Chapter Five Part Three

Say, I Love You

Divine Angel

"You want me to grab you some more clothes or something?" He watching the blonde hair look up as it slowly stopped moving leaning into the sink from inside the bathroom.

"Yeah...ah my bag is...it's...I dunno ask Daniella." The blue eyes frowned slightly they honestly couldn't remember where it was.

"Oh ok. I'll go ask *her* where all *your* clothes are." He chuckled teasing the light skin, but the small face didn't respond. The same pained, scared expression running over everything. The blue eyes, the hand movements, even the way he stood. His dark eyes blinked watching him from the bathroom doorway. This was probably one of those times he was supposed to do something, or say something significant. He frowned harder, he never asked for this.

The blue eyes snapped up at him, hurt but frowning just the same. "Why are you just *looking* at me?" The voice sounded mad, firm, but cracking lightly as it rolled towards the end. The small throat swallowing immediately. "Huh!?" He watched the dark eyes blink lightly before cocking an eyebrow at him. Lazily sighing as it pushed off the doorway and walked down the hall. He frowned, fighting the sad tug constantly plaguing his mouth. His reflection running back at him as he pushed up to his tippy toes to look head on with himself in the high medicine cabinet. Blue eyes frowning back at him from over the lightly tanned face, bloody mouth, roughed skin and filthy hair.

"Um." She sighed her light whisper gently, watching him jump from where he looked like he was concentrating. Her sweet feminine face smiling at him immediately. Watching the loose pair of gray boxers stumble back fast, looking at her as he swallowed.

"Iris I am sorry. I didn't know that...mean that I...." he trailed watching her finger run onto her lips as she moved in, offering him fresh clothes as she smiled. Blue eyes running over his stuff and his bag, using his one arm to take it from her while letting the other one hang unused and resting. She frowned.

"Sweetie?" She watched him glance up at her before stepping back as she crouched down. A nerved by her smile. Shouldn't she have something to say about the dirt and glass he had tracked all over her kitchen? The blood he accidentally smeared onto the wall, but was there just the same. The fact that he shoved glass into her nieces leg and pissed Gene off to no end, because he lost. Again.

"Ah" she heard his fast choke as she quickly shoved the clothes from his hands and yanked his wrist over. Watching him stumble into her shaking lightly with the fast motion before choking his small cry as she hugged him.

"I am so proud of you." She smiled lightly feeling his face scrunch up as he squeezed his eyes and mouth together, locking them shut before inhaling heavily. Her thin arms hugging him warmly, one hand behind his head, the other gently loving his back. "You did such a good job." She smiled, gently pushing him off her shoulder. Feeling almost his entire weight in her hands as she pushed him back. His own way of protesting he didn't want to move, he wanted to stay, but wouldn't giving her anything to ever be able to prove it with. "You did a good job." She frowned, spitting her words like an order as she squeezed the light shoulder before smiling again. Watching his blue eyes frown at her, almost confused by what seemed like mood swings to him. "I already cleaned the kitchen Jim, it just looked like a big mess." She shrugged lightly watching his mouth open slightly, probably to tell her he would have helped but she shook her head fast. "Danny's downstairs stuffing her face with pizza." She grinned watching his face become slightly relaxed as she kept divulging positive information to everything she knew he was worried about. "And Gene's asleep, animal." He grinned lightly all of a sudden. She had been calling him that since he could remember.

She watched him blink fast as she roughed the side of his neck with her hand. "You clean up and come down an eat." She smiled. "We ordered a really really big pizza?" She giggled teasing him. Knowing under any circumstance she had ever seen he would do anything to get some...that or reeces peanut butter cups. Both items some of the greasiest and richest foods she knew. Probably why he loved them so much, because they tasted rich and good, unlike most of everything he ate.

"I am really sorry about what happened Iris." He watched her shrug as she smiled, like it was something that happened every other day. Like something small, he forgot to pick up food for her, or forgot to call her when he left. Not that he ever did any of that stuff, but he imagined that's what that look would have went with.

"It doesn't matter to me. As long as you two came back, and Danny even managed to bring back the milk and bread." She laughed suddenly, as if something about that was ironically funny. "Please come down at eat real soon K?" She smiled, giggling lightly as her hand ran up the side of his face into his hair. His face looking back at her as if most of it wasn't happening. "I'll miss you if you stay up here by yourself." She giggled shifting her weight. Her thin tight pink dress standing up as she leaned into his forehead. "Mmmem."

He jumped, loose mobile hand snapping vacantly at nothing as her hand ran onto the back of his head steadying it as she pressed her sweet pink lips into his forehead. Humming as she kissed him.

"Don't stay up here too long hun." She smiled stepping back, watching him swallow repeatedly. "That animal is likely to eat all your pizza if you do." She giggled opening the door to leave, ignoring his facial expression and everything else she left behind. "Hurry your butt up Jim, love you sweetie." She giggled, and the door shut, nothing but the sound of his own strained shaky breathing.

I.....Love...You....the first? No. He frowned, blue eyes looking down fast, glancing at the tub full of warm water. Small bits of dirt and blood running away from his hand as he dipped it in. Watching the water ripple in the silence as a tear unwillingly fell in. No one had ever said that. No one said I love you, and no one didn't say it because...his mind trailed watching the water ripple around him as he dropped his clothes and moved into the warm feeling. Because.... he blinked looking up at the ceiling as he grit his teeth. Nothing but the stinging snap biting him in random places as the disinfecting moisturizer Iris had poured in earlier found all the red bleeding places on him at once. Because.....he didn't deserve it. Because I never earned it. His blue eyes frowned, it must be really neat to be able to say that to someone. Just like on TV and in movies and things.

"I love you." He growled immediately, listening to his own voice. Even supposedly confessing love and need for someone he sounded like a loser. His blue eyes growled looking down at his body. He was thin, and small, and weak, and light. Everything about him light, light skin, light hair, light face. Nothing hard and dangerous looking like Gene. Dark sly eyes that stood calm and cool, making an impression even if Gene was just sitting there. Fiery red hair that looked dangerous and wild, darker skin that looked...better. "Opposite" his whisper ran out over the water and the room quietly. That's what he was, an opposite, everything Gene was, he wasn't. He frowned, that wasn't true, he could do some stuff the same. "Ahhh" He growled standing up fast and jumping out. Sniffling hard as he grabbed a towel he didn't want to see himself anymore. This sucked, but it couldn't be right. There was something very important he was forgetting to calculate in about himself that made him a bit better in comparison to Gene. He knew it, so what the hell was it?

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The plastic dish hit the table. His dark eyes watching the slice of pizza on it bounce slightly before he glanced up. Her light hand still hanging from where she had just purposely slammed it in front of him. Her frowning navy eyes glaring at him as she turned around yanking open the fridge. Daniella's thin red hair quietly sitting next to the scarred dark eyes, watching them. The clear glass cup clanking onto the table with her hand as she cocked an eyebrow at him before slowly pouring in some soda.

"I am *not* going upstairs." He growled at her, watching her eyes flick up fast as he finally spoke. She knew this annoying play would eventually get to him.

"Gene-"

"No!" He growled standing up and shoving the pizza into the middle of the table as she frowned at him. "He's eight blast it!"

"That's right! He's eight!" She squeaked back at him, watching him frown. "Are you listening to yourself? Eight!" She frowned watching him shake his head no.

"He's gotta do it himself. I can't be there all the time so he has to know how! You want-"

"-Then show him!" She slammed the soda bottle she held onto the table as the unruly color moved in her direction. The thin red hair jumping, watching the navy color snap at her. "Danniella sweetie go upstairs please." She flashed a light smile watching the green eyes get up and leave. "Gene you animal. You think just because he didn't come out on top your not going to give him the time of day?! You can't do that, he's bleeding and he needs your help! You-"

"-No that's not what I think blast it." He growled at her, watching her bottom lip stick at him annoyed as her forehead nit together in the middle, damn that was cute. "I know he did a good job, I shouldn't have to tell him that." He growled at her. "But he can't keep coming back the way he does, getting so upset afterward damnt!" He watched her frown as he slammed the table annoyed before sighing heavily. Leaning into it as he rubbed his eyes. "Blast it he's going to be a man, he's got to act like one."

"Well maybe he needs a little help!" She frowned watching him growl at her as she shoved at him.

"I have.." He growled more standing up as she continued to frown. "You think I haven't been helping for the last four years!" He shot her a baffled irritated expression. "Don't give me crow Iris." He growled at her watching her eyes squint. "You've been there you know." Her shook his head, he had helped. "He's go to stand on his own two feet damnt!"

"Oh will you listen to yourself!?" She stomped her foot watching him cock an eyebrow at her. Momentarily abandoning his seriousness so he could grin at her. "I am not being funny Geeeene! What's funny!?" She squeaked waving her hands lightly as he chuckled suddenly.

"You." He grinned before frowning. "You mother him too much." He grinned watching her mouth drop open.

"What?!" She squeaked rolling her eyes as she sighed. "You don't mother him enough!" He laughed this time. His scarred feature grinning at her as he opened his arms watching her frown.

"Sorry, guess I forgot to pick up some of those instincts when I spent my childhood playing football." He frowned suddenly. "He's too smart for all of this. You can't ..can't.." he trailed lightly frowning, can't always be there, can't always help, he knew what he meant, but not how to put it right.

"I can't help it!" She snapped suddenly leaning into the fridge. A long pale pink nail running into her mouth as she bit it lightly. Frowning navy eyes staring into the floor. "I like him." She whined, shrugging as she spoke. "Hell I've, we've known him since he was four! So what if I love the kid." She frowned at him, watching him grin at her. "Don't you?" She sounded desperate now, anxious to be backed up so she would know she wasn't a nut.

"Course I do." He shrugged picking up the piece of pizza she had given him earlier. This was becoming more fun now that Iris was getting so cute. "Think I'd put up with this for one minute more if I didn't?"

"So?" She waved her hands again lightly.

"So what?" He frowned biting some off with a baffled expression.

"Did you ever tell him that?"

"What?" She watched his baffled features escalate like she was a nut. "Just what the hell are you talking about?" He watched her frown.

"Say it." She frowned watching his confused features blink at her.

"What? Say what?" He shrugged chewing.

"Say you love him." She crossed her arms watching him. His dark eyes frowning as he chewed.

"Right now. Just like that you want me to say it?" He cocked an eyebrow at her watching her nod as she smiled. "No."

She kept nodding for a moment before stopping to look at him. "What?!" She squeaked suddenly looking at him confused.

"Look Iris" He grinned at her watching her gap at him lightly. "I don't have to say that kinda stuff, he knows it already. That's just how it is." He shrugged lightly biting more as he spoke, watching her just look at him.



