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You are cleaning it improperly, Alexander. [Not seeing him for days did not change her demeanor obviously.]

I'm cleaning it just fine. *has it fully disassembled and strewn out on a workbench - though he does actually know what he's doing* So, where've you been?

I can show you a more efficient way but very well then. [She was leaning on the doorway, frown intact as per usual but the only difference was her posture was no longer ramrod straight, she was clearly tired.]

That is not your concern.

*looks up at her and raises a brow at her posture* You look like you should go to sleep, love.

I will sleep later, I have other things to do. [She eyes him quietly.] Do not call me that, regardless of what you think we are not mates or lovers.

[Changing was very hard for her, she was not so venomous towards him but she could not change the way she was overnight, if she really could change.] I did not expect to see you cleaning weapons. [Topic changes were more useful then she thought.]

Your health is more important. *shakes head* Why are you so against me caring and showing it?

*grins a bit* We finally had a successful large-scale raid - and not on the Hunters. Police station that was working in conjunction with the California State Military Reserve.

Health? You are thinking as a human would. Lack of sleep would not harm us. [Aside from being tired, she saw no threat. What was his issue with worrying over her? She was every bit as dangerous and capable as he was, perhaps more with her ability. He had seen her bones regenerate quickly. She ignored his query, unable to discuss her feelings at the moment because she was no longer entirely sure about everything.]

You were finally able to show your backbone? It is time you showed them you are a real leader if you mean to be one. [There were subtle tones of respect on the edge of her tongue but she was still critical.]

Old habits. Still not good for you though.

*smirks a bit* The irony is that the four who went with me were the survivors from the attempt on Unit Thirteen's H.Q. - They wanted to go with me. We ended up clearing the compound, but... I don't want to use it. It's right next to an ant colony and it'd be a bad idea to try and pull a "Them". *yes, he just referenced an old black and white sci fi flick*

Later.

Are these the same ants you mentioned before? [The hunter in her was curious despite her general annoyance with him. Aranka stared at him strangely when he referenced a movie she had never seen or heard of. She was not used to human movies so the joke fell on deaf ears.]

They are. *nods* There were hundreds on the surface in the area. There could be upward of thousands below the surface.

Aside from their obvious mutations, they live in a colony structure, that number would only be natural to defend their queen. [Here was where the hothead stepped back and the nerd came out.]

Exactly. I through one before we made our way in - it went through a window, smashed through a wall, and just kept going. Takes shotgun slugs to even get through the exoskeleton. Combine that with their numbers and... I'm not gonna mess with them until we have heavy weapons to work with. Worse, kill one and it releases pheromones that attract more. Till we have at least .50 cal MG's and plenty of ammunition, I'm not gonna bother them.

I will be joining you then. [She needed to hunt something to take her mind off the internal mess she made, though part of it she blamed on him as her moral compass was attempting to spin in a different direction.]

...You're nuts, y'know that?

What would make you say that, idiot boy? [She almost smirked but not quite, not the way she was feeling. She did not throw him out of her window this time so that is a positive, yes?]

The fact that you want to go up against thousands of things that want to eat you and anything else organic - and could tear lycans apart.

It is a challenge I have yet to try. [Despite everything she was still a hunter through and through, just not like her brethren try as she might.]

Alright... just don't get eaten.

[She is going to collect the rest of her knives and leave him now.]

You finally gonna get some sleep?

No.

Don't make me carry you to it. You know I will.

Do not make me throw you out my window once more. I will not leave your clothes this time.

The only reason you were able to do that before was the fact that I didn't try to stop you.

Is that a challenge? [She turned and looked at him.]

*crosses arms* No, it's a reality.

[Aranka stares at him carefully before turning on her heel and leaving.] Reality is only a perception, Alexander.

*smirks a little and watches her go* And I perceive fact.