Looking for the Lost

by Lunar

AU story line that will eventually tie our two favorite VS Bishonen into the modern world, my latest sequel, heavy shonen-ai content. Ashley's longest journey is finally over, but Sydney's is only just begun.

4. Fool's gold

Looking for the Lost: part 3

Warning: Vagrant Story AU fic, some homosexual scenarios, language, and violence.

***** THIS CHAPTER is Rated 'NC-17' !!!

(one scene at the dead-end of the chapter, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED)*****

Notes: //...// represent thoughts.

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When the evening falls and the daylight is fading,
from within me calls - could it be I am sleeping?
For a moment I stray, then it holds me completely.
close to home - I cannot say.
close to home feeling so far away.

(Enya-Watermark-Evening Falls)

"So you're working in the library...?"

"What... the pay is alright, and I figure I can ride the train into 'DC on the weekends and do some good old fashioned busking... earn a bit more cash on the side..."

"Jesus... doesn't your family give you /anything/...?"

"Don't have one."

"... no kidding."

Mason got the distinct impression that he had inadvertently stuck his foot in his mouth and tried to swallow it. The bard's cheerful smile hadn't faded in the least, but there was something suddenly artificial, the expression a mask to something deeper and very private. // Damn, I knew it was /bad/ I mean he /never/ talks about his family, except to joke about his name and stuff... but I never thought... then again he always refers to them in the past-tense doesn't he... I had just never noticed...// He silently kicked himself and vainly searched for a safer line of conversation. The cafeteria was woefully empty, many of the students already gone away for their summer vacation.

"... Library... that's cool... I'm just going to stick with the classes... Dad's willing to pay if my grades are good... I dunno... maybe I should get a job too... keep me busy..."

Val laughed, "Like you're ever /not/ busy... I swear Maisie, the only time I saw you slow down this /whole/ year was at the end, and that was because you were flat on your back in the infirmary!" He pushed the remains of the bacon and eggs around on his plate for a moment longer before sighing and placing the dish on the floor. Az daintily picked at the offerings. "Why don't you go home...? You don't have to stay here on my account you know..." He watched his friend closely. "I don't mind being alone... and your mom didn't sound too pleased about you staying here all summer..."

"She'll get over it... besides, the military science classes are new this year... thought they looked interesting..."

"You really don't want to go home... do you..."

"It's not that..." Mason thought about his reasons for a moment, idly scratching the dog. "It's just that I don't want to go backwards..."

"Backwards?"

He grimaced, trying to explain. "I have this feeling that there's something that I should be doing... and all of this, growing up, going to school, getting strong... it's all just 'preparing' for this /thing/..." Val nodded encouragingly. "If I stop.... take a break, go home... then I'm not moving ahead... I'm just stalling, and I can't do that. I have to be ready, I'm only going to get one chance... I don't want to blow it."

"You won't."

He grinned at the mage's simple reply. "Oh, you're so certain? I got creamed at the Tournament..."

"Yes, but anyone could've told you /that/... You didn't have a prayer..."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You'll come in first next year." The bard tapped his chin thoughtfully, eyes mischievous. "Ah! I know!... I've figured out the /real/ reason you're staying..."

"Do I /have/ a 'real' reason?"

"If you don't have it yet, you're about too..." The smile was wicked. "Guess who /else/ is here for the summer...?" The trainee rolled his eyes, waiting. "... Only the 'love of your life'... Steven's taking classes too. Not that you'll care in the slightest..." The conspiratorial wink only served to make Mason blush deeper.

"Shut up, he's /not/ the 'love of my life'... I hardly know him..."

"Uh huh... And you make the /most/ adorable puppy eyes at him whenever he's around too... Ah... a 'first crush'... how touching..."

"You're such a jerk sometimes..."

"Hey now... I'm just looking out for your best interests! After all, he's my friend... you're my friend... you'd look terribly cute together..."

"What? How do you know that he's even..."

"He told me!" Valor winked, scooping up the trays and dropping them on the counter. "He also confessed to me that he thinks you're rather good looking... Just don't tell him I told you that... Not that you've managed to put more than five words together when he's around."

"It's hard to think of something to say, the guy never talks!"

"He's afraid you'll laugh at his accent! He's tired of getting beaten up just because he's not American. I assure you, once he gets to know you, he's anything but /shy/. He's quite...hmm, well you'll see."

"He has an accent? Who knew. And what do you /mean/ 'you'll see...' is there something wrong with him?"

"He's fine! Absolutely charming, I had two classes with him last year... So, you going to ask him out?"

"I'm /not/ having this conversation with you...." Resolutely forcing the blush to fade, Mason hastily excused himself and fled. The bard clucked his tongue in amusement, watching the flustered boy's departure.

"I dunno Az... this is gonna be interesting..." The animal simply licked his fingertips.

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"You've really done it this time.... you big idiot." The gentle caress on his face took any venom out of the casual statement, and Mason couldn't help but smile. The last several hours were nothing but a blur of pain and many voices talking loudly around him, but none had penetrated the thick fog he felt himself hovering in. It had been disorienting and unpleasant at first, but then the mist seemed to shift, and he was no longer alone. The blonde man's smile was full of chagrinned wonder as he cradled the trainee's head in his lap.

The dark-haired boy blinked, trying to force his eyes to focus. Gradually the sunny field swam into existence around them, the warm air soothing upon his face. Too tired to speak, he closed his eyes and allowed his dream lover to run his fingers through his hair. On a whim he caught one of the long-fingered hands, bringing it to his lips in a chaste kiss. The action elicited a chuckle from the blonde but the handsome man's comments were lost in a haze as he drifted into a deeper sleep.

He almost awoke some time later, drifting in and out of sleep enough to make out a gentle melody threading through the darkness. Feeling no motivation to fight against exhaustion, he allowed the music to soothe him back to sleep. Some uncertain time later, he roused again, this time lulled again by a steady murmur, the words unintelligible as the chant continued. When he /did/ at last revive enough to open his eyes, it was into a silent room. He blinked at the cracked paint on the ceiling as he tried to gather his thoughts.

// I... He was here... wasn't he...? How long have I been out...? // His body felt remarkably relaxed, almost numb. Instead of the aches and pains that he'd have expected after the abuse of the Tournament, there was only a pleasant lazy sensation. Mason flexed his hands, trying to shake some life into them. The movement triggered a slight gasp of surprise from nearby. Alarmed, the trainee tried to sit up but was halted by a gentle hand on his chest.

"You shouldn't move... not yet... you were hit quite hard in the head..." The voice was hesitant and soft, the English sounding strangely awkward. Feeling a deep sense of déja vu, the trainee held still, staring in wonder at his visitor. It was the mage from the previous day's Tournament. Blue-gray eyes watched him with concern as he edged into a more comfortable position on the infirmary bed. Grasping for something to break the odd tension, Mason finally found his voice.

"You... you're a friend of Val's... aren't you."

The blonde smiled, still looking as if he was about to bolt. "Um... yes... I should go get him... he'll be happy to know you're awake. We've been taking turns watching you..."

"... We...?"

The mage blushed, "Val, Anton, Nelson, and a few others..." They were all determined that you get healed up in time for the Spring Ball... but... well... I'll just go and get him..."

"... wait." Mason felt as though his head was packed in wool, but he couldn't let the nervous boy vanish quite yet. "... how long have I been out...?"

"Almost four days..." The student turned to leave again.

"...wait." He felt idiotic for asking, but couldn't stop himself. "What's your name?"

"Me...? Oh... I'm Etienne... Um I mean Steven, people here call me Steven."

The trainee smiled, unsure why. "Thanks." He let his head fall back on the pillow as the blonde finally fled, watching the late afternoon sunlight paint patterns on the bare walls. The silence didn't last long, a distant barking heralding the coming onslaught as the door burst open to emit a crowd of people. The large black animal wound around the tangle of legs to climb up onto the bed. Mason laughed and gave the long muzzle a familiar pat.

"Hello Az. Sorry I slept in."

"...Sorry...? What the hell are you sorry for? /He's/ the one who's supposed to be sorry..." Val jerked his head to the door where Io was just entering. The older boy gave an apologetic grin.

"Hey Io..."

"Hey..."

"I can't believe you won, you jerk." Nelson was never a man to pull punches, and sitting in his scarlet silks he resembled nothing so much as an irate parrot. The tall trainee looked at him in alarm as he pushed through the crowd towards the bed.

"Oh don't get your garter's in a twist, peacock." Moimoi's braids were down from their traditional buns for a change and swung in dangerous arcs as she whirled to face her favorite verbal sparing partner.

The rest of the odd group merely watched them in amazement as they squabbled. Mason felt his hand being patted and looked up at a dusky mage. Anton had quietly slipped around the bed, mimicking Val's worried stare. "You look alright... Jesus you gave us all a scare going down like that..."

"I thought I'd killed you for a second."

"We thought you had too! Man, Io, Az nearly took your arm off!"

He looked at the cheerfully panting animal lounging on the sheets. "You were defending /me/? Wow... thanks Az!" The dog seemed to sniff disdainfully as the other guardian trainee chuckled.

"That brute seems to genuinely like you... or maybe he was responding to his master... /someone/ was certainly worried about you."

Val blushed slightly. "Shut up, Mathies... Or I'll be obliged to tell Karen's Floor Mother exactly /where/ she was the other night."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

"We're /engaged/ for Christ's sake!"

"Rules are rules..."

Mason grinned as he watched the bard masterfully manipulate the older boy. As they settled down he looked at them closer and blinked in surprise. //... Three days... Steven said I was asleep three days? That means the big party is... tonight?! // Everyone, even Moimoi, was dressed in their social best, looking as though they were about to head off to dinner. He laughed in amazement at the tall girl's blue and white dress. It's skirt was a frothy mass of pleats and ruffles.

"You want a one-way-ticket back to 'slumber-land'?!" She curled a fist threateningly, the usually sobering gesture only made her outfit more absurd. He wiped the tears from his eyes.

"You look like Dorothy on the way to kick the Wizard's ass..."

"Damn straight. And if that 'Tin man' tries anything... 'Wham'! 'Bam'! He'll be needing a lot more than an oil-can when I'm done... we're talking grievous bodily harm..." Nelson chuckled nervously at her toothy smile.

"Wait... you and /Nelson/...? How the hell did /that/ happen?!" This time it was Valor who broke out laughing, pausing to straighten his bow-tie.

"It appears... someone /else/ lost at 'Truth or Dare' as well the other night... Of course I can now plead that you're in need of company and get out of /mine/..."

Mason grinned. "Where /is/ Celeste anyway...?"

"Probably pacing a hole into the lawn outside the Girls Hall... I was supposed to meet her there five minutes ago." A general snigger of delight went up from the others in the room as they recognized his imminent peril. Val simply shrugged, "Az will keep her from doing anything /too/ permanent... I hope."

The crowd merely jeered in delight, people coming and going for several minutes to wish him a speedy recovery. At last even Anton was pulled away, his date dragging him bodily by the lapel of his tux. It was with some relief that Mason found himself alone with the bard once more. A gentle hand rested on his forehead a moment, assessing his temperature.

"I'm fine. You should go..."

