Chapter 5:
Intrude
" I ... I wish. May I please tell him.. Something. Please?" She looked up at Steve, clearly not used to asking for something.
"I don't know. Well.... Ok, sure but stay close to us so he won'' hurt you or touch you. When Mira gets mad, step away." He took the girl's hand and headed towards the front door were Alex had Mira up against the wall, her eyes had a glimmer of red. "Alex!" Steve walked up first, pulling him off roughly, "Leave her be alrigh'?"
"WHERE IS MY GIRL?" The black man looked around; seeing her behind Steve, his grin grew. "Hey there Kyksae. Let's go home and let these people be." The girl actually looked as if she were about to burst into tears. An ugly frown broke across her otherwise beautiful face. Steve's three children watched from around the hallway corner. Her mind flickered back to Cloud's eyes and how she'd wish she'd get to know him better. Kyksae took a step behind Steve and grasped his shorts with her free hand.
"I .... I want to stay here.." Alex stood in shock; never had he thought his own daughter would disobey him.
"WE'RE GOING HOME, your mother is waiti-" he couldn't finish the lie he started before Mira punched him in his gut. Kai behind the door let loose a little scream and Mira heard it but didn't say a thing.
"Don't tell that damn lie. She stays and if you try to get to her," she stepped in front of the Kyksae, "You have to get over my dead body first." She was serious and her darkened eyes told this. Her voice was deeper than what it seemed minutes ago. Steve felt weak at the moment, but quickly figured out a way of dealing with it, like he always did.
"Mira leave it be. He's not wor'h it." He grabbed her shoulder lightly and pulled her back.
"Get out, NOW." she pointed at the door and paused, "If you want her, punch me and learn what its like to punch a woman who can fight back. Dare to touch her, dare to even touch a hair on her and you'll get more than just a HURT!!!" Alex looked at her calmly, but on the inside, he was stiff.
"What makes you say things like that about my d-" Mira punched him in the face.
"Ekatrina should have left you! She was blind! She thought she needed you because the girl needed a father. I will not let you hurt her is that clear?"
"Say what you want, slut, Steve is no better." He turned before getting a heel into his stomach.
"He didn't kill me yet!!!" The whole room went silent, and Steve knew his wife was about to loose it. Kyksae watched the adults bicker and argue, until she couldn't take it anymore.
"Please! Stop!" The girl threw herself in-between her father and Mira. It was too late, Alex had already swung, and the girl hit the floor hard. He stood up darkly and just looked down at the girl. She flinched but she didn't move. Mira's body gave in. She screamed to Steve to take the green-eyed girl away and take the kids from the corner. The blonde took the girl in his arms and hurried behind the corner telling Cloud to help him hold Kai and Cid there as well.
"Why is mommy so mad? Why doesn't she like us no more?" Kai said hugging her daddy.
"Shh.. She doesn't hate you, she just wants to protect you."
"From what?" all three kids asked him, with strange looks upon their faces.
"Herself." Steve looked sad as if he couldn't help her like he wanted to.
"You pompous prick. You think you can do this all to that poor girl, she did nothing wrong." Mira lost it all. Her bat like wings burst through her back, silver tattoos appeared on her body, and a lizard like tail came through the back of her pants.
"What the hell are you?" He stepped back, but a claw quickly came up to his neck.
"You touch the girl again like that, you die, if I see you talk to her in any wrong way, you die, if you tell anyone of this, you die. Do you understand?" he nodded and left as soon as she let go. Her hands were shaking when the door closed and she collapsed breathing hard. Kai saw everything from having enough strength to get herself free from her brother, as did Cid and Cloud. Kyksae struggled in Steve's grip to see what was going on. The other three had run to their mother and something about the air felt strange to her. She couldn't place it but she knew Mira could have been hurt. It was all because of her. Kyksae's eyes began to water and she went limp in Steve's arms. Mira couldn't look into her children's eyes, not now when they saw her like that. She was on her hands and knees looking at the ground, she could feel the fear, and she sensed it.
"I won't bite." She stood up and turned. The kids stepped back a little as she headed towards them, if she let the girl see her now, she will be scared for the rest of her life, but sooner or later she would see it anyway. "Kyksae if you see this now promise not to tell a single soul." Mira's voice was deeper; Kyksae could hear it around the corner. Kyksae's ears perked up when she heard Mira's familiar voice. She strained to see what was going on as Steve had her underneath his arm as if he were carrying a sack of potatoes. Cid glanced at Kai, who looked to Cloud. Cloud knew he was afraid, but took a step towards his mother and hugged her lightly. The other two followed his example. Mira was surprised at the three children. She hugged them, afraid to let them go.
"I'm so sorry you have to see this." She cried into Cloud's shoulder. She knew didn't choose to be this way, and she didn't want her children to end up as a part of it. She let them go and stepped around the corner to find the struggling girl being held by Steve. Mira bent down and patted her on her head; the three red eyes on her face seemed to glow, just as much as the ones on her hands, but strangely, they didn't seem to be giving off anger, only pity. "Don't be scared of what you see, I won't hurt you." Her claws went over the girl's scar and came to her chin. "Your father won't bother you any more. I told him to leave you alone." She stood back up, her tail swinging behind her. "Excuse me." With those words she headed towards the bedroom, not looking back at Steve or the kids. Kyksae whimpered a little and reached out for Mira. After a moment she tried to raise her voice loud enough.
"But you are still more beautiful than my father's inside." Only her voice came out softer and quieter than she had hoped. The girl had never really raised her voice. She doubted she ever could. Steve looked at the girl and nodded,
"Come on. Time for bed." he took each one and brought them into their room. "My wife isn't human. She never was." he helped Kyksae climb into the bed. While he tucked her in he kept talking, "At first I didn't believe her until she told me." He paused, trying to remember exactly what she said. "She told me she was cursed. I didn't believe her. One day she and a friend of hers were fighting an army. Maybe she was trying to protect me, I don't know, but she transformed. Her friend had died, and she stood over her body crying." His face was hidden by the shadows of the room. "Neither of my kids knew about it, so your not the only one surprised." he brushed away some strands of her hair, and smiled. "You need rest, sleep good." he good up and went to the door. The girl was thoughtful for a moment, taking in everything the blonde boxer said to her. Then replied, turning her back to fall asleep,
"The more faults we have, make us even more human than the next." She giggled slightly and drifted quickly to sleep, her tired face softening into slumber. Steve smiled. He could tell he was going to like the girl. Mira's words came to his mind again as he closed the door quietly, turning out the light to let the girl sleep, 'The worst things happen to people that have a connection between others who have the same problem.' He smiled; back then he didn't understand, but now he did. Even though his wife had been hurt, even though this little girl had been hurt, they both still had a great heart. He kept smiling and left the room heading towards his own bedroom. The lights went out one by one in the Fox household. The black man watched, slightly pissed at his boxing rival. The darkness outside suited his facial expression. He wasn't about to give up, but things would have to wait.