forum The Most Wanted Woman in Town [Romance o/o] (Closed)

Started January 22, 2023 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Ronnie smiled at her congratulations, her excitement warming him. "Thank you, Eve."

He'd always intended to stay here in town, so it never occurred to him to mention it to her. In the back of his head, there was the hope of one day buying his home back from whoever owned it now. But that would have to come later.

Eve kept looking at his face, and Ronnie realized she was looking at the bruise. He kept his head turned so she could see it, see that it wasn't bad, but he couldn't stop the slight blush as she continued examining his face.

Ronnie shrugged nonchalantly at her question, like it was no big deal. "Those were the kinds of odds we faced on the battlefield all the time. And these guys weren't armed. They also weren't trying to kill me, so that's nice."
She admitted to worrying, though it was such a quiet admission, Ronnie almost didn't hear it. His smile widened, just a tad, and he had to look down to hide exactly how much it pleased him that Eve cared enough to worry.

He nodded as she described her same-old-same-old day. The question about the cat, though… that caught him completely off-guard.
His eyes widened just as much as Eve's as he frantically tried to understand why she was asking. Her blush implied she was embarrassed, and her backtracking made it clear she hadn't meant to ask quite that bluntly, so… maybe she was worried he was going to try?
On the other hand, it kinda seemed like she wanted him to as well… but that could be a trap. Up to this point, Eve had seemed pretty opposed to men catching the kitty, and Ronnie couldn't see why he should be any different. So maybe this question was a test, to see if he was like the other men, all chasing her for one thing.
Some part of him wanted to believe she was hoping he would catch the cat.

Still, she was definitely right about one thing. He was extremely tired. Ronnie managed to get his face under control, and gave just a slight laugh. "I am very tired, so… maybe not tonight. You're safe for another day, from me at least." He chuckled, before it morphed into a yawn. "But who knows…" he said in that sleepy-sounding voice people do while yawning. "…Maybe I'll see your cat out again later tonight when I take my midnight walk." There was an annoying truth. Nightmares were nothing if not consistent, and Ronnie hadn't slept all the way through the night in years.

Eve's smile brightened at his thanks. Ronnie deserved the job and any congratulations that came with it.

She continued to look at his face, stepping closer after he turned his head. Her fingers hesitantly extended toward his face again, but her touch didn't brush against him. "Would you like me to get you some ice?" Eve asked. Immediately after, she noticed both Ronnie's blush and how close she was standing. She blushed a bit herself and took a step back.

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "All the time?" she asked quietly. Well, she wasn't one to talk. In her feline form, she took on dozens of men at a time. Of course, that was also very different from what Ronnie had done. Eve smiled faintly. "I'm just glad it's nothing serious," she murmured.

For a moment, she wondered who the other men he'd bested were. If they were any of her regular pursuers. Having fewer of them chasing her for a couple of days while they recouped would be nice.

Eve's blush deepened as she watched Ronnie's eyes widen. Now why had she said that anyway? Though… the intent behind the words had been encouraging. She hoped for him to be the one to slip the key from her cat's neck. Ronnie was someone she would trust with her secret… and her heart. But it was all up to him. If he wanted it or not. If he would seek after her or let her be claimed by someone else.

"Of course you are," Eve replied shyly. She slipped back around her desk and began to assemble her things. Her shift for the night was coming to a close. A strange emotion contorted on her face for a moment, but then it was gone. Concern? Disappointment? Dismay?

She let a soft smile dawn on her face as he yawned and spoke afterward, sounding completely adorable. "Maybe," she remarked simply. Once everything was either in her bag or her arms, Eve moved back around the desk. "I should get going before Sylvia comes to kick me out herself." Her eyes met his, seeing the tiredness in his eyes. She knew her own sleep would be riddled with fear, worry that somehow, someone would be able to break into her house again despite Ronnie's security measures. Not that she didn't trust him. She did. It was the majority of the other men in town she didn't trust.

Ronnie smiled but shook his head a little at the offer. "No, I'm ok. I can pack some snow on it if it becomes a problem. Besides, you're headed out."

Her question about 'all the time' on the battlefield elicited a nod from him. Just a small one, and that was it. He wasn't sure he should describe it to her more.

