Again, chapter revised slightly.

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"Mind of a Hero" Part Three.

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Like I had said before, if he didn't wake up to Ashelin's amused chuckle, he sure as hell wasn't going to wake up at my gentle nudges. And…Like I said, he was a heavy sleeper. Luckily, I had gotten a nice rest, and I was feeling refreshed. For the first time in months, I didn't feel a stir of Dark… I thanked the precursors for this. I was energetic…Save for one small problem.

My arm was tapped beneath Torn's body and very numb. I wondered, idly, what color it had turned.

"Torn…Toooooorn." I felt a frown creeping it's way onto my face as I sat up as much as I could, resting my hand on his shoulder, shaking him, "Torn?"

I got snores in reply. I really couldn't wake him up easily…And I had no problem being violent. Wriggling closer to the sleeping commander, my lips touched his ear. I smiled at him, then, watching the lift of lips as I lightly rolled his head over. He gave a small sound and rolled over on his side, his back to me…Freeing my arm! I was pleased.

With a cry on triumph, I cradled my arm to my chest, willing the blood to flow again. It had turned white, only a few shades lighter my original skin tone…. I was hoping for purple.

Glancing at the sleeping man made me smile, just slightly. My memory raced back too earlier in the…morning? Maybe it was the afternoon… Whatever time it was, I let my mind reel further back , to the previous days events. It made me frown again, but I pushed this away, thinking it wasn't good to be thinking about her when I had this sexy elf in my bed. I shrug this off as I crawled towards Torn once more, with the intent of waking him. He should have at least known that Ashe saw him all cozy like he was. I allowed myself a light, childish laugh, thankful that I could forget things so easily as my working hand lifted to the Tattooed mans side; my lips nestled into his neck. My fingers tightened and I bit down, just lightly, on his neck.

Of course I got attacked. I should have been expecting it.

Pretty eyes burst open, and before I could blink, he had grabbed my upper arm, using my unbalanced position and his strength and leverage to roll me over his side. In one hand, my wrists were pinned, painfully, above my head, his other hand at my throat, squeezing. He was going to crush my fucking windpipe! The situation would have been kinky; he was so dominant… But I saw his eyes, and it ruined any playful image I had.

Fuck! God dammit! He was so thorough, and behind those icy eyes… No one was home.

But it was quick, vicious, and so very quiet. It made my pulse speed up, beating around my chest like a caged thing. See? No time for dirty thoughts. Hell, I would be lucky to just have a bruise. I knew he could have broken my neck without making so much as a sound. I knew this, and I cursed myself for letting my guard down. I felt my own face close down, giving him that cold, and indifferent mask. I didn't need a mirror to know that our eyes had that same dead look to him. With my face, I tried to tell him that I wasn't a threat, that I wasn't hostile.

But it didn't work. It never works does it? I must've looked threatening, because his grip tightened, his face coming closer to mine. My favorite smirk crossed his lips as he pressed his nose to the side of mine, the hand on my wrists loosening slightly.

I sighed softly, letting my eyes fill up with relief to wash away the killer that had filled me up. At the sigh, his fingers eased slightly, though he still touched me gently, fingers caressing the sore flesh. But he didn't look sorry.

"Ashelin saw…" I said slowly, my eyes flicking down to the hand at my neck. I wanted him to let me go now. But, of course, he didn't let go. He kissed the corner of my mouth and sat back across my stomach, giving a great yawn as he popped a few kinks from his back and neck. Almost reluctantly, he let my neck go…And I wondered what the hell that was all about.

"She knew. It's my father you have to worry about. Ashelin liked my father, and my father liked her. So if she's feeling particularly surly, she'll tell him. Besides, she thinks it's cute." He growled out, his head canted to one side, an almost knowing smile on his face.

'I hate that smile…' Snarled Dark solemnly, 'No one touches my host…'

I almost panicked, sending a warning shot to Dark, telling him to go away. And I thought I wouldn't have to deal with him today… Damn, had I thought wrong I'm always thinking wrong. The Dark Eco that had nested in my soul pushed further, wanting me to break, but I refused. I growled loudly, my brows pinched with concentration, an almost sweat glossing my forehead as I fought him.

'Fuck off.' Was the parting line as I watched him fall away from my mind's eye… That was too easy.

I think I frightened Torn, because his hand returned to me neck, just touching this time, feather light brushed across the red skin. His eyes worried and his lips curled into a frown; the lines between his eyes were only more defined, due to the lack of his brows.

"Was it something I said?" He questioned with discontent, once more pulling his away sharply from my neck as he crossed his arms over his chest, once more pulling his away sharply from my neck. I laughed lightly and rolled my upper body to one side, and curled closer to him.

"I don't even know what you said after I told you Ashe came in like a bloody fangirl. Dark is being intolerable." I said as simply as I could.

Torn nodded as he slid from my stomach, sitting instead, in the curve I had made, his elbow resting on my hip, "That's alright… But don't fucking wake me up like that!" Ah-ha! There was the Torn I knew and…. Well, here was the Torn I knew!

I gave a cheeky smile and lightly patted his thigh, "I apologize. Should I put ice down your pants, then? Put your fingers in warm water? Ooh, what about an air horn!"

Torn shook his head, smiling lightly and casually smacked me on the ass, tearing a small shout from my startled lips. I turned wide eyes to him, "You touched my ass, you brute."

That subtle smile turned into a full toothed grin, his tiny canines glinting as he pounced on me. Well, he really didn't pounce as much as he fell on me, pinning my arms and me beneath his chest. "You could always grab my toe."

I lifted my brow, "Your toe?"

