Seth swallowed as he saw the towering ghostly figure. It couldn't be invincible but it sure looked like it. It had some really powerful shields, rendering Magic completely ineffective. All they could do was try to at least halt it until it lowered its shields so that they could attack again. Attacking now was just waste of Magic.

He himself was low though... It had been a lot of Healing. Not yet alarming but still not at a level where he could go into battle.

"Look out!" Dean pushed him to the ground, escaping the dark Magic by a hair's breadth. They landed hard but the Magic created a solid crater where they had been just the moment before. It used that advanced Magic even shielded...?

Dean still covered him, Seth looked up... He was so conflicted. Dean figured he was weak just like everyone else. He had saved him. Of course he "protected" him because he was weak. But looking at the hole in the ground... He would have been dead hadn't it been for Dean... But he was mean...

"You okay?" Dean's voice pierced his thoughts. Seth could just nod as a reply. "You're low, aren't you?

Dean could tell? Why did he even care? To him, Seth was just some lousy kid with Runes. Another Magic attack forced him out of that thought as they scrambled to their feet to get away.

"I can Re-Set you so you have Magic to attack that son of a bitch!" Dean shouted as they were in some kind of safety between the attacks.

"I don't want your Re-Set!" Seth shouted back, feeling how wrong it was, but he didn't want that, not then, but he still wanted it to be Dean but he wasn't sure if he liked him right now. He knew he couldn't be thinking about all this stuff. Roman had told him. And he knew it all too well but it was all too difficult. His mind just raced anyway.

Another attack avoided.

"It's not like you have much choice!" Dean ripped the back of his jacket aside and forced his hand onto his Rune. Seth gasped at the contact. The situation made it much more intense. He lost feeling of his Runes. He was unstable. It wasn't an opportune moment but Dean was right; he couldn't do much Magic as it was.

Seth needed to do the best out of the situation. The thinking and dealing with his emotional crap just had to wait.

He started observing the monster. It was floating, having that shield... then there was that smoke... He went against orders and sent out his Wind towards it, and it moved...!

"Are there any other Wind Rune Bearers here?" he asked anyone.

"Wind has been on defence the whole time", another Hunter said.

"Tell them to switch!" Seth demanded.

"But Triple H said we should all go on defence-"

"Just do as I tell you! That smoke underneath it is unprotected and the winds can scatter it!" There had to be something hidden underneath that... Seth ran closer to the Night Dweller, some other robe clad Rune Bearers joined him, even if they were fewer than he had hoped for.

"Aim for the smoke!" Seth shouted. He formed his Wind blades and thrust them forward towards the mistiness. The others followed suit. The first few attacks weren't enough for the smoke to reveal its secrets. It just rounded up on itself again and again. Seth sharpened his focus and built up his Wind. And saw a mark.

"It has a Rune underneath the mist!" the petite lady from the Trials shouted. So it wasn't just Seth who saw it. Together, they managed to tear the cloudy smoke apart as some quick long-range Hunters destroyed it with some well-aimed arrows. The shriek was deafening as its shields fell. A last resort Magic was sent out and it was heading towards them, but to him, all he could see was that it headed straight towards-

"Dean!" Seth cried out. The world went into slow motion as he gathered all the Magic he could muster. His winds created the largest whirlwind he'd ever seen. As the Wind spun faster and faster, it turned into Fire, creating a fiery tornado. The Fire users added their Magic to his tornado...? He couldn't believe his eyes. He forced it forward, channelling the Magic and engulfed the monster, completely burning it. He watched the Night Dweller fall, trapped in that inferno from hell, as he himself fell to the ground... everything turned to black.


Seth woke up probably two days later. He was in the bed he shared with Dean. The unpleasantly familiar blur and mushiness returned. He remembered the Night Dweller. Its attack. It had been aiming for Dean. The image haunted him. He had no idea what had happened afterwards. If anything were to have happened to him... He didn't even know, but he had created one huge tornado because... Dean had been in danger. Despite everything.

"... Dean..." he croaked, he was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. He had to be alright.

Where was everybody? What had happened? He knew he used all his Magic, Exhausting himself. The Magic had been Fire. An inferno. The Fire Rune Bearers... who had added their Magic to his?

