Change is a thing many are not ready for in their lifetimes. Day by day, many walk about, afraid to take steps necessary to move onto the next phase of their lives. Many settle, for example, small time jobs for very little pay.
Others are afraid to speak to one who steals their heart, and often loses the opportunity to take a chance and be happy, just like one may be afraid to leave the comfort of their parents home.
This fact was what had Takabi so mind boggled as he rounded the corner and pulled up in front of Frannie's house that Saturday afternoon. The girls spent the remainder of the day hiding in the Bunker, to make sure there were no traces of Girston lurking around the corner.
He put the car in park, his eyes looking over to blonde in the passenger seat. Frannie wasn't remotely feminine from what he knew of her. In fact, the complete opposite. Headstrong, tough and would fight almost anyone, especially if it was for Shine. He admired that much about her at least.
Despite her lack of feminine charm, here she sat, in a deep blue dress with purposely ripped seams. A black belt was around her waist, and fishnet stockings hugged her legs tightly. She stole a pair of Mia's black flats, with a bunch of bracelets around her wrist and a blue and black bow in her hair. She took a deep, very deep, breath, before looking at Takabi.
"Thanks. I don't think I could do this on my own."
The boy shrugged, reaching into the back of the car and pulling up a black bag from behind his seat. Handing it to Frannie, he gave her a soft smile before pointing to her house. "It's the least I can do. Not sure how your parents would take the idea of you, ya know, suddenly leaving home with a guy, especially after Shine just moved in with you guys."
Frannie pulled down the passenger mirror from the ceiling, checking her light shades of make up and adjusting her bra straps. Nervousness was an understatement in her posture.
She was scared, and who wouldn't be? Leaving the comfort of a parent's home is never easy, and the reasons she's leaving could easily get her killed. She was putting her life, figuratively, and literally, on the line by making this decision.
Her very livelihood.
Volleyball. College scholarships. Settling down with a good looking man and having plenty of kids to be proud of. Not that she can't go back, and it was easy - she assumed - for the Bunker to forge a diploma for graduation if she also somehow got them to teach her classes while she was there. Things could work for her, if she let it. She trusted Takabi within reason, and so far, there was none to doubt him.
The car door opened, and she stepped out, bag slung over her shoulder. The door shut after her first step. The first of many that echoed in her ears, along with her heart ramming against her ribs in complete anxiety.
She had always been confident and calm in most situations, so the feeling was new to her. It was obvious she was taking her time, but there was also something else. She began to have doubts. Second thoughts. She could go into her home, up to her room as if everything was normal and not worry about a thing.
Questions would come. Where was she the night before? What happened at school? She'd tell. She'd have to, and her parents wouldn't believe her. They'd think she's making it up, or worse, clinically insane and throw her into therapy.
She knew of him, what he does, but not who he was as a person. Takabi, in every right, was still a mysterious boy. She'd be following him into something, and not know a single thing about him. What music did he listen to? Favorite foods and pass times? Nothing. Nothing came to mind. He was a complete stranger, and she was trusting him only because of Shine.
"Sweetie?"
When Frannie came out of her thoughts, she was already sitting in her living room. Photos of her life, strung up along the walls. Her parents' wedding photos sat on a stand in the corner of the room, next to the high definition television in the center by the front door. She hadn't registered opening the door, or calling both of her parents down to talk with her.
Her mother sat in the chair next to her. Her blonde hair was shades lighter than Frannie's from age. Wrinkles were evident, but very kind to her creamy white skin. Faint traces of freckles trailed the bridge of her nose, and she was dressed in a pink shirt and blue jeans.
Frannie's father was at her left. A serious man. Bearded face full of dark hairs, but none on top. His dark skin was more prominent with his choice of clothing. A white Tank top and grey sweatpants. Like her mother, he was also showing evidence of age, but with more bags under his eyes from working late nights.
"Frannie, honey, you haven't spoken since you sat down. What's the matter?"
Frannie mulled her thoughts. Her words lodged in her throat, feeling both of her parents eyes on her. Both worried, caring. So caring.
If she spoke up now, she may never see this again. Have this feeling of warmth. All of the problems will become her own. She'll be thrust into a life that she only just discovered and didn't know if she could handle it.
