Anything but Love (Closed)

[Asa]

((Restarting with a new co writer))

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She was a photo journalist who had always found herself drawn to some of the most volatile situations and dangerous locales and this time was no different. She was working half for a company and half for herself, using their money to get what they want and feed her own agenda. Due to the places her intended job took her she had been given a hired gun... bodyguard merc whatever you want to call him... they have worked together before and butted heads on more than one occasion on opposite sides of the situation as well. She was always glad when they could part company and her what she hoped was passing interest in that muscle bound bull headed man could pass. Deep down she knew she was in love and loathed that feeling but for some reason always found herself in need of hiring him or found him seeking her out to help her... By the Gods please don't let this man feel the same... thats the last thing she needs was some man fawning over her and worrying about her...She was perfectly fine alone in this world traveling and revealing the good the bad and the ugly and making the world face it all.
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Little did she know he was fighting the same feelings with no clue that she could ever love someone like him. He was the type she exposed... cold calculating killer but he did it for the right reasons.... and money. She may have been just as comfortable in the depths of some jungle sleeping on the ground but the stunning beauty he saw no matter where they were to him always deserved the lavish places her various employers money set her up in. She was so strong and so beautiful to him but way too reckless so something drove him to always be the one to protect her whenever he could.

~They sat in the spacious villa as she stared at him her arms crossed and her legs crossed and her foot twitching with her anger as she finally spoke.

Your job... your only job beyond the occasional assistance with a camera bag is to get me safely into and out of places that the government of this dear little country would prefer I not get access to... Is that clear. It is NOT in fact your job to think for me decide what is best or safest for me... Period... If I had wanted safe I would be working in my fathers ad agency... Got it?

With that she stood and walked off as all he could do for a moment was smile watching that irate little walk of hers as she headed to the balcony to cool off.​

~~~~~~
Stefania Mirolette
French Romanian
Long dark brown hair
Deep brown eyes

 

[catinthehat123]

With that she stood and walked off as all he could do for a moment was smile watching that irate little walk of hers as she headed to the balcony to cool off.

He had just pulled her out from walking into a building and meeting with people he most certainly believed to be terrorists wanting another american to torture, ransom, or kill. He had had a part in setting up the meeting, to make it as safe as possible for her, but at the end things became a bit too much. The other side wanted too many things and he felt like it was a trap.

She was irate with him, but he would rather haver her irate at him always than for her to be dead. This was his life. She was a free woman, doing whatever she wanted. His job description was in essence to be a bag handler, help her with safe passage, it was not to tell her were she could and could not go. He had in his mind expanded his job and was accustomed to taking her lashings. There was not much he wouldn't do for her.

As she walked away in her irate walk and as she walked onto the balcony he leaned back in his chair and let out a small grin. His hand running through the back of his hair. He thought to himself "at least she's still alive". He would apologize in a little bit, not mean it, but would still apologize as he always did. He finished his glass of water and walked back to the fridge and pulled out 2 beers, it was something he would normally never drink something ethnic. He wouldn't drink it if he was home, but he was rarely ever home anymore.

Walking out onto the patio he looked at her and said "I'm sorry, I'm only looking out for you. It didn't feel right, all I'm doing is what I think is right. I'll let you do what want next time."

He passed her the beer and leaned out over the banister, they were in the middle of the city. The city was war torn, but the center was still in tact. "This is beautiful here"

 

[Asa]

She glanced at him and took the beer. He was insufferable... aggravating... irritating... and yet... so caring... so... protective... so... NO she was not going to think like that... Feelings for this killer this soldier... Unthinkable... but still...

Thanks

She finally spoke as she took a drink of the beer.

You were... She took another drink of the beer to wash down the vile taste of admitting he was right.

just looking out for both of us... I just... I hate how these people are being treated... nearly 70 years of occupation and the world just looks the other way. Now I have to appear to want to paint the oppressors in a positive light while I deal with whatever faction has decided to try to capitalize on this situation while trying to help those being oppressed. Its just...

She fell silent and continued to drink her beer.

 

[catinthehat123]

He understood her emotion but hated her for putting herself in danger like this. This had been going on for years and it had always driven him crazy. He hated that she always was thoughtless of her safety.

