[right][sub][color=dimgray]Collab with [@Lovely Complex]
And small bits from [@Hey Im Jordan] as [color=1667aa][b]Ashton[/b][/color] 
Thursday afternoon Flashback[/color][/sub][/right]
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[indent]The breeze blew softly around the small deer as the grass tickled the bottom of her feet. The occasional shift in the air brought her wide eyes to the street to watch passing cars before she would look right back down to the grass in front of her and continue to enjoy her walk, naively unaware of the hunter stalking his prey.

The hunter stood perched on a street corner, constantly looking over his shoulder. Checking for the predator his mind feared. His leg bounced, his mind only having one thing running through it. The one thing he needed to live his day to day life yet had been without for almost a week now. Having run out of options, he decided to target the way he knew he could think to get what he wanted. He had to hunt down a specific tiny deer. 

When the tiny deer walked into his field of vision, blissfully unaware of the fact she was being hunted, the man immediately began his hunt. Stalking behind his prey, a good 50 ft back, he waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. An opportunity that would have less of a chance of anyone seeing and more of a chance of his success. The hunt ended when the deer turned onto an empty street, the hunter taking the lack of people at the time as the perfect chance to strike his prey. The poor deer never saw it coming.

One moment Fawn was enjoying the soft grass on her feet and the next she had her back pinned against a nearby tree, a wild looking man holding her shoulders to keep her in place. Her eyes widened in panic as she stared at him, recognizing him as the customer of her parents who got chased off by her father for trying to short her parents money when buying himself meth. It was obvious to her that the man was going through withdrawals, which was not good for her.

“Your parents owe me my weekly supply girly! Where is it?! Where!” The man screamed in her face, shaking her as he did so. He then let go of her shoulders and turned her around ripping her backpack off before shoving her to the ground. Catching herself on the tree as she fell down, to keep from face planting, she ended up bruising her knees and aggravating her burned hand. She ignored the pain to scramble back to her feet, knowing better from her beatings than to stay on the ground for too long. When Fawn turned around the man was finishing going through her backpack and looked angrier and wilder than before. 

The man looked up at Fawn with a glare and began to rush towards her as she tried walking backwards but he caught up, grabbing hold of her wrists tightly in his hands. “Why don’t you have any?! If your parents won’t give me what I deserve and you won’t then I’ll just take you until they give me what they owe me.” He grinned a nasty grin as Fawn froze in fear after reading his lips. She had no idea what to do and she wished someone would notice and help her. She was doubtful though as she had noticed a few cars already drive by and she was still here, alone, dealing with this mad man.

A man unable to cope with life unless under the influence, an addict, was not someone to fear. Not for creatures that spend each and every day surviving and will do whatever it takes to see the next day. To take care of their own. Born in a cruel and vicious world, the predators understand the concept of kill or be killed. Eat or starve. Strength and weakness.  Victory can only be obtained if they allow their inner beasts to come out. And they would. Without hesitation. 

It was a Thursday afternoon. In an old Toyota Corolla, two boys drove around town on a run. Ashton Lockhart behind the wheel, and his roommate, Lucky Cross, staring out the window in silent contemplation. The sound of knuckles cracking was the only thing that could be heard, since Lucky had a nasty habit of cracking any part of his body that he could when he was sitting around doing nothing.  This weekend he had a double shift on Saturday for one of his jobs. Grubhub driver for the Sunshine Diner. One of the many things he had to do to make it out on his own as a teenager with no guardians.  

His sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar shape and red, long locks. Along with that oh so familiar form, he noticed an older man, with physical traits that gave away his schtick, trailing behind. [color=536878][b]“Hey, can we turn here?”[/b][/color] By now, Ashton was well aware that Lucky had a new… interest. An obsession, if you may.

Ashton looked over at his coworker, and shrugged his shoulders. [color=1667aa][b]“Sure.”[/b][/color] He turned the car in the direction that Lucky gestured at and glanced over at him, [color=1667aa][b]“is there any particular reason why…? Reina expects me home on time tonight, so whatever we’re doing… let’s make it fast.”[/b][/color] Ash didn’t care [i]what[/i] they were doing, so long as it was done in a timely fashion. After all, he had a schedule to keep to. [color=1667aa][b]“It’s puzzle night.”[/b][/color]

It was puzzle night, Lucky.

[color=536878][b]“That girl…”[/b][/color] Lucky paused, choosing his words carefully,  [color=536878][b]“I know her—”[/b][/color] The situation was undeniably obvious by the time the car stopped at the curb. By now, Fawn and the meth head disappeared into an alleyway.  [color=536878][b]“—And would hate to see her get [i]hurt[/i].”[/b][/color] Because for some reason, her act of kindness and her welcoming warmth drew him in. This instance though? He was pissed. His instincts were set off. [color=536878][b]“Give me five.”[/b][/color] That’s all he needed. 

Leaving Ashton in the car, the Hound trailed behind, dark and stealthy among the shadows. The true creature wasn’t the drug addict. It was the man calculating every move, every outcome, every probability that would lead to protecting something that belonged to him. That would lead to her safety and his outraged. That would lead to fear and relief. That would lead to answers. 

Why the hell was a meth head approaching her?  

Still, he wasn’t completely beastily. If anything, he was more human now than he’s ever been in the halls of BHHS. One thing he had to make sure he didn’t do was scare the girl into hating him. There were still things he didn’t want her to know about him. Too many to list. 

