Florian helped Anna up and re-assured Anna everything was fine, she was hoping he wasn't baiting her into something worse than what the other boy back at school had just put her through. That being said, she didn't really have anywhere to go to and Florian seemed like a warm welcome in what he perfectly described as the "hellhole" known as Vogltand station. The pair made their way past several marketplaces, through some strange alleys, past an RHA gaurd station and over to a small hangar where the inter-station vehicles where located. Florian ran over to one of the vehicles, Anna looked at the sign hung up on one of the walls nearby that specifically prohibited tresspassers.
Uh, can't we get in trouble for this sort of thing?
Only if you get caught, there's nothing else to do around this district anyways, don't worry, we won't get caught.
Anna walked past and into the vehicle, the controls looked very familiar, her piloting instincts kicked in and watching Florian turn on the car was cringe-worthy.
You're holding the yolk wrong, also why are you thrusting up so fast? Anna remarked quickly.
I'm not an expert pilot but I can make this thing fly, at least try to let me look somewhat impressive.
Oh? Anna looked back at him with a slight smirk.
That came out wrong. His face turned peach red.
Let me fly, you'd impress me better as being a flight companion.
They switched seats and Anna fired up the engines and the systems alike much more smoothly, Florian watched in awe as she easily sent the ship out of the hangar.
What the-
Anna went full throttle, the ship gunned forward and both of them were pushed back against their seats.
Where did you learn to fly?
My father was a Leutnant in the RHA.
Oh, hes going to kill me-
Only if finds out right? Anna laughed, Florian chuckled and looked out the window. The pair began to clear the skyscrapers and they looked down, the lights and the city looked beautiful even in a giant rock.
From up here you'd never think the place was such a hellhole. Florian spoke up breaking the silence, his palm pressing against his cheek as he gazed out the window. His face still had a bit of a dull expression.
My father didn't tell me anything about this place apart from it being where he met my mother. He's always been frustrated ever since him and I came here. I can't even attend school without having to think about what some random person will do to me if he catches me slightly off guard.
Where's your mother?Florian replied.
She died back out in the Omegas where we lived. Anna's eyes watered up, thinking of her mothers final moments before she died.
I'm sorry, no girl should have to go to school without worrying about the things you- well the things you have to worry about.
Thanks. Her Bretonian accent gave way in that one sentence, she tensed up hoping he wouldn't notice. No one on Vogtland in the past had even taken lightly to someone who didn't sound of Rhineland origin. Her father taught her Rhineland, and told to her to mask her accent at all times.
Florian turned over and made a confused face. You're not from the Omegas are you, not with that accent.
Shit, look I'm not-
It's fine, again, I like to think Im not like the collective attitude in this hellhole.
He looked over at her, she took a deep breath and looked back out the window, before she could speak Florian spoke up.
You don't seem like you want to go back down.
I really don't want to.
You don't have to worry about being alone you know, we can keep in touch, its not like I have any other friends anyways. He reached over and grabbed her hand.
Thank you, I haven't really made a friend since I got here, but what about everyone else at school.
Oh I know every way in and out and how to avoid them, besides that asshole won't go after people in pairs. Not from what I've seen anyways.
Anna looked back at him and smiled, Florian was the perfect escape from hell.
As time went on Florian and Anna grew to be the closest of friends, they were always seen together, and had each other's backs. Even after being jumped, attacked or nearly killed Anna always had someone to go over and spend enjoyable time with as did Florian. Florian came to learn more about Anna's past of living in the Omegas, about how her mother died and Anna's point of view on her fathers attitude. A few days after they two first met Florian also met Liam, Liam had some disapproval of Florian he was older and didn't seem like a very disciplinary figure. However, Liam knew Anna's time spent in school would be worse if she didn't have a friend, so he went along. Florian was the son of two refugees from Kruger Minerals that were driven to bankruptcy from the Kruger High command's need for profits to compete with Daumann. His family was found aboard a damaged shuttle drifting close to the Omega-54 Jumphole and were taken in to live on Vogtland. While Florian didn't like living in Rheinland and wanted to leave, it was outmatched for his growing friendship and love for Anna, who still appeared to him as a simple kind girl with a similar dramatic past.