He watched her pack up, before giving her a tired smile. "Ok then. I'll see you tomorrow, at some point." He gave a slight wave and trudged up the stairs, his steps heavy with weariness.

He was out cold as soon as his head hit the pillow.

…..

A few of the rooms around Ronnie's room in the Blondewood heard a muffled cry sometime around 1 am. It was followed by someone scrambling out of bed, opening their door quickly, and barreling down the stairs.
Ronnie came bursting out the front door of the Blondewood into the snow, looking around him wildly for a moment, before he realized where he was and sank to his knees in the snow. It took him a minute to compose himself, get control of his racing heart and the adrenaline coursing through his veins, but once he did, he was able to get up shakily, and walk to his usual bench out front. He slumped into his seat, and sat there, staring at the snow.

(Hey yeah, no it’s fine! I just make sure to leave rps unread until I reply so I don’t actually use them. You can bump if you want tho, it doesn’t bother me. But I’m sorry for my shitty activity… I’ve been so fucking busy, stressed, and also unmotivated, so not a good combination)

Eve frowned worriedly. “If you’re sure,” she relented, still looking skeptical. “I don’t mind.” She wanted to help him, but she didn’t want to be pushy about it. There were those kind of women, and Eve wasn’t one of them.

She hesitated at his nod. But she didn’t press him with any more questions. If he didn’t want to talk about it, then she wouldn’t make him.

“Yes,” she agreed quietly. “Tomorrow. Sleep well.” With that, Eve left the Blondewood and headed home.

—

Eve never did sleep. Any time, she got close to drifting off, she imagined Treavor or Ji’re or someone else leering over her, and she jolted herself awake.

Finally, it got to the early hours of the morning.

Eve sighed with frustration. She would definitely regret this during the day, but she had no choice but to shift into her alter form. She physically was unable to fall asleep. It was concerning, but she didn’t want to talk about it right now.

So she was strolling past the Blondewood as her cat when Ronnie came bursting out. The cat’s eyes widened with alarm, and it bolted to the other side of the road,keeping a wary eye on Ronnie.

Then, once he was sitting, the cat paced slowly over to him. A soft purring could be heard before it looked up at her and meowed quietly.

(Oh I feel that. Especially recently. Just didn't want to be a pest)

Ronnie didn't seem to register the cat's presence, until it meowed him. He glanced at it, a small smile crossing his face. "Hey, Kitty-cat." He didn't otherwise move, and went back to staring at the snow, his face sliding back into a pensive expression.
Eventually, he sighed and ran his hands up his face and through his hair, over the back of his head. "I must look crazy to these people… Some guys rolls into town, gets into fights, and runs around at night instead of sleeping." He shook his head. "Old habits are hard to shake, and when you've been chased like I have…" He glanced at the cat again, and gave a rueful chuckle. "But I bet you know all about that, don't you, Kitty-cat…" He went silent again for a moment, listening to the cat purr, before going on.
"They used to come after us at night. We'd be in our tents, and we would hear what we thought were dreams, or hallucinations brought on by sleep deprivation. Sometimes it was loved ones, sometimes it was fallen soldiers, sometimes it was just random civilians, but… always, if a soldier couldn't separate reality from what their eyes told them, those blasted shapeshifters would lure him in and then destroy him. Men dying in what they thought were nightmares, only to never wake up." He closed his eyes and dropped his head. "And the battles… it's something you never quite get used to. These morphing, changing masses sprinting your direction, roaring and snarling like beasts, then screaming like a woman in pain. Children running up, asking for help, only to shapeshift into some abomination with 6-inch fangs and claws that could shred armor. Your buddy disappearing around a corner or into some woods, and showing back up a couple mintes later, only to stab you in the back or the side, and then shapeshift into you, before killing your next friend…" He shuddered, his voice cracking. "It made us trust nothing. We had to question our senses. Our ears and eyes and noses became hyper-vigilant. We got to know mannerisms and pick up signs that a person wasn't who they said they were. But sometimes… there was no way to tell, without doing terrible things… things I'm ashamed to talk about. Things that… well… this little town doesn't know who they let in." He paused for a long moment, before looking up, tears in his tired, sad eyes.
"We fought monsters for so long, we became monsters. A different kind, one that stayed in our own skin, but… no better than our enemies, in some ways…" The tears ran down his face, though only for a moment before he swiped at them viciously, as if angry they existed.
"So… maybe I deserve this. Maybe, after all of that, I deserve to spend every night afraid of my own dreams, seeing blood and gore and violence behind my closed eyelids. Maybe I deserve to feel chased and hunted still. Perhaps it's penance for the things I've done… but by Tulkas, that doesn't make it easier."
He went back to staring at the snow, his hands trembling just slightly.