Dean... Dean had protected him... He-

"Seth...?"

It was Dean's voice. Was he dreaming again? He used his name? He managed to turn to his side. Dean was sitting at the edge of his bed.

"Dean..." he could barely voice it.

"Seth..." Dean moved closer, reaching up, touching his cheek. His hand was warm, on the edge of being clammy.

Seth almost couldn't believe his gesture of intimacy but he realized he liked it as he instinctively leaned into it. Seeing him... all Seth could feel was relief. Dean was okay. He was sitting there. Right in front of him. He couldn't believe it. And he was using his name. Seth just smiled. Or he thought he did. "You... you said my name..." It was a small thing but for him, at that moment, it was huge. He'd never used his name, just stupid nicknames or 'kid'. Degrading stuff.

Dean hadn't heard him, or he ignored him. He just kept staring at him, as if he wasn't sure if Seth was really there. He held a look Seth had never seen on him. It was happy and sad and... something else. All at the same time. "I..." His eyes were teary. He gripped the front of Seth's shirt and suddenly leaned down, hiding his face into his chest. "I thought I... I thought I'd lost you..." he said, his voice full of emotion. "When I... when I got you unstable... and then Exhausted... I didn't know what to do...! I just wanted to protect you...!"

Seth didn't know what to think. It felt like a dream. But he felt more alert suddenly so he knew it wasn't a dream. What had happened? Why was he...? He just looked at the man. Dean was here... and... he was letting his guards down.

"I didn't mean to..." Seth wasn't sure what he was referring to but Dean continued. "Your Exhaustion... I didn't mean for it to happen but I got you unstable... I brought that upon you. I just wanted to protect you... but I couldn't... I couldn't do anything... that monster... my physical attacks couldn't do anything to it..."

"Dean..." There was so much stuff in there. Seth didn't know where to start. He just felt so bad for the man clinging to his shirt. He was so vulnerable and unshielded. And Seth was present when it happened. He reached up, slowly carding his fingers through his messy curls, making Dean look up. His eyes were still teary but his cheeks were dry.

"You... you protected me..." Seth finally said tryingly. This wasn't real. But at the same time it felt all too real.

"I just put you in danger... I just wanted to protect you..." Dean mumbled as if his thoughts were stuck on them.

Seth wasn't sure how to think of that. Did he really think Seth was so weak he needed Dean's protection? "But... I'm not weak-"

"You're not weak", Dean said before he managed to say anything else. "I never said you were weak. I don't think you are."

"But with what you said... when you were so much on about keeping me safe and it being dangerous and all that."

"I fucked up, alright? I... I didn't mean it like that. I want you to be safe, I don't want to see you harmed. I can't explain it... it's like... I have this stupid annoying uncontrollable need to keep you safe. It doesn't even make sense. You're just some-" He stopped. "I really don't know okay. But it's not because you're weak... because you aren't. You're capable and really know your stuff. It's because... it's because... you're... i-important..."

He was important? Important how...? He gave him cred? It wasn't because he was a weak mage? He thought back on the event again. Maybe he had just assumed stuff. Jumped to conclusions... Dean had done his all to protect him and now with what he was saying...

"I... I just can't stand the sight of you being hurt..." Dean continued. He hesitated. "You know... you know the raupnir?"

Seth just nodded, as if being scared Dean would stop talking if he said something. He was actually beyond words. Was this really Dean?

"It hurt you... and I hated it for it... when that bastard drained you... got you Exhausted... when I got back... I just raged at it." He made a humourless laugh. "Roman figures it was a good thing it happened. Says I got more efficient, going berserk at it... because you... yeah..."

Seth was speechless. He knew Dean had been the one taking him to safety. Roman had said he had returned with a vengeance. But for Dean to go berserk because Seth was hurt...? Maybe he really was important, not because he was weak... he couldn't have raged because Seth wasn't strong enough. Not with what he was sharing now. He admitted some serious stuff. Dean did a lot of big things. Seth didn't know what to think... he just... felt awful for his behaviour before.