"I'd rather stay here..." The black-haired boy grinned ruefully. "She really is going to kill me..."

"Nah, she'll be too enchanted by the sight of you in a tux to care... what will Az do while you wine and dine though? Are they actually going to let him in?" The dog whined in annoyance.

"Unfortunately no... Hey... there's an idea... Az! You're going to stay here and keep Mason company!" The animal seemed to stare at them both quizzically for a moment before nodding and settling himself at the end of the bed. Valor smiled in delight. "There now... Now I can leave and not worry... I'll be back soon, OK? I just have to do this party thing..."

"No problem... hey Val..."

The bard turned, his hand on the door knob. "Yes...?"

"... Who's Steven? How come you never introduced him before...?"

He smiled mysteriously. "Steve's a friend... as for you not meeting him... well let's just say he hasn't been around lately. He took a semester off to visit family. Why? You see something you /like/...?"

Mason may have been tired, but he had more than enough energy to hurl the pillow. The bard ducked with a laugh before heading out. "Hey Val..."

The thin boy turned melodramatically. "... yes...?"

"You look good in a tux."

"Go to sleep, Donnelly." The door was quietly but firmly closed behind him.

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"I really don't think this is a good idea..." Steven nervously flattened the rich material in his jacket, feeling overdressed next to the bard. The taller boy had all but kidnapped him from his room, insisting that he needed to take a walk in the park. He would've disagreed, but Valor's dog had suddenly shown a deep interest in his homework. Somehow he doubted the teachers would believe him if he told them tomorrow that 'the dog ate it' even if Az /was/ almost infamous on campus.

"Nonsense, it's summer! You should be outside, enjoying yourself!"

"Everybody's looking at me... /He/ is going to laugh... this is never going to work."

"I told you to buy a pair of jeans when we went shopping... but nooooo you thought they were ugly.... As for the rest, don't worry, my plan is fool proof!"

"You'd better be right about this. Remember the deal!"

"Hey, I wouldn't have taken the job if I thought for a second Mason didn't like you."

"Yes well..."

"Trust me Steve... someday, they'll even wear blue-jeans in France.../and/ by that time you will have undoubtedly seen more of Maisie than you can stomach for a life time. Oh, and one more thing, although I know I've told you before." The bard gave him a sharp look. "Break his heart... and I'll kill you." The blonde merely shook his head and laughed, dismissing the absurd idea. He was just beginning to relax and enjoy the evening when they turned a corner on the path and Val raised a hand in cheerful greeting. The mage stared in mortification first at the lounging boy, then at the bard, then down to the ground. The ground was safe. His face was feeling decidedly flushed. The trainee seemed to be similarly surprised, stammering a greeting at his smiling friend.

"Mason, you know Steven of course... I thought the three of us could amuse ourselves at the park for a bit... you know... kill time on a Saturday night..."

"You just want to hear the out-door band they have over by the pond." Mason fell in step, silently nodding a greeting to the nervous blonde. Val shook his head in dismay as they walked on either side of him, studiously not saying anything to one another.

// Oh this is really ridiculous... how're they ever going to get together if they don't talk?! This requires drastic measures... // The bard sighed and steered them around the park, taking one of the more wooded paths. After several tries he got both of them into a rather limping conversation. Mason was trying to explain how he took classes at the near-by military academy, but it was obvious that the foreign student was rather lost. Valor tried to steer the conversation onto safer ground. Luckily he had a trump he could play. // If this doesn't work, I'll shoot myself. //

"I wonder if guardians in France get the chance to learn how to fly helicoptors too... What do /you/ think Steve? Or is the military there a little too uptight?"

The mage blinked thoughtfully. "I... really don't know... by the time they knew I needed to go to school, the war had broken out and everything was all muddled. That's why I was sent /here/, my family wanted me to have a 'normal' education... everything back home is still being rebuilt."

Val sneaked a peak at the trainee on his left. The tanned boy was staring in disbelief. "You're from /France/...?"

The blonde blushed a bright pink. "Um... yes..."

"No kidding! That's amazing! Your accent is really soft."

"Where the hell did you think he was from, Mason?"

"I dunno, Canada or something!"

Steven began to laugh. The other two students' squabbling was so relaxed and free, there was no way not to be entertained by it. He couldn't miss the wink that the bard aimed his way as he promptly found himself the center of attention, the trainee wanting to know all about his home and family. It had never occurred to him that his background would ever be an advantage. Most people remembered southern France only as Nazi sympathizers, usually it was easier to pretend to be from Quebec. However once he had gotten to know Val, he realized that there was an entire population of students at the school who couldn't care less where he was from, or what his neighbors were accused of. Maybe they weren't the most popular students, but they were far more interesting, and they accepted him instantly. Given his own background, he wasn't about to shun someone just because they had darker skin, an extra eye or a pair of horns.

"So, what does your family /do/...?"

He smiled again, still stunned that the taller boy was interested. "Well... my dad's a lawyer actually..."

Valor grinned, slowly allowing himself to fall back behind the animatedly talking pair. // Who's the man... /I'm/ the man... // All that was left to do was to initiate 'phase 2'. He had to admit a slight curiosity as to what Az had in mind. His usually silent companion had insisted /he/ would arrange the diversion to extract him from the threesome. Once the two were alone, Val felt the rest was out of his hands. // They'll either hit it off... or it's not my fault. // They walked lazily towards the sunny fields surrounding the pond and outdoor stage. It was full of people throwing Frisbees and having picnics.

// And if they /do/... well now I won't day no to a bit of a reward... any time now Az... Where /are/ you? //

// Uphill, coming up on the left. Act like you recognize me. //

// ...what? What are you up to? //

From behind a crowd of rowdy college students, a lanky teenager walked towards the path, raising his hand in silent greeting. His face was mostly hidden in the shadow of the nondescript baseball cap, but there was something wonderfully familiar about the dusty black jeans and T-shirt. Val paused to make sure he wasn't staring in amazement before returning the hail. // You jerk! /Warn/ me when you do that! //

// Sorry, it seemed the easiest. Do you want them to know? //

// No. No it's better that they don't. // He changed direction, heading across the grass as the other two went on ahead. He didn't get more than ten feet before Mason noticed the change.

"Val?"

"It's ok! I just see someone I haven't talked to in a while! I'll catch up with you later!" The dark-haired boy hesitated for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. "Stop worrying Maisie! He's a friend!" With a final wave at the startled pair, he linked arms with the black-clad teenager and steered him back across the field. On a whim he snatched off the cap, settling it on his own head. His escort shrugged and pulled a pair of sunglasses out of a pocket.

"I'm someone you haven't talked to in a while...?"

"Well I haven't! Usually we just /think/ at each other..." He gave a playful tug to the short pony tail, secretly delighting in the silky black hair.

"Stop that."

"Spoil sport, if you didn't want it tugged then why make it so long?"

Az simply shrugged, pulling the bard along as he aimed for a shadier section of the park. "So... what do you want to do?"

The musician smiled wickedly. "As I just happen to have five dollars in my pocket... I think first, I'd like some icecream."

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// "Go on! For once in your life, go out and enjoy your damn self! You /like/ him don't you? So why not enjoy it?" //

Mason shrugged at the well remembered arguments, nervously scuffing a foot in the dewy gravel. The lobby of the mage dormitories had felt unbearably stuffy and hot, even this early in the day, and he had quickly retreated outdoors. He hated waiting. // This is all well and good for /you/ Val... /You/ took off at the crack of dawn today to catch the metro train... by now you're probably singing the money out of the tourist's pockets and laughing yourself sick.// The trainee had gone with the bard on previous weekends, more out of curiosity than any ability to aid the worldly student. He had no musical talent worth mentioning, but had spent his time alternately listening to his friend, and wandering the multitude of museums and historical sites that the nation's capitol could provide. At first he had worried for the mage's safety, but as each week of the summer rolled by uneventfully, the idea that the older boy was at any risk seemed distant and improbable.

// More likely, whoever was after him forgot all about it... it's been /years/ after all... hasn't it? // The other reason for his gradual relaxation of worry suddenly put in an appearance with a rustle of linen and corduroy.

"Hey, sorry I'm late... I just... Well never mind."

// He preens more than anyone I've ever met... Well maybe not Nelson, but still, it's worth it. He was always preening in my dreams too. // He took a moment to appreciate the view, the tousled golden hair looking still-damp in the morning sun.

"No problem. Shall we go?" Mason gallantly gestured down the path, smiling.

The blonde fought hard to suppress his grin, "You, are a very odd man."

"Ah, but do I amuse you?" The dark-haired boy couldn't help but tease, never ceasing to be amazed by the variety of smiles the mage could produce.

"Yes, damn you. Come on... you promised to take me on a picnic!"

"When did you get so demanding? Jeez it seems only yesterday you were afraid to talk to me!" He couldn't help but laugh at the patently wheedling expression. The blonde was simply too adorable when he tried, again it was with a feeling of déja vu that he impulsively grabbed the boys hand and pulled him into town. "If it's a picnic you want, then a picnic you shall have... but first? Provisions! To the grocery store!"

"Hurray!" Steven was more than happy to be hauled along in the morning air, looking ahead at the dark-boy holding his hand he felt his heart give a little lurch. It was going to be a /perfect/ day. The trainee looked back, admiring the happy mage.

// God, Val was right. I'm /crazy / for him... He's the /one/... I just know it... All my dreams... I've waited so long for you... Etienne... I've found you... // Mason felt the urge catch the boy in his arms and spin them both until they were too dizzy to stand, but in the end contented himself with giving the hand in his a gentle squeeze as they jogged. There would be time enough for everything, he'd make sure of that. /This time/ he'd get everything right.

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Val tucked the ticket into his pocket, carefully checking that his earnings were safely stowed. It had been a most profitable day. He grinned as his fingers felt for the modest wad of bills. Knowing he had at least fifteen minutes to kill before the next train out of the city he settled on a bench, guitar case carefully tucked between his knees. His ever watchful familiar sat on the bench beside him, calmly observing the masses of people moving about the station.

// Gah... a beautiful day... pocket full of money... Az watching my back... and Mason actually enjoying himself without being held at gun point... can life get any better? I doubt it... // He reached to give the animal a loving scratch behind the ears.

"We've come a long way, you and me, ehhhh mutt?" The dog looked at him curiously. "What do you think... will Mason be wearing his 'I got lucky' smile when we get back?" Az snorted doubtfully. "Yeah ok, not likely... but if ever there was a teenager badly in need of a lay... He's been dragging his feet all summer..." He ruffled the animal's fur playfully. A strong breeze swept through the airy platform, causing him to shiver slightly. Blindly reaching for his jacket, his hands came up empty. It was gone.

"Awe fuck, I bet I left it by the hotdog cart outside... Az?"

// I... I don't remember /where/ you put it... Sorry. //

Valor glanced up at the station's ornate clock. "And /of course/... the train is about to arrive... Az, be a darling and go see if you can nab the damn thing for me? You can run a lot faster than I can..."

The black dog hesitated a moment, scanning the room for anything amiss, but finding nothing to justify its paranoia, trotted quickly towards the exit. Val watched his familiar weave through the crowds and glanced down the tracks, happily whistling a tune. He never noticed the two men who settled on the bench behind him. The cloth that was clamped over his face came as a complete surprise, the sickly sweet smell of chloroform causing his eyes to tear as he desperately struggled to pull free of his captors.

