Re: Down the Rabbit Hole Or Something Like That (Closed to Inky.)

by **Chellizard** October 5th 2012, 10:44 pm

"You're welcome," she replied in a hushed whisper to the unconscious from exhaustion girl. Skyler felt a couple of tears stream her face, and while blinking them away, she scooped for Lilia's small frame. Skyler wasn't exactly macho herself, but she could lift a petite girl like Lilia and bathe her. Skyler carried Lilia up the stairs, the walk shallow and slow, and instead of carrying her into the old bedroom that Skyler had recently committed acts of adultry in, she walked into the master bedroom, the double doors opening with a gently shove of the toe of her boot. She gently laid the girl down on the bed and moved to the large tub and filled it with warm water and bubble bath. Skyler found clothes that would fit Lilia, and old slightly too big t-shirt and a pair of too big capri pajama pants. It would have to do for now. Skyler was a bit bigger than Lilia size wise, but Skyler's sleepwear was bigger for comforting purposes.

Skyler peeled herself out of her clothes and left on her underwear and gently peeled Lilia out of the clothes she had on. With every inch of flesh exposed, all the new scars told stories that she did not want to even imagine. But she had to. She had to take the walk down the path that Lilia was forced to walk. She had to learn about this girl, and as a doctor, all of these scars made her cringe a bit. She had prepubescent qualities when she was clearly older than what her womanhood was reflecting. Skyler only let her eyes stay for a moment, out of respect for the girl. She was not a pervert, and hated herself for having to bathe Lilia like this, but she had to.

She carried the nude girl to the warm water and stepped in then sat down, sliding Lilia to rest in her lap, carefully washing her body of the filthy sweat she was covered in. Skyler was gentle with every touch and almost barely let the wash cloth scrub at the filth. She was very careful with her feet and gave a good massage to the muscles and even relocated a few misplaced joints. Maybe the Prima Ballerina could dance properly after this. While still bathing Lilia, and letting her body soak just a bit in the warm tub to help relax her muscle and ease tension not only in Lilia, but in herself, she grabbed for her cellphone which had made it in here somehow or another. She dialed an old friend. "You know how you said you would owe me a favor? Now's a good time to finally give me that favor.." she explained everything to her friend, Myatt Richardson. He was a nice guy, about thirty-four years old, and they had attended college together, and graduated pre-med and even finished their internship together. Skyler, however, continued her doctor life overseas and on missions.

Skyler finished bathing Lilia, and talking to Myatt, draining the tub and then using the flexible shower head to rinse off the soap and properly clean Lilia's hair. Skyler rinsed herself off in the process, but wasn't too worried about herself at his point. Once Lilia was tucked in bed Skyler would take a proper shower. Skyler wrapped the girl in a towel and gently laid her down. The doorbell, a soft ding-dong, resonated through the house. Skyler did not bother dressing herself. The boy short undies and bra was clothing enough. More clothing than some bikinis in today's world. "Heya Skye.." he said, once the door was opened. He was a married man now, but these two had a great time in college. Neither of them hit it off great, but that wasn't the point. Skyler collected the O negative bags of blood, saline pouches, IV drip, and bag of other medical equipment. "Uhm, you don't look like you need those heavy pain killers, Skye.." he said, Myatt raising a brow while she hurriedly ran up the stairs. "Lock the door. Don't ask too many questions. You know I can't answer half the things you ask me, Myatt," she huffed a bit angered.

She moved into the bedroom and carefully started to set up the heart and respiratory monitor, as well as the IV drip. She only asked for blood just in case, but Lilia shouldn't need it. She hung up the saline drip and carefully inserted the needle into Lilia's arm with one quick test of her fingers on the girl's porcelain flesh. "Whoa Doc, ya still got it.. hahaha." Myatt chuckled lightly, but it was an awkward chuckle. He let his eyes sweep over the girl curiously. "It's not my business Skye, but why.." And before he could finish, Skyler turned to him sharply, a needle and bottle of morphine in her hand. "The girl.. she needed my help. I'm helping her. You're finally repaying a favor you owe me. Simple as that. Myatt.. you know me. Just.. do me - no, do yourself a favor and get home before someone sees you here." She gave him a brief hug, and he was reluctant to go, but he knew Skyler. She got what she wanted and that's all she needed.