(You’re definitely not! I’m really trying to get quicker with my longer rp responses… alas, time and motivation evade me.)

The cat inclined its head and approached Ronnie slowly. His smile appeared to comfort it, and she didn’t seem to mind getting closer to him than before. Ronnie had proved that he wouldn’t ambush her, and he certainly didn’t seem to be in the mood for chasing her around the dark, cold streets. So she seated herself about five feet away from his boots and watched him with eyes like hazel orbs. Hazel… just like her owner’s eyes.

As Ronnie spoke, the cat remained where she was and seemed content to listen. She watched him, letting him speak his mind to her. After all, she was just a simple cat. Unable to do more than meow and purr and run through the streets.

When Ronnie went silent after his chuckle, the cat ventured another foot closer and meowed, almost like she was replying to him. Whether Ronnie noticed or not, he continued talking. And the cat listened.

Eve had never before wished so badly to be able to transform in front of someone. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around the man who had been through so much hell and thought so little of himself because of it. She ached for him, and not even in a sexual way. She needed him more than she cared to admit. Damn this contest. Damn the men who had made her start it. Because she found who she wanted to catch her cat. She wanted it to be Ronnie.

Did he still feel like he didn’t deserve her? Would he even still want her after he found out she could shapeshift too? A sudden tsunami of doubt crashed over her. Ronnie would probably hate her if he found out her secret… he wouldn’t want anything to do with her — another monstrous shapeshifter, even if she only had one other form.

But… there was only one way to find that out. Slowly, the cat came the rest of the way toward him. She brushed her face against his leg, breathing in his wonderful scent, and then sat back on her haunches to leap onto the bench beside him. The key around her neck was tied with a plain string and glittered in the moonlight. The cat’s eyes stared down at Ronnie, and now she was so intent that she didn’t even purr.

The little meow registered, somewhere in the back of Ronnie's head, and he had to give a slight chuckle. It was like the critter could understand him, and was talking back.
It got closer, but Ronnie had no energy to try and reach for it. He found he didn't want to, anyway. Eve didn't need his mess. He'd had the thought before.
But just now, when he went back up to his room, he was going to have to explain the bedclothes to her or Beanbelly anyway… His nightmare had been vivid, and violent, and he'd thrashed and fought so hard, his pillows were shredded and his blankets were torn. How could he ever hope to have any kind of normal life, when his nights were filled with that? And what if-…
He glanced at the cat as it came towards him, hardly daring to think the awful thought. But what if the next time he fought a battle in his sleep, it wasn't pillows and blankets that paid the price, but the beautiful woman next to him? What if he hurt someone?

….what if he took the key, and hurt Eve?

It was too much. The thought was too dark, too heavy, and he couldn't handle it. He shook his head violently, trying to clear his mind, and only realized he was slapping his forehead loudly after about the third time. That was not an image he wanted. Not Eve, bleeding and bruised because of his hands… he couldn't let it happen.
She didn't deserve the things he would dish out to those filthy shapeshifters. She was too pure, too wonderful and sweet to be involved with him and this mess. If she never knew the nature of shapeshifters, that would be good, and she certainly wasn't going to learn it from him, not this way. He was here to protect her, protect the town, from such evil, so how could he endanger her, put her in a position where he might be the thing that hurt her?

The soft touch on his leg drew his attention, and he glanced up in time to see the little cat leap up next to him. He was flattered, and a tiny part of him said take it. He reached over, slowly, gently, and stroked the cat's fur, down its back from its shoulders, gently petting the elusive creature.