// /AZ/! ... h- //

"Shut him /up/! NOW!" A heavy object cracked painfully against the bard's skull sending him into a whirling darkness. "Quickly! Before the /creature/ comes back!" The slender form was rapidly hauled over the larger man's shoulder, the two men pushing their way through the alarmed crowd to hustle into a dark car. The vehicle peeled away from the curb before the doors finished closing. Alerted by the half-finished warning, Az raced back into the station, sniffing worriedly around the abandoned guitar. It took only a moment to bolt out the other door and check the street, but he was too late. The vehicle lost in the downtown traffic.

Az paced back and forth nor a nervous minute, desperately seeking out the mind of his master, but he found himself thwarted. The bard was well guarded, his presence muted. // Damn it, I /knew/ I shouldn't have left! // Beneath the frantic canine demeanor, something far older, and stronger began to awake. /Someone/ had taken Valor, Az was /angry/.

// If they think I can't track them... they're wrong... //

"Well well... a stray dog...? Here laddie... let's see if you have a collar..." He shied away from the well-meaning station attendant, darting back towards the guitar case to once again be caught, indecision making him pause. "Hey! crazy mutt... get back here!"

// Damnit, this /isn't/ going to work if all these moronic mortals keep getting in my way! I can't function in a city this large without Val... there are too many rules! But I /have/ to get him /back/!... But he'll be upset if I hurt innocents... // Mind made up, the dog carefully grabbed the instrument case's handle and sprinted out of the station, much to the amazement of the bystanders.

// First things first. Get Mason... he'll know what to do... // No one paid any attention to the familiar as it skidded around the corner, no one noticed how between one stride and the next, the guitar mysteriously vanished. Az continued to gain momentum, moving at speeds that put first dogs, then even the train to shame. His form was a black streak across the farmland. His purpose set, he knew what had to be done, an internal clock had started ticking, counting the minutes before the situation became an emergency. He respected Valor, and did his best to please the gentle mage, but under no condition would he risk the boy's life over a question of propriety. If he had to, he would do things /his/ way, and to hell with the consequences.

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"What are you thinking about...?" Steven wrapped his arms a little tighter against the well muscled chest. At first he had been a little worried that the other boy would think him too aggressive, his pretended attempt to 'pounce' him from behind nothing more than a poorly disguised desire to touch the tanned skin. To his surprise and delight, the trainee merely laughed at the attempt and leaned back slightly into the impromptu embrace.

"Nothing much... just dreams... and you."

"Really?"

// It's taken him so long to get relaxed with me... Not that I mind being 'adored'... but he's so old fashioned! No matter, he's /mine/... Everyone else can /try/ and flirt, but he's /mine/... I can't wait until school starts again! They'll be crying in envy, Val was a fool to let him slip away. And he's /so/ beautiful... everything a Guardian should be, tall and strong, watchful and silent, gorgeous chocolate eyes, and the /stamina/... and he wants to be /with me/... This is better than I could've hoped. And they say the 'good' ones are always taken... // Feeling Mason surrender even the pretense of fishing at the lazy stream, he took a chance an snuggled closer. // It almost makes me wish he was my 'first'... not that I think /anyone/ could hold a candle to /this/. And I /know/ I'm /his/ first... If he wasn't so conservative, damn but I'd be tempted to see how far he'd be willing to go, alone in the woods... on a perfect summer day... how terribly bucolic. //

It had been an amazing summer, with the relaxed atmosphere on campus there had been ample opportunity for the two boys to meet, and talk, among other things. Steven frankly found Mason's hesitance to be charming. // He's so different than the others... so serious... and when he looks at me I swear... he could make a person /melt/ with those dark eyes of his... not bad... not bad at all... // Fighting the urge to smile smugly, he slowly placed a kiss at the crook of the golden-brown neck, watching the muscled shoulders twitch in surprise.

// And thank you God, for convincing him that fishing was best done with one's shirt off... It's worth it, even if it /does/ encourage me to think wicked thoughts... //

"What are you...?" Mason attempted to turn so he could face the blonde perched behind him, but found himself halted. Slim hands held him in place for a moment, hot against his bare shoulders as the delicate mouth trespassed against his skin a second time, placing another kiss against his neck. He fought the urge to sigh in pleasure and held perfectly still. The mage seemed to enjoy the little game, becoming more bold as he wasn't shaken off. The Guardian's flesh tasted of salt and summer as he continued to kiss the areas within reach, making sure to keep them as chaste as possible.

// He's enjoying this... I /know/ he is... If only I don't scare him off... Take it slow... make him /want/ it... oh God but I /hate/ waiting... I wonder what will it be like... when he /does/... // Steven couldn't help but blush at the little fantasy. He could almost feel the strong arms around him, being pressed back into the grass, the trainee's mouth against his hard and passionate. He shivered, laying his kisses close together, letting them become more eager. // What would it be like to have you /want/ me... // The body in his arms twitched and turned, breaking the thread of his thoughts as he pulled away, uncertain. The dark-haired trainee was watching him, his eyes lost in the shadows beneath his longish bangs. The mage was frozen, transfixed by the sound of their ragged breathing. Without a word, he was pulled close again, wrapping his arms once more around the taller boy.

// What now... Mason... what will you let me do? // He felt the trainee's tense muscles under his hands, and on a whim stroked them appreciatively. The other boy looked away a moment, as if trying to get himself oriented. // No... I don't want you 'reasonable'... you're too damned 'reasonable', and 'responsible', and several other '-ibles' as well... I'm sure... No...right now I want you just as you are, off balance, excited... watching me. You're /mine/... //

"Look at me, Mason..." The request came out a breathy whisper, but served its purpose. The dark eyes immediately riveted on his face. "You're so beautiful..." Knowing he wouldn't be refused, he leaned in closer, eyes closed in anticipation for the kiss. Lips brushed once, twice, with feather like touches, before the arms around his back tightened, pulling them together. There was nothing amateur about the kiss, much to Steven's surprise. It wasn't until much later however that he gave the matter any thought, completely distracted by the seductive movement of lips and tongue against his own. It was almost a game, each trying to dominate the other, to taste the other, to explore the new and secret places. He was dizzy by the time they broke for air, clinging to Mason as he panted for breath. The trainee allowed him only a short respite, gently nuzzling his neck, sliding the loose collar of his shirt aside to place kisses further along his shoulder. The mage laughed in amazement, at the sudden reversal, pulling the head close once more, determined to become intoxicated on the flavor of fresh grapes, the last thing they had consumed from the now empty basket.

// Oh yes... this is far more entertaining then /fishing/... more like one of my more exotic dreams... //

"You're a dream..." The trainee's words unconsciously echoed his sentiments and he laughed again, sprinkling the serious face with light teasing kisses. There was no doubt in his mind that there was nothing to stop them from spending the rest of the evening in the pleasant past-time. It all came to a bewildering end however, as Mason abruptly pulled away, silencing his complaint with a finger across the lips. Steven followed the dark-boy's gaze into the trees, but it took several moments before he understood. In the distance a dog was barking, a sharp angry repetition that sounded more alarming as it drew nearer. He would have happily clung to his would-be-lover, but instead found himself gently, but firmly detached. The trainee standing up, tensed and ready.

"Mason...? What...."

// Damn it. When I find who's responsible... //

The dark eyes that met his were now worried, and deadly serious. "It's Az.... Something's happened."

// ... Val...? // He frowned, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of his stomach. With an explosion of greenery, the animal broke into the clearing and came to a splashing halt in the stream. Its eyes glowed balefully in the half-light as it stared directly at Mason. The mage inched backwards unconsciously, frightened as he had never been before by the black dog. It had never seemed less 'dog' like than it did now. The canine shape barely contained the rage he felt emanating from with in. Kneeling fearlessly next to the creature, Mason caressed its head.

"Shhh... calm down... what happened...?"

Steven watched in alarm as the other boy's face grew blank and still, he and the animal seemingly frozen as they stared at one another. They remained statue-like for several minutes, Mason's expression growing darker by the moment. Until at last he flinched, surging to his feet with a growl. The eyes when they turned to meet his, were uncanny.

"Etienne. Go back to campus. Stay there till we get back." The instructions were clipped, brooking no disobedience.

// Scary.... is this what they call 'Guardian Eyes'...? Like his world's been reduced to 'obstacles' and 'goals'... and I'm sure as hell not the later... Damn you Val, you're my friend, but damn you... Every time I think I've 'got' him... he drops everything and goes running off to be with you. You'd better be /really/ in trouble... //

"What 's going on...!" He fought to keep the tremor from his voice as Az growled again.

The trainee blinked, before forming the words carefully. "Val's been kidnapped."

// Awe, shit. //

-------------------------------------------------------------------

// Mason! There's no time. We have to go /now/! // Az restlessly paced back and forth as the trainee grabbed for weapons, casually tucking ammunition into his coat pockets.

"I know, I know... I'm hurrying. But how the hell are we going to find him? DC is a /big/ city, if we're going to play 'Hot and Cold' it could take all week!"

// I should be able to pinpoint the general area fairly quickly, after that... I don't know... they're 'blurring' him somehow...I cannot get a clear fix on him, nor can he hear me. //

"There, good to go." Mason pulled the door shut. "How can /I/ hear you, anyway... You've never talked to me /before/..."

// There was never a need. //

"Great... thanks, I think. So what do we do now? Train?" He watched the animal growl anxiously, expecting the response even before it came.

// Too slow... we need to be there /now/. //

"I hate to break it to you, but unless we can /fly/ we aren't going to do better than the train... "

// ... unless we teleport. //

"And who the hell will teleport us? /I'm/ no mage, and I don't know any seniors!"

// I can do it. //

"What?!" Mason stared at the animal in shock. The dog put its ears back nervously.

// Unfortunately it means breaking ... /several/ promises to Valor... // Az watched him silently seeming to come to some internal decision. // It can't be helped, he'd be even angrier if I tried to do this on my own... I need you to keep me from doing anything /too/ noticeable. //

"Sounds like this has happened before..."

// Sort of. It's a long story, Mason... Valor wasn't precisely accurate with his description of me... I'm not a familiar. //

The trainee resisted the urge to laugh at the embarrassed statement, simply raising an eyebrow curiously. "Yeah, I kind of guessed that... What are you then...? Demon?"

The dog shrugged. // Something like that. To teleport, I need to return to my more powerful form... try not to be alarmed. //

"Woah! You can shape change?"

// You thought I was /always/ a dog? Now hush. I need to concentrate. //

Mason watched in alarm as the dog laid down and closed its eyes. There was no one else around the dusky campus, the evening air was placid and heavy as the sun sank lower. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, and the it was as if all the shadows in the area ran like water towards the crouching animal, covering it in an impenetrable blackness. He resisted the urge to fall back several feet, and stood still, shivering in the sudden cold. The feeling of power gathering around him triggered a memory, something from one of his dreams. There had been another time when he had felt this burning energy, he had held it in his hands and used it to destroy those who stood against him. He concentrated, trying to remember something explicit, but there were only fragments, everything chaotic and wild, the feeling of black fire, a rain of white feathers, and a momentary terrifying sight of his lover on the ground eyes wide in shock as a sword pierced his chest.