He left, but before he closed the locked door behind of him, he left something else on the table by the door. A security pass and a set of keys to the hospital. Skyler would have access to anything else she needed, and she didn't even ask for it. Once Lilia was hooked up to the drip, drugged to rid her of any more pain, and given proper liquid, even through a tube, she would be all right. Skyler finished tucking her into bed, and hesitated for a moment, but then kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, little angel.." she said this in Russian and then stepped through the open arch way into the attached bathroom and took a proper shower. Once she was showered, Skyler came back and laid on the bed next to Lilia and closed her eyes, her knife at hand, her gun not too far away, and her light sleeping form ready to pounce on any intruders.

by **Twinkletoes** October 6th 2012, 1:21 am

The soft gentle embrace of the sandman's spell enshrouded the beautiful teenager in a sleep like none other. Her quiet murmurs slipped out of the peachy lips as her mind danced between a deep slumber and what she thought to be flashes of a dreamland. Her eyes flickered, eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings as she lazily glanced to her side, sandy hair trickling down the side of her face as she slowly shuffled her head to the side. Someone was there, but...it wasn't the merciless creature from her nightmares. It wasn't staring into the pits of her soul, cackling at the top of its lungs as its defiled her delicate body. No, this figure was protecting her, an arm outstretched over the teenager's waist as if it were shielding the girl from any ghoulish nightmare or midnight visitor. Her fingers tingled and in one slow fluid movement she grabbed hold of her guardian's hand, never wanting to let go or erase the serene protection. Eventually the soft breaths of her protecter gently whispered into her ear, sending the girl back into the dark, comforting haze of repose.

***

The melodic chimes and shrill chirps of spritely birds outside the window provided a blissful sing-song lullaby alongside the warm sunny entrails that seeped through the curtains. The warmth of the fresh morning crept onto Lilia like a supernatural embrace. Her slow, soft breaths drifted out from her graceful rising and falling form and eventually when her dazed eyes fluttered open colour and light flashed into view. Taking in a large breath and blinking away the sleep from her sapphire eyes she gazed to her side, wondering if the angel from her dreams was still there. There was nothing, nothing but rumpled sheets and a faint imprint of a body. Brushing her hand against the pillow the girl smiled, her lips gracefully bending upwards in a content grin like none other...it had been a while since she has smiled, let alone slept in a bed. This brief moment of calm was only interrupted with her sudden realisation that she had a needle in her skin and with a surprised yelp her metahuman gift instantly activated.

Her delicate body instantly became speckled with the soft morning light as her body began to transform. Soft, supple porcelain skin evolved into shimmering, indestructible and incredibly beautiful diamond that glistened in the morning sun. The needle that was pressed into her skin was no more, having been rejected from her crystal body. The translucent, shining body was a sight to behold and the reflective rays of colour and light that bounced off her were scattered across the bedroom. Shaking her head a bit and blinking away her initial shock she instantly reverted back, noticing the hospital equipment next to bed. Biting her lip and brushing a slender hand through her recently cleaned hair she sighed, a whispery coo that helped with the recovery of her brief panic. Skyler was nowhere to be seen, but sounds downstairs and the familiar scent of an american breakfast wafting into the room told the girl that her guardian was already wide awake, the delicious smells causing the teenager's stomach to madly gurgle out in protest.