He had watched her walk out of the kitchen a long time ago. Coming out of the bathroom to the sounds of Iris and Gene in the kitchen, talking about something. Yeah, but that something just happened to be me. He watched her thin red hair sitting at the bottom of the stairs, listening from where she had walked out of the kitchen when Iris had asked her to. Her soft green eyes frowning upset and confused as she sunk to the stairs, she hadn't known he was there. She hadn't known that he was listening to everything they said about him. How they could just talk about him as if he *were* only eight.

She watched her finger slowly trace up and down the small groove in the spindle to the stairs, dull green eyes listening to them in the kitchen. She only saw Gene and Jim every two months or so, but still. It was nice, Gene was funny and Jim was ok. She sighed heavily listening to Iris say something again but they were speaking quieter now and it was coming out mumbled. She sighed, running her hands down the small yellow t-shirt to her light blue shorts as she turned around stopping dead. Uh oh.her mind spit it fast, watching the blonde hair sit at the top of the stairs, but he might not have known she was there. Loose lime green boxers and gray shirt just sitting there rubbing its face with its hands. She blinked lightly, looking back at the kitchen as the hard male voice suddenly let out a sarcastic yeah right before her aunt squeaked something back. She took a deep breath as she stepped up to the next stair, slowly moving up quickly until she was one away from him. Her soft green eyes watching him sit there, completely silent, but he looked upset...somehow. Even thought he didn't move or make a sound she could see the way his hand squeezed together so tight, his knuckles were white.

She watched him jump as she touched him. Cautiously keeping the step of distance in case he tried to shove her, but he didn't. "Mm" He growled at her lightly, retaliating from where her soft fingers brushed against his hand. The ones he used to hold his head as he looked down.

"Jim?" she whisphered his name lightly, watching him draw back from her and not move, her hand slowly running over his till she held it. "My dad died, and I miss him." She watching him move lightly, almost irritated with her.

"I never had one." He growled at her, her green eyes looking down slightly before looking back up at the blonde hair and missing face that continued to stay as it was.

"Bet you miss him anyway huh?" She smiled lightly listening to his rough breathing as she stood before glancing back towards the kitchen. There wasn't any noise, and no one had gone in or out.

"I never had...had a mom either." She blinked lightly listening, before inhaling slowly.

"I don't mind." She shrugged, offering a smile, but he didn't look up. Her green eyes slowly shifting back towards the stairs as he didn't move, and didn't speak for what felt like forever. Her green eyes resting on her hand before jumping lightly, as his moved. Opening his fingers slowly before closing in on her hand and yanking it downward. Her feet tripping quickly to the fast pull before sitting down on the step below him. "Your hurting me." The grip relaxed ever so slightly, letting the blood rush back in from it had been locked out in his strong grasp. "How come you can grab like that?" She frowned slightly tilting her head backwards, looking at him from the step below him and smiling as he came into focus upside down. His blue eyes looking at her, annoyed that she could see him, but unwilling to move.

"Like what?" He sniffled hard watching her smile at him.

"So much it hurts me." she moved suddenly, turning around so he would be right side up. Watching his teeth grit at her as she let her finger run down his wrist and up his arm. Feeling the soft warm skin instead of the smooth cool wood of the spindle. "How come your so strong?" She frowned slightly. Green eyes tracing along with her finger watching him frown at her.

"I am not." She frowned slightly looking at him before dropping her finger, "ow." the grip on her hand relaxed from where it had tightened when she moved her other hand away. Her small arm twisting lightly as she looked at it. His blue eyes watching her, green eyes studying all the ways his were different. How much harder they were, because they were filled with muscle, and hers where thin and smooth, without any real defining shapes. "Your arms look better like that." She smiled at him suddenly "It would look all weird if they looked like mine...kinda like your arms were noodles." He made a face watching her giggle, her face relaxing as he stood up suddenly, tugging her with him as he didn't let go. Blue eyes frowning at her as she only stood up slightly, and yanking at her harder watching her step up quickly, following him as he turned around and started heading towards her room. Her green eyes watching him push the door in fast, and grab his bag shoving what little of his stuff was on the floor into it, never letting her go. "What are you doing?" She watching him continue to shove it in before standing back up, looking at her.

"I am going out." He watched her blink quickly.

"But Jim...its dangerous around here at night." Her green eyes frowned concerned suddenly, watching him just stand there.

"I have to go. I am going to win this time." She frowned as he moved, never letting go of her hand and yanking her with him.

"Wait!" He stopped looking back at her, blue eyes glancing down at their hands and slowly letting go.

"No." She snapped at him, grabbing it back Blue eyes snapping up at her as she did it. "I just need to...get some shoes and a coat." She watched him smile suddenly. "But I don't want to be out for a real long time ok?"

"Ok" He grinned at her, moving with her to the closet as she hung onto his hand now. Her thin red hair pulling out her soft blue coat, thin but fleece. Before grabbing the small white sneakers she had worn earlier, the blood had come off easy.

"Jim?" She watched him look at her as she stood back up. "Are you going to fight?" His blue eyes looked down slowly, nodding.

"I have to." He frowned watching her smile at him.

"I don't mind I just...don't want to be so close this time. Ok?" She watched him grin quickly pulling her towards the hall again and heading for the stairs. His blonde hair tripping as she stopped yanking him back good. Watching his blue eyes spin around confused before heading into the bathroom with her. "We can go out the window and they won't see us." She smiled at him, opening a small draw and dumping some stuff into his bag as he eyed the window. That was a good idea.

"How? You don't have a fire escape or anything." He frowned slightly, he would have thought about it but it was next to impossible.

"I know." She smiled at him, climbing onto the back of the toilet, hanging onto his hand. "But we can jump to the next house, and they do." He grinned getting onto it with her immediately and watching her open the window. The cold night air blowing in on them, making her shudder. "Are you..." She trailed lightly watching his blue eyes scan the outside before making a fast movement forward, dying to get out. "Jim are you going like that?" She frowned slightly watching him stop moving as her hand stayed inside. "Your going to be cold."

She watched his blue eyes smile at her. "I don't have any other pants with me." He laughed lightly as she looked at him just a t-shirt and boxers.

"You have your shorts."

"No I don't I..." He trailed lightly remembering he did have his jean shorts there, he had worn them there after the pool. His blue eyes glanced down at their hands as his slowly let go. Green eyes watching him bolt back for her bedroom coming back quickly hopping into his pants. Dragging a large sweatshirt with him. Her green eyes smiling at him as he pulled it on slowly, using one arm before resurfacing in the warm black sweatshirt that was way too big, it was Gene's. "Lets go." He grinned at her watching her reach out for him as he climbed back up to the window. The night air running through her thin hair fast and sending the sweet smell of her shampoo at him as he climbed our first. The cold 20 degree weather biting his bare feet and legs as he turned around watching her climb out with him and point to the best place they could jump from.

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"Maybe you should lie to him and tell him you knew his parents." She sighed her words out heavily. Thin pink nailed finger swirling slowly around the edge of her mug of tea. Gently tracing around the warm steam that flouted out as he looked at her. Her soft navy eyes glancing up at him as he didn't respond.

"Two seconds ago you said I should tell him about my dad. Now you want me to lie and say something about his?" He cocked an eyebrow at her watching her make a hopeless expression.

Navy eyes falling back down to the cup. "I don't know." He watched her, calm scarred arms crossed over his chest as he slouched in his chair. Her thin leg starting to bounce lightly from where she had it crossed over hers, thinking hard. "Danny was so upset when my brother died." She frowned suddenly. "She was really independent before, too independent. As much as it sounds evil I think his death was in a way good for her...you know?" She flashed him another hopeless expression watching his dark eyes just blink. "She needed a lot of help to get through it, so I think it made her trust a lot of people she didn't know she could...before..." She trailed again looking down at her tea before up at his mug of coffee. Neither of them had touched their drinks. "I wouldn't want Jim to get independent like that Gene." She frowned at him suddenly watching him just blink, listening but saying nothing. "What is it like to be a guy?" She watched him cock an eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean?" He finally spoke, sighing out his words as he exhaled.

"You just sit there and look at me and you don't tell me what you think....Don't you worry...about...Don't you worry that.."

"Of course I worry." He frowned suddenly sitting up straighter. "You know I do damnt. But there's nothing I can do, so..." He made a small movement with his hand. "I just gotta sit back and back his decisions. That's it, there's nothing I can do." He shrugged lightly watching her just look at him. Her navy eyes just listening before reaching across the table. Watching his dark eyes look down at her hand as she gently grasped the handle to his coffee and drug it over to her side while pushing her tea to him. Stopping as he grabbed her wrist suddenly. Dark eyes staring at her navy color that flicked up at him.

"Your hurting me Gene." She frowned slightly watching him grin at her. His dark sly eyes letting his hand trail down to her hers before squeezing it warmly.

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"Jim I am really cold." He glanced back watching her look up at him. Her soft green eyes squinting in the harsh wind as she walked behind like he said so he could block most of it. Her hands pulled inside her blue coat, the sweet soft sleeve eating half of his arm and dark black sweatshirt as she hung onto him. Her small white sneakers bending towards each other as she struggled to keep her legs close for heat and walk at the same time.

"I know, we're almost there." He shuddered quickly, feeling the damp wind fly through his hair. His blue eyes staring ahead as he raced along the desolate black streets. Nothing but shreds of paper and dark shadowed people in the alleys to the sounds of occasional car horns, tire screeches and guns firing. "Hey." He tripped as she suddenly ran into him grabbing onto his sweatshirt. "What's wrong?" He turned around frowning at her, watching her green eyes blink slowly at him.

"I am really cold and really tired...please Jim....how much further do we have to go?" He grinned at her suddenly, watching her green eyes frown. Small slightly freckled face shaking, watching his own teeth chatter through his grin.

"I know a trick...ok. You have to count to two hundred, real slow. And you can't skip any numbers or it won't work. But when you hit two hundred we'll be there no matter what because this always works." He grinned at her, letting her pull his other hand inside her blue coat with hers. Her green eyes frowning up at him concerned by his chattering teeth and numb fingers, her own legs covered with Goosebumps and she couldn't feel them any more.

"That doesn't sound like magic." She shook her head lightly. The wind wiping her thin red hair away from her. Blowing his blonde strains around his face as he grinned at her.

"Yeah I know. But it works. You start at one when we hit the corner right there." He turned pointing as he shivered. "Then don't stop, and two hundred is it." He grinned weakly watching her smile at him mumbling a small ok as he started running. Ignoring her quick squeak as one of his hands pulled out of her coat and the other one squeezed tighter, yanking her with him.

Her green eyes focusing on the corner as they raced to it. Watching the curb come into sight.