"Dean... I'm sorry... I didn't mean what I said before..." he sat up some, felt like he was about to cry. "I called you a lot of mean things... I called you..."

"It doesn't matter..." Dean said.

"It does...!" and he cried. "I called you manipulative and that I regretted I had believed in you...! That I didn't want your protection..." He looked down, seeing the tears falling on the blanket. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Dean reached up, putting some of Seth's hair behind his ear. "It's okay... I understand you... I know it came out wrong and I hated myself for it... I just... wanted to explain... to tell you what I really meant... These past few days... all I've wanted was for you to wake up so I could explain myself..." He searched for Seth's eyes, tilting his head up some to succeed at it. "I know I'm repeating myself... but I really don't wanna see you hurt... I just want to protect you..."

Seth sniffled some, wiping his nose. They had both said the wrong things... He still felt like a shit, but he felt better to have apologized at least. "I... I don't wanna see you hurt either..."

"Guess we got the wrong profession then..."

Seth let out something that was a mixture of a sob and a laugh. "At least I can shield and Heal your sorry ass..."

"Yeah..." Dean took Seth's hand in his, slowly rubbing the back of it with his thumb.

There was a silence.

"I know I was wrong..." Dean said after a while. "I know I want to protect you... but keeping you from danger isn't the way... I know that... I just... I dunno..."

Seth figured he knew what he meant anyway. With how he had spoken, he just wanted to see Seth unharmed so badly that he over-compensated. Like he wanted to roll him up in cotton and keep him inside to keep him safe.

"But I know that's not how it works... but I still want to protect you..." Dean confirmed.

"We're in this together... you, me... Roman... we'll protect each other. I don't want to see you hurt either, and I protect you. And... I know you protect me. I want you to protect me... I need you to protect me... Just... let me protect you too, okay? We're all in this one, we all need to do our part to keep each other safe. Without over-worrying, just.. yeah, doing our thing."

"I was stupid... I was just so scared... you'd been Exhausted and..."

"I know..." Seth squeezed his hand, hushing him. "I know..."

"I'm just... glad you're safe..." it was barely a whisper.

"Glad you're safe too..." Seth whispered back.

A new silence. But it wasn't awkward. A little nervous but not uncomfortable. Seth just felt good in his company. Feeling relieved in so many ways. Even if he felt a little bad for his actions before, but he let it out, and Dean accepted it. They had both accepted each others' wrongdoings. At least Seth had with Dean... and it felt like Dean had too.

He felt honoured. Not just that Dean had this will to protect him, seeing him unharmed... That was huge in itself. He was honoured that Dean had been so unfiltered and unguarded with him. It must have been so hard for him. He had never been so open, not without him saying something mean afterwards just to make up for the nice stuff. But now he had just... been honest. That was the closest he felt. He was honest with himself. And Seth was allowed to be present at that.

Dean had always protected him. Whether he admitted it or not.

Would he go back into his shell? He didn't want that to happen. He liked the sweet side of Dean too much. The other side was an image to uphold. But to see this side...The one he kept hidden from everyone except for a selected few. To be one of them...

He didn't want to screw it up.

"Thank you for sharing it with me..." he mumbled, watching Dean's thumb trace his hand. The swordsman looked up. "It means a lot..."

He mumbled something in return but Seth couldn't make out what it was. At least Dean didn't flee.

It must have been so hard... He had admitted so much to Seth. Someone he supposedly disliked. But with everything he'd said... he couldn't be... Could he actually be...? He half expected him to call out "doesn't mean I like you" or something like that. Just for good measure. What did that say about Seth himself to get those thoughts or feelings?

"Just so you know... this doesn't mean I-" Dean started and Seth was certain he'd been right. "... doesn't mean I..." He never finished his sentence.

"I know..." Seth said with a voice he hoped sounded more tired than sad. He should know Dean wouldn't admit anything suggesting a changed opinion, even if his actions spoke louder than words.

He still wanted to cherish what he'd told him. His "uncontrollable need" to protect him, that he'd thought he'd lost him. Used his name. Saying he was important. Important... He wanted to ask what he meant by it, but he was already treading on dangerous - or maybe fragile - grounds.

"What... what happened to the Night Dweller...?" he asked instead.