Looking down at herself she was wrapped in a towel, fashioned to look like a toga and keeping much of her chest down to her abdomen comfortable. She felt fresh, clean and strangely free of all the aches at pains that had riddled her young body the weeks before. Lifting her leg up in the air, a surprised gasp escaped her lips as she wiggled her toes in the warm light...much of blood that had cakes her feet was now gone and all that was left were the faint crimson scars of her torture. Flicking her head around she glanced around the room, it was spacious and clean..different to the room Salt had dragged her into the day earlier. However, the thoughts of that man were refused entrance any further as she shook her head, shuffling her body off the warm nest of pillows and linen. Her clothes were gone, most likely being cleaned and yet did not feel afraid or embarrassed with her current state of undress. The towel was enough to hid most of her shame and the newfound sense of cleanliness only further heightened her contentment with her current state of being.

Slipping out of the bed whilst keeping the bowl tight around her chest she meekly tip toed out of the room, following the scent of the food that beckoned her senses to chase after it. Her sandy hair bounced with every spritely step and no soon had she silently crept down down the stairs did she hear movements coming from the kitchen. Taking in a deep breath Lilia slowly inched her head around the corner, quietly poking her view to where Skyler was. Gripping the wall with her free hand the girl stood there for a moment, and like a little puppy she waited for the woman to notice her...well to notice the delicate fingers and the big bright blue eyes peeking from around the corner, hungry for some food and love..

by **Chellizard** October 6th 2012, 1:52 am

Her dreams were almost nonexistent, but she did wake to check on Lilia whenever the girl twitched or moved at all. Even if her breathing peaked or her heart race increased or decreased by a single second. Skyler was a hawk over this girl's vitals, and she was not going to let her die from stress. Which was, sadly, possible. If this girl made it through the terrors of those torturous hours, then the situations this girl had been in before were much, much worse. Skyler woke up a few times during the night, and finally caught a good solid amount of sleep. Roughly five good hours. She woke with her arm draped over Lilia's middle, and carefully shifted herself to lean up and look at the girl. She looked so peaceful, and the corners of her lips were even holding a slight sleeping smile.

Skyler let her own lips tug into a soft smile and she carefully, and quietly, crept out of the bed and slid into a pair of bicycle shorts and sports bra. her feet were pushed into socks and then a pair of running shoes. She slid ear phones to give her a morale boost, not that she needed one from yesterdays events. "She's.. gonna be safe now, you know that." she reminded herself confidently. But, that did not matter. She was going to make Salt, and whoever else defiled this girl pay. Dominus may have their goals set on ridiculous things, but Skyler joined for one good reason; to protect Lilia. And she would do it successfully. She did not care how many people had to be cut down to clear the path for Lilia. Skyler would do it, and be vexed with the karma; good or bad. Lilia had suffered enough, and now Skyler was here to carry the burden on her sturdy shoulders.

She did a little jog in place and then left the house. She locked the door behind of her, the house key being hooked to her dog tags with a simple clasp. She was up at four a.m. and was ready for some good old physical training. her hair was tied up in a ponytail, and that ponytail was twisted and wrapped and tied into a bun to keep it up and out of her way. She wanted to be able to run as hard as she could. As she ran, the sidewalk leading her to a simple park, she picked up her pace and vaulted off of a few things. There was a climbing wall in the park, it was low, but climbing over it, or onto it and flipping off was fun. Practicing parkour was a good way to keep her mind off of that vile bastard. She needed to clear her head, and what better way than to get in some PT time?

Skyler was on her last little stretch home, a block or so away, but she could see her driveway coming into view from here. She saw a figure walking toward her trash cans. It made her pick up her pace a bit more. She ran harder. But when she noticed it was just Sanitation, she eased up her sprint and jogged passed him and into the house. She was glistening with sweat, but needed to get breakfast started now or there wouldn't be fresh home made biscuits. Skyler locked the house up, but opened a few windows to let the wind blow through the house. The screens over the windows weren't exactly bullet proof, but Skyler's great sense of her surroundings would let her know if someone was coming to the front porch. She'd hear their feet creak on the wrong places across the shallow wooden planks.

