Brodi watched Raven sleep. The boy had drifted off after sometime. The news of the paternity of Zoe's baby had been quite a shock to him. He had cried a long time before finally passing out from the expended emotion. Now he lay quietly on Brodi's futon, wrapped up in one of Brodi's blankets. It had taken a long time for Brodi to get use to the idea of this boy possibly being from the future. He did bear an uncanny resemblence to Psymon that Brodi had somehow not noticed before, but he bore a strong resemblence to Zoe as well. Had this boy been raised believing he was their son? The main question was, was it true? If it was, then Psymon and Zoe--maybe all of them--were in danger. If it wasn't, then who had lied to the boy? Brodi stroked the boy's hair gently. The boy obviously knew things that only Psymon and Zoe would. No one else in the league had ever called him "Zen master" before. It wasn't possible for him to have learned that from Psymon and Zoe though because, according to Raven, they had died while he was still baby.

Brodi felt that he was looking at a long tapestry of deciet that needed to be deciphered, but he needed to find the right thread to pull amongst the thousands of riddles and not have it unravel into a bloody mess. He had been right in thinking the boy was dangerous, but he had been wrong about the kind of danger presented. He wasn't a danger to them so much as to himself. Pulling his knees up against his chest, he wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin on thier tops. He sighed softly, thinking. He knew he couldn't tell any of the others about this, especially not Psymon or Zoe. It made sense now why he was so curious about them. Of course, if he really was from the future, he certainly couldn't have any sort of real relationship with Kaori...and that certainly wasn't going to set well with the boy.



"What do you want, Mac?" Psymon asked, coming down the steps and closing the winnebago's door quietly. The boy sort of figeted, not really wanting to look at him. He mumbled quietly, making Psymon frown. "Talk kid, I'm not standing out here for my health."

"Sorry, Psy," Mac replied softly. "I just needed to talk to someone and you're the only one that knows about...you know."

"Yeah," Psymon breathed. "Let's sit over here. I'd ask you in, but Zoe's asleep."

"It's okay, I really want to go for a walk anyway," Mac answered. Psymon nodded and followed the boy towards the Garibaldi course. The two walked in silence, side-by-side, until they were far enough out from the camp. Mac looked up at Psymon. "I think I'm ready to come out."

"Thought you already did that," Psymon answered, nodding. He stopped walking long enough to light a cigarette, then caught up with Mac. "Hey, kid, I'm too old to be chasing you around. I'm not the spry sixteen-year- old I use to be."

"I, uh, meant coming out to everyone," Mac said, stopping. He looked back over his shoulder. "I'm just not sure how."

"Hrm, tough one, Mac. I've never been in a position like you are now," Psymon answered, exhaling smoke. He walked over and leaned against a tree, looking at the boy. Mac approached, looking up at him.

"You had to tell everyone about your mental illness," he said, standing in front of Psymon.

"Boy, do I look ill to you? I just have schitzophrenia. I hear voices sometimes, but I'm not dying. Don't treat it like a sickness," Psymon replied, voice barely above a growl. "That goes for you, too. Don't you dare let them treat you differently. So you're gay, so what? Yeah, kid, I said it. You're gay, but you're not sick."

"I know that," Mac said softly. Psymon smiled. Maybe the kid would be okay after all. Mac sighed softly. "It's going to be hard, isn't it?"

"Probably, but you got me in your corner to smack the shit out of anyone who tries to make it hard for you," Psymon answered, smirking.

"Mm, my knight with shiney piercings," Mac replied, grinning. Psymon raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you forget it, kid. Now, what were your ideas on telling them?" he asked. Mac just shrugged. Psymon made a face. "You know, if you tell one, it'll get passed around, so...you're really going to have to tell them all at once."

"Yeah, but when would be a good time for that?" Mac asked, looking down. Psymon shrugged, not that the boy saw it.

