Author's Note: One year later... it's finally an update. I'm terribly sorry for the wait, and thank you for your patience. The last year really hasn't been the greatest with me being on sick leave and shit, and whenever I felt like I had the energy to do something about this, some other thing happened and I was unable to again... But here's a new chapter. I hope you'll like it... I have the continuation kinda in a raw format, have some editing and stuff to do, but I'll update as soon as I can. (hopefully it won't be another year in between ^^')
Again, thank you for your patience~ And here you go:


He knew it!

It had been different from the other Re-Sets. It just hadn't been back then.

He had been seriously nervous about it. He hated supported Re-Setting. Just the fact to be the one to enable further Magic use… But it was something about the kid's that hadn't been as the previous ones. It was like… his urge to know had been bigger than his fear. Something about the kid made him feel like that. Scratch that, it wasn't the kid, it was the Re-Set. It had nothing to do with him. The Runes just happened to be on the kid's back.

He had just wanted to check. Just wanted to make sure.

Yeah.

Stupid kid and his stupid Re-Set.

He looked at his hand. The one that had touched the Rune. It was still tingling a little. Or maybe it was just his imagination.

It really hadn't been as the ones he'd done before. Quite frankly, those hadn't even sent off any kind of physical sensation at all. It had always been more his own awkward, anxious feeling about it and knowing what might happen after that Re-Set and Recovery… When he thought about it... a lot of times it had been without Recovery...

But he didn't get any of those vibes from the kid… He wanted to Recover and stuff before...

That was what he wanted to check by offering; he wanted to check if his own feeling about it was different. And it wasn't. He still didn't like it. Nope, he didn't. The kid could still use the freaking Magic, but at least he did use it for some good stuff… Considering. Maybe. Magic was bad. The kid was… he was… yeah, he just was less bad like that; being able to use that Healing stuff. But he still didn't like it.

Stupid kid... He was so conflicted about everything. Why was everything so confusing?

He didn't like it.

And he didn't want to analyze the Re-Set either. Didn't want to think about any feelings about it. Even though he knew it wasn't like his previous ones. Maybe it was because two of them had been camouflaged as hugs. He mentally laughed. He had hugged the kid. Twice.

But at least he knew now and wouldn't need to do it again to know. So there.

As he walked, he found himself smirking. He had been surprised by his own random action back then, with the appearing right in front of the kid's face. He knew he was unpredictable but it was really bad if he didn't even know himself what he was going to do. But the look on the kid's face when he had done it. Totally worth it.

He found himself walking towards the cafeteria. There were quite some people there. And he soon figured out why. The realization made him sad, disappointed even. He kicked a trash can as he turned and walked the other way. He didn't need to see all the other people eat.

He escaped the building and placed himself on a bench at the deserted courtyard. He didn't even feel hungry anymore, if he had been before. Right now he was just going to sit here. They just were so unfair…

He didn't know for how long he had been sitting there when he sensed the delicious smell. At first he thought he was just so hungry for his favourite food that he had started hallucinating but it came closer still. Another wave of feeling down came crashing down on him when a paper package was held in front of him. Who dared coming here and doing that shit to him?

He looked up and saw the kid. Confusion took over. The kid held the package in front of him. What was he doing here? He didn't need his charity. It was probably just an empty package anyway. Just having the smell left.

"Roman told me", the kid said, holding the package closer to Dean.

Oh, did he now? That Dean got this weird kind of punishment? Probably laughed at him and came here to gloat. But before Dean managed to let out some gall on him, the kid continued:

"He told me you really like these but you can't have them. So I um… maybe it's not much but I managed to have my food on the go." He made a new attempt to give Dean the package.

Dean swallowed hard. "You're lying, you don't have any."

The kid looked hurt. To prove it, he opened the package and revealed six sticks. The sight made Dean very tense and his mouth started salivating, they looked so good and were so close…

"You can have them, if you want", the kid said, having seen Dean's focus on them.

It was very tempting. They smelled heavenly and he hadn't been able to have those in forever…

"I-I don't want them…" he stoically said, lying so hard it physically hurt him on the inside.

The kid just kept holding them out for him. "Maybe I want you to have them."

Dean swallowed again. Why would he want that? Anyone in their right mind would eat them themselves. They looked so good. Golden and crisp… they would become soggy if they weren't eaten soon. He reached out and took the package. His hands were shaking slightly. The kid didn't snatch them away from him either. He placed the package on his knees, just looking at them.

"Eat them, before they get cold", the kid said, holding a small smile.

Dean grabbed one of them and took a bite.

He totally melted. They were just perfect. Beyond tasty, it was like eating pure happiness. It didn't take him long to devour three of them, gnawing happily on the next one.

