Where are the faceless supposed to be helping you? Cyan's writes down, showing me his question. Annoyance immediately pricks my heart before I wave it off.

"I told them to beat it. They were more of a distraction than help." I growl, tightening the latch around the chains. I stand up and harshly kick the chain, making sure it is properly chained on before flicking the motor on. It whirrs to life and raises the ramps before stopping halfway, making a very loud clicking noise before I click the reverse, watching as it smoothly lowers itself down. Something is blocking the rotation. I listen to him writing something down as I swing my leg over the chain as I can see exactly what's blocking it. Cyan gently taps me on the shoulder, asking for my attention.

May I be of some assistance? He writes. I stare at his notepad, deep in thought. Well, it wouldn't hurt to have some help but I don't know if he's clueless about this stuff or if he actually knows what he's doing.

"What do you know about engines?"

I have read 97 book about engineering. I blink in surprise.

"You read, Cyan?"

Yes. My territory is a library in itself.

"You have your own territory? I thought you stayed at the Coliseum." I say, sidetracked from my business. I never knew he had his own territory.

Griffin has taken over my territory. So now, the Library is within the confines of the Coliseum. My eyes widen. How ruthless! Cyan studies my shock before quickly adding on. It was a mutual agreement. It benefits me greatly in the fact I do not need to find security and such anymore. Griffin's gladiators routinely patrol the area but do not trespass within my library.

"Oh. Cyan, how good of friends are you with Griffin?" I ask, trying to get a read on his emotions through his locked eyes.

Somewhat.

"Then how did you two meet?" I curiously ask.

You want to know more about me? He writes as his tail excitedly flickers back and forth. Is he really this happy about someone asking him this? But then again, before I met him he didn't even have a name. And, the reason he's sticking so close to me, I guess ... is because I'm the only one that really acknowledges him? That's so ...

Sad.

"Yeah. I do want to know more about you, Cyan." I say before leaning over the chain. "Don't go anywhere. After I'm done with this motor I want to hear, or, read your story." I correct, watching as his ears swivel in place. I flick the motor on, letting the chain feed through my fingers as I guide it along the right path. On the third rotation the chain pulls over the ledge, nearly getting caught up before I yank it back on the right path. It's going to be a pain if I have to redirect the chain each time this ramp goes up. I glance over to Cyan spying his ears a deeper color. How is it possible for his ears to grow darker like that?

"You alright Cyan?" I ask, concerned before his eyes dart back to my face. He lightly shudders, folding his hands behind his back as he nods his head. I look over him, concerned, before I click the machine in reverse and watch the chain slide back, the cool metal slightly touching my inner thighs. It's annoying but I won't be able to see as well from another position.

I lean forward and brace my hand against the sides of the motor, using just one hand to guide the chain through. My eyes narrow as it leans more towards the side again, this time less forcibly. I tug it in the right direction, watching it smoothly slide into place. Is that all I needed to do? I flick it in reverse, watching it smoothly running in without a problem. Oh good! It looks like it just needed to be adjusted that's all. But I'm going to put a scratch near the bottom just to make sure.

I peek over to Cyan again, catching his gaze which remains locked to my hips. Is there something there? I stand up and look down, trying to find any imperfections. Is he seeing something that I'm not seeing? Cyan's hand slides near my hand, holding it out for me to grab.

"Thank you, Cyan." I say, throwing my leg back over the motor. "Now, how did you and Griffin meet?" I eagerly ask, watching his tail flickering.

When was the last time you slept? My face turns blank as the words register in my head. Uh ... yeah, when was the last time I slept? After Cyan left what I think is the other time change I've been working nonstop, eating an apple or two as I work on the motors.

"Um ... before you visited last time." I weakly answer. I think that's a lie too. Cyan carefully studies me, writing something down before sweeping a thumb beneath my eye.

That was over nine time changes ago.

"No way!" I say, rejecting his logic. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if I did. Actually, I haven't gotten decent sleep since coming here. The first night I slept here I kept hearing metal hitting metal and the occasional screaming man. Hardly a safe place to try and take a good, restful sleep in. I heavily sigh as my aching joints are allowed to have a go at my numb conscience. Cyan stares before scribbling something else down.

Come with me. While you rest I will tell you how Griffin and I met. Cyan neatly places his notepad away before leading me up the stairs. My eyes narrow at the bright torches. My gosh I feel like a diehard gamer finally waking up to see the sunlight. Cyan's fingers very gently slide between mine, leading me through the empty streets.

"Why is no one up?"

There was a celebration and they are all sleeping off their hangovers. Cyan holds up the notepad long enough for me to read before I make a funny face.

"Celebration? I didn't hear about that." Heck, I didn't even hear it while under the Coliseum. Was I really so absorbed in work that my ears blotted out everything?

Me neither. Cyan sighs before tucking his notepad away, signaling the end of the conversation. I remain quiet Dusk shifts to night. My eyes glue to the hundreds of stars in the sky, unable to tear my eye from them. They're so beautiful. Oh Jay ... if only you were alive to this. The sky is so much clearer here than in New York. I stumble back as I hit Cyan's side, catching him staring at me before stopping at a large rising wire gate. Huh. This kind of reminds me of the gate at the Mansion.