"Don't know, kid. That's something you have to decide. I'll help you when you want to tell them, but I can't do it for you, eh?" Psymon said softly, pulling the boy closer and hugging him. He could sense the support the kid needed as if someone had hung a neon sign over him. Besides, it was only seven years ago when he had needed love and support, but the people that were suppose to be there for him had turned their back on him. He promised silently that he wouldn't put Mac through that, he wouldn't make him suffer the feeling of being unwanted and alone. Mac just sighed, putting his arms around Psymon's waist. The Canadian could feel the boy's shoulders shaking and looked down at him, realizing he was crying. "Oh, hey, no tears, Mac."

"I'm sorry," Mac murmured, pressed against Psymon's chest. He sniffled softly. "Thanks for everything."

"Eh, it's what I'm here for," Psymon answered softly. "Well, actually...it's what Brodi is around for, but since he's busy, I guess I'll do."

"Yeah," Mac replied, hugging Psymon a bit. "Besides, I feel more comfortable with you anyway. I never understand what Brodi says with all his one hand clapping and listen to the wind crap."

"I know," Psymon chuckled, rubbing the boy's back. "I think he mainly makes it up, but he's a pretty smart guy."

"Mm," Mac murmured. Psymon looked down at him again and sighed. What was he going to do with this kid? Handling the league's problems was Brodi's department, and here he was trying to help Mac deal with his sexuality. Who in the world decided a messed up punk like him should try to guide the boy through life? He wasn't even gay, never mind what his father had said about him during that one punishment. No, that was the past. Psymon shook his head to clear his thoughts, then rested it back against the tree, looking up at the stars through the branches. What did he do to deserve this?

"Psymon?" Mac asked softly. Psymon looked down at him.

"Yeah?" he asked back. Mac pushed back from him a bit and looked up at him.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" he wanted to know.

"I've been there. I've seen the crap a person gets for being different, not socially normal. I don't want you to go through that," Psymon answered. Mac smiled and moved his hands from around Psymon's waste and up onto his chest. Psymon rasied his pierced brow, then was suddenly being kissed again, as Mac leaned up on his toes. Psymon resisted only for a moment, then gave in, kissing the boy back. He knew it was wrong, that he shouldn't be doing this, but it was like standing outside his body. He could watch, but not act. He felt Mac's tongue against his lips and opened his mouth a bit, letting it in. Truth be told, he rather enjoyed the boy, his taste, his scent, the way he felt against him. So, why did he like it? He loved Zoe and liked women. Somewhere from the far reaches of his mind he heard it, that memory he'd tried so hard to forget.

What the hell do you think you're doing, boy? his father had screamed, busting through the door, catching him and his friend kissing. It had been an innocent act of curiosity, one Psymon had lived to regret. His father had chased the other boy from his room then seized Psymon. After beating him, the man had stripped him naked, calmly shut the door and undressed himself, then really made him sorry for being caught or even experimenting. His father had called it tough love, even when he had screamed and cried. Psymon shuddered softly. Who knew an eleven-year-old boy had so much blood in him? Psymon moaned softly at the painful memory, and hugged Mac closer, wanting comfort to keep his past at bay. He felt a hand on his crotch and, knowing it wasn't his, broke the kiss and looked down at Mac, panting softly.

"Kid, you got to watch the roaming hands," he said softly. Mac licked his lips, nodding.

"Sorry, you just seemed pretty into it and I was gonna help you be more comfortable," he replied. Psymon raised an eyebrow, then realized what he meant when he finally noticed the pressure between his legs and the fact that his pants now seems a bit too tight.

"I'm okay," Psymon said, shifting his weight against the tree. Mac leaned forward to kiss him again, but he held him back. "I think maybe we've had enough fun for one night. I shouldn't have let it go on so long. Sorry, kid."

"It's alright. I liked it," Mac answered. He hugged Psymon. "I like you."

"Whoa," the Canadian replied, holding the boy back from him again. He looked him over and sighed. "This is not going to be a relationship, okay? I can't keep doing this. I'm with Zoe."

