation before him. Like it or not, he had a price on his head and while it was possible that the present chaos in Chicago would resolve the situation for him it was equally possible that his bounty would simply increase. It would be better by far oo simply nip the situation in the bud with a suitable display of force…

The elemental paused, a contemplative expression crossing his face as one hand absently traced the bullet wound he’d so recently received and which was now covered by unblemished skin. If, and it was a rather large if, he could lines things up properly it was just possible that he’d be able to deal with a great deal more than one upstart gang leader.

He just needed the right people to see the right things.

Withdrawing his phone from his pocket Zephyr pulled up a number he’d avoided using for months. When the call finally connected he kept his message simple and to the point.

“Grab your things Duskmoor, you’re going to Chicago.”

Isabel was beginning to regret not blocking Zephyr's number on her phone. Especially when he insisted on addressing her by her godawful last name when calling. Also, because apparently his call meant that he expected her to make a trip to Chicago just because he said so. She was so not on friendly terms with him after their last meeting. She'd just as soon stab him as cooperate with him in any way.

She of course related such things right back into her phone. Why the hell should she do anything he said? All the way to Chicago? No way in hell! She was sure neither of them had forgotten what had happened last time she had been stuck with him by herself. She shuddered just thinking of it. She wasn't going to be taking any more chances that recent history might repeat itself.

Unfortunately for her, Zephyr turned out to be very persuasive.

By the time the call had been terminated, her face was beet red, her stomach was tied in knots, and she wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and die. She had no idea how she was going to get out of such a tight spot, but she was determined to figure it out. She wasn't going to let him get away with his little tricks, it was just a matter of finding a way to accomplish that without forcing his hand in the process. Not that it would need all that much forcing in the first place, she was sure.

Chicago it was, then.

"I hate you. So very much," did not turn out to be as soothing a mantra as she would have hoped. On some level it did feel good to voice such things, but the rest of the levels would have much preferred some disembowelment. And it was so very hard not to give in to the temptation. But given her current predicament, it was probably best not to create any temptations for her business partner in turn.

Everything sucked. She was stuck with a seriously twisted individual in a state she'd never even considered visiting, had no one that could potentially help her within any kind of reasonable distance, and everything sucked.

For all that Zephyr was beginning to reach his mid-twenties he had never once considered or even entertained the notion of having children, and after having had to essentially babysit Duskmoor for the entirety of the thirteen hour journey to Chicago the elemental believed himself to be fully versed in the numerous arguments one could give against the idea of progeny beginning with “No, we’re not stopping to get a happy meal” all the way to “We got on the road less than five minutes ago and Chicago is eight hundred miles away, so no Duskmoor, we are not ‘nearly there yet’”.

In short, the less said about the trip, the better.

That had only been the start of things though; Chicago truly was in a state of uproar. Oh it wasn’t evident on the surface, the everyday resident likely wouldn’t notice anything more than the odd business suddenly closing down and perhaps a few more thugs on the street.

Those who had the proper connections knew what was truly going on, or rather only that , only that something was very wrong. Connections after all were only valuable as long as both party’s were alive to do business and suffice to say that in the past few weeks a good number of otherwise influential individuals had been… disconnected.

That wasn’t to say they were all dead, the grim reaper himself wouldn’t be able to eliminate every aspect of organized crime in a city like Chicago in just a few weeks. No, it was just that, like rats, many criminals had a penchant for abandoning a sinking ship, and while the city itself was in no danger of capsizing it was still considered advisable to give the metropolis a wide berth until the waves settled.

While this was undoubtedly a laudable strategy for those with a more cautious frame of mind it left Zephyr with no contacts and thus no convenient way to locate the illusive Biggs who’d placed the price on his head. That didn’t mean it was impossible, far from it actually, it just meant he’d need to improvise far more than he’d initially intended if he wanted to meet all of his goals.

Still, as he stalked back to the motel with Duskmoor in tow the elemental reflected that those were details he could flesh out in the morning. For now he needed to rest, a luxury he’d only be able to enjoy after he’d dealt with the shapely yet sullen brunette behind him.

