"You know, at some point we're actually gonna have to talk about this."

"About what?" asked Harper. She gave Jesse a look like she had no idea what he was talking about.

"You know what." He said picking up the top sheet. She grabbed the other side and they pulled it to the head of the bed. They grabbed the blanket next and pulled it up but stopped just short of the top.

"Why?" asked Harper picking up a pillow, "You never cared before."

"Yeah," said Jesse picking up a pillow, "Well before it was none of my business."

"So now it is?" she said as they put the pillows at the top of the bed. They finished making the bed and then met at the end of it.

He wrapped his arms around her and said, "It is, if this is happening."

"And what exactly is happening?" she said, coyly smiling up at me as she wrapped her arms around him as well.

"Us," he said. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before adding. "You and me."

"Oh right, us, you and me." she said before standing on her toes to kiss him.

It wasn't quick like his. It started out slow, soft she barely brushed her lips against his and then deepened the kiss, pressing against his lips completely. They both let out pleasant moans as the kiss turned passionate far more then it had any right to be. It threatening to suck them both in and back to bed but if they went back to bed now, they'd spend the whole day.

After a few seconds she eased up and pulled back slightly. She smiled up at him then gently tapped her nose against his before they touched foreheads. They stood there for a solid minute or two and then she slipped from their embraced. She grabbed her jacket and went to his sliding glass door. She paused for a moment looking back as he turned to face her.

She gave him a wink and said, "Sure, later."

He gave her a frustrated look shaking his head. "Later" is what she always said, when he brought this up but there was never a "later." She turned without another word and left through the sliding glass door. He watched her hop up on the dock before she walked out of sight. He let out a heavy sigh and stepped up to the sliding glass door.

He watched her walk down the rest of the dock and get on her motorcycle. She sat for a long moment staring off into space before she put on her helmet and sped off. He stood there for a few seconds longer, watching where she had been and pressed his forehead against the sliding glass door of his house boat. He groaned knowing he had it bad for her.

Most people spent there entire lives trying to figure out where they wanted to be and what they wanted to do. At thirty-six Jesse Lanther knew he was right where he wanted to be, doing exactly what he wanted to. Jesse had spent most his life on the small Island of, Casp. It was near a large port and was mostly known for it's scarp yards. He'd been raised by a single father, who had taught him the business of scrapping since he could walk. Growing up he spent most his days learning the family business, exploring and taking things apart.

Sometimes he'd be curious about the outside world but his father didn't talk much about it and they rarely left the island. When it was Jesse's time to serve, his mandatory two years in the military, he was unsure of what to expect. Over two years, he saw and did a lot of things but after his time was up, he'd come back home, having had his fill of the outside world. He understood why his father didn't talk about it much and rarely left the island after that.

He spent the next decade or so working the yard and slowly took over the business from his father. He'd spend his days scrapping, his nights drinking and would sometimes take the day to go fishing with his father, as far as he was concerned there was no better life. Yes, he knew where he wanted to be and just what he wanted to do. The only thing that still remained a mystery was his love life...Harper to be exact.

She'd shown up on the island one day, a few years back as if the wind had just blown her in. She was looking for work in the business but no yard would hire her. Females weren't uncommon these days but Harper...Harper didn't seem the type. She had short almost shaved blond hair and the kind of green eyes you could lose yourself in but what really caught the eye was her body. It was a fucking knock out, the kind that made a guys look more then twice.

She also had some scars and heavy bruising, like she'd gone more then a few rounds with someone. He wondered if she weren't trying to escape a bad situation, abuse maybe. Either way, everything added up to trouble, clearly she was in some sort of trouble or trouble itself and most people didn't want any trouble, not out here.

She was determined though, wouldn't take no for an answer. She went round to every yard on the island. She claimed she could weld, do soldering, cutting, whatever was needed. When she got to his yard, he told her he could already do all that. She offered to do anything, collection, sorting, whatever, she just wanted a chance and he gave her one. He didn't ask too many questions, about where she'd been and just what she was after. As far as he was concerned, if she could show up and do the work, she had a job.

She got to work right away and wasn't half bad, had her own tools even and seemed to like taking things apart. She was good at sorting and had an amazing memory of where things were last seen in the yard…which admittedly was a big help. She was willing to learn and put just that much more into any task. She quickly became one of his best employees.

When she wasn't working she mostly kept to herself that first year. He couldn't blame her, she'd get a lot of leers and jeers from the local men. Every swinging dick on the island must have had a go at her more then a few times. Many a bet was placed for who could bag her but no one ever collected the pot. She made it clear she wasn't interested and could handle herself. Eventually she became just another regular on the island. As for his own crew she was just one of the guys. She didn't mind their dirty jokes, had some doozies of her own and could hold her liquor for the most part.

Sometimes when things were slow, she'd disappear for a few days, a week or so here or there and come back without a word. She'd have fresh injuries and a load of cash. It was peculiar but as long as it didn't interfere with her work, it wasn't anyone's business. Of course everyone had their guesses as to what she was up to. If she was into some shady business, maybe part of an illegal underground female fight club or some shit. They joked around about it, even took imaginary bets but none of them ever knew where she went and just what she did. Honesty, he didn't care...up until recently.

Over the last year or so they'd hooked up a few times. Mostly when they were drunk and then not so much, maybe on a slow day, a casual hot afternoon or late evening. They kept it to themselves and never really talked about it. It was just something that happened sometimes but it had been happening a lot more lately. He wasn't quite sure what this was but someone was bound to notice sooner or later and he'd like to have a general idea. Of course, that's not what he really wanted to talk about and she knew it.

From the times they'd been together, he'd started to get a feel for her and what she liked as far as he could tell, she liked it rough, real rough. She'd ask him to go hard on her and not hold back. She'd encouraged him to talk down to her, choke her our or slap her around. She seemed to get off on it or something. He supposed it explained all the bruises. He didn't mind spanking her but wasn't one to hit a woman or anyone for that matter, less he was forced to defend himself or someone else. If his time in the military had taught him anything, it was he didn't like violence. He was capable of it, he knew that all too well now but he preferred a peaceful life.