But the bigger part of him was too far gone at the moment to hear that little piece. He petted the cat for a moment, and only a moment, before standing up and backing away. "Little friend… you and I have a responsibility to Eve. I'm gonna protect her from many things, everything and anything I can. And you?" He swallowed hard. "You're gonna protect her from me."

(No stop because my heart is fucking breaking…)

Maybe she was taking a risk too big to shy away from. But the cat meowed conversationally before she could stop herself. Ronnie’s chuckle was relieving. He didn’t seem to think too much of it. That was good.

The cat, and Eve, had no idea of the wreckage in his room and the thoughts in his mind. She only saw the glances spared her way and the tortured look in his eyes. Whatever he was thinking about… it must be awful. But the cat still didn’t shy away from him. She only urged herself closer as Ronnie contemplated whatever was in his mind.

He started slapping his forehead, and the cat’s eyes flashed with alarm. After the third time, she meowed blatantly to get his attention and try and stop him from continuing.

As soon as he touched the cat, it melted under his touch. It began purring with pleasure, dipping its back and tilting its head in appreciation for the pets. She was clearly a touch starved pet, well, besides her owner. Not many others gave her this kind of attention. And she was savoring every second of it.

But Ronnie hadn’t taken the key yet. Instead, he was standing and moving away from her. The cat’s eyes glinted with confusion and disappointment, strikingly human emotions. She padded toward him again, ignoring the fact that he got up to be away from her, and meowed. She sniffed toward his hand again, seeking more pets from a new person.

(teehee-)

The little cat reacted to Ronnie's touch like it hadn't been petted in eons, and when he stood, it came after him, mewing insistently. The small part of him saying take it was getting louder now, especially as the animal sniffed towards his hand. The conflict in his soul was getting heavier, and the tears which had so recently flowed began to drip down his face again.
He'd thought by moving home, he might find a place he could be happy. He'd thought maybe by picking up the pieces of his life that had fallen apart nearly ten years ago, he could have a semblance of a normal life. He'd thought maybe he'd even find love.
He hadn't counted on the war following him here, nestled deep in his mind.
Ronnie knelt, and began petting the cat again. He actually wound up petting it gently, slowly, with both hands, as the little creature responded to him. His thoughts swirled, and he didn't know what to do, or how to react, and he was tired, and the thought of Eve being his was so wonderful and terrifying at the same time-
…..

Carlan had lived in Tol Galen for roughly 6 months. He was from a village up the river, and had come here to see if the rumors of an exceptionally beautiful woman guarded by the whims of a house cat were true. He had immediately found himself attracted to Eve, and had joined Ji're in the hunt for the key and the cat on a regular basis.
He'd passed out, drunk, on the wooden sidewalk down the street from the Blondewood, and was just beginning to wake up, the cold of the snow slowly making him alert.
He sat up and groaned, before rubbing his face to try to wake up. As his eyes slowly focused, he found himself looking at an odd scene, and was soon scrambling unsteadily to his feet.
For there, down the street, was that new guy in town- Robby? kneeling in the snow, holding what could only be Eve's cat.
The cat with the key.
"Hey! You let go of that cat!" he slurred, moving towards the pair. If he and Ji're couldn't catch the cat, there was no way he was letting the new kid on the block get it. "Or better yet, hold it for me!" His head was slowly clearing the more he moved, and soon he was jogging.

Ronnie's head whipped up as some drunk yelled at him, and he only realized it was about the cat when the guy lurched to his feet and headed their way. Ronnie immediately let go of the cat, and gently nudged it away. "Get going, before he gets here. Go on, shoo!" He nudged it again, back in the direction of Eve's house, before standing and stepping between the cat and the drunk. "Hey, leave it alone. Go sleep off your whiskey, bud."

The cat blinked innocently up at him. Meanwhile, Eve desperately wanted to try and use her magic to convince Ronnie to take the key. But she wouldn’t do that to him. If he didn’t want the key… if he didn’t want her… Eve would accept his decision. As heartbreaking as it would be.

Instead, the cat focused on the soft touches across her body. She purred loudly and relaxed beneath Ronnie’s strong hands. She was in complete heaven now, and nothing could ruin it.