// No!... // The image was uncanny, seeming to strike a nerve deep inside. He came back to himself with a shake, finding his sword out and ready in his hand.

"Mason?" The voice, low pitched and dry, pulled his focus outward, away from his suddenly wild emotions. He forced himself to calm down and looked up, only to be startled again. It was the boy from the park.

"/You/..?!" The trainee took in the faded jeans and black turtleneck in amazement. "/You/ were /Az/...?" An elegant eyebrow quirked cynically.

"Yes."

The familiar casually inspected himself, dusting off the denim briefly before producing a hair-tie from someplace and pulling back the shoulder-length mass. The hair, like almost everything else, was a deep glossy black. The creature looked almost human, only the eyes were out of place. Mason resisted the urge to shiver every time the flickered across him. Black-on-black, they gave no sign of iris or pupil, seeming to deflect all the light that came near them. He had the impression that they didn't miss much. Although Az now stood at his height, it felt as though he was much taller, his presence almost palatable. The trainee was distantly reminded of a statue cut out of onyx and marble, even the ordinary clothing seemed part of the mystique.

He pulled himself together, refusing to babble. "So you look human now. Great. Can we go?"

Az blinked, and suddenly his aura vanished, seeming to dissipate into the twilight. "Yes. Come along." A firm hand closed around Mason's fore-arm and he found himself dragged further behind the dormitory. The black-clad teen concentrated a moment, listening to something that only he could hear, and then reopened his disturbingly featureless eyes. "I need to be closer to him before I can start tracking."

"Let's go to DC then, and get our bearings? How many times can you cast this spell?"

"As many as necessary."

"Wait, try and land us someplace where nobody's looking, ok? If you're not supposed to be doing this, perhaps subtle is better?"

The changeling blinked in surprise, then looked confused. "I hadn't thought of that... Where do you recommend?"

"I don't know! Maybe a closet or something?"

"No good, I can only 'jump' to places I've already been, or that are in line-of-sight... Valor has never been in a closet in the city."

Mason sighed in exasperation. "Fine, where /have/ you been?"

Black eyes, blinked, inspiration dawning. "I know a place." The trainee didn't even have time to voice his doubts as the world around them suddenly began to blur and shift in a stomach-turning way. His shout became a distorted garble to his ears and he forced himself not to flinch out of the familiar's steely grip. Reality reasserted itself with a white porcelain glare. Finding himself suddenly in far too close quarters with his companion, Mason lurched back, bumping into the linoleum barrier. The metal toilet paper holder dug painfully into his back.

"Daaaah!" Staggering out of the stall and looking around in amazement, he was startled to recognize his surroundings. The ornate clock hanging above the row of mirrors and sinks confirming his suspicions. They were in the first-floor men's room of the Smithsonian Museum of History. "Jesus, /warn/ a guy when you're about to do that!" Still trying to settle his stomach, he paused to splash some water on his face. Az, simply stood, unconcerned with his surroundings, watching the guardian's antics with curiosity.

"What's wrong?"

"A /Bathroom/?!"

"You said go where there wouldn't be people. The museum closes at six, thus this place would be empty."

"Why not in the /hall/?" His shock fading, he began to start to see the humor of the situation. The familiar's blank stare only adding to his urge to start laughing.

"There might be night watchmen..."

"Right, Right. So /now/ we're inside a locked-down building... now what?"

Az's tight smile was even more uncanny than his eyes. "Now, we /hunt/."

"Oh... /right/... Ok Scooby-Do, let's go get Shaggy."

"What?"

"Nevermind... Dumb joke."

Mason shrugged at the uncomprehending look and waved for the familiar to get on with it. Az listened again, seeming to find what he was looking for, and abruptly grabbed the trainee's sleeve, transporting them to a new location. For his part, Mason was faintly glad that he hadn't had time to eat.

Narrowing down the search area to a rather rundown warehouse district was a quick procedure. The familiar paused after every jump, seeming to gage his distance and direction before yet another /lurch/ and a new location. The trainee got fleeting impressions of any number of shady alleys and even once, the inside of a phone booth. He was very glad when he felt his arm released, signaling a stop to the unpleasant ordeal. He felt distinctly queasy.

"Are you alright?" The unemotional delivery of the inquiry only added to the surreal feeling of the past hour. Forcing his stomach to behave, he slowly took a breath and looked around. They were perched on the second-floor balcony of a fire escape.

Knowing it was stupid, he still had to ask. "What the hell were you and Valor doing playing on a fire-escape in a neighborhood like this?!"

"Don't be stupid. Valor was never here."

"But you said."

"We rode a trolley around town one day on our way to harbor, it drove down this street."

"You have a really good memory."

"Yes."

Sighing in disbelief, he casually kicked the ladder down, providing them access to the street. "Well... we're /here/... now what?"

"He's nearby. One of these..." Az waved a hand to imply the rows of massive metal buildings.

// There must be over 25 of these things... /don't/ tell me we have to go through them all! //

"You have to be kidding. Come /on/ there has to be a way of pinpointing it... "

"I could just knock them down one-by-one and see who comes out..."

Mason looked at him in disbelief, he wasn't joking. "Right... well I'll take the ones on the right then... How will I get your attention if I find anything?"

"Thinking should be sufficient. I'll hear you."

"Wait, you can hear my thoughts? /all the time/...?"

"Of course."

Mason opened his mouth, found he had nothing to say, and shut it again, stalking off to his side of the street. The familiar listened to his grumbling a moment before shrugging and starting on the left most building.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Sliding through a gap in the corrugated steel door, Mason fought the urge to sneeze. Like its fellows, this storage house was full of dust and smelled unquestionably of mildew and musty straw. He crept carefully in the darkness. The name on the door had proclaimed #4 Seaside Drive to be under the proud management of Waverly Corp., producer of 'Fine Goods'. He eyed the stacks of boxes doubtfully. A recent mishap at the previous building fresh in his memory. In investigating what had likely been a rat, he had invariantly elbowed a stable-looking stack, only to have it tip over with a muted crash. He paused to smell his jacket in disgust. When the dust had settled he had found himself sitting in a remarkably large pile of what felt like little pebbles and what smelled like the 'magic meat' served on Wednesdays in the cafeteria. Flicking his small flashlight on, he discovered the reason. The crates had each contained fifty-pound bags of dry cat food.

// Yup, that's me... Mason, Friend to Felines everywhere...Gah I smell like 'Special Liver Formula: Now with Calcium'... Some 'sneak thief' I'd make... // He paused, hearing a sound on the level above.

// ... Az...? You around? //

// Yes. Nothing. I can sense /nothing/... Where Is He?! // The trainee winced at the angry volume of the thought.

// There are /people/ in this one... upstairs... I'm going to check it out. //

// What? I don't sense... Hmmm, I think you found something, I'm heading over. //

Mason briefly checked his gun as he slid up the stairs, praying each step wouldn't squeak. Somehow he made it to the top and scuttled quickly behind a stack of crates to hide from the bright light coming from the far side of the giant room. He could now easily hear the voices of several men. They were using that too-slick tone that often set his teeth on edge, trying to convince a silent opponent that what they were doing was for the 'best interest of everybody'.

"... But you're not even /listening/ to me! You idiots!"

The guardian froze, recognizing the last voice instantly. He began a silent litany of curses as he sprinted from one shadow to the next, drawing closer to his goal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Valor rubbed his forehead in frustration, or he would have if his hands hadn't been tied behind his back. The loss of blood-flow making his fingers numb. He had awoke to find himself in a large poorly lit room, laying in a heap at the center of what had to be the most ornate magical ward he had ever seen. The plain chalk circle surrounding him was enhanced by additional layers of pentagrams, rings, and curling script. So much energy was consumed by the spell in fact that the chalk-lines were noticeably glowing, forming a field of white light between him and his captors. They had their own circle, seeming a twin of his own.

"Try and see it from /our/ perspective, lad." Mr. Flat-nose, as the bard had decided to label him, tried to smile understandingly. "You are, as far as we know, the only person to successfully 'awaken' the Weapon... We're very grateful to you, you've solved a most perplexing mystery. But you have to admit, /you/ as an individual, have absolutely no use for It... And we're more than willing to offer you a /very/ generous price... So why not give It to us?"

The teen shifted slightly, trying to take some of the strain off his knees. "If you wanted to conduct /business/ with me, hog-tying me was not the best first impression you could have made... and I've already told you people... it just doesn't work that way! Az does as he pleases! I don't own him! He's not something you can buy!"

"Oh, but my /dear/ boy... We think... and we have quite a lot of research to back our claim... that you /do/ own the Weapon... when you opened the seals, /you/ became It's master..."

"... he has a name you know..."

"Ah yes, what do you call it? Az? How adorable. Still you do have to see that it is /not/ a pet... /right/?"

"Oh for the love of God... Look, here's a thought... you guys let me go... and I'll do my best to make sure that he doesn't rip you into palm-sized pieces when he gets here..."

"So you /can/ control It!"

"HIM! You guys are really dumb, you know that?!"

"The barriers are designed to hold under /any/ conditions... as for the Weapon... we all know it is gender-less... that's a historical fact." The man was tapped on the shoulder by one of his partners and the group fell into a huddle, whispering frantically. Valor strained his fingers, trying to decipher the knots around his ankles, but all his reaching did was set him off balance, he tipped over with a 'thud'.

"...ow... fucking-'a'..."

// These guys my not be the brightest bulbs in the box... but by now they can probably rule out any possibility of 'sale'... which means if they follow the pattern, they'll start trying 'alternative persuasion'... If I wasn't about to be in serious pain, it'd be funny. I can read them like a book. What I wouldn't give for a Calvary right about now... Da, dada, dada! Here they come to save the day... // Valor rested his head against the dusty planks, his own joke only serving to make him feel worse. Lonely and afraid, he could do nothing but wait for the men in suits to decide what to do with him.

// Probably a nice jolly stabbing, then drop the corpse in the river... heh, I'll probably be front page news... 'Beloved Mage Student Found Dead in Delaware' They'll have to use last year's yearbook photo... Damn it I'll be immortalized wearing Anton's bow-tie... Then again, I'll probably be relegated to the Obituaries... If they're right, Az won't be able to find me... but there's no way they can prevent him from knowing I'm dead... He's going to be /pissed/... 'Giant Lizard Destroys Nation's Capital' sort of pissed... I'll be forever remembered as the boy whose pet went berserk and ate the Leader of the Free World. I'm doomed. //

A polite cough broke through, interrupting his visualization of more and more catastrophic headlines for the Sunday paper.

"Well Mr. Jones... my associates and are rather sorry that we could not come to terms... very sorry indeed." The pompous man straightened his tie, "But then we feel it is not entirely your fault, you /did/ come upon the Weapon by /chance/ it seems, you don't have all the experience that we do... As far as we can see therefore, there are only two options, no, hear us out!"

Val began to laugh softly, determined to enjoy the stupidity of the moment, even if it would be short lived. "Sorry... go on, tell me your /amazing/ idea..."

