Saraphina was leaning against the wall behind Ramone's bar, as Daniel, another kitchen hand, who was just as good at running the drink bar as she was, took her place for her thirty minute break. She had her eyes closed, enjoying the night breeze that cooled her down from the heat within the Bar, waiting for Johnny to come out after he said that he had something to do. She had a feeling that there was more to Johnny than what he led her to believe and it made her wonder if he was just like her. An experiment gone wrong.

She opened her eyes, confused as to why that thought would run through her head, but it did make sense, in a way. Her memories that returned often showed white walls and smelled like sterile rooms. She doubted that she had the abilities she has all her life.

"Howdy," Johnny greeted, walking up to her, sounding a bit worn out.

Saraphina looked in his direction, her confusion washing away as she smiled kindly. "What took you so long?" She asked curiously, the smell of diesel and firewood wafting towards her, though it was stronger as he got close. "Take a wrong turn at the bathroom?" She joked, pushing off of the wall to walk over to him, seeing no reason to have the man walk any further, she'd need a little space anyways.

"Something like that," He chuckled, evading the question with some ease.

Saraphina locked eyes with him, trying to see if she could find what had terrified Gabe into backing down from this stranger. After a moment she nodded, looking away.

"I... Have no idea how to explain what I'm about to do..." She started, chuckling softly, "Aside from Ramone and the bikers in there.. Your the only outsider who will see what I am, and I'm still not sure if I should trust you with this, but I saw something in there. When you were standing off with Gabe?" She said, looking at Johnny again, as though wondering if he'd deny her right to know the truth. He was different, just like her, she could feel it.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" He asked with a chuckle, though he sounded unsure, which made her wonder if he had an idea of what she was speaking of.

"Before you even came close to me I could smell smoke. Not cigarette smoke, but smoke that you would get from a fire. There was also the fact that I could see a small flame on the back of your neck. You weren't even phased by it, so I assume fire is something you commonly use." She stated, proud of what little observation skills she had to use.

"Yeah..." Johnny trailed off, looking uneasy. However, there was no sign of whatever was happening to him inside, which meant that he doesn't see her as a threat. Or something much different.

"That's not something that anyone normal could do, Johnny." Saraphina spoke, stepping back slightly. "Maybe that's why I feel obligated to show you what I can do. I don't feel alone." She said, as her eyes glowed the bright blue she often had when using her abilities as her pupil became, almost, feline in a way.

Johnny watched patiently, watching as she began her change. He asked himself the same question he was sure that was going through her head as he watched. Why would she trust him with such an important secret?

Saraphina's skin tingled as black fur seeped through, covering her olive skin. Her ears disappearing under the black fur, becoming larger and more rounded as they moved to the top of her head. The change had happened quickly and painlessly for her as her body became much more catlike than before. Now, in Saraphina's place stood a black Panther, who yawned as though she was bored, tail flicking slightly.

"So you're an animal?" Johnny asked with a slight smile, slightly teasing to see if she was still in there and not completely taken by her other half... Unlike him.

Saraphina narrowed her eyes at him slightly, as though offended. Despite the offensive question towards her she quickly returned to her human self, arms crossed as her clothes had stayed on her from shifting from human, to Panther and back to human again. A trick she taught herself early on when she learned of her abilities.

"I can change into a Hawk too." She stated, looking at him with a pointed look. She wondered if he'd trust her enough after what she did. "My animal forms only show up when they choose to. My Hawk form came when I was thinking of wanting to fly, that was a year and a half ago. My Panther form showed up a year before that." She said, looking to the side as she remembers being cornered behind the Bar that night. It was something she didn't always want to lean onto nor remember.

"Wow." He said, nodding softly. He wondered what caused her to become the Panther in the first place, but figured with how silent the girl was, it wasn't something she wanted to speak of.

"What about you? What can you do?" She asked, raising a brow.

"I turn into a flaming skull." He said simply, as though it was something he grew used to, which he did. Not willingly, but he did.