One day, in the throws of it, she asked him to punch her in the face. He thought he must have misheard her but she asked again almost begged for it and he'd just stopped. She got real upset and things got awkward fast. She took off for nearly two weeks without a word and when she got back they didn't talk about it. She acted like nothing had happened. He got on her for being gone so long and told her to give him some warning next time. She said she would and that was that. They took a break from things for a few months. He was beginning to think that was the end of it and they weren't ever gonna address things but one night she waited for him after work.

She quietly apologized to him and said she'd never ask him to do something like that again. She also gave him an out, if he wanted her gone but he didn't want her to go. What he wanted was to understand...to know why she wanted to be hit. He'd never forget the far off look in her eyes, she seemed to fall away for a moment before she just told him to forget it. They had slowly been repairing things since then but he wasn't gonna let this drop.

He could tell she was troubled, fuck everyone had issues who didn't but he worried about her. He didn't know when it had started but he'd come to care about her...a lot. She was more then just a co-worker or a lay. He thought they were friends more then friends and worried about the shit she got herself into. He'd took note of her injures the last time she got back from one of her "disappearing trips."

She had new bruises, cuts and fucking cigarette burns. He'd seen the scars before but hadn't realized what they were from until then. She also had these strange marks on her like she'd been bound with rope for a period of time. He realized whatever she was doing...whatever she was doing had something to do with sex. This was obviously more then liking it rough. He argued about it and he wanted to know what the fuck was going on and who had done this shit to her. She just said she'd done it to herself and to leave it at that but he couldn't just leave it. If they weren't just messing around anymore and this was getting serious he had to know what was going on with her.

He told her they needed to talk about it yet she just kept brushing him off. Maybe she was in denial or something. She kept acting like it was nothing or she'd get cold and grow distant. She'd say later but later never came. Like it or not, at some point they were going to have to have this out. If she was in trouble, he wanted to know, even if she was some sort of masochist, they'd figure it out. There had to be some better, safer ways of doing this shit or something. If it was something else all together then again they'd deal with it but either way they needed to talk about it.

He let out a heavy sigh and pulled away from the door. He made himself some coffee and took a long shower. Once he was dressed he climbed into his old truck and drove to the post office. He mailed some letters and checked his P.O box. He had a few bills, a post card or two from an old buddy but nothing major. He shoved it all into his glove box and sat for a minute or two drinking his coffee.

Eventually he stopped by the butchers and got him and Harper some jerky. He ordered some steaks for the weekend and then drove to his scap yard just a little after noon. Oddly he noticed some people waiting at the gate. It wasn't unusual but the two guys were. One was a strange looking fellow, in a long black coat with his hair tied back in a ponytail. He had a weird dark monocle over one eye and kept trying to peer into the yard while the other guy stood close by. This other guy was a tall muscular dude, who looked like he bench pressed cars for a living. He kept looking around as if he were expecting someone to just out and start shit at any moment. Jesse watched them for a minute or two before longer before pulling up to the front gate. When he got out to unlock it they quickly approached him.

The smaller one with the ponytail came up in a huff, "I start to think you not open. You should post hours open."

It took Jesse a second to understand what he was saying. He had a thick accent and it was clear this wasn't his first language. Jesse had a feeling he knew who he was. Rumor had it some foreign guy was going around buying up land all over the island. He was building something and had stopped by a few of the yards looking for parts. Jesse didn't respond right away. He got out of his truck and took the chain off the gate.

He opened the gate up before he finally turned and said, "I don't have business hours. If I feel like coming in, I do and if I don't, I don't."

The man looked at him oddly for a moment as if he'd misheard him, then carefully said, "That sounds like good way to run business to ground."

"Well I haven't yet." said Jesse. He went to his truck and got in. He drove into the yard and parked. As soon as he got out, his dogs, Hooper, Lucy and Chaz were on him running circles around him. He gave them some snacks and asked, "How did last night go?"

They all happily barked in response he knew they just wanted their breakfast. He went to the office but before he could get there the ponytail guy, quickly approached him yet again. "I am Vaire and looking for this."

He had a list in his hand. He handed it to Jesse. He took it but didn't look at it right away. He opened his office then got the dog food. He filled the dogs bowls then refreshed their water. Vaire was closely on him practicality hovering until Jesse opened the list. He recognized a few things here or there. He scratched his head and then tried to hand him back the listed, "I think we have a few things, if you want you can take a look."

"I will but you keep list. If you see, you call." He said then reached into his inner jacket pocket. He pulled out a big wad of cash and waved it around. "I reward."

"Reward" like Jesse was some fucking dog. Some might have fallen over themselves at the offer but it just made him dislike the man even more. Money didn't make his world go round. He made enough to pay his bills, crew and drink to his hearts content that was enough for him. He didn't respond to Vaire's offer, he just went to his office and shut the door.

He took the list and wadded it up sinking it into the trash. He looked over his desk and saw some paperwork and a bag of candy. He smiled knowing Harper had dropped it off. Just as he had gotten her jerky, she got him candy. He popped a few pieced in his mouth and pushed the button on his answering machine.

He got a few calls about some parts he was looking for. A few ships were coming in over the next week or so he'd purchased to strip. He got a call from his dad, he ate the fish they'd caught the other day and it tasted good. He sat down in his chair and swirled around eating more candy as he kept listening. Lola called, she was a local inventor they supplied parts to from time to time, she wanted to give Jesse a heads up about this guy name Vaire. He was a bit of a character but paid well. She had suggested his shop and just wanted to warn him should he stop by.

"Great," said Corrie stretching. So he had her to thank for this guy.

He got a few more calls, some requests for parts, he wrote them down then put on his coveralls. He organized some paper work and grabbed an apple. When he was done with it, he went into the yard to see how things were going. The dogs had finished their breakfast and were curious about the two men. They ran circles around them sniffing them. They seemed to have taken a liking to the big guy Vaire was with.