Leaning over the banister he turned to her and said "I understand you want to show everything, but you need to understand where I'm coming from."

Leaning over the bannister gun fire went off in the distance. Since they had arrived in the city it had been quiet. Was the city gearing up for another tumutlous battle?

BOOM.

A mile in front of them a church's wall crumbled. A man with an RPG was aiming again at a truck with a gunner on it.

"What do you want to do?" Hoping it wasn't what he feared.

 

[Asa]

She moved quickly getting her camera and the telephoto lens and began snapping pictures of the war and the disregard for the local native peoples trying to survive who were pacifists and holy people.

Watching one of the cowardly soldiers grabbing a child as a shield she wanted to scream to get a gun and make them stop. She was shaking now lowering the camera she took a deep breath calming her nerves and her anger she lifted the camera again getting what most of the callous people in her field would call a money shot... Proof that the soldiers were going way beyond orders to break the will of the people as she snapped the camera in nearly lightning repitition getting each second of the soldier placing his gun in the childs had and making it pull the trigger on what could only be one of his parents.

Seeing that it was all she could do not to break down right there. Lowering her camera she sank to the floor on the balcony just staring her camera resting nearly completely on the floor with her. A long moment passed before she spoke.

I want to make them pay...

She looked to him her eyes dead and hollow from what she just made herself watch.

We will be taking the supplies to the temple tonight. I am not waiting any longer for Their time frame for me to tour an ancient temple... MAKE it happen. And I literally don't care who you have to KILL to do it.

 

[catinthehat123]

He couldn't back away from this. He knew he had to make this happen. This was too valuable, she could win an award for these shoots. He hated the risk he was about to take but he knew he had too.

"Give me an hour".

He called his contacts in the city, they all said the same thing. The rebels were tired of the president and wanted him out, the president wouldn't budge. The people of the country were tired of him but yet the president wouldn't go. He knew this already. The president was a ridiculous fool, but why now. He asked them. "The rebels had planned a strategic attack for a few days before his birthday, they wanted to give him a 'birthday' present of sorts."

Talking to his contacts in the city he ran up and down the list. What can you do for us, what can we make happen. Money is no issue. He called up and down and finally he got a call back from someone. The message "Carry a big stick and be ready to run, meet me at 8 tonight at the old ex-pat bar."

He packed his gun, putting one on his back and one on his lower leg. The one on his holster he left the safety off. "Lets go, make sure your all packed we won't be coming back here."

 

[Asa]

Nodding she went to pack up her things. Her eyes still red from tears she tried to hide.

Where are we going?

She straightened herself up and fixed her hair and walked into the kitchen to get one last little meal before they left.

 

[catinthehat123]

He took a bottle of whiskey and poured two large glasses. "For the nerves...." His voice fell a little "Tonight will be a tough night."

He downed his in one gulp and poured himself another.

Tonight was a night he knew he wouldn't want to remember either. He pulled out a slender pistol from his bag and slid it over to her. "Take this, put it someplace it won't be seen but you have instant access to."

He cut a slice of bread and handed it to her. Cutting another he ripped it apart and took a bite.

"I don't know. Where meeting my contact at a bar we used to frequent. I'm told the city is no longer safe. We'll be doing a shoot as the rebels come in and be leaving. There is a friends home a few miles out surrounded by woods that we will be staying out for. It is a small house but it will be safe. We will be able to come back, but you can not argue with me now."

They ate and he drank his second glass. "Are you ready?"

 

[Asa]

Slamming the whiskey and getting another as well she nodded as she finished off the piece of bread.

Yeah... lets go

She took the gun... she hated them always scared that she would use one if she had it and cause a bigger problem then the one she ended with the bullet. Looking to him he was the only one that would ever see any fear in her eyes even if she didn't realize it was showing.

 

[catinthehat123]

He could see that she was nervous. He took her hand and held it for a moment. His eyes locking with hers, he wanted to say it would be all right but couldn't bring himself to say those words. But she seemed to calm down and they ate.