"Well..." The group was obviously flustered. "Well we would like to offer you a job, as the Weapon's master... If you can make it perform simple tasks, if you would join /us/ then we could still come to a /most/ amiable agreement..."

"And the alternative?"

"Well I hate to say it... but we feel that if you were ... ah shall we say 'removed' the Weapon would be forced to choose a new 'master' one of us, or someone of our choosing... Like a baby 'chick' It seems to 'impress' on the first person it sees."

"You're going to kill me... and you think that if you can get to Az before anyone else... he'll choose one of you? Funny... very funny..."

"I fail to see the humor in the situation young man! You can believe we'd much rather simply go through /you/... Won't you see reason?"

"Az isn't your 'Weapon'... and I'm /not/ his master... I don't even know why he bothers to stay with me frankly... as for Obedience?!" The bard laughed bitterly. "You think I /command/ him? Hardly, /Az/ does what /Az/ likes... I suggest things sometimes, and I scold him a lot... but I don't think that's what you had in mind... If I went 'Hey Az! Go blow up Russia!'... He'd probably just think I'm daft and get bored and go away..."

"We could help you /train/ him..."

"That would be a spectacularly /bad/ idea..."

"You are obstinate then?"

Valor felt strangely calm, "Yeah, sorry man. If you won't listen, you'll just have to find out the /hard/ way..."

"I see... then there's only one thing we can do... Ge-"

"HEY! Hand over the Bard, and No one gets Hurt!"

// ... Impossible... //

"Mason...?" He craned his head, following the older men's startled gaze to see a new form stalking out of the darkness. The naked blade gleamed wickedly in the half light.

// Only he could say that and have it not sound stupid. //

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Mason moved without thinking, his gun aimed at the flock of men in suits on the far side of the room. In the chalk pattern to his left his friend was vainly trying to upright himself again but wasn't having much luck. The ropes tying the boy were obviously too tight. He couldn't explain the unreasoning anger that provoked him to move, something about the whole situation striking him as sick and unfunny. He had listened in the shadows, not certain if he had understood any of what was going on, but he was beginning to. What was about to happen was more then clear, he was going to get his friend back, and that was all.

// But where'd Az go...? I have no idea what I'm doing... what the hell is this crap on the floor? It looks like some sort of protection circle... but is it to keep me /out/? or to keep Val /in/? I don't want to fry myself trying... //

"Val, what's with the floor, I can't read this shit!"

"Even /I/ can't read all this shit... get me out of here! /My/ circle is just a big shield, you should be able to step on it..."

The trainee moved sideways, not taking his eyes off the silent men, and gingerly set the toe of his boot on the edge of the pattern. He pulled back quickly when it began to smoke. "Ow, son of a..."

"...ooops, guessed wrong. Sorry."

"Thanks, Val..."

"Young man, I don't know what you're trying to do, but it won't work..."

Mason closed the distance to the second circle, staring down the older men with ease. "Let him out."

"Or you'll what? We can still attack /you/, but I doubt you'll have an easy time stopping us! Our barrier is impenetrable" The trainee shrugged and opened fire, deciding to test their claim, the bullets flickered off an invisible wall, ricocheting wildly about the room. Behind him he heard the bard yelp in alarm as one of the projectile hit the other barrier in the room.

"Jesus Mason! That's not going to work! Try and destroy the chalk! That's what's holding the barriers!"

"Chalk...? Right..." He shot another bullet, causing the men to flinch again while he tried to come up with a plan.

// Idiot... I should've thought of that... but I can't touch the... // Mason looked up, inspiration dawning. // Sprinklers...? Water! Perfect. // He was too slow, the protected-men catching on before he could fire at the water pipes. One of the previously silent men in the back of the had begun chanting, causing the hair on the back of his neck to go up. He dodged the first ball of fire by inches, the heat scorching his face as he frantically moved. The second forced him to dive again, rolling out of the way. // This is for /real/... they're trying to kill you! /Do/ something?! // His mind was a frightening blank, the cold energy he half expected to surface was dormant. // /Help/ Me! // The energy stirred, seeming almost sullen to be summoned. He strained, hoping the silent voice of his subconscious would return again and tell him what to do. He had doubted last summer, he had heard the voice behind the church, but disbelieved it, blaming it on his concussion. The past year had proved him wrong, his silent advisor returning on several occasions, but only when he was in serious trouble. He was surprised that it had not come to him now. Mason ducked another blast and tried for the sprinklers again, his shot going wide.

// Come on! I can't do this on my own! I'm still new at this! //

/ ... /

// I /know/ you're there... What do I do?! //

/ You... / Irritation faded to thoughtful amusement. / You seem to have everything well in hand. /

// In hand?! I'm getting /baked/ here! //

/ You're doing fine, remember, while /you're/ distracting them, your partner is getting in position... /

// Who?! //

/ The demon. Az. /

// You knew he was a demon?! //

/ Duck. / The trainee obeyed the silent command, his attention divided between the mages and his dry-voiced sub-conscious. / Of course I knew. It was rather obvious... but he's strong, I've never seen his like... /

// Great... So where is he... //

The floorboards trembled slightly, the vibration only noticeable because he was briefly standing still. He prepared to lunge again, but realized he was no longer being shot at. The business men were frozen, white with terror, staring past him and at the top of the stairs. Even Mason felt impressed, where his entrance had been loud, the familiar seemed to slink across the floor, moving silently and exuding an aura of pure menace. Az seemed to bring the shadows with him as he stepped into the light, the slim human body only a convenient shell for /something else/. He picked himself up and moved out of the way, standing behind Val's protective barriers as the demon stalked closer. The bard had started to babble.

"Az?! Nononono! Don't kill! You mustn't kill! /please/... Az! Calm down! I /know/ you're angry... but I'm /fine/, we're all fine... they didn't hurt me! It's OK!"

He fell silent as his familiar crouched next to him, studying the myriad lines. The pale face was cold, completely unemotional. "Be patient a moment, this will be over soon."

"/Az/?!" Valor struggled to get a hand free. "Az, Please!!"

He has already turned away, facing the bard's captors. "You are nothing without your barriers. Children hiding from the truth... You want your 'weapon'? I'll demonstrate." Two elegant fingers flickered downwards, driving into the floor. The touch sent a visible shockwave through the wood, causing it to ripple violently then explode, dissolving into timber and dust.

/ Impressive. /

// Screw you. //

Mason was on his feet in an instant, sprinting over the shattered floor to catch the bard as he fell. Both magical circles were erased, broken apart as the floor crumbled. The trainee was ready for a painful landing, curling his body protectively around his friend in the hopes of absorbing most of the impact. It never came. He cracked a leery eye open, trying to get his bearings, it took a few tries, the surrounding rubble making it difficult to tell what was what in the darkness. He was hovering roughly a foot above the floor, the terrified bard still trembling in his arms. Above them, several unpleasant sounding screams echoed then died. Mason felt himself slowly lowered to the floor, landing with a bump. Wasting no time, he hastily stripped Valor of the various ropes and hauled the teen to his feet, all but dragging him from the now listing building. The bard collapsed on the street, refusing to run further.

"You ok, Val? Jeez you're scratched up pretty good... they didn't have to tie you so tight...."

"Oh Az... what have you done..." The trainee glanced back at the warehouse to calmly note flames were now cheerfully consuming the building. The blaze burned unnaturally fast, consuming not just wood, but the steel housing with no effort. Soon, all that remained was a scorched and empty lot. He was surprised to see that Valor was crying.

"They were going to kill you, you know."

"...I know..."

"... and you're ok with this?!"

"No, but that doesn't mean they had to die... I /tried/ to warn them... I tried to stop him... he is just so bloody /unreasonable/ sometimes!"

"He wants to protect you."

Val angrily wiped his face on a dirty sleeve. "I don't want anyone else to die because of me... I'm not worth it. Besides..." He watched a dark shape detach from the smoke and walk towards them. "This won't solve /anything/... they'll be back... if only for revenge." He fell silent, waiting for the changeling to arrive.

Dark hair now loose and windswept, Az crouched easily in front of the bard. A hesitant hand reaching up to capture a stray tear. He tasted it thoughtfully as Val shied away. For a moment the elegant face looked worried, watching his master silently collect himself. In the end he said nothing, gathering the protesting form in his arms and rising with a fluid grace.

"Bad, Az! Put me down! Haven't you caused enough trouble?!" Mason blinked as pitch black eyes met his under the street lamp.

"Home?"

The trainee nodded emphatically. "Home. Before the cops get here or the /Hunters/..." He followed the dark form into the alley, tossing one more look over his shoulder at the smoldering bare-spot. "Jesus screamed, and he ran." Without a sound the three teens dissolved into the darkness, leaving the street empty and silent.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Penny for your thoughts..."

"Huh...?" Mason looked up from the mass of textbooks and notes to look at his friend. The bard was perched on his bed, taking a break from another round battling with the blank sheets of composition paper. Gray eyes twinkled in tired amusement.

"You've been staring at the same page in that book for over fifteen minutes, sir... Somehow I /doubt/ it is that interesting."

"oh...." He looked down, really /seeing/ what was in front of him for the first time in minutes. The book /was/ terribly dull, a dry collection of facts and dates, describing the evolution of weaponry through the ages, but that wasn't what had sent him daydreaming. The top illustration on the page caught his eye again, causing him to pause. The photo was old and grainy, a poor black and white representation of what ought to have been a marvel, the pinnacle of design and craftsmanship. He read the caption again. "Considered one of the finest examples of its time period, the "Générateur de Veuve", more commonly known as 'the Widowmaker' was found by a telephone survey team when they were laying wire for a new addition to the Basilica in Rome, a one-handed weapon cast in Damascus, it is unrivaled in strength or beauty. It is also one of only three blades in existence that can be uncontestedly labeled a 'Riot Blade' as it bears a complete and undamaged maker's mark. Dated as being forged sometime between 1200 and 1300 AD, it is the oldest known example of this family's work. It resides currently in a private collection in France. Photograph courtesy of the LeRue Foundation. c 1937."

"You've been mooning all this time over a sword?!" Valor slouched against the wall and began to laugh, kicking a book of Music Theory off the edge of the bed with a spiteful nudge.

The trainee tore his eyes away from the image with a shrug, grinning at himself. "I dunno... it sounds strange... but I think I've seen it before... I mean, the picture is really crappy, but I recognize the thing. It's kind of weird."

"Don't ask me... as far as I can tell, all swords look pretty much the same"

"Oh yeah? Well to me all cellos sound the same..." He received a pillow attack for his efforts and retaliated, all thoughts of studying for the winter exams forgotten. Mason had almost finished subduing his wily opponent when he was interrupted by a polite, yet firm, tap on his shoulder.

"Kindly do not smother my mage..." Despite the traditionally dry monotone, the trainee could swear he heard a trace of humor. He immediately surrendered his pillow, grinning sheepishly.

"I don't suppose it'd help to say /he/ started it..."

Az blinked and gave the bard a long look. "What are you /doing/..."

