They've been following her for too long to brush it off as coincidence now... Steps hurried, she discreetly glances behind her at the figures trailing a fair distance behind. They've been at that same distance for many twists and turns around campus, Chihiro thinking she'd lost them only to see familiar silhouettes casually meandering their way back onto her path.
She's probably being paranoid... and yet— blinking back tears that she feels silly for, Chihiro's steps unwittingly quicken, breathing starting to follow suit. She doesn't know those guys by name, but she's seen them around. Overheard the things they say about her. Things they'd want FROM her... To do with— Hurrying faster, it becomes difficult to breathe, Chihiro looking around the darkened area in search of anyone who can offer her company. This is what she gets for working so late, engrossed in her work and not thinking to head to the dorms until the sun had long-ago set. Now, draped in darkness and alone, she wishes she had stayed in the lab.
Just as dread starts to settle within her chest— footsteps are behind her, unmistakable now as they speed up a bit —she notices a figure in the distance. At first, instinct tells her to turn and go another way. It's just ANOTHER guy. Big and strong and dangerous.... but then, through the haze of panic and night, Chihiro recognizes him.
Mondo.
Hurrying over, she waves an arm in the air and calls out, ❝ Mondo! ❞ A relieved smile on her face as she races toward him; without offering any explanation, Chihiro wraps her arms around his waist, burying her face against him in a desperate hug as she tries to settle her shaken nerves. Only now realizing exactly how much she had been holding herself together, Chihiro blinks back tears as she clings to his jacket, suddenly terrified to look behind. ❝ A-Are they still following me? ❞ She quietly asks in a trembling breath.
The uncertain figures are holding back... now seeming to rethink whatever it is they had planned. - (( *hands over She* ))
@not-bcring
Having just returned from a late night ride, Mondo was on his way back to the dorms when Chihiro had called to him, the cigarette he had just lit being just as quickly stomped out as he turned to her with a grin. "Hey Chi, what're you-" With a strangled sound on impact, more out of shock than pain, Mondo felt his face heat up at the sudden affection. It was somewhat normal now for unprompted touches like this since they had become friends, but this....something about this was different.
Faintly, the biker could feel Chihiro shaking where she was wrapped about his middle, a much larger hand only hesitating for a moment before it was rested on her back in what he hoped was a comfort. "Chi, what the hell? What's gotten inta you?"
He almost wished he hadn't ask.
All at once things click together, the biker suddenly brimming with rage as he bristled in her hold. Arms wrapping more protectively around the programmer now, Mondo sneered at the figures lingering in the dark, his body partially turned as if to shield the little lady from harm. "Hey, you got somethin' you wanna fuckin' say?! C'mon fuckos, how 'bout you pick on someone your own damn size?!" Anger was normal for Mondo, it being a well used coping mechanism, but the pure rage in his voice...
He may even be ready to kill to protect Chihiro from them if he had to.