Then he heard a chuckle. He gave the kid a confused, but cautious look.

"You look like a chipmunk when you're eating like that."

How dare he? So he would make fun of him as-

"It's cute", the kid continued, putting his hair behind his ear, catching Dean off guard. He just stopped and looked at him. He was being all blushy and shy? And wait what? Cute? He said cute?

"Well, you look like a puppy…!" he quickly retaliated, with his mouth full and everything. He just didn't know what else to say. He wasn't cute. Not the slightest.

"What?" the kid said, just looking confused. But he smiled. His smile…

He didn't need to explain himself though. He just let the kid think about that. It really hadn't been his best talk back, he could admit that, but yeah. He had told him.

He returned to his sticks again, forgetting that stuff for now. Eating was more important anyway.

The kid kept his smile while he stayed by his side. Was it really that interesting watching him eat or something?

All too soon, all of the food was gone and Dean put the last empty stick back with the others on the greasy paper.

"So what's the deal?" he said.

"What deal?" another confused look from him.

"The fried hen sticks. Why'd you give them to me?"

"You ask me after you had them?" the kid made a small laugh, seeming very amused.

Well, yeah, couldn't have him take them from him now could he? "Duh", he just said. "Why'd you do it? What's the catch?"

"There's no catch. I heard you like them and that you can't have any. I don't think that's fair so…" He let it trail off before he continued. "Doesn't have to be more complicated than that. I wanted to. And they're good, so it would be a shame if you couldn't have them too."

How can someone want to give them up if they are good?

"And… I wanted to thank you… you know… for the Re-Set."

The Re-Set again… "You're bribing me or something?"

"How can a thank you be a bribe? It's more like a payback."

So they were even then? But if it was a payback… there couldn't be a catch. Dean didn't get it. Everyone did something for something else. But yeah, he had Re-Set him… and… He felt weird realizing. He hadn't done it for anything in return… he had done it without a catch. Dude…? They had just done the same thing… in some weird kind of way. At least he recognized the thought process. The kid had wanted to know why he'd done it, and now Dean's sitting here wanting to know why the kid had done it. That's… He didn't even get it.

"Anyway, you left before I could thank you, and yeah… wanted to say thank you and give you something you otherwise can't have", the kid kinda repeated.

He didn't care for a thank you. Though he guessed the food was kinda… nice actually. Roman had done that for him before and had gotten in trouble for it. They took away his cheesecake for smuggling out the hen sticks for him. And now the kid did the same.

"You're gonna get in trouble if you do this, you know…"

The kid smiled again. "Concerned again, are we?"

"Don't flatter yourself, princess." He was just saying. He didn't care if the kid got his pancakes taken from him. A flashback of how happy the kid was when he ate pancakes ruined that thought.

"Don't expect me to thank you. It was you who lost your food", Dean said grumpily. It was probably a little out of nowhere, but he needed to say something what went against his annoying sudden feelings.

"I think I know you well enough by now to know I won't get one. I still don't do stuff for you to thank me, don't flatter yourself, swordsman."

"You have to work on your insults, pretty boy."

"Who said I was trying to insult you?" he didn't sound as sassy this time around. He just glanced at him and then looked away again. Weird kid.

"Where did you ditch Roman?" he said, leaving the kid's question behind.

"He's at the cafeteria, I guess. I said I had something to do and… yeah."

"Whatever." He'd just have to wait for him then.

"You want anything else?"

Dean just stared at him.

"To eat or something? I mean if you're not feeling full just having those hen sticks?"

"What does it matter to you anyway?"

The kid shrugged. "You're not allowed at the cafeteria today, so…"

"Don't bother. It's just another bribe attempt."

"It's not. Don't be so suspicious. Realize some people do stuff just to be friendly."

The only one who did that was Roman. No one else just did stuff to be "friendly". But… no. The kid must have some thought behind it. Some ulterior motive. He was a sneaky mage after all. He's smart and that made him sneaky. And cheeky…

He could entertain that statement though. "Okay. Buy me a meeud then."

The kid smiled brightly. What was up with him? Was he so eager spending money on other people? "Stop grinning or you're buying me two."

The smile didn't drop from his face so Dean just took that as a win for him; two meeuds.

This didn't mean he was cool with him though. He was just... taking advantage of him, having him buy him drinks. Because that's how he was. He didn't thank people and he just took what he wanted or needed from others.

He led the way to the pub where the kid awkwardly asked for two pints of meeuds. The manager didn't approve at first, asking for his age, turned out he was 19. He didn't even know if he already knew that or not. But he didn't care.

