AN: Here comes chapter two! Thank to gamergirl101, LanceOtter, and Pixelfun20 for leaving your thoughts! I am sorry I let that spelling errors slip into the first chapter, but I believe I caught them! I try to proofread, but unless I see the red line, I sometimes miss it... Anyway! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Please leave your thoughts if you can! I'm going to try to give each character equal screen time, though it may be distributed throughout chapters, so if you don't see a lot of your character in this chapter, don't worry! They will have more screen time later on.
The restaurant was different from anything that anything Jun-Seo had been to since his debut as an idol. It was a small place, filled with the scent of roasting meat and vegetables. Kebabs weren't something he'd had in years. The management didn't exactly let him and the others eat whatever they wanted. Strict diets were common in the world he'd lived in, though he was glad the management of Echo's rules were slightly looser than most groups. Afterall, his high metabolism required more food than the average human.
"We're sharing, right?" Aby asked. He looked around the table, "What do you guys like? I like beef."
"Anything's fine by me as long as we get some vegetables too," Crow said. She adjusted the collar of her clothes. She was wearing what looked like a school uniform, though Jun-Seo was unsure why she still wore it.
"I know you all love to eat," Dr. Ackerman hadn't even looked at the menu, "Don't worry about the price, I have it covered."
"Should we just get a bit of everything, then?" Piper spoke up, "Siren, what do you like?"
"Oh, um..." Jun-Seo hesitated, and looked at the menu, "Doesn't matter, I'm not very hungry anyway."
"Yeah right." Bezel looked towards him with a raised eyebrow, "What are you, a teenage girl who wants to be a model? You're like us, you're always hungry."
"No, really. I ate in the airport," Jun-Seo lied. He placed the menu down, "Besides, I'm not that picky, so you guys choose whatever." He glanced around the table, taking in their faces again. They all looked so different. Then again, the last time he'd seen them, they were all children. He'd been a child too. He could still remember running around the old mountain house with them.
"Well, if you're giving up your say in this, you can't complain if we pick stuff you don't like," Said Black.
"Don't be like that," Piper said, though he was still smiling, "Besides, if I remember correctly, you're the one who was picky."
"Not anymore." Black didn't look at him as he spoke, still looking over what kind of food there was.
"I get the feeling these aren't gonna be like yakitori," Crow spoke up, "Even in Tokyo... There isn't a lot of food like this"
"Tokyo? That explains the sailor girl look." Bezel looked towards Crow, "It's cute, though. Suits you."
"Um... Thanks," Crow said, shifting a little.
"Are you ready to order?" The waitress came over with a bright smile. They all looked at each other, having completely neglected to choose anything. However, Dr. Ackerman then spoke up.
"We'll have two of each kind of kebab. And three sides of couscous, please," Dr. Ackerman spoke simply, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. She then glanced around at the others at the table, "Would anyone like anything else?"
"Can I have a- Nevermind," Black said, seeming to have recalled something, "I'll stick with water."
As the waitress left, Jun-Seo looked around the table again. He couldn't help wondering what his siblings had been doing. Had Piper and Black gone to college? Where had they all been sent? Jun-Seo knew that he'd been sent to South Korea because of his heritage, and from what Crow had said, she'd been sent to Japan for similar reasons.
"So," Jun-Seo spoke up, getting the attention of the others, "What have you guys all been up to?" He had left the hood of his jacket down, even though strangers might be able to see and recognise him.
"You're asking what we've been doing for nine years," Bezel glanced around, "Maybe we should go around in a circle?" She said sarcastically, "Personally, I'm curious about the scene kid look. What have you been up to the past nine years?"
"Well..."
"Everyone," Dr. Ackerman's voice cut in suddenly, "I want you to each stand up, one or two at a time, over the next ten minutes and get to the top of Empire State building." Her voice as low, but they were each able to hear. She looked around the table, then nodded her head at a group of people in the back, "Don't look all at once either."
Jun-Seo snuck a glance and felt his hands tense. As he looked away from the people in the back, he reminded himself to remain calm. How had the erasers tracked them so easily? The erasers looked inconspicuous enough, like a group of college aged athletes, but each of them could be recognised by the predatory glint in their lupine eyes.
Everyone at their table had realized what was going on, even without having looked at the erasers. Even Aby was able to figure it realize it, though Jun-Seo knew he could have gotten more aware over the years.
"Let's go," Bezel took Crow's hand and the two of them stood and began to head towards the door. As they left, Dr. Ackerman, who was nearest to Jun-Seo, kicked him in the leg under the table, expecting him to speak.
"So, Aby, what've you been up to?" Jun-Seo said, keeping his voice calm. He had a lot of practice pretending to be happy or calm even when he was anything but that.
"Well," Aby leaned back, "School's been going good. Classes are kinda hard, but... I gotta keep up my grades, cuz I'm on the football team. Otherwise, they could give me the boot."
"Where are you going to school, anyway?"
"Spring Hill High School in Austin Texas," He said, "Dunno how alright my teachers are gonna be about this, though. I'd like to be able to finish school and go to the big leagues, but... Well, I can't do any of that if I'm dead."
"Yeah, talk loudly about someone trying to kill you, that's a great idea," Black mumbled.
"It wasn't that loud." Aby blinked.
"Guys, let's not argue," Piper spoke up. He then nodded towards the door. Aby looked at him for a moment in silence, but quickly caught on. He stood and began to head towards the exit, "Anyway, what have you two been doing? Did you ever get that motorcycle you wanted, Black?"
"Nope. Nine year old me didn't understand that loud noises are obnoxious," Black said with a shrug. He took a sip of his water, then glanced at Dr. Ackerman for a moment. She didn't say anything, and seemed to be checking something on her phone. He turned back to Piper, "Why don't you tell Siren about what you've been studying? He got here so late, he didn't get to hear all that meet-greet stuff earlier."
