Avaarha smiled. It had taken two weeks. After all, she hadn't wanted to raise suspicion, and she was unsure about the breadth of Kaila's powers. But she'd finally done it. She'd found the perfect body to accompany the perfect soul. Together, they made Kyran. Kyran. He would be perfect.

**********

Justin was exhausted. He'd been working for ten hours already and had two more to go. He sighed, wiped the sweat off his brow, and grabbed the two coffee pots. Then he started going from table to table, each of them occupied (it was the late-night rush), to fill people's cups. He was moving fast (people were clamoring for refills), but, unfortunately, he wasn't really looking where he was going (he was tired and annoyed, as guys had been grabbing his ass all night), so when a young man entered the diner and moved toward the counter, Justin ran right into him. The coffee pots collided and shattered, spilling hot coffee all over Justin's hands and the newcomer's chest. Justin cried out. The newcomer, ignoring his own pain, lifted Justin into his arms and ran toward the bathroom, shoving people out of the way as he went. Justin, who had received the brunt of the spill, was experiencing so much pain that he could barely see. His consciousness only returned fully when the pain started to wane, as cool water flowed over his hands. He suddenly became aware that he was leaning against a naked chest, a broad, perfectly muscled chest, and that someone's strong arms were around him. One arm was holding him gently around the waist, and the other, lying on top of his left arm. The man was caressing it soothingly with his hand. Justin shivered, and his cock started to harden. Only when he heard what he'd come to realize was Inner Brian's low growl did Justin shake his head and step closer to the sink, and out of the strange man's embrace. Then he snuck a look at him. He was gorgeous. Light brown hair and large sea green eyes. There was so much kindness and compassion in those eyes. Justin smiled at him. The man met his smile with his own shy smile. Justin flushed slightly.

Then, the rest of the world slowly started seeping back in. Justin was now aware of people whispering outside the bathroom, and Debbie's half-shouting, half-wailing, "Kiki, I can clean this up; Go, go! I mean it! Did you call Brian yet? Well, then, check on Sunshine!" Justin heard Kiki's flustered assent and then the clicking of high heels heading their way (why was she wearing high heels? Oh right, it was Kiki's night off. She'd been there with friends when the accident happened). But before she arrived, Justin heard the ringing of the bells on the door, sharply. Someone must've thrown the door open roughly. The pealing of the bells was quickly followed by a very familiar bark, as well as complaining hisses as the barking man pushed people out of his way. Justin couldn't help but smile. Brian.

A moment later, the bathroom door swung open with a whoosh and what sounded like a breath, but Justin knew that it was Brian's soft whisper: "Sunshine." Brian glared at Justin's savior and, noting that he was half-naked, pushed him away roughly and wrapped his arms around Justin's waist and kissed Justin's neck gently. Then he pulled Justin's hands from under the flowing water. They were still red. Brian whispered huskily, "Does it hurt?"

Justin winced in response.

"We need to get you to a hospital."

Justin's savior piped up, "I have a car. I can drive you."

Brian smiled, but his eyes were cold. He asked tightly, "What's your name?"

The newcomer replied softly, "Kyran."

Brian drawled, "Well, Kyran, thanks for your help, but I can take it from here. I'm Justin's partner, Brian."

Justin's eyes widened in shock. Brian had never called him his partner before. Then Brian did something perhaps even more shocking. He lifted Justin into his arms and carried him out of the bathroom. Justin complained, but with amusement and love in his voice, "I can walk, you know."

Brian growled, but gently, "Stop being a twat and let me take care of you."

Justin smiled brightly, even though his hands still burned. He replied cheerfully, "Okay."