The pair spent most of their time hijacking and flying transport cars through the skyscrapers on vogtland station. With the security detail at minimum and with Liam's access codes the pair went almost wherever they wanted on Vogtland station. Schoolwork wasn't difficult, and education on Vogtland station spent more time indoctrinating its students and teaching them only what they needed to know. The pair often skipped school whenever the lectures were just historical recitations. Skipping classes, having a friend, going wherever she wanted on the staion, Anna was starting to look up more on her life at Vogtland as did Florian. The friendship eventually went further, Florian's feelings for Anna were set in stone when he first met her. Anna was more afraid of directly getting into a relationship and still didn't know if she could trust Florian when they first met, however as time went on and more of Vogtland's "harsh realities" set in. Anna realized Florian was the person she had, and would develop more feelings for. The relationship set in much faster than their initial friendship, when the two started dating Florian's goal of leaving vanished from his mind. As she grew up she became a bit more humorous and witty around Florian, she had to learn a lot on her own with no mother to raise her through her mid-teen years. She still retained her mothers dying words, and wasn't unfriendly or rude towards people she didn't know, but she still kept the skeptical "edgy" behavior towards people she didn't know or people she didn't think she could trust.
Anna had arrived home one day after getting some food, she was jumped on the way home, likely by some secondary fleet pirates looking for trouble. She arrived home with a bruise on her cheek and a cut on her arm. She managed to get away with her food and belongings, she dropped the bag of food on one of the tables in her apartment room and walked over to the restroom. She took off her long sleeve shirt and bandaged the wound, she starred at herself in the mirror above the sink. She never really took the time to even study her own reflection or her looks because she never really cared. Her long hair was a giveaway she was a young woman. She had always done the same routine chores at the same times, if she changed her appearance she might have gotten off easier. She cut her hair short, just below her jaw, she cut most of the long hair covering her forehead as well. She wiped off her forehead, splashed her face with water and looked in the mirror. She looked up back at the mirror and noticed she looked almost completely like a different person, she hadn't had her hair done in a long time. She was no hair dresser, her hair was somewhat unevenly cut but she didn't really care. Her face looked different, the chubby cheeks she once had were gone, her face had a more mature look. Her arms had turned from being thin to more lean and muscular from climbing up buildings to get away from muggers and unfriendly Hessian pirates, pulling herself onto taxi shuttles that were already flying, and of course from fighting off strangers that jumped her on Vogtland. Her shoulders weren't large at all, but her shoulder blades looked slightly masculine, a perk of all the exercise Vogtland's environment provided her with. She flinched away from the mirror, she wouldn't let herself believe she was as attractive as Florian had described her. She washed her hands, the permanent cuts and marks from wearing the brass knuckles looked like red stripe tattooed around her fingers. She cleaned herself up and threw on a different shirt, she looked at herself in the mirror again quickly before she left. The shirt looked fine, but her sweatshirt and pants didn't, she didn't care, she knew she'd either be too busy speeding around in a taxi shuttle or she wouldn't be wearing them after a few minutes.
Anna ran outside, threw her hood over her head and started walking over towards one of the shops where Anna and Florian had constantly met up. She walked along with her head down and her hands buried in her pockets, bumping her shoulders into other people as she cautiously walked by. As she arrived at the alley she looked around and saw no one she walked into the alley, and herd someone walking behind her.
Looking for someone?
She smirked and turned around to see Florian, she jumped up on him and hugged him, he dropped the bag he was carrying and looked at Anna.
What happened to you? He noticed the bruise and put his palm against Anna's cheek.
I got jumped, I'm fine though, didn't get hurt or anything. Her voice was noticeably more mature, her attitude and tone seemed different like she had just changed a bit.
You sure you're fine?
Oh shut up and kiss me. Her eyes lit up blue as she tugged on the back of his neck and kissed him. Florian pushed her against the wall in the Alley and the couple continued kissing for a while before Anna noticed the bag on the ground.
What's that?
See for yourself. She dropped down and opened the bag, inside were several liquor bottles, mostly variations of apricots.
You don't need to get me drunk to get laid you know.
Florian's face turned red, he was looking for something to say. It'll be more uh... fun?
Anna gave him a puzzeled look and smirked again.
Where did you even get these?
I found them.
Riiiiight. She smiled and picked up the bottles, the pair walked down the alley towards the closest hangar, drinking and flying wasn't really a concern to them.
The couple managed to get through the security detail with almost no issues, they looked around at the Taxi shuttles, neither of them were sure which one had the most space.
How long are your parent's staying home? Anna complained.
Another day, we don't -have- to do this. Florian looked at Anna.
Lets take that one, hopefully I'll be sober enough to fly it back. Anna walked over towards the shuttle.
