X-X-X-X-V-X-X

It had been like love at first sight, if something that inane existed. There was something pure and ethereal and peaceful that hung around the other, like a perpetual cloak. One look into those soft teal eyes and his heart had been stolen.

They hadn't meshed perfectly, but it was the first time in his life that he felt obligated to try to meet the other halfway. He had ran through so many other lovers selfishly. It would have ripped his chest apart to do the same to this man. Instead, he hid his temper and anger, venting it off, and returned to clear the air.

Brooklyn had been like an angel sent to heal him from everything bad that had happened in his life. He never raised his voice, never resorted to violence and never, ever said a single thing he hadn't meant. Kai had been trapped in the most wonderful way, occasionally smiling or laughing like he truly had no concerns or cares. He never felt happy when talking to Brooklyn, instead he felt content and calm, which he had convinced himself of as being happy. It hardly seemed fair to be with such a pure being in the first place, what right did he have to be questioning their relationship?

Brooklyn made the past vanish. With every touch, every caress, every word, it all steadily slipped from his mind. Every night he woke up beside that ginger mane and pale skin, he felt luckier than any other man on Earth. It had been such a wonderful relationship before it had fallen apart, along with Brooklyn's psyche. He would have felt guilty, if he hadn't realized what had been going on. Now, he recalled these memories with the same humiliation he would as if he'd whored himself out and enjoyed being used like a tramp.

BEGA. Brooklyn was the head of BEGA, using Kai's influence to garner support from rivaling gangs to bring down the system Kai had established. Brooklyn, the angel, was an alias that concealed the fact he was a gang boss.

Kai began to keep secrets from the ginger as he hid this ugly world of crime and violence. He used influences out of the city, trusting in his allies from the Biovolt Training program to bring BEGA down. He kept up the oblivious act, going to bed each night in Brooklyn's arms, guilty for keeping secrets and lying to his lover. Brooklyn never let on he suspected anything, smiling at Kai like he'd hung the moon.

Brooklyn had a fond tendency to write things into his back, using his finger and making Kai guess the words. He loved to spell out the longest words he knew or the dirtiest phrases just to hear them said so hesitatingly. Kai was endeared to this sweetness between them, taking it as a gesture of love and affection.

Z-E-U-S. Those were the letters inscribed across his back. Brooklyn's gentle hands holding the razor blade and meticulously inscribing each word with a morbid affection. Brooklyn's two cohorts, his most loyal friends, held him still and drugged him on morphine as they watched their leader write out his name in the flesh of his lover.

That day Brooklyn had discovered Kai's association with Biovolt by the small tattoo he had hidden in the nape of his neck, covered by silver-blue hair. It was one of those small details that he'd forgotten about, shaving his hair to make it more fashionable.

When he had recovered, he called the police. There was no factual evidence that linked him to gang activity, nothing except Brooklyn. He had erased all ties to Biovolt and refused to cower from the police as his grandfather had. The police hunted the ginger down and were horrified to see the boy quite out of his mind, referring to himself as Zeus and attempting to cleanse the world. Kai was just one of many victims who came forward that day, though the only one to have the name of his abuser etched into his skin. Brooklyn made an insanity plea, but with his state of mind that had been assumed and even now he was locked away.

It had been a horrifying experience. He felt degraded. Humiliated. Used. A cheap slut or whore who allowed themselves to be debased for the smallest hint of affection. He was everything his grandfather ever claimed him to be. He hadn't even been aware that he was being lied to. Being betrayed by his lover. He was worse than trash.

Miriam and Bryan picked him back up. He always became a stronger person after being crushed. They knew it. They helped him through. He went to a tattoo parlor and had the image of a phoenix ingrained into his skin to cover those four letters. He kept the story quiet. No one knew the truth. BEGA vanished as if it never existed and their hacker, Mystel, became his underling.

Life returned to normal. Kai began to work his way through both men and women with such a sickening frequency, he couldn't remember anymore who he went to bed with. He bought a club, quit the Organization, pulled his friends out and set everyone up in a real profession. They were living crime-free now for the most part, though they were still the dominant influence. He attended college. He gradually began to sleep around less. He started to close himself up in his own world, staring at the horizon of a past, unattainable life.

Until fate bitch-slapped him. Red hair. Arctic blue eyes. Sharp tongue. Fit body. Everything he'd ever wanted in a person with extra. Perfection. Until Kai made him hate him. He hadn't cared at first. At least, not until the debt he paid off in cross-dressing. He was allowed to interact with Tala like he truly wanted to. He kept wanting to, falling in love with this man who hated him. Maybe, after all was said and done, he would stay.