She perked up slightly. "Really?" She asked curiously, knowing that her curiosity always got her into trouble, which made her wonder if that was another reason why she had a big cat form, adding to the expression; Curiosity killed the Cat.

"Yeah. I'm a bounty hunter for the devil." He reaffirmed, nodding slightly.

Saraphina tilted her head slightly. "You don't look like much of a Bounty Hunter." She observed, shrugging slightly, though her tone was more confused than stating any facts.

"It's complicated." Johnny sighed, looking up towards the stars. It was a clear night, and every single star was seen.

Saraphina rose a brow, before nodding. "Understandable." She spoke.

"Yeah. What else you got?" Johnny asked, curious.

Saraphina chuckled. "You make it sound like I'll just randomly turn into a Dragon or something.." She joked slightly, shaking her head with a smile. She wasn't quite sure if it was even possible for her since there was no evidence the fiery beings ever really existed.

Johnny chuckled back, but looked out at the desert near them. "Know of a place where a guy can sleep?" He questioned, glancing back at Saraphina.

"Out here? There are no motels. Ramone has a couple guest rooms, though. They're above the bar. Sometimes I sleep there to get away from being in town. The people there don't exactly like me very well. Anyways, it's the least I can do for the gentleman who stopped an initial bar fight." She offered, as she realized that she would have to let Ramone know about the impromptu guest that would be staying. Great.

"Alright. Put the stay on my tab."  He said simply.

"At this rate? You may as well consider it on the house." Saraphina chuckled.

"Why's that?" Johnny asked, confused.

Saraphina tilted her head with a soft smile. "You are the only person I have ever known to walk into the bar, get the cliche bad ass biker to run out with his tail between his legs, apologize for doing so, then listen to a girl like me talk about her being able to turn into animals. I think it's only fair." She explained, shrugging.

"Appreciate that ma'am." Johnny smiled.

Saraphina wrinkled her nose slightly. "I don't look that old, do I? Sara is fine, Johnny. " She told him, chuckling.

"Ok Sara." He agreed, using the nickname she allowed him to use.

Saraphina chuckled, before a thought came to her. "You said you were the devil's Bounty Hunter, right?" She asked aloud, " If that's true, how do you tell whose good or bad?" She questioned in curiosity.

"Let's just say the other guy comes out." Johnny informed, looking away slightly.

Saraphina giggled, a rare sound coming from her. "Guess I'm safe then."

"Yeah." He confirmed, looking back in her direction.

Saraphina tilted her head towards the back door, hearing it creak. She looked over, seeing George, a dishwasher, poke his head out.

"Cyclops needs you back in, Mouse. The fronts getting rowdy again." George insisted, glancing at Johnny briefly before looking at Saraphina, who sighed.

"Is it Bull again? He knows I'll kick his ass if he hops over the counter again." She asked with an agitated look at the young man, who nodded slightly. "Alright, let Ramone I'll be in. " She said, looking at Johnny apologetically.

"Why don't you take a breather out here? I seen how you reacted earlier to all the other patrons. I don't think you want to deal with that again." She suggested, starting towards the door as she glanced back at Johnny, stepping towards the slowly closing door.

Johnny sighed as he watched the night sky wondering if he'd ever have a normal life. If he would ever truly learn to live with his curse. He chose this life. He knew that. He couldn't help it, it was out of love but now all he could want was a chance at a future.