"Didn't stop you a minute ago," Mac said, frowning.

"Yeah, well, sorry," Psymon grumbled. "I'm not sure why I even let it happen. I like you, Mac, but not the way you want me to. We're friends, that's all."

"Doesn't feel like friends," the boy sighed. Psymon pulled him back into a hug.

"I know," Psymon said softly. "I messed up with this 'big brother giving advice' thing. I'm not really good at it, but I wanted to help because I know what you're going through...sorta."

"Thanks, Psy" Mac answered, snuggling against him. Psymon let him since he needed the comfort, plus it was getting damn cold out and he'd forgotten his shirt. The boy moved against him a bit and he looked down at him.

"What's wrong?" Psymon asked. Mac just shrugged, making the Canadian smirk. "Oh, you're not getting off that easy. What's on your mind?"

"Is it true what Kaori said?" Mac asked shyly. Psymon raised an eyebrow when Mac looked up at him. "About your piercing?"

"She tell the whole league about that?" Psymon grumbled. He pushed the kid back from him and unzipped his pants, letting him see for himself. "There, happy? Oh, don't act like you've never seen one."

"Never saw one with a ring in it," Mac said, smirking as Psymon got himself back in order. The boy traced one of ther chains tattooed across Psymon's chest. "You know, they're right. You're a pretty good kisser."

"Yeah, psh, like you've ever been kissed before," Psymon teased.

"I have," Mac replied, "lots of times."

"Before me?" the Canadian asked.

"Yeah, guys and girls, but you're the best one," the boy said, looking up at him.

"Eh, well, I'm just older and more experienced. Look, Mac, I'd really appreciate it if this was just between us," Psymon said. "I shouldn't have, and I don't plan to again. I love Zoe and I don't want to hurt her."

"I know," Mac said. "Can I make one last request?"

"Within reason," Psymon answered. Mac nodded, letting his hands caress Psymon's bare chest and stomach. Psymon just watched him, wondering what was on the boy's mind.

"Can you be there for me whenever I need someone to talk to or hold me?" he asked softly. Psymon hugged the boy close.

"Of course, Mac," Psymon replied. His heart went out for the kid, he was dealing with something that would definately change everyone's opinion of him. He rubbed the back of the boy's neck. "Hey, do your parents know about all this?"

"My mom does, but my dad doesn't. I'm too scared to tell him," Mac replied. Psymon nodded.

"Yeah, well, don't worry. You've got me on your side and I promise you, no one will ever hurt you because of who you are," Psymon said. "Not as long as I can help it." He held Mac against him for a bit longer, finishing his cigarette, then moved, pushing the boy back. He quickly caught him when he saw him falling back and realized the kid had fallen asleep against him. He just sighed, flicking his cigarette down into the snow, and picked Mac up, then carried him back to camp. He really didn't want to do this, but he hadn't been able to wake the boy up, and besides, he looked like he needed the rest. He gently knocked on the door of the bus Moby and Mac shared with his foot until Moby finally answered.

"Is he alright, mate?" Moby asked, moving so Psymon could enter the bus.

"He's fine. We were talking and next thing I knew, the kid was asleep," Psymon answered. "You know, I warned him it was past his bedtime, but he wouldn't listen."

Moby chuckled, shutting the door. Psymon walked to Mac's room and gently laid him on his bed, then walked back to the front of the bus, said good-night to Moby, and went back over to his winnebago. Silently, he crept back to the bed room, then removed his pants and got into bed. Zoe snuggled close to him, the baby in her tummy moving a bit. Psymon knew that whatever had happened in the woods with Mac was definately a one-time thing. This is where he belonged, with Zoe and her child.



"Who is it Raven? Who betrays us?" Brodi quietly asked the sleeping boy before him. He sighed, and looked up at his ceiling. "Buddah, help me, I do believe this boy's story."