"…I'm too tired right now…"

Ashelin sighed.

"That's your excuse for everything," she groaned.

Torn sifted through the ever-growing pile of maps, papers and coffee mugs on the table. It was around two in the afternoon, and he'd been busy all morning with a botched mission in the Wasteland. He had almost lost all the men. The boy had kept him on his toes, and now Ashelin was bothering him with her desire to 'talk.'

"We haven't had a long talk in awhile," she said, "I miss that…"

"Yeah, well, I've got a hell of a lot more to do now than I did last year," Torn replied, stacking coffee mugs on the shelves.

Ashelin eased herself into a chair, covering up a yawn.

"See? You're tired, too."

"But I can still talk."

Torn grumbled.

"What are you so mad at Keira for?" Ashelin asked him.

"You wouldn't understand…" was the vague reply.

"Oh really? I don't think so, Torn. We've both been through some ugly situations before. What could I possibly not understand?"

Torn pursed his lips at the strength of Ashelin's statement. He laughed, dropping down into his regular seat. He stared back into her emerald eyes.

"I still don't think you would."

"Please. What're you afraid of? I mean, God help us if the Underground has another intelligent, reliable young woman around to help out!!"

Ashelin leaned back in her seat after she had finished speaking, shaking her head. Torn had fallen into silence.

"Keira is a smart girl, Torn," Ashelin assured him, "She only wants to show you she's willing to help out. It's obvious she doesn't like the city the way it is."

Torn sighed, standing out of his chair. He crossed his arms, turning away from her.

"That's what everyone keeps telling me," he said.

"It's the truth," Ashelin countered, drumming her fingers on the table. She stood out of her seat as well, moving to stand behind him. "Why is it just Keira you're blocking?"

"I said… you wouldn't understand."

Ashelin shook her head at his inability to share anything personal. She looked up at the ceiling, muttering,

"Precursors help me…" her gaze fell back to him, watching him stand there. "Torn…you can't expect me to be comfortable with you having secrets all the time."

Torn bit his lip. He was dying to tell someone about everything. He spun around to face her, saying,

"Ashelin, I…"

He trailed off, just looking at her.

"You what?" she asked quietly, inching closer to him.

"I…don't know."

Ashelin smiled lightly, gently taking one of his hands in hers. Torn bit back a grin of his own.

"I see what you're doing," he said, "And it's not going to work."

"Come on," she laughed, starting to rock from side to side. "Nobody's here…"

"But…seriously. I've got work to do-"

"Torn, I'm gonna smack you," she warned, laughing again.

"What for?"

Ashelin just grinned at him slyly. She walked her fingers up his chest. "Because, you-worry-too-much-about….nothing."

She tapped him gently on the nose. Torn didn't feel like now was the time or place for anything like this, yet…she looked so beautiful in the warm light that surrounded them, her emerald eyes shining with mischievous intent. Torn sighed, his gaze locking with hers.

She was the first to lean in for a kiss, surprising him at first. But Torn recovered instantly, gripping her tightly in his strong arms, pulling her closer. They took a few steps back and forth; Ashelin accidentally shoved Torn into the table. He cried out in pain, and she burst into laughter, burying her face in his chest.

"Why," Torn asked, looking at the ceiling, "Can't I have anything?!"

Ashelin's laughs were muffled by his shirt. She unburied her face from his chest, smiling up at him. She brushed the hair gently from her face. It was Torn that moved in to kiss her again. It was as if they were trying to tell each other how difficult it was to be apart; how much they cared for one another without having to say it in words…

Torn picked up Ashelin and plopped her on the table, causing her to actually giggle in surprise. Those 'oh-so-important' papers were now falling to the floor like abandoned drawings. The two were soon locked in another passionate kiss, distressing everything on top of the desk. Without warning, the door to the hideout suddenly slid open. Torn jumped, pulling away from Ashelin. He lost his balance and fell backwards; Ashelin burst into guffaws.

"Aw…I think I hurt something…ow," Torn groaned.

Ashelin was still snickering as the visitor came into the main room.

"Hi, Bill," she laughed, sliding off the table.

Torn rolled his eyes, still dealing with the dull pain. Bill strode into view, carrying a package under his arm.

"Woah, what's goin' on here?" he asked, frowning at Torn on the floor.

"Nothing," Ashelin smiled, helping Torn to his feet.

The Underground leader grimaced as he straightened up.

"Did you bring the kid back?" he questioned, stretching.

He was answered by a blurry figure that came running into view. The boy was grinning from ear to ear. He hugged Torn around the legs, looking up at him happily. Torn picked him up, used to the motion.

"What do ya got there? More Eco ore?" he sighed, nodding to the box in Bill's hand.

Ashelin was making funny faces at the boy, causing him to giggle.