He didn't pay them any mind still looking around. Jesse wondered if he was Vaire's bodyguard of something. He'd seen a few during his time in the military and they acted the same way, always sticking close to their client and on constant alert. Every now and then Vaire would call out to him to grab a part or move something. They began stacking things in a pile on the ground. He watched them for a few minutes then grabbed Harper bag of jerky and went looking for her.

She wasn't in her workshop so he left the bag on her worktable like she had the candy on his desk. He took a look at a few of her sketches and saw she'd been working on her motorcycle again. The thing was a piece of junk but she kept it up and running. He figured out what she was working on and spent a few minutes tinkering with it. He got it fixed up and then went looking for her again. She was over by the west lot, on a ladder, cutting some parts they'd got orders for. When she paused, he whistled for her and she turned off the blow torch.

She turned and raised her helmet giving him a smile "What's up boss?"
"Thanks for the candy. I dropped off some jerky at your workshop. We have a few guys looking around the yard right now, other then that got a ship coming in a few days. When Hadley and Jacobs gets here, we'll have to see if we can free up some space."

"Alright, I'm just finishing up an order, then I'll see what we can move around."

Vaire suddenly stepped up to him, "Do you have a place to- to- to-"

Jesse turned to Vaire, he wondered if he was struggling to find the words he was looking for but saw something had caught his eye or more as someone. Vaire stared at Harper as she repositioned herself on the ladder. She put her helmet back down, then turned on the blow torch and began cutting once more. Jesse watched Vaire's mouth fall ajar as he looked Harper up and down. Even though she was in her coveralls they did little to hide her figure. He had seen men stare at her dozens of times over the years and thought he was used to it but there was something about the way this guy stared at her that agitated him.

"Did you need something?" he asked.

"Yes," Vaire blinked several times and looked confused but didn't look away as he said, "A place weigh, cut, buy."

"Yeah, I got a few bins on some scales up front by the office."

Vaire nodded but still kept staring at Harper. It was like he was transfixed.

"Did you need something else?" asked Jesse blocking his view.

Vaire seemed to snap out of it then "Uh that, that girl."

"No that is a woman."said Jesse.

"With torch?"

"Yep."

Vaire furrowed his brow and now Jesse wondered if he'd been looking at her because she was hot or if he'd never seen a woman with a blow torch before.

"Where I come from, woman do not such."

"Right," said Jesse scratching his head. "Well it's a good thing were not where you come from."
"No, no," said Vaire upset. He snapped his fingers "Mistake, no insult uh woman, woman, precious, soft, must be cared for. This place," he said moving his hands to refer to the yard, "Not for woman."

Jesse understood some, people from around her felt that way to. He let out a slight groan but really didn't have the time nor energy for this, "Right, well this is neither here nor there, buddy. If you find what you're looking for great, if not I have work to do."

"Yes, yes, said Vaire before stepping aside. He seemed rather worked up. He looking back at her and took in a deep breath "What woman name?"

Jesse let out a heavy sigh and put his hand on Vaire's shoulder. "Listen buddy, she ain't interested, trust me."

For a moment they locked gazes and Vaire looked almost disgusted. Jesse was just being friendly, trying to save the guy some time but this was also a bit of a warning. He squeezed Vaire's shoulder tighter and made it clear, "Move on."

"Yes," said Vaire quietly. He looked away and seemed suddenly friendly, "Sorry, excuse, excuse."

Jesse took his hand off Vaire's and stepped past him. The big guy was suddenly right there, less then a hairs breath away. Jesse had to step back, he'd been so fast and quiet he hadn't even seen him approach, from wherever he'd been. He grimaced at Jesse but Vaire quickly said something in another language and turned around to face them. He put his hands up like everything was okay. The big guy stepped passed Jesse making sure to bump shoulders with him but Jesse held his ground.

He turned and watched the big buy step up to Vaire and immediately pull some rag from his pocket and brush off the shoulder Jesse had touched. Vaire continued to speak in another language and glanced at Harper as she was coming down from the ladder. Jesse hung around should he try to make contact but he didn't. Both men moved on and continued looking through the yard.

Jesse would be glad when they were gone. He suddenly felt on edge, beyond agitated. He didn't know what it was about the two of them but something just felt off. He tried to shrug off the feeling and did his usual walk around the yard. He checking on the fencing and made mental notes of things he needed for other orders and things that could be easily moved around when the rest of the crew got here. Every so often he'd circle around and check on Vaire and his friend, as they moved around the yard picking over various items.

After a few hours or so they needed a few thing parted. Normally he'd have Harper cut um up but he got his own torch and did the work himself. When he finished they checked out all together it wasn't a bad haul. Vaire paid in cash and Jesse made in a few hours what he might make in a month, a pretty good month at that. He took the money, counted it twice and wrote then up some receipts.

"How often do you stock." said Vaire gesturing to the yard.

"Every few days, sometimes weeks. We have a few ships coming in this next month, we'll be breaking them down, getting some new stuff."
Vaire nodded, "Please keep list and call. I come back."

"Great," said Jesse not too thrilled about it.

He then gestured to his guy, "Tavan will load everything,"

"Great," said Jesse again.

"Great," said Vaire, the two eyed each other once more and then parted ways.

Jesse went to his office as Tavan began loading everything into their truck. He carried objects around like they were nothing, even some stuff that Jesse was sure two people needed to lift. If he wanted to break his back more power to him. Jesse shuffled around some paperwork, had some more candy and kept an eye on them. However after a few minutes he got a phone call, it was Rick, he had a line on some ships that were were coming up that Jesse might like to bid on.

He read off the various details, parts, models conditions and starting prices. Jesse wrote it all down and said he'd take a look in a day or so and see if he wanted to place any bids. When he hung up, he noticed Tavan was still loading but Vaire was no where to be seen. He hoped he'd left but had a feeling he hadn't.

Harper wiped the sweat from her brow feeling restless once more. She pulled a cigarette out and lit it hoping to calm herself down. Things had been getting complicated as of late and the whole reason she'd moved out here was to un-complicate things. She thought if she could just get away from everything and finds some place in the middle of no where, she could start over with a fresh slate. She just wanted to drift until she could sort herself out and if she couldn't... then it wouldn't matter because nothing here would matter but she hadn't counted on Jesse Lanther.