Emerging from the rains wept streets mere minutes after thunder began to echo in the sky Zephyr all but kicked in the metal plated door in order to get inside before shedding his drenched overcoat and shoes and making stepping into the single living area, trying to guess exactly what his comely companion would whine about first.

Isabel decided very quickly that she did not like to travel, especially when it was with someone like Zephyr. She hadn't been happy about going in the first place and his short retorts to anything she had to say just made it worse. Like stopping at a Mickey D's really would have killed him. Hmph.

After what felt like forever they finally arrived. She still didn't know what the big deal was or why she'd had to pack up and leave with him so quickly. It would have been nice if he'd given her some more info, rather that just coaxing her into the trip with some dangerously embarrassing blackmail. She didn't see what was so damn urgent. As far as she could tell the people wandering around looked pretty normal and city wasn't on fire or anything.

Not that a fire would've had much of a chance to really get going seeing as the skies opened up and decided to let loose a downpour before they'd gotten a chance to duck indoors. She wasn't at all shy about voicing her displeasure at such a development through a string of curses. Hopefully the things she'd hastily shoved into her duffel bag wouldn't get too wet, unlike what she was wearing.

And just when she'd dared to think it couldn't get much worse, the pair arrived at the hotel and she discovered that she'd have to be sharing a room.

Oh no. Nope. Nuh-uh. She was so not sharing a living space with that creep, no matter how short a time they'd be staying in the city before turning around and heading back home. She was not going to deal with him while in pajamas or when ducking into the bathroom to take a shower. Hell, she didn't want to deal with him when she was just lounging around doing nothing in particular. It was like he was dead set against giving her any sort if privacy or space to herself.

"No way! Not fair! I want my own room!" she protested, dropping her soggy bag on the floor and crossing her arms. She didn't bother following his example and removing her shoes. She hoped he had to walk through the cold wet spots in bare feet later. "This is bull! I'm so not staying here with you overnight!"

Placing his belongings down before seating himself on one of the two threadbare chairs within the room Zephyr cast an idle glance about the room as he waited for his companion’s inevitable litany of complaints. The motel was by no means in the best of neighborhoods and so the decorations were sparse to say the least and the lack of windows lent the place the air of a prison cell.

Still, while it might not have had as much space as the elemental would have preferred it did at least have all of the essential furnishings; a small table with chairs occupied one corner, a poorly painted door off to one side likely led to a bathroom while a worn and somewhat outdated television rested atop a weather beaten chest of drawers opposite the most important feature of the room, namely, the two beds.

He’d initially hesitated at the thought of procuring just a single room, because while Duskmoor was undoubtedly easy on the eyes anyone who had actually spent any amount of time with the soubrette knew her habitual demeanor had all the appeal of a black widow, and even that was being generous; the arachnids at least waited before they killed.

"No way! Not fair! I want my own room!"[/color]

Caught between the urge to smirk and sigh Zephyr instead removing a small cylindrical capsule from his pocket and emptied out two small pills into the palm of his hands and quickly swallowing them to mask his minor, but noticeable, amusement at Duskmoor’s petty diatribe. It wasn’t that the girls argument was unfounded or illogical, quite the reverse really given how he’d been forced to deal with her in their last meeting, no the source of the hessians amusement stemmed from the sheer ease in which she was allowing him to rile her

“That isn’t going to happen for three reasons.” He informed her with one of his more authoritative tones as he somehow managed to look down on her despite the fact she was standing.

“The first of which being that I don’t trust you not to cause trouble the moment you’re out of my sight. You’ve proven time and time again that you cannot control your impulses or your temper and I have no intention of letting you run amok until we’ve found our targets.”

“Secondly, we have spent the entire day asking about a number of influential people who are suddenly missing. While we may not have been recognized under our coats, those type of questions are noticed and rarely for good reasons. Staying together allows us to better deal with anything unexpected as well as giving us a useful, if trite, cover.”

“And finally…” Zephyr paused and glanced back at the pair of beds before the second abruptly dragged to the opposite of the room by an unseen force.

“You’re just being difficult, I’m well aware that you’re more than capable of creating your own privacy. In fact for tonight I’d recommend you go a step further and reinforce the walls floor and ceiling. We are not dealing with nice people, in fact they will be rather impolite and as such and they are rarely subtle.”


