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The Big Oof! Volume 2 Chapter 67: Alley Ambush
🕑 Added 2023-11-04 07:36:12 +0000 UTCIf there was a word Elijah could use to describe how his day had started, it would undoubtedly be ‘amazing’.
With a pep in his step, the man navigated his way through the bustling streets of the market district, the weight of the morning's events fresh on his mind. The warmth of the sun on his skin was somewhat grounding, but the memory of Laza's touch and her lingering scent seemed to take the majority of his brainspace.
The man couldn’t help but think that maybe life wasn’t so bad after all. For the city's lively buzz, the vendors shouting their offers and children running amok, seemed to add more color to his world other than the annoyance he usually considered it. Especially when every small detail of the morning played back in his mind over and over again.
“Damn fine day, if I do say so myself!” Elijah suddenly chirped with his hands resting on the back of his head.
"Is that so?"
Suddenly a voice, dripping with as much interest as it did mischief, caused Elijah to halt in his tracks. Turning, he found himself face to face with none other than that infernal cat girl, staring back at him. The woman’s blue eyes were fixed on Elijah with a predatory glint, and her smile was deceptively innocent. But Elijah knew better; that seemingly benign grin hid layers of cunning and intentions that were anything but pure.
The woman’s tail flailed and flipped curiously as she walked closer with her hands collapsed behind her back. “What was so good about your day?” She asked in a genuinely inquisitive tone, tilting her head to the side.
Elijah breathed heavily as he shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. If he had one weakness, then it would be cat girls. Especially ones that were as captivating and confident as the one in front of him.
Opening his eyes, he met her gaze and furrowed his brow. “Indi, right? What do you want?” He said in a standoffish tone.
In turn, Indi’s interest deepened and her smile grew as she tilted her head further, quietly observing him like a puzzle she was eager to solve. "Now, now, no need to be so guarded," she teased, her voice like velvet. "I'm just genuinely curious about the most interesting man in town."
“Don’t think your little adventure out of town and your healing abilities have gone unnoticed.” She said, slowly circling around him. “You’ve earned quite the reputation in such little time, so forgive my intrigue."
Elijah felt a chill as she circled him. The woman’s gaze was that of a fully fed cat more interested in playing with her food than eating it. "Well, considering how chatty the townsfolk tend to be, I'm not too surprised," he replied, maintaining a casual demeanor as he peered around to see if she was any of her guards from the tavern. "But people tend to love a good story, so they may have exaggerated my abilities a little.”
With that, Indi stopped directly in front of Elijah as she leaned closer, her scent of what smelled like lavender and a hint of enticing musk filling his senses. “I tend to agree, however…” Indi took several deep breaths as if she was smelling him. “There tends to be something to the stories the common folk tell each other. A small sprinkle of truth, just like the oh so faint scent coming off of you.”
Indi gave Elijah a knowing grin as she pulled back. “Tsk. Tsk. What would dear Azeline say if she learned of her… latest acquisition courting others so frivolously?”
Taken aback by Indi’s acquisition, Elijah shot an eyebrow up and folded his arms across his chest. “What makes you think Azeline and I are like that?” He retorted with a hint of amusement in his voice. “The woman doesn’t want to touch me with a 10 foot pole.”
It was Indi’s turn to be taken aback as her ears twitched and her tail froze in place. A blank expression crossed her face as she mulled over Elijah’s words, trying to reconcile them with the assumptions she had. Then, an unexpected realization began to dawn on her. Had she miscalculated the nature of their relationship? It was rare for Indi to be so off the mark, and as the seconds ticked by, her surprise morphed into something else: opportunity.
Her lips curled into a more profound and sultrier smile. Taking a step forward, Indi gracefully draped her arms around Elijah's arm, her fingers gently gliding down to his hand. Pulling herself close, she pressed her bust seductively against his muscles, her proximity forcing him to turn and look down into her playful blue eyes.
"Then perhaps," she purred, her voice dropping an octave, "she doesn't recognize what she's missing out on."
For a moment, Elijah felt himself be affected by her sudden forwardness but quickly regained his composure. “And why, perchance, would I be interested in someone who doesn’t even know my name?” He said with a cold tone, but made no effort to remove her. “Especially with someone who would have an extraordinary amount of strings attached to them?”
