Post by DR AARON SHUTT on Dec 15, 2011 23:45:15 GMT 9.5
Aaron watched as Adam led Michael away. It was all he could do. Watch and keep quiet. If he did as he was told, maybe Adam would keep his promise, maybe Aaron would finally get a chance to help.
His cellphone buzzed. Shutt looked and saw a text asking him if he was lost, signed HF. Aaron searched his brain for the list of personnel at the Old City Sanctuary, and came to the conclusion that it must be from Henry Foss. A werewolf. Aaron thought carefully about his reply, before he realized that it was far easier to simply ignore the text, no matter how rude.
The truth was, Aaron was lost, but that was fine. Although he normally hated exercise, the walking helped to numb his mind, as well as his feet. Before he knew it, he was at a seedy bar with loud music blaring out. Even from outside he could feel the beat coursing through him, calling to him like a siren song.
It was pretty dingy when he got inside, more crowded than he thought. There were a few individuals hanging around the bar, but the more sociable youngsters were on the dance floor. Aaron decided to take a stool at the bar.
“Whisky and Red Bull, please.” Aaron yelled to the bartender, having to shout to be heard over the music. “Actually, wait.” Alcohol was a depressant. Aaron didn’t want to feel any more down. He might do something stupid. “Just make that a Red Bull.” He hated the flavor, but needed the caffeine fix.
There was a pretty young lady a couple of stools down from him. She looked nervous, a wedding ring on her finger. Aaron tried not to stare, but he could see that she was uncomfortable. She didn’t belong there, yet she didn’t leave, as though she was trying to prove a point. She caught him looking, and Aaron ducked his head. Still, she looked at him. It was a pitying look, and Aaron couldn’t bear it. He downed his Red Bull, and ordered another one.
Aaron studied her in the reflection of the glass behind the bar. The woman took a seat closer to him, but still not next to him. She was smart. Aaron admired her tenacity, but he really wasn’t in the mood to talk. Still, she was interesting to look at. Blonde hair that came down to her shoulders, which she occasionally twirled with her fingers, nervously. She was playing with her wedding band and her eyes were red. She looked like she just had a fight with her husband.
Whilst Aaron saw a vulnerable young woman in need of some help, others saw a vulnerable attractive young woman that they could probably get to sleep with them. One such man sat down next to Aaron, next to the woman. The guy was in his early forties, with dark hair and a scar across his face. Aaron took an instant dislike to the man.
Within minutes, the other guy had placed his hand on the woman’s. When she withdrew it, but he then put his hand on her knee. She shot Aaron a concerned glance as she tried to wriggle away.
“I don’t think the lady is interested, pal.” Aaron simply replied, not even looking at the guy next to him. “Just call it quits, and I’ll buy you a drink, hey?”
“I’m not interested in a drink from the likes of you.” The man snarled, before putting his hand back on the woman’s knee, this time sliding it up under her skirt. That was the last straw. Aaron stood up.
“Then don’t take the drink. Just leave the lady alone.” Aaron warned, placing a firm hand on the man’s shoulder, knowing what reaction it would get from such a man.
“What are you, her father?” The man scoffed, standing up. He was an inch or two shorter than Aaron, but he looked fierce. Aaron shook his head, holding his hands up in what appeared to be submission, but he was actually letting the man take the first strike, and he took it.
Even though he was prepared for it, the blow to the stomach still had Aaron on his knees. He felt sick, but quickly stood up again, trying to hold the man back, refusing to strike until it was completely necessary. After the punch to the face, it was necessary. Aaron couldn’t risk any wounds that showed. They brought too many questions.
Aaron pushed the man away with a blow to his kidneys. The Doctor was seeing red, he didn’t want to stop there, but he forced himself to. Thankfully, the man came back for more. He hit hard, fast and repeatedly. Aaron took each blow, absorbing the pain, itching with the desire to fight back, but he repressed it. He was still too angry. He wanted to teach the guy a lesson, not kill him.
The guy got even angrier when he saw Aaron wasn’t reacting. Aaron figured the guy would fight dirty, and he did, but he never expected the kick to the groin. That was below the belt. Aaron didn’t even realise he’d pushed the guy’s head into the bar before collapsing into the foetal position.
The guy was still unconscious when Aaron was able to open his eyes, although one was rather bruised and swollen. A crowd had gathered around him. Aaron waved off all the unwanted attention until he grabbed the mini-torch from his pocket and checked his unconscious opponent’s eyes. No signs of permanent damage, possibly a mild concussion which Aaron felt slightly guilty for. Aaron left some money on the bar enough to cover and enough for a couple of taxis. “Make sure the guy is okay, and the lady gets home safe.” Aaron told the bartender, before walking out, limping slightly.
“You didn’t have to do that.” The lady told him. She told him her name, but Aaron wasn’t listening. “How can I thank you?”
“You can go home, back to your husband.” Aaron replied. “And next time he really pisses you off, maybe talk to someone before you decide to go to a bar alone.” She nodded, a little sheepishly. Aaron was tempted to give her his card, but he decided against it. Instead, he hissed in pain as his ribs protested rather loudly. Just bruised, not cracked, thankfully.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” The woman asked, concerned. Aaron flashed a smile. He thought about Adam, about Michael, about his failure. He thought about the woman he saved, and the man he just taught a lesson. He weighed it all up in his mind. Aaron lapped at the cut on his lip, making it sting.
