Alystelle had this friend named Bobby. She had made him lunch (he worked graveyard shift) everyday for nearly two years and always added a little extra something to his plate or gave him free soda. So Bobby would do almost anything that the sweet young woman asked him to. Poor sucker.

She hadn?t seen MM for a couple of days. This wasn?t to say he wasn?t patrolling, just that she hadn?t actually seen him. So, she had a brilliant idea to draw him out.

?Hey Bobby...I just baked my famous peach cobbler. Nobody could turn this down back home. How would you like a piece to take back to work with you??

Bobby, of course, wasn?t about to turn this treat down. He loved Alys? cooking more than his mama?s. ?Sure thing, Miss Aly. You are so good to me. If there is ever anything I can do for you, I hope you will just ask me.?

?Come to think of it, Bobby...I do sort of have need of you right now. But...I dunno. It could be kind of dangerous...not deadly or anything. It would also seem like a real weird thing for me to ask of you...you would have to trust me. So, nahh...I better find somebody else to help me. Somebody that won?t ask questions....? She looked up at him from beneath golden brown lashes; even fluttered them a little in his direction as she began cutting that cobbler and dishing out an extra large piece onto a saucer. The saucer was pushed halfway between the two of them and she smiled sweetly as she held a fork up.

?Oh now Miss Aly...you know I?d do anything for you. I won?t ask any silly questions and will be the perfect worker...or whatever you need.?

?Oh Bobby...aren?t you just the sweetest thing.? She handed over the fork and gave another dimpled grin. Her plan was soon to be set into motion. ?I need you, after you are finished with that cobbler, to go outside with me and pretend to beat me up.?

Bobby just stared at her.

Then he ate the cobbler, because he had to do something to keep himself from asking her why on RhyDin she would ask him to do something so darned ridiculous. Once he finished, the urge was still there to ask but he had consumed the payment for the favor and now must perform the dreaded task.

Alys tossed her apron onto the bar, grabbed her glass of water, and walked through the break, nearly giggling in wicked glee at what she was about to do. Out the front door they went and a few steps closer to the curb.

?Alright, Bobby...pretend to punch me and I?ll fall backwards and scream real loud. Don?t you worry at all about me...I?ll be just fine!?

The man just stared at her with wide eyes, now wondering if she had a mental illness. Which she did and it was called mischief. Who would have known? Finally, he drew back a meaty fist and plunged it towards her. Alys let out a scream that should be heard for at least ten city blocks as she fell backwards and lay on the sidewalk. Somehow the glass of water managed to stay upright in her hand.

If Danny was really paying attention, he?d have thought it was odd that Alys fell and kept her water upright when she hadn?t been touched; not when he intercepted the hand before it even had the opportunity to come close. WIth Bobby?s wrist grabbed, Danny pushed it backwards until he forced Bobby to fall backwards on the ground. ?What the hell do you think you?re doing? You don?t hit her! You don?t touch her!?

Danny put his knees on Bobby?s arm and chest, loading up his own strike by drawing his arm backwards. With his fingers curled at the first knuckle and palm open, he was aiming a palm strike right at Bobby?s nose. He thrusted his palm forward, stopping just short; if he had continued he certainly would have broken the man?s nose. Instead he leaned close, gritting his teeth and sneering, ?Never even look at her again, or I?ll find you and hurt you.?

And in the blink of an eye, Danny was up and at Alys? side, kneeling down to take hold of her arm and gently guide her up. A part of him was exhilarated at touching her bare skin, even if it was her arm, while the other part was just concerned for her. ?You okay?? He asked, the timbre of his voice decidedly softer than when he threatened Bobby.

?Oh goodness! You?ve rescued me!? She smiled oh-so-sweetly as he took her arm. ?I?m okay, yes. I was so scared though!? Just as he was assisting her to stand, she closed her eyes and zapped out of existence for a split second before blinking back into it, right behind him. That glass was upended, sending icy water pouring over his head and down the back of his neck.

?You?ve been gone.?

That was all she said as she rushed over to help poor Bobby up. He did his best not to glare at her as he allowed her to assist him. ?I think we are even, Miss Aly. More than even.?

?Yes, more than even. I think I will pack all of that cobbler for you to take with you. Thank you for your help, Bobby.?

Danny shrieked as the cold water hit the back of his neck, and just kept in his kneeling position as he shivered. ?I missed you too. But just so you know, I like warm water for showers. Warm water.?

He tried to look grouchy when he looked over his shoulder at Alys, but as soon as he caught sight of her a smile fought through his attempted mean mug. ?See you tomorrow.?

?Don?t be late,? she chastised. Of course, the moment she looked over at him, after brushing poor Bobby off and watching him leave, her features broke into a grin. ?Or there will be consequences.? Was she joking?

(thanks to Alystelle!)