Nothing but a drunken idiot Eve barely knew. In the time since he’d moved to Tol Galen, the man had hardly bothered to introduce himself to her and instead went right for trying to catch her cat. Very classy, in Eve’s sardonic opinion.

She jolted in surprise when the slurred shout was directed their way. Her eyes turned to see Carlan, slowly finding his footing enough to make his way over to them. By the time she had looked back at Ronnie, he had already let her go and was urging her away. The cat stared at him, searching him with her intent gaze. Then, she darted away and down a nearby alley.

The cat waited there, peering carefully around the bend. She was ready to shift or attack or distract Carlan, whatever Ronnie needed. She wouldn’t leave him alone.

Ronnie wasn't worried in the least bit. If Carlan had been sober, he still wouldn't have worried. There was nothing about the man that suggested he could win in a fight with Ronnie.
The drunk stepped up close in Ronnie's personal space, and jabbed him in the chest with a finger. "You stay away from that cat. You haven't earned it. Some of us have been trying to catch it a long time, you know. Know your place." He jabbed Ronnie once more, before turning and looking around.

A thought crossed Ronnie's mind, then. One a bit different than others.
What if I could protect her from all of these idiots… by just taking the key myself?
As soon as it went through his head, he knew he'd made a mistake. There was no guarantee the cat would ever get that close to him again. He should have taken the key! It didn't have to mean he and Eve ended up together; but it did mean she wouldn't get stuck with someone like Ji're or Carlan.

Carlan had looked around, and had spotted the cat. He'd turned and moved towards it, yelling "C'mere, kitty kitty kitty!"
Ronnie took two steps and shoved the drunk flat on his face in the snow. He moved towards the cat, and was also suddenly aware of more danger.
Carlan's shouting had woken up various townsfolk. most of which had gone back to sleep. However, a few of the men had looked out their windows, seen the cat, and were now hurrying out into the snow. Realizing it was Ronnie, someone who had a target painted on his back, just made them all hurry a little faster.
As Ronnie moved towards the cat, he noted at least 6 guys, if you included Carlan. The cat had moved into an alley, and Ronnie was grateful. The opening of the alley was an easily defensible position.

He stopped in it, turned his back to the cat, and squared his shoulders. The small mob, like a bunch of cocky, half-asleep idiots, thought 6-1 were pretty good odds, so they rushed him.

The poor cat got a front-row seat to the kind of violence Ronnie could dish out, especially when he wasn't being careful.

Brutal elbows, vicious knees, punches too quick to follow, kicks that drove wind from the lungs… The alley walls meant they had to stay in front of him, and it didn't take very long for them to realize that was a bad idea. Bloody noses, eyes quickly swelling shut, fractured bones and shattered egos- Ronnie dealt them out quickly.

Ronnie might not have been worried, but the cat was. At least a bit. While she knew Ronnie was more than capable, it didn't stop her from pausing every few feet she ran until she got to the alley's entrance. She cared for him deeply and didn't want any chance of him being hurt.

But the words Carlan spoke… While Eve had never liked the man to begin with, she despised him now. From her position a few feet away from them, she watched Carlan get in Ronnie's face and speak stupid words to him. Without really thinking of the implications it would have, the cat set herself in a defensive stance, arched her back, and hissed.

Then the man began heading for her. The cat's claws dug into the ground, and she hissed again in a warning. Stay away from her. But before Carlan could get any closer, he was suddenly face-first in the nearest snowbank. The cat blinked and reoriented herself now that the most immediate threat was gone. Her tongue darted out, and she watched Ronnie come closer. She meowed at him, seemingly indicating him to hurry, then backtracked into the alley.

The amount of men who heard the commotion and came to try their hand at catching her was unreal. Five more of them emerged from their homes, and counting Carlan, that made six. Could Ronnie take on six men at once? Well, they were six, half-asleep men, barely aware of their surroundings except the cat.

The cat watched as Ronnie took on each of them until all six men were slumped in the snow, bleeding and bruised in various places. Her eyes were wide and alert as she approached him. She brushed her face tenderly against his leg and meowed to get his attention.