She let out a heavy sigh and leaned back against her worktable. It had been a while since she'd made a real connection with someone. She closed her eyes knowing it was pointless, eventually one way or another she was just going to ruin it like she ruined everything. She was like a hurricane destroying everything in her path. She...things hadn't always been like this...

/

-She is attacked

-New squad

-Affraid of sex but after first orgasm can't help herslef

She had grown up in a small town by the sea. Her father was the mayor and she'd been the apple of his eye. Her mother used to dress her like a doll and they'd called her their little golden hair princess. She grew up knowing everyone and they were always doting on her saying how cut she was.

People would claim she brought out the sun each day and for a time she believed them. Anytime rays of light pierced through the clouds she thought that was her using her powers.

As she grew they started to call her pretty and would give her gifts all the time, flowers, candy and toys. She'd been oblivious to this special treatment and used to think everyone was treated like this. A few time she'd heard whispers about her being spoiled rotten that her parents had ruined her and she was going to be a heart breaker when she grew up but she hadn't understood what any of it meant. Her loved ones always told her to pay no attention to nay sayers they were just jealous and wished they were as lovely and lucky as she.

When puberty hit, she seemed to blossomed overnight, everyone especially the men were even more kinder to her, if it were possible. They were always saying she had the most lovely green eyes and golden hair that went past her hips. Everyone was always finding an excuse to touch it or talk to her. Boys would call the house at all hours so much that they had to change their phone number twice. Boys would wait outside her house or school to walk with her. All of them wanted to hold her hand or kiss her. She had no understanding of boundaries was still so innocent. She thought they were all just being so friendly.

Fights would break out sometimes over who could carry her books or walk her to the next class. The teachers had to get involved after one boy was pushed down a flight of stairs and no one was allowed to carry her books or walk her to class but they'd still follow close by. She didn't understand lust nor the lengths people would go for it. She'd been so spoiled and sheltered from the world at every turn that she thought this was all normal.

It got to the point where friends and family always had to keep an eye on her so no one took advantage of her innocent nature. Soon enough she wasn't allowed to be alone outside the house. She couldn't even walk herself home from school. She always had to wait for someone to come get her. Harper thought it was all rather silly. She didn't understand why and whenever she'd asked her parents, they'd just say it was because she was their little sunshine princess.

One day towards the end of high school she'd gotten out early and rather then wait for her brother she decided to walk herself home. Other girls her age walked home and it was such a nice day out, she didn't see the harm in it. When she got downtown a stranger had passed by her in his shiny car.

He honked at her and she waved at him as she'd wave at anyone.

He did a u-turn in the street and drove along next to her as she walked. He made all sorts of noises, whistling and hollering at her. She didn't know what to make of it and just kept walking. When she didn't respond he got out of his car. He offered to take her for a "ride", offered to driver her anywhere she wanted to go, even to the moon and back. She laughed thinking he was silly, one could not drive to the moon.

He started singing to her and offered her all sort of things, candy, jewelry and a wad of cash. She'd never seen so much money at once and he offered it all to her, anything if she'd just be his girl. She was used to getting gifts so she took the money, without thinking. She thought he was weird but super nice. He tried to get her into his car but she didn't want to. She felt strange when he touched her. He put his hand on her hip and kept tying to get his hand under her skirt. She got scared and screamed not knowing what else to do.

People came out of the shops and he'd backed off some. She'd run off but he chased after her calling her names a tease and a harlot. She didn't know what that mean but kept running all the way to her grandparent's store. Her grandfather had to use a baseball bat to make the man go away. It took her a while to calm down and tell her grandparents what happened. They took the mans money and told her it would be okay. She didn't understand what was wrong with the man and why he'd gotten so upset with her.

Her parents tried to shield her from the man's dark intentions. They kept her inside for several days and told her he was playing a game and had just gone too far. She asked if he'd be punished like she or her brother would have been if they had been naughty. Her mother said he would. Harper had said good because she didn't think that was nice of him and her mother just hugged her for the longest time.

She didn't see that man again but heard whispers at school that the man had come looking for her and was dragged out of town. One classmate said he was floating face down in the river no doubt.

She thought that was a weird way to float and asked her mother about it at dinner that night. She told her some people were just weird. She told her mother it was just another sign that he was a bad man because he couldn't even float properly. Her mother had given her a weird look and her brother had burst out laughing but at the time she didn't get why. Her father bought her some candy, a new dress and a tiara and she forgot all about it.

Looking back at her childhood it was so...sickly sweet. Her parents had wanted to keep her innocent...ignorant for as long as they could. She got her first boyfriend not long after graduation. His name had been Glen. He was the son of her fathers oldest friend. They used to play together when they were younger but he'd gone off to "correction" school for a while. Her brother almost went off to "correction" school after he'd gotten into some trouble but didn't have to. When Glen returned everyone was happy to see he'd changed his "rotten" ways. He was so polite and handsome and like her had beautiful blond hair. Her mother would go on an on about the children they would have some day and how perfect there family was going to be.

They were always under her parents constant supervision and were never left alone but were allowed to hold hands and kiss on special occasions. The family planned for them to get married as soon as Glen had finished his two years in the military and then they'd live in the town with the rest of the family. Her mother had made a wedding and marriage sound so amazing. It was all Harper could ever aspire to. Why once she was a bride her life would be perfect.

Harper wanted to be a bride so badly, for the dress, the cake, gifts and of course to get to spend everyday with her Glen, holding hands. He was a year older then her and seemed so wise. He knew just about everything and was so worldy. She asked him what the outside world was like one time and he got very quiet. He mentioned something about people fighting for resources and status things she knew nothing about. He'd just patted her hand and told her one day she'd find out.

She was so sad when he had to go away to mandatory military service. Oh how she had missed him everyday. She'd always run out to her mailbox to see if he wrote her a letter. He would write her almost daily and call her every other week. Sometimes he sounded strange sad. She couldn't wait for him to come back knowing she could make him happy. However soon enough it became her time to serve as well.