"Get ready!" She glanced up at his yell before looking back down to the street watching him run over the curb. Her soft white sneaker bending lightly with her step as she hit the edge..

"One!

He grinned at her yell pulling harder as he picked up his pace. The cold air was burning his lungs, and he could hardly feel anything below his waist. The cold pavement and air was sucking the heat right out of him as he ran over it bare foot. Her hand squeezing his back as he ran, the only spot in his whole body that felt untouched by the adrenaline surging through him. All his senses driven with the chemical pumping through. Making him alert to all the noise that was near him, the danger they would be in if they stopped moving. Adrenaline pumping through his veins heightening all his systems for the fight that was waiting for him at two hundred.

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He watched her tight pink dress sway her hips lightly. It was involuntary, her body just did that, ever woman did it, and he loved it. His dark sly eyes grinning at her smooth sweet ass gently moving back and forth as she went up the stairs in front of him. His grin pausing at the top to watch her move towards Danny's room while he moved into the bathroom. The frigid 20 degree air blowing in and sucking the heat out. Who the hell left the blasted window open?

"Daniella hunny are you asleep?" He grinned hearing her knock on the thin wood door.

"If she's asleep will she answer?" He chuckled lightly watching her cute frown snap at him before she smiled turning back towards the door and knocking again. "Hey you two? Alright if I come in?" She giggled lightly. Like it wouldn't be? Wasn't there just a big dispute about cuties a couple a days ago? All about who's was worse boys or girls and how you had to wash boys off with perfume because they were so stinky and how you had to wash girls off with motor oil because nothing else was as powerful.

He leaned into the wall, un-entertained with this until she squeaked lightly. "The doors locked?" She whisphered it to him baffled watching him cock an eyebrow before grinning.

"So leave it alone." He chuckled watching her frown.

"My sister is going to kill me!" She shot it back in a harsh whisper blinking lightly at what she should do.

"No harm done." He grinned at her "Besides they're probably just pulling our chain.' He chuckled lightly shaking his head no. There was nothing big going on in there.

"You know Gene Starwind." She turned around to his sly warm grin hands on her hips. "Oh sometimes I wonder where you head really is huh?. On your shoulders or in-between your legs." She frowned slightly, cursing herself for speaking his name out loud and making herself go nuts.

His scarred face laughing down the hall way before calling back a there's only one way to find out as he walked into the bedroom before adding an Iris to his sentence and making her mouth twitch lightly. Tight pink dress heading down the hall after him before shutting the door behind her and locking it.

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"One...ninety...ninety five." Her teeth chattered making it hard to pronounce all the numbers she had spoken. His blue eyes frowning as he tugged slightly harder, trying to pick his pace back up but it was so cold, and he was so tired. "Jim I am getting really near two hundred!" He heard her call to him as he ran, his blonde hair nodding.

"I know. I am sorry!" he called back, frowning concerned. This counting thing never worked. Never. Why did he think it might this time?

"You know what!?" she yelled at him, both hands deeply embedded into her coat as she tried to keep warm "I think I might have accidentally skipped 150!" He smiled lightly. "I think I better start back there and keep going!" She called up to him as he grinned, maybe it would work this time after all. His blue eyes looking back at her, smiling. He had heard her yell 150 minutes ago, she hadn't missed it.

"Yeah maybe you should!" He grinned shutting his eyes for a moment as the wind came down strong before easing lightly. Her small body pulling harder as she tried to stop and sink to the ground to hide from the cold feeling, but his hard yanking pulled her up and with him. "Don't stop Daniella! We're going to make it ok!? If we keep moving we'll be warmer!" He grinned at her, moving along side of her as he ran, looping into her arm and pulling her with him.

"Why do you have to do this Jim!?" she frowned at him as he glanced at her. Her small mouth chattering with the freezing weather.

"I have to!" He shot back over the wind and the sound of their running. "I don't know how to tell you but...." he trailed lightly looking ahead, trying to find out how to tell her this was something he had to do because he was born a boy and she wasn't.

"This is like Cinderella isn't it!?...You want to be...something different!?" She grinned at him as he looked at her. Watching her smile, she still loved Cinderella, it didn't matter that four years had passed, she still watched it and loved it. Now it reminded her of being younger and having fun along with the love of the movie. He grinned at her, remembering her commenting his hair looked like Cinderella's when she was younger and how mad he got.

"Think so." He glanced at her, not sure if she heard him since he didn't yell but she only smiled. She had.

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"One ninety five!" She screamed this time, feeling him yank harder they were almost there, almost to the end of the street. "One ninety six!" She tripped lightly as he pulled "One ninety seven." Her green eyes looked up. Watching the loose black sweatshirt move around him as he ran. "One ninety eight!" His blue eyes zeroed in on the familiar brick building that was it. "One ninety nine!" That was where the kid lived, he would remember him after this bust. "Jim did we make it!?" He stopped suddenly his grip loosening before tightening as she kept moving, plowing into him. "Ah!"

"Ahh." He groaned as he fell over, shut blue eyes gritting his teeth as she blinked, breathing hard as she looked down at him. Her numb legs touching something other then the concrete, it must have been his, but he didn't look like he could really feel it. "Ahhaa." He choked another small groan as she moved slightly. The soft warmth suddenly moving to get off him as he looked up. Watching her thin red hair move over him as he blinked. Watching her pull back off his chest towards the space of ground in-between his legs before standing up. Green eyes looking up at the building before down at him as he didn't move. Frowning lightly from where she was bent over slightly, she had never let go of his hand. "This is...ahhhis it." He groaned standing up. Blue eyes grinning evilly at the dull brick he knew to well. That stuff hurt.

"What are you going to do? They're all asleep?" She frowned slightly looking at him as he continued to stare into the brick.

"I am going to go in." He grinned lightly looking up at the darkened windows. "I know what room I want." he looked down at her before frowning at her concerned expression.

"Your going to break in?" She frowned at him watching him nod. "What? Why?" She shook her head no, watching him shift his weight in front of her slightly, blue eyes looking right at her.

"Cause, I have to get him." The blue frowned slightly, determined. "Please wait for me." A concerned expression swept thought his face, familiar with the pain that was going to be when it was over. Being alone so far away from everyone wouldn't be fun. "Please?" He glanced up at her as she didn't answer her green eyes just staring at him.

"But you could go to jail. It's illegal Jim. You can't just go in, that's not your house." She frowned at him. Watching him just look back at her calmly, he knew it all already. Thought it through already.

"I know but I have to.."

"You what!" She snapped suddenly watching him trip forward as she yanked at his hand from inside her coat. "You have to go in!? You just want to be like him!" She frowned at him suddenly watching him frown. "You want to be just like Gene! This is something he would do!" She frowned, green eyes welling with tears as he pulled at his hand.

"You can't come in with me." He frowned at her. "Will you wait?"

"No! You didn't listen to me!" She snapped suddenly pulling her other hand towards his inside her coat so she could hang on tighter. "It doesn't matter what he says about you cause he's wrong!" The blue eyes frowned upset suddenly, pulling at his hand. "You don't have to be like him Jim I like you better the way you are!"

"Stop it!" He growled at her pulling at his hand as she shook her head no. His mad blue eyes unable to pull their stare from the small clear tears trickling down her face as he struggled to wedge his hand out of her grasp.

"I know I...I haven't seen...I don't see you as much as...I don't see you a lot but I know that your smart and I am not going to let you be dumb!" She growled at him suddenly, watching him step back. Blue eyes slightly concerned, she had never done this before. "I don't want you to go in!" She cried suddenly as his hand started to slip from her grasp. He was too strong for her. "If you go to jail I'll never get to see you! My mom will never let me come visitAhh!" She screamed tripping backwards as he yanked his hand out of her coat. The cold night air rushing at his warm flesh like piranhas in the tropical sea.

"You knew! I told you I was going to go in and you said ok! You lied!" He frowned at her suddenly, angry that she decided to change her mind. The one person that had fully gone in to something he had to do so he wouldn't be alone.

"You didn't tell me you were going to break in so you lied!" She cried, thin red hair blowing into her face from where she sat in the dead grass of the small lawn to the ugly brick.

"You lied! You said...you said.." he trailed, watching her. Small goosebump legs curled to her soft blue coat as she cried looking down at it. Don't be mean to girls, it was one of the things he was taught best, but now that he was getting older it was starting to come as a realization he wasn't taught this to in fact be genuinely nice to them. For no reason other then to make them feel good, but to get something in return. What Gene was getting in the kitchen. He felt a shudder go down his spine as he watched her cry, quietly standing no more then a foot from her. He didn't want that, it was like lying to them. Telling them only what they wanted to hear so you could get what you wanted. He felt heat rush into his cheeks as the thought of something like that happening to him rushed into his head before he closed his eyes and got rid of it. "Pleeease don't go iiiinnn." He glanced down at her cry suddenly. Her thin red hair sniffling before looking up. "One of these days I am gonna marry you Jim. I don't want you to go to jail ok?" She watched his blue eyes cringe as she spit her future plans. As thought she had just hit him instead of offered him such a compliment.

"No." He dropped into the grass suddenly. Blue eyes and numb hands yanking her face up. Watching her teeth chatter as she shivered in the freezing slightly iced grass. "You don't *want* to marry me." He frowned at her watching her green eyes cringe confused.

"Ya huh." He felt her face nod as he held it. His blue eyes frowning at her, she was so wrong.

"You just think that. You don't know." He shook his head no, blonde hair running into his face as the wind changed directions suddenly. Blowing hers back with small bits of ice and wet air. Her calm green eyes looking at him. She doesn't want to marry me-his blue eyes frowned-I am like a busted toy.

"If I say I won't marry you will you not go in?" She watched his blue eyes glance at the brick. "You came all this way, you don't have to go to jail to prove something stupid Jim." She watched his blue eyes snap at her immediatly. Numb hands dropping her face alarmed, even he hadn't decided why he had come. He just knew he had to, how did she know? Already know, he had come out to prove something. To prove Gene wrong, to show him he could come out on top, cause he wanted the time of day. "Jim I am so cold and I wanted to tell you that maybe u-" she stopped dead hearing the loud slam so close to them. Watching his blonde hair spin around towards the vacant end of the street. Vaguely lit by a few bars and liquor shops open for their prime hours.

"Come on." He stood up fast. "Doesn't matter if you marry me now ok?" His blue eye found her hands fast yanking her up. "We have to go." He pulled fast watching her start running afraid of what ever gang was coming their way. Their stoned drunken voices slurring onto the sidewalk behind them as they ran.

"I can't feel you hand anymore." His blue eyes turned back at her small whisper, somehow he heard it even over the wind. The sharp cold was eating him now, even deep in his chest. The last place that seemed to stay warm under the sweatshirt, now that too was freezing.