"This is bull! I'm so not staying here with you overnight!"[/color]

Zephyr’s azure gaze narrowed irritably at the girls impudent the impudent retort but otherwise he didn’t respond, instead merely matching the soubrettes irate hazel eyes with an unimpressed expression before he spoke in the same cold and confident tone as before.

“I’m not going to repeat myself Duskmoor and since you have no intention of listening to reason I’ll go with something even you can understand.”

Withdrawing his phone the elemental placed it on the table and quickly pulled up one of the more… revealing, images which had initially persuaded the girl to follow him in the first place.

“If you take one foot outside without my express permission than not only will Wolf News be a receiving one of the most scandalous images of the year but I will do all I can to ensure that every police force, mercenary group and military outpost within five states knows exactly where you are. While you might be able to deal with a few small skirmishes this isn’t New York and you no Sanctuary to run to. You’d be overwhelmed and no one would help you.”

“Now either sit down or start working on the walls.”

Zephyr was a bully. Nothing but a goddamn bully. One with a phone containing pictures that he shouldn't even have in the first place. Maybe it was all the embarrassed, panicked flailing that had gotten in the way, but she didn't remember ever seeing a phone occupying his hand during the time she'd been in such a compromising position. But apparently he had. It friggin figured.

She couldn't care less about his money, and even less than that about the people she was being strong-armed into helping him track down and eliminate. Why should she worry about a bunch of mafia jerks? They were just fools with guns. She'd dealt with their type before. Like she couldn't do it again with or without the blowhard's assistance. And like having a separate room would really make that much if a difference. The hell it would.

And she could totally control her temper. She just didn't want to.

As for reinforcing the room, it wouldn't be that hard of a task. Looking around, mainly to avoid the godawful picture on the phone's screen, the place was really rather small. Only slightly larger looking once one of the beds slid itself across the floor. It would be simple enough coating the walls with a thin sheet of bone. But that would mean cooperating and letting the elemental continue to bully her.

Not that she could do much about the bullying aside from that. Apparently that phone could be put to more use than just sending off the incriminating photos. She was essentially trapped in the small room with a young man she couldn't stand. She did not like that one bit. She hated being confined just as much as she hated being told what to do.

She hated it. But he was right. If Zephyr was out of the picture or if he decided he wanted to side against her, she was on her own in a city she'd never been to without any help. No Syn, no Abyss, no Order. Even if she did manage to make a run for it and evade the initial onslaught of law enforcement officers, she didn't have anywhere to lay low. She couldn't very well hoof it back to New York, and if he called in so many people, she was sure the roads and busways would be under surveillance. She was stuck and it made her skin crawl.

With a huff she crossed the room and plopped down on the bed that had distanced itself, crossing her arms and facing away from the aggravating young man, all the while fighting the urge to remove her boots and hurl them at him. She wasn't going to bother reinforcing the room. Why help him any more than she had to? Hell it might very well be worth the trouble of a room invasion if he got a bullet in his back.

Now, where had she left off? Right. "I hate you. So very much."

Rather predictably, when faced with an obstacle she couldn’t threaten, maim or kill the buxom bonemancers behavior regressed to that of a sullen child as she all but stomped her way to the unclaimed bed neglecting to remove either her drenched coat or boots. Briefly Zephyr thought of drawing the girls attention to the growing wet spot on her bed but he quickly thought better of it, in her current mood the gamine would likely just move to the other bed and ensure it was equally soaked.

"I hate you. So very much."[/color]

In the process of retrieving a small tablet computer from his belongings Zephyr merely sent the girl a short withering look, considering his next words for a moment before he made a show of dismissing her as he rested his feet on the other unoccupied as he rested his feet on the unoccupied chair.

“Stick and stones Duskmoor. I couldn’t care less if you wanted to f*** me or kill me…”

That wasn’t entirely true, but the statement served his purposes well enough for now and he rather doubted the soubrette was even able of recognizing the slight deception.

“because the way you are now you wouldn’t be able to manage either.”