She knew everyone had to serve in the military, man or woman as soon as they turned eighteen for two years. Every citizen of their country needed to know the basics of how to work the machines and the walls to defend it should they ever need to but she always wondered what they were defending against. Was someone going to attack. She'd never heard of such a thing maybe because they always defended.

Her father told her never to worry about such things. Her uncle would have her doing paper work when it was her time to serve. Since her father was the mayor he could pull some strings to make sure she stayed close to home. Her uncle worked at the local military base not to far from town and they all just assumed she'd go there. Three months before her eighteen birthday she got all her shots and was found medically fit to serve. Her uncle gave her a tour of his base and she was kind of excited to serve and get to do something different. Most exciting was she got to see the wall to the outside world.

When her orders came in, a month or so later, there was some sort of mix up and she was to be sent to a base on the other side of the country. Her father was absolutely livid and he tried everything to get an exception or delay her service until they could sort this mess out. He wanted her posted closer to home, where she would be safe and watched over by people who knew and loved her but nothing could be done. She thought it might still be okay but her parents were very worried about her. They looked almost sick as they realized they had sheltered her far too much and tried to prepare her for the outside world with what time they had left but there was so much she didn't understand.

They gave her all these rules to follow and made her promise to write everyday and call whenever she could but all of that went out the window as soon as she arrived on base. She stood out quite a bit and when people found out where she lived they were so mean to her for no reason. They called her a Splender kin She didn't know what that meant but got a rude awakening to the world. Not everyone lived like she had and had the resources her town had. She learned later a splendor Kin was a child who had lived their life in nothing but beauty and magnificence and didn't know what it was to suffer.

She was so naive and trusting the others took everything she owned in the first few hours at the base. They even took her uniform. She got in a lot of trouble with her instructor when she didn't have it. He was a cruel man who talked down to her. No one had ever done such a things. She didn't understand half the thing he called her or said. She cried a lot those first few days but tried to be super friendly to everyone hoping to get along. Most of the guys were really nice to her but alot of the women didn't like her and she didn't understand why.

Within the first week she lost her virginity to her instructor. She didn't know what was happening at the time. She'd seen a few penis's by then and thought he wanted her to touch it or taste it, they tasted so weird. Her instructor ordered her take off her clothes and lay down and she'd just done it. She'd been scared but had been taught to follow her elders. It happened so fast and felt so strange it hurt but was unlike anything she'd ever experienced.

She bled for nearly a day and when she asked the other women about it they just laughed at her some of them shook their head. Word got around base and they no longer called her Splender kin but a bimbo. They said she would give it out to anyone and she did because she didn't know how to say no or defend herself. She quickly learned to always stay in a group. If she was ever caught alone outside of training she'd have to run and hide because other men quickly took advantage of her, stealing her away to dark corners and locked rooms, sometimes it would be more then one at a time. She struggled at first and screamed alot but eventually just accepted what was happening. It was over faster and hurt less when she just let it happen.

She didn't know what was worse back then, the men that chased her down or the woman who seemed to despise her for being so stupid. A few had been friendly at first but if it got them in trouble they'd steer clear of her. The world ate her alive, it chewed her right up and for the first time in her life she knew what it was to struggle and suffer, to be insulted, beat down and ostracized. There was no "special treatment" no friendly face to turn to...no one to save her.

She quickly found herself drowning in this new environment inside and out. They cut her long beautiful hair and wrote such nasty things on her. There were hours days weeks that blended into each other. She was in an out of the infirmary a lot and just wanted to sleep all the time. She just wanted to be left alone.

One night her instructor threw a party and showed her off to the other base instructors. They did drugs and drank, cursing and telling dirty jokes. They had a good old time up until she got hold of a knife. She had never hurt anyone before or used one but in that moment something came over her. They were so high and drunk, she managed to slice them all up, one by one by one. When none of them showed up the next morning they came looking for them and found her in a corner covered in blood the knife still in her hand.

It was a mess, she was sure she was going to be in trouble. She thought they might send her to a "correction" school or execute her for what she had done. She'd just learned about executions recently. If someone did something unforgivable and couldn't be "corrected" they were executed. Because of the seriousness of the situation a special investigation was done and a bunch of other stuff came up beside the drugs, rape and abuse of power, they found deep corruption and various smuggling and weapon's trafficking. They wanted to cover up what had happened and make it all go away.

There was talk of making her "disappear" but they found out where she'd come from and who her father was. The mix up had finally got fixed. She'd laughed so hard when they realized there had been a mistake. They decided the best course of action was to release her now instead of having her sever her two years. They offered to let her go home if she never spoke of this to anyone.

She so badly wanted to go home but at her dismissal hearing a female instructor, Aria came to speak with her. She had heard about what happened and took a special interest in Harper. She told her she could go home to her mommy and daddy but things would never be the same again. She would never be the same again and what happened here would just keep happening. People would keep taking advantage of her and she'd be a victim all her life. Or she could join her squad and she'd teach her how to protect herself in this world so that she could truly live in it.

She listened to her but was ready to go home. Her parents arrived a few hours later. They had to sign a bunch of paper work before they were told what had happened and allowed to see her. They didn't know everything only that's she'd been repeatedly raped and had attacked several people in response. She'd been so happy to see them but they wouldn't even look at her...not like before. She quickly realized she was no longer their little sunshine princess.

On top of everything else it was crushing. Her mother just kept crying about her hair and her father just stood their quietly. Eventually they whispered amongst themselves about what they were going to do. There was no way she could marry Glen now, she was no longer pure and how were they going to explain her coming home so soon. Maybe she could stay with family for two years or look into a "correction" school.

Harper felt so sick, weak and powerless all over again. She realized they didn't see her... love her…not really because if they loved her, truly then it shouldn't matter what happened or what she had done. They were more worried about appearances and how this would affect their status in town. She cried so hard they'd left the room to discuss things further and she realized she couldn't go back with them. They felt like strangers to her now. They didn't understand what had happened no one would understand. Everything had been taken from her, her family her life...her sense of who she was and her future. It amazed her how so much could change in such a short time. She could have given up right then and there...just let her parents handle everything like they always did but she asked to stay and join Aria's squad.