“I’m fine.” Aaron replied sincerely. He felt a lot better now. “I’m fine.” Aaron repeated, before hobbling away, off to find Old City Sanctuary.
His cellphone buzzed. Shutt looked and saw a text asking him if he was lost, signed HF. Aaron searched his brain for the list of personnel at the Old City Sanctuary, and came to the conclusion that it must be from Henry Foss. A werewolf. Aaron thought carefully about his reply, before he realized that it was far easier to simply ignore the text, no matter how rude.
The truth was, Aaron was lost, but that was fine. Although he normally hated exercise, the walking helped to numb his mind, as well as his feet. Before he knew it, he was at a seedy bar with loud music blaring out. Even from outside he could feel the beat coursing through him, calling to him like a siren song.
It was pretty dingy when he got inside, more crowded than he thought. There were a few individuals hanging around the bar, but the more sociable youngsters were on the dance floor. Aaron decided to take a stool at the bar.
“Whisky and Red Bull, please.” Aaron yelled to the bartender, having to shout to be heard over the music. “Actually, wait.” Alcohol was a depressant. Aaron didn’t want to feel any more down. He might do something stupid. “Just make that a Red Bull.” He hated the flavor, but needed the caffeine fix.
There was a pretty young lady a couple of stools down from him. She looked nervous, a wedding ring on her finger. Aaron tried not to stare, but he could see that she was uncomfortable. She didn’t belong there, yet she didn’t leave, as though she was trying to prove a point. She caught him looking, and Aaron ducked his head. Still, she looked at him. It was a pitying look, and Aaron couldn’t bear it. He downed his Red Bull, and ordered another one.
Aaron studied her in the reflection of the glass behind the bar. The woman took a seat closer to him, but still not next to him. She was smart. Aaron admired her tenacity, but he really wasn’t in the mood to talk. Still, she was interesting to look at. Blonde hair that came down to her shoulders, which she occasionally twirled with her fingers, nervously. She was playing with her wedding band and her eyes were red. She looked like she just had a fight with her husband.
Whilst Aaron saw a vulnerable young woman in need of some help, others saw a vulnerable attractive young woman that they could probably get to sleep with them. One such man sat down next to Aaron, next to the woman. The guy was in his early forties, with dark hair and a scar across his face. Aaron took an instant dislike to the man.
Within minutes, the other guy had placed his hand on the woman’s. When she withdrew it, but he then put his hand on her knee. She shot Aaron a concerned glance as she tried to wriggle away.
“I don’t think the lady is interested, pal.” Aaron simply replied, not even looking at the guy next to him. “Just call it quits, and I’ll buy you a drink, hey?”
“I’m not interested in a drink from the likes of you.” The man snarled, before putting his hand back on the woman’s knee, this time sliding it up under her skirt. That was the last straw. Aaron stood up.
“Then don’t take the drink. Just leave the lady alone.” Aaron warned, placing a firm hand on the man’s shoulder, knowing what reaction it would get from such a man.
“What are you, her father?” The man scoffed, standing up. He was an inch or two shorter than Aaron, but he looked fierce. Aaron shook his head, holding his hands up in what appeared to be submission, but he was actually letting the man take the first strike, and he took it.
Even though he was prepared for it, the blow to the stomach still had Aaron on his knees. He felt sick, but quickly stood up again, trying to hold the man back, refusing to strike until it was completely necessary. After the punch to the face, it was necessary. Aaron couldn’t risk any wounds that showed. They brought too many questions.
Aaron pushed the man away with a blow to his kidneys. The Doctor was seeing red, he didn’t want to stop there, but he forced himself to. Thankfully, the man came back for more. He hit hard, fast and repeatedly. Aaron took each blow, absorbing the pain, itching with the desire to fight back, but he repressed it. He was still too angry. He wanted to teach the guy a lesson, not kill him.
The guy got even angrier when he saw Aaron wasn’t reacting. Aaron figured the guy would fight dirty, and he did, but he never expected the kick to the groin. That was below the belt. Aaron didn’t even realise he’d pushed the guy’s head into the bar before collapsing into the foetal position.
The guy was still unconscious when Aaron was able to open his eyes, although one was rather bruised and swollen. A crowd had gathered around him. Aaron waved off all the unwanted attention until he grabbed the mini-torch from his pocket and checked his unconscious opponent’s eyes. No signs of permanent damage, possibly a mild concussion which Aaron felt slightly guilty for. Aaron left some money on the bar enough to cover and enough for a couple of taxis. “Make sure the guy is okay, and the lady gets home safe.” Aaron told the bartender, before walking out, limping slightly.
“You didn’t have to do that.” The lady told him. She told him her name, but Aaron wasn’t listening. “How can I thank you?”
“You can go home, back to your husband.” Aaron replied. “And next time he really pisses you off, maybe talk to someone before you decide to go to a bar alone.” She nodded, a little sheepishly. Aaron was tempted to give her his card, but he decided against it. Instead, he hissed in pain as his ribs protested rather loudly. Just bruised, not cracked, thankfully.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” The woman asked, concerned. Aaron flashed a smile. He thought about Adam, about Michael, about his failure. He thought about the woman he saved, and the man he just taught a lesson. He weighed it all up in his mind. Aaron lapped at the cut on his lip, making it sting.
“I’m fine.” Aaron replied sincerely. He felt a lot better now. “I’m fine.” Aaron repeated, before hobbling away, off to find Old City Sanctuary.