Disclaimer: I own nothing from Hellboy, Comic/Movie or otherwise.

Blaze of Unglory

Chapter 10.) Interruptions of the Fourth Kind

When I awoke I knew something was off, it was nearly instant. It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the dark of my room, my thigh aching. I ran my hand around on the bed but to my dissappointment Nuada nor Nuala was there. Sitting up I gentley eased myself off the bed, the hard wood floors cold to my toes. I gave a sigh, what was off? I shrugged, loosening my muscles a little as I stood up and wobbled a little off balance. I scuffled my feet to the door, I didn't know what time it was but it didn't matter much more then that I was hungry.

I walked into the kitchen surprised that out of the dark was a little light. Nuala was at the sink, the water running. She looked back to me, a deep gold smeared all over her face.

"Nuala?" She had a pained look, her long pale hair lazily pulled back. I walked closer, there on her arm was a huge deep gash leaking deep gold. Her blood.

"Nuala! What happened? How did you do this?" My voice shaking from how much of the golden blood was coming out, it was so deep. Suddenly a cut magickly appeared on her face and she let out a gasp.

"Fharryn! It's Nuada, he is fighting!" Her tone startled me, it was mottled with fear, for Nuada? Or herself?

"You mean, if he gets hurt, you get the the same physical wound too?" She nodded.

Oh . . .that explained how killing herself . . . killed Nuada. I mean, I knew that already but something about seeing it in person made it more real.

"Shit." I limped to the door way, grabbing my coat and putting my boots on.

"W-what are you doing? You have no pants on, its freezing. You are to be in bed!" She came to me, the golden soaked towel over her arm.

"Go tend to yourself Nuala, go get Mrs. Higgens. I have to go to him, it's my duty. Don't worry about me." I opened the door and she grabbed a hold of my arm.

"He was trying to save your life. He cares for you Fharryn, more then he has for anyone in a very long time." I turned back, shocked. I looked her in her eyes trying to see if she was just trying to keep me here.

"He needs you to heal, to heal his heart. His hurt runs deeper then any flesh wound can. I feel that if he doesn't heal it then life this second time won't be life at all." She looked so sincere, so concerned. I nodded, nothing else to do. I didn't really know what to say.

"Don't worry Nuala, I'll bring him back home. Everything is going to be fine." I grabbed her hand and she gasped as I dragged her to Mrs Higgens door on the first floor. I banged on her door and left Nuala there as a tired Mrs. Higgens opened up.

"He is close, by a red door and a mailbox with a dog painted on it." Nuala called as she went into Mrs. Higgens apartment. There was the door to the outside and I was soon out in the snow in my shorties, a tee, my boots and light jacket.

The temp was well below freezing and in her undies, a pair of tiny shorts and a loose t-shirt she was freezing. Her teeth chattered as she made her way around the large block.

"F-f-freeeeeezzzzzzing-gah m-my b-b-baawllllsssss ofafafah!" She said to herself, she broke into a run, she knew the red door and the mailbox with the dog painted on it. It was a dumb little day-care center that hadn't been in use for years. She started to see golden spots that sank deep into the snow and knew she was getting closer. Her breathing stopped showing up in front of her and she stopped.

A figure was on the ground, stark with their black clothing against the white snow. Her breathing picked up and little tears prickled on her eyes. Her heart burst with fear and a real pain blossomed through out her now heaving chest.

"Nuada!" Her voice void of studder and filled with fear. She threw herself into the snow beside him, pulling back the hood carefully. Black hair spilled into the open. She gasped and got up, looking around. She saw another black form, and another. at least five crumped masses. Red blood. She saw the gold mixed in with it. She followed it, it went away from the apartment's block. She shivered violently trying to keep up with it, she hoped he was alright, that it just looked like he bled a lot and that it wasn't really a lot.

"Nuada!" She called out, she wasn't sure if it was the best tactic but panic was seeping in and all she could think about was how frightened she was when she thought that had been him in the snow dead. The old street lamps glowed a yellow like color, making the snow hard to tell if the gold was his blood or a dogs piss or not. She ran a few feet, the gold spots were gone. No foot prints. Nothing to mark that he went past this point. She turned around, looking to see it he was up against one of the buildings.