While the sounds of Carlan shouting had woken a few people, the sounds of a fight out in the street woke more. Faces peered through windows, people came to their doors, all in time to watch the quiet new kid in town beat the snot out of six men in an alleyway.
There mixed reactions. A few, specifically from the police, knew what he was capable of, and weren't surprised, though it chagrined them to see him come out on top still. A few pulled on boots and grabbed their knives, hoping to go down and put it to him. Most, though, had no idea who he was, or why he was beating townsfolk. They recoiled at the violence, gasped at the spilt blood, and began exiting their homes in outrage.

Ronnie threw a final punch, in time to hear doors opening, and people shouting at him to stop. He looked up and saw several of the young men who'd been chasing the cat, now running from their doors at him instead. Some of them had knives and looked ready to jump in the fight he'd just finished.

He glanced at the cat, noting its little pleading eyes, and stepped towards it. The cat moved to him and rubbed up against him, and Ronnie reached for the key-

A boot hit the back of his knees, and he went down, though he curled around the small kitty, protecting it with his back. The loud thudding of punches raining on him seemed to last for an eternity, though it was only a second or two.

Only as long as it took him to grab the key and pull the little string off over the cat's ears.

Then there was shouting, and shoving, and a familiar voice right next to Ronnie. Romulus bulled through the group, shoving assailants off his friend, who was now brusied and bleeding. Stabs had been mixed in with the punches, and though none of them were fatal, they certainly could have been if better aimed.
"Police! Move aside, get off him, drop it!" Romulus barked orders, and while there were a lot of angry people, nobody in town really wanted to tangle with both Ronnie and Romulus together. They backed up, forming a half circle around the entrance to the alley.

Ronnie groaned, before stroking the cat's fur one more time. "Best get out of here, little friend. Go, go!" he said quietly, before rising onto his knees, allowing the cat to run from the situation.

Several of the men made strangled noises of anger as they saw the cat, but Romulus glared at them, and they shut up.

It was nothing compared to the silence of the entire crowd when Ronnie stood up and showed the key, lying innocuously in his palm.

The cat was oblivious to the other new people emerging from their homes until they began yelling. She meowed again, inclining her head to look up at Ronnie with those big hazel eyes. Then, suddenly, Ronnie was reaching for her. More specifically, her neck. Her heart began to race. The key! He was going to take the key!

Suddenly, in a blur of motion, Ronnie fell. The cat prepared to jump back, but instead, she was ensnared in Ronnie's arms as he took hit after hit to his back. If it had been anyone else holding her this way, she would have clawed and bitten and scratched her way free. But this was Ronnie. He would never hurt her. He was protecting her and letting himself take the brunt of the people's anger. All for her. She could have cried. Could have hugged him.

In all the chaos, she still felt it. The moment he reached and took the string from around her neck. And she didn't fight him. She allowed him to take it, and even after, she looked into his eyes with acknowledgment.

But the moment was broken up by Romulus, which was bittersweet.

She heard the sounds of the fight die down and finally stepped out of Ronnie's arms once she was sure it was safe for both of them to do so. She dipped her back, purring softly as he petted her once more. Then, she took off.

The little feline weaved effortlessly around the throng of people until she was free to run to her mistress's house. She leaped through the little flap in the front door, disappearing from sight. A few seconds later, the light went on in Eve's bedroom window.

Eve emerged from her house, hair tousled, eyes wide, and breathing frantic. She was sure she looked a sight in her nightgown, but she saw the commotion and rushed over to the crowd just as they all went silent. Several in the back turned to look at her and a few people even began to step out of her way. Trembling, she began to ease through the crowd until she could see what they were all staring at.

The key to her house. Resting in Ronnie's hand for everyone to see.

It took everything in her not to reach up and touch her throat, just to make sure her necklace wasn't there. But she knew. She'd known as soon as she felt his fingers brush her neck. Eve lifted her eyes to Ronnie's, letting him see the emotions behind the carefully guarded expression.

The eyes of men who had chased her cat for months followed her as she approached Ronnie. Eve didn't speak a word as she looked from the key to his face. Then, she turned her attention briefly to Romulus. "I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused," she murmured only for the two men in front of her to hear. "I'll bring Ronnie back to my house and make sure he's taken care of. If that's alright with you," she added, looking at the man with her key.