This was actually rather more accurate; one of the key things the elemental had realized upon reflection of their last meeting was that, for some inexplicable reason, the girl had veritable mountains worth of insecurities regarding almost any sort of intimacy, almost to the point that it was a phobia. As for her mutation, well… lethal though it was for most, and the NYPD in particular, Zephyr’s own unique talents all but negated the risk of death.

That being said, deliberately provoking the girl was rarely wise. She might not be able to kill him but she could still inflict a severe amount of pain if she were lucky. However he needed her to realize something and it was better to start forcing the issue now, while his medication was at full strength, than under less ideal circumstances. Therefore he was being purposefully crude, overbearing and essentially bullying his partner to the very limits of her restraint even as he quietly exerted his influence over the surrounding air, prepared to use it at the slightest hint that he had pushed just a little too far.

He didn't care if she did what?!

Isabel's back stiffened as that claim drifted through the air, if for no other reason that to suppress a shudder. That was so not something she wanted to think about. Ever. And no doubt he was just saying it to rile her up. He was constantly pushing her buttons, a habit that was getting very old very fast.

Repressing the shudder as best as she was able, she decided to let her focus fall entirely on the second claim that had been paired with the first. Yes, that was a much nice train of thought and hopefully one that would allow her skin to cool back down and return to a more normal color. Murder was the only thing she was willing to gain any intimate knowledge of. So much better than... bleck.

In either case he'd said that he didn't care, and that she was incapable of committing either act. She'd have to give him the first one, though she wouldn't say as much. Killing him, however, she was sure she could do even after the unfortunate turn of events the last time she attempted it. She'd been a murderer for years, even before the infamous Sanctuary Massacre took place. She was not an incompetent killer.

It sounded like a challenge to her.

He'd only just gotten through threatening her, saying she wasn't to leave the room without his permission lest it set off a series of unfortunate events. He hadn't, however, set any rules against violence within the confines of the room. That was just as good as any invitation in her mind. It was his own damn fault really, poking the bear like that.

With a huff, she clambered to her feet, her sopping jacket coming off in the the process as she turned her attention back to the infuriatingly smug little bastard. A small, dagger-sized blade of bone found its way into her hand only briefly before it was flung in his direction. She was brash, but she wasn't entirely stupid. A hands-on approach to murder hadn't exactly worked in her favor last time. She could manage to keep herself in check just long enough to test the waters a bit before getting really serious in her attempt. She didn't always rush into things without thinking.


And he'd said she couldn't control her temper. Pah!

Of the various facets of Zephyr’s mutation his spatial awareness was perhaps the most passive and subtle. The ability was not without cost however and there had been numerous times when the elemental would have gladly abandoned it if he could, simply to avoid the nearly crippling pain it caused.

In times such as this though, when his medication was at full strength and he was in full command of a situation, the hessian couldn’t deny an intense satisfaction in being able perceive, and thus react, to his surroundings without actually having to look at them.

Never lifting his eyes from the device in his hand Zephyr knew the precise moment Duskmoor rose to her feet, felt the shift in the air as the jacket fell from her shoulders and the small blade appeared in her hand. For the barest of moments he considered giving the girl another disdainful warning, yet before he could form the words the soubrette had already hurled the weapon at him through the air.

Through the air.

Keeping his gaze firmly locked on the screen before him the elemental tilted his head to one side, resting it in his free hand and looking for all the world as though he were utterly at ease even as the bonemancers weapon sailed within an inch of his skull before burying itself to the hilt in the wall directly behind him.

The hessian truly did wonder at times to what degree the girl actually thought her actions through, if she ever did. She knew the nature of his mutation and the limitations of her own; she needed physical contact, the moment she lost that anything she created was no longer under her control, yet she had chosen to throw her weapon without even attaching a tendril as she had done in the past.

That said, she hadn’t rushed him like a charging bull, which was something at least.

After a moments further thought, Zephyr briefly raised his head from his hand before lifting the coat he’d draped across the half of the table and deftly hanging soaking garment on hilt of the soubrettes embedded weapon as he decided that a change in pace might be in order.

“What are your thoughts for dinner?”

Ugh! Goddamned sonuvabi-! He ruined everything! What couldn't he just let her impale him like everyone else? Had to be so goddamn difficult and so damn smug. That was probably what irritated her the most. So damn smug, didn't even bother to look surprised or anything. Even had the friggin gall to hang his coat on her weapon once it had buried itself in the wall. She really, really, really hated him.