"Nuada? Nuada!" Nothing back, she twirled, not seeing anything to point to where he was at. So she continued forward.

I watched her playing in the rain, her mostly yellow hair soaked and sticking to her face as she screamed with laughter. Her gown was soaked as well, showing me all the curves I'd missed out on seeing her grow as she twirled and dance, laughing and laughing.

"Nuada! Come here and join me! It is sooo fuuun!" She squealed with more laughter as she stomped into some puddles. I couldn't help but smile at her. She was so full of life, as she was when she had been a little child. I relished seeing her so carefree again. I walked out from the awning, the warm summer rain pelting me. In no time I was as drenched as she was. She grabbed my hands and pulled me out further into the grass before she started to dance around me.

"You have to dance too!" She had a silly grin, her face still so baby like.

"And why may that be?" She stopped, cocking her head in a manner that made her look so much more younger.

"To please the rain, of course. " She laughed again holding her hand out too, waiting for me. Her look completely wild and free. I couldn't help but be pulled into her scheme of play and we danced all evening, even after the rain had stopped.

Fharryn's lips where pale, her body had stopped shivering and she was growing tired. She thought that she had probably tore some of her stitches out but she couldn't feel it so she didn't care. All she cared about was finding Nuada. Where was he? She didn't know where else to look. How far could he have gotten? Had he been kidnapped by someone? She gave a small sigh, looking to the snow feeling sorry for herself. Little tears leaked as she felt like a failure again.

She turned around to head back to the apartment, she wasn't giving up though. She was just going to warm up a little and dress a little warmer, maybe ask Nuala if she sensed him. That was when the dread settled over her. What if they were both dead again? Could she handle it? Could she bring them back a second time? She broke out in a dead run,

"NUADA! NUADA!" She screamed his name in full panic as she ran. She started to see gray spots in her line of vision as her breath left her from running, lack of oxygen making her head swim. She slowed down, trying to be sure she didn't pass out in the snow. She saw the apartment and ran again, bursting through the doors. There was a human woman with bright red hair that was just unlocking her door to go in, she gave her a startled looked at the frozen girl in her coat and boots, her legs bare. She huffed and puffed, her air feeling like fire, no pun intended. She saw drippings on the red carpet of the hallway and rushed, pushing her self to the furthest limit she could until her own hall way at the top. She stopped, the pain suddenly coming to her from her thigh. She let out a small cry, limping horribly and very dramatically now. She saw her door, the sprinklets stopping there. She felt a surge of relief that it was him that she stopped there, just resting beside the door. He wasn't dead, he couldn't be if he had walked all the way there.

The door suddenly opened and she opened her eyes, seeing a wet Nuada stomping down the hallway.

"Hey, where are you going at this hour?" He spun around, she was still leaning hazardously against the wall, blood flowing down her thigh.

He rushed to her and instead of throwing her over his shoulder or something he hugged her. He held her roughly to his chest and she was startled worse then when she had seen Nuala bleeding. He ran his fingers through her freezing hair, her nose was snotting but he didn't seem to care.

"I was so worried. I saw your mess and thought the worst." He scoffed at her words, she closed her eyes taking in his chilled scent.

"It is I who should be saying such things. You have ripped your damned stitches again, bleeding all over this floor can't be good for rent." She smiled against him, she didn't pay rent. He reached to pick her up again, her legs swooping into the air before she could say anything.

"Hey hey! Put me down this instant, you are hurt!" She gave him an angry look. He gave her a grin, kicking open the door. She knew why the grin and blushed looking away.

"And you are bleeding everywhere." She gave him a sour look. He set her up on the island again. He grabbed a dish towel from the drawer and wet it a little before grabbing a bowl and filling it with water and setting nxt her for easy access. He sat on a stool, grabbing her leg and setting it over his knee. He started to gently wipe away the dried blood first, occasionally dipping the dish towel in the quickly turned a pink color.

"You are ice cold, how long were you outside?" He didn't look at her as he asked, occupied with cleaning her leg.