"Lets go to the bar my aunt works in!" He tripped as she suddenly yanked to the right. "It's this way, we can stay there!" His hand stopped, as he stood still looking around.

"No I know a bar this way." He tugged her to the left watching her frown. "It's closer." He pulled turning around as she fought it.

"What kind bar Jim?" She frowned concerned. "There not safe for me to go into." He stopped moving, watching her concerned face look at him. He knew why it wouldn't be safe. He knew first hand why that wouldn't be safe.

"It's ok. I've been there before, Gene too. They know me, no one will..." he trailed lightly watching her look at him. If she listened to him and he was wrong, it could cost her. "It's ok." He tugged again watching her take a small step forward before nodding slightly. Watching his shaking form flash a weak chattering smile as he started moving again. Running along side of her, he couldn't go any faster. His legs and feet hurt so bad, even through the numbed skin.

"This doesn't look safe Jim!" She stopped dead as he turned towards the bar. Shiny orange and red round light bulbs illuminating everything around the yellow brick as they ran around the door and window. A picture of a half nude girl was panted towards one of the doors beckoning with her finger for you to come in. Along with three signs advertising your first drink of the night was free, rooms for the night were only two hundred Wong, and there were plenty of topless girls.

"I know someone here." He pulled stronger watching her green eyes look down at him from where she was gapping at the signs and painting.

"How?" She frowned baffled, watching him shiver as he stood there sinking slightly to the ground.

"I just do come ooonn." He yanked hard watching her do a fast stumble before he shoved at the door pulling her in with him. The guard was well off duty it was at least 3:00am. The police weren't out and everyone else was a potential customer. "Hey." he shoved her hands off his hips fast as she grabbed him. Green eyes running over the loud music and smoky settings. "Don't touch me ok?' He frowned at her as she looked at him. "Only hold my hand." He watched her nod weakly, trying to stay as close as possible with out physically touching him. Watching several rough looking men flash baffled and sly looks in their direction as she hung on tight. Her thin red hair moving into the space of his shoulder as he averted his eyes from the couple topless women dancing on stage. Pulling hard so they could move fast directly past the bar, ignoring the low class -hey kid you want something to drink?- Blonde hair heading straight towards one of the back dark doors. Shoving it open and stepping in.

The door led to a long hall of other dark brown doors. All equipped with numbers, blue eyes looking at the floor lightly to the immediate sounds of loud moans and squeaking mattresses. She could be in any room. "CIDNY!"

"Ah" She jumped as he screamed suddenly, her thin form dropping to the floor with exhaustion. Green eyes snapping at his face as he groaned suddenly dropping to the floor next to her.

"Just wait a sec." He sighed heavily. Gently touching his purple and slightly white legs. "CIDNNNY!" Her green eyes glanced up waiting for something to happen as he screamed. "CID!.." He stopped watching a door open slightly to feminine giggling and the harsher deep tone of a man.

"Who's calling for Cidny?" The deep black wavy hair suddenly appeared. Walking out of one of the dark back rooms. Thin tall figure dressed only in a deep red bra, black tight skirt, black high heels and olive skin. "I said who's calling for me?" She laughed suddenly, hips swaying back and forth as she started towards them before frowning slightly, almost baffled. "Oh no no no." She frowned suddenly, large red lips dropping open slightly as she watched his blonde hair stand up. "Jimmy?!" She spit it baffled "Is that you?" She squinted slightly watching blue eyes grin at her immediately. A warm smile running over her face, she recognized that.

"Cidny." He sighed heavily watching her start forward, she would help. She was help.

"Oh my god! Your so tall!" She smiled rushing over in small quick steps, watching him grin at her, blue eyes fixed on her face as always. "Where's Gene I haven't seen him in a month! And just look at you!" She smiled grabbing the small black sweat shirt and shoulders before frowning watching his shivering form grin at her. His sweatshirt was next to frozen. "Oh my god your like ice child." She frowned at him grabbing his hand and scowling further. "What in heavens name have you been doing?" She frowned at him, dark brown eyes suddenly blinking, caught off guard by the thin red hair hiding behind him. "Weell." She smiled suddenly, extending her hand. "My name is Cidny, so who might you be?"

He moved slightly watching her green eyes stand up straighter looking down at the olived skin and long red finger nails before extending her hand and shaking it. "Daniella."

Her red lips smiled warmly "That's a beautiful name." She giggled slightly before turning back to the blonde hair. "So where is he?" She smiled expectantly watching the blue eyes look down slightly.

"He's not here." She frowned.

"What'd you mean he's not here...your here all by yourself?!" Her thin dark eyebrows raised suddenly. "Just the two of you!?"

"Please we didn't mean to cause any trouble! We just...we needed someplace to go." Her brown eyes frowned concerned at the thin red hair that suddenly spoke up. Eyeing the clean little girl that was dressed well before moving back to the blonde hair in the over sized black sweatshirt and shorts.

"I would say so." She frowned suddenly looking down at their freezing figures as she stood up. "Come on, we got to get you two warm and Jim I am gonna kill you for not wearing shoes."

Her green eyes smiled watching the olived hand gently guide her shoulder along side her to follow before snapping at the blonde hair. "Didn't nobody ever tell you there is glass and drugs all over these streets?" She watched him sigh heavily, too exhausted to care if he wore clothes out as long as he was warm. Blue eyes cringing as he slowly walked in soft gentle steps following her. "Daniella you got a mommy or daddy?" She smiled down at the thin red hair as she bent down lightly grabbing the wincing blonde hair around the waist and hosting him off his feet. Feeling him hang on, and knowing he must have been in some pain not argue he could walk.

"Yes, my mother, but right now I am staying with my aunt." She smiled lightly watching the wavy dark hair unlock a bedroom door.

"Is that so." She glanced at the pale blue coat shivering as she stood unthawing. "You just stand there while I peek in alright?" She smiled watching the thin red hair nod as she opened the door looking in before sighing heavily. "Alright." Her chocolate brown eyes watched the thin red hair walk in before stopping lightly and looking up. "Don't you worry about Elmer he's asleep." she smiled lightly hearing the blonde hair groan as the small green and blue eyes caught the passed out middle aged male sleeping in the bed of the small vodka smelling room. "This is my girlfriends room, mine is too busy for you two." She frowned slightly letting the light weight slide out of her arm, as she looked around. "Wonder where she is though."

"Cid Gene doesn't know I am here so.."

"I know he doesn't." She frowned slightly, almost exhaustedly so at the cringing lightly face that stood gingerly. "Even that man has enough sense to not let you wonder in here so late alone, with her." She shot the blue eyes a frown quickly, watching them look down as he groaned. Her tight black skirt heading across the small empty room of nothing but a big queen bed already occupied and small built in shelving unit.

"Jim." He glanced up watching her green eyes move over to him. "Can I trust her?" She smiled watching him nod as he bent over letting his hands rest on his knees.

"Ok here's some extra blankets." She smiled dropping onto her knees with them and folding out the big comforter to serve as a mattress. "Darlings you both look so tired." she sighed heavily looking up at them before eyeing the hurt legs of the blonde hair gently standing there watching.

"I am sorry we came uninvited." Her brown eyes glanced up at the polite comment the thin red hair made. Small green eyes smiling at her, genuinely thankful for the help, even if it was in such a scary place. Her small slightly freckled face watching the soft smooth red lips smile warmly as she continued to fix a small warm spot before standing back up and pulling a loose black t-shirt over her head.

"Baby?" she watched the blue eyes looked up at her as she spoke to him. "Where is Gene? I bet he's worrying himself to death about you." She frowned slightly watching him grin.

"Betcha he hasn't noticed I am gone." He watched her brown eyes sink to his answer, looking as though he had just crushed something she loved before frowned slightly. Watching him jump as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Your only lying to yourself." she frowned, watching him trip lightly as she grabbed his wrist and yanked it with her. Ignoring his groan of pain. "Your going to call him." She frowned down watching him look up at her.

"Aaaa." He groaned immediately. "Cid I came to get help I don't *want* to call him right now." He pulled back wincing a he used his legs but she didn't stop. "Cid come ooonnn, now yeeet." she glanced down at him as he pulled "Ahh" he whined suddenly as she stopped and he tripped, the seemingly rough carpet rubbing against his raw skin.

"Fine then. Not yet." she frowned at him watching him nod, thankful. "But soon ya here?" she raised her voice pointing a finger at him as he smiled at her nodding.

"Ok." He grinned as she dropped his wrist sighing heavily as she started for the bathroom. Opening the door slowly and squeezing in. His blue eyes glancing over at the thin red hair now resting in the soft blankets, curled up exhausted. Flashing him a tired small smile as he glanced over. Green eyes watching him grin back at her before cringing lightly as he moved. Feminine squeaking coming from the bathroom as he glanced at it before watching the wavy black hair come back out giggling lightly with a small bucket and washcloth of hot water. "What." He frowned at her, watching her walk past him towards the thin red hair before glancing back.

"Get over here silly. Why sit where there aren't no blankets." She smiled at him as he watched her. "Sweetie you look so frozen." She smiled down watching the green eyes look up at her. Moving slightly. "Looks like this is another point for the women Jim." She giggled back at him watching him raise his eyebrows at her. "One of you wore a coat out, and which one was that huh?" She giggled lightly watching him grin. Blue eyes cringing through the hard tingling sting that was eating him from the waist down.

"Only because he didn't have one he could wear." The green eyes sat up slowly watching the wavy black hair sit down onto the soft comforter. "Thanks." She smiled at the green eyes, watching the sweet young feminine hands take a warm washcloth and let the heat run onto her legs slowly. They didn't hurt so bad anymore as they slowly warmed up.

"You gonna be alright darling?" the green eyes glanced up at her, fascinated by the brilliant red of her lips and the incredible contrast of her dark hair. Slowly smiling.

"Yes."

"Good." She smiled warmly. "Such a pretty thing you are. Way to pretty to be someplace like this." She sighed heavily, squeezing out a washcloth as she did and starting over towards the closed blue eyes. "Jim baby?" She smiled watching the blue color open ever so slightly as the light mouth just hung open exhausted. "You don't look so good sweet stuff. More like someone tried to drown your legs hmm?" She smiled at him watching him slowly close his mouth.

"I was running...for.." His closed eyes frowned hard. "I am such an idiot Cidny." He swallowed fast as his voice cracked. Feeling her warm hand run over his face as she sat down in front of him, frowning down at his legs and feet. "What's it take to say you love someone?" Her chocolate brown glanced up at him lightly. Watching his still exhausted pained expression stare back at her. "Ow." He cringed as she gently grasped his ankle turning it slightly to get a look at the parts of his leg she couldn't see. Watching his light skin jump and cringe with her touch as she ran a hand onto his knee sliding it back with his shorts to the middle of his thigh. Watching the blue/purple color run up under the denim as she sighed. "Ahhow!" He jumped fast as she gently touched the warm washcloth to his skin.

