The man's hand shot out as he forced the door back open, stepping forward slightly. "Let me rephrase that," he said easily. "You need to come with me. Now."
His eyes narrowed, and his grip was tight on the door as his free hand suddenly shot out strike the man in the jaw.
The man stumbled back slightly, but the smile never left his face as he straightened up. "I see. Well, we can do this your way, if you prefer," he said, forcing the door open with almost superhuman strength. "Although I feel you will come to regret that." He entered the apartment, forcing Francis back. He paused for a moment before throwing a precise punch that would feel like a boulder against Francis' jaw.
Francis let out a short cry of pain, his expression obviously panicked as he tried to fight back against the man, his hands grabbing at him roughly.
The man seemed to ignore his attacks and his hands shifted, the skin on his fingers melting away to form knives that reached for him. * * * Poppy woke with a gasp, hearing Francis' cry from the living room.
The man cut Francis' cheek in the struggle and seemed mildly dazed from his attacks. He growled before knocking Francis to the ground, leaning over him with that same sparkling smile as he brought the knife to Francis' neck. Francis would hear a small gasp from the hallway accompanied by the sound of running bare feet against the wooden floor before the man fell back with a small figure against his chest, having experienced a tackle from Poppy.
(I'M SORRY PLEASE UNBLOCK ME) Francis looked up, jumping to his feet to aid Poppy. He ran to another room and was back within the second, something in his hand.
Poppy had her arm wrapped around the man's neck in a headlock and her legs wrapped around his torso as she tried to keep him contained. He clawed at her limbs and she gasped but kept a tight grip on him, wincing.
Francis assessed the situation quickly, before forcing Poppy to move a bit away from the man's head. He aimed the gun in his hand and shot point blank into the stranger.
The man hissed and the light behind his eyes gradually died as he went limp in Poppy's arms, odd parts popping and sparking slightly. Poppy stood up as soon as the coast was clear, her eyes filled with worry. "Oh my God," she said, her brow furrowed as she lightly touched his face. "Are you okay?"
He raised his hand instinctually, as if defending an attack she might have attempted. His ears were ringing, and blinked. "Huh?"
She backed away immediately, raising her hands in a soothing gesture. “Francis? You should sit down.”
She frowned, studying his face. “Wait here, okay?” she asked tremulously. “I’m going to grab some stuff for your cuts.”
She pursed her lips with worry before heading to the bathroom to get her first aid kit. When she returned, she approached him cautiously. "Francis, I need to clean your cuts now, okay?"