She did wipe her face and wash her hands. And once she was a bit less sweaty, she let her hair down from the bun, leaving it in the long ponytail. She prepared the Southern home cooking by the regular steps. Clean hands. Gathered ingredients including, but not limited to: Tub of butter, potatoes for hash browns, flour, eggs, thick cut bacon, sausage, and milk. There were also assorted breakfast juices in the fridge, and she had on a pot for tea or coffee, or even cocoa. She made the biscuits first, the oven preheating the moment she came into the kitchen. She started the bacon and sausage together, a separate pan ready and waiting for the soft scrambled eggs. She swayed her hips, a very good song keeping her spirits up at this point. It was roughly seven a.m. now; her PT having taken up most of the morning.

She swayed herself slightly, nodding her head while she cracked the fourth egg into the glass bowl and started to beat in a pinch of salt, pepper, splash of milk, and a half a pinch of sugar. Secret ingredient for the soft scrambled eggs. She then poured the heavenly mixture into the frying pan and started to pushed the eggs around and against each other, preparing the rest of the meal easily. The bacon and sausage grease was turned into a hearty sausage gravy, and the fluffy homemade biscuits were warm and perfectly golden brown. The breakfast looked perfect, and it smelled even better. One of Skyler's headphones fell out, and she heard a slight creak on the stairs and had to turn around. "Lilia! Oh goodness, I was going to bring you breakfast, love!" she said this in English the first time, and had to smack herself and repeat it in Russian. She then spoke again, making sure to use Lilia's mother tongue. "Did you rip your IV out? Are you all right?" she asked this, being completely serious and concerned.

She plated breakfast and placed it on the table and stepped around to coax Lilia into the dining room. She pulled out a chair for her and dusted the seat off a bit. "I hope you're hungry, cause I know I am." She was attempting to turn a new page in the book, and stay as positive as she could at this moment. If Lilia wanted to bring up her past, that was her business, and as for yesterday? Hakuna Mattata was the motto for now. Only until the time was right would Skyler bring it up again.

by **Twinkletoes** October 6th 2012, 2:32 am

Lilia gasped as Skyler beckoned her into the kitchen and without any delay she gingerly stepped into the warm embrace of the mouthwatering atmosphere. She brushed her toes over one another, a bit shy with her current state of dress. The woman however obviously thought nothing of it, they were the same sex so there was nothing remotely strange about another woman's body. The mention of the IV drip had Lilia blush and bite her lip, glancing to her side like a naughty child caught doing something they shouldn't. "...I'm scared of needles", she mumbled in her whispery voice, shuffling in her spot as she looked down at the floorboards. Needles were just another torture technique employed by Dominus and a vivid recollection of the countless times Dominus scientists had penetrated her body with syringes filled her mind, threatening to wreck her morning. Shaking her head briefly Lilia stared longingly at the food, her stomach growling underneath the towel like some jungle cat ready to pounce on it's prey.

She swayed on her toes, a natural habit for a girl trained in professional ballet and quietly waited for the Skyler to finish her preparations. The last thing the teenager wanted was to get in the way of Skyler and her well prepared breakfast which although different from her usual diet looked incredibly mouth watering. Clutching the towel that wrapped around her skinny body she hopped onto the seat with a polite grin on her face, a meek "Bolshoe spasibo (thank you)", hopped out of her upturned lips as she she crossed her legs back underneath the bottom of a chair, regardless of where she was she still had to behave like a proper lady and she waited with a content simper on her faun-like face. Bright blue eyes gazed at the older woman, who had quickly beckoned her to eat without waiting...something the girl instantly obliged to. She ate quickly but in a controlled manner, her behavior was impeccable and as she savoured the tastes and textures of the breakfast she could not help but grin, happy with where she was at that moment.