It was a last meal of sorts. He knew they wouldn't be returning and he tried to let her enjoy it. Seeing her fumble with the gun he took it from and her and taught her how to turn the safety on and off. "Have you ever fired before?"

He waited for her response.

Carrying her bags down he placed her clothes in the back and her gear in the middle of the SUV. He opened the door for her and walked around to his passenger seat. He gave her a slip of paper and an envelope and told her to call the number and tell the guy that he would they would be there in 20.

 

[Asa]

She nodded.

You know I have I just hate them... and after what I saw and caught on film I want to find them and use this again... I know before you even say it that it will cause a bigger problem than that one life and one sanity.

Taking out her phone she called the number and told them they would be there in 20, Hanging up she sat quietly those images just as in the film they were burned into her mind as well.

 

[catinthehat123]

He smiled, he had actually taught her to shoot. She was a decent shot for a girl and he hoped she wouldn't need it. He gave her an envelope and told her to give it to the man when he got in the car. It was a thick envelope.

They arrived and an American got into the car. The man seemed to know the lay of the land and directed them to an apartment building and walked them up. "The rebels will be coming from there. The presidents soldiers have planted themselves in some of the buildings. They can't place them in here as its an embassy building, when we start hearing explosions we'll be moving."

He pointed a finger to the roof of the building across the way and told her, see that flicker of the curtain, theres a sniper in there. Pointing to the roof he showed her a man with an rpg. Pointing to a side building he showed her the same thing.

A tank came over the crest of the hill. Be ready to move.

I turn and talk to the man, we talk about our plans the safety of the route. As you start shooting I follow your directions.

BOOM, a wall falls in the distant the tank is followed by another and another.

 

[Asa]

The camera clicking fairly quickly as she was getting pictures as fast as she could of all of it knowing well how to hide her lens from the sun but still get stunning pictures. She ignored all of them just clicking the sniper the man with the rpg the tank the president's men the rebels... they all almost became a blur as she kept snapping pictures as if she stopped the world would end.

 

[catinthehat123]

A bullet hit the side of the building across from us and a piece of it falls.

I look out and my colleague tells me not to worry. We should be safe for a few moments more.

 

[Asa]

She didn't even see the bullet what the camera saw was all she saw. The people civilians monks... children running for their lives. click... click... The camera was all the noise she made transfixed to that spot as if frozen there.

Finally something made her stop... she needed more film changing out the camera was the first time she had looked to either of them since they walked into the room.

 

[catinthehat123]

We stand still as you restock your camera.

taking your camera you point it up at the sniper who has positioned himself standing up, gun against the upper wall. You take a picture of him. at that exact moment a bullet flies through his head and a pink dust comes out the other end. he falls back. You have it all on film. You look up at me and I tell you its time to get going.

Packing your bags we move. I tell you to have your gun ready. We throw our things into the car and go out an alternate route. The man tells us to pull over and we move to the top of another building and position ourselves again. He tells us that after this there is nowhere else he can get us safely. By that point the whole city will be up in arms. I shake my head and we get ready to shoot again.

 

[Asa]

Numb... she had clicked the picture in just an eerily perfect timing as death took another.

Being guided to the next location instantly taking more pictures still numb for that last picture of the sniper. Deeper in the strange nearly robotic state of simply clicking pictures capturing each and every inch of the town spread out from this view.

She didn't even realize their latest position a stray bullet had struck if not grazed her as she took photo after photo.

 

[catinthehat123]

Seeing a flow of blood down your leg he has her stop and tells her to pull up her pants. He sees the graze. It isn't bad but it needs attention. The war is coming too close anyways.

"We're going now, take your last shot."

With that they were off. He drove like crazy to the side of their a wall fall.

At the far end of town my colleague jumps out, saying follow this road for a mile and a half and turn left, youll be there in ten. i'll be there in a few hours. I need to make sure my contacts in the city are allright.

We drive off making our destination and your hurt more than i imagined unable to walk i carry you in and place you on a bed.

 

[Asa]

The realization of the bullet wound setting in as pain finally filters through the numb fog.