Cyan dips down and picks me up, sliding between the gates. I don't even bother resisting as I lightly thump my head against his shoulder. I give up. If he wants to carry my fat butt he has my blessing to do so. Cyan suddenly drops before bounding through the air, moving so smoothly I can hardly tell that he's jumping. My arms tighten around his shoulders as he darts up the wide domed building, hopping into a nearby window's ledge.

Wait here. Cyan pushes open the unlocked window, trotting into what looks like a room. Is this Cyan's room? I stare inside unable to find a bed. Is it his room? Cyan reaches into a long, black pouch like sheet taking out a small pillow and blanket. Oh. He has a hammock for a bed? Cyan trots over to the spacious ledge, sitting down against the wall as he places the pillow in his lap. He beckons me closer and when I'm close enough he lightly pushes my head against the pillow. Oh ... we're laying out to see the stars? My eyes roam the wide open skies, overwhelmed by the large masses of them. So beautiful ... I glance up, spying Cyan handing me a piece of paper before he starts writing some more.

My parents were tailors, some of the best in the Coliseum. They wanted me to become a Gladiator so they sent me to Gladiator school. I did not object them, though I doubted my abilities to become a successful Gladiator. I glance up as he tears off another sheet of paper, taking the one I had read and replacing it with the other.

I was much smaller than the others in build so they came up with the most interesting names for me. With each fight I would win, because I simply dodged, waited for them to tire, and then make a fatal attack. I never lost, which made them upset. Good for you, Cyan the underdog, sticking it up their noses with your skills. He rips off another piece and hands it to me.

Becoming tired of their petty insults, I poisoned all their drinks and watched them, my eyes narrow, trying to read what was scribbled out before giving it up. I probably don't want to know anyway. It's a long description though. Cyan quickly switches out papers, crumbling the one up and simply toss it into his room.

Griffin, who wasn't a Role Holder at the time, saw me but said nothing. I tried poisoning him too but he caught on and flattened me before the entire class and yelled, "This mine! My Prey! You touch prey, you suffer death!" Cyan chuckles as he sets the paper aside, again handing me a new sheet.

The other Gladiator children refused to touch me afterwards. Soon we were called as Role Holders, and he made a deal to protect the Library if I do his bidding. Which I more than happily do, because I owe him many headaches I would have otherwise faced as a faceless. Cyan lightly slips the paper from my fingers, tossing it inside the open window.

"That's a strange friendship." I chuckle, staring at the countless stares. My head tilts to the side, spying his tail slightly flickering. The tuft looks like it would be pretty soft.

"Can I pet your tail?" I randomly ask, lightly pinching it between my fingers. He jolts beneath me as I rethink my decision. Meh, if he hates it that much he'll tear it out of my hands. I pull it around so it rests on my belly, lightly rubbing the base of his little tuft. His ears turn darker and darker shades as I lightly massage the tip of his tail. My fingers lightly pinch the end of it, feeling the silky smooth softness of his hair. I wonder if he conditions this or something? I smile and relinquish my hold, letting his tail retreat against the wall and well out of my reach.

"Did you hate it that much?" I playfully ask, watching as his eyes remain locked to my left eye. I flinch as his finger softly outlines my left eye.

Why is this eye so light?

"I'm blind in that eye. I was born that way." I smile as my eyes partially close, enjoying his warm finger tracing designs over my face. That feels very nice.

Does it hurt? He writes, tossing the paper aside after showing me. His palms gently cradle my cheeks on either side, making me look into his eyes. I slightly hum as his thumb sweeps beneath my left eye, continuing to blindly trace my features.

"Not at all. I'm used to seeing without it." I reassure watching the worry slowly slip out of his bright blue eyes. He really is too cute. He's worried about me and he hardly even knows me. I stiffen as his hand covers my eyes, engulfing me in complete darkness. Heh ... how does he know that I can't sleep unless it's pitch black out?

CYAN'S POV

It was difficult to prevent my grunting hums when she was rubbing my tail. My face burns hotter as I deftly exhale, forcing control to cool my heated reaction down. It's embarrassing how a simple touch of hers makes me ecstatic and yet she looks like she has little to no reaction when I touch her. Am I not being gentle enough? My mind immediately is swarmed with too pleasant thoughts before I force control once more.

Before, however, I was weak. I couldn't help but stare when she was standing over the chain, watching it go in and out from between her thighs. I nervously cover my eyes trying to erase the naughty image as my mind latches onto it. How can she ever see me as a proper gentlemen when I have so many great thoughts about her? My tail nervously twitches as I hear her heart beating steadily.

Such a sweet sound ... it makes me want to press against her chest so I can hear it better. I hesitate before unwrapping the black stained bandages, sliding off my glove before slipping it over her chest. Her warm skin immediately sends shivers down my spine as I feel around for her beating heart. It's so soft, and so faint but I can still hear and feel it beneath my fingers. Her fragile life is beating within my clutches. It's so ... delicate.

I like it.

‡

Awe~ poor one sided love Cyan! 11 REVIEWS for what happens next~ and help me out I can't think of any at the moment.