A Forgetten Playground. [Athena & Richard]

"Allergic to nuts? Even peanut butter?" Richard inquired, it was interesting to hear about her, it wasn't until that moment that Richard realized how little he knew about this woman.

"When was your birthday?" He asked, suddenly wanting to know as much about her as possible. It wasn't that he had celebrated his birthday in ages either, but he always acknowledge as one more year he survived.

"How old are you now?" He followed up his first question quickly while he turned his back to the fire so he faced her. Giving her his full attention, while staying a small distance away from her. It was a berth he automatically tried to give everyone, so that they may not be influenced as much by his smell.

"I would hate to have never had peanut butter." Richard whined slightly but then tried to make light of the situation. "But now it doesn't exist anymore, so you're safe from it." So many things didn't exist now, most food had gone rancid and what hadn't was still dangerous to eat. Mmmm Preservatives.

"I'm twenty three now." Richard told her, laying down on the burlap carpet of his childhood. He watched her, his world now on the side, she looked so beautiful, even now when she mussed her hair. "I'm a little old for you." He winked as best as he could while his hand dug into the carpet slightly.

He stayed quiet for a moment his eyes now shut as though he was a sleep. "Who are you?" he asked quietly refusing to open his eye, not wanting to see her right now.

Richard mouth twisted, as though he just tasted something sour. Diorio. A Diorio. Everyone knew that name, everyone still alive at least. The name was scum, a burden, a label of hatred. How could anyone bare the name. How could anyone live with the name.

"You." His voice dripped with venom and his eyes snapped open to glare at her. His body lunged forward up out of his laying position. "You." He repeated, all his pent up anger at the End bubbling up to surface. How could she? How could she.....

His thoughts stopped, how could she what? She was what thirteen when the Plague hit. How could she be to blame? How could he blame her? He couldn't use a tiny thirteen year old as his scapegoat. He couldn't.

"I'm sorry." Richard leaned forward to grab her hand. "I'm sorry we all blame you." Richard included himself in the he, he felt ashamed of himself for it. For wanting to attack her when she spoke her last name. He was ashamed.

"It shouldn't." Richard admitted, his ego a little hurt at how she snatched her hand away from his. His hand left hanging, slowly was brought back to his body.

"You had no control of what happened." Richard assured her, forcing a small smile. He stayed quite not quite knowing what else to say. He hadn't expected that answer, and it was still taking him a moment to wrap his head around it. The Angel of Death, she'd been nicknames on occasion, why hadn't he put it together before.

"I'll try not murder you." Richard said solemnly, smiling a little when she touched his hand. He scooted closer to her just a slight bit.

"Are you okay?" He finally broke asking his worst fear. Was his power affecting her? He needed to know he couldn't relax around her until he knew she was okay. Guilt welled up in the pit of his stomach, a bile creeping up his throat.

"Are you feeling light headed? Weak?" He inquired trying to sound as nonchalant about it as possible. "Maybe tired, sleepy?" He wasn't sure exactly what type of side effect he had on people, it seemed to change depending on the person.

"Terrible." Richard said bluntly enjoying her closeness. He carefully picked up his arm and wrapped it around her back. Holding her loosely, carefully. This was interesting, an odd feeling. But a good one. Richard thought at the warmth playing in his stomach.

"It's been terrible because I missed you." He explained being a little sappy but right now he didn't really care. He rarely felt the need to talk and act as he was now, it might be interesting to explore the feeling more. "I felt so bad leaving you on the kitchen floor. But you must tell me if you're starting to feel bad. So you can get some fresh air." He told her being serious and looking her in the eyes. "I don't want to hurt you." He brushed some of the hair around her face carefully. No he didn't want to hurt her, she was the last person in the world he wanted to hurt. Because right now she was the only person important enough to him after the End.

He shifted a little more so she laid more against his chest then his shoulder and he wrapped both arms around her, in a sort of hug from behind. He rested his nose in her hair smelling carefully. She smelled good, but he knew in a sad way this wasn't the same type of smell he had. Hers wasn't deadly, hers wasn't enhanced to trap others. She was safe.

Don't worry about here? Don't worry easier said than done. When you're very presence hurts its a little hard to just stop worrying. Richard always worried though he shoved it away most of time, he still was in constant fear of injuring others, why else would he act like a dick to everyone he met and use women like napkins, to be dirtied and thrown away. Don't worry.

"Do you think we met?" Richard asked contemplating. "Before the End, I mean." He'd grown up in this house his whole life, it was possible she lived in the area also. But there was an even bigger chance that she didn't. One in a million, he idly wondered how she hid her wings before.