A soft and melodious chuckle left Indi’s lips as her eyes sparkled. "Strings? Darling, everyone comes with strings. It's just a matter of how well you can play them." Her fingers gave a gentle squeeze to Elijah's hand, the gesture challenging yet enticing. “Plus, I know EXACTLY who you are, Eli-Jah…” Indi stood on the tips of her toes as she whispered in his ear with a seductive voice.
Elijah turned to fully face her, their faces inches apart, his eyes searching hers for a hint of deception. But all he saw was pure, playful mischief. "Nah, not interested," he whispered in an equally quiet and flirtatious tone as his fingers cupped her chin.
Indi grinned, biting her lip seductively as she placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Shh... just indulge me for a moment," the cat girl whispered, her hot breath grazing his earlobe, making him shiver involuntarily. “I’m sure you’ll find what I have to offer to be… most enticing.”
With that, the heels of Indi’s boots hit the ground with a ‘clink’ as she spun to walk, dragging Elijah’ with her. “Why work for the scraps of nobody taskers when you have me?” She leaned against him like a lover. “I have resources, connections, and,” she paused, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she pulled back slightly, her gaze unabashedly traveling down his form, “I can more than certainly satisfy your needs and… wants.”
A flutter of butterflies floated around throughout Elijah’s stomach as he looked the woman up and down. She was attractive, dangerously so, and Elijah knew better than to make such a deal without a clear contract and stipulations. “You’re going to have to give something more concrete than that.” he replied with a smirk. "I don’t just go wandering off with strangers, no matter how beautiful they may be.”
Feigning a pout, Indi’s tail curled and uncurled playfully. "Oh, come on now, Eli-jah. Where's your sense of adventure?" Her fingers danced up his arm, tracing circles. "Don’t think for a moment I haven’t noticed how you look at me. We both know you want me… Plus, sometimes, the most memorable experiences come from taking a leap of faith."
“Ah, you caught me.” Elijah responded with a derisive laugh. “But there's a difference between desire and blindly following it. Especially when it comes to people like you."
Indi leaned closer, her intense blue eyes locked onto his, as if trying to peer into his very soul. "You think I'm asking you to jump in blind?" She twirled a strand of her hair, her eyes glittering with a mix of mischief and sincerity. "All I'm asking is for you to give working with me a chance."
Elijah looked at her for a few moments, pondering her words. He couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her, but he could smell a manipulator from a mile away. You couldn’t bullshit a bullshitter after all.
“Write up a contract and have Ulina and the Tavern look it over," Elijah finally said, his voice firm. "They'll be my intermediaries and if they find the terms fair, and there aren’t any hidden clauses meant to ensnare me, then... maybe we can talk business.”
Taken aback by the response, Indi’s eyes narrowed, yet, her smile did not fade. "... Very well.” She responded with a strained voice, but immediately switched gears. “If that's what it takes to earn your trust and collaboration," Indi said, gripping his arm tighter. "But just remember, Eli-jah, while contracts are well and good, sometimes trust has to be felt, not written."
A snort of amusement left Elijah’s mouth as he gave her an infuriating smirk. "Trust is cool and all, but this isn’t my first dance.” He quipped. "You think you're the first pretty face that’s tried to trap me with sweet words and a shake of their hips? Your game is cute, Indi, but I’m a tad bit underwhelmed."
Silence reigned as Indi stared at him, momentarily surprised by his response. An angry look flashed across her face as she let go of Elijah’s arm and took a step back while looking Elijah up and down one more time.. The woman seemingly reassessed her opinion of the man when she took in his stance, the glint in his eye, and the self-assured tone of his voice. "Perhaps I may have underestimated you," she admitted as her tone became a lot less friendly.
"Underestimating people is a dangerous mistake," Elijah replied, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and warning. "You might be used to playing these games with those who can’t help but think with their dick, but unfortunately for you, I’m not a mark."
Indi’s entire demeanor changed as her smile curled downwards into a frown and a cold, hard glint entered her eyes. Her hands once again clasped behind her back, but her body posture was more tense and positioned more athletically as she took a few more steps back. "You're brave, I'll give you that," she responded, her voice colder and more calculating. "I’ll concede however. No more games.”
The cat girl paused as she started circling Elijah once more, this time as a predator sizing up her prey. “At least for now.” She added as her finger tapped against a dagger at her lower back. “I have to admit, I can’t say I’m not very fond of not getting my way.”
