13

Stellan's Pov

I knew it would take Hiroshi a least an hour to get everything done at the station so I turned to Will instead.

"I have a fair idea about the route they took to leave the city and since I followed the car's as far out the city as I could under the circumstances and considering that time is short. I'd bet that they are headed south, which is good for us because there is less distance to cover. And considering that I'm asking you to fill Megan and Hiroshi in on what we discussed when they get back" I looked the man over. He was eating scrambled eggs that Margot had made while we had been going over everything as the information came in.

"That's fine but what will you be doing? Are you going to go look at the locations" he gestured to the map "because I think that it's not wise for you to leave alone"

"No," I said and he relaxed his shoulders "I won't be going to look at the general residence but I will be leaving in a way," I said moving to the other room where we had dragged the beanbags to last time we had to keep up appearances.

Sinking into the one I deemed the most comfortable I lifted my eyes to see Will had followed me.

"Are you going to see if you can locate Raven?" he asked even though it should have been obvious.

"Tell Hiroshi to intervene if I haven't resurfaced by six" I instructed the middle Benedict, even though there wasn't much my partner could do if I choughs myself caught in some mind game. All the same, he was the only person familiar enough with my mind to know where to look should there be any problems.

"Do you think you will be able to find her? I mean I know that you two have an unnaturally strong mental link, but it still seems absurd in a way, I know you are a strong telepath but shouldn't only soulfinders be able to communicate at such long distances?" I could plainly see that he wanted to believe me but the situation went beyond his comprehension.

"It's fine, Megan and Hiroshi should be back within the hour. I'm going to fall into my minds lower levels and that leaves me vulnerable to the outside world, so I might subconsciously attack anyone who comes near me, so try to stay at a distance if you can and make sure Hiroshi know about the time" I insisted, not seeing the point of giving a full explanation. My partner will know to tell them if it becomes necessary.

William just nodded face grim.

"Watch my back until my partner gets here," I said with a voice that left no room for argument.

Having seen another nod from the man standing in the middle of the room I closed my eyes relaxed my body fully and fell into my lower consciousness.

In this state I could feel my mind flying, shearing for a familiar mind signature. I could feel Will standing near me but left him behind in favour of heading towards the city border. I tried to keep myself soaring high, to avoid crossing any unsuspecting minds. Knowing my presence at the moment would leave a fragile mind in shock.

Leaving my body always feels liberating in a way that shouldn't be so tempting. The longer I stay away from my actual body the harder it is to go back. Hiroshi, as well as Megan, know about this opinion and because of that are strongly against me resorting to this tactic but like this, I don't have to see all the details, I can fog out the ones that are irrelevant and concentrate on the ones that are truly important. Like the unique way, my sister's mind usually curves to the right and forms a spiral of layers emitting a soft bell-like sound when she sleeps.

Just like that. I heard the sound very faintly and followed it. Seeing as it seemed to be getting closer I would assume that they stopped moving, which means that the abductor had indeed not left the country.

Finding my sisters mind I slipped in with minimal resistance eider to do the fact that my presence was familiar or I used too much force. Sensing that could have something to do with the easy entry I rained myself in and took a look around. Yes, this was definitely Raven's mind, the walls were an exact replica of the old study where she would huddle up with advanced textbooks whenever she was grounded for misusing her gift. Figures she would see it as a safe haven seeing how much time she spent there. Not that I have any room to judge.

Something felt off though like she wasn't actually here, it went passed that of being unconscious. Something was wrong.

Raven, you in here? I tried to reach her but she seemed out of reach even when I was most definitely standing in her mind. Only once before had I felt something like this and that was inside the mind of a person who was judged clinically insane.

Hey, Raven, I know this is your mind, I can tell by the infrastructure, so if you could answer your older brother that would be great. I tried again and got no response. Oh please no, they couldn't have broken her, because if they had that would mean I failed her again and I can't let that be the case. Just when I was finally seeing signs of improvement too, I won't allow whoever it was to get out of this in one piece.

My furry was interrupted by a voice I was not expecting to hear. She's unconscious, and I haven't been able to get her to communicate eider.

Judging by the tone of voice and the underline timber I was sure that this was the voice of one Kurt Voss. Taking into account that my entire inner being seemed to be drawn to the sound and the way the details I would usually catalog and store in my mind seemed to flow together to form something akin to a symphony only more harmonized, add the spark I had felt when we sock hands before leaving the wedding it was painfully obvious that this man was my soulfinder.

Interesting, it's been a while since I was wrong about something. I hadn't realized I said the last part aloud before I heard the voice again.

