Pained Hearts

Author: I do adore Duke & the once mentioned Brotherhood of the Blade. Which I don't own btw. Although: Kit, Ryann, Mac & Briana r mine. R&R plz.

"Duke, love?" Duke blinked up at Kit. She was half-on half-off the back of the couch, with a paw resting on his arm.

"Wasn't just a bad dream was it?" he asked. Kit shook her head solemnly. He groaned and sat up so that they were eye to eye. "What are we gonna do Kit?" he muttered.

"We'll figure it out Duke." she told him. Her head slipped under his beak as a purr rumbled through her frame. He only wished she was right.

Briana blinked and looked around. Her head throbbed but aside from that she seemed unharmed.

"So your finally awake." She turned her head slowly and saw a dark figure standing at the foot of her bed.

"Ryann?" she asked quietly.

"Yes princess. I'm here on command from my master to make sure no harm came to while you slept." Ryann told her. Briana shifted and noted a clanking sound above her head. Looking up she saw handcuffs that were holding her hands above her head.

"I am a thief Ryann much like you." she told her.

"And you were searched for any lockpicks and the ones that were found were removed from the room." she said.

"Why am I being held like this!" she snapped.

"You're not in your right mind princess." Ryann explained.

"I'm not a prisoner! Let me go!" she shouted.

"Forgive me but I can't do that." she said, retreating quietly.

Ryann walked into the Rec Room slowly, head down.

"Is she awake?" Kit asked.

"Yes and still very angry." she admited softly. Duke rested his head in his hands sadly.

"It doesn't make sense, why would she say I'm the reason her father's dead?" he asked.

"When you're very young and upset like she is you can very easily be munipulated." Ryann told him.

The grey duck looked at his jet black companion and whispered, "Speaking from experience?"

"Unfortunately yes." she admited.

"Who's her dad?" Nosedive asked.

"Her father was Mac Mallardson. He ran the Brotherhood of the Blade before I took over when he died." Duke said.

"Did you kill him?" Mallory asked.

Duke got up and snapped, "No I didn't kill him damnit, he was practicely my father! He took me in when I had nowhere else to go and taught me everything I knew! I owe him my life, my last job and my marriage!"

Kit stepped in front of him and said, "Mac found me when I was young and very much feral. Others in the Brotherhood wanted to make me a pet or worse, but Mac allowed me freedom. Once I had calmed down, he introduced me to Duke and it was love at first sight. He was a good drake who was brutally murdered when all those who loved him needed him the most. Duke was just coming out of his training, I was expecting and his daughter was still young."

"You had a kid?" Dive asked.

"Kit." Duke muttered.

"A litter actually or I should have. When I found out that Mac was dead and Duke was injured, I miscarried the kittens." she whispered.

"How many?" Tanya asked.

"Three. Two boys and a girl." the feline breathed. The team were all extremely close to tears. Duke pulled his wife to his chest and held her tightly.

Mallory stepped forwards and whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm don't have an excuse for my actions or what I said." Kit glared over her shoulder at the red head.

Duke looked at her and whispered, "Beat it Mal." Mallory turned and left the room.

Briana shut her eyes againest the brutually bright light as the door slid open. A slender red head, about her height, walked in.

"Who are you?" she growled.

"Mallory. I'm a friend of Duke and Kit's. Although we're not on good terms right now." she admited.

Briana cocked an eyebrow and asked, "How so?"

"I think I insulted them both really badly." she whispered.

"That murder deserved it." she scoffed.

"He didn't murder your dad. He and Kit loved him alot. I don't think either of them would have hurt your dad for any amount of money." Mal told her.

"He's got a surface raised on his side, that's pitiful." the restrained thief growled. Mallory narrowed her eyes and stormed out the door.