Tentatively, almost a question of a movement, Eve slipped her soft, small hand into Ronnie's.

The little cat ran, Ronnie stood, and the people went quiet as he showed the key. Nobody bothered to try to chase the cat once they saw it was pointless.
Romulus glanced at the key, and his eyes widened. The moment of silent shock only lasted a second or two, and then there was a surge as several of the young men lunged for it.

"Easier to catch him than the cat!"
"He cheated, somehow! He doesn't deserve it!"
"I'll kill you for this, Vale!"
"I've been chasing that mangy alleycat for months!"
Similar protests came from many, even a few of the married men, drawing disgusted looks from their families and friends. The folks with better character weren't sure what to think. Ronnie was new to them, except for those who had known him before. But war changed a man, and they couldn't be sure he was the same; the fight they'd just witnessed had made this doubt even worse. He'd been fighting since he got here, in one form or another, and several folks wondered if this was safe for Miss Eve. Ronnie didn't seem entirely stable…

Romulus sent several of the lunging men sprawling across the ground with powerful shoves, before flashing his badge again. "Back up! He's won it fair and square! I don't know how, but it was a fair chance that all of you had!"
He caught sight of Eve hurrying towards the crowd, and went quiet again. The rest of the crowd followed his example.
Ronnie had initially pulled his hand back, but he had opened it again to look at the key, his thoughts swirling. Romulus gave him the slightest nudge, and he looked up.

Right into Eve's eyes.

He immediately felt guilty, and tipped his head down as he realized how this must look to her. It couldn't be good.
And yet, as she held his gaze, he realized she didn't look angry, or upset at him, or afraid. Nervous, maybe, but… there was something warmer than that in those eyes.

She turned to Romulus, and Ronnie closed his fist around the key. She said something, before looking back to him, but Ronnie wasn't really registering words just now. It seemed like she was asking him something, so he nodded slowly.
He took the hand she offered him without protest or hesitation, though his grip was gentle.

Romulus looked at Ronnie, then at the crowd, then at Eve. "I'll send Lana with bandages and salve, and then I'm guarding your door till morning, at least. I don't trust this situation."

Romulus' shouts reached Eve's ears as she approached, and dread tightened in her stomach. She hadn't intended for there to be fallout when someone caught her cat, but she also knew that some kind of damage control would have to be done. But nothing this violent. Were they mad because it hadn't been them… or was it because it was Ronnie?

Eve swallowed heavily as she slowed from a run to a walk. Her feet, shoved into simple boots, were carrying her of their own accord through the people. She heard barely audible whispers as she slipped through the openings people gave her.

At first, Ronnie didn't notice her. He was too entranced with the key to her house that sat in his palm. It was Romulus who saw her and nudged Ronnie. When his eyes met hers, Eve had to keep from outright running to him and jumping in his arms. If she hadn't wanted him to catch her cat, then she wouldn't have allowed it. The funny thing was that for now, no one else knew it.

Now that the key was firmly in Ronnie's hand, Eve knew she had to tell him. It was another promise she'd made, this one completely private. After announcing the challenge with her cat, Eve had sworn to herself that once she found someone who would be worthy of catching her cat, she would reveal her secret. But now, knowing what his experience was like with shapeshifters, it still made her nervous to tell him… but she would. It wouldn't be fair to either of them if she didn't.

She didn't miss the emotion in Ronnie's own eyes as he looked at her, and as she drew close enough that only Ronnie and Romulus could hear her, she also caught how he closed his hand over the key. Eve smiled briefly as he nodded, though it worried her how glazed over his eyes were. Like he wasn't really listening. But he took her hand, so that was something.

Eve nodded swiftly. "I have my own, but I won't be opposed if you feel the need to send more. Thank you, Romulus," she whispered. She didn't trust it either, especially with people like Ji're and Carlan who had been after her cat for months on end. They would surely remain furious for a long while after.

Once everything was settled, Eve turned back and tugged Ronnie behind her through the crowd, making sure people kept their distance from him. But many were too focused on their entwined hands to think about doing anything more to the man. It didn't take long to reach Eve's house, and she quickly ushered Ronnie inside, away from prying eyes.