Her parents didn't understand but they didn't put up much of a fight...this was easier for them, less complicated. She left the base that night being transferred to another one. Things weren't easy at the new base but she was treated as an equal as anyone else. Aria assessed her and realized there was so much she didn't know. Harper got the standard training but at night Aria and some on the other squad would teach her about the facts of life and the world. At first Harper had so many questions and didn't understand so much. Eventually as time went on she began to understand things, not everything was horrible but it always wasn't sugar coated.

She was shown how to fight hand, to hand, knives, weapons. Things she should have gotten down in her previous training. She wasn't much for people...company in general beyond Aria. As Harper's hair grew out and her injuries healed people were nice to her but she realized everyone had ulterior motives. People didn't give you something for nothing. People weren't friendly for no reason. One night Harper asked Aria why she was doing all this for her what her motive was. She'd told Harper it was because she was her once. She had been taken advantage of by people she was suppose to trust. She nearly didn't make it out but vowed if she did she'd help others like her.

Harper hoped one day she could do that, that she could be strong, confident and capable like Aria. There wasn't anything she couldn't do as far as Harper was concerned she was amazing. Aria told her she was just as she just needed to believe in herself. It was hard for Harper, so much was mixed up in her head and heart.

She mostly focused on learning and training. Aria taught her how to ride a motorcycle and she leaned about engines and got really into working with metal. She loved using a blow torch. She liked being able to take things apart but most of all that she could mend them as well. She hoped one day she could mend herself. She got stronger and stayed past her two years making some close friends and connection but mostly she went wherever Aria went she became her second in command and they worked well together. She owed her so much, her life improved a lot and she wanted to repy her.

She finally started to get her footing but one thing that was still complicate for her was sex. At first she was afraid of it and wanted nothing to do with it. She turned down everyone who even looked at her sideways. Aria told her she couldn't live like that and just needed to find the right partner. It took time and a lot of patience but she finally tried dating and making out. It was okay and sex wasn't bad but she felt she could live without it that was... until her first orgasm. She thought she knew what pleasure was but nothing compared to this. Not bubble baths, cookies, cake, welding, or chocolate.

She hard learned about lust...read about euphoria...orgasms but she now understood why. anyone wanted and needed to have sex. Once she had a taste of it she wanted to keep getting it. She found she could have multiple orgasm and began seeking out partners she went a little overboard perhaps overcompensating for all the years she'd been without. Aria was a little worried about her and talked to her about masturbation and it was okay but nothing like a throbbing cock and she loved the was sperm felt inside her. She even started to like the taste of it. Aria reminded her anything in moderation.

Harper knew that lesson well...once she'd eaten a ton of cookies and gotten super sick but this...this..wasn't nothing like that. The more she had the more she wanted and the more intoxicated she got. She could lose hours days just fucking random strangers. She learned about attraction, make up and flirting. She began to change the way she dressed and would have sex with anyone at first but quickly found not every penis or position gave you an orgasm. She experimented and found she liked it rough. The more intense it was the stronger her orgasm. She also liked a little pain with her pleasure and got her nipples done after she saw a girl who had them done at a strip club.

Back in her slut faze, she just wanted to bath in sex and got in a lot of trouble for it. Mostly fucking married men or boyfriends and of course cheating on partners who thought they were the only ones fucking her. Sometimes things could get crazy one guy knife another guy and she learned to be more aware of people feelings and emotions. To her there wasn't really any attachment...she didn't feel anything for the people she fucked she just wanted what they could give her. She finally learned what a heart breaker meant. It cause a lot of trouble for her and she had to learn not to shit where she ate so to speak. She had a few guys she kind of liked and would get to know them but once they had sex she'd lose all feeling for them and it would just be the sex. She'd been dumped a few time but she'd just find another.

Aria worried about her and would shake her head whenever she got herself into some new trouble. She found sex could mean different things for a lot of people. Some people were super taboo about it while some were open and free. Others only had sex with people they loved and felt something for. She thought she knew a lot but the more Harper learned the more she realized she didn't know anything. That no one could know everything and people were just trying to figure out what was best for them and the ones they loved.

Harper wasn't sure if she could ever love anyone. She grew to resent her family and most the people she hooked up with never lasted long. The only constant in her life was Aria. She had been so much to her when she died during a recon mission she was devastated. The first time she had learned about death she had lost a pet and had been so sad but her parents had just bought her another one she'd been happy then but she realized now some things...some people couldn't be replaced there was no one like Aria. She had been the instructor Harper had needed, the mother she never had the sister she always wanted but ultimately she had been a friend whens he needed one more then anything.

She tried to stay on and continue what Aria had done for her. She met with a few girls and managed to help a few who'd been taken advantage of but quickly learned she could save everyone. It hurt when she failed and she didn't know how Aria could keep doing this. She got to thinking about what she wanted to do after the military.,

She thought about her family they'd kept in touch over the years but hadn't really said much. Mostly holiday cards, small going on's promotions and news around town deaths, marriage and births. Some years ago her brother had gotten married and had kids. Glen had also married and had kids. Everyone seemed to be extending their families while she was just trying to keep in touch with hers. When it was time to renew her contract she opted out and decided it was time to go home.

They were shocked to see her ride into town on her motorcycle. She hadn't even been allowed to ride a bike when she was younger as it would dirty her dress. She'd grown her hair out some but kept it in a bun or a single braid. Her mother was happy to see it again and hoped she'd keep growing it up. She also picture out some dresses for her to wear. Surprisingly a lot of things were still the same but some had changed. There were some new faces...new names about town. A lot of people still new her but could see she had changed and they also changed. They didn't treat her the same but she was actually glad. She would prefer them to be truthful.

She met up with Glen she found out he met his wife in the military and they had three kids and a fourth on the way. He mentioned he still thought of her and asked what she thought of the outside world. They shared a beer together and she told him she understood what he meant now when she'd find out. She found out. He was a little sad saying she'd been so innocent back then and was now all grown up. He asked if she was seeing anyone and she could tell he was still attracted to her. She recognized they signs by now and so did his wife. She could tell she hated her and understood now why some women just didn't get along.

