Huray! An update! This one's just sort-of a filler chapter with some character development before the real drama kicks off in the next few chapters!

They all sat around the small wooden table Kitchzy had set up in one of the rooms downstairs in their new house in Dalaran. The four band members, Kitchzy and Antherin were deep in conversation. Alec only had his trousers on with a blanket thrown over his shoulders, Antherin and stripped down to just a white shirt and white trousers. Kitchzy was wearing a deep red sleeping robe and Vorn had pulled on a pair of grey trousers once woken. Tai and Plucky were the only ones wearing their day clothes as neither had gone to sleep that night (Plucky having been occupied with his fan girls and Tai having been worried about Alec).

"So your Alec's brother, are ya?" Kitchzy asked Antherin.

"Yes, I was very surprised to find him after years of not seeing him."

"How come ya never mentioned him before?" The goblin asked, peering suspiciously at Alec.

"I didn't think I'd ever fuckin' see him again."

"More like you hoped, brother."

"For good fuckin' reason" Alec snarled.

Antherin sighed heavily and looked away "There's no point trying to talk you into good terms then?"

"Fuck no."

The brothers turned away from each other. Alec stared down at his feet, frowning darkly while Antherin glanced around awkwardly, trying to think of something to say.

"Dude, like... what was going on anyway? One moment you were like totally missing and the next you show up, like, all ruined and stuff" Tai said, slightly confused and worried.

"Our fans are fucking weird, maybe we should get some assassinated" Alec grumbled in response.

"Those are my lodgers you're threatening, dear brother."

"Don't try any of that fucking bullshit on me" Alec growled "They're fucking creeps."

"Dude, wait... what? You, like, totally got attacked by fans, and stuff?"

"Some fuck like that..."

The table suddenly became aware that Plucky was passing his opinion. The forsaken lit a new cigarette and took a drag of it, exhaled a cloud of smoke, leaned back on his chair and fixed Alec with a long stare. An uneasy silence passed over the group as Alec stared back. After a moment, the young elf slammed his head against the table.

"For fucks sake, you can't be fucking serious!"

"..." was Plucky's only response.

"Fuck this shit" the bassist growled.

"What did he..." Antherin began curiously.

"He thinks pretty-boy should get some sorta protection or somethin'" Kitchzy explained with a smug look on her face.

Antherin looked at the guitarist, who shrugged.

"It's a good idea" said Vorn, surprising the rest of the band.

The drummer so rarely spoke or passed opinions on anything that it was always quite a shock for him to speak at all. The other considered this for a while. It made sense that they should be kept safe from dangerous people, fans or not. Kitchzy had already dealt with a few angry people who didn't like the idea of people wasting their time playing music when they should be aiding the war efforts- completely phasing over the fact that Vorn's leg wouldn't allow him to move fast enough, Tai's reluctance to kill a fly would definitely be an issue, Alec's small body would barely take a punch and Plucky's muteness would mean he'd have no way of calling for backup or reporting anything. She'd also had to battle down other Goblins, especially ones she knew, who were hoping to get some sort of link to the band and make money through them. Not a chance she'd let anything mess with her money-makers.

Alec stood up angrily "Fuck your shit" he growled, shooting a glare at Plucky, who stared calmly back. The elf made a "tch" noise, and stormed out of the room, kissing his chair to the floor as he left.

"He'll be more agreeable when he's calmed down" Kitchzy sighed.

"Since when does my brother swear so copiously?" Antherin asked.

Kitchzy raised an eyebrow "Di'nt he swear that much before?"

"He barely spoke as a child. I haven't seen him since he ran away" Antherin said, then raised his eyebrows at the curious looks the other were giving him "What?"

"Dude, he, like, ran away?" Tai asked weakly "Why?"

"If my brother hasn't told you the story, then I don't think I really have the right to tell you" Antherin reasoned simply.

"Past is the past" Vorn shrugged.

"Well said" Antherin agreed, fixing his headband unnecessarily.

Kitchzy had eventually changed into something more appropriate and made them all coffee, reasoning that they all needed a drink. Alec had remained in his room and not responded to any of her demands that he come back downstairs. She felt like the mother of a group of over-sensitive kids. She had to keep them happy all the time, had to stop Alec from being a whiny girl, had to meet Vorn's expectations, had to keep Tai from doing unexpected things, had to keep an eye on Plucky, had to manage their money, their home and their lives. It was exhausting to say the least. She didn't have many people to talk to it seemed.

Vorn drank his coffee quietly, listening to Tai and Antherin talk while Kitchzy made notes on some paper. Plucky had ignored his drink and left the room, probably to check on Alec or look for some women.

"Alec was a lot different as a child, you understand. I can't imagine why he's turned out so angry, he certainly doesn't look any different than he used to."

"Dude, so, like, what kinda kid was he anyway and stuff?"

"He was very quiet and shy, we were usually always together. Quite often people mistook him for a girl due to being so small and quiet."

"An' the long girly hair?" Kitchzy added.

Antherin gave her an odd look "Long hair is very common among Elven races, it doesn't make a difference."

"Whatever" Kitchzy shrugged.

"So, like, he was totally different and stuff?" Tai asked meekly.

"Pretty much. But some aspects of him haven't changed at all."

"Like what?"
"I can see that deep down he wants to be the brothers we were before. He's just as easy to read. He refuses to resort to violence, no matter the pressure he's under..." a small smile passed across Antherin's face "and he still has a mark on his waist."

"Dude, like, what?"

"Oh, it's nothing anyone else would notice unless you'd seen it a hundred times before" Antherin explained hurriedly "The kind of thing only people who lived together would see."

"Oh, right" Tai looked somewhat confused but covered it over quickly.

"I'm a little surprised to see that he hasn't gotten much taller since I last saw him."

"Dude, he's grown, like, two inches or something since I first met him and stuff."

"So he was a midget when you were kids?"

"That's a harsh was to put it, but yes, he was exceptionally small."

Kitchzy let out a small giggle "So I guess you had to protect him and his smallness, like any good older brother?"

Antherin gave her another odd look, blinking a few times "You must be confused, I'm the younger brother."

Silly Kitchzy, height doesn't define age! Otherwise she'd be the youngest and Tai the oldest :P! Anyway, will work on the next chap soon. Holiday nearly over so D: but I know what I'm doing and there's vast amounts of character development and drama on its way BWAHAHAHA!

Review ^^!