It seemed that he always had a way of finding trouble. Whether it was himself or the Rider, there was always something to do at this hour. At least, till he found this bar. Sure, he expected a quick drink, the Rider taking someone out that had their sins pouring out of them like sour milk, and leave. What he didn't expect was to find a female bartender, who seemed to hold no sins, at least it seemed the Rider was quiet around her, still wanting to punish the others who were in the bar, and was completely open with herself. She seemed to be the type to keep her thoughts hidden, though.

~~~

Later that night Sara had explained to Ramone about Johnny's situation as he stood there quiet and sweaty.

Saraphina waited with abated breath as Ramone eyed, with his good eye, Johnny. As though judging him, which he kind of was.

"How long are you going to be in town, Son?" He asked, raising a greyed brow.

"A while." Johnny told him, having no confirmed timeframe of when he actually would leave. The town seemed decent enough.

Ramone was silent for a moment.. "She showed you, then." He stated, sounding like a question.

Saraphina softly huffed at Ramone's protectiveness. Many often joked that he could have been her Father, with how he reacted to new people. She doubted that this time was any different in that aspect.

"Yeah." He replied, nodding slightly. He didn't think that anyone has actually done something like that unless they were going to kill him.

"Then you'll understand why I'm a bit wary of a stranger coming in here, just after she got a piece of her memory back." The old man stated, crossing his arms firmly.

"I do. But you ain't gotta worry about me." Johnny reassured the old man, unaware of the fact that she had said anything about getting any memories. Maybe she wasn't sure if she could trust him completely just yet?

"You?" Ramone snorted, shaking his head slightly. "I'm not worried about what you'll do, but what will follow. You seem to be the type to get into trouble easily, if the ruckus earlier tonight with Gabriel was anything to go by. If what she says about her past is true... The people who did this to her won't be able to stay in hiding for long." He said, as Sara looked at him in confusion, which he noticed. "You talk in your sleep, sometimes even scream." He explained to her.

"Screams huh?" Johnny asked, looking at Sara with a concerned look.

"Nightmares." Saraphina mumbled, acting like a child who stuck their hands on the cookie jar and got caught. "I never remember them the next day, it's always fuzzy if I try to." She explained, hoping that he didn't try to get any ideas of asking.

Ramone was still silent as she spoke. He knew a bit of what happens at night that she didn't. She always woke up, half asleep, begging for the shocking to stop. For the pain to stop. It made him angry that someone would do such a thing to anyone, especially her.

"Sorry...listen I just need to stay to save up a bit before heading back to Texas." Johnny told Ramone, hoping to get Ramone to understand.

"Which part?" Ramone asked simply, thinking.

"Austin." Johnny replied.

"Heard some interesting stories there. A man on fire, tearing up part of the city, and disappearing. You sure?" Ramone asked, before glancing down at Saraphina and sighed. "Why don't you work here, for your short stay? We've been trying to find someone to make sure that the patrons and regulars stay in line. You seem to be good at running the fighters off."
Ramone offered.

"Alright. If ya say so." Johnny agreed. If it was something to help him get the money he needed to go back, he'd spend some time working as a guard of sorts.

Saraphina smiled slightly, walking up the stairs that led to the second floor, planning to get the room ready, unaware of Ramone watching.

"I want you to watch her, too. She's like a daughter to me." He said, looking at Johnny.

"Course sir. Thank you kindly." Johnny thanked Ramone

Ramone nodded. "She trusts you, Son. Don't lose it." He said, heading into the kitchen to get things cleaned up for the night.

Johnny nodded and went up to go see Sara. He didn't see car smile that had grown on Ramone's tired and worn face.

~~~

Saraphina was putting fresh Blankets on the bed, making sure that there were towels in the bathroom closet. She was happy, something that rarely was shown towards others outwardly.

"You alright?" Johnny asked softly, Standing just inside the doorway as he leaned against the doorframe.

Saraphina jumped, not realizing that Johnny stepped in to the room, looking towards him with a chuckle. "Yeah, I'm fine." She assured him, getting the wrinkles out of the blanket despite knowing he'd be sleeping soon.

"Well, I appreciate your help." Johnny spoke, walking into the room a bit more.

"Hey, you helped me, I'll help you." She chuckled, turning around to smile since she was finished.

"Thanks." He smiled.

"Your welcome." Saraphina acknowledged, before stepping towards the door. "Everything is stocked up. If you need anything, my room is down the hall to the left." She told him.

"Alright," he said smiling at her.

"Night," she spoke, looking at him, returning a smile before starting towards her room.

"Night." Johnny returned, closing his bedroom door.

Saraphina headed to her room, feeling much lighter than she had in a long time.