"It's for you, actually," Bill answered, dropping the parcel on the table, "It was supposed to be 'handled with care.'"

Torn frowned; the box had holes in it. Bill tousled the child's hair.

"Oy, by the way…Keira wants to get in touch with you. Giver 'er a ring, huh?"

"I'll think about it," said Torn.

Bill left, the door slamming closed behind him. They heard the sound of a motor rumbling, then fade off into the distance. Ashelin had taken notice of the package.

"What's in it?"

Torn shook his head. "I've got no idea…"

He gave the boy to Ashelin, who balanced him on her hip. Torn inched toward the box. It trembled. Everyone was taken aback. What the hell could it be? Torn slowly reached for the lid of the box, untying the twine that was wrapped around it. Even the kid had leaned in for a look. The parcel moved again. Torn stood instinctively in front of Ashelin and the boy, ready to protect them.

"Torn-"

"Sssh!"

His eyes were fixed on the box, tensing as he pushed the lid off of the package. They all took in a breath, watching as whatever was inside slowly revealed itself. A tiny pair of yellow ears came into view. The fur around them was black. Torn, Ashelin and the boy leaned in closer. A large a pair of green eyes appeared, clearly visible against a yellow face.

"Oh my god…" Torn gasped.

"What is it?!" demanded Ashelin.

She noticed that her boyfriend had relaxed slightly. The boy squirmed in her grip, but she hung on to him tightly. Torn laughed.

"It's…oh jeez," he laughed again, picking up the creature in his hands, "It's a muse."

The animal was small in size, black and yellow. It resembled a small puppy, but had the characteristics of a feline. It had large ears and a tiny black nose, looking curiously at its surroundings. It appeared placid in nature, calm as Torn held it before him. The little boy struggled to touch it, but Ashelin still held him back.

"She's harmless," explained Torn, smirking.

"She is?"

He nodded, studying the creature further. It licked his nose. Ashelin finally loosened her grip on the child, setting him down on the table. He was beaming at the animal, looking up at Torn hopefully.

"You can pet her; she won't bite."

The boy scratched the muse excitedly behind the ears. Ashelin still looked uncertain about the whole thing. She edged closer to Torn in effort to get a better look.

"So…what exactly is a muse?"

Torn dropped the animal lightly on to the table beside the boy. She licked his fingers, placing a paw on his arm. The little boy giggled. Ashelin gently stroked the muse, observing it was very soft to the touch.

"Muses are supposed to inspire you to do something; something you'd never have thought of. That's why they call them 'muses-' they make you think about stuff."

"What does she have to do with you?" asked Ashelin.

"Well…my family has a history of artists in it. My mother was one, and it ran in her family for a few generations." Torn watched the little kid play around with the creature, half-smiling. "Was about time I got my own…these things have been in my family a long time. Mom had one…"

"Who sent it to you?"

"…Looks like a friend of mine from my teen years. He knew I was supposed to get one to help me in the KG or something. They're meant more for artists, anyway."

The muse was bounding around the table, now. The boy was trying to catch her, smiling. She leapt up on to Ashelin's shoulder, trying not to fall off. Ashelin picked her up in her arms, scratching the little animal's back.

"These actually run in your family?" she asked.

Torn nodded. Ashelin raised her eyebrows in approval.

"I had no idea your family was so…"

"Boring?" Torn offered.

Ashelin made a face. "I was thinking…interesting, maybe."

Torn shook his head. The muse dropped silently back to the table, crinkling maps under her tiny paws. She cuddled up to the ex-Guard, who gently placed a hand on her head.

"I how come you never told me about your mother?" questioned Ashelin.

Torn shrugged. "Never felt the need to."

The muse jumped on top of the boy's head, causing both adults to laugh. She bounded around for a little bit longer, then curled up in Torn's lap.

"She likes you," Ashelin observed with a light smile.

"I guess she's supposed to…"

He scratched the muse in the scruff of its neck.

"Maybe I'll draw something for you some time," he laughed.

Ashelin kissed Torn softly on the forehead.

"I'd love that," she said, "But…until you straighten some things out, we won't get anymore 'talking' time."

Torn rolled his eyes. "C'mon! We were all sentimental a few minutes ago!"

Ashelin smiled knowingly. She straightened up, tousling the little boy's hair as she spoke.

"Talk to Keira, Torn."

Torn sighed for the umpteenth time, crossing his arms. Ashelin came toward him, leaning down.

"I'll be in touch, 'k?"

"Wait jus-"

She kissed him on the lips.

"I will be in touch," she repeated quietly, tracing a tattoo across his cheek with her finger. "I'll see ya later, 'tough guy.'"

She winked at him before walking up to the entrance. The door opened, and she was gone from sight. Torn listened to the engine of her Krimzon Guard cruiser fade into the distance, grumbling.

"Dammit…" he muttered.