He still got the drinks. They were low alcoholic but minors still shouldn't drink it. It wasn't enough for Dean to be affected by it though. He was much more sturdy than that.

They sat down and Dean had his first drink. They didn't talk. Dean didn't have anything to say. And it seemed like the kid was more occupied with sitting and looking like a lost kitten. He'd never been out? What kind of isolated life had he had anyway? Probably a very easy life… not like Dean. That made him annoyed. The kid would never understand him.

"What's the matter?"

What was that? He'd read his mind? "What do you mean…?" he asked, hearing his own annoyance.

"Your mood changed, that's all", the kid said. "Just asking."

Dean just decided not to comment on that. The kid didn't need to know what was on his mind. He didn't need his caring, he didn't want it. Why did he do that? It made him feel bad, he shouldn't do stuff like that. Stupid kid.

He still sat there with that worried look.

"Just drop it, it's nothing of your concern."

The kid looked down on the table, his voice turned down some. "You know it's okay to share, right?"

He didn't need sharing… Don't be ridiculous. Stupid kid.

The kid didn't say anything more about it, and Dean didn't care. He just continued his drink under awkward silence. But it wasn't Dean's fault. If the kid hadn't brought it up, it wouldn't have come to this.

Suddenly the kid looked up towards the door. He visibly tensed up. Dean furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't like that look and turned around. There was a man at the door. His head was shaved and he wore a cloak. There was something reptilian about him, maybe it was his eyes. And he looked untrustworthy.

The man locked eyes with them and an unpleasant smile appeared on his face. He came closer.

"Should've expected you rooted for the other team", he said, looking down at the kid.

"It's not like that…" the kid mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh, really, could've fooled me, Your Highness."

"Don't call me that…"

"What's the matter? Struck a nerve?"

"What's the deal?" Dean suddenly said, not liking the attitude of the other man. He didn't know who he was but he wasn't cool with him being a random bully.

"Who are you to talk? I'm just chatting up with my dear student. Not my greatest, too finely tuned and a crybaby."

He should've known. No random person should've just gotten up to him calling him names. If he wasn't Dean Ambrose who didn't like mages.

"Yeah, so? No reason to bully him for it."

"So the crybaby has gotten himself a bodyguard now?"

"I'm not his bodyguard."

"Dean…" the kid said quietly.

"Could've fooled me. You're the one taking on the fight. Seth never does, because he's just a weak little Wind elemental that tried to prove something." He grinned. "And now you got a Hunter boyfriend to protect you. How cute."

"He's not my boyfriend…!" the kid said, his temper rising.

"Oooh… the crybaby has grown a pair."

"I'm sick of it!" he suddenly spat out. He got out of the chair and faced the man. The other man had a size advantage though. "From day one you've called me all kinds of names! Telling me I'm worthless and never able to do anything. Well, guess what, Orton, I'm a Hunter now! I was approved and am now in the Guild and part of The Shield. Yeah, Dean's my team mate."

The man called Orton seemed unimpressed. "Just because you had Guild daddy Triple H holding your hand. If it weren't for him, you'd never been approved and you'd been sealed."

"But I wasn't. Because he saw potential in me. But I was the one who took the Trial. I was the one who got approved. With my own abilities! They all saw how great I am, something you never wanted to acknowledge! I think you've always seen me as a threat because I'm greater than you. You didn't want anyone else to take your place as a prodigy."

"You seriously believe that? You're no threat to me. I'm Fire. You're Wind. I have complete Rune control. I am a Rune Master, I can sense others' Runes. You're still inferior."

"I don't care what you say. You can be all powerful and in control you want. You're just doing what you do for yourself. I'm doing it for others because I am a Healer!"

Dean had never seen the kid like that; he totally had a lot of pent up emotions for that man. Couldn't blame him though; he was a total douche.

"I didn't need you to become a mage or a Hunter. I'm not the mightiest Rune Bearer but I don't have to be, my skills Heal others and my Wind took down a raupnir."

"Bullshit, Wind can never take down a raupnir."

"Well, I still have one registered in my Runes."

"From our first mission", Dean found himself adding.

"It means nothing", the man called Orton said.

"Maybe not to you, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that I can do something that matters, and not just monitoring and crushing dreams of others. My skills help others, may it be for Healing, defending or cooperating attacks." He made a pause. "You were wrong."

That last part was dead serious. Dean thought it even hit Orton some.

"You think you're so clever", he said, his voice venomous. "I hope you'll be very happy together." And he left.

The kid stood there a while longer, but as the man left Dean could see the knees of the kid start shaking and he had to sit down.