Perking her head up to look at the older woman Lilia inhaled, pressing her hands together in the fold between her legs in an attempt to keep her digits warm. Her quiet contemplation soon evolved into the return of the guilt that wallowed in the pits of her soul the day before. Shuffling uncomfortably in her seat and not daring to look the woman in the eyes Lilia sighed, her light feathery breath brushing against her chest. "Why...why did you want me?", she mumbled, blinking innocently as her question hung in the air threatening to suffocate the yummy morning scents if it were not to be answered soon.

by **Chellizard** October 6th 2012, 3:15 am

She made an 'ah, makes sense' face and shook her head. "I had a feeling. I apologize, but you needed fluids, and I had you on a slow morphine drip to keep all the pain away.." she murmured, mainly scolding herself. She should have taken it out before she went for her morning Physical Training. She had a fear of needles when she was younger, too, but her's was just an irrational fear that she grew out of. Lilia was likely a guinea pig for pokes and prods from all shapes and sizes of needles. Her fear was forced upon her. She had real reasons to dislike the cold, small metal.

Before Skyler sat herself down, she prepared a mug of hot tea with cream and sugar. The tea bag was a special Arabic tea; strong and hinted with some lovely spices that helped keep away headaches. It was a remedy that helped her when her regeneration couldn't fight off her headaches and migraines. The way Lilia floated on her feet impressed Skyler. She must've worked out a few kinks in her step. The girl looked happy. She liked that. She was shy, but who wouldn't be shy after being "traded" to a woman with silver hair and eyes and two very military tattoos and a pierced nose? No one could be confident after that; especially given other circumstances and underlying factors. Skyler sat herself down directly across from Lilia and poured her a glass of Orange Juice, the sun warming the wind that gently rolled through the early summer morning Snowden House.

"Vsegda pozhaluysta (You're welcome)" she replied kindly, sipping her warm tea and then peeled apart a biscuit and stacked a bit of bacon, a sausage, eggs, and closed the biscuit back. She cut bites off the biscuit, mocking Lilia's polite mannerisms, not because she was trying to impress the girl, but because it was how she was raised. She could be messy if she wanted to be, but that was in her private alone time. "Why did I want you?" she repeated the question, and thought it over. "I wouldn't say that I did not want you, but that's not entirely the whole reason for the deal I made with Salt.. You are too.. just.. You remind me of myself. Except.. you are in a tougher situation than I was when I was younger." she sat down her fork and cleared her throat, sipping her tea.

"You are also much tougher than I was. You are an inspiration.. but I am still very sorry.. very, very sorry for hitting you.." She clenched her jaw, her back molars grinding together slightly while her fists clenched on top of the edge of the table. She heaved a heavy sigh, her stomach clenching with anger. Her eyes felt glossy, and she blinked away the pressing soon to be cataracts. A small tear did trickle down her cheek, but she nonchalantly wiped it away and took another bite. "Is it good? The food, I mean. I'm sure your diet is a bit smaller than this, but you gotta eat to live, sweetie." she chuckled, sipping her tea before leaning back in her chair and just admiring Lilia's face.

by **Twinkletoes** October 6th 2012, 10:01 pm

Bright sapphire eyes shone with innocent understanding as the doctor explained her actions, causing a whole torrent of emotions to sweep across Lilia's mind. Skyler actually sacrificed her body over to a monster whose morality was as nonexistent as his hygiene and all for the freedom of the meek little ballerina. A lump built up in her slender throat, threatening to cause an outpouring of quiet sobs if she had not shoved more food into her mouth. The warm, flavorsome breakfast morsels enveloped her mouth and throat in a comfortable flood of tastes and textures, whatever build up of emotions planned on leaking out of her fragile body was all but reduced to watery eyes and a sniffling nose. She quite literally owed her life to this woman and and that moment the youthful beauty promised herself then and there that she would return the favour however necessary.

It seemed that her guardian had also suffered some terrible moments throughout her younger years and the very thought that such a strong woman has experienced something similar to the petite ballerina was enough to cause the girl to gasp in surprise. It seemed that fate had brought these two women together in an attempt to mend their broken pasts and presents and hopefully pave a way for a more brighter future. Lilia pursed her lips, pushing some gooey remnant of the eggs around with her fork...the mere thought of her past, her abuse and the monster that giddily ripped away her virtue was but a cruel reminder that he was still out there, ready to pounce at any given moment. She cleared her throat and glanced at the doctor, attempting to smile "No it's okay..I've been hit harder before. Besides you had too..", she mumbled between her meek attempt at comforting the woman, a little smile. The whispery melodic qualities of her windchime voice were enough to add an ethereal quality to the atmosphere, ridding it of the tension.