You're my…but wait you can't be. We are both guys so it's impossible. The band leader mumbled probably not meaning to talk aloud eider.

That's what they said about air travel as well but look at us now. I grinned as I walked towards the sound of my soulfinders voice. I found him three levels in with a dumbfound look on his face sitting next to a seven-year-old Raven who seemed to be trying to talk but was unable to.

So… he began locking eyes with me then looking away just as fast.

How, I mean aren't soulfinders supposed to be a couple that brings out the best in each other and compliment each other's gifts. He was stubbornly not looking at me which was annoying, and the way he looked at things was so primitive, but it seemed like he really didn't get it and it would only hinder things if he was confused or scared and we really didn't have time for this. I mean really if there is a force that creates soulfinders couldn't the force make sure that they met under normal circumstances.

You're naïve I sighed, or lack intelligence.

Voss opened his mouth to say something but I intercepted: I will correct whichever one shortly so shut up and listen.

He did as told and I could see kid Raven snickering.

The only two things certain about soulfinders are as follows: they are conceived near the same time and they complete each other's gifts like you already pointed out. Nobody ever said the relationship between soulfinders had to be a romantic one; it just turns out like more often than not. Also in today's sociality as well as historically speaking it is not uncommon for two people of the same sex to harbour romantic feelings towards one another. Only because it isn't plainly stated doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I stated deducing from his expression that the initial shock was eider wearing of or my bluntness had struck him into an even deeper faze of shock, which we didn't have time for, knowing Hiroshi he would start meddling in my mind the moment the clock strikes six and I had to figure out where they were being held before that.

Anyway, we really shouldn't be concentrating on this right now. I started but was interrupted by the man standing in front of me once again.

So you're gay? He asked voice softly layered with embarrassment. Really what were we sixteen?

I sighed, I guess I have to get this out of the way before I could get any useful information out of him and seeing as Raven wasn't responding my only option for the moment was the man expectantly staring at me.

No, I wouldn't say that I'm gay, seeing as I don't really care if the person I end up living with is a guy or a girl. I do believe Hiroshi called it bisexuality but I really couldn't care less what other people called my sexuality because feelings of romance have never played a big role in my life. And before you ask I don't care what you identify eider seeing as this really isn't the time or the place. He looked almost hurt by my accusation why I had no idea, sure we have only known each other for two weeks the fact that my words can affect him to this extent already just proves that feelings are unreliable when making decisions.

I am though…

He said softly not meeting my eyes, then in a sudden furry, he was looking at me green eyes filled with determination. I am gay though. He said loud and clear seemingly surprised by his own words.

Of course, you are, I started thinking about the background check I had done on the band members as a precession I take with all of Raven's clients.

You haven't had a long-term relationship in close to eight years. You almost never have one night stands while on tour. You seem more relaxed and genuine when the reporter you are talking to is a man. Of course all of that could be because you don't want to let people close because it's hard to tell if they are genuine with your fame, you are mature enough to know that one night stands can ruin your image and it can be easier to talk to a guy than a women but the few stray glances which have sown lust or want have all been directed towards men. I concluded and he just stared at me with that face that said I overdid it.

How could you know that? Have you been stalking me? He demanded but the tone of voice he used was not serious ore outraged more like intrigued and… pleased?

Why does everybody think that? I asked generally confused. And no, it's just a mandatory check up I do for all of my sister's clients to make sure that they aren't a threat to her or me.

And coming back to threats, do you have any idea where you are or who did this? I asked knowing that I was running short on time.

We were ambushed on the street he started finally getting on the right track of mind. There was this little girl who wanted us to listen to her song and gave us a pair of headphones and when Raven was about to take them off she just screamed and it looked like she was in a lot of pain and they are still on her. I wanted to take them off but there was a force around her that kept me away.

Even though he was rambling and I could see signs of fright on his face even though they were well hidden, this was information I could use, so I was really annoyed when I felt a pair of hands shaking my real body, making my concentration fade, and pulling me back towards the apartment in Kyoto.

Listen, Mr Voss, I said resisting Hiroshi's pull. I am going to figure all this out, so until I get back here make sure you both stay alive. And please make sure Raven doesn't piss off your abductor.

There was confusion in his eyes but then he smiled and nodded.

I already told you this, but you can call me Kurt. The words were fading as I was already rushing to my body.

As I opened my eyes I thought back to Kurt's face when I used his last name. Interesting indeed the expression was way to priceless to give up, so Mr Voss it was.

A/N: so, I was wondering, when and how did you guys figure out who Stellan's soulfinder was.