The World Passes By

((Connana Banana only for now))

Di looked at the scotch glass. It was her fifth and nothing. She sighed. But it burned on the way down, and that burning was enough to remind her of the things she had to remember. Didn't want to, but had to. She listened to the music, and it, too, was a reminder. The people dancing were different. Different all the time. But not different enough to change that she remembered.

Connan walked into the club; or perhaps stalked would be more accurate. Stoic, embittered and silent, the multicolored strobes cascading through his hair did nothing to angelisize him.

Arriving at the bar, he muttered 'tequila', in a voice not loud enough to be heard, but with enough command that his request was obeyed despite that. Taking the shot, Connan closed his eyes, a twisted grimace capturing his lips as he remembered.

Di watched him for a moment as her next glass arrived. There was something about the way he walked and the expression... the aura that hung about him... she could feel it calling to her. He was something else entirely from those she had known before.

Holding the shot glass up, he let the lights catch it, and then fall away as shadows overtook them to the rhythm of pulse-shattering bass. Laying it down, he watched the barman fill it anew.

He knew he was being watched; he just didn't care.

There was an explosion in the distance that most wouldn't be able to hear. Di bit her lip and then downed the rest of the scotch, letting it burn...

The men she had expected opened the door. They were looking for their next meal. And the leader... he was looking for her. She had no intentions of being found now. Not just yet...

She rushed past the man, grabbing his arm and putting her other hand on one of her guns as she made her way out the back door and into the nearby alley. She had no intention of letting him become a meal.

Gun in hand within less than a second, the only reason he didn't fire on her was that he could have broken free of her hold easily enough.

Now, out in the night, he asked "What the hell?"

"Some people just walked into that club that I don't think you want to meet," she said, "considering that they'd consider you an especially nice meal."

"Fuck 'em. I'll tear them apart."

Drawing a second gun, the snarl that tore from his throat was literally tangible, and the fire in his eyes said a fight would only liven things up for him.

"I wouldn't if I were you," she said, "they're not human. They're much worse. And if you decided to fight them, you'd be outnumbered fifteen to one. Quite literally."

"And I give a fuck why? Fifteen to one... sounds like odds I'm willing to take my chances on."

"Don't you fucking dare walk in that door," she said quietly, "because you can't do shit. You're just a human. Do you understand how powerless you are? You wouldn't even give them a good fight. It'd be pathetic. Wouldn't you rather at least give your killers some trouble? It's not worth it just giving your life away."

" 'Just a human'?"

Facing her, anger shot through him, those inside the club forgotten. "Go fuck yourself. Humans can do more than you know, obviously."

Fighting the manic fury down, he holstered his guns and began walking away, listless.

She laughed.

"Prove it."

Connan's face went blank. One, fifteen, what the hell did it matter? Did anything matter?

Looking her dead in the eyes, he walked over to her, slowly, and placed his gun between her eyes, and pulled the trigger. He knew it wouldn't kill her, and knew she'd fight back.

It was just the most effective 'Fuck You' he had on hand at the time.

She ducked fast enough that it skimmed her forehead and grabbed the gun with her hand, squeezing and smashing it.

The second pistol was already out, firing four shots in an array of bullets, while he spun and kicked for the solar plexus. No matter which way she went, something had to give.

She jumped into the air, one of the bullets hitting the foot that was aiming for his face with a spin kick.

Hearing something connect, he ducked, using the minute resistance granted by the bullet. Springing backwards on one hand, he counted, waiting for her move.

She landed on her feet and pulled out her own gun, firing three bullets-one right at him and one on either side with only a second between them.

Ducking, he fired the remaining two bullets in his own gun, but one of her bullets clipped his shoulder as he slid to avoid the two that - on the angle at which he stood, - would be fatal. Eyes widening slightly as it severed the flesh in his arm, he hit the wall as he slid towards it, and rebounded back on to his feet.

The only sign of the excruciating result of being shot was... a sigh of relief?

Blood cascading down his arm, he threw himself towards the vampire, using the now empty revolver as a weapon in itself, striking with the butt of the gun.

She grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder. The memory of a martial arts class seemed to flash through her mind but a moment later it was gone.

Connan hit the alley wall, a shallow gash opening on his face, but he didn't even stop moving before he'd reattacked, this time from behind, hitting the back of her knees and bringing her to the street.

The momentum carried him past her, and he spun around, already charging again, instinct telling him that even if he'd hurt her, she, like himself, would be up and fighting before he could pause.

She fell slightly from the impact but barely felt a thing; even as he charged she shot at his left leg.

It hit his shin, muscle not bone. This got a snarl, but he was already charging. As it was, he literally crashed into her. Hands on the gun, running on gut instinct, he used the surprise of impact and the advantage of his weight to wrench the weapon from her hand, and struck her across the face with it before they both hit the wall. Stunned and losing blood, he growled, and started mauling her skin with his bare hands.

Di overpowered him and threw him against the ground, punching him in the gut as she did so, ignoring the smell of blood with slight effort now.