-X-

He looked over the entry he had scribbled down into the notebook and snorted. God, his life really was a bad soap opera. Scorned lovers, ships passing in the night, gangs, drugs, sex, oh my! He could laugh at how horribly the attempt at reflection had gone. Mrs. Tate would just have to be satisfied when he told her he gave it an attempt. Brooklyn had been an accident that resulted in his own stupidity, narrow-mindedness, and stability. King and Queen were harmless for the most part, excepting his reputation. Tala was...Well, Tala was his crush. His Juliet. His Cleopatra. His Helen.

He tossed the notebook into the trashcan, opening the fridge to soothe his hunger. Angsty, emo reflection time always left him hankering for caramel apples.

-X-

Tala was at wits end. The past three nights had resulted in his dreams turning into nightmares. Highly erotic nightmares. He had already taken six vigorous cold showers and was well on his way into needing a seventh when his phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Tal. Are you doing anything now?" Her voice practically purred on the other end of the phone and it was a miracle he hadn't lost his self-control.

"Ice! No, I'm not doing anything."

"Excellent." Was it possibly to purr an 'X'? "Meet me in the parking lot of our favorite club. I wanna have some fun today."

"I'll be there in twenty."

"Do hurry. I'm not sure I'll be able to wait much longer."

Oh. My. God. This was the best day ever!

-X-

So sue him for using Ice as an excuse to feel like he was loved. Emo reflection time demanded a remedy of caramel apples and as he was currently lacking, he would just go get one. With Tala. As in, a date with Tala. He repressed the urge to squeal like a girl. Date. With. Tala! He was half-way into tight lacy pants and a long-sleeved lace and leather corset when he stopped.

This was becoming second nature to him now. It was a very bad, bad thing. He wanted Tala to be with himself as Kai, right? So, how would the transition between Ice and Kai go? Would he just admit it? Show him? Let him find out on his own?

He winced at that last thought. Letting Tala find out on his own would ensure his death. He needed to get Tala to like him. To like Kai. Maybe, he thought as he finished pulling the top on, maybe Ice would have to leave soon.

He couldn't wear the skirt forever. Metaphorically speaking.

-X-

He was so nervous! This was the most absolutely perfect girl in existence and she liked him. Suggested going out on dates with only him. Wanted to spend time alone with him. He felt the heat rise and tugged at the collar. He always got hot when he was nervous and wearing one of the outfits Mariah had picked out seemed like a good idea at the time, but he was regretting it. He felt all that melt away when he saw her approaching though. She glided across the ground. She had a soft, slightly bitter smile around her lips that suggested that she was having a bad day. He felt intensely happy that she came to him to make her feel better.

"Hey, Tal." She ghosted a kiss on his cheek and gripped his arm loosely. Whatever shadows had guarded her eyes were gone when she looked back up at him. "Sorry for the short notice but I needed two of my favorite things."

"Yeah, what?" He grinned, cocking an eyebrow playfully that stated he knew what at least one of them was. She smiled mysteriously as she led them around the corner to a shuttle stop, making him doubt she was going to answer.

"Caramel apples." She stepped onto the shuttle as it approach and turned back to him half-way on-board. "And you, of course." She smirked as she entered and took a seat at the back. He was on her heels and sank into the plastic seat beside her, winking.

"Glad to be of any service." He captured her hand and kissed it once, threading their fingers together. She looked out the window, but he caught the pleased smile and slight blush. Her hand was warm in his and that single connection only made them more intimate. He settled for watching her watch the scenery as they approached Beyland.

-X-

He felt his stomach clench as he counted the number of people in front of them. They'd be getting on this time. He heard the coaster screech overhead, flinching as the riders screamed. The air ruffled his hair and made him even more nervous. He had nothing against roller coasters. In fact, Suzaku Railways was even worse than this one, but there was just something about this ride that scared him to death. Flight of the Seiryu was too sharp, filled with too many twists and corkscrew turns for his taste.

"Come on Tala!" her hand clenched his tight as she pulled him to the very last car. He forced a smile, feeling a bit of happiness as she laughed and threw her hands in the air as soon as she was seated. He could tough this out for her. He'd do anything for her.

-X-

Kai didn't miss the nervous gleam in his eyes as Tala took a seat next to him. He smiled broader, grabbing his hand and lifting it up above his head. He caught the idea, holding both up and grinning at him. Kai felt warmth sink into his chest and stared forward at the track. He knew he was blushing but he couldn't care. He tensed as the coaster began to move, dropping his hand to the bar and tightening his grip on Tala's. Their eyes met and he felt the world fall out from under him, but they may have been the coaster. He exclaimed when they hit the first drop, completely surprised.