"Having fun, you ought to try it sometime." The black-haired boy was completely unrepentant and snatched his pillow back, belting his familiar across the chest with it. Sighing with defeat, the demon claimed the pillow before stalking to his customary seat on the window ledge. Val frowned in thought. "You weren't walking around the /halls/ like that... were you? I could get in a lot of trouble if they catch you and figure out that you're not a student..."

"I was discrete... I needed to complete one or two tasks that were better done with 'hands', that's all..."

The bard raised an eyebrow. "Tasks...?"

Calmly reaching into a pocket, Az withdrew a familiar looking cream-colored envelope, embossed with the school logo. "Invitation. I decided to get an official one. Now you need not be concerned that they'll find their count amiss."

"Wait, you broke into the Dean's office and /stole/ one?!" Mason took one look at the pole-axed expression and began to laugh helplessly, his own worries thoroughly forgotten. The demon simply shrugged, not seeing anything wrong with his actions.

"I also added my name to the invitation list. They'll think that I was just there all along..."

"Way to go, Az."

He shrugged off the trainee's complement. "You said they wouldn't let me in as a dog, and I refuse to let you go alone." The slim boy shot Mason an inscrutable look, "Especially if /this one/ is going to be otherwise occupied..." The dark boy shrugged silently agreeing to the statement. "So that left me either 'manufacturing' an invitation, or procuring one of my own... I fail to see the problem."

"They're going to /notice/ that they've never seen you before!"

"No, I doubt it, and if they do, they won't remember."

"...Az...."

"Shouldn't you be studying...?"

"Yeah Val... How much of that Opus have you /written/ yet? A page...? Less?"

"Mason, if you think you can do better, I should dearly like to see you try."

Grinning again, the trainee deliberately turned the page, blocking out the strange thoughts, and the sword, in favor of passing his exams and surviving the end-of-semester social life. Just as he was settling down, a new thought occurred to him, a reminder he'd almost failed to deliver. "Hey Val..."

"Hey what... I'm busy here..." The bard was attacking his sheet music with renewed vigor.

"Did Anton tell you that you're invited to his 'Special Mid-Winter Fishing Trip' ?"

The musician made a face. "Fishing?! You have to be joking."

"Well he had to call it something... and there /is/ a lake where we're going..."

"Who is this 'we'...?" Val was suddenly suspicious.

"Ummm, Anton and Nelson, Mary and Sophia, Tav and Freid, Connie and Jo, and Steven and me... It ought to be cool..."

Suspicions confirmed, the bard couldn't help but grin. "OH.... /FISHING/... riiiiight... I cannot help but notice that I'm the only 'single' person going /on/ this little outing... what am I, the chaperone?"

"Pffft. Nah, And don't look at /me/. Anton thought of inviting you all on his own, I just happen to agree. You should come, wallow in luxury for a week. It beats the hell out of staying here all alone while I'm gone..."

"I wouldn't be alone, there are plenty of kids who stay here over Christmas... Speaking of which, you /are/ going home... right?" He gave his sprawled friend a worried look.

"Yeah yeah, for a week or so, I'll be coming right back /here/ after the trip though, there's some stuff I want to get done..."

"You're insane."

"So you've said. Anyway, I thought, if Az came along as he is now..." He gave the silently listening teen a nod. "Then it would still be an even number of people... the house is supposed to be enormous..."

"And no one there for the winter holidays save a handful of reprobate teenagers... oh /this/ will be /nuts/. Count me in, I'll bring the camera so I can blackmail you all later."

"You don't own a camera."

"Believe me, I'll find one."

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"I... don't remember seeing you around, you new here...?"

"No, but I'm in the guardian program... I don't go into mage classes often."

"Ah, that explains it. Now that you mention it, you do look the part... and I suppose you're guarding our 'precious' Val this evening? Good Good, you kids enjoy yourselves." The elaborately-robed 'Simple Charms' professor was still smiling blankly as he wandered away. It wasn't until he was lost in the swirl of students that the bard let out the breath that he was holding.

"I don't believe he bought that."

"I do, do you still want some punch?"

"I wish I could have a beer."

"If we wait ten minutes, I believe Nelson is about to add half a bottle of rum to the mix."

Val stared at the tuxedo-ed boy at his side. "/What/?! How could you /possibly/ know that..."

An elegant eyebrow lifted, giving the sharp features a quizzical look. "Simple observation. I saw him smuggle the bottle in... and now I am watching him casually slip over to the tureen while Anton distracts the two staff members." The bard craned his neck to spot the sneaky mage student in action. Sure enough, just as the usually soft spoken Moroccan's wailing reached fevered pitch, the scarlet clad mage liberally dumped the contents of the bottle before kicking it under the tablecloth. The two professors were still placating Anton, who was insisting that he'd /die/ if his grades were anything less than perfect, as Nelson gave the brew a quick stir. They were a devilish pair.

"Don't be disgruntled, curly-top. Come and have some 'punch'..." The two mages grabbed their glasses and made a hasty get away into the crowd. Suddenly the refreshment table became a lot more popular. Valor laughed.

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Out on the enclosed balcony, and for the moment free from prying eyes, Steven was already making the most of his evening. The semester had been one long tedious frustrating /wait/ for him, and now that it was over he was all but counting the days until his plan was complete. In less than two weeks he would have his guardian /alone/, with no distractions, and no excuses. It was all he could do to keep from laughing at the idea whenever he thought about it. They all needed an 'outing', Nelson, their ringleader and self-proclaimed 'pervert for life' had taken to the idea like a drunkard to a keg of whiskey, enlisting his latest conquest's help in less than a day.

// I believe the argument went something along the lines of 'but no one else's family will be 'out of town'... followed quickly by an 'I'll Love you forever'... Heh, Ant may play it 'innocent' but he's no fool... then again, he /has/ succeeded where so far all others have failed... how long has it been... three months? And they're still together? Amazing, and here I thought Nel was strictly a 'love'em and leave'em'... unless they haven't... Oh my... Maybe /I'm/ not the only one in need of some serious privacy... //

He pulled his thoughts away from the suddenly amusing idea, preferring to take advantage of the shady nook. Mason was seemingly oblivious of the opportunity, watching the faint stars, deep in thought. It was easy enough to grab his attention, slipping under an arm to wedge himself between the trainee and the railing in a loose embrace. The glass window was frosty as he leaned back into it, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Hey, you going to stare at those all night? I thought we could come out here to get some peace and quiet... you know... /talk/... And here all you do is stare at stars..."

The still-tanned boy flinched guiltily. "Sorry... something about winter nights... I just like them, that's all... I wish I was outside."

"Do you ski?"

"Nope, never had a chance to learn... I bet it would be nice though."

"It is, well in Europe anyway. You go up into the mountains, and stay at a cozy little old fashioned inn... and then there's a fabulous view from every window... and you spend all day in the snow, and all night lounging in front of the fire... staying warm..." Steven boldly slipped his hands under the black jacket, pulling himself closer to demonstrate the /other/ things that could be done in front of the fire. His kisses were easily returned, but without any attempts to go further. He huffed in irritation. "/Relax/... no one is coming..."

The trainee simply smiled and kissed him again, short but unbearably sweet. "Be patient, whelp. We'll soon have all the time in the world."

"/Whelp/?! Are you calling me a puppy? I should snub you for the rest of the night for that..."

Shaking his head in amusement, Mason sighed. "Sorry... I won't do it again, and... Hey, what do you think you're /doing/... hmmmm?" He calmly detached the exploring hands, capturing them with his own and pinning them to the banister. The mage squirmed a little but found himself stuck.

"Spoilsport."

"Patience."

"... is not one of my better virtues..."

The trainee frowned for a moment, confused. "I thought you once boasted you were 'patience incarnate'..."

"Not /me/..." The blonde smirked. "You're going senile already! One too many hits to the head..." Mason smiled at the joke, but his eyes were still distant. "It was probably Val... come, give me another kiss before we rejoin the madhouse. I'm leaving hideously early tomorrow morning to spend time with my folks so this'll have to tide me over till I see you for New Years..."

"Always so demanding..." The guardian stooped slightly to grant the request.

Wrapping his arms around his boyfriend's neck Steven was in momentary heaven as he let himself be all but swept off his feet. The kiss was long and fervent, proving that for all his modesty and old fashioned values, even the trainee was looking forward to their vacation. He resisted the urge to gloat, concentrating on getting his breathing settled. It wouldn't do to go back into the room blushing like an idiot. Absently, he reached to straighten Mason's tie.

"Right then, let's go."

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// It wasn't Val that said that... it was you... or wait, maybe it was only a dream... why is it that I can remember these things but you can't... Did you forget me? Did any of those things ever happen at all? I don't know anymore... //

The dark boy kept his thoughts carefully to himself as he was pulled back into the crowded room, letting the noise and excitement distract him. Ahead of him Steven was cheerfully plowing through the crowd towards a familiar group of heads. Moimoi's hair, an even more outrageous construction than usual stood towering in glory, adding to her already impressive height. The braided mass bobbed unnervingly every time she gestured. Her cheeks were a rosy pink.

"And /then/ I said... 'you wanna /know/ what's up my skirt?! I'll show you!' and I whipped out my knife..." She tottered a little in trying to demonstrate, fumbling with the green taffeta skirt. Anton's eyes grew enormous as he was flashed more leg then he'd likely seen his whole life. Molly and several other girls were trying to subdue the lively, and obviously intoxicated guardian into a less 'risky' conversation. They were failing.

"Get /off/ I know what I'm... what was I talking about again?" Nelson laughingly provided the gentler mage with a handkerchief to staunch his sudden bloody nose.

"You've got /no/ tolerance, you know... none at all..."

"Where I come from, women do /not/ go around flashing their underwear at dinner parties..."

"Sounds boring, remind me not to visit."

"Nelson!"

"...What...."

Mason smirked in amusement, and looked around to see his closest friend cornered by the Student Liaison to the Guardian School. Az was talking calmly with the shaggy man while the bard stared in wonder. He could just barely make out the snippet of conversation.

"No, you wouldn't have seen me around, I'm studying to be a magical historian, I'm writing a thesis about potential evidence of mages in Dinosaur cultures."

"Ah... good for you then... Always nice to see a student with motivation..." Completely baffled, the instructor wandered off, a glazed look on his face.

Val gingerly responded to Mason's wave, and snagged another glass of punch along the way, downing it in one long swallow. The demon watched the wobble in his walk with slight concern.

"I think you've had enough."

"I'll tell you when I've had enough. Hey Maisie... crazy party, hmmm?"

"Having fun?"

"I... I think I'm drunk..."

"I noticed."

"Not drunk enough, though..." The bard turned in terror as his companion was stopped by yet another adult circulating around the room.

The woman frowned slightly, as if trying to remember him. "Aren't you..."

Az smiled charmingly, "I'm the Groundskeeper for the Boy's School. Remarkably good weather we're having, isn't it?"

The woman blinked, and her eyes glazed. "Oh yes, and I have to complement you, the paths have been really well shoveled this year... last year I nearly broke my neck..."

"Ice is a worry, yes. If you'll excuse me?"

"Oh, of course." She cheerfully waved goodbye and was pulled back into the crowd.

Valor swallowed nervously. "No, definitely not drunk enough... I still know what's going on..."

"I don't know... this is rather amusing." Az smiled, it was a rather disturbing expression for the demon.