"Are you alright?" was the first thing past her lips once they were alone.

The townsfolk watched Eve with a mix of expressions. Some looked concerned for her. Some seemed neutral, mostly just there for the drama.
A few were openly glaring at her.
But nobody tried anything, despite the looks they were giving her.

Romulus nodded at her. "I'll send some over. Take good care of him." He gave her a slight smile, before turning and scanning the crowd. Several of them met his gaze, but nobody challenged him, or made any kind of a move.
"All of you, go home now. Sun isn't even up yet."

The crowd didn't move, other than to part a bit as Eve pulled Ronnie through. Ronnie squared his shoulders and followed her closely, not giving ground for a second, though as soon as they were out of the crowd, he slumped a bit.
Once the door to Eve's house had closed behind them, he looked up at her, his expression uncertain.
"Check your locks." was his only response to her question. He wasn't alright, in many ways. He was exhausted, he hadn't slept well, he was bleeding and bruised, his head was foggy, his heart was confused, and he had no clue how the rest of the night was going to go.

Eve caught a few stares, turmoil writhing in her stomach. These people… they’d once been her friends. And no some of them were glaring at her as if she were the villain in the story. The beautiful, entitled woman who strung men alone only to lead them to hopeless rejection. That wasn’t what she had intended at all.

“I will,” Eve promised. She found solace in Romulus’ smile, knowing that she at least had one person who hadn’t turned against her in all the madness.

She squeezed Ronnie’s hand gently as she led him, and once they were clear from the people, Eve sighed with relief. The walk to her house wasn’t far, and she was walking a bit faster than normal.

The look Ronnie gave her almost broke her heart. She hesitated a moment before hurrying around to secure all her locks and draw her curtains closed. Thank the goddess that Ronnie had fixed her locks earlier, or who knew what kind of situation they might find themselves in.

When she returned back to him, Eve guided him to her small living room. “Sit down,” she encouraged softly. Once he was settled, Eve began to hurry around, getting her medicinal supplies and setting up an area to mix herbs and prepare bandages.

After a moment, she paused at the way Ronnie was looking at her. He was so uncertain, so caught off guard and worried and confused. “You’re safe here, Ronnie,” Eve promised him. “I’m not going to kick you out or anything.”

Besides, with the rules of her challenge, he was technically now her betrothed. But the secret she kept nagged at her. Eve decided to wait to tell him until after Lana dropped by. She didn’t want to risk the moment getting interrupted.

Eve went to check the locks, and Ronnie took a deep breath. He needed to be clear-headed for the conversation they were about to have. The pain of the stab wounds on his back was actually helpful, as it helped ground him in reality. He wasn't invincible; he wasn't perfect, and it was possible he'd made a mistake here.
Eve had him sit down, which he did slowly and gingerly, not wanting to get blood on her furniture. He sat still as she gathered supplies, just fidgeting with the key in his hand. He kept glancing up at Eve, trying to gauge her reaction, and if she was doing this so she could talk him out of the deal, or something similar.
Her reassurance she wasn't going to kick him out helped him relax, but only a little bit. He still didn't want to corner her in this situation.

He waited till she'd come back with the bandages and herbs and things before he said anything else. His voice was thick, like his throat was trying to close around the words, and Ronnie realized just then how frazzled the situation had him.
"….. I'm sorry, Eve."

Eve hurried through the process of checking everything, but that was only because she knew that she hadn’t touched most of it since it had been installed by Ronnie. She went from window to window and door to door until she was positive everything was secure. No one would be getting in without her say so.

Her eyes slid over the wounds on his back as he sat, and she teared up. He was like this, hurt and bleeding, because of her. She had done this to him. Maybe not directly, but it wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t been defending her. Her fingers visibly trembled as she began to make up a salve until Lana came. She was trying to calm herself, but all she could think about was the way he had curled around her in her cat form and taken every wicked attack they’d thrown at him.

She stilled as he spoke, not taking her eyes off of the bandages. Slowly, Eve swallowed and began working again. Her fingers were still trembling, but slightly less as she forced herself to breathe. “What are you sorry for, Ronnie?” she asked quietly. When she finally looked up at him, her eyes were soft.