"Baby I can't just leave you this color." She frowned at him as his small hands snapped at her wrist cringing. "Your gonna end up loosing all your toes to frostbite or something." He frowned back at her, blue concerned eyes fighting the heavy stress and pain trying to seep into them.

"I know." She smiled lightly as she listened to his fast mumble, blue eyes staring down at his legs, just another thing wrong with the rest of his light colored scarred skin. "Ahhaaa." she heard him groan with pain as she gently grasped his chest pulling him forward away from the wall slightly as she stood up. His blonde hair leaning forward exhausted and weak as she moved behind him, sitting down against the wall and pulling his light weight back into her. His small build shivering immediately at her body heat Warm smooth hand running over his forehead and into his hair as he blinked slowly, breathing was so exhausting. The sting from his legs slowly dying down as his eye lids became heavier.

"Baby?" She smiled at his small hum that asked her what. "You want me to go get Mike? He'll take you down to the bathroom at the end of the hall and help you get yourself all fixed up." She smiled before sighing as he shook his head no fast. Making small ssss-ing sounds of pain as she pulled at the back of his black sweatshirt. Now damp from the amount of dew and ice water in the air. Her long red nails pulling it up over his head slowly, watching him lean forward to help her before moaning harder as she pulled it off. Her dark brown eyes frowning at the light gray shirt he wore. The soft color of his skin disappearing back under it as it released the sweatshirt and fell back over him. "Baby?"

"Ahh...ow." He arched his back lightly, pulling away from her soft touch as she pushed the back of his shirt up more. Looking at the scrapes and bruises, most all of them unattended to.

"Where you getting these?" She frowned concerned, pulling his light weight back into her and pulling up the front of his shirt. "Oh baby, where are you getting these?" She frowned harder running over the bruises and cuts before the dark color around his right shoulder. His light hands pulling his shirt back down suddenly. Hugging it to him as the strong smell of her perfume ran with her face as she leaned into his hair. Thin arms hugging him as he closed his eyes, he was so *so* tired. "Jim?" She watching his light face continue to lean into her before mumbling a small what? as she ran a hand over his forehead. "Gene know you got all these bruises?" She frowned, glancing up at the thin red hair that was sound asleep. The blonde hair leaning into her soon to follow.

"Naa.I got to do it myself." His small mouth hardly moved as he spoke, so completely relaxed he looked as thought it was exhausting to try and talk. The same fatigued expression falling back to his small lips that hung open lightly as he stopped, answering her question.

"He don't ever hit you right?" She squeezed the small chest gently watching the light features suddenly frown. Shaking their head no. Not Gene. Ever.

"Never. I got all this from a fight I was in today. I was supposed to finish tonight but.Danny didn't want me to go...cause..." She watched his small voice start trailing as sleep started overpowering him. "Gene doesn't know." The small voice cracked suddenly, the small closed eyes squeezing tighter. "I lost...times, I have to win one soon or..." She frowned listening to the small voice that talked so slow and drawn it just stopped mid sentence, dead asleep. Her smooth hand running back up over his forehead and ears, warming them as she listening to doors open and close in the hallway.

"She didn't want you to go in huh?" She smiled lightly looking up at the closed green eyes sleeping in the heavy comforters. "Sounds like you got good taste in women baby." she smiled leaning back into the wall. Slowly closing her heavily made up eyes before jumping. Hearing the strong yell of her name from the hall. "Blast it." She glanced down at the blonde hair dead asleep on her. Her smooth hands moving ever so slowly to shift him off before watching his blue eyes open fast. Moving panicked to the surroundings before landing on her and remembering everything. "Baby someone's calling Cindy I gotta go see who." She smiled watching him move slightly so she could get up. His light features smashing together as he grit his teeth, sighing heavily as he leaned back into the wall letting the pain ease.

"Who's out here calling for Cidny?" His dark eyes grinned immediately. Watching her wavy black hair step out of the dark door smiling as always.

"Cidny." Her red lips smiled immediately, always glad to see his unruly red hair, but especially glad this time. "Cid you haven't happened to see a blonde about this tall anywhere have you?" He teased her lightly as he walked over, she knew Jim well. Her dark sly eyes watching him grin at her, hardly a trace of real panic in his face but it was there, ever so slightly.

"Cidny's got what you want Gene Starwind." She giggled lightly, bouncing her hips to her words. Watching him raise his eyebrows and pick up his pace as she motioned toward the room. Wavy hair brushing against his shoulders as he pushed in. Dark sly eyes darting slightly before landing on the blonde hair in the corner. Blue eyes firmly looking back at him before darting away.

"Ahhh blast it." He growled, heading across the room to the familiar light skin and crouching down. Watching the blue eyes look away as he pulled the light face at him, looking over it before running down the gray t-shirt and jean shorts to the frostbitten legs and glancing back up. "It was your idea to lock the bedroom door wasn't it?" He grinned watching the blue color look up at him. His scarred face chuckling "I knew that was you right away." The heavily concerned expression ran away ever so slightly from the blue eyes as they watched the unruly color. "Iris is home I made her wait. Like I would drag her out in this mess." He chuckled softly. "Daniella, she's.."

"She's ok." The dark eyes looked up from where they were studying the purple legs glancing at the thin sleeping red hair as the light hand pointed at her.

"You almost got frostbit here." The blue eyes glanced down where he pointed at the small ever so slight patch of white skin on his toes. "You know they amputate for that." The dark eyes glanced back up watching the upset expression just sigh shakily before darting up to look at him. Watching the scarred features grin, sending a small playful punch at his face. Blue eyes blinking fast as they fought back tears. Scarred hands running onto his ears before tracing out to his nose and squeezing it gently. "Your a lucky dog Jim." He chuckled suddenly, not a trace of real frost bit on him, only the final inital affects before it would set it. The blue eyes blinked looking down before sniffling lightly.

"This was all my fault. I asked her to come." The dark eyes watched him. Stressed blue eyes whispering to him from where they sat slouched onto the floor in pain.

"No." He shook his head slightly. "I know she went with you." He grinned suddenly watching the light face remain unchanged. Neither admitting or denying the comment, but he already knew it was a fact. "You think you can stand up?" His dark eyes ran back down to the smaller legs, completely still. Almost dead if they had more of a blueish pale color, instead of just the disturbing beat purple.

"No." The blonde hair shook no, swallowing fast as the dark eyes looked up to the cracked sound his voice had spoke with. The blue eyes fighting tears. "Ahh." the light hands reached for his wrists to stop him as he gently grasped either ankle turning the small legs ever so lightly. "Ow...oow." The dark eyes glanced up momentarily to the small cringing word asking him to stop.

"You ran all the way here?" The dark eyes frowned baffled, watching the light face just swallow before licking it's lips. "That's a long way." The dark eyes blinked before glancing back at the sleeping thin red hair. "Five miles...and you brought Daniella?" The dark eyebrows raised. "That's impressive." He chuckled deeply. "I admire guts." He grinned suddenly watching the blue eyes close as he squeezed the smaller knee where a small white patch of skin was. Testing to make sure it wasn't dead.

"Ahhaaaaa." The light face sobbed suddenly. Squeezing its hands into light fists as the scarred hands slowly released its skin. The scarred grip running up to the small shoulder gently. Watching the blue eyes open, wiping the tears off their face.

"You got anymore white patches I should know about?" The dark eyes frowned slightly looking at the light face slowly blinking.

"I didn't know that...I didn't know I had any." The dark eyes frowned more suddenly looking back down moving the rim of his shorts upward to look at the small thighs and frowning.

"How high does this run up your legs?" He frowned slightly watching the blonde hair shake no absently, cringing heavily from the slightest touch. "Here.come here." The scarred face grinned at him suddenly, reaching around his light gray shirt to his back while running his other arm under the bend of his knees.

"Ahha...aah" The blue eyes closed quickly as he stood up with him. Small light hands shaking lightly as he stood before attaching to the scarred skin holding him. "AhhGeeene." The small voice groaned through grit teeth as he moved.

"Cid, you got any warm water I can get to around here?" He flashed her warm olive face a grin. Watching her approving dark eyes search lightly before moving toward the old mason cement bucket used as a end table and taking the things off it. "Great." He grinned at her watching her turn it right side up and grab hold of the handle. "Don't make the water too warm." he grinned at her watching her head towards the small bathroom and squeeze in before looking down at the blonde hair in his arms. The blue eyes looking up at him.

"I thought you would be so mad." The small voice cringed, straining through clenched teeth.

"Yeah well." He growled lightly "I am...why?" He grinned "You want me to start yelling and throw things around?" He chuckled lightly, watching the light face grin. "Next time we go anywhere." He frowned suddenly. "I want you to bring pants. Not shorts." He watched the light face smile, choking a small laugh as the dark eyes looked back up at the wavy black hair slowly coming towards him with the heavy bucket of water. "Your going to stand up alright?" He frowned slightly, ordering the light face that nodded immediately.

"Ahhaa." the smaller face whined as he moved him. His scarred hands shifting the light weight slowly so he could stand it in the small bucket of warm water. "AHH ITS HOT!" The light skin jolted in his arms as he lowered the purple hues into the warm water. Blonde hair groaning as it was pulled back out quickly to the scarred hand dipping into the water to test the temperature. Scarred face frowning before shifting him to go back in, idiot Jim. "Hey Geeene it's hot! It's TOO HOT!" The small hand dug him, panicked at the burning sting the water caused from last time.

"Jim." The blue eyes glanced up at him, cringing in pain and stress "You got to go in the water. You just got to do it, alright?" He sent a soft reassuring grin with his words. Blue eyes closing with a heavy groan before holding its breath as he stood it up. Flinching as though it were shocked as he let the purple hues of the thin stiff legs disappear into the small bucket.

"Mm" The blue eyes jammed shut, clenched jaw choking a small sound as it went in before silencing. Digging into the black t-shirt of the scarred chest it leaned into to stand up. Dark eyes frowning hard as they looked down at the small shoulder. Feeling the strain of the small body under him hanging onto his waist.

"Cid." She looked up at him immediately from were she was watching the light face hold in the pain. Her smooth hand gently rubbing the small back that stood in the warm bucket. "I want you to call a number for me alright?" He grinned watching her walk over to the small cell phone and pick it up, dialing as he instructed before handing it to him. His scarred hands gently shoving the light grip off him and letting her steady the blonde's balance.