Dean had a weird feeling, looking at him. Seeing how he went out of his comfort zone to tell him off. Seeing the small scared kid build up to be able to talk back to him, the man that had been his master and teacher. It made him feel warm and almost giddy inside. It made him smile.

At the same moment, the kid looked up at him. Just looking for a while, before he finally let out: "You're smiling." He said it like he was surprised Dean was able to smile, or something.

Dean immediately dropped it. "Well, just remembered those hen sticks. Always puts a smile on my face." Had to say something.

The kid kept looking at him, through him even, making Dean squirm a little. He looked away while he swept the last of his first drink.

"Thank you…" he heard the kid. When he got a confused look as a reply he continued: "You stood up for me."

"I didn't do nothing", he just waved it off.

"You defended me. You didn't have to, but you did."

Was he referring to his first mission statement? That wasn't much. Otherwise he had just rejected stuff that Orton guy said, as far as he knew. Yeah, he had kinda made it a little prideful or whatever when he mentioned the raupnir was on their first mission. But it had been so… It didn't have anything to do with him defending him or anything like that. He just hadn't liked the attitude.

"You did it yourself", he just said. Because it had been him who did everything. Dean had just given the douche attitude.

He seemed to reject that though: "I'm sorry you had to witness that."

Dean didn't understand. Witness what? That his teacher was mean to him and the kid had showed some back bone and told him off? Re-thinking about it, that put that giddy feeling inside him again. He forced himself to hold a straight face though.

"Douche-bag", he mumbled instead but the kid didn't comment on it. Maybe he was still shaken from the encounter.

Dean wouldn't bother to bother him about it. He had a second meeud to attend to. But why couldn't he keep his mind off this encounter? And wondering what the kid had been through while being that douche's student. The thoughts traveled to their dirt snail battle and the stuff around that. Back then the kid had been whiny about it, but seeing this scene… and how the kid had acted… And with the stuff he'd said about his family…

He shouldn't be wandering there but he couldn't help these fleeting thoughts. He didn't dive deep into them though, he was more just hovering over them, not daring to venture any further than that. Afraid of what might become of it, or what he might find.

"What were you sorry about?" he surprised himself by asking. The kid gave him a puzzled look. "You said that a couple minutes before. What were you sorry I had to witness?"

"The encounter. Orton being a dick…" the kid shrugged. He seemed so drained. Shouldn't he be happy he finally got some stuff out of his system? "Me losing my temper…"

"Are you seriously apologizing for telling him off? Seems like you had some very well chosen words for him. And from what I saw of him, he deserved every one of them. Even more than that even, maybe. You're not his student anymore. Listen to yourself, what you said."

"Yeah…" was the only thing the kid got out.

"I thought you would be happy to get all that off your chest."

"I am. Finally got to show him." He didn't sound happy at all though.

"Stop thinking." Dean had a feeling that was what was going on. That was probably the biggest difference between the two of them. The kid was a thinker and Dean a doer. "Embrace what you've done. You're free from him."

The kid held a long look at him, blinking a couple of times. Then his tense expression faded some and he seemed to relax in his chair. Maybe it finally hit him.

"Dean, I…" He started slowly.

Dean just looked back at him for a moment, but dropped it eventually when he realized nothing more would come out. He sure had some weird reactions to stuff. Like the opposite to what one might think. But who knew what kind of stuff he had to endure. Even though he didn't want to go down that route. Maybe it was more draining than relieving at first? He didn't know.

Dean, of all people, felt giddy just hearing him, shouldn't that been his own feeling as well? Whatever that annoying feeling was. But it wasn't completely… unpleasant. It had made him smile so…

"Hey, kid…" he said. The mage turned his eyes to him. "You…" He had a couple of things going in his head, but none of it seemed appropriate of sorts. His heart started to beat harder all of a sudden because of it. "You… " he awkwardly continued and figured he had to say something so he forced out: "Are not a crybaby."

That made him actually smile again, letting out a small short laugh. "Gee, thanks."

Dean didn't bother to answer that. It wasn't what he had had in mind, but that was what had come out. He just pretended to be busy with the meeud instead.

As they were sitting in silence, they had another visitor. A more pleasant one, kinda. It was the energetic red head Sami Zayn. He probably was heading elsewhere but as he saw them, he turned and walked over to them. What did he have to do to be able to have his drink in peace? But then again... they did sit kinda in the open, for a pub in nice weather and doors open.

"Funny finding you here, Dean", he said smiling as he approached them.

"What of it?" Dean said. He wasn't annoyed; just wanted to drink his meeud.

"Hi to you too", Sami just shrugged him off. He looked over at the kid, kinda freezing up some. "You're Seth, right?"