"The Fire mages took care of it. It's dead and gone."

"What about the town? The people?"

"Got some damage, the plaza is like ruined, together with some buildings. There were some casualties, no one I knew though. But quite some injuries. Cesaro... Finn... Daniel... Neville... they're all on the shelf for now. Others too. Jeff's dog got killed. He's devastated."

Seth didn't even know who Jeff was but the thought of a dog having been killed in the attack made him almost cry again. He loved dogs. Had it been bad? Of course it had been bad, it had died but... Had he been able to help it before that...? He couldn't help Mr Cesaro or Mr Bryan. "I couldn't Heal them..." he said.

"You still helped them."

"But I couldn't restore them, they're still injured, it was beyond my Healing..." He'd never realized there were things his Healing Magic couldn't fix. He felt... disappointed... But then again the human body was really complex and the fact Magic could help it mend broken bones and bleeding injuries was a miracle actually. But it wasn't almighty...

"You were still needed, while I was-" He let it trail off. "Never mind, I'm done embarrassing myself. You just... rest up or whatever. I'm... I'm gonna go see where Mr Eager-to-help went."

And he left. Seth could just be happy he had stayed for as long as he had before the inevitable escape act.


"How did you do it?" it was Roman.

He had returned with Dean some time later, being as relieved as Dean to see their team member awake. Seth had been happy too. Roman was okay.

They were now all together in their room; Seth was still in bed, sitting up against the pillows, Dean was sitting on it too, leaning against the wall and having his legs bent over Seth's. (Because duh, it was his bed too so Seth would just have to deal with it. Dean's reasoning.) Roman was at the table, having taken care of his weapon.

"The Fire tornado", he clarified.

"I didn't do that", Seth said, looking confused at his question. They had been talking about it. Dean had said the Fire Rune Bearers had taken care of it. And he had thought Roman had thought so too. "I just made the biggest freakin' tornado I've ever done. Using all my Magic on it obviously. And yeah, some Fire user added some Fire to it. I wonder who did though, as far as I know it takes some serious skill to add Magic to someone else's Magic. It takes a lot of training and being synced and stuff. But then again... there were people from the academy there. Being Masters." He could see Roman still wasn't satisfied with that. "What? That's what must have happened. Dean said the Fire mages took care of it."

"Don't bring me into this", Dean muttered tiredly.

"I was just saying."

"You weren't there, I mean you were there but you didn't see it'", Roman went on. "And I don't know what to think. You had been having the Winds scatter the cloudy stuff and the Hunters destroyed the Rune. Then you created that Magic. All other mages were on defence or didn't do anything."

"I just have Wind. It's impossible, it must have been one of the other ones. Maybe you just didn't see it."

"I dunno, with what I saw you did it yourself. Even if it sounds impossible."

"But it is impossible." Really, one could only possess one element. Yeah, he had his Healing too, but that wasn't the same. "I... just can't have done it." But what Roman said made him uncertain. He hadn't been "there" so he couldn't know. He had just... used all of his Magic and Exhausted himself. All he knew was that he had made his biggest tornado ever and then he noticed the Fire. It must have been blended in from someone else.

"I just haven't got any other explanation... Maybe we should go ask one of the Rune Masters anyway? Just to hear their opinion?"

"Yeah..." Seth fidgeted some with his blanket "I'll go tomorrow..."

He was so confused. It was just impossible. He had never heard anything like it. That Roman actually considered Rune Bearers being able to have two elements. He'd done a lot of reading and he had never come across it. But he felt uncertain because he had encountered some other stuff during the last few weeks that he'd never heard of. He still wanted to believe what he'd read. Rune Bearers only handled one element. Yeah, cooperative Magic could be done, but it still needed two Rune Bearers.

He could ask around anyway. Someone must have seen something, seen who of the Fire users that had been on offence too. He hoped it hadn't been Orton...

A pair of eyes were on him, interrupting his thoughts. It was Dean. He didn't say anything even though he looked like he wanted to. His unreadable face was on too.

Seth wasn't sure where he and Dean were at, at the moment. They had had that unfiltered conversation before but they hadn't been talking a lot since. He hoped they were cool but... a lot had happened. Too much even. And seeing the difference in Dean... a lot had happened to him too.