Her face tensing as the small hands snapped at her immediately. Squeezing hard "Ahh" the light face choked slightly "Ahhaa" the overwhelming pain flying widely thought him, but he could win this one.

"Yeah, extension 518." His dark eyes frowned watching her wavy black hair hug the small gray shirt standing in the water. The light face and hair lost in her shoulder as the other line picked up. "Well I wasn't actually expecting you to be there." He grinned suddenly, the voice on the other line recognizing him immediately. Even thought she hand't actually seen either of them in four months.

"Baby your ripping out Cidny's hair." She frowned slightly, feeling him move fast and quick pulling her hair with it. "Baby!" She pulled at his wrist slightly prying his fingers out before watching them open as she stood up, pulling him with her.

"Ahhh" She felt him sob suddenly, he smooth hand running across her shoulder to cover his mouth.

"Baby hush up." She moved slightly watching the blue eyes look away from her "Look at Cidny." See frowned ordering him, watching his wet blue eyes look up at her. "You brought that sweet doll all the way here, and all she's seen you is strong. You stay quiet, she won't know it any different." She smiled brightly watching the blue eyes travel over to the thin red hair sleeping in the big olive comforter.

"Hey." she looked over watching his dark eyes frown. "Put him back in the water." She frowned watching his unruly red hair nod towards the bucket as she growled at him lightly. Ignoring his phone conversation as she started towards the door. Opening the ugly brown wood and heading out fast snapping at the first moving person.

"Darleen!" She watched the curly red frizz of hair turn around and look at her. Blue eyes blinking hard as they looked away. The tassels hanging from her two rounded nipples still in his head as she smiled at him. Her mouth loudly chewing gum in her small red skirt, boots and tassels. "Darleen you tell Mike Cidny wants him and for heavens sake put some clothes on!" She laughed watching the bright pink lips and bubble gum giggle at her, currently one of the best topless dancers they had. Frizzy red hair ignoring the blonde hanging onto her so he wouldn't have to stand as she giggled.

"You got me Cidny" She winked, starting back down the hall to the wavy black hair laughing lightly as she shook her head.

Her dark eyes glancing down. "Well it's good to know your face isn't frost bitten." She giggled watching the red cheeks look up at her from under the exhausted blue eyes.

"Cidny." she glanced up at the deep voice grinning at her as it came from another dark room. Strong dark skin chuckling at her from above the tight red shirt and baggy black pants. "Who you got there?"

She felt the light hands move, pushing to get down as she loosened her grip. Letting the blonde hair move to the floor. Watching him cringe as he stood up before turning around to the strong African American skin grinning at him. "Well if it isn't Mr. Wizard." The strong face grinned sending a punch towards the light shoulder of blonde hair, watching the blue eyes grin. "You alright there Jim?" The dark skin frowned suddenly looking over the purple legs and strong pained face looking up at him.

"Poor thing was outside parting with a friend and got himself all frostbitten." The dark eyes looked up at her smiling red lips.

"That so" The deep voice chuckled lightly. "Say Mr. Wizard, where's that red headed scumbag you always with?" The dark face grinned, slinging the light weight up to its shoulder. Watching the blue eyes cringe but fight the pain.

"On...on the phone." The light face cringed at him, straining out its words.

"Cidny I think you got it all wrong." The dark eyes grinned at him. "Looks more like Jim's been fighting a battle all night long. You kick some ass Mr. Wizard?" The light face grinned at him, watching the familiar dark face chuckle back at him. The same small scar running across the kind cheek of the deep skin. Mike was one of Gene's old time friends, one of the best ones he had.

"I would have, but I had someone with me and I couldn't bring her along." The blue eyes closed lightly leaning into the strong smooth red of the deep shirt.

"Well well, looks like Jim's gone and found a sorceress." The deep voice chuckled moving into the small room with the wavy black hair. Watching the scarred black shirt continue talking as it turned around flashign them a grin. His strong words chuckling slightly before nodding at the thin red hair asleep on the floor, watching the dark eyes glance at her. "This your woman little Wizard?" The dark hand nudged the small shoulder lightly, watching the blue eyes open.

"She's a friend." the blue eyes closed exhausted, hanging onto the strong shoulder as the dark skin moved into the small cell phone turning off.

"Gene Starwind you son of a bitch." The deep voice chuckled watching the unruly red hair cock a sly grin as it started forward. "We've been missing you down here. A whole month and not a visit?"

"Yeah it's good to see you Mike." His scarred face grinned sending a strong punch towards the deep fist that grinned back at him. "Jim wake up we got to go." He frowned slightly watching the blonde hair frown but not move. The light hands hanging tightly to the red shirt.

"Looks like Mr. Wizard partied himself out." The deep voice chuckled watching the scarred face sigh heavily.

"Yeah right. He's parting me right into a corner." The dark eyes frowned moving towards the thin red hair. Shhing her gently as he shifted her warm weight into his arms and stood up. "This ones not mine." He frowned starting for the door.

"Gene where are you going it's four in the mourning?!" Her wave black hair stopped dead in his path as he tried to move around her to leave the room. "That ain't like you to leave...stay...there's plenty of room for some class." She smiled at him watching his sly grin stare back at her.

"Cidny...thanks." He grinned at her watching her sweet smile fall ever so slightly as she nodded.

"Don't you forget where your friends are Gene!" She smiled calling back to him as he started down the hall holding the thin red hair as the deeper skin trudged after him.

"You drive here Gene?" His deep voice chuckled lightly as he watching the sly face grin at him.

"Oh yeah. Just about all over the city looking for him too." He chuckled lightly, glancing at the blonde hair that had passed into a deep sleep.

"Who's the girl." The dark eyes grinned lightly watching the unruly color open the back door of the bar and step into the alley.

"Iris's niece...Daniella." He grinned watching the deep skin chuckle at his situation. "She's going to kill me. Her sisters a real...pain in the ass." He chuckled suddenly just imagining Iris's face. "Yeah, I am in a hole all right." He grinned at the dark skin. Watching the familiar scar and shaved hair cut just grin at him.

"Yo Mr. Wizard." The dark eyes glanced down at the light hair and face. "Come to life my man, we're leaving." He grinned watching the blonde hair move slightly, the small forehead nit tight.

"AHh ow." The unruly color glanced over hearing the strained pain, scarred face frowning.

The dark skin stopped lightly, looking down at the blonde hair that had moaned with pain as he moved his hands. His dark hand moving the back of the gray t-shirt. "Gene." His black eyes looked up. Watching the unruly red hair slide the small soft blue coat into the backseat of the car slowly. Buckling her up before standing up with a sigh.

"What." He groaned lightly, scarred arms leaning into the side of the car.

"Mr. Wizards got some war paint you should see." His dark eyes frowned lazily strolling over to the blonde hair. Scarred hand picking up the gray shirt and looking in at the cuts and bruises. The dark eyes watching his scarred face swear quickly as it looked at the light skin.

"Yeah he got into a fight this mourning. Drug her into it too." His scarred face frowned as he nodded towards he car and sleeping red hair. "Went out with her to get eggs and bread." His dark eyes frown lowering the shirt again as he motioned for the car. Opening the back door for the dark skin that got in still holding the blonde hair. His scarred hand slamming it a little harder then he would have liked before stomping around and getting into the drivers side. "Came back all busted, glass all in his pants, shoulder dislocated" He growled "...those...he's got some kinda war going on with some kid." He growled slightly, feeling the car hum to life as the key slid in. "It's been going on since he was six? Seven? Looses every time but won't stop." He shook his head, speeding through the red light with his irritation, it was so early. There weren't enough cops or cars to care.

"Looses every time?" The dark eyes glanced up from the light face sleeping on him.

"Every single time." The dark eyes frowned. "They cheat." He flicked on the blinker. "There's a group of...four...something like that." He growled spitting his words before grinning slightly. "You ever hear that saying...a little childhood trauma builds character?" He sneered, scowling as he stepped onto the gas. "Bullshit."

"Oh I don't know." His dark eyes glanced back at the dark skin and blonde hair. "Maybe Mr. Wizard here's gonna be a movie star." He grinned listening to the deep chuckle in the back as he drove.

"Yeah well if he makes it big maybe he'll send us a piece." He chuckled lightly, before laughing as the dark skin in the back grinned.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Alright." Her navy eye frowned as she yanked open the passenger side getting in. It took a total of two honks before she came bursting from the house. "Where were...Mike." She sighed heavily as she turned around to the back seat. Catching the grinning dark face. Her navy eyes then falling to the thin red hair and closed blue eyes. "Oh Geeene don't tell me they went to the topless bar." Her navy eyes switching back to the unruly color driving, watching his dark eyes stare dully as he drove.

"Yeah they were at the bar." He mumbled lightly listening to her immediate whine as she flopped around right in her chair.

"Buckle up." She glanced back at the grinning dark face before buckling and frowning at the unruly red hair. His dark eyes frowning harder as she continued to glare at him.

"This is all your fault. If you didn't start in with that, we won't know unless we try stuff and...ahhh.." She trailed suddenly, watching his dark eyes look at her, cocking an eyebrow. Was she honestly going to say it was his fault they were having sex all night? "Gene my sister is going to kill me!"

"Actually she looks fine." Her navy eyes switched back to the grinning dark skin again.

"Mike don't take his siiiiide." She whined stomping her foot lightly. His dark skin chuckling as he watcher her, unruly color silently grinning as he drove. Her thin form sliding into the side of the car as it turned suddenly, navy eyes snapping at the scarred black t-shirt driving. "Where are we going! Your driving like a maniac Geene!?"

"Jim's got beginning frostbite all up his legs." He growled his answer to her, watching her navy color widen as her mouth opened.

"What." she whisphered, turning around fast to look at the blonde hair sleeping on the darker skin. The small legs still purple with slim to none white color. "Oooh Daniella." Her thin feminine hands reached for the closed green eyes running over the small legs and face, but she didn't look as bad as Jim.

"Mr. Wizard must a done something to keep her warm." The dark eyes grinned at her, watching her panicked expression fall to a concerned grateful one as she turned back to the blonde hair. Slowly moving back around in her seat, watching the familiar Community Health Clinic come into view. The dark eyes of the backseat frowning lightly as he spotted the CHC, slowly glancing down at the blonde hair before shifting towards the thin red hair as she moved lightly.

Her green eyes slowly opening, watching the beige surroundings come into focus with the blonde hair. "Jim?" She moved slightly reaching for the light familiar hand before stopping. Noticing the darker male form sitting next to her. The towering figure strong and...huge.

"Hello. Are you Daniella?" He grinned watching her wide green eyes blink quickly as she opened her mouth without any sound. Her small hand snapping at the blonde hair, grabbing its hand quickly.

