Into the Netherworld (Real Terror Universe)

Taryn enjoyed the walk through the city. There were a lot of interesting characters on the sidewalk. She hoped that they were no where near the Naked Cowboy. He scared her a little. And she wasn't afraid of a lot of things.

When they got to the park she took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the grass and the trees that contrasted the scent of the rest of the city. She giggled, kissing her boyfriend's cheek after she heard him. She winked at him and teased back, " 'Kay. But you'd have to tell me why first."

"You're sick." Lily told Thomas,
"You wouldn't have the guts."

Thomas blushed a little before kissing her with sudden passion and grinned at her. He wrapped an arm around her and whined, "I just want to make out. Don't you?"

He gave her a puppy-dog look, the one he knew that his girlfriend couldn't resist. He smiled at her winningly.

"I so do," he told Lily, sticking his tongue out at her.

Taryn blushed a bit, giggling quietly. She looked at Thomas. He was giving her that puppy-dog look. She caved immediately. "Alright, alright."

Thomas grinned, blushing a little as he suddenly realized how brazen he was being. What could he say? He got this way around Taryn sometimes. He kissed her on the cheek and squeezed her hand before whispering, "You've made my day, Taryn-chan."

Taryn kissed Thomas gently on the jaw, then smiled at him. She gave his hand a light squeeze and replied in a murmur, "I'm glad."

"I'm glad you're glad," he teased with a wider smile. He sent a smirk Lily's way before laughing a little, "We're going to make the others sick."

Hanyer looked away from Thomas and Taryn. Instead he looked at Lily, a small smile on his face.

"Some people just have no decency. Making out in public." He shook his head in a scolding matter, but he shot his friends a smile that said he was joking.

"Decency is for old people. If I want to show how much I love my girl, then they'd just have to look away," Thomas told Hanyer confidently with a smirk, "Besides. People have done worse."

"The word moron come to mind so easily." Lily muttered with a grin.
"Shield your eyes Charlie!" Lily covered Charlie's eyes with a hand jokingly.
"You'll be scarred for life!"

Taryn blushed a bit in embarrassment, her sank down a little. She felt shy all of a sudden and didn't say anything. She looked like she had when she was little.

She'd been painfully shy and hardly ever spoke to anyone. When she did speak, she spoke so softly that you couldn't hear unless you were standing very close and leaning in. Every once in a blue moon, her shy behavior would return.

Thomas felt himself blush as well and cursed himself when he saw Taryn's embarrassment. He should have known he was stepping it there. He took her hand in his and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry, Taryn-chan," he apologized gently. He should have known not to be so brazen. He cursed his hormones.

Taryn smiled at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "It's alright," she answered, her voice more delicate than usual.

Thomas smiled back, kissing her cheek gently before holding her close, as though he could protect her from all the evil in the world. It was an instinct the he developed as a kid, especially when he first met her. He wanted to protect her, keep her from being hurt.

Taryn let out a contented sigh as Thomas held her closely. She felt safe with him, safe in his arms. It had taken a while to get used to feeling that way. She'd been so used to fending for herself and placing little trust in people that it had surprised her when she felt protected.

Thomas felt himself grin when he heard Taryn's sigh. It felt good to just be there for her., the way she always had been there for him.

He held her tighter and played with her hair. This, he found, was nice.

Charlie giggled and pushed Lily's hands away.

"Don't worry. I can handle it."

Hanyer looked at Lily and then at the ground. No he wouldn't kiss her in front of the others. He wanted their first kiss to be private. Something for them alone to experience. He just hoped that Lily would be ok with that.

"Hey Charlie, Hanyer, let's go to the pond, let them have their moment." Lily whispered, pointing at the pond with people fishing under the shade of weeping willows, or at picnic benches.

Taryn smiled as she felt Thomas play with her hair. She let her guard down completely and let her head rest on his chest, feeling serene.

"This is nice," Thomas whispered, his face breaking out in a peaceful smile. He kissed her hair on impulse and wrapped his arms around her waist happily.

"Yes it is," Taryn whispered back. She let her eyes close as she leaned into him and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.

Thomas smiled softly, unable to think of anything else to say as he held her before kissing her gently on the lips.

Taryn smiled into the kiss and returned it with fervor. She ended the kiss slowly and opened her eyes. "Thomas?" she murmured.

"Yes, Taryn?" he asked her with a mesmerized expression on his face. He smiled a little. Even after all this time, it was still like he was kissing her for the first time.

Taryn bit her lip for a second, looking down, preparing to feel totally vulnerable. It wasn't easy for her. She looked up at him again and mumured, "I love you..."