Kit watched as the little girl darted into an ally, a seemingly dazed man in tow. Kit abandoned the charms booth he had been pretending to admire and made his way to the {ally}. The air reeled of warm garbage and fresh blood. Kit's steps quickened and he was met with an eidolon. Kit cursed as it shed the pretense of a cute six-year-old and lunged at the demon. It went down with a shriek.

"Behind you!"

Kit whirled to see a second demon baring down on him, this one much larger than its partner. Kit knew he was too late, but he raised his blade anyway. And the demon disappeared with a howl.

Kit blinked through the falling ashes but couldn't make out his savior. So, he went with the safe option and attacked.

Kit slammed Ty against a wall, a thin knife to his throat. Kit's eyes blazed with blue fire. From one breathe to the next, Kit seemed to realize who he had pinned against a brick wall; Kit's eyes rounded and softened.

"Hello, Kit." Ty swallowed, surprised at how steady his voice was. Kit had changed: he had always had a blazing beauty, but now he had grown into it. He was breathe taking.

As Ty spoke, though, Kit came back to reality. Behind his darkened eyes something seemed to break and harden as he stepped back.

"What are you doing here, Ty?" Kit didn't look at Ty as he replaced his knife.

"I was visiting the Shadow Market. The London Market has things they don't sell in the States."

Kit finally looked at hum if only to narrow his eyes suspiciously. Ty decided to change the subject.

"Are you patrolling the Shadow Market?" Ty gestured to Kit's ichor coated gear. Kit shrugged.

"There was a rumor that an eidolon was killing Downworlders here. Turns out there were two of them." Kit looked back down. "Thanks, by the way. You know, for saving my ass."

It was Ty's turn to shrug. "I wasn't going to let you die."

Kit blushed and turned away. Interesting, Ty thought. However, he didn't have much time to contemplate the other boy's sudden coloring as he noticed red dripping from Kit's arm.

"Kit." Kit's head snapped up, his eyes wide. Ty took his right hand gently in his own. Kit's eyes grew to a comical size. "You're bleeding. If I remember correctly, you are right-handed. May I give you an iratze?" Kit's blush deepened as he nodded. Ty took out his stele, rolled Kit's sleeve up, and placed the burning tip to his torn skin. Kit shuddered as he drew the rune, but Ty simply frowned. "Why don't you have backup?"

Kit shrugged again. Didn't want to disturb anybody with only one rumor about one demon."

"Two demons," Ty corrected. Kit rewarded him with a surprised smile. Ty was stunned. He had forgotten what that smile looked like.

Kit looked down at the pavement again. "I should probably-you probably need to-uh." He started blushing and sighed. "I should go, and you probably have stuff to get to."

Ty tilted his head. He did need to find that bracelet, but that could wait.

"How's Mina?"

Kit's head shot up. "How do you know her name?"

Ty shrugged. "Magnus told me. He came to the Institute a while ago. Kit relaxed. "Mina's good. She's started to walk." Kit was grinning now, pride glimmering in his eyes. "Mina has Jem wrapped around her little finger. I can't say I'm much better. Tessa keeps us in line." Kit seemed to come back to the present. "How's Scholomance? Last time Magnus visited, he told me you were going there. Is it nice?"

Ty shook his head. "It's miserable. However, I've got Livvy and a {bobcat} that we found. Her name is Irene. She's quite sweet. Keeps Livvy company while I'm in class."

Kit had adopted a look of fondness and disbelieve. It's amazing, Ty thought, how a boy who has so many walls to wear his heart on his sleeve like this.

Kit stooped down. When he stood again, he was holding a piece of paper. "Uh, here. I think you dropped this."

Ty quickly took the paper and slipped it into his pocket. Kit's face was blank now. He looked like a beautiful statue wiped clean. It was eerie and immediately set Ty off edge.

"I'm going back home. Let the London Institute know if you need anything." With that, Kit turned on his heel and marched out of the ally. Ty stood frozen in the narrow street, staring at his retreating back. Kit stopped suddenly and titled his head.

"Tell Livvy I said hi." And he was gone.

{~*~}

Kit could feel Ty's eyes bore into him as he walked away. It was so hard to not grab onto him, to hug Ty till his arms went numb, to hold him gently and repeat what Kit had told him by the lake two years ago. "I love you."

He didn't notice that he was running until he was out of the city. Kit recalled how much he had improved with cardio since he had last seen Ty. Before, he could barely run two miles at a full sprint. Now, he felt like he could run forever, as fast as he liked. Kit picked up his speed. He ran until his breathe was ragged and his legs and lungs were competing to see who burned worse. He stopped and stood, heaving gulps of air. It had started to rain. Kit titled his head up and cursed at the sky I was having day, Sky. The least you could do is not send the boy that I've been in love with for two years to come save my ass, draw a rune on my skin that will scar and be a constant, physical reminder of him, and- Kit sighed, apologized to the innocent sky and trudged home.