Title: Murderer's Touch

Author: I_nv_u50

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Claimer: Do I really have to say it again?

Warning: Slash!! Whee!! And it's sappy too!!

Author's Notes: Mwahahahahaha!!! I live!!! (proceeds to act like Mushu on Mulan) Anyway . It's a shorter chapter this time but it's got considerable amounts of sap and stuff in it, and I wanted to get Kylan's views on the last scene before they get interrupted. Because of course they will XD

The Golden Dragon  ~  I don't remember having to read that O.o; which is probably why I liked my Spanish teacher :D he didn't make us read extra long novel thingies… maybe next year though O.o;;; gah… I'm suddenly scared =P It was great fun camping!! Except it was so cold . But it's also grad tomorrow, so it's a whole day off school, which means I can probably get out two chapter… maybe even three!!! (something tells me I'm being too optimistic XD) Didya go see the movie? I heard it was good, better than the first one O.o; but I'm so broke right now T.T Mwahahaha!! Yes, I know, I can't wait to see them either :D I think I've got Kylan's look down, now I just need to find the ideal hairstyle for Brynn. Should it be long or short? :D kylan's is kinda long . . unless I made it short in fic… guess I'll have to reread it to find out…. Heh heh… oops .

etcetera-cat  ~  Yea, that's exactly what I thought! 'cept now I don't want shaelin to die because she's taken a non-understandable liking to kylan and she seems to be one of the few… we have got to work on his people skills (mwahaha!! Mulan rocks!! XD) … other than that, thanks for reviewing again ^^ hope you do it again!! And again and again and again… .

ola  ~  At last at last they're getting together :D carrying bags is the best part of shopping :D … or assigning them to someone else to carry, which amounts to the same thing :D … sorta O.o; I'm happy you could finish it as well!! Hope you enjoy this one as well!! ^^ … even though it's shorter O.o;;

As I've mentioned before, this chapter is shorter… but it's got a whole bunch of sap. I like writing sap. I'm such a romantic . er… yea… Read, enjoy, and please review!! ^^  (sidles away…)

PS: I blame it all on the sugar high… .

:Something's changed.: Brynn told Devoni quietly, still unable to look down at the hand holding onto his for fear that it wasn't real.

:Shaelin seems to have reassured him more than either of us.: Devoni replied thoughtfully.

Brynn was silent for a moment, letting Kylan draw slightly ahead, but still not letting go of the hand. :Devoni… Did… Do you really feel guilty?:

Devoni was silent for a moment, and the Companion behind Brynn sighed heavily, but before he could answer, Kylan turned to face Brynn, smirking teasingly.

"Are all Heralds this distracted?"

Brynn just stared at him stupidly. "Huh?"

Kylan rolled his eyes, his smirk growing into a grin, and he stepped closer. "I asked," he murmured, in a voice that made Brynn's heart speed up, "if all Heralds were as distracted as you are."

Brynn flushed, cursing himself for his reaction. He was meant to be the adult, not some country noble displaying the symptoms for a first court crush. "No. At least, I don't think so."

Kylan scrunched up his nose pensively, his thoughts plainly taking another route. "How do the Companions speak to me? Why does it sound like they're in my head?"

Brynn cocked his head, and then walked past the blonde, pulling on their still linked hands. "It's called Mindspeech. Supposedly Companions are only expected to speak with their Chosen, but others, like Taver, can talk to whomever they want. Not many of the others do though."

"Shaelin spoke to me," Kylan said quietly, tagging along calmly at Brynn's side. "She… it felt so strange."

"It takes a while to get used to it," Brynn replied, casting a curious glance at his bondmate. "What… er… what did Shaelin say to you?"

Kylan gave him an unreadable look, the blue eyes searching Brynn's face intently. After a second, he smiled. "Nothing much."

Brynn had a feeling it was more than that, but before he could make up his mind whether to press for answers or not, Kylan started lagging behind, hanging back and showing a clear reluctance to go forwards.

Brynn blinked. "What's wrong?"

Kylan pouted. He looked dangerously young when he did that, and although it made him look absolutely adorable, Brynn found himself wishing the younger boy wouldn't. It gave Brynn the almost overwhelming urge to pick the blonde up and cuddle him, an idea that, he suspected, would not meet the full approval of the murderer.

Brynn ignored Devoni's silent snicker and turned to fully face the younger boy. "What's wrong?" he repeated.

Kylan threw himself at the Herald, taking him by complete surprise. Brynn stumbled back a little with the force of the movement and once he had regained his footing, looked down onto blonde strands that tickled his chin.

"Um…"

Kylan pulled back slightly, smirking again. The smirk didn't fool Brynn. There was still a hint of fear in the wide blue eyes.

Brynn smiled, unable to help the reflexive curl of his lips. It felt so right…

"Herald Brynn!"

The harsh voice startled Brynn and he jerked back and spun around, regretting the movement but unable to regain the position he had had before he moved. Kylan moved closer towards him, and Brynn held out a hand behind him without looking, not sure if the younger boy would take the comfort or not.

After a moment, when Brynn had had enough time to identify the Herald walking towards him as the Dean of the Collegium, a hand slid hesitantly into his.

:He's scared, Brynn.: Devoni's voice whispered through his mind.

Brynn scowled back mentally. :I know that. I can… I can feel it, sort of…:

Devoni didn't answer. Herald Elan was close enough now for Brynn to see the frown on his face, and, regardless of the situation, Brynn felt an overpowering urge to grin sheepishly and duck his head. It hadn't been too long since he had been a Trainee in the Collegium and Dean Elan had had most control of his affairs, and the habit most likely stuck with all Heralds when they saw their Dean approaching while he looked less than pleased.

