A/N: So I've been thinking about this for a while. I've got lots a extras/drabbles/oneshots/deleted scenes/things from Ruins of Hope. Some of them are floating around my tumblr, some of them are hanging around my old laptop. Some are written out in chapters and will be deleted later. But I want to share them anyway. So that's what we've got here. Lots of bits that never made the story. Starting with Astral cuties.

Family Secret

Thomas had been in a terrible mood since Chris dragged him in front of the bosses on his 18th. Among Michael's group of friends, rumours fly over just what it was that was revealed. Much to Michael's despair.

"So, you like Todoroki, right?" Michael glared half-heartedly across the table at Mamoru. "What? I've known you since before he even knew he had powers. I know when you've got a stupid crush."

"Yeah, you're one to talk about stupid crushes," Michael said.

"I thought you didn't want to know about my nightly-"

"Shush," he snapped. "I don't. You know the rules."

"Is he bragging again?" Aika said, slipping into the set between them and pouring out tea for her and Michael. "Please, Mamoru, no one cares about what you and Thomas get up to and if you keep talking about it the bosses will get involved. Funny the one rule you'll break is one of the biggest."

"The heart wants what it wants. I didn't choose to fall for the most eligible Sorcerer in the kingdom. My very own Prince Charming. Although, my prince is something of a princess in private, you know? Loves when I-"

"My brother," Michael groaned, turning to his tea in disgust. "Please don't. Where's Chitaro?"

"Finishing some technical drawings for them," Mamoru replied, waving a hand. "He'll be along. So, you and Todoroki?"

"What does it matter? Thomas hates him anyway. I mean, he broke his arm today."

"That was your fault for letting him go against Thomas like that," he said with a shrug. "He's worked up the past few days. You know he's in no condition to be babysitting."

"Yeah, ever since Chris dragged him off the other say he does seem more tightly wound than normal."

"If this was a manga, I'd say Thomas has just discovered some dark family secret," Chitaro said, sitting with them. "He's just turned eighteen after all."

Michael tried not to roll his eyes. There was no dark family secret. Chitaro pulled his hairband out, letting his hair fall around his shoulders as Aika pushed over an energy drink. The artist mumbled something into his arms and Michael smiled, patting his shoulder gently.

"Wake up, Chitaro dear," Aika said. "It's not even four."

"I was up all night," he replied. "If I was betting, I'd say Thomas is adopted."

Michael scowled."He's not-"

"Infernal," Aika said plainly. "Purple flames. Incredibly powerful. Bad tempered. Arrogant. He's Infernal."

"No," Michael snapped. "He's not, why are we-"

"I'd go with affair," Mamoru said with a shrug. "Byron and some other woman. I mean, it's a good looking family but Thomas is on another level. And he looks nothing like you guys."

"There is no dark family secret," he cried. "Thomas is a part of the family, he's Pryo and I am just as good looking as him."

"You're cute," Chitaro said. "Not to offend you, but even from a neutral stand point, Thomas is a stunner."

"He does have a certain charm," Aika said.

"You all know my view on the matter," Mamoru laughed. "I'm kinda bias though."

"I'd expect you to be," Thomas said, sweeping in. Mamoru grinned and Thomas wrapped his arms around his shoulders, kissing his cheek. Mamoru laughed and turned, pressing their lips together softly. "If you weren't bias, I'd need a new little partner to satisfy me naughty desires."

"Oh, Thomas, not while I'm here," Michael groaned as Mamoru and Thomas kissed. His best friend and his brother. Really? He was glad they'd found a happy relationship in each other but it was weird. "I'm going to leave you guys to it. I have an injured partner to look after."

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Yeah, apologise to the kid for me, will you?"

"Apologise yourself." Michael shook his head as he stood. "I'm not your assistant."

He stormed out, ignoring Thomas muttering something about being busy and Mamoru laughing. It really was terrible having the two of them as a couple. It was driving him to despair.

In the hospital wing, Takashi was sleeping peacefully. No doubt the painkillers given to him to help with his arm had that affect. Thomas shouldn't have done it. How could he have actually broken Takashi's arm? He knew Thomas didn't hold back, but still. He sighed, sitting on the bed, careful not to disturb Takashi or his injured arm, and laid his head on Takashi's stomach to rest. His young partner had looked up to Thomas, it must have been awful to suffer like this at his hands. He'd have to figure out someway to make it up to him. And soften Thomas up to him. Whatever Chris actually told Thomas, it had him so worked up though. Perhaps he'd keep Thomas away from the medical wing for a while.