Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one
Still having computer issues
But at least my typing program works
That is something at least
12: Darkest Before Dawn
"He wants me to marry Lucius," Livia complained to her long time confident. The Roman General was heartless and cruel. Not at all what she was looking for in a husband. Her slender legs were drawn up to her chest. Something that made her look like a child as oppose to the skilled warrior Ares knew her to be.
The young woman inwardly shuddered at the thought it could have been her leading those armies. The memory was as clear as though it had been only yesterday. The look on her foster Father's face after her first official lesson in swords play had scared her. That had also been the day she had begun to draw away from the man who had become Rome's Emperor.
At the time, Livia had been horribly embarrassed to give such a poor performance when she could have done so much better. Still, she had been told to fail, and she had. Been consoled repeatedly not to let on she already possessed a fine combat teacher. After all, who could be better than the god of war.
A strong hand reached over to smooth the young woman's curly brown hair. "Don't worry," Ares told her. "You will not marry Lucius." Even if he had to kill the man himself. Xena's daughter meant more to him than any single warrior.
"Promise?"
His dark eyes softened, regarding his charge. "I promise Vee. Now go to sleep." Materializing a blanket from midair, Ares laid it over the young woman's shoulders.
She was almost asleep when a final question escaped her lips. "Is my real name Vivian?"
Ares simply rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to sigh. "Even if it was I wouldn't tell you." He had almost slipped when Eve was younger and she had been nagging him about it ever since.
Livia's eyes cracked back open. "I'm almost twenty-five years old," she grumbled. "You don't have to protect me anymore." She still didn't know who she really was, or what had happened that her Mother had gone to such lengths to hide her. But she wanted to.
The god of war chuckled, bending down to kiss her brow. "Yes," he said firmly. "I do." And as for how long, well forever seemed just about right.
15: Unnamed
"Pack your bags," Gibbs barked. "We're going to Chicago." He wasn't especially happy the corpse's extremely influential family had pulled strings to get his team assigned to the case. But that wasn't going to stop him from doing his job.
Tony froze, the smile dropping off his face. Chicago? Why not just drop him in the Nevernever and be done with it. That city was absolutely riddled with leylines. For years the brunette had avoided the supernatural. Ever since his family had exiled him for the unforgivable crime of being too human. Choosing the most magic null locations he could to make his home.
Gibbs, being Gibbs, didn't fail to notice this. "Something wrong Dinozzo?" he inquired. Steel blue eyes giving his senior agent a once over.
"Nothing boss," Tony answered at once. "It's just," he gave a dramatic shudder. "It's cold in Chicago boss."
The other agents snorted while Gibbs just looked unamused. "Suck it up," he told him. "And let's go."
Groaning, the younger man reached down to grab his overnight bag. Throwing it over one shoulder. With luck, this would be a perfectly normal murder, if such a thing could be said to exist. With a perfectly normal explanation. No vampires, fairies, demons, or dark magic allowed.
Abby would take the evidence to her lab, McGeek would do his thing, Ziva would hit the suspect when he tried to run, and Gibbs would glare, causing him/her to spill everything he/she knew. As for him, he would make sure none of his teammates got munched by something from the other side of things. With luck, they would all be home by Friday.
26: Water's Thicker
"You're scum Standish," came a harsh voice from further down the hall. "Always have been, always will be. It is only a matter of time until the ATF comes to their senses and rids themselves of you."
Quickening his pace, Vin regarded the scene in front of him with displeasure. Then, he leaned against a wall, posture deceptively casual. "The way I see it," the Texan drawled, deliberately thickening his accent. "Only one person here is scum, and it ain't Ez." H smiled grimly. "Pretty sure it ain't me neither."
The well dressed man spun, eyes widening with shock. "You," he spat. "What are you doing here? I told you to stay out of New York."
Vin snorted, reaching up to pull his hat a little lower over his features. A gesture that somehow seemed more dangerous than it should have. "Tell me Victor," the sharpshooter said softly. "Just what makes you think you have any control over what I can and can not do?" He had stayed out of New York because it pleased him. No other reason.