Her fingers curled into her palm. She opened her mouth, shut it, and repeated the process for a good couple of minutes. Her parents exchanged looks, before her father spoke in a thick african accent, "You can tell us anything, Love. If you're in trouble, we're here for you, yeah."
That broke her. Childhood memories came flooding into her mind, and she began to tear up. It built, and built, and she just cried. Her father's arms wrapped around her first, then her mother moved to the couch and hugged her too.
The three sat in a tight embrace for a while, the only sound of the teapot in the kitchen, and Frannie's loud sobbing.
"M-Mom… Dad… I love you both so much.."
"We know, Honey. What is bothering you so much," Her mother asked.
"I… I…" She rubbed her tears, smearing her make up into her palm and on her face. "I… I'm leaving.���
Neither spoke at first. Both looked at her face, and said, "What?"
"Listen… Just… Let me explain."
And she did. She went into detail about it all. Shine, and who she really was. Takabi, their father, and how dangerous it might be for her to stay around them now.
This wasn't something they talked about, but Girston saw Frannie's face. He could find her, hurt her parents, or something, if she stayed. While a thought in the back of her mind, it was the defining factor to her choice now.
She would leave her parents, hurt them, but keep them safe.
By the time she finished, she was crying in hysteria. Her father stood from the couch, touching his chin and looking out the window at the car out from. It was off, and Takabi was inside the driver's side seat, his eyes shut. It was hard to tell if he was alive, but there were small movements from him that showed he was simply sleeping.
"That's the boy then. I'm going to have a word with him."
Ignoring the protests from Frannie, her father stepped from the home and almost stomped to the driver's side of the corner. Gently, he knocked on the window, and Takabi jumped awake.
Rubbing his eyes, he turned the car on so he could lower the window. "Hi, sorry. Can I help you?"
He glanced back at the door of the house, Frannie standing there, hand against her chest. "Yeah. Uh, my name is Marshall. Frannie told me a lot I find hard to believe. You're Takabi, yes?"
He had a feeling he knew where this was going. He shut the window, opened the door and stepped from the car, closing it and looking up at Marshall. The difference between them in height wasn't that large.
Takabi was five foot seven.
Marshall was five foot nine.
"Is it true? What she told us."
Takabi looked around, before letting his wings burst out from his shirt, stretching wide at each side. Slowly, he nodded, and spoke in a tone to keep the situation calm. "Yes. It is."
"S-so… You expect me to trust my daughter to you? Knowing full well that she would be in danger and potentially lose her life?" Marshall's voice was very shaky.
Takabi gauged him, wings fading away. He leaned against the car, hands in his pocket, blinking slowly. One breath. Two. Before he said, "Yes. To be honest, I'm still very hesitant about doing this myself. I'd rather not involve her in any of this. She's an innocent girl."
"I know that. That's my little girl after all." He brushed his beard, looking from Frannie to Takabi. "I don't know you, and I certainly don't trust you. You understand right?"
"Of course."
"Good. I don't like this, I really don't, but she wants to do good for the world. From what she says, it doesn't seem like she'll be at the front lines of anything that happens. Can you promise me, keep her safe? Above all else, protect her?"
Takabi blinked, standing straight and looking at his right palm. With a quick swipe of his left fingers, he opened a large gash in his hand, closing his fist and holding it out to Marshall. The red ooze drip, its sound somehow echoing in Marshall's ears. "I swear it on my life. I'll keep her safe at all costs."
Sighing, Marshall broke his serious look and smiled. "Thank you. That's all I want. I want my baby to come home, when it's all over. Make sure she knows, no matter what she does, we'll be proud of her, and she'll always have a place with us."
"I'll pass that along." Takabi said, steam rising from his wound. It closed as if it never existed, then Takabi turned around and gave Frannie a thumbs up.
The blonde sighed in relief, turning to her mother and hugging her tightly. Marshall pat Takabi's shoulder. He was trusting a complete stranger.
With every fiber of his being, he felt he was making a huge mistake. However, just from the one meeting, he could tell Takabi was the type of person to be reliable. He valued all life, and would make sure Frannie would be okay. Marshall saw that in his eyes.
Frannie came back to the car as Marshall entered the house and shut the door.
"You okay," Takabi asked as they rolled down the road. Frannie gave her house one last glance before they turned the corner. She rubbed a tear from her face, and flashed him a smile.
"Good. Let's get some ice cream. My treat. You could use it."