"How long has he been doing this?"

"All night..." The bard looked decidedly strained.

"Cool." Mason's bland appraisal of the situation earned him a hard look. "What..? it's apparently /working/... relax Bard. No blood no foul."

"Easy for you to say..."

"I'm with the caterers, do try a canapé, won't you? I'm especially proud of them." They both stared in disbelief as the demon smoothly derailed another staff member.

Val sighed in defeat. "I'm doomed."

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Mason hadn't been entirely sure what to expect when it came time to leave home. He had blindly assured his mother that he'd call once he 'arrived', and joked with his father about the perils of ice fishing, but eventually it was time to wait for his ride, and shouldering his bag, he wandered out onto the front porch. Luckily, Kathy was away visiting friends, it saved him the worry of having to hide his anticipation from her. There were /some/ things he wasn't quite ready to have her pry into, /especially/ as far as relationships were concerned. He didn't have to stand too long in the chill morning air, a long black car pulled up to the house at 10:30 precisely. Mason stared in disbelief as the driver politely stored his bags and ushered him into the warm interior, informing him that he was the first pick-up and that he might as well get comfortable. The three hour drive to school was completed in relative silence.

"Holy shit! I can't believe Anton got us a limo!" He was jarred awake by multiple shrieks of joy, a pair of girls in long scarves piling into the car in a flurry of snow and laughter. With their identical wool hats, Mason was forced to stare for a moment before he could tell them apart. Connie's blonde curls, sneaking out from under the multiple layers, gave her away. Jo promptly pulled her partner further in, settling them across from him. They were followed more quietly by a well insulated guitar case and two slim forms in matching black overcoats. Valor blinked owlishly in the dim light.

"Woah, is that a mini-bar?"

"Hello, Mason." Az settled himself primly next to the bard, both of them easily settling on the unofficial 'boy's side' of the car. Jo wasted no time in investigating the possibility of alcohol and as the car pulled away from the curb, a bottle and a corkscrew were rapidly produced.

"Where are we going anyway...?"

"Somewhere in New York I think... I dunno, Upstate..." Val fumbled with his gloves briefly before his familiar took over, removing the stiff cloth with a practiced grace. The musician smiled sheepishly and shook his fingers to work the warmth back into them. "Did you have a long wait?"

Mason blinked, realizing that he was being addressed. The girls had already fell to chatting amongst themselves. One of only two full bonded mage-guardian pairs that he knew, he considered them terribly lucky. "Um... I fell asleep actually..."

"That's fine... little /else/ to do on a long car trip. Have a good dream?"

The trainee frowned thoughtfully. "I... dreamt of the mountains... of snow..."

"Not surprising, given the weather... brrrrr it's bloody cold out there!" The bard laughed off the answer and stripped off his coat, adding it to the large pile in the corner. Sensing Mason's need for quiet he sighed softly and leaned against his familiar's shoulder, not minding at all when he was wrapped in a loose embrace.

"Hey, Val. You never introduced us to your 'friend'! And here we've been /so/ patient and polite..." Jo's smile was teasing, but the female guardian was definitely curious.

The demon raised an eyebrow as his bard winced. "My name is Azan, we met over the summer when he worked in Washington."

"Wow! You're /cute/! If all guys were so good looking..."

"... you'd /still/ be with me. /Right/?!" Jo laughed nervously as her mage fixed her with the mother of all death-glares.

"Of course!" Az simply snorted in amusement, and holding the dozing form in his arms a little tighter, closed his eyes, feigning sleep.

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The kitchen was quiet save for the sound of running water as Mason meditatively washed an enormous stack of pots and dishes. Volunteering for the simple chore had seemed preferable to sitting uncomfortably in the parlor and he had declined Valor's offers to help. The bard was obviously exhausted. He didn't mind the labor, his hands going through the motions deftly while he stared out the window. The flakes fell in fat soft clumps coating the trees and railings in fluffy whiteness. Their slow fall was mesmerizing, each point of white blending with the others in the late evening twilight. For some reason he couldn't explain it made him a little sad, and he was glad for the excuse to be away from the over-exuberant group.

// Maybe I should go fishing after all... I don't seem to be fit company for anyone tonight. // He shook his head, trying to free himself from the odd feeling on inertia he was suffering from. // No, this is silly, what have I to feel bad about, I'm here with /him/... I should be happy... Shouldn't I? I'm just out of it because I spent seven hours in a car... that's all... // Beside him a silent hand scooped up a towel from the counter, startling him badly.

"Jeez Az! Make a little /noise/ will you?!" He fumbled and caught the soapy mug, setting it down carefully.

"You usually notice me... Unusual for a human perhaps, but still... I did not intend to interrupt your train of thought."

The trainee grinned at the odd apology, "Nah, I wasn't thinking... not really. What's up?"

"I thought I'd see if you needed help."

"You mean you want to get away from the party-people... Where's Val?"

"Sleeping on the couch."

"He's really wiped isn't he."

"'Wiped'?" The featureless eyes blinked curiously.

"You know... tired?"

"Ah, yes. He is tired."

Mason grinned. "Put him to bed?"

"Do you think I should?" The demon casually began to pull dishes out of the rack, wiping them dry with quick sweeps of the cloth. The dark teen watched his friend for a moment, struck by the oddity of the situation.

"Who taught you how to dry dishes?"

"Valor."

"And you don't mind?"

He only looked confused. "I don't understand."

Rinsing his hands clean of soap, Mason gestured at the neat stack of dry dishes. "This, all of this. I keep thinking about what those jokers in the warehouse said last summer... You're like this 'all powerful being of mass destruction'... So why this, why dishes?"

"'Why Valor?', you mean."

"Yeah." Uncertain if he had asked a too personal question, and then uncertain if there even /was/ such a thing with Az, he turned back to his dishes. They cleaned quietly for a time.

"I guess... I guess it's because I like him." Az's face was strangely thoughtful, the rather 'human' emotion looked odd on the aristocratic features. There was a hesitant silence before he continued. "I... There's not much challenge, is there... in killing things. I mean I can do it, it's what I'm built for... but... /this/... this is hard. This is new. Sometimes I hate it, there are too many rules, too many little things that don't seem important but they are... and I keep making /mistakes/. I hate that."

"So you do it because it's a challenge?"

"Partly." The demon smiled. "Mostly, I just like to see him smile."

The trainee chuckled at the creature's tender expression. "You really love him don't you."

Az blinked again, pondering the statement. "I don't know what 'love' /is/."

Not knowing how to respond, Mason fell silent. They finished the rest of the chore quietly, the demon collecting his bard from the couch and carrying him upstairs without a word.

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"You look so serious..." Steven set down his wineglass on the dresser, and lit the candles in the room with a mumbled word. The warm glow drove some of the cool darkness from the room, but the cause for his comment was still standing motionless at the window. The dark eyes were watching the never-ending fall of snow. Curious, the mage joined him. "It's very pretty... like a snow-globe, hmmm?" He caught one of the trainee's hands, forcing the other teen to pay attention as he drew it around his waist. The taller boy smiled, looking at him at last, and sighed, pulling him into a warm embrace.

"Yes, very pretty. But not as nice as you."

The blonde felt the beginnings of a blush on his cheeks, the wine, combined with his would-be-lover's earnest expression serving to make him feel a very pleasant glow. He snuggled closer and was gratified that the strong arms wrapped tighter around him, gently stroking his back. They stood for a moment, but nothing followed, and Steven felt the urge to fill the silence, to try and regain command of the situation. He had an agenda to keep, and he would not be denied. "You want to take a shower or something? Being in the car so long..." he shuddered in sympathy. "I much prefer to fly..."

Mason laughed softly, placing a kiss on top of the soft hair. "Yes, and you're rich enough to be /able/ to fly..."

The mage refused to be baited, pulling his companion towards the bathroom. "Yes, but it hardly made sense to fly from New York City... My uncle's chauffeur brought me up. Of course... speaking of /driving/... Who is this 'Azan' person?! Isn't he the guy we saw in the park once? How come Val never told us that he was seeing someone... I mean jeez, talk about a secret affair..."

"I knew." The dark boy watched Steven stare in disbelief, suppressing a laugh. "What... I met him before... He's ok, pretty quiet though."

"Oh..."

"Maybe I /will/ take that shower..." He placed another ghosting kiss on the blonde's forehead before claiming a robe and retreating to the bathroom. The mage stared at the shut door and eventually shrugged, refusing to be daunted. Taking a minute to gather his thoughts, he listened to the quiet house, certain that the other couples had also retired for the night. He couldn't explain his feeling of nervousness.

// What's the big deal... We're /here/, he's /mine/... Val's most certainly 'busy' right now so there won't be any /more/ distractions from /that/ corner... Still... He looks tired. Maybe I should let him sleep...? // He refused to consider the alternative seriously. // No way... I've waited /way/ too long... No, I bet that Nelson is even /now/... // Motivated once again he made his preparations and climbed into bed. // He wants this... and I /definitely/ want this... the rest will work itself out. // The mage waited anxiously for the sound of the water being shut off.

Steven had to bite the inside of his lip to keep from smiling like an idiot when the tall boy finally emerged from the bathroom. Mason usually looked tempting in a t-shirt, but in only a bathrobe, he was irresistible. The damp hair was an unruly mass of spikes, the brown looking almost black in the flickering light. His chestnut eyes were tired, but there was a sudden air of mystery to them. The mage watched breathlessly as he walked over to the bed, and then hesitated, unsure what to do.

// Or rather he knows what to do... and is uncertain if he /should/... Damn but I should demand he peel that robe off right now and let me stare at him. But there will be time for that later... I keep forgetting he's new at this... first things first... bed. // He mustered what he hoped was a normal smile.

"Sit down, I won't bite... well, not right away, anyway..."

His gentle tease seemed to break the ice, the trainee relaxing slightly and settling on the edge of the bed. Steven gave him an appreciative glance before crawling over and kissing him, using lips and hands to pull him further onto the mattress. Mason snorted in amusement as he noticed the mage's striped pajama-bottoms, but made no verbal comment. His mouth was already busy responding to the continuous barrage of kisses. He allowed the mage to keep the upper hand, submitting to the eager touches, until at last he couldn't hold back, pushing the slim boy gently back into the blankets, easily falling into an embrace of arms and legs. Taking control, he deepened his kiss, sending his tongue delving into the welcoming warmth of his lover's mouth. The blonde sighed in delight, fumbling blindly with the robe's belt as he felt the guardian pull the blankets over them.

// Not too tired by half! Oh this will do... this will do just /fine/... Infinitely better than any rushed 'feel' in the storeroom or at a party... Will you let me touch you /now/ Mason? Will you cry out for me? You say you love me... show me. //

At first he sought to guide, to show the less experienced teen what to do. But he soon found such concerns completely unjustified, the muscled boy seeming to know /exactly/ how to touch him to make his world catch fire. He gave up the struggle to understand where the guardian had learned his skill, using the last of his wits to smother the majority of the candles in the room. It took two tries to get the words out sensibly as the darker boy tasted the skin under his ear.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The blonde's kisses were intoxicating. Lost somewhere between dream and reality, Mason could do nothing but hold him close and pray that he would do everything right. The skin beneath his fingers was so warm, smooth, tantalizing. It was easy to slide his hands along the narrow waist, catching the loose band of the pants and drawing them down with the caress. The body beneath his arched with a moan, assisting him in removing the unnecessary cloth barrier. Eager hands stripped him of the robe, hastily pushing it off his shoulders and out of the way. He shivered as the slim fingers returned to the skin on his back, appreciatively tracing the contours of his shoulders and arms. The blonde's voice was a hoarse whisper in his ear.