She behaved just wanting to settle in. She hoped she could work at her grandparents store her brother and his wife had taken over for them. They barely recognized he when she visited them in the nursing home. Her parents didn't think she should work at the store so she suggested opening a garage she was a pretty good mechanic and could fix mot things or she could just go around and see if anyone needed any help with repairs around town. She could see they were even more uncomfortable with this idea.

Her father still couldn't look at her and even looked sickened when he was around her. One day she confronted him and he said she'd changed and was no longer his princess. She knew that already and pointed out she was still his daughter but he'd shook his head and said no more. He said she'd been ruined by the world. It would have been better if she hadn't come back or died, at least then he would have had her memory instead of what she had become. She could she he was disgusted by her.

Out of everything she'd been through that...that hurt the most. You think she would have been able to brush it off but she'd always been her father's daughter. Some part of her had hoped she could repair things and while it might not be the same they could still find some common ground. She still loved him but it was clear she was dead to him She began to resent her whole childhood. They'd kept her ignorant in a box on a shelf.

Perhaps the world wouldn't have eaten her up and spit her out if they had prepared her at all. For a time she blamed them for what happened at the base if...she had any understand any warning maybe she could have defended herself somehow. However at the end of the day she knew it wasn't their fault. People made their choices the people that hurt her did that...and would have done it despite how much preparation she had but still maybe she could have handled things better...they all could have.

She tried to reach out to her mother but she never listened to her and had all but replaced her with her grand daughter. Her brother was her last shot, he was always moody and weird around her not wanting to talk for long and his wife didn't like her. She stopped trying to placate her family realizing Aria was right nothing would ever be the same. She wasn't the same and couldn't go back.

She sort of blew things up after that and did what she wanted. She went to the local bars, got shit ass drunk, cursed and slept around. No one was safe from her wrath, she did anyone in town not just out of pleasure but to spite her family knowing it would get back to them. Young or old it didn't matter she was looking to make the most impact. She even did her fathers best friend who she'd known all her life and then his son Glen. She ruined so many marriages, relationships and lives. Word quickly got around town she was whore and would get dirty looks wherever she went. She wasn't welcomed anywhere and didn't care, she wanted to destroy it all and watch it burn.

One night after a public gang bang in a back alley way her family had enough. Her brother threw out her things and told her she had to go and never come back. She had no one left then and no where to go. She told herself what did it matter anymore. She didn't care about anything and let loose. It was like something inside her broke off and shattered. Where nothing should remain there was this ROT. This festering darkness that awakened with in her. It took control of her she became so fucking twisted. She completely lost herself to sex. She started selling herself and traveled all over often waking up in strange places with strange men. She became addicted to the pleasure, the pain and the release of it all. She went to some vary dark places and got into some really crazy situations, frankly she was lucky to be alive.

One day she woke in some hospital, she'd been dumped outside unconscious in the middle of the night. She hadn't been breathing and had several; broken bones. They resuscitated her and she had to spend weeks recovering. When she looked in a mirror she didn't recognize herself and what she had become. The window to her room looked out at the sea and she saw some light piercing through the clouds. It reminded her of her past and how she thought anything was possible that she could even make the sun shine.

Her world felt so big and dark now she wondered if there would ever be sunshine in her life again. She realized some small piece of her was still there and didn't want things to end like this. She still wanted to live and find something more. She didn't know what she was looking for or even where to go but there had to be something else.

She knew she couldn't ever go back to the way things had been but maybe she could find some semblance of a life. She cut all her hair off and hoped when it grew back she'd be a different person in a better place. She took several boats and ended up on small island in the middle of nowhere. It seemed like it might be on the edge of existence itself. It had so many ship yards and was perfect for her. She could destroy things without hurting anyone and keep to herself until she figure things out and knew what she wanted to do.

She found a room to rent over a restaurant and it took a while but she got a job at a ship yard.

Guys in town tried to hook up with her but she vowed not to sleep with any of the locals. She didn't want to destroy what she had found. She had to strong arm a few men but everyone eventually got the message and for a time things were good. She mostly kept to herself at first but the crew became like a second family to her. She started to get to know people and was almost reminded of her small town. She knew how precious this place was and really didn't want to screw things up

She wished she could stay things just slowly got better and she found happiness but eventually her dark cravings returned with a vengeance. She tried to take care of things on her own at first but it just wasn't the same. She'd get wet dreams and start to lose control thinking about everything and everyone inappropriately. When she could not longer take it she went off for a few days. She found some city far away and got blasted. It never took her long to find someone to do the job. She had something of a sick sense for these kind of things.

She'd get her fix and even make some good money on the side. It almost didn't seem fair getting paid to get fucked up the way she liked. When she came back she'd act like nothing had happened and no one ever knew what she did. She heard rumors but none of them came close to the actual truth.

For several years THIS had worked for her. She was just surviving making it from one day to the next and then she got with Jesse. He was her boss, her co-worker and had become a friend...a good friend at that, they had spent a lot of nights drinking together. The first time they were together she'd been drunk and thought she'd messed up really bad when he woke up in his bed the next morning. She really didn't want mess up the life she had build for herself but he was so funny, kind and caring.

She tried to stay away from him but it just kept happening. She didn't mean to but she let him know her. She let him see her scars and had even gotten a few glimpses of the rot...the darkness within her. She could tell he wasn't ready for it. He wanted more but he didn't know how messed up she truly was. He probably thought things were a little stormy and that they could weather it together but Harper was a fucking hurricane.

She didn't know if she could ever settle down. She didn't know if she could trust someone enough to really let them in or trust herself enough not to shut them out. Could she truly love someone, could they even love her back? If he only knew half the shit she'd done at her worst or how many men she'd been with he'd be disgusted. Surely he'd take off running and if not...she'd only break his heart. She'd...fuck it up somehow literally.

She just wanted things to stay simple...stay like they were now for as long as they could but she knew they couldn't. It was only a matter of time now before they "talked." She took in a drag of her cigarette and let it out slowly opening her eyes. She saw a shadowy figure fall across the wall as someone stepped into the doorway of her work shop. Before she could turn to see who it was, she heard someone speaking.