Expelling a sound of aggravation, she flopped back down on the bed, cringing when she realized that she'd gotten at least the top most blanket all wet with her damn coat. Maybe if she was lucky it hadn't soaked through. She could always commandeer the other bed if so, though she doubted that'd go over very well. Her boots could certainly occupy it, though, which she planned on allowing them do do right after she sat back up and removed them.

As for dinner, "Your head on a silver platter," she grumped as she scooted over closer to the wall once her feet were bare. Her knuckles rapped against the wall as one of her arms dropped and she decided that maybe reinforcing the room wasn't such a bad idea.

She didn't really have to move much to do so. Just splaying her finger against the cold surface was enough for the time being. It would be slower going with just the one, but that wasn't particularly an issue at the moment. It would just give her more time to concentrate on the task at hand and more time to ignore the infuriating young man with the laptop. She'd even let her dagger disappear into the structure once the sheet made it that far and drop his coat on the ground.

Besides, having walls covered in bone had more than one advantage.

There was something supremely satisfying in hearing the drawn out growl of frustration which escaped Duskmoors lips when he thwarted her childish, though violent, antics. When the girl then threw herself backwards onto her wet bed Zephyr allowed himself a small grin as he used the tablet to bring up a list of potential dinner options as he waited for a reply.

The elementals amusement faded rather quickly however when the brunette removed her still sodden boots and threw them onto his own unoccupied, and hitherto dry, bed. Fortunately though, if that could even be said, the girl had thrown her footwear with just a mite too much force and both boots merely bounced across the bed before falling to the floor.

“Duskmoor…” He spoke the name in a quiet, chiding tone as he dismissed the urge to fling the girl boots back. That would only encourage the soubrette to repeat her behavior and she was being puerile enough as it was.


"Your head on a silver platter,"[/color]

Zephyr blinked.

-had she truly just?

Lifting his gaze from the screen the hessian stared at the girl’s prone form with an incredulous expression which was steadily shifting to one of amusement and he could quite prevent himself from voicing the question in a low tone of disbelief and mirth.

“…did you honestly just imply you wanted to eat me?”

Although the shapely soubrettes figure and current position made it difficult to see her expression the hessian was able to glimpse just the hint of a blush which spread across her forehead and the stammered denials which quickly followed as her head snapped up soon broke the elementals stoic countenance as he began a quiet chuckle and his shoulders shook with suppressed amusement even as he waited for the inevitable backlash.

There was no God. If she hadn't been convinced of such before, she sure as hell believed it now. No higher being would have allowed her to live through such torment. No, a God would have allowed her to die right about then, writhing in embarrassment as she was. And no benevolent God would resist the temptation to strike the young man down on her behalf.

Was there nothing she could say that the young man's twisted mind couldn't contort into something crude and inappropriate? He definitely knew that she'd really meant, she was sure of it. He was just being an ass and trying to make her squirm as often as possible. And unfortunately for her it was working. She couldn't even get a proper denial out she was so taken aback. All she could manage was defensive, outraged sounding sputtering while her face set itself on fire.

What the hell could she possibly say to that anyway? Hell, even a proper denial would probably just make him laugh at her more. She'd have loved to wipe that smirk off his face, but getting anywhere near him was so very unappealing, especially after that kind of comment. She bet it'd just egg him on and she really, really did not want to know what his depraved mind thought up next. Ick.

Instead, the white sheet that was gradually crawling its way across the room stopped abruptly as she sat herself up, breaking contact with the poorly wallpapered surface. Getting to her feet, she stalked over to the other bed, grabbed the minimally dirtied but still dry comforter and dragged the thing back to the bed she'd claimed before proceeding to curl herself up inside of it.

"Not hungry!" she yelled from within the soft confines of her temporary shelter. The reinforcement could wait a while. There was enough already that she could skewer him in his sleep anyhow. if she really wanted to. A lightning bolt really would be so very welcome.