"God I want you... touch me... /please/..."

He moaned his assent, mouth tasting the hollows of his neck before sliding to a shoulder and down his chest. Mason wanted, /needed/ to prove himself. Needed to show the mage how long he had dreamt of him, desired him. A pair of hands tangled in his hair with a sigh as he found the first stiff peak of flesh. Running his tongue thoughtfully across the nipple he almost laughed as the blonde squirmed beneath him, pressing him closer to the panting chest. Whimsically he switch sides, tasting the other as he delicately ran a finger over its recently abandoned twin. The mage tasted of lavender and rose-hips, and some other unidentifiable bath oil. For some reason the floral scent was distracting, not unpleasant but simply unexpected.

// I wonder, I don't remember him having a scent in my dream... or he did... but it was cleaner... more masculine maybe? //

He dismissed the thought, preferring to concentrate on the pleasure at hand. // Doesn't matter, small things, people change, I've changed, he must have too... //

It was terribly tempting to stay as he was, to endlessly taste and explore the regions already uncovered, but Steven mewled impatiently, his hands demandingly coaxing him downwards. The blonde had now completely surrendered, willingly allowing him to take the lead, so long as he didn't dawdle. Shaking back the covers he slid lower taking in the sight of the faintly lit skin beneath him, his own arousal was aching, a steady beat in his groin and at the base of his brain. Pulsing in time with his heart, the energy ghosted through him, similar to the cold fire that he could summon in battle but fainter, and more primal. He kissed a trail down the flat stomach, hands exploring here-to-fore unknown regions on the mage's legs, caressing up the calf and under the knee. He remembered in dreams how his lover had sighed, his toes curling in delight.

There was a moment of dizziness, but it passed in a breath, barely breaking his stride.

The sheets slid back further, now silk instead of cotton. He paused to shake his head, sweeping a hand through his hair to push the 'tails' out of the way. Under him, the blonde grumbled impatiently he was uncertain if the murmur was a prayer or a curse. There was no need to rush, he wanted to make this last all night.

"... Ashley.... please... don't tease..."

He grinned, allowing his stroking hands to slide slowly over the soft skin of the inner thigh, skirting but never touching the center of the mage's desire. Finally when he couldn't watch his lover wait anymore he leaned down placing a gentle kiss at the tip of the straining erection. Fingers, feather light, trailed over the heated flesh as he watched his lover shudder, biting his hand to hold back a cry. Ashley smiled, the blonde had always been a proud one. It was a simple thing really, to taste him again, what had once been so foreign seeming so natural. He listened carefully as he worked, taking the stiff flesh into his mouth to suck it briefly and let it go. The sobbing moans were slowly loosing their musical edge, becoming sharper as the mage grew close to his limit. The knight toyed briefly with the idea of prolonging the torture, making his wily lover beg for his release, but decided tonight was not the time. He wanted the cultist too badly. Sweeping his hair out of the way again, he paused in his ministrations to slide upwards, claiming another sweet kiss. The blonde was almost frantic, the velvet mouth pressing hard against his, straining for more. Their bodies rocked together, sliding and grinding in blissful friction. Ashley found his control slipping, a thin hand had slipped between them catching a hold of him in a place that could be neither ignored or denied. He groaned loudly into the kiss pressing the prophet deeper into the satin pillows. The arm around his neck tightened, each touch of lips against his a whimpered plea. Blindly he fumbled with the bedside table, hand seeking the oil he knew to be in reach. It was almost too much to pull the mage up off the bed a little, to slip a hand underneath to apply the slippery substance. Fingers explored the hidden recesses, one arm holding the overly eager blonde steady as the other prepared them both for what was to come.

"Be patient, love... God you're beautiful. You're always so beautiful..." His voice sounded desperate, even to /him/, barely a growl of a whisper. The mage laughed breathlessly, wriggling himself into a better position and pulling Ashley down on top of him. It was so simple, so perfect, an act of affirmation that they had shared a hundred times before. He slowly lifted the legs, guiding them around his hips, his kiss a warning. There was a moment of breathless anticipation, their eyes met, desire shining, then they moved, sliding together with a wordless cry. He panted into the fine hair, feeling the cultist moan into his neck, as he worked himself in further, the gripping heat that wrapped his shaft threatening to drive him mad. His world narrowed to the feeling of the legs clenching his waist, the manicured nails digging into his back, and the piercing pleasure between his legs as he slowly set the pace. Each thrust was heaven, his body happily driving them both to well remembered levels of passion, the tension inside him growing steadily. Shifting his hold on the gasping mage, he freed a hand, sending it down the sweat-slick chest, reaching between them to tantalize his lover further. The need was becoming unbearable but he forced himself to wait, quickly stroking the fevered flesh to its limit. The man froze for a moment, every muscle trembling uncontrollably as he wailed, a warm wetness flooding up between them to splash against his stomach. It was enough, it was only the beginning. Unable to wait any longer Ashley pressed his face into the still shaking neck, his body surging desperately for release. It came on a moment of perfect abandon, the pressure inside snapping loose and unraveling in a wave of perfection, transcendence. He heard himself cry out, the words seeming to belong to someone else.

"Oh yes, oh... /Sydney/!" Not high poetry perhaps but perfectly suited to the moment, and his feeling of absolute bliss. It was with a contented sigh that he carefully rolled to the side, unwilling to relinquish his lover, yet unable to support himself. The blonde murmured something, but the meaning was lost as his mind pleasantly hazed over in the aftermath of their tryst. They lay together a quiet moment before the mage pulled away slightly, sliding himself free of the knight to stare down at him, a faint smirk visible on the kiss-bruised lips.

Ashley closed his eyes, feeling the kiss that was placed on his forehead with every fiber of his body. Looking into his eyes, Sydney smiled for real. His mouth opened, lips forming words, but to the knight's dismay, he couldn't make them out, their meaning blurring together into a rich loving murmur, the syllables indistinguishable. He frowned, and tried to fight the rising feeling of dizziness that threatened to distract him once more.

Around him the room shivered, the colors bleeding like wet water color.

"Mason...?"

Steven's voice was not the sweet lulling whisper that he remembered. It was nothing like it in fact, more akin to a worried question, or even a suspicion interrogation. The trainee blinked muzzily, feeling as though he had missed something rather important. Trying to pull his thoughts together, he missed the first question, only understanding the angry inquiry the second time around.

"...What...?"

"I said... '/Who/ the Hell is /Sydney/?'!!"

"...Sydney...?"

Mason blinked again, the full knowledge of what he had just done flowing into him, but it didn't stop there. It was as if all the walls in his mind had been torn down, the barriers between dream and reality shattered with the moment the name echoed in his mouth for a second time. For the first time in his life, he /remembered/, and his world came crashing down. Images flooded over him, almost too fast to identify.

// Sydney. //

He was standing in a darkened Basilica, candles placed in an ancient design on the floor, he looked to his right and paused in shock, a limp form bleeding itself out on the marble. He moved closer, crouching to draw the wounded body into his arms.

"Ashley, I'm..."

// Sydney. //

The gray eyes were full of laughter as they stared up at him, the water still dripping from the moonlit flesh. He placed a kiss on the damp neck, delighting for the first time in years in the pleasure of a lover. In the distance a waterfall softly roared, sending jewel-like spray up into the starry sky. He laughed in sheer joy at being alive.

"Well? Are you going to take your pants off? or not!"

// Sydney. //

He pulled the chain over his head, his movements abrupt; he had little time. The blonde stared in disbelief at the silver Rood pressed into his unwilling palm. Already he could feel himself being pulled away, the void opening under his feet to swallow him. He pulled the trembling mage close, one final time, and over his shoulder he watched a beautiful dusky woman begin to cry. Ashley wanted to comfort her, but there was nothing he could do. Catching the thin face in his hands, he kissed the cultist, trying to put all of himself into it, expressing all that he would now never say.

"I love you. I'll come back. I promise. Wait for me."

// Sydney!!! //

Then there was nothing but swirling darkness, but he didn't fall fast enough. The mage's screams of anguish following him as he plunged into chaos. He tried to cover his ears, but it didn't help, only then did he realize that the cries were also his own.

"/Mason/?!" A stinging slap broke the nightmare, sending it splintering into confusing fragments. The dark boy came back to himself covered in cold sweat, his mind seeming to be on fire. The cold energy was back, but no longer calm and collected it seemed to slosh about in a frenzy making him wildly disoriented. He couldn't focus, alternating between present and past too quickly to make sense of either, the semester-long dormancy of his alter-ego seeming to disappear in an instant. In a moment of clarity he stared at the blonde boy watching him in fear from across the bed.

"You... You're not him... God I thought you... How could I have been so /stupid/... Oh what have I done... God what have I done... This is all /wrong/!" Before he realized what he was doing he had unthinkingly grabbed the robe and was taking the stairs two at a time. His mind was a whirlwind, and all he could concentrate on was the sudden stifling heat and suffocating /closeness/ of everything around him. Outside the winter night beckoned. He plunged out the backdoor and into a snowdrift, the icy crystals helping him to maintain a minimal grip on sanity. Mason began to run.

/ I have to... /

// I have to...//

/ Am I too late... ?

// Oh God what if I'm too late... //

/ I've come so /far/... /

// I've worked so /hard/... //

/ Too long in chaos... I forgot my purpose.../

// I think I'm loosing my mind. //

/ What if he won't forgive me... /

// What am I going to do...? //

He didn't notice when the snow gave way to ice, running and sliding out into the center of the frozen lake.

// I have to find Sydney! //

The pressure in his mind became worse, sending him to his knees as blinding pain crushed him. He clamped his fists to his forehead and /screamed/.

The ice under him gave an ominous crack, a network of lines branching away in a web. There was a moment of stillness, his cry echoing over the lake like a wounded thing, and then the surface gave way, plunging him into frigid darkness.

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Notes: Az, cool ne? I blame the Terminator movies, or something. So Mason gets a love life, then a clue, then loses the love life... But I think he's happier... or maybe he's just bitter. It's hard to say right now. We unfortunately get to say goodbye to Val soon, one more chapter and he's done. But don't worry he and his shadow will be back in later stories, I love him too much to let him go. Now for the /real/ adventures... Mason, I mean Ashley, has to get his Sydney back! But how far is he willing to go? His destination? East of the Sun, and West of the Moon! Join me! Next time on 'Looking for the Lost': 'I will find a way.'! Yatta!

Thanks as always to Jenny, Twig, Ann, and Flidget for smacking me around when I was feeling apathetic, cheering me on, and generally putting up with my ceaseless ranting. And Annael, wherever you are, come back soon 'luv, we miss you, well /I/ miss you.

--Lunar

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