Title: Murderer's Touch

Author: I_nv_u50

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Claimer: Characters and plot mine, world isn't.

Warning: Slash!! Whee!!

Author's Notes: Whoohoo!! Chapter 4!! I'll try and have chapters 5 & 6 out tomorrow, but we're going out for supper, so might only get one up. Anyway, I hope this explains Brynn a bit more, and makes you like Kylan a bit better, 'specially the end. 'sbout time ^^

Also mentions Vanyel!! Whee!! Love Van!! ^^

Read, enjoy, and please review!! ^^

Brynn closed the door of his suite quietly behind him, more than a little mystified by Kylan's sudden submissiveness.

:It's not that hard to understand, Chosen.: Devoni's voice resounded dryly through his mind. :He still doesn't understand the lifebond, and it must be extraordinary compared to how he's used to living.:

"I know," Brynn replied aloud as he started walking for the laundry room that the pages used. There were sure to be some non-Trainee outfits there. "I don't know anything about him though. And he doesn't know anything about me. How is this supposed to work?"

:You have plenty of time to find out about each other, Chosen.: Devoni reminded him gently. :Don't worry about going too slowly, it's natural. You aren't supposed to go fast.:

Brynn blinked at that, wondering how Devoni knew, but he knew better than to ask. Devoni never told him everything, usually just enough to get by. Maybe, if he was lucky, more, but not generally. "Thank you, by the way," Brynn said quietly, passing another Herald with a short nod, trying to ignore the dried tear tracks. "For telling me."

:Is that sarcasm I hear?: Devoni merely sounded amused, not suspicious, and Brynn allowed a grin to creep over his face.

"Maybe," he replied noncommittally. "Seriously though, even if I wish you could have told me sooner or given me some warning, it came at the right time. Thanks for telling me."

Devoni simply sent an echo of a mental nuzzle, and Brynn knocked on the door of the laundry, wondering if he just should have sent a page up with the clothes instead. He decided against the idea. Kylan probably needed time alone, knowing he was alone in the room to get whatever he felt out of his system.

Even though the younger boy had tried to hide it, Brynn had very clearly heard the traces of first panic in the younger boy's voice. Brynn frowned suddenly, thinking. Absently requesting some normal clothes, not a uniform, he turned his thoughts in Devoni's direction.

:How old is he, do you know?:

There was a pause before Devoni answered. :Not more than three years younger than you, I know that. You should ask him over supper.:

"I will," Brynn answered aloud, forgetting he was in company, but ignored the fact when it came to him. Palace servants were used to Heralds seemingly talking to themselves. It was one of the first things they got used to when coming to work there.

The girls in the room merely exchanged somewhat knowing looks and offered him a bundle of clothing, which he took with a politely distant smile.

At least they waited until he had left before they started gossiping, unlike some of the other servants and people.

Brynn sighed wearily and started the walk back to his suite.

:It's all right, Chosen.: Devoni told him, mental voice tender and concerned. :They just don't understand.:

:They never do.: Brynn returned silently. Devoni didn't reply to that.

There were sounds of movement coming from the bathroom when Brynn made it back to his rooms, and he knocked quickly on the bathroom door. "Kylan? Can I come in?"

There was a pointed silence, before a heavy sigh filtered through the door, and after a small splash, Kylan called "Come in."

Brynn flushed at the thought, and hated himself for it, Devoni's quiet snigger in his mind not making him feel better. He opened the door carefully, and kept his eyes staring at the wall, not looking at the bathtub.

Kylan cleared his throat, and by the time Brynn made himself meet the other's eyes, Kylan was smirking. Brynn felt his face go expressionless.

"Got you some clothes," he said shortly, unheeding the flicker of confusion that showed in the boy's eyes. They were blue, he noted distantly, feeling his breathe catch in his throat as their eyes locked. A blue, not that different from Devoni's, except a much lighter shade. They held the same kind of dry humor, and a sort of cynical expression lurked deeper down with a misery that Brynn had never known Devoni to feel.

He unconsciously took a step closer, unaware of Devoni's sliding out of the front of his mind, intent only on the boy still sitting huddled in the bathtub, determined to ease that misery, so sure he could.

