Disclaimer: I own nothing 'cept the clothes on my back.

Summary: Neil has a lot more problems to deal with as he inherits the very gift that destroyed Narcissus' love for anyone around him. Meanwhile, he has to deal with dark nightmares concerning an incident with Coronus. Will he confide in his friends? Or travel the same path as his ancestor?

Migraines

Pranks

Neil groaned and gave up on sleep. He had been tossing and turning in bed for hours with no luck. He was still wide awake.

And they call me the lucky one, he thought tiredly. Dragging himself from his bed, he made his way down the hall. Herry snorted as he rolled over in his sleep and Neil froze. Deciding his friend wasn't going to wake, he continued his night wanderings.

'This is the fifth time this week, Neil,' a voice said from behind him, causing him to jump. Turning, he was relived to find it was just Jay leaning against his doorframe.

'You sure you're okay?' he asked, sleep-glazed eyes shining with concern.

'I'm fine. Just go back to sleep,' Neil replied, passing his friend the most charming smile he could muster. Jay yawned widely, stifling it with his hand and nodded.

'Okay, just don't stay up too late,' he answered, turning to go back into his bedroom, but pausing to make sure Neil understood him, 'Okay?'

'Yes, mum,' Neil replied, rolling his eyes. Jay grinned and left the hall. Turning, Neil walked the rest of the hall, and turned, instinctively heading outside. His mind was buzzing with thoughts, and he pulled out his mirror, staring into it, though not really seeing it as his feet carried him to the park.

Glancing around, he realized he truly was alone, and sank down beside a tree, resting his back against the strong trunk. His head was throbbing now, and he groaned. Migraines had been keeping him up for over a week now, though Jay only knew of five occasions he had slipped out.

Briefly, he imagined the leader just lying awake in bed, waiting for him to get up to give him the same song and dance he had been giving him all week.

He was tempted to snort in amusement, but that would be too unattractive. Glancing once more in his gold embossed mirror, he growled at his appearance and tossed it away. He immediately regretted it, standing to retrieve it.

A vicious throb of his migraine caused him to sink back down to his knees. Pressing the palms of his hands against his closed eyelids, he groaned, wincing as it got worse. The pain intensified, until he could no longer feel anything but it, and he blacked out.

'How… (pant) much… (gasp) farther?' Odie managed, and Herry grinned at him.

'Just another mile, then we'll be home,' he informed his friend.

'Hold up,' Jay interrupted, 'Isn't that Neil's mirror?' He stooped to pick it up and studied it.

'Neil doesn't go anywhere without it,' Herry mused.

'Probably afraid he'll get a zit,' Archie laughed, drawing a few chuckles from the group.

'Well, he's around here somewhere, so we'd better find him,' Jay told them.

'Should we…poke him?' Archie asked, staring at the blonde model slumped in the grass.

Jay bit his lip. 'I don't know…I mean, he hasn't actually been sleeping much, if at all, this week. Maybe we should just bring him home.'

'What do you want?' Neil snapped suddenly, causing them to jump in surprise.

'Um…well, we were going to return your mirror,' Jay began.

Boy, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Neil glanced at Archie, but nobody, not even the teen himself, had laughed.

'Damn migraines,' he cursed under his breath, standing and taking his mirror from Jay.

Stuck up, pompous git. Doesn't even say thanks.

He glanced at Odie, surprised to have heard something like that from him. Figuring it was a joke being played on him, he glanced back at Jay.

'Thanks,' he mumbled, turning to leave.

He…thanked me?

I think he's sick.

There's got to be a reasonable explanation…perhaps delusion?

Ha, the look on Jay's face! Hilarious!

Running a hand through his hair, he resolved not to mention this new prank unless they did first.

Well? Please review.

Me

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