He screamed out as the dragon twisted and darted around the preset track, hearing Tala join in. He stared at their intertwined hands. Long, pale fingers held slightly thicker, long fingers. Both nearly the same tone of snowy white. Beautiful. He leaned over, brushing a kiss on the surprised Tala's cheek before the dragon plummeted straight down.

-X-

"That was horrible." Rei shivered as he hid his face in his hands. "If you ever drag me to another thing like that, I will consider getting a restraining order. Filking. Oh, god."

Bryan just grinned, humming. Much to Rei's displeasure he knew the lyrics to that damn tune by heart. They passed by a eerily life-like centaur and a naked green alien as they made their way to the vendor booths.

When Bryan offered to take him out, he'd been thinking a movie, dinner, a walk. He wasn't sure exactly what it was he'd expected. But it was certainly not an invitation to a sci-fi convention. His eye was drawn to the spooky group of vampires hanging out by the bar, sipping bottles that were emblazoned TrueBlood, or flashing gold eyes. A group of them were settled off to the side, towering over every other patron. A double-bow mark was visible on one's bicep.

He was pulled out of his trance by Bryan as he ushered him through the guild of elves that had congregated around a group of nine people he vaguely recognized.

"Hey, there's something here I think you'll like." He turned Rei toward a vendor and grinned like a maniac as the neko-jin's eyes widened. "So?"

It was like a weapons master's wet dream. His fingers itched to touch the gleaming weaponry. He reached out with a trembling hand and touched the Guan Dao, staring at the snarling tiger on the blade. His eyes danced across the display, taking in broad swords, monk staffs, steel fans, bamboo fans, sais, and a variety of long and short swords. The owner approached, catching his eye. Rei's exuberance drew him in and they began talking shop as if they knew each other all their lives. Bryan smiled and drifted just off to the side, fingering his way through a stack of comic books assembled by the weapons booth.

He looked beautiful. Bryan felt a swell of pride and happiness that he'd been the one to introduce that look. It wasn't even worth getting jealous over. The expressions on Rei's face as he experienced the convention for the first time would stick with him forever. The tiger had been persuaded to wear one of the traditional outfits he had brought with him from China and radiated deadly beauty even when he was smiling innocently over the sai they were discussing.

"What do you think, Bryan?" He glanced up, golden eyes completely open. He realized with a start that he was expected to answer and smirked.

"Sorry, kitten, but I know more about hunting knives and guns." He shrugged and lifted a brow, "This was more about you, anyway."

"Oh." Rei looked more than a little surprised, but smiled happily. "Thank you then. Would you mind if I...?"

"Go ahead." He shook his head as Rei turned excitedly back to the man and began to whisper back and forth rapidly.

Rei grinned like he was possessed as the two sai were carefully wrapped and placed into their case. He held the case close, looking as though it would break and gingerly carried it back to Bryan. The older boy seemed entranced by the mock lightsaber battle a few patrons were conducting in the foyer. He tapped his arm and met a bright grin.

"Want to keep looking around?" He gestured to the crowd and the long line of booths they hadn't made it to yet. Rei bit his lip and flitted his eyes over them before something caught his attention. He grabbed the older boys hand, feeling the slight callouses on the palm. It made a discreet shiver dart down his back before he covered it.

"Come on! They've got food!" Rei's excitement made him chuckle slightly and follow the other, savoring Rei's hand in his.

-X-

He bit into the caramel apple, catching the nuts, sprinkles and bits of chocolate that came with it. He closed his eyes as he savored the flavor. This was just the type of pick-me-up he needed. His eyes slid to the side as he watched Tala struggle with his own plain caramel apple. He never realized that he had slightly bigger canines before, though judging by the way he was fighting to get a bite, Tala hadn't realized it either.

"Want some help?" He teased, enjoying the slightly irate look Tala shot at him.

"I'm fine." He scowled at the apple like it had insulted him, before he carefully maneuvered it to his mouth. He grinned as he heard the sharp crunch of the apple that meant Tala had bitten into it. Kai bit into the treat again, threading his fingers into Tala's as he led them through the crowd.

"Where do you want to go next?" He gestured at the park map and then looked back up at Tala.

"Anywhere is fine." He shrugged and grimaced at the apple. "Too much work for one bite." He tossed the apple in the trash as they passed.

"How about here?" Kai stopped at the Mirror House entrance, tossing the demolished treat into the handy trashcan.