"Daniella sweetie?" Her green eyes snapped at her aunts voice immediately. "Daniella this is Mike. He is very nice sweetie, a good friend." She smiled, feminine blonde hair running into her eyes as the car screeched to a stop for a red light the scarred black shirt was trying to run through. "Gene will your drive straight." she frowned turning back in her seat.

"Oh Iris. Your so sweet." her navy eyes snapped back at the grinning dark skin "I never knew you cared." He chuckled watching her smile, giggling lightly. The green eyes running back into view as he looked back down at her. "Mr. Wizard here says your a friend of his, and I am very pleased to meet anyone, who is a friend of his." The dark skin smiled at her, watching her face soften as she smiled back.

"Why do you call him...Mr. Wizard?" Her green eyes slid her weight over the leather seats slightly. Looking up easier as she watched the dark eyebrows raise.

"Why do I call him Mr. Wizard?" He chuckled hard, glancing up to the unruly red hair driving. Watching a small grin run over the scarred face before glancing back down at her. "Because that's what he is. A wizard. In the mind." He watched her blink, green eyes looking back at the blonde hair, smiling.

"Does he call you anything back?" The dark eyes grinned.

"Yes, he calls me the shadow man, but you can call me Mike." She giggled lightly, feminine blonde hair turning around in the front seat to smile at her.

Her small slightly freckled face giggling before easing. "How come he calls you the shadow man?" The dark eyes grinned at her, surprisingly gentle in the strong muscled body.

"Cause when Mr. Wizard here was just maybe five or so, I was the first one of my race he ever saw." He smiled at her watching her raise her eyebrows as she smiled at him, thrilled by the tale. "He thought I had derived out of the shadows." He chuckled suddenly watching her smile change slightly as she thought about everything he said before licking her lips and speaking.

"Did you know Jim along time?" She smiled unbuckling to sit sideways and get a better look at the dark skin. Blonde hair leaning into the strong chest asleep.

"Hmm I've known Mr. Wizard for about two and a half years. I met him through Gene." She smiled. "Gene helped me bust outa jail a few years back, and us two are good friends now."

"Mike!" The feminine blonde hair turned around smiling at him. "Don't tell her that." She giggled lightly.

"And why not?" The dark skin grinned. "It's the truth, right Gene?" His dark eyes glanced up at the unruly color driving, watching the sly grin chuckle.

"Oh yeah, it's the truth."

"See?" His dark eyes looked back down at the green giggling lightly. "And I quote Mr. Wizard, I shall not treat her like a kid, when she understands better." He chuckled suddenly, watching the unruly red hair laugh.

"Oh for goodness sake Mike." Iris's navy eyes giggled back at him as she turned around. Feeling the car slow to the dull monotoned blinker starting up. The laughing scarred hands turning the steering wheel into the small parking lot, letting the engine run smoothly into the handicapped parking space and shutting off the key. The place was empty, and he could easy make up some story about an emergency if any cops did decide to investigate.

"Alright." He sighed heavily turning around in his chair slightly, looking around at all the people that had suddenly all come with him.

"Gene?" His dark eyes glanced at the grinning muscled face. "Lets just get out and go in." His scarred face grinned watching Mike's chuckling deep skin open the door and getting out. The thin red hair pulling out with him as she refused to let go of the small hand. "Excuse me." The deep face grinned at her as he stopped moving, her thin form running into his leg. Green eyes looking up at how tall he was, before moving at the opening blue eyes. Watching them look down at her dully before gripping her tight suddenly.

"Jim your hurting me." She frowned feeling the grip loosen, the scarred black shirt glancing over fast as she spoke to the open blue eyes before moving over and blocking her view. The blonde hair looking up at the familiar face before at the dark one grinning at him.

"You want to walk?" The scarred face grinned at him, watching him open his mouth to answer before jumping as the small feminine hand was pulled out of his. His blue eyes snapping down to the thin red hair suddenly being picked up by Iris.

"Why is everyone here?" The blue eyes frowned at him concerned, glancing at Iris now carrying Daniella. The small blue coat suddenly unable to stand, her legs however un-frostbitten where hurt from the cold air and wind that had blown over them as she tried to run five miles with him. "Gene what's?...Geene what's.." His dark eyes grinned watching the blonde hair wince as it moved alarmed but exhausted. Feeling the warm indoor heat rush over him, burning his legs as they walked inside.

His strong scarred grin heading over to the blonde hair talking to the nurse as she smiled at him. His scarred hand picking up the folder she offered him. "Gene they say I have to wait." Her navy eyes turned to him concerned.

"Don't worry about it. Her legs are fine, they're just hurt from the cold." He grinned at her, watching her worried expression look down at the thin red hair leaning into the counter exhausted. Hanging tightly onto her aunts arm to lessen the weight on her legs.

"Ok." she sighed heavily looking up at him, she knew he knew what he was talking about. He had suffered minor frost bite as a kid when he went fishing and got wet. But that was back on Earth, and no one really talked about Earth anymore. "You go in then." He grinned at her, watching her smile as his rough hand ran down her cheek before glancing back at the dark skin now letting the blonde hair slide to the floor. His dark eyes watching the light skin cringe as it stood up, fighting for some dignity.

"Jim" The blue eyes snapped towards his voice immediately watching the scarred hand motion for him to come as they looked around starting forward slowly.

"You want any help there Mr. Wizard?" His dark form grinned at the blue eyes that looked back at him, smiling lightly as they tried to walk. Mumbling something inaudible as he watched the loose gray shirt and shorts shuffle directly to the unruly hair waiting for him. The scarred hand roughing the small shoulder immediately. Saying something as he started following, just in case he was needed.

His dark eyes glanced behind him as they rounded the corner, chuckling lightly at Mike's grinning face before snapping at the blonde hair that suddenly stopped, sinking towards the floor.

His scarred hands snapping down with his dark eyes, pulling the light form back up by it's arms. "Ahhh are we away from the lobby yet?" The blue eye cringed, breathing hard as they spoke.

"Yeah, no one can see where we be now Mr. Wizard." His dark eyes frowned concerned, watching the blonde hair struggle to stand as the scarred hands helped.

"Good. Geene I don't want to ahhhWalk ahhhaaaAnymore." The light face groaned in pain, feeling the floor disappear as the scarred hands lifted him up slightly.

"Jim you idiot. You shouldn't have been walking before if it hurt." He growled slightly watching the light hands dig into his black shirt to hang on as they cringed blinking back tears.

"Mr. Wizard's a dignified man Gene." His scarred dark eyes flicked up at the grinning red shirt watching them.

"Yeah...right...well just keep testing your luck Jim and we'll see how dignified you'll be." his scarred face frowned watching the dark skin give him a dull look as the light face hid under the blonde hair. Light hands shaking slightly as they hung onto the scarred shirt for balance and help. Blue eyes blinking back tears fast as the scarred hands yanked his weight up quickly to get a good grip on him. Chuckling darker skin heading down the hall a few doors before stopping at 15C where they were supposed to go.

"Do you need some help there?" His dark eyes glanced up at the young nurse who stood frowning at him. Blonde hair suddenly moving slightly, pushing to get away from her.

"We didn't ask for help did we?" He flashed her a sly grin. "Couldn't be better." He chuckled at his own sarcasm as she frowned confused. What a joke.

"Are.you for room 15C?" The purple eyes smiled at him lightly from under her head of black hair watching him nod as he started moving down the hall, the back of the blonde hair leaning into his chest, inches above the floor.

"Yeah, that's us all right." He grinned at her, chuckling lightly as he caught the laughing dark face waiting for them at the doorway. His dark eyes blinking as she picked up her pace opening the door for him more and heading in. "Looks like you got yourself a stunning nurse Jim." He grinned suddenly, she had a nice ass. But only an annoyed pinch dug him lightly as the small face silently argued.

"Ahh ow you idiot Geeene!" The light hands snapped at him as he moved the purpled legs, watching the blonde hair lay back on the small light green table in the middle of the room. Blue eyes shut cringing as they tried to breathe through its mouth to ease the pain.

"Just relax will you." He frowned annoyed, watching Mike's dark grin lean into the wall to their side as the black hair of the sweet assed nurse pulled a stethoscope off the counter and came over.

"Hey!" The blue eyes snapped at her fast. Pulling their shirt back down from where she had moved it and shoving her away. Watching her bright purple eyes blink confused.

"Nurse where the hell is Judith?" He growled lightly watching her look up, blinking even more confused. There were almost no patients on a first name basis with doctors around here.

"What!?" The blue eyes snapped at him immediately, watching him growl as he glared at the black hair. "Geeene she's going to kill meee." The light hands ran over the small face that whined at him suddenly.

"Well?" He snapped watching her purple eyes blink lightly as they traveled from each one of their faces before landing back on his.

"I..I..I.." she stammered lightly, scanning appointments and times to try and think where Mrs. Miller might be so early.

"I will go get her now?" The scarred face cocked an eyebrow at her, gently shoving her towards the door. "Remind me to thank you later." He grinned at her, watching her baffled expression turn around to him as he shut the door in her face before sighing.

"Gene Starwind do my eyes deceive me? Or have you just pushed a fine woman from the room for a better cause." Mike's deep voice laughed watching the dark eyes frown at him. "Truly this is the work of a *Great* and most *powerful* wizard hahahaha!" His scarred face cocked a sly grin watching Mike laugh. Leaning into the wall as he ran a hand over his face before glancing at the blonde hair lying on the table. Grinning as he started over, listening to the deep laughter.

The blue eyes looked up at him immediately, squinting at him through the sharp stinging. "Why did you bring me here?" The voice clamped its jaw trying to speak without whining. Watching the dark eyes just look at him.

"Just what the hell were you thinking to drag Danilla five miles across town in twenty degree weather!" The dark eyes frowned at him suddenly. The anger that was on pause now clear to come out as things started clearing up now that everything was ok.

"Ahhh" the light face scowled at him, looking away as it breathed heavily, cringing hard.

"Not that the topless bar added any class Jim" He frowned down hard watching the blue eyes close, groaning at him.

"Geeene not nooow." The light voice whined at him suddenly, watching the unruly red coloring of the reckless hair smear as he looked at it through the shine of the salt water filling his eyes. The dark scarred face just looking back at him, frowning slightly before letting out a heavy sigh. Leaning into the side of the table before looking back down at the silent light face. Closed blue eyes squeezing out clear tears that ran off the sides and over the small ears as gravity pulled them back. "Is.." the light voice trailed swallowing hard. "Is...Dan...is.."

"Yeah Danny's fine. She was just cold." He frowned slightly watching the light face cry, his scarred hand running onto the small forehead and into the blonde hair.