"You are beautiful itself. A sonnet of the heart. A rose in a garden of thorns."

She raised an eyebrow and turned around seeing some guy had wandered into her shed. For a second she didn't know what to think then recalled Jesse had said some guys were around. This must have been one of them. She took another puff off her cigarette and let it out the side of her mouth before putting it out in her ashtray on the table. "Can I help you?"

"Please." he said sliding up to her.

He was a strange fellow to stay the least. He immediately breathed in as if her were smelling her. He had a dark monocle over one eye but what caught her attention was the other it was so blue. It reminded her of a marble she'd seen once seen. It wasn't like a sky blue more like ice. She waited for him to continued but he didn't looking her up and down. She was used to that look. She had the top of her coveralls down and tied around her waist and was just wearing a simple white tank top she'd stolen from Jesse. She'd been working for a while and had gotten sweaty. It clung to her features and didn't leave much to the imagination.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms trying to block his gaze. "What did you need?"
"You." he said simply not taking his eyes off her body. She narrowed his gaze at him. A long moment passed before he continued, "Your name." A big smile fell across his lips as his eye flickered up they made eye contact. It was kind of hot out but she suddenly felt a chill run up her spine and he breath caught in her throat. There was something about him she felt this tension in the air even though they had just met. Most people would have just offered up their name but for some reason she didn't, instead asking.

"Why?"

"To meet, proper I am Vair and you my beloved?"

She looked at him realizing he must not have been from around here. She'd heard his accent before but couldn't quite place it. She licked her lips and was clear, "Listen buddy, I'm nobodies beloved. If there isn't something you need you shouldn't be back here?"

"Wherever you are is where I am." he said in an almost sing song tone.

"Right, well you can't be wandering around."

"I am no wander, I am here."

"Right," she said slowly. She really wasn't in the mood for this guy. She let out a heavy sigh then asked one last time "What do you want?"

"Your name," he said again.

"Why" she asked again.

He furrowed his brow and she could see she was frustrating him. Good that made two of them. "To meet," he repeated. "I am Vair and you, you are?"

"No," she said. She went to side step him and leave but he blocked her stepping in front of her as she stepped to the side. He practicality got in her face.

"No." he said back adamantly. The two stared at each other for a moment before he asked "Are you alone?"

"Alone?" She said confused for a second clearly he was right here. So she wasn't alone then she realized he was asking if she was single. She was slow today she had a lot on her mind. She took a step back but he took a step forward crowding her. She made it over clear, "No! I'm not interested."

"I have money." he said taking out a thick wad of cash. She was reminded of that man all those years ago that had first offered her money. She thought it was a lot back then but had seen bigger since.

"No," she said dully, glaring at him.

He pulled out several thick wads of cash. "Much Money"

She glanced at it, thinking he was a robbers jack pot but still looked at him unfazed. She could see the agitation. He was probably used to getting what he wanted

"I get much," he waved his hand about "Do much for you?"

She narrowed her gaze as if she hadn't been promised that and more before.

"No," she sighed. "I don't want anything from you."

She tried to side step him but again but he blocked her. "Yes," he said back staring at her intently. "You want! You want Vaire!"

Admittedly she felt a little strange a mild sense of familiarity for second but she didn't know him, at least she think she didn't. His gaze was so intense she'd remember eyes like his and a look like that. He moved then, faster then she could have anticipated. He put his arm around her back and pulled her in tight to him. Her breasts popped up squeezing against his chest and she could feel his stiffened member pres against her stomach through his pants. It was a decent size if she was out on one of her excursions, she might have hit him up but probably not. She didn't like guys who didn't take no for an answer.

He leaned in to kiss her but she shoved the palm of her hand against his lips instead. She jerked from him all at once then and pushed him back so hard he nearly fell back. He was a light weight for sure...His clothes were a bit baggy he was probably just skin and bones and underneath. Probably never been in a fight in his life. Still he managed to correct himself and looked at her like he might try her let him she thought. It had been a while since she'd kicked some guys ass. She glared right back at him taking a defensive stance. For a long moment the two just stared at each other and again this felt...familiar.

He took a step forward and she was about to give him a piece of her mind when Jesse suddenly stepped into the doorway. He must have missed their interaction just now because he wouldn't have stopped in the doorway and the guy would have been a ball on the floor

"He bothering you? Jesse asked noticing she was tense.

She relaxed her stance and said, "No." She knew she could handle this guy.

"Yes, no bother," said Vaire. He stepped up to her and reached out grabbing her arm but she pulled it away. She came at him then placing her hand on his chest. She violently shoved him, he seemed surprising him with her aggression. She shoving him against her worktable then grabbed her glove and torch turning it on. She nearly lit his ass up, making it clear she could.

Jesse just stood there, leaning against the door way as she roared "I AM NOT INTERESTED! NO! NO! NO!"

Jesse laughed as Varie swallowed but there seemed to be something wrong with him because instead of looking scared, he smiled like he was only more aroused, "Lovely" he gasped "You are so."

She furrowed her brow at him surprised by his reaction...guy must have been a super creep.

She let out a grunt of disgust. "EHH"

She let go of him but kept her torch on. For second he looked angry, more angry with her grunt of disgust then her nearly torching his ass but he kept the smile on his face as he slowly moved away from her, "Later."

"NO LATER!" She roared thinking she should have toasted his balls a little.

He seemed to enjoy her anger and said "Mmm beautiful."

"Ehh," again she let out a grunt of disgust

"Let's go asshole" said Jesse. He'd tried to warn the guy. He stepped up grabbing hold of Vaire collar but he pulled free of him and walked himself out, "I do."

"Then do," said Jesse," He walked him out of the shed but Vaire didn't stop smiling the entire time. Harper turned off her torch and ate a piece of jerky, hoping that would be the last time she saw that creep but had a feeling he'd be back.

A/N

So I did this one before Yes Commander. I was gonna put it up when I was going with the H's but yeah. Orignally Heavy Metals, changed to Hot Metal