"Too long probably, I was so worried that I just couldn't come back with out trying at least a little harder then a wink of time." She watched as he began to remove her boots to get the small streams of sluggish blood that had travelled down there. She noticed how his hands touched her skin in places that weren't necessary, lingering in others. She swallowed roughly, the feel of his hard leg muscles under her, she was baffled by this odd turn on. She was glad he himself wasn't empathic, but if Nuala was picking up on her feelings she felt sorry for her. She leaned back and grabbed a paper towel, blowing her nose before aiming and shooting it into a bin.

"Score!" She whispered dramatically to herself. Nuada held a soft amused look from her playful tone as he continued to wipe at the blood.

"So, what happened? Oh wait! Lemme guess." He looked up from her leg, a sarcastic intrigued look signalling for her to try.

"You got butt hurt over me mouthing to you, stormed off to work it out in your head . . .then weirdo wanna be ninja's attacked, surprising you that there were even assholes that tried that shit where you accidently cut your arm when you then got pissed off and slashed them all with their own weapons and used some awesome comabt skills they couldn't fathom, thus kicking all their asses out in the cold. You get lost somehow then realize you are walking the opposite direction and head back. Got in here and saw that no one was home, bitchface in the living room excluded and then turned around, storming out to go find your sister to bitch out cause you can't see me." She smiled, thinking she was completely right. She loved his facial expression, the 'what in the hell are you talking about?" look she often got from her father.

"What in Bethmoora does 'butt hurt' mean? Your slang is terrible." She laughed,

"Am I right though?" He sighed, shrugging out of his coat and throwing it over the other side, missing the coat rack by a few inches. He pretended to not notice.

"I did walk out a little angry, yes. " She giggled.

"How ever 'weirdo wanna be ninja's' did not happen." Even though she was wrong she still laughed, him trying to mimick her words hilarious in itself.

"Those human . . gangs. One thought I may have significant wealth on my person. I warned them once and then promptly followed up on my warning. I wasn't in the best of moods as it was." He looked to her with an accusing tone. She batted her eyes at him. He continued.

"Although with about nine to 10, I did make the mistake of underestimating them and was caught off guard when one pulled out a gun." She froze, had he been shot? Bullets were iron.

"Were you shot? Oh my god, we have to get Mrs. Higgens!" He held her in place, a strange look in his bright gold eyes.

"I'm fine, he did not get a shot out as I threw his own man at him before he could." He said it so fluently that she just shook her head. Of course he was alright. With his shirt being short sleeved she could see the mirrored gash on his arm. To her amazement it was nearly done healing.

"His knife was silver." She understood, the elves had an affinity with silver.

"I didn't get lost, I was following a few of the ones that ran off. I gave up, they weren't worth the trouble."His hand ran up her leg suddenly and she froze again, his fingers traced designs on the inner sides of her left thigh. She relaxed a little when she suddenly remembered.

"When I was about 10 I had a really bad depressive rut and instead of cutting on my arms where they would see, I cut my legs so they couldn't." His eyes shown deep concern, suddenly looking up at her with such intensity, she jumped as he grabbed her leg to force her attention.

"If I ever see you trying this, or see new ones I will skin your thighs and make them void of skin for you to deface." She was breathing hard, it sickened her that she felt more turned on by his threat then when she got to see his naked chest. She didn't move, scared of what he might do with her answer, she didn't give it much thought as she blurted it out,

"Promise?" His grip on her leg tightened and her chest began to rise and fall a little faster, gooseflesh graced her skin. He could see all of this, new what they meant. His hand slowly pulled away from her leg, resting over her hurt one.

"What am I to do with you?" His voice gentle, his eyes warm but worried. Was she causing him stress? She looked to her lap her face showing her shame.

"I'm sorry. . . " She let her words drip away, nothing else to say. She closed her eyes as she felt tender fingers closing around her chin, he suddenly yanked , forcing her to face him. She slowly opened her eyes, refusing to look him in the face.

"Do not apologize, that simply insults me." She did look him in the face then. Familiar anger sweeping through her.

