Chapter six

We walked quite sometime before we actually saw any other people; the area we live in is in the mostly abandoned warehouse district. It's perfect, secluded enough that only people who need us come out this way, we rarely have stragglers wandering about.

I keep us to a fast walk, not that I was in a hurry to get there, I actually wanted more time to sort everything out, but I was much to nervous to slow down. I glanced over my shoulder to check if Cat was still behind me; as we just passed through large crowd, just recently released from church by their dress. He was there, a step behind me deep in thought again.

As the hum of the city continued around us, my own mind began to wander back to the Peacecrafts, and back to my childhood; before my world had exploded of course. I was happy, as we all were back then. I have an impeccable memory, as I told Cat earlier I remember my own birth; that was fact. So I remember very clearly the prince as my playmate. Over the years I've seen pictures of the family and Milliardo is every bit as handsome as I told him he would be one day. But my affections for the Peacecrafts didn't mean that I wanted them to remember me, that would cause to much trouble, and to many questions that I really didn't want to answer.

Although I wasn't against meeting them again, it would please me greatly to meet the king then I could address to him directly the severe lack of law enforcement. Thoughts swirled around in my head chasing each other about how and what changes needed to be made.

"Luca?" Cat panted out, I turned toward him, he doubles over panting, "slow down… will you…your almost running." I frowned I hadn't realized I was walking so quickly.

"Let's take a break," I nodded toward a bench that was situated in front of a convenience store, he went and sat down, still breathing heavily. I walked over to the soda machines near the bench and bought a couple of drinks, then took up the seat next to him. "About that," I say as though I'm carrying on a conversation, he looks confused.

"About what?" he asks.

I take a sip of my drink, and clear my throat. "My name," I look over at him. "I don't have a problem with you using my first name, but when dealing with parents I like to keep a distance from them. So when you introduce me, please just use Noin. Alright?" I ask.

He nods, not fully understanding why, but he'll comply. "we made good time, the palace is only a few more blocks away." He inclines his head to the right, "just that way." I nod. "me and Mill hang out down here a lot…" he trails off. His breathing has returned to normal and for a little while we just sit drinking our sodas.

I crush my can and rise to my feet tossing it into the recycling bin, "let's get this over with." I say and hold out my hand to him, he grips my arm and I pull him to his feet. He finishes his drink and tosses it after mine. I swing my arm around his shoulders and we walk up the street together.

A few blocks later we walk up to a gate in the great stone wall that completely surrounds the palace. It had been so long since I had seen this wall, since moving into the city I had purposely stayed away from it, so as not to invoke any memories. I give my head a shake and follow Cat through the gate. The guards don't say anything to us; they obviously know who he is.

"Quatre!" the master of the guard runs over and pulls him into a hug, then holds him out by the shoulders to look at him; one would think that he hasn't seen the boy for a year rather than less than twenty-four hours. "Where have you been?" he asks.

Cat I can tell is pleased that he was concerned, but also felt bad that he had caused the older man to worry. "It's kind of involved, and I'd prefer that the explanation only be told once." He states with much dignity. The older man nods, and leads us up the path to the main door of the palace.

As we enter the immaculately clean entry hall, I take a deep breath to steady myself, and I grip the thick brown file folder tighter in my left hand. We walk through the entry hall and to a main hallway, ornately decorated, just as I remember it. And if my memory is correct at the end of this hall is the public study of Stefan Peacecraft, the king. I swallowed carefully, so I don't choke.

The master of the guard walks into the study where a group of people are milling about talking quietly to each other. "look who showed up." He says to the crowd, at which the volume of the room increases substantially, and several people rush over to greet Cat, including the prince. Quatre's parents on the other hand, stay where they are, near the large mahogany desk. The king even rises to his feet, a look of relief on his face, and yet his parents both look passive. I sigh to myself, they are going to make my job very hard I can see it now.

"Where did you go Quatre?" Milliardo asks him.

He opens his mouth to speak, completely forgetting his problems at hand, wanting to tell his friend all about his night, and his morning. I clear my throat quietly; Quatre shuts his mouth with an audible snap, and looks at me over his shoulder. He gives me a little smile, "everyone this is Noin." He gestures toward me, and clears his throat.

"And why is she here Quatre? And where were you all night?" his fathers deep, irritated voice asks. I frown at him.

I naturally speak in a quiet tone, and my voice is husky and soft, that's another give away to tell when get pissed off, my voice changes, it sounds like soft thunder. That's the tone I use now. "Quatre, go get your things." I state.