Fear. All he needed to do was instill fear and then everything would be taken care of. When Fawn was in a compromising position, where it seemed the stranger was going to do the worst to her, suddenly, very suddenly, the addict gave a choked cry for help as his eyes bulged. He tried to get out of the hold but could not, instead his eyes followed the arm around his neck that reminded him of a noose and saw a face of a young boy, that of only seventeen, restraining him, squeezing the life out of him. [color=536878][b]“I’m sure you’re pretty familiar with this business, eh?”[/b][/color] Lucky’s voice didn’t raise above a whisper. 

Words that slithered into the man’s ear who could only let out gasps.  [color=536878][b]“Well, if you do, then you [i]must’ve[/i] heard of the Reaper.”[/b][/color] Momentarily, Lucky loosened his grip but not loose enough for the customer to run away. Just enough for him to respond.

“W-what the fuck do, do you know ‘bout the—” 

Weapons weren’t necessary, but Lucky was prepared if need be.  [color=536878][b]“Do you really want to find out? “[/b][/color] The boy was on an adrenalin high and even if he was keeping things ‘sweet’, he still enjoyed this thoroughly.  [color=536878][b]“Approach her again, in any way, I will deal with you myself, but don’t think for a second I can’t get [i]him[/i] to do my dirty work. Got it?”[/b][/color]  Without waiting for a response, the Hound shifted his hold, releasing the man briefly before bashing his head in with his fist, knocking the man unconscious, who immediately fell on the floor right in front of Fawn. 

Not saying a word, or even looking at Fawn, Lucky felt the man’s pockets and took his wallet out. Opening it, he found the ID and took a mental note of the name, address, and other vital deets that would benefit him in the future. He surveyed the body for any clothing that symbolized this man was affiliated with certain… groups. There were none. Okay, so he’s just a druggie.

When he was finished, Lucky stood up, threw the wallet on the ground, and with glaring, cold eyes, he glanced up at the deer in headlights.  [color=536878][b]“Come here.”[/b][/color] 

She’d been preparing herself for the worst when she was suddenly released from the man’s hold. Her eyes flickered to the arm around the man’s neck and followed it to the body it was attached to, Lucky. Somehow, things had turned for the better for her. Somehow, she had gotten [i]Lucky[/i]. 

Fawn took a few steps backwards as she watched Lucky and the man, it seemed as though Lucky was speaking to the man based on the man’s facial expressions but she couldn’t see his mouth so she was left clueless. Within moments of his arrival, Lucky knocked the man out, her mind taken back to when they first met. But the memory was shattered when he looked up at her with his cold and glaring eyes. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, she did, but the look caused her to instinctually flinch back. Her own eyes quickly looking to the ground as she followed the order he’d given her. Lucky had accidentally triggered an instinctual response in the small deer. One that caused a minor internal battle as she had to remind herself that Lucky wasn’t her parents. Even if a small voice in the back of her mind asked, [color=FFA07A][i]‘What if he is like them?’[/i][/color]. 

By the time she reached him, Lucky had allowed himself to cool down. Closing his eyes, he took another breath in and then out. Bending in front of her, so she could see his lips and his hands, he revealed the little sign he’s been starting to learn:  [color=536878][b]We’ll talk later. I want to know.[/b][/color] 

Subsequently, he gently grabbed her hand, the one with the visible marks, finally taking notice of the damages. There weren’t any more words coming out of his mouth as he observed her, pulling her closer to him. All the skin that she showed, he took it in. As if she was on exhibit and he was taking in all her blemishes. Sighing to himself, the boy seemed to understand something but not revealing this new found knowledge. Instead, he swooped her up in a bridal carry, pressing her close to his chest. [color=536878][b]”You’re staying with me tonight.”[/b][/color] 

The deer’s second look at Lucky was better, he was calmer and appeared more gentle. It helped to calm the girl’s instincts enough to not flinch when Lucky brought up his hands when he began to speak to her. She was able to read his lips but his hand movements caused her to furrow her eyebrows. Was he also speaking with his hands? 

Fawn was aware of their being an easier way to communicate than her using lip reading and writing on the board but she had no idea how to do it. Nor did she known more than the fact it involved hands. She couldn’t quite remember what it was called, but she never thought it had been important. Seeing Lucky use the suspected communication made her wish she did know though. She simply pushed that thought away though as she observed the boy observing her.

Standing completely still she let him take her injured hand and look at it, then look all over her. The deer wasn’t sure what was happening or why he was doing what he was but she went with it all. A calm, quiet feeling falling over the two. It was shortly broken by a short, small squeak of surprise as Lucky suddenly picked her up. Her eyes barely able to catch his words as he began carrying her to the car he had arrived in. She was staying with him tonight?! 

The redhead’s mind raced as she thought of what that could mean for her at home. If her luck continued, her parents wouldn’t ever notice her absence and she’s be fine. If it didn’t continue, well she could only fear the worst. As Lucky set Fawn down in the back of the car her thoughts went away from her parents and home, instead turning to the different possible outcomes that could happen from her going to Lucky’s place tonight. Those thoughts kept her occupied for the whole duration of the time spent in the car with Lucky and his friend, someone who Fawn barely noticed with her preoccupied mind.[/indent]