Anna hopped in the pilot's seat and gunned the taxi for the edge of the skyline but just far enough away from the station docking ports so that they wouldn't be noticed. Anna set the auto pilot to loop them around the outside of the skyline, she got out of her seat and opened the bag filled with liquor and began taking out the glasses.
Wonder what this one tastes like. Florian said just before he took a sip. He sipped some of the apricot, leaned back. His face made a surprised expression as he blinked repeatedly.
Anna chuckled at Florian as he kept making awkward facial expressions. She poured herself a drink, and looked up at Florian as he began to speak.
This was probably the worst idea for a date, we should've gone to a restaurant.
No I think I'll enjoy flying while drunk.
You won't remember flying while drunk.
Anna took a sip of the drink, after tasting it she clenched her jaw shut and snapped her eyes shut from the taste. Uhhh, I've tasted better, fuck it I want more.
After drinking several glasses Florian couldn't see straight and was lying against one of the walls inside the shuttle with his hand over his head. Anna could still see, and was making several ridiculous comments, and laughing hysterically. Anna grabbed Liam's shoulder and pulled herself up next to him. She pulled out her brass kunckles pressed her fist against his chest.
Where's my fucking money, don- you support the- oh shit I can't even remember.
She bursted into laughter and fell over starring up at the ceiling.
Alright time to fly home. She held her arms in front of her and moved them as if she was holding the yolk, she got up after and walked towards the seat.
You can see?
With these sexy blue eye's I see evvvvverrrrrrrrrrrrything.
She fell into the seat and her knee slammed against the yolk, the ship turned sharply to the left. And Florian flung face first into the floor.
Anna what are you doing? Oh you're flying.
Anna started to shout as she saw other people flying.
Look at this idiot, he's jousting the building, look I can joust too. The pilot was flying through a tunnel inside the building meant to speed up traffic.
She pushed the yolk forward and sent the shuttle full throttle through the building nearly slamming into the other shuttle. She turned down to what she thought was the hangar, the shuttle slammed down outside the hangar. Anna tugged on Florian's arm as he struggled to get up and the couple made their way to what they could conceive as Florian's apartment. They ended up in some apartment, it wasn't theirs nor Anna's but no one seemed to live there. The apartment had a large steel door with several locks on the other side. Anna slammed the door shut and Florian sat down on the bed.
Are we home? Mama-
Before he could finish his sentence Anna fell on top of him and both of them went unconscious.
Anna woke up on top of Florian, both of them were naked. Anna rolled over on her side, she had a throbbing headache and could barely see, she was hungover. Florian was still asleep with his chest facing the bed. Despite being hungover and feeling terrible, Anna was happy she was with Florian. She couldn't gather the strength to move, and passed out again. After another hour went by she awoke, the headache wasn't as bad as it was before. But she noticed Florian was missing, she sat herself up and looked around. Florian walked in the room, fully dressed he had ran out to get some water for Anna.
Why can't I look that good after being shit-faced? Anna chuckled a bit, as she laughed her head started throbbing even more she pressed her palm against her forehead.
Aaaaaaaggh
Here drink some water, no more apricots for you, I'm glad we didn't die.
Anna drank all the water within seconds and coughed a bit before laying back with her head against the pillow. Her hair spread out in small curls as she rolled her head to the side, looking out the window.
We should leave for Bretonia some day, I've always wanted to see a sunset. I've seen some on recordings, they look beautiful.
I saw one as a child on planet Sprauge. They're beautiful.
Anna rolled her head back facing up and smiled at Florian. Florian reached over and pressed his palm against Anna's cheek, he spoke up.
But not as beautiful as you.
He leaned down and kissed Anna, Anna grabbed his neck and pulled him against her. The couple kept kissing for some time before Anna rolled over and hugged Florian.
I love you. Anna said as she cuddled up against him.
Ever since my mother died I didn't think I would meet anyone as kind and as loving until I met you. Promise me you won't leave me.
I'm not going anywhere, not unless you drink and fly us into a building without a tunnel.
Anna laughed and looked up at Florian with her glowing blue eyes, her heart melted while she was with him, and she felt more happy than ever.
How do you do that?
Hmm?
I noticed it but never asked, how do you do that with your eyes?
Oh, radiation exposure as a baby messed with my iris. They do that whenever I have strong feelings.
You should be in love more often, they're pretty at this distance.
Anna kissed Florian again, everything seemed to be fine. Anna's education was nearly finished, her and Florian had a good chance of escaping and moving to Bretonia.