A wry chuckle escaped Indi's lips as she came to a deliberate halt, her gaze locking onto Elijah with a smug confidence. "I've witnessed a parade of freelancers march through here, many of which are much more accomplished than you," she stated, her tone thick with disdain. "What deludes you into believing that you possess the power to withhold from me what those superior to you couldn't?"
It was Elijah’s turn to let out a chuckle, but he was more amused than anything else. “Are you really so upset I won't be your little pet? You think shaking your ass and a wiggle of your tail is all it takes to rope someone like me in?" He replied, his tone laced with mockery. “As Azeline told you the other night, I’m a professional.” Elijah basically snarled at her, pointing at his own chest.
Elijah locked eyes with Indi, his gaze intense and predatory, as he closed the distance between them. “And professionals have standards,” he said, his voice low and firm, echoing his words from the other night. "Be polite, be efficient, and-"
Before he could finish the phrase, Indi wrapped her arms around Elijah’s once more and gave him a small smirk. "And sign a mutually binding contract?" She finished for him, her voice carrying a hint of playful challenge.
A brief moment of silence followed, their eyes locked as the tension between them seemed to dissipate. Elijah's lips curled into a half-smile as he leaned slightly closer, indulging in the playful energy between them. "Not what I was going to go with, but that'll do."
Indi's laughter chimed softly as she dragged him along, leaning into his arm once more. "Oh, I do enjoy a man who can keep me on my toes." The woman then rested her head on his strong shoulder as her tail whisked around. “Come then, let's go to this shabby tavern and get these gods-awful ‘negotiations’ over with.”
With a confident and sultry sway of her hips, Indi took the lead, leading Elijah down the bustling street and through a few inconspicuous alleyways. The hidden pathways she guided him through seemed to be known only to the citizens of the city who prowled the streets at night.
As they walked, Indi glanced up at him, her blue eyes shimmering with an increased sliver of respect. It wasn’t much, but it was a lot more than she felt just a few minutes ago. "You know, Eli-jah, you're quite the enigma," she commented, her voice a blend of curiosity and challenge. "Most men would have been swept away by the… ‘shaking of my ass’ and the ‘wiggle of my tail’. And those who haven’t would be left laying where they once stood, bloodless.”
“Consider yourself lucky that I like you so much.” Indi said as she pinched his cheek playfully, her bright tone betraying a very real threat of violence. “But you should really consider being my ‘pet’.”
Elijah raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a smirk as he looked down at her. "Is that right?" he quipped, the amusement evident in his voice. "I don’t think sleeping with a cat girl is worth the amount of bullshit I know you’re going to put me through if I agreed to that.”
A harumph sounded as Indi shot him a glare. “Excuse you. I’m currently in a convenient relationship.” She shot back. “I’m not going to just spread my legs for some random man. I may allude to something a little extra, but I never plan on making good on such promises.” The catgirl shamelessly admitted.
Taken aback by her frankness, Elijah let out a hearty laugh. “OKAY THEN.” He said, placing a hand on his head. “God damn. I guess it makes sense, you’re some big shots significant other, right?"
Sharp nails lightly pressed against his arm as Indi let out an exasperated sigh. "A convenient relationship," she clarified with an edge to her voice. "I didn’t say anything about like, or love or anything about being a significant other. " She added, her words dripping with a touch of irritation. " It's more about practicality than hearts and flowers, so feelings aren't part of the arrangement."
"I stand corrected," Elijah replied, rubbing the back of his neck with an amused grin. "A convenient other, got it."
Indi rolled her eyes, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You're an odd one, Eli-jah. Most men I cross paths with either swoon or squirm when faced with my... personality."
Elijah shrugged nonchalantly. "You’re not even remotely that high on the crazy list in comparison to some people I’ve dealt with."
The catgirl giggled, a glint of appreciation in her eyes. "I like that attitude. You're not easily frightened or deterred."
“Which makes me even more useful, right?” Elijah said with a knowing grin as walked further down the alley way.
Indi's eyes twinkled even more at this, her grin matching his. "Oh, quite the observant one, aren't we? A mind that's as sharp as that pretty face of yours." She replied with her finger tracing a slow line down his arm, her touch light but with a purpose.