Then Kylan tore his eyes away, and an expression of distaste settled over the younger features, enough of a hurt to make Brynn pull back again, enigmatically distressed by the reaction.

He cleared his throat to clear it of the lump, and spoke coolly to the wall, acknowledging Devoni's inrushing sympathy and wordless comfort. "The clothes are here. Supper will be ready whenever you are, so come out soon."

Brynn saw Kylan nod from the corner of his eye, and left, still fixing his gaze anywhere but where the boy was.

Once inside the main room, he hesitated, and then went out through the door that led outside, expecting the unquestionable security that he trusted his Companion with.

Devoni was already there, probably having have started making his way there while Brynn was still on his way back from the laundry room. Wordlessly, the Companion stepped forward, and equally silently, Brynn came closer to hug him. Devoni hugged him back, pressing his chin hard against Brynn's back in a way that felt a lot better than most human hugs, and Brynn sighed, relishing the comfort and understanding, happy in the knowledge that this would never leave him.

:It'll get better Chosen.: Devoni whispered into Brynn's mind, and Brynn forced himself to believe the sentiment, no matter how much something told him it probably wouldn't.

They stood silently for a while, caught up together and at ease with each other, until a soft clearing of someone's throat sounded behind Brynn.

Brynn let go to whirl around, but Devoni took longer, lifting his chin slowly. :Easy, Chosen. Don't let him think he can order you around, it's meant to be a mutual dependence. Take your time. Show him that he isn't as important as he thinks he is. He's remarkably selfish right now in his life, you can help with that.:

Brynn listened and turned more slowly, smiling at the younger boy who looked impatient, but uneasy, obviously feeling like an outsider.

:Introduce me.: Devoni prompted, and Brynn held out a hand, offering. Kylan studied the hand, and then cautiously took it, his hand warm and still slightly damp from the bath.

"This is Devoni, my Companion."

Kylan stared at the bigger animal, examining the muscles and the coat, which gleamed far brighter in the sunshine. He seemed at a loss of what to do, and Brynn stifled a small laugh, remembering how he had felt when Devoni had come on his search. He hadn't known how to talk to a Companion either until Devoni had swung around from Delia and had looked at him…

"Hi," Kylan said carefully, his expression carefully hiding whatever it was he truly felt.

Devoni snorted and whickered laughter, nudging the boy with his nose. Kylan flinched back, to Brynn's surprise, and he blinked in bewilderment. Devoni snorted again, and nuzzled Brynn's cheek before ambling off, heading towards the Companion's Field.

Brynn stared at Kylan, who felt his stare and glared sullenly back, a sulky look on his face. Brynn waved an arm towards the inside bit of the rooms. "Ready to go in?"

Kylan went in without another word. After one more dubious glance in the direction where Devoni had disappeared, Brynn followed.

"So…" Kylan started, glancing around the room again. He hadn't stopped avoiding Brynn's gaze since they had sat down, and Brynn was getting uneasy himself with the delayed eye contact.

"So…" Brynn repeated, feeling terribly stupid. "How old are you?"

Kylan gave him a look that wasn't friendly. "Why do you want to know?"

Brynn shrugged nervously. "We're going to be around each other for a while… Wouldn't it be better to know something about each other?"

Kylan fixed piercing blue eyes on him. "How do you know I won't kill you?"

Brynn stared straight back, narrowing his eyes slightly. "You won't."

"How do you know that though?"

"Because you wouldn't be able to kill me if you wanted to."

Kylan looked stumped for a second, then shrugged again. "Seventeen."

Brynn stared at him for a moment, making Kylan start to fidget then glare at him.

"What?" the younger boy asked defensively.

"Only seventeen?" Brynn repeated. "And already a murderer."

Kylan's expression darkened further. "How old are you?"

"Just turned twenty a few weeks ago."

"And you're already a Herald."

Brynn blinked as a wave of understanding flowed through him. "Point taken." He said softly. "Guess we can't help what we are, huh?"

"Nope," Kylan looked smug at having proved his point, and helped himself to some more wine. He took a sip, and then watched Brynn for long enough to make Brynn feel awkward. He hated it, that the younger boy could make him feel so… childish. Scared. Weak. It wasn't something that was supposed to happen, and he had a disturbing notion that however insecure he was, Kylan might be more so, which was why he might have to prove that others were worse. Or, he just might be that unpleasant in character.

