Jade tossed and turned in her bed in Jackie's Section 13 apartment. She didn't know why, but she just couldn't get to sleep. Then again, considering recent events, was it any wonder she had trouble relaxing? Finally, she kicked off her covers in frustration, slipped on her slippers, picked up her new favorite plushie - she'd told Jackie it was a gargoyle - and walked out of the apartment room.
In Section 13 proper, she began to wander around, looking for some way to tire herself out to get to sleep. She couldn't seem to find anything, though. This late, most of the labs were closed or fully active, making it hard to sneak in to grab anything fun.
"What are you doing up, Jade?"
"WAH!" Jade jumped and spun, patting her chest. "Captain Black! Don't sneak up on me like that! Being scared half to death isn't exactly the best way to get sleepy."
Captain Black smiled. "Can't sleep either, huh?" He chuckled. "Come on, let me show you something." He led her to a different elevator from the one that exited to the phone booth. They rode it up in silence, and exited to the roof of the cover building. "I come up here some nights, when I can't sleep, and look at the stars, or down at the city. It helps me to relax."
Jade went up to the edge of the roof and leaned on the railing, gazing out at the sleeping city. "Wow, what a view! I can see Uncle's shop from here!"
Captain Black chuckled. They stood looking out for a time. Before long, though, Captain Black was yawning. "Well, I'm heading back in. Coming, Jade?"
"If it's okay, I'd like to stay up here just a little longer." Jade stared up at the stars, tracing the constelations with a finger.
Captain Black nodded. "Alright. Just be sure to get to sleep at some point. It is a school day tomorrow." He left the roof.
Jade stared up at the stars, seeing the constelations. Then, in her mind, a different picture was visible, resembling a bat. Reaching under her jammies, she pulled out her yang charm on its gold chain. Holding it tight, she whispered, "Oh, Hsi..." It had been a couple of weeks since she'd last seen him, since he really couldn't come back with her from the antarctic circle. He would have to make his own way back to avoid discovery. She knew this, but...she worried about him.
Suddenly a shadow crossed some of the stars, and claws lightly clicked against the stone roof of the building. "Jade?"
"Hsi!" Running forward, Jade threw her arms around him, and they held each other tight...then stepped back, shuffling awkwardly. Although their emotions were rather intense, both were aware of certain things that had to be taken into account: Jade's family and their views, Hsi Wu's heritage, Jade's AGE...they had to be careful to go slow.
Hsi Wu, being immortal and having learned patience, had an easier time with this than Jade did. "It's good to see you well, Jade," he said quietly.
"Yeah, good to see you, too, Hsi. I was worried about you."
"Then why didn't you call me sooner?"
"What do you mean?" Jade stared at Hsi in confusion.
"I heard you calling me, so I came."
"But...I was whispering. Just how close were you?"
"Other side of the city, getting settled in where I won't be discovered." He turned to look at her. "But I heard you call me, and knew where to go."
Jade glanced down at her charm, hanging out of her clothes now. "I was holding this up to my face when I whispered your name...Maybe that's why you heard me?"
Hsi Wu glanced down at the Yin he still wore. "Could be. It might very well be we can hear each other through the charms." Taking the charm in his hand, he thought, *Can you hear me, Jade?*
Jade looked at him. "Of course I can hear you, Hsi. You're standing right..." She gulped. "Your lips didn't move. When did you learn to throw your voice so well?"
*I didn't,* Hsi Wu thought to her. *I'm thinking my words to you.*
Jade took the charm she wore in her hand. *You mean...you can hear my thoughts?* she thought to him, nervously.
He shook his head. "No," he said aloud, releasing the charm. "The only thoughts we hear from each other are those we send to be heard." About to say more, Hsi Wu was distracted as a white cat with red eyes hopped onto his shoulder to nuzzle his face, purring. "Oh my! Who's this little lady?"
Jade giggled. "That's Ruby. I picked her up in Tangeirs, while Jackie was trying to retrieve the Cat of Khartoun for the museum. Boy, that was a crazy adventure."
"Really?" Hsi Wu held Ruby gently, stroking her between her ears and eliciting a purr. "Who got scratched?"
Jade blinked. "You know about the Cat?"
Hsi Wu chuckled. "Jade, I'm a demon thousands of years old. I know quite a bit about ancient artifacts of mystical power. So who got furry?"
Jade chuckled. "Well, me for one."
Hsi Wu's eyes widened. "I don't know whether to be glad or sorry I missed that."
"What do you mean?"
Hsi Wu held up Ruby, who was still trying to nuzzle him constantly. "Cats are drawn to the occult, and vice versa. Cats will actively seek out the occult in their area, either to nuzzle up to it as Ruby is doing now or to battle it, driving it away." Hsi Wu rubbed the back of his head. "As adorable as it would be to have seen you as a kitty...well, it comes with the feline behaviors, as I'm sure you remember."
Jade had a sudden mental image of herself - as the kitty behaviors started to appear - nuzzling up to Hsi Wu as Ruby was now, but with Hsi Wu in a human form for the trip. She turned bright red. "Ah, yeah. I can see why that might be...awkward." Another image hit her, and she giggled.
"What?" Hsi Wu asked, smiling as her laugh was infectious.
"Valmont got scratched, too."
Hsi Wu's eyes went wide. "Okay, no longer uncertain. Glad I missed that trip." They shared a laugh. "So, what other magical artifacts have you been playing with?"
"What makes you think I'd play with the artifacts that come through the shop?"
"Because you're you."
"HEY!"
"Jade," Hsi Wu said with a smile, "you're drawn to powerful magic like a moth to a flame. It's not something that can be stopped, only - hopefully - guided. I'd rather not see you get burned."
Jade looked down, embarrassed. "Well, nothing to worry about there with the Eye of Aurora."
Hsi Wu smiled. "Unless you accidently say, 'Return to Volcano National Park,' and end up in the lava."
Jade chuckled. "Or, 'Return to Siberia,' and end up surrounded by a pack of wolves, not knowing the key to teleporting is to say 'Return to' first."
Hsi Wu quirked an eyebrow. "That sounds like personal experience."
Jade chuckled nervously.
They continued to talk like that for some time, and then Jade started to yawn. "You should get to bed, Jade," Hsi Wu said. There was no response. "Jade?"
Jade had fallen fast asleep, leaning up against Hsi Wu, Ruby cuddled up in her arms with her 'gargoyle' plushie. Hsi smiled. "Sleep well, Jade."
The next morning, Captain Black rode up the elevator. "Jade? You up here?" He saw Jade, leaned up against the railing sound asleep. Rolling his eyes, he picked her up and carried her back to where Jackie was looking for her. Glancing down, he mumbled, "Where did the blanket come from?"