"Mmm" The light hand shoved it off. His dark eyes frowning immediately, watching the light hand cover the closed blue eyes as they lay there.

"Come on no ones blaming you." He sighed heavily watching the small mouth open to inhale shakily before frowning sad again and silently crying. "Your both fine, just as soon as we get your blood into all of your legs..." He glanced down lightly "Jim you have to understand.what I said in the kitchen.." He trailed watching the small chest slow in order to hear him better. He wasn't dumb, this was the fourth year they had been together. Jim heard him alright, heard everything he said to Iris. "Blast it you know when I talk to Iris I word things different!" The blue eyes snapped at him. The light hand moving down to slam the table as he jumped surprised at the sudden movement and force. But there was only a hard hurt look staring up at him in pain.

"Why should it matter *Who* you talk to! What you say! Should be what you...what you *feel*!" The blue eyes scowled at him, tears running fast and hard. "Are you telling me you were *lying* to Iris Geeene?!" The voice sobbed suddenly. His dark eyes frowning down, blinking hard. Suddenly it was as though he were being interrogated.

"I don't know what I said to her! That's all I am saying. I wasn't really paying attention! So if I said something-"

"-So if you said something *stupid* it was a lie!?" The blue eyes frowned up at him. "Thaat is such bulllllshiiiit." The voice sobbed suddenly, light hands running over the small face wiping tears away. "You didn't think I could hear you. You didn't lie to her!" The blue eyes cringed watching the scarred face stare back blank, listening. "Now you waaant to.waaant to make shit up caaaause you...meeesssed up big time!"

He groaned lighlty, scarred hand running onto his face as he massaged his temples. Listening to the fast hiccups from the hurt blonde hair underneath him. "Yeah right...I messed up big time didn't I." He frowned guilty, dark eyes looking ahead at the wall as he leaned into the table side ways.

"Reeeally meeessed up!" The light hand punched his arm annoyed, watching the dark eyes look down at it. Flashing a lop sided grin as the small mouth sucked air in 'n out upset. "If you lie to her you lie to ME!" The blue eyes frowned up at his face. "What would make.make me different from her?" The small words spit at him. "Nothing. Just because you use her to get...to get..." His eyebrows shot up as he watched the light voice trail. Would Jim honestly say it? Blast, how the hell does he know about all this? his mind frowned watching the light face cry at him before looking away. "Doesn't matter!" The light voice yelled suddenly, looking back up. "What could you possibly be using me for!? I don't do anything...anything...nothing useful!" The light hands slammed onto either side of the table annoyed. Unable to move and feeling the quick sharp stings as it continuously tried. "If you couldn't answer her it's only a matter of time until...you leeeaaave me cause I can't give you annythinnnng." The blue eyes sobbed suddenly. His dark eyes staring down, mesmerized by the small chest and blue eyes that had suddenly become so upset. Jim hadn't cried like that in, so long. It was scary to see it again, especially now that he was so much older, and meant so much. More then he knew how to express.

"Jim I wouldn't-"

"-Oh YES you WOULD!" The blue eyes snapped at him again, shoving what they could reach of him. "You do it with EVERYONE you know! All the GIRLS! All the BARS! All the CUSTOMERS! You blow EVERYONE off you don't feel like having around anymore!" The light chest heaved. "Aaaahaaha you justaaaa just haven't tired of meee yeeeeet."

His sighed heavily, dark eyes closing. What the hell do you say to something like that? His scarred form turning around, looking away from the sobbing blonde hair. He couldn't take it. Couldn't take logic like that, it was too much.

"Gene." He opened his eyes, watching Mike look at him, the warm eyes concerned and serious. "You best tell Mr. Wizard here, where your magic's at." The dark eyebrows rose lightly as they stood up and gently grasped the door knob. "You both my brothers, don't nobody *kill* nobody while I am gone." His dark skin flashed a reassuring grin to the scarred face and hysterical blonde hair. Dark eyes watching Mike silently leave and shut the door as he turned around.

Jim's chest still hiccupping hard, light hands over the small face as he frowned. Stupid kid, Blasted stupid kid. "Alright." he growled stomping the one hard step over to the small table and yanking the light wrist off fast.

"Ahh!" The light face screamed at him as it was yanked off. Tripping to the ground fast and groaning with pain as it stood. Blonde hair falling back fast as he shoved him. Watching the blue eyes open as they stumbled back into the wall, leaning against it. "Ahaah!" The light face screamed as it punched, watching the scarred face that had crouched down in front of him slip back to the floor. Surprise by the blow and the strength, dark eyes standing up, frowning in disbelief that the light hands had time punch him, never mind so well as they struggled to hold itself up. "Geeene leeeave me aloone!" The light face screamed at him as his scarred hands bawled the loose gray shirt up fast yanking the light skin up with it and pressing it into the wall.

"Now you listen to me." He frowned hard watching the blue eyes close wincing heavily. "Open your eyes! And look at me!" He growled light hands snapping at his wrists, hanging on tightly as the blue eyes opened afraid and hurt. "Jim!" He growled mad he couldn't communicate what he wanted to Jim's level. He had the kid where he wanted, now came the hard part. Telling him in words that said what he meant inside, honestly. "Maybe that is the way it works with women for me. But if your so smart! How come you haven't figure out why I am not tired of you yet!?" He growled watching the blue eyes blink hard, still crying as the small face sucked air in and out through it's mouth. "If I spent days dealing with your *stupid* antics why should I pick NOW! Of *ALL* the days TO BLOW YOU OFF!?" The blonde hair shook no fast, overloaded and confused. "If your such a *Wizard* you Should KNOW!" He frowned at the blue eyes watching them soften, sobbing suddenly. "You know don't you.." He sighed hard. "...DON'T YOU!?" He shook the light skin gently. Watching the small face nod. "It's cause I wouldn't! WOULDN'T!...and you know that.don't you, cause your a genius.a wizard...right?"

"Ahhyeees." the light face cringed, speaking back.

"Yeah? Alright?" He cocked an eyebrow at the crying blue eyes as he smiled.

"Right."

He grinned. "Right?"

"Right! Right!"

"Right. Good." He sighed watching the light face and chest push off the wall gently towards him. His scarred arms slowly lowering the light weight back towards the flood before crouching down to it. Watching the blonde hair look down as it tried to stand. "Besides." he grinned slightly. "I would tell you before I blew you off. I wouldn't just waltz out." he chuckled now.

The blonde hair nodding unevenly at his sly comment. "Ahhh" Tripping forward slightly as it tried to move. Falling into the scarred chest that was warm and strong, reassuring in everyway possible just being there for him.

"You would know ahead of time." He grinned feeling the light arms rap around his neck. "I would give you one of those yellow eviction notices." He chuckled "Tell you to get your stuff out. Put up a room for rent sign." he grinned feeling the small chest continue to sob as it hung onto him, his arms squeezing back becuase *he* wanted to. *He* wanted to be hugged too.

"Ahhh you swear thaaats true! Pleease dooon't leave me Geeene I dooon't haave any, I don't have any-"

"-I know." He frowned slightly with that thought. His scarred shoulder roughing the small back clinging to him. His face resting in the soft blonde hair muffling it's words out into his chest. "I know. It's something you don't have to worry about alright?" he grinned feeling the light head nod. "Don't think about it anymore either. Your giving me a headache just looking at you." he grinned feeling the light face choke a laugh as he squeezed the gray t-shirt, slowly standing up to get the weight off the small legs. Stopping dead for a moment to look at Judith's soft gray hair and worn eyes just staring at them. Silently waiting for them to finish from where she looked as thought she stopped dead in her tracks walking in.

He flashed her a reassuring grin as she frowned concerned, almost baffled and afraid. Walking into one gigantic mess, that finished as soon as it started. The blue eyes completely still in his arms, utterly exhausted in everyway now that it knew it could relax. Watching the red hair move in front and slightly above it as he used its hands to pull its weight onto the small table more. Judith's old worn face appearing in a smile. Her old soft skin forming the sweet perfect lines that he remembered. Her face seemed surprisingly more comforting then he thought it would be.

"It's so good to see you Jim." She smiled at him watching him blink slowly. "It's going to be real easy to fix your legs alright? And I have something I can put on your eyes too." She smiled warmly watching him sigh shakily as he nodded at her. Her worn green eyes glancing up to the unruly red hair that stood silent. "Are you alright?" she smiled at him watching him nod immediately. Of course he was, he could handle it. Dark eyes looking down at the blonde hair the moved slightly looking up at him.

"I like Daniella." His scarred face grinned immediately. Chuckling at how out of place the comment was. The swollen pink blue eyes grinning immediately, choking a small laugh.

"Yeah I thought you did." He grinned down watching the blue eyes blink slowly. "Ever since you were little you never did anything but aggravate her." The blue eyes laughed suddenly, slightly glancing at the small stethoscope that ran under his shirt before back up at the dark eyes.

"What should I tell Iris?" He glanced up watching the scarred shoulders shrug.

"Don't tell her anything." He grinned watching the light face smile before flinching, blue eyes closing as his dark eyes looked down. Watching the old yet smooth hands examine the purple hues coloring the lighter legs.

"Jim do you fell all of this?" She frowned up at the blonde hair concerned, watching it nod fast. "That's a good sign." she smiled at the dark eyes that grinned. How ironic was that. His scarred face watching the light skin jump as she ran her hand up onto his knee turning his leg slightly to look at the inside before pushing the rim of his shorts up. Watching the beaten purple color run up his thigh before she glanced up. Moving slightly to push his gray t-shirt up , looking down at the healthy thin stomach. "Jim how high does this go?" She frowned at him watching him shake his head no. Not opening his mouth from where he had locked it shut while she touched his raw stinging skin. "Alright well you look for me and find out." She smiled lightly, watching the light face continue to stay sill and clamped. Light hands moving to the buttons of his shorts as he exhaled shakily. Dark eyes watching her gray hair move around the small table towards him. "Gene I just saw the little girl. She's going to be fine." She smiled lightly at him watching him nod.

I am going.." Her worn gray eyes watching him as he trailed. "I am going to go wait in the lobby." He flashed her a grin as she nodded, gently patting the back of his shoulder as he moved towards the door.

"Where are you going?" The blue eyes frowned at him as he turned around.

"The lobby." He flashed a lop sided grin at the blonde hair watching it nod lightly as he opened the door. Waiting for it click shut behind him before sighing heavily.

"You straighten everything out?" He grinned glancing down at Mike's deep voice that chuckled at him.

"Oh yeah. We're set for another six months." he chuckled lightly slouching into a chair next to the strong muscled red shirt. Mike's happy face chuckling lightly as he grinned.

"You lazy bastard Starwind." The deep voice chuckled. Six months, that could either be forever, or a blink.