Restrained though his amusement was Zephyr’s subdued chuckling persisted for some time as Duskmoor’s flustered features grew increasingly crimson as the girl struggled, and ultimately failed, to find the words for any form of retort. When at last she did scramble to her feet it was only to stalk across the room and confiscate the elementals own duvet which she then promptly cocoon herself in before offering a muffled, largely incoherent, yelp and falling silent.

She was well and truly sulking.

Entertaining though it was Zephyr had rather been expecting, and almost counting on, one of the soubrettes more habitual homicidal outbursts. What he had in mind would be far less effective if he had to carry it through without appearing to defend himself, and while he could appreciate the irony of the situation it didn’t make things any less inconvenient.

Drawing a slow breath the elemental regarded the huddled pile of blankets which was Duskmoors sulking form contemplatively before finally shaking his head and choosing to abandon his efforts for the evening as a lost cause. As she was now it would be all but impossible to raise the girls ire again short of physically assaulting her and that would be more counterproductive than anything else.

There were still a few things he could get done however.

“Pizza it is then.” He announced to the room at large as his fingers swept across the touch screen of the tablet. It was what the city was known for after all.

Isabel was well and truly sulking, and she was adamantly telling herself that she would continue to do so for the rest of the evening. Maybe even throughout the following day as well. He couldn't very well bully her for being pouty. It wasn't against the rules he'd set down so far and it was no threat to him physically, so he had no reason to retaliate. He may try to get back at her by reclaiming his blanket later on, but she could always make that task a difficult one as well.

At least from her cocoon-like shelter she couldn't hear him laughing at her anymore. It was too tempting to punch him in his stupid face otherwise. Or at least try to. Being a dirty rotten cheat, he'd probably just ruin her attempt to do that was well. Because he sucked.

She paid no attention when he made some sort of comment loud enough for her to almost hear. It maybe sounded like pizza, but all wrapped up in the blanket and occupying herself with mumbling and grumbling she couldn't be positive about it. Not that she really cared. She'd already claimed that she wasn't hungry and she'd be damned if she changed her mind so soon.

No, she was going to stay exactly where she was and he could just deal. He could answer the door his own damn self when the delivery person knocked. Maybe she'd have a slice of cold pizza for breakfast, but that was yet to be decided for sure. Her time was better spend debating on whether or not to let him live to see the sun come up again once he'd crawled into bed for the night.

With an almost inaudible sigh of irritation Zephyr’s gaze swept across the tablets screen a final time before he put the device aside and folded his arms, tilting his head back to stare at the dull, smoke stained ceiling with the air of one who was well and truly dissatisfied.

Technology, while a wonderful tool of convenience, was by no means the answer to every problem.

Still, after half an hour he should have been able to find something about the bounty that had been put on his head yet, there’d been nothing. A fact which was both good, and bad. Good because it meant that whoever this elusive ‘Biggs’ character was he didn’t have the funds or the influence to arrange a proper contract. The bad part was that this meant he was likely dealing amateurs who’d been dimwitted enough to try any half-baked scheme they could conjure up without any thought for subtlety or an exit strategy.

In short, depending on the status of the current black market and the resourcefulness of his would be killers the elemental could be looking at anything from a simple drive by, an RPG, or attempted monoxide poisoning if he was lucky.

There was also the fact that he hadn’t even begun to address or even consider Jarcones apparent demise. As a rule, one did not become a crime boss if they were easily disposed of and it bothered the hessian that no one had stepped forward to claim the kill. That being said, the lingering uncertainty surrounding Jarcone was likely the only reason Chicago still seemed relatively stable; nobody wanted to make the first move and thus become the first target.

Pinching the bridge of his nose Zephyr shifted his position and leaned forward in his seat. He truly wanted no part of the mess the city was going become if Jarcone was actually dead, trying to consolidate a fractured and diverging faction was an utter b*tch.

Much like some other things.

Glancing briefly at the unmoving lump of blankets that Duskmoor had made of herself the elemental shook his head before getting to his feet and collecting his duffel bag. If the girl was going to insist in sulking he might as well take advantage and make use of the rooms facilities… such as they were.

An indeterminate amount of time later, the sound of running water echoing through the room was interrupted by a pair of sharp, precise knocks.

“Omerta’s Pizza.”[/color]