It wasn't quite a frown of disappointment, but it wasn't anything resembling blatant approval either.

The Dean stopped a few paces away. "Brynn, I've been told to take him and put him in some classes."

Kylan's hand mechanically tightened its hold. Brynn squeezed back, as reassuring as he could, trying to project calm with any empathy he might have had. It had never been one of his Gifts, but it seemed to work because the hold loosened somewhat. "Why?" Brynn asked Elan.

Herald Elan shrugged. "The King and King's Own commands it."

Brynn bit back the retort he wanted to make and settled for a more polite one. It wouldn't do to slander his King in a fit of frustrated rage. "Are they feeling all right?"

Elan narrowed his eyes, and Brynn knew that the older Herald knew exactly what was going through his head.

Elan cracked a bitter smile. "No, they aren't crazy. I don't know why they want to put a murderer with a group of Trainees who'd probably hurt him whenever they could, but there."

Brynn cursed under his breath, and Kylan came up to stand beside him, ignoring Brynn's warning look.

"What if I don't want to go?"

Elan looked down at the blonde, an expression of curious distaste on his face. "Why do you look so young and innocent?"

It was obviously the wrong thing to say, but Kylan reacted before Brynn could attempt to stop him.

The blue eyes narrowed almost dangerously, and the bright glint in them was anything but safe. "What the hell do you know? Would you think I still looked young if you saw me kill your friend? Do I look young to you now? Am I innocent enough for you to put in your precious school for those saps you call Trainees?" Kylan spat each word like it was something disgusting.

Brynn groaned and covered his face with a hand, already regretting the headache he knew was coming. When he dared to open them again, a few moments later, Elan looked enraged and absolutely furious; and Kylan was still bristling next to him, confused about his outburst, but sure as hell not planning to show it.

:Chosen, I think now would be a good time to retreat…:

Brynn agreed whole-heartedly, and grabbed Kylan's sleeve, jerking him past the incensed Dean, who watched them go with slitted eyes. Brynn could see him counting if he looked carefully enough, but he didn't feel like it.

"That was remarkably stupid, you know," he told Kylan off handedly as they stormed towards the new Palace.

Kylan glowered up at him and wrenched his arm away. "I'm not young, and I'm not innocent!" he snarled, and whirled around, running off in another direction completely before Brynn could even get over his surprise at the action.

Devoni tsked him in his mind. :Really, Brynn, you should have seen that coming.:

Brynn glared at his approaching Companion. "You're no help. What would he have done if I had kept a hold on him?"

:Judging by the shocked state you're in now, I'd say he would have planted you on the ground quite neatly. But you would beat him if you were expecting it.: Devoni added, a hint of mocking kindness in the last statement.

Brynn scowled at him harder. "Oh shut up."

Devoni laid his ears back irritably. :Don't blame me if you can't control him. I suggest you go look for him so you find him before anyone else does. And Taver says not to bother with meeting Astral today. Astral will probably visit after your class, which, coincidentally, starts within a candlemark or so. I suggest you find your bondmate before then.:

Brynn's scowl faded, and he stepped closer, laying an apologizing hand between Devoni's eyes and scratching softly. "Sorry. I guess I'm just a little uptight. Do you know where he might have gone?"

Devoni closed his eyes, maybe in bliss or maybe in thought. :He might have gone off to find Shaelin again. She's the only one on Palace Grounds who isn't going to accuse him besides you and me and maybe Jesalis.:

Brynn sighed and pulled his hand away, letting himself smile when Devoni nudged his hand. "Why does Shaelin like him so much?"

Devoni immediately assumed an innocent, unfathomable expression. :I don't know.:

"Liar," Brynn accused, but there was no heat in his words. Devoni whinnied with laughter behind him as he set off to find Kylan.

Brynn found Kylan easily. It was simply a matter of following a peculiar part inside of himself that pointed out the way.

Oddly enough though, Kylan wasn't found anywhere near a Companion who tolerated him. He was sitting in one of the grottos beside the river, pushing his finger idly over the benches, smiling absently to himself.

Brynn stood there and watched for a second in silence, admiring the younger boy's profile and enjoying the smile on the blonde's face that hinted of better things that were and better things to come. The smile didn't leave the face when Kylan looked up suddenly and saw him, if anything it grew a touch more nostalgic, which was enough to make Brynn's heart ache.

He stepped into the grotto, sitting down on the bench next to the blonde, and accepted it when Kylan didn't say a word. He didn't say one either. The river flowed smoothly a little distance away, and the branches of surrounding nearby trees hid them enough from sight so that it felt like they were alone in the world together.

Kylan looked up first; maybe half a candlemark, maybe a full candlemark later. "Sorry," he said softy. "It wasn't a bright thing to do, was it?"

Brynn studied him, suddenly unable to understand the slight wistfulness in the unexpectedly tender voice. "It's fine," he sighed, idly wondering if he was ever going to understand the younger boy. "He always was a little pompous."

Kylan smirked at him. "Pompous? That's not the word I'd use."

"I daresay it's not, but I must ask you to spare my blushes!" Brynn teased back, grinning when he won a responsive smile from the blonde.

"You're so weird," Kylan remarked idly, softly, and hesitantly leaned closer, his face steadily growing crimson.

Brynn regarded Kylan with something like mutual amusement, and when he appeared to be taking to long, simply wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled the younger boy closer.

Kylan tensed for a brief period, then relaxed with a sigh. "This is… nice."

Brynn smiled with sudden tenderness at the blonde head resting on his shoulder. "Yes," he replied quietly. "Yes, it is."