"I won't deny it, Eli-jah.” Indi continued as she said Elijah’s name in a sing-song voice.” I do intend to use your particular set of skills to further my end." She paused, letting her words settle between them as she looked up at him with a cheeky smile. "But seeing as your friend is in quite a bit of debt and you have a lack of options, then what choice do you have other than being accepted into the bosom of a devil?”
Elijah couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer audacity of her statement. "God damn, all pretense is gone, huh?" He chuckled, amused by the colorful phrasing. "You wouldn’t be the first ‘devil’ I've outlived and you’re most likely won't be the last. What makes you think you'll be any different?"
Indi purred, leaning close so that her lips were near his ear once more. "Because, my dear, this devil plays a different tune." She blew into his ear. “I like to keep my toys intact.”
“Oh, I’m not like the other girls.” A mocking smile formed on Elijah’s face as he rolled his eyes. “I’m different!”
She swatted playfully at him, her tail flicking with feigned annoyance. "Oh, you are insufferable!" she exclaimed, though the laughter in her eyes betrayed her amusement. “But as wonderful as it is to spend time with you, it seems that we may have a few interlopers that are keen on interrupting us.” Indi said with a seemingly innocent tone, but also had a hint of malice in it.
The catgirl’s tail flicked and thrashed in irritation while her ears rotated and spun, honing in on three figures at the end of the alleyway. The murmurs of the three men reached her sensitive ears, and her eyes sharpened with recognition.
Elijah, while he didn’t have the same sensitive hearing as Indi, noticed her demeanor change and followed her gaze. "Friends of yours?" he asked, though he had a feeling the answer was most likely going to be a ‘no’
“Not quite.” Indi batted her long eyelashes at him and smiled broadly. “They belong to that pest Einar.” She said, dragging Elijah further down the alleyway and towards the three men glancing at them. “And these base hooligans are debating on who will have their way with me first after they beat you to death.”
An amused and light hearted chuckle left her lips as she glanced at him casually. “What fortuitous timing! It looks like I get to take you out for a shake down and I get to be your damsel in distress!” Indi giggled, her playful demeanor juxtaposed with the danger of the situation.
Elijah’s eyebrow shot up as his gaze flicker from the thugs to the ‘damsel’ in question., "Quite the multi-tasker, aren't you?" He replied, adjusting his posture, readying himself for whatever the situation would escalate into. "So, how are you gonna pay me? Cash, gas or ass?"
Indi laughed outright, her mirth echoing down the narrow alleyway. It was a sound that seemed both utterly out of place and yet perfectly harmonized with the looming conflict. She gave Elijah a playful shove, her eyes sparkling with a devilish kind of mischief.
"I'd say all three even though I don’t know what this ‘gas’ is but I fear that might just spoil you entirely!" She teased, her demeanor casual yet focused, her eyes never straying too far from the approaching men. “However, I'm only willing to give you coin. Surely we can negotiate terms once you clear up this little inconvenience, yes?"
"How disappointing," Elijah drawled, his expression morphing into a pout as he rolled up his sleeves, unveiling muscular arms adorned with intricate tattoos that seemed to momentarily captivate Indi. "Well, I guess I'll settle for money then." His voice carried a tone that was both teasing as a predatory grin graced his face. “Shall we?” he offered his arm once again, which Indi gleefully accepted with a sly smile of anticipation.
The trio of thugs were consumed by their little argument and didn’t even notice the approach of their ‘victims’. “I’m in charge, so that means I get to have ‘er first!" a large beast of a man barked, his voice echoing harshly against the alleyway walls.
But before they could even settle their disgusting debate, Indi and Elijah had closed in, their footsteps ringing out against the damp, foliage covered cobblestones. Their approaching figures finally caught the eye of a shorter, but equally stocky humanoid figure with sharp and stubby ears. “Ey, you fuckin’ gits, they’re ‘ere!” The man snarled, his face morphing from annoyance to bewildered surprise.
Elijah wore his insufferably arrogant smile and didn’t say a word as he sized up the three. His eyes then settled on the smallest of the group, a masked and hooded individual that was obviously a woman whose height seemed to be on the shorter side, stood glaring daggers at her comrades during their unsavory conversation. The woman’s slender fingers wrapped around the hilt of a thin, but well maintained dagger, which seemed to echo her professionalism.
While Elijah evaluated the scene, he noticed two familiar figures lurking in the background right smack dab in the middle of street - Bennett and Azeline standing there staring at him with Yana fluttering around their heads. Elijah locked eyes with them momentarily before shifting his eyes towards the thugs that were still running off with their mouth about something or the other.