"You're in college?" Jun-Seo turned to look at Piper.
"Yep. I'm studying anthropology. It's quite fascinating, actually. Did you know that humans survived for hundreds of thousands of years without any government or written records? Makes it harder to study, but basically, we're all living in societies we don't totally understand," Piper said, "And worldwide, ten percent of people aren't actually descended from their 'fathers.'"
"And I thought the number would be higher," Black gave a dry laugh.
"Well, it's on average," Piper said.
"Well, we all know we weren't descended from our fathers. Siren, I'm gonna step out for a smoke. Come with?" Black stood from the table as he spoke the lie. Dr. Ackerman had taught them that smoking was particularly dangerous for them.
Jun-Seo was about to refuse, wanting to make sure everyone got out okay, but Piper gave him a look that said he wasn't moving till everyone was gone.
"I'll get you guys once the food is here," Piper said with a smile.
"Sure, thanks," Jun-Seo said, standing as well and starting to walk with Black towards the exit. He picked up his small duffle bag to bring with him, knowing they wouldn't be back. He couldn't help glancing back at the table, and at the table of erasers. However, he tensed as he noticed that one of the erasers was gone. He looked ahead again, knowing they had to leave. Piper was strong, he knew, but it had also been nine years of a peaceful life. Was he still able to defend himself, and Dr. Ackerman? Dr. Ackerman was mentally strong, but Jun-Seo had never seen her throw a punch in his life.
It was getting dark as they left the restaurant and Black and Jun-Seo walked down the street, looking for a safe place to take off. Soon, they spotted an apartment building where the door was open. It seemed the doorman was busy talking to someone. The two of them went inside, walking like they were supposed to be there and going towards the elevator.
"You've changed quite a bit," Black said as the elevator doors closed and the headed for the roof of the building, "You look different without the stage makeup, Jun-Seo."
"Huh?" Jun-Seo blinked, "How'd you...?"
"You have the same voice, hair, and stature as the guy one of my co-workers wouldn't shut up about," Black said as they reached the roof. The got off the elevator and headed for the door to the roof, "I have to say, hiding by becoming an idol isn't exactly blending in." He pushed the door open and the two of them walked out onto the roof. Black took off his dark red hoodie and allowed his wings to unfold and emerge through slits in his tank top. His wings were the same as Jun-Seo remembered: all black with a white streak running through them. Jun-Seo took off his own jacket and let out his dark gray wings. He stretched them for the first time in a while, as they were still a little stiff.
"I pursued what I enjoy doing. I guess I thought we'd be able to put the past behind us," Jun-Seo said, looking towards Black.
"We all wished that," He said, "I just think you were naive enough to believe it."
Black took off, from the edge of the roof, his dark wings beating down powerfully. Jun-Seo took off after him, soaring up and getting used to being in the air again before they headed for the empire state building, which stuck out even in the big city.
Feeling the air against his face as he flew, Jun-Seo couldn't help feeling free again. His nighttime flights were always cut short, knowing he needed rest. Now, he was flying without restrictions. Well, in a way. He saw the city lighting up beneath them as they flew, though the beauty wasn't as breathtaking due to the knowledge that they weren't safe.
The flight wasn't long and they soon reached the observation deck. The two of them landed and tucked their wings in again. Jun-Seo turned to see the girls and Aby as he put his jacket on again.
"Is Piper okay?" Bezel asked, "And Dr. Ackerman?"
"They're still there," Black said, adjusting his sweatshirt. He glanced around, "What about you guys? Any broken bones?" His tone wasn't very sympathetic, but he did glance around to check on them.
"How did they find us so quickly...?" Crow mumbled, more to herself than the others.
"They're everywhere. And Dr. Ackerman is only one person," Bezel said, going to look out over the city. She leaned against the railing, the wind blowing some of the loose strands of hair in her bun, "She knew she couldn't protect us all, which is why she sent us off. Bringing us back together... Something must be really wrong."
"We shouldn't have expected to have normal lives," Black said, "We all wanted it, but... Sometimes you have to accept that things won't be sunshine and rainbows forever."
"Normal life isn't sunshine and rainbows," Crow narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.
"Normal life is better than our old lives," Black shrugged, "I consider that closer to sunshine and rainbows."
They all turned as they heard the beating of wings. Jun-Seo's eyes widened and he gasped as he saw Piper crash into the railing. His hands grabbed at the railing as he began to slip and Aby and Black quickly ran over to pull him onto the observation deck. As he was brought onto the deck, Jun-Seo saw that his arm was bleeding, and there were claw marks there, as well as on his leg.
"What the-?" Crow blinked and rushed over as Piper was set down on the ground. She went to examine his injuries, "Does anyone have a first aid kit?" She looked around, though the only one who had anything with them was Jun-Seo with his things.
"Siren, got an extra shirt in your bag?" Black asked. Jun-Seo nodded and unzipped the bag, quickly finding a shirt which Crow took from him. She tore it and began to use it to bandage Piper's injuries.
"Guys..." Piper managed as he looked at them. He was losing blood, not enough to be fatal, but he was clearly in pain, "Dr. Ackerman... She..."
"What happened?" Jun-Seo asked.
"They... They got her..."
~Credits~
Siren / Tae Jun-Seo - 1nk (me)
Aby (Absorb Man) / Carter Hayes - Kunnaki
Bezel / Sofia Alcázar - POMForever
Crow / Kaname Akira - gamergirl101
Black (Oracle) / Johan Erikson -LanceOtter
Piper / Hiva Sevele (Hahona Matau) - Pixelfun20