"Oh yeah? I don't see how. I'm pretty sure I've got the short end of the stick here." She folded her arms as he began to finish up cleaning her leg. She wasn't bleeding anymore and she wondered what was taking Nuala so long, she was sure that they had done their freaky psychic thing and she knew to get the needle. She cringed at the thought. She was shook back to reality when she felt a strong masculine hand rubbing up and then back down on her good leg, she shivered. He had to be doing that on purpose.

"What do you think me, Fharryn?" His golden eyes looked so much brighter with the darkness around them, they were just beautiful. His rubs ended with a pat, something she could see him doing to a horse he was fond of.

She looked to the side, uncomfortable.

"Is it bad if I lie?" She heard him snort.

"I'll punish you." She shivered again, her muscles clenching. She wished he wouldn't tease her so much, though she did partly enjoy it.

"Are you purposely teasing me?"

"Is that what you think of me?" She sighed, wiggling her toes in thought.

"It's . . hard to explain . . .I'll sound looney or something." He ran a hand down her good leg where he took and propped it up next to her hurt one on his lap. He rubbed his hands on her little feet, warming her chilled black nailed toes. She loved his hands on her. . . Giving a thick swallow,

"I . . .think everything of you. . . You've become my hero, my idol. You are my closest . . .my closest most t-trusted friend." She rolled her gaze away when she had stuttered, her cheeks turning a rosey color. though it was true, every word she had said and then some. Her breath was shakey as she looked back to him, fearful of what she would see. Would it be disgust? Maybe anger, or shame? He began to massage her feet, his face blank. Was that a good sign?

"Don't break my toes, but I think . . .I think that I'm sort of . . .kind of . . .in love." She braced herself for the pain but it never came. Least not in the form of her feet breaking off or other. She peeked at him, surprised at his expression. It was a longing look, so raw and tender she wondered if he was the same hard ass as before.

"Should I apologize and beg for forgiveness?" His eyes dilated for a moment, it almost creeped her out.

"Were you lying?" She sucked in her breath, she didn't think she could lie to him, even if she wanted to or if he wanted her to.

"Did you want it to be?" They stared at each other for a while, just looking into each other's eyes.

"You . . .can't be in love with me, find someone else." His voice was quiet as he looked back down, gripping her feet as if they were going to fly away.

"Great, rejection feels so amazing I think I want to do this everynight." She tried to pull out of his grip, she didn't have to try very hard to realize he wasnt going to let go.

"Why? Why do I always have to be rejected? How fucking fair is that?" Despite how angry she was her voice was amazingly calm. Tears rimmed her eyes. She didn't know what point there would be to being a baby in front of him. She knew that making him king, starting their war and killing off most if not all the humans was way more important then romance.

"I'm not rejecting you Fharryn, I'm saving you from a harsh end to your meaningful life. Don't be angry with me over this." She growled,

"Saving me from a harsh end? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? " He shook his head, looking to the cieling before looking down at her dainty toes.

"If I'm so terrible, why do you keep me around? You don't have to always be honorable, you can kill me or dump me on the street. Keep this apartment, I'll go off and shave my head and live on the streets. An urban nomad would suit me fine." Her was breaking, her feelings hurt and her heart breaking, the tears leaking.

"I'm used to this anyways, never wanted, there always something better. I'm never go-" Her eyes flew wide as her words were stopped. She felt his lips as if they were they only thing in the universe, his warmth somehow chilling her body. She leaned in, his hands leaving her feet as one coursed through her hair and the other grabbed her jaw yanking her roughly into him more, she let out a small cry. She felt like he was going to eat her soul straight from her mouth, loving every second of was what she had been wanting, his affection, his desire to be for her. She panicked, not knowing what to do, she had never kissed anyone before. Tears ran down her face as she realized what was going on. He was kissing her! He wanted her! Right? She pulled away, he gave her a questioning look after the fog left his eyes. What was she doing? She couldn't pull away from this. . . even if the possibility of him doing it out of pity was hanging there. She leaned back in only to be interrupted by the door opening.

It was Nuala, a bowl in her hands, her eyes cast to the floor. She knew what she had interrupted. She set the bowl quickly beside Fharryn and went into the living room, never once looking at her brother. He sat back on the stool with a sigh, pulling her leg back over his knees.