Brynn hoped that wasn't so. He didn't know if he'd be able to stand spending the rest of his life with a male who felt better by putting his life bound partner down further. It would just be his luck though.

Kylan was still staring at him. Brynn glanced up, suddenly more than a little annoyed. "What?"

"Tell me," said the blonde quietly. "Please. Why didn't they kill me?"

:Oh Havens.: Brynn said silently, feeling Devoni's slight amusement at his predicament. :How do I explain this one?:

:Take it slowly. He could take it well, or badly.:

Brynn nodded almost imperceptibly. "Have you ever heard of a lifebond?" he started.

Kylan just stared at him blankly. Brynn sighed, taking that as an answer.

"It's… well, it's… it's exactly what it sounds like. People are bound together for life, and maybe even longer. They're rather rare, and quite… sacred, I guess. It's a known fact that if you kill one lifebond, the other will die as well, either by death willing themselves, or by suicide. If you're lifebond dies, you lose the will to live. Only one known person has lived through the death of his life bound, and Vanyel was an altogether special person anyway. It's-"

"Hold it," Kylan suddenly sat up straight, his eyes stricken with something that was decidedly not delight at the news. "I'm bound to you? For life? What if I don't want to? Is there anyway to get rid of it?"

"There is," Brynn spoke quietly to his hands, which appeared to be shaking. He tried to ignore the pain that the subtle rejection had brought him. Kylan might have been complaining about the awesome amount of commitment, but Brynn didn't think so. "If you really don't want to, I think the Companion's know how to break a lifebond. It must be almost the same thing as being repudiated…"

Kylan pushed his chair back and stood up hurriedly. "Good. Let's go then."

Brynn looked up, trying to keep a hold on his emotions so the younger boy wouldn't see him so upset, wouldn't think him a weakling. Devoni started crooning comfort to the back of his mind, soothing the ache, but not making it go.

Kylan paused, and stared down at the other young man. Brynn tried desperately to hide the vulnerability in his eyes. Kylan cursed after a few long moments and sat down again, burying his face in his arms.

There was silence for a while, broken only by the occasional soft, self-mutterings of the blonde, and the somewhat shaky breathing of the brunette. The fire crackled merrily in the background, paying not the slightest bit of attention to the distressed atmosphere.

Something butted the garden door, and Brynn looked up from his hands, detachedly curious. He wasn't expecting anyone, and a quick word with Devoni proved it wasn't the Companion. He glanced over at Kylan, but the boy ignored him, still mumbling incoherently to himself, probably going over ideas in his head.

Brynn got up to open the door.

"Wait," Kylan said, and lifted his head. His hair was tousled, and Brynn had the sudden urge to smooth it down, and he swept away the impulse with a stern command not to be stupid.

"What?" he returned quietly.

Kylan looked at him, and flushed suddenly, looking down again quickly before lifting his eyes again. "Do you like boys?"

Brynn blinked, surprised at the question. "Never thought about it," he replied honestly, searching his memory for any time he had a preference for either sex. "I don't mind, if that's what you mean."

"I don't," Kylan said, and stood up again. "I mean, that's not what I mean. Tell me the truth. Do you like boys?"

"I prefer guys to girls, I guess…" Brynn said slowly, unsure about where the conversation was going.

The person knocked again. Kylan cursed, and stepped closer, shooting the door a dangerous glare, before turning his eyes back to Brynn, eyes that weren't half so angry now so much as confused and uncertain.

"I don't know if I like boys. I've only ever had girls before." Kylan cocked his head thoughtfully, and Brynn watched him carefully, making no move to go to the door.

Kylan took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, shivering slightly, and blushing again. He stepped closer, and Brynn promptly forgot about the door, forgot about who Kylan was, even forgot about Akseli's death. There only existed the blue eyes in front of him, and the lifebond inside of him, all around him, surging to surround them, making his head spin and his soul fly.

The door banged again.

Kylan smiled hesitantly and lifted a hand so that it barely touched Brynn's face. Brynn's breath snagged in his throat and he forgot to breath again as Kylan's smile got more confident.

"Kiss me." The murderer said.

Helplessly, Brynn complied. The world faded away.