A nod, "It's woken me up since I was a kid. If you think I sleep hard, you should have seen me at seventeen." His eyes traveled down my chest slowly, before returning to my face with a wink.

I blushed…Again… Of course! But that was only because he winked at me… Highly un-Torn-ish

"Interesting… Um… I have to go to the Naughty Ottsle." I said while batting my big blue eyes.

It was Torn's turn to quirk his brow as he slid away from me once more, "My, that was abrupt…"

What was I supposed to do? Let him molest me for a second time, only to fall asleep again! I don't think my libido could take it. The little guy was already pretty pissed. So I had tried to seduce Torn…Right, if blinking could seduce, I would be all loved up. And… of course, it hadn't worked. Obviously.

But I wasn't lying when I said I had to go to the Naughty Ottsle. I knew Torn hated that place, almost as much as he hated Daxter…

But I was not going to let the Growling Man stop me from…. Being annoyed by Dax? I carefully weighed my options.

"Daxter wanted me to stop by when I woke up."

So it wasn't the total truth…. But it was close enough? Why the hell I was avoiding hot, sweaty sex was beyond me.

I wasn't sure. I did want it, but I knew I couldn't. Hell, I didn't know really know anything but my role of hero and friend. I had never been a lover, and the emotions confused me to no end. I was young. Young with a wizened mind. I had seen so much, in such a short span of time. Saved the world…two times? I had killed, and become a monster, the moment I was freed from the chains. I had injured the girl I had loved. I had made her fear me.

I did not want this man to fear me. I did not want to look into his eyes and see terror. Though… I didn't think Torn scared that easily.

Right now he looked confused. And it was cute. His hand lifted to brush across my face ever so softly, and I didn't know the fingertips of a warrior could be so soft. I leaned into that touch for just a moment, purring almost soundlessly.

I looked up to him, and smiled lightly before I pulled my face away from the wonderful contact, nipping his fingers in the process, "Would you like to come with me?"

'No, he would not…'

"… I suppose. I don't have anything else do to." He gave that little smirk that meant everything…And nothing; all at the same god damn time.

I knew Dark was pissed, I could feel it. Like an invisible hand that was wrapping tighter around me. It was like I was suffocating on my own aura. It was a bad feeling. And Dark's anger was so much worse.

But it seemed to be unfelt by anyone but me. I felt those claws dig into my metaphysical flesh, those teeth tear through my walls…

Then it was gone. Torn's hand slid around mine, pulling me from the bed. His hand paused on my forehead for a moment; "You look pale. Go get dressed… And don't throw up on anything. Or you're cleaning it."

I gave a smile as his cool hand left my forehead to settle on my shoulder. He gave me a little push towards the bathroom, throwing a ball of clothes and gear at the back of my head. I grumbled lightly as I closed the door, a growl trickling from Dark's 'mouth'.

'You will die.'

'Says you, Eco trash, says fucking you.'

A loud bray of laughter, a cackle that sent shivers up my spine, 'You are the Eco trash, boy. And don't forget it. I was powerful before you came along. I am not the trash, I am the product!' He roared through my head.

' 'Product' my ass. You are half of something great.' I murmured back, not in the mood to growl at the power-tripping gremlin.

'I am no gremlin…' He had gone very quiet, very still. He slowly fell away, and my mind was clearer. Dark had never let me go so easily… I made me wary.

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Sooner than later, I ran my fingers through my hair, making sure it lay right beneath my goggles, and tugged a few pieces of stray clothing under the leather straps of my holster. I wrapped my scarf securely around my neck, with a little more in the front to keep the sand and wind out of my nose.

Not that there was any sand in Haven City, but it never hurt to be safe. I gave my reflection a tired smile, and a dry chuckle, "I'm very glad I stopped talking to you when I was a kid."

Then I turned, and wandered out the bathroom door, humming an idle tune to myself as I approached the tattooed commander that seemed to be pinning over a map. I came up behind him, as silent as I could manage, and placed my left hand in the center of his back, and I won the ever so sexy growl I was looking for!

"Don't touch me."

Gee, he was…touchy. "You didn't mind before." I purred lightly in his ear, setting my chin on his slim shoulder, increasing his growl.

"So?" He snapped, turning those cerulean eyes to me like daggers. I blinked and frowned slightly. What was eating him? I would find out later, I guessed…So I pinched the back of his neck.

"You're pissy, Torn. I'll see you in a bit, I need to see Onin today."

The older elf glared harder, "I am not pissy…" And then he turned, staring at me full on and I wasted no time at all getting the hell out of dodge.

I think he threw something at me. And I was right. I later realized he had thrown two pens and a piece of…

Glass? Where did he get broken glass?

Never the less, it had cut the lobe of my ear, and I made it a mission to make Torn kiss it better.

Or lick it, either one would work. But I wasn't really sure I wanted to go back to the fuming elf. I wondered, what happened…? One moment, he was fine… Then he was all… Pissy. I wondered if I noticed his mood swings more, now that I got to wake up next to him. I guessed… Though I wasn't really positive. I rolled my eyes, hearing a loud curse from inside the hideout just as I emerged from the hidden door.

That man had such a temper… Now…Where was I going?

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And I'm done for now… o.- I love having my chapters leave off anywhere I damn well please. XD

Ookami: Sadist.

Lazy is the correct term. Did you all enjoy it?

Ookami: They damn well better have. I had to sit in your head and help you write it.

Blah, blah, I'm the one holding the pen/keyboard. Review my pretties and I shall give you candies!

Ookami: How about truth serum so they don't have to lie?

… Good night, readers. -Stalks off to kill his muse-

!-Phoenix-!