Her toes idly wiggled underneath the table as a breeze crept through an open window bringing in the scents of morning dew and sun kissed pollen. Lilia's lips curved into a little smile, a smile that both exemplified her understanding and masked her nagging guilt from the acts forced onto her silvery haired guardian. It seemed that food was the only factor stopping her from becoming a sniffling mess and after a moment of silently chewing and swallowing what was left on her plate. Eventually her eyes fluttered over to the woman. "The food is yummy!" she squeaked in attemtpt to liven up the situation, not wanting to see Skyler sad anymore.

The meal, although small was something that the ballerina needed, she needed the homecooked meals and the conversation...everything a normal teenager should have. Although such a thing is usually taken for granted across the globe she savoured the moment, listening to the silvery haired doctor and giggling when something funny was spoken. All this was as if he had spent her whole life in the house, no remnants of her life in Dominus infected the moment anymore and she gazed up at Skyler, who much like Sheryll Paxton had taken on the role as her older sister and guardian. The one last wish the ballerina held onto was that unlike her last protector this woman was not going to disappear...that Lilia would stay by her side as long as Skyler permitted it. She was now under Skyler's care and although he was meek in stature Lilia was also going to protect this woman with all of her might...neve wanting to see another good thing in her life get snatched away.

by **Chellizard** October 6th 2012, 11:47 pm

Skyler calmed down and let go of her anger when Lilia spoke toward her. "I'm glad you enjoyed the food. I don't know if I'll be cookin' every meal; but I'll make sure you're well fed." Skyler gave Lilia a soft chuckle and grew quiet, enjoying the small bit of silence between them. She had too many things to teach Lilia, or attempt to teach her, before Salt or some other Agent came and sent them on a mission, or Skyler by herself. She couldn't imagine leaving Lilia in the clutches of Salt again, so she would always make sure her 'little pet' would get to come along. Her little pet being Lilia, but Skyler would never treat her like that on their missions. Only if eyes were on them would she be a psychopathic nymphomaniac.

She stood and started to clean up the few dishes she hadn't washed during preparation of the food. She grabbed empty storage bowls with matching lids and refrigerated the rest of breakfast for later. The time they had together without other Dominus agents on their trail was time that needed to be spent correctly. Skyler leaned against the counter and looked at Lilia. "I know you deserve to relax and never have to prepare for anything again, but we have to work out a system for when we're in front of Salt, or any other Dominus agent that you don't trust, Lilia. If my facade leaks to the wrong people, you will get taken, and I'll be killed, or spend my life running and killing every agent that's sent after me," she said, trailing off. She was being serious, and she hated herself for that. She had one arm wrapped loosely around of her waist, the other fiddling with her dog tags.

"And I know you feel like I saved your life and you owe me; but don't. I willingly chose to save you. It's my gift to you. If you wanna repay me, Lilia, you just gotta promise you'll try your hardest to learn everything I try to teach you.." she trailed off again, her thick lips holding a mild natural pout while her voice died down. She then huffed a sigh through her nose and cocked her left hip to the side and looked into Lilia's sapphire eyes. "Think you can do that?" she asked, all the while speaking in Lilia's mother tongue, keeping her words fluent and making sure to have Lilia's full attention. Skyler did save the girl's life, yes, but Lilia did not owe Skyler anything. If she did owe her anything, it was to try to enjoy life, and be a teenager for once in her life. It was to live life to it's fullest; carpe diem. Skyler reached a hand up and scratched her arm. "I'm gonna take a bath, and then we're getting you some clothes," she said, smiling toward Lilia. She walked passed her and gently caressed her head before Skyler took the trek up the stairs to clean up and start this day properly; to start Lilia's life properly.

End of Topic. (Unless Inky wants to post again. Razz

)

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