As for now... Seth just wanted wait him out. Too many times had Seth been the one to drive him away. Just because he pressed stuff. He didn't mean to, he just wanted to know, to understand. Just to get to know him. But he had been causing Dean to retreat before. So now, he just went passive. He didn't know if it was good or bad. How Dean would react. What if his passivity would drive him away? He didn't want to think like that...

There was just so much on his mind.

Dean had his wanting-to-say-something face on even when they went to bed. Seth still didn't ask, didn't press anything. He still didn't know what to do, so he just stuck to being passive. They settled in but the uncertainty, or was it awkwardness, made them turn their backs to each other. After a while, Dean backed into him though, having Seth feel his warmth. It made him a little more at ease. Dean didn't avoid him.


"I forgot to tell you but Triple H wanted to see you", Roman said during breakfast the next morning.

"Why?" Seth asked, as he chewed on his turkey sandwich. He had wanted to take care of the academy business right away.

"Something about the Night Dweller attack?"

"... Well... I guess I did go against orders..." Seth said without too much need to think.

"You got it killed thanks to that."

Seth got Orton's voice echoing in his head. Hunters have to take orders and you can't do that. What if Triple H was suspending him or... taking him out of the Guild? What if...

"Don't give me a headache. Just go see him...!" Dean said with a mouthful of breakfast.

Seth just stared at him. He had used that expression enough times but he was still surprised by it. Did he really give him that or was it just how he phrased it? He must just have a certain thinking-face or something... It was kind of cute though, that Dean halted his thoughts like that.

"Really... no reason to bust your head for it beforehand..."

Even if he sounded harsh, Seth managed to keep the thoughts out. Dean was right. It was no use in worrying about it beforehand. Even if he was prone to it.

He didn't want to drag out on it so he left pretty immediately after having finished his food.

The Night Dweller really had done a number on the outside. The courtyard was filled with debris from the building where it had done its advance. Much was already shifted to the sides but there was still much left. And the holes in the ground created by its Magic. They were even bigger in daylight. The ground was covered in ash too. Probably what had been left of it after that Magic... The image sent a shiver down his spine. Freaky... If the Guild looked like this, he was kind of worried what waited for him in town. Dean had given him a slight image but...

He soon reached Triple H's office and just decided to grab the bull by its horns and... see what happened.

"Mr Rollins..." Triple H said as the young Rune Bearer entered. He invited him to sit in the chair and this time Seth accepted. "You went against orders during the Night Dweller attack." He really didn't waste any time.

Seth's gut dropped some even if he had already known what it was about. "Yes..."

"You were supposed to be on Healing duty and otherwise defence."

"... Yes..." What could he say? It wasn't like he could deny it. And trying to explain himself could make it worse too.

"It was an extraordinary situation and at those times it's even more important to be following orders. I'm not satisfied with that, Mr Rollins."

Oh shit...

"However... your decision produced results and you found the Rune to cancel its shields. I'm not rewarding you for it since you still went against orders but you're not sanctioned either. Consider yourself lucky this time."

Seth let out a relieved sigh. It sure could have been worse, but he was just glad he wasn't like... too angry with him. "I'm sorry... I didn't think at the moment. It was getting closer and that mist... I had to do something. And well..."

"No need to explain yourself. I understand the reasoning. You have a good, quick head on those shoulders, and you're a good Hunter. But Hunters follow orders, alright?"

"Yes..." Seth wasn't sure what he was going for. He was on about them taking orders but he still praised him? Maybe he wasn't too disappointed with him after all? But they had this protocol to be followed and he had to be having this conversation because of that? Or did he just flatter himself?

"Good we understand each other." The Guild leader didn't reveal anything about his attitude about it. "You are dismissed."

"Thank you, sir", Seth got up and turned to leave the room.

"And Seth, about your spell against the Night Dweller", Triple H said as Seth got to the door. "I suggest you go see CMP about it."

"What about it?" Should he be worried?

"I don't know. But CMP might."

Seth figured Triple H knew something he didn't. He did have a lot of intel like everywhere it seemed. But he was still wondering: "What's CMP?"