"Sure." Tala gestured for him to enter and followed him inside.

-X-

He was pleased they chose this place. Anywhere that provided a way for him to check her out from all angels was highly recommended. He watched her hips sway as they traveled through the maze, feasting on the occasional flash of skin. She glanced at him coyly, and an idea struck him.

He stepped sideways as they reached the next turn. Surprise flashed in her face as he loomed over her.

"Rather deserted here, isn't it?"

"Not a very popular attraction if you're over ten." She murmured.

"Can't see why not." He leered dangerously. He backed her up, placing his hands on the mirror over her shoulders. She stiffened for just a moment, before she seemed to melt into him. He leaned down, catching her lips and instantly wanting more. Her arms came up, wrapping around his neck and fitting into him.

It was soft, but intense in a way he couldn't imagine. She complemented him perfectly. His hands dropped to her hips, encircling them as he leaned down into her. She had towered over him in those boots the first time they met, but now that she was wearing shorter heels, they seemed about the same height.

He began to draw away, trailing his lips down her neck to the exposed part of her collarbone. She turned her head away, presenting him with more flesh. He focused on the reflection in the mirror, seeing the soft skin at her back and the faint smear of make-up on her back. He walked his fingers up her back and felt her shiver. He kept working on the love bite, but used his fingers to inspect the odd smear of concealer. He drew his thumb along the upper tip of the smear, eyes widening as it exposed color that wasn't snowy-white.

-X-

"So, did you have fun today?" Rei nodded, brushing his hand over the cover of the case.

"Yeah. That was awesome. We should do this again." He said purposefully. Slightly surprised grey eyes lighted with happiness as he caught it.

"You want to have another date?" He said with a teasing smile. "I'm sure it can be arranged."

"I'd like that." He looked up surprised as they stopped and he couldn't identify the building. "Where are we?"

"My place. Hope you didn't mind but it was on the way and I needed to stop inside to grab my spare phone."

"It's fine." He nodded, following Bryan as he took them up to his floor and down the hall to his apartment. Bryan unlocked the door and his eyes devoured the room. "Nice." He whistled softly.

Everything was so clean and the furnishing was almost spartan, but in a very refined way. Bryan had a career as a decorator. The grey-haired boy entered the kitchen, and he heard undefinable clatter before he heard something else. It was soft cooing, like a pigeon. Curious, he entered the living room and stopped in amazement at the huge bird on the balcony. Obviously the falcon he'd mentioned before, but it was much larger than he pictured. It glared at him, before it turned to inspect the smaller, indistinguishable bundle off to the side. He came up a bit closer and realized it was a nest.

"Yeah, don't let the glare fool you. He's a big softie at heart. Built that nest and relocated that little blackbird family sometime last week. Won't let me out on the patio anymore." He smirked as he gestured at the door. "Want to get to your place?"

They jumped as the door crashed open, pained gasps coming from the doorway. Bryan ran to the door without a second thought, Rei worriedly bringing up the rear. Rei drew up short when he realized who the familiar figure in the doorway was.

"Ice?" He said surprised, and her head shot up. Tears had destroyed what little make-up she had had on and his mouth dropped in horror as he realized that not all of it was make-up. Kai Hiwatari sat on Bryan's floor, desperately trying to stop crying.

"Kai, what's wrong? What happened?" Bryan gathered him to his side, not even sparing a thought at how weird this was.

"He saw the Tattoo." He whispered.

"The Phoenix?!" His voice was tight with panic and pain. Kai shook his head.

"He saw the other one. The Lightning Bolt."

"The Biovolt tattoo? Why would that bother him?" He was rocking Kai slightly, both ignoring Rei as he stood fuming above them.

"Boris. Boris hurt him." He whispered. "He doesn't want anything to do with me now." Fresh tears began to stream down his face and he buried his head in Bryan's shoulder. The Falcon just gathered him up, pleading Rei with his eyes to stay. The Tiger sighed but followed him into the living room.

He settled Kai into the couch, the Phoenix grabbing the throw pillow and hiding his face. He draped a blanket over the quivering form and raised a finger to his lips. Rei scowled but couldn't shoot a glare at the pathetic figure on the couch. Bryan led Rei to the other room.

"What do you know about Biovolt and Boris Valkov?" He said without any preamble.

"I know Biovolt was a criminal organization that used and trained kids for its operations. I know that Boris was the right hand man of Biovolt. And I know that that man killed the person Tala was in love with once because he recruited them into Biovolt. It doesn't surprise me that he wants nothing to do with Ice. Or is it Kai? Spill. What the hell is going on here, Bryan?!"