"I am", the kid said, giving him a small cautious smile.

Sami held a smiley almost tense gaze, making the kid squirm a little. "It's like, I think it's actually pretty exciting, I mean you're a Healer~" His grin grew and he almost seemed a little star struck. That was probably the tension Dean saw. Why was he so excited; it was no big deal. But then again, that was Sami... being enthused about well... anything.

The kid looked more shy and stuff at that but he didn't get to give some response before Sami continued: "I'm sorry." He scratched the back of his head. "Heard from the others about you. It's just pretty awesome we- The Shield got a Healer, so I got a little carried away, seeing you. Seeing Dean I just figured you were Seth, and seeing that two-toned hair, it being evident you're a Healer... I'm Sami, by the way." He reached out his hand and the kid slowly took it, he seemed like he wasn't prepared for the babbler Sami could be. "I'm with Neville, also one of the juniors."

"Oh, the ones Roman helped out, right? With the herbs?" the kid collected himself enough to say.

"Yeah, it was really nice of him, really helped us out."

The kid just smiled at that.

"I was actually looking for you. I just came from Triple H and he asked us to send you to him. We found Roman at the cafeteria but we had to kinda split to find you."

"What did he want?" the kid asked.

"I think it was something about your latest job report. It seemed urgent. Roman is already on his way."

"Can't he just do the talking? Trips is not in my good books right now", Dean said, looking into his meeud mug. It was just like a mouthful left. A big one though.

"As far as I know, he's never in your good books..." Sami said.

That was true though. Dean wasn't too keen on meeting him but seeing the kid's face and how he seemed to sit on needles, he knew he had to go. He just downed the last of his meeud and stood to leave. He heard the other two exchanging some parting words (Sami letting the vast majority of the words out) before the kid joined him on their way to the boss.

They met up with Roman outside of the office. Without any word they entered, Roman giving the kid a small pat on the shoulder as they did so.

Dean placed himself a little behind the other two, having some distance between himself and the office's inhabitant. (Seriously, he almost always saw him in there, so it kinda seemed like it was his home.)

"You were the ones reporting the raupnir, right?"

Dean was a little prideful of that, yes. He smirked a little.

"We did", Roman solemnly replied.

"And you didn't realize they work in pairs?"

Dean's gut dropped. Oh, shit... He saw the kid looking between Roman and Triple H. He even looked over towards Dean. He knew where he came from. Worry.

"By slaying one you have probably awakened and alerted its twin. And who knows what it will do. You have to go out there and find it and slay it. You understand me?"

This was serious. Dean had heard of them, the over-raupnirs with Magic and these twin raupnirs. But he hadn't connected the dots that they might be the same. Not the best error a Hunter could make.

"I don't blame you for just killing one of them", Triple H said, catching Dean off guard. He was prepared for some serious scolding. "Twin raupnirs, or over-raupnirs are really rare. We have only had a few encounters with them before. But they are rare raupnirs with affinity to Magic. And they do come in pairs, and one has to take care of both of them or we're in grave danger should it find us here in Authority. It's urgent that you go out there and take care of the twin. You guys know what it looks like, and will be able to take care of it."

Dean could feel bad about it; having made that mistake but he welcomed the challenge. Actually getting an exciting mission. This one was going to be even more aggressive though. He just knew it. Hell, they had killed its twin and partner. A dangerous monster just went berserk mode. It was not to be taken lightly. But this was what being a Hunter was all about. Taking down threats.

After their briefing they went back to their room. Even if it was a threat, they still needed to regroup and get some hours before setting out. Dean wanted to go right away but he knew it wasn't for the best. Chances were higher they would manage to get some rest in their own beds than out in the field. The raupnir was probably roaming the area where its twin was killed until it sensed the killers' trace. They were too far from that place for that to happen at the moment so their town wasn't in any immediate danger. Knowing that much about the bestiary made him calm.

He glanced at the kid on his makeshift floor bed. Lame how they still hadn't managed a bed for him yet. It didn't look too comfortable. He almost got some aches in his back just seeing him. Remembering his own bed-less nights... like, when his mother's dudes slept over and just had to have his bed... That had been kinda frequent actually... that hadn't been too nice...

But he had chosen it for himself. The kid. And he seemed to be able to sleep too, so.

He just seemed so... calm and stuff... Maybe it was because he was free from that Orton dude. Or maybe it was because he was doing stuff that mattered. Maybe he was where he felt like he belonged. Or something. Not that he was a full member of The Shield or anything.

But looking at him... he felt that fuzzy feeling again. He couldn't explain what it was. He just had this fluttery feeling... and it was all caused by Seth.