What the HELL? When did I get SHOT?

Looking to him she allows him to carry her and lay her down.. Not quite how her mind pictured a moment like this but... What the hell... why is she thinking like this he is all she hates... a killer... a hired gun... part of the problem... but...

Shaking her head she let the pain silence her thoughts.

 

[catinthehat123]

Placing her on the bed he leaves and comes back with a bag. he places it on a side of the bed and says "I have to see the wound."

He rips her shirt off and looks at her mid stomach region. He takes away the towel he had told her to hold tight against her, it was covered in blood. The bullet had grazed her but it was worse than he had expected. She would live but he would have to act now. He gives her a shot of a light pain-killer "This will hurt, theres nothing more I can do."

Spraying a disinfectant on her wound he cleans it and wipes some of the blood away with a cotton swab, careful not to let it in the wound. His tweezers search through for any remnants of the bullet. There are non. He takes a needle out and starts to stitch. Having her squirm he takes her hand and holds it,

"I need you to stop moving, I can't do this with you moving all around."

He continues finally it is stitched and he places a mound of bandage on it and tapes it on.

He looks at her, her body is beautiful.

"I need to examine the rest of you, I don't know what happened. We need to make sure that was all."

 

[Asa]

She winced whimpering faintly as he stitched the wound closed. Biting her lip at the still present pain glad he gave her the light painkiller to at least try to take the edge off.

Hearing what he said she nodded to him that it was alright for him to make sure there were no other wounds... she could not tell her entire body felt like pain. Closing her eyes she laid her head back on the pillow and faded in and out of sleep.

 

[catinthehat123]

He asked her to move but she had faded out.

Taking of her pants he found another graze. This on was much lighter and really hadn't done much damage and was on the outside of her thigh. He bent down, cleaned out, stitched it and dressed the wound. She was fully comatose, the pain had become too much for her. He hadn't known he had such strong feelings for her in the past but looking at her wounded body his heart cried for her.

Looking at her body, she was an attractive woman, he placed her head on the pillow and took a spare blanket and lifted it over her. Running his hand he cleared a strand of hair from her forehead and kissed her there.

He walked out of the bedroom. It was a small cabin of sorts; a bath, single bedroom and a kitchen. It was surprisingly nice for these parts. He walked out the door and looked at the city. He could hear explosions everywhere. It seemed like the city had come to life. He saw as people fled and came back in and locked the door and went into the bedroom.

He poured himself another drink. These jobs riled his nerves and he found that it was a way to come down. She was still asleep so he took a chair and sat on it, his legs on the end of the bed. He placed his gun on a side-table, safety off and took a sip. His eyes became heavy and he drifted off.

 

[Asa]

She woke up several hours later looking around waking with a jump. She was supposed to be hardened against all of this and normally she was but this trip this place had gotten to her.

She glanced over and saw him sitting there asleep and moved to stand wincing but she limped over spreading the blanket over him and moved to find something to eat. Kissing his forehead faintly before she did.

 

[catinthehat123]

It was dark when he woke. He didn't know why he had awaken and instantly grabbed his gun.

He looked around. She had gotten up and left the room, listening he heard clatter in the kitchen.

Holdings his gun poised for anything he walked out of the room and found her. he took a piece of wood and snapped it perfectly where he wanted, He tied a towel around it and gave it to her.

"Use this for now."

I'll get our food from the car. He left and looking at the city he watched as it parts of it were afire. He didn't know what to do. He watched as people ran a half mile away up the path by their house. Should he offer help? No. Right now his only goal was to keep her safe and alive. He grabbed the bag and came back. He placed it on the kitchen counter.

"How do you feel. Do you want to get out there again tonight. I think this skirmish is almost over, there should be another front tomorrow."

He watched in pain as she winced moving around in the kitchen.

 

[Asa]

I want to take the supplies and medicines we brought to the temple and hand them out I want to find those ordering the occupation of these peaceful people and I want to watch them go through all they have done to these people... I want them to pay!

She stood there against the counter and the makeshift crutch he handed her and shook... anger... pain... sorrow... as she just whispered again

I want them to pay...