"things!" Milliardo asks shocked, "where is he going?" he's agitated and worried; he probably thinks I'm the leader of some cult. I give him my patient look, and a once over, he is more attractive than in the pictures, and he has a very nice voice, deep and rich.

No one else in the room utters a sound, Milliardo already asked the major question they wanted answered, and so they all waited in silence for it. I make them wait, and turn my attention back to Quatre; I give him my patient look. He nods his head; he reaches out to a young girl and grabs her hand giving it a visible squeeze, "listen to her please." His eyes flicker between that of the young girl and Milliardo, the latter of which nods his head.

"Quatre." His father says again, anger clear in his voice. But Quatre ignores his father and leaves the room, his father looks around shocked, "where is he going?" he asks the room, obviously not expecting an answer.

"He's gone to get his things like I asked him." I state, as soft thunder rolls through the room. All the attention is focused now solely on me, this is by far the larges group I've had in one of these meetings, but I'm reluctant to ask the Peacecrafts to leave. "He's moving out." It is said simply but not one person in the room understands the reasoning behind it.

"He's not going anywhere!" his father practically shouts, and moves forward in the room toward me, he intends to by pass me, but I calmly step into his direct path, and he stops as I'm now standing directly in front of the only door out of the office.

I look at his father, at the man he looks so much like. "We are going to talk, and I'm going to explain why he's moving out, in a way that hopefully you'll understand." It's a light insult but a vein his is forehead pops a bit at my barb. I gesture at the sitting area that he's standing by, and he has a seat, his wife moves and sits next to him, I walk forward and sit on the couch opposite the Winners, and the prince takes the seat next to me. I clear my throat, "Firstly I'm going to tell you why he's moving out and your all going to listen." I make eye contact with everyone for just a moment before moving on to the next.

"Quatre has told me that several months ago, he advised you all that he was homosexual." I pause studying his fathers face, and reaction, neither of which I like at all. "and while his friends haven't regarded him differently at all, from what I've witnessed just now and from what he himself has contested to, his problem is actually with you." At this I make eye contact with his father, and hold his gaze, he shifts uncomfortably; I don't look away, he's the reason why I'm here.

"Your son is a homosexual, and he's probably known that all his life, amongst males studies have proven that they know by the age of four or five." I sigh; he doesn't look swayed at all. "coming out and tell all of you that he is gay, would take a lot of courage, knowing that you might lose a friend, or someone will treat you differently. However that's not the problem here, his problem is that you, Mr. Winner, don't treat him differently."

I pause again, struggling to rein in my temper; he looks passive, like I'll say my peace then leave. How I wish I could reach over and slap him. "When your child tells you that he's gay, you don't keep setting him up with girls." I glare at him, he flinches a bit. Good. "he mentioned a girl named Claire, that's now in a hospital heavily drugged. How unfortunate that the girl was unstable right?"

I shake my head, "you might not understand the damage you're inflicting on your son, and that's fine, you don't have to at the moment, but your son sought out our organization, to help him, since living with you is apparently suffocating him, he will be moving out, and moving in with us, in three months time I'll call you to make an appointment for you to visit, until then you won't seek him out, if you happed to see him you say 'hello, nice weather' and walk away. Understand?" I ask impatiently.

"How old are you?" Mr. Winner asks, hoping to gain some ground to make a point.

I smile pleasantly at him, "Under twenty," I say mildly, I raise my left arm still holding the file folder and drop it on the table. "and so are all the people in here, look through it, read my notes, and read the deposition written by each, if you have any humanity," at this I look doubtful, "you'll do as I instruct and wait for my call."

I stood up, and looked at the king who had half-sat on the edge of his desk, I looked directly at him, "just if you were curious, the contents of this file are all Sanq born, most haven't even been to another city, also… this file isn't even a fifth of the documents I have in total for Sanq alone." I nod to him, "you and me should have a talk about a lot of things. But right now I don't have the time." I reach into my pocket and pull a card out, and hand it to the prince. "that's my number, give me a call." I state.

I walk towards the door and pause, "for Quatre's friends he can see you as often as he likes, bear in mind that his curfew is nine, and he does have chores." I head out the door and down the hall, sitting on a bench in the entry way was Cat waiting for me, a couple of bags at his feet. He stood up at my approach, when I reached him I grab one bag, and he grabbed the other. We head out the front door, down the path, on to the street and make our way home.

Duo Misfit.