Asher stops and slams his fist into the wall of a building. Noctus squeezes his hand softly.

He looks at her and he knows what she's going to say.

'I'm sorry. But we can't stay in the open like this.'

She pulls him gently and they continue down the sidewalk.

"What pisses me off is Rocket! I couldn't do anything!"

'You can't change it now. Nicole is dead.'

"Once this is done Noctus, can you teach me to fight? At least basics?"

She looks at him and nods softly. 'If you wish.'

They hurry down the road until suddenly Noctus stops, Asher follows her eyes, one of the women down in front of them looked back at them.

The woman looks back again and stops to stare at them. Noctus throws her arm down, the black sword shoots out if the cane's head.

"Don't push me to safety this time?" Asher begs,

'Sorry.' She says,

She sweeps Asher's feet and throws her sword up, it sinks deep into the wooden bat wrapped in barbwire with a thunk.

Noctus spins up to her feet and kicks the man hard in the side before he can react. The man is thrown out of the alleyway and crashes to the concrete rolling onto the asphalt only to be hit by a car.

"John!" The woman cries,

Noctus is about to charge her but she switches and dives, tackling Asher and rolling into the alley.

BANG! BANG!

"I'll kill you!" The woman shouts,

Noctus is up on her feet and waits, she crouches.

The woman hurries around the corner, Noctus tackles her while pushing up against the arm with the pistol.

BANG!

Asher covers his head. Noctus rolls off, to her feet. As if having total control over her momentum, Noctus seems to use it to spin and sends her foot slamming into the woman's head.

Her head smacks against the concrete too hard. Asher winces at the sound. The woman groans, Noctus points the gun at her head.

"W-wait!" Asher shouts,

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Noctus glances up at him, "Let her go."

Noctus doesn't even tilt her head. She simply looks down at the woman again.

"I know she tried to kill us, err, me. Let her go just this once, if she attacks again you can kill her."

Noctus sighs, Asher knows its a bad idea, but he prays that somehow it works in the favor of all of them.

The woman stares up at Noctus's mask and glares at her. Noctus adjusts and stands over her. Noctus grabs the woman by the color of her shirt, lifts yer up and whacks her across the face with the butt of the woman's gun that is now in Noctus's hand, knocking the attacker out.

Noctus drops her and the gun. 'Come on.' Noctus says,

Asher hurries out of the alley and they run down the street.

"How'd they know?" Asher asks,

'The first attack, they might have your face now.'

"Remind me to give you a raise Noctus!" Asher says,

They run until Asher needs to stop to catch his breath. Noctus draws her sword as several people around them stare. But luckily no one does anything, they just, watch.

They start off again and run until they reach the building. It's huge!

'Stay close. Do you understand? We aren't safe yet.' Noctus signs just before they walk in,

Asher nods, "Okay. Keep my guard up."

Noctus nods, she leads the way, everyone stops and watches them walk in and to the stairs.

'Why not the elevator?' Asher signs,

'Your face is known. People might make us stop where we don't want to.'

Asher feels like an idiot, duh! That's obvious.

"Right...right."

She holds the door open and they start up the stairs. They walk up many...many floors. 27 to be exact. Asher catches his breath yet again and walks through the door. Noctus escorts him to a water dispenser and waits for him to fill a cup up a few times.

He graps another and hands it to her. She shakes her head. Noctus, it's fine, take a drink, stand behind me.

'After.'

"No, now. Come on, if someone takes a step closer I'll call it out. Take a drink, or two."

That's all it takes, she takes the cup, Asher fills up two more, but she decides on a different location, they walk into the stairwell. Asher faces away, while holding an arm back towards her with his eyes closed.

She takes the cup, then the other. He hears her gasp for air. "Again." Asher says,

'You need to recieve your inheritance.'

"Just one more time. Please?" He begs,

She sighs but obliges. Three more cups of water, she thanks him and they walk out onto the floor for a third time.

They find the conference room, its busy with people. Noctus swings open the door and they walk in. Everyone stares at them, many of the maybe 30 people gasp and mutter how they weren't sure Asher would still be alive.

"You all must have met Noctus before? if you have you seriously have a low opinion of her." Asher says,

She snorts loud enough for him to hear. Asher looks at her, 'I'm still a woman.'

Asher's smile fades, "Shut up." He says to her,

She shrugs, Asher shakes is head. "I'm here to take my company."

"How do we know this isn't some...attempt to steal the company."

Asher frowns, "Again, can..wait can I plead Noctus? That makes sense right?"

He looks at Noctus, she simply looks at him and back.

"She's wearing a mask." One says,

Noctus flips the head of her cane in the air, she grabs it and thrusts her arm down extending the sword. She holds it up for people to see, then stabs it into the mahogany table. They jump and stare at them.

'You're a nobody to them, that's why they are hesitant.'

"I know."

"What'd she say?" One asks shakily,

"It's personal. I'm Asher Palmer. I'm taking my company."

"W-with all due respect sir...you're still quite young...how do you plan to run it?"

"I have you, and I have her. If she wishes to stay."

"She's a bodyguard." One scoffs,

"I trust her more than anyone else. She was my father's right hand even if he didn't realize it, garunteed. Am I wrong Noctus?"

'Though I wasn't involved in the company, I did watch and learn a lot, if you'd like me here, I will be here.'

"Oh right, that's another thing...I want control over everything."