The confrontation felt more like a theatrical performance rather than an actual threat, especially with the involuntary audience they seemed to have gathered. Elijah lifted an eyebrow while his demeanor remained nonchalant, almost as if he was observing a particularly stupid street play rather than psyching up for a fight.
“We’re gonna take your coin and, uh, jewelry! Yeah!” The stockiest of the thugs stammered, attempting to salvage their sinking façade. His eyes nervously flicked between Elijah and Indi, unable to maintain a steely facade as Elijah's antics had thrown them completely off balance.
The woman, caught off guard by the impromptu acting, chimed in with a poorly constructed threat, her voice betraying her incredulity, “Y-Yeah, and your lives too! No, I mean, just the lady’s life... I mean...” Her voice trailed off, realizing the grave mistake she had made, a look of horror washing over her face.
“We’re not supposed to announce we’re takin’ their lives you idjits!” The large beast-like man scolded, turning to the short female assassin.
Indi, who had been standing gracefully a few paces behind, now casually strolled forward, her amusement palpable. “Oh, how charming!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with genuine interest as she bent over and took a tantalizing pose. “I’m supposing you’re… going to have your way with me too?”
After seeing Bennett whisper into Azeline’s ear and the woman flashed a predatory smirk before marching over. Elijah's own grin widened and mustering as much sarcasm as he could, the man leaned in and spoke with a voice dripping with poorly feigned trepidation. "Oh, please, no! Not my coin purse!!" He held a hand to his chest, embodying the image of a scandalized damsel, much to the bewilderment of the thugs. The sheer audacity of his act created an uncanny dissonance in the narrow, gloomy alley.
The thugs faltered, caught off-guard by the blatant mockery they were receiving and looked at each other in confusion. The ambiance seemed to dance between danger and bewilderment as Elijah stumbled towards them with exaggerated steps, his movements as fluid as they were over the top. "Oh, the humanity!" He cried, throwing one hand over his forehead and staggering forward as if he had been shot, the other reaching out as though beseeching them for mercy, his face the picture of exaggerated distress.
Fed up with the presentation, the stockier and shorter thug grabbed Elijah by the collar and dragged him in close. “Ye won’t be cryin’ for long, ye pitiful excuse for a fool!" the stocky thug spat.
However, Elijah just smirked when he saw that Azeline was right behind the one with the weapon. “Ya, I don’t know about that.” His voice suddenly shifted to a neutral tone, a hint of amusement lingering like a phantom smile. Elijah's eyes narrowed, the jovial demeanor replaced by cold, steely resolve. With an explosive burst of motion too swift for the thug to even register, Elijah’s fist rocketed forward, sucker punching the thug squarely in the throat. A sickening, gurgling sound resonated as the stockier man clutched his throat, staggering backwards and gasping for air in panicked, raspy breaths.
Simultaneously, Azeline finally sprung into action and in one brutal swing, her fist slammed into the back of the female thug's head. There was a dull, thud as the woman crumpled instantly, knocked out cold before she even had a chance to react.
The third thug, the beast-man who had been lost amidst the chaos, didn’t have time to snap to his senses. Elijah was like a bolt of lightning as he threw his forearm into the man’s furry throat and repeatedly kneed him in the groin. But before the man could drop to the ground and howl in pain, Elijah brought the beast's head into both of his arms in a clinch, and thrust all of his body weight upwards.
A chilling crunched echoed through the alley as the beast-man's skull met the unforgiving impact of Elijah's knee. In the blink of an eye, the tables had turned completely. The thugs, who a moment ago were brimming with predatory intent, were now nothing more than wounded prey, caught in the claws of those they had sought to victimize.
From behind both Elijah and Azeline, a playful, yet potent note of approval colored Indi's voice as she chimed in. "Well color me impressed!" She exclaimed, her foot elegantly stepping around a figure now slumped on the ground. Her eyes, dancing with interest in all the ways she was going to be able to make use of their skills.
In the moon's silvery embrace, her figure took on a mythical aura, a warrior goddess bathed in lunar light. A smile that held secrets of the moon and stars played on her lips as she continued, a hint of mischief joining the ferocity in her eyes. "You’ll prove to be the most extraordinary…-” Indi suddenly paused as she once again, re-assessed her new pets.”... partners."