"Someone I'd rather not have to deal with. But he's a Rune Master."

He wouldn't say anything more about it. Just reading his body language and tone told Seth that he had some history with that person. And not the greatest one. Seth knew better than to try to find out more than their leader was willing to share by his own. "Thank you."

He left the office and the building and headed towards the academy to find this Rune Master. Couldn't help feeling he was glad he hadn't been suggested he would go see his own Master about it...

When he reached outside of the Guild building, he could see what Dean had meant; houses were severely damaged, the streets cracked and stuff everywhere. But at the same time there were a lot of people around, doing cleaning and preparations to repair. So it was kind of nice to see people joining together and helping each other out. It was sad about the plaza though. It had been a nice spot... He stopped and just watched for a while. There were wagons of all different sizes out where people sorted rubble on. In one they put wooden pieces, stones and concrete stuff in another. Metal in a third and so on. That was good. Maybe the things could be used again, for a new purpose. It was mostly men doing the heavy lifting but women and children did their part too, with the smaller stuff. The kids could find those things that were overlooked by the adults. He even saw dogs carrying wood pieces around. A smile went to his face. Everyone really chipped in to do their part.

He continued towards the academy, noticing that building for the most part had been spared. To his surprise he could see that Dean was leaning against one of the tree pillars. Was he waiting for someone? He walked up to him. "I didn't think you cared too much for the academy?" he said jokingly.

Dean seemed a little startled before realizing who it was and put on his nonchalant face. "And I don't." And he was back being Mr Grumpy-pants...

"Then why are you here?"

"Can't I be taking stroll?"

"Well, yeah. It just seemed like you were waiting for someone."

"No." He made his incredulous face. "Maybe I just happened to end up here."

"Where I was supposed to ask someone about my Magic?"

Dean just shrugged.

"You wanna come with?" Seth didn't think he would but he could be nice to ask anyway.

Dean didn't say anything. He pushed himself off the pillar. Seth thought he was going to leave, but he just stood there.

"You really wanna join?" Seth asked in surprise. "I mean I don't mind if you want to..."

"Whatever..."

He sure didn't make it easy for him with his uncaring response. He had been waiting. Had it been for Seth? And why? He didn't care for Magic at all. But he was just so unwilling to share anything besides his whatever mood. But he was here, supporting Seth? Maybe he should just be happy with his company.

Seth walked towards the building and Dean did indeed follow, a few steps behind. He went for the info area that was in between the library and where the Rune Masters had their quarters.

"Um... excuse me..." he started when he got up to a lady with carrot-coloured hair. She was doing some paper work but looked up with a friendly smile.

"Hi, what can I do for ya?" She had quite a broad accent, he noticed.

"I, uh, was wondering if I could see someone called CMP?"

"CMP?"

"I got the recommendation to ask him about my Magic."

"Are your Runes okay?" she looked a little concerned.

"Yeah. Yeah, nothing wrong. I just heard I could ask him about a spell."

"I see. You're probably referring to CM Punk." Didn't ring any bell. It sounded like a nickname too.

"Is he in?" Seth actually started to get a little nervous.

"Yeah, he should be. His room is down the hall, third door on the left."

"Thank you." Seth headed towards the appointed direction, Dean still in tow.

It was like he reacted the opposite to when he was about to meet their leader; his heart started beating faster as he got closer. He had no idea what to expect but he tried not having his head running ahead of him. Just trying to take things as they came this time around too. It was easier said than done, with that over-analyzing mind of his.

He counted the doors, making sure he was at the third one. There wasn't anything indicating personal rooms so he just had to go with the description. For a moment he just stood there. Just feeling nervous. He finally found himself ready enough, took a deep breath and knocked three times.

Silence. It was longer than what could be considered normal. Maybe he was out anyway? He glanced at Dean, as if he would know.

"Yeah, come in."

Not very inviting. Another calming breath and they entered.

The room was like a study, with a desk and a couple of side tables. Some shelves and a closet. Books, scrolls and notes were placed haphazardly on every flat surface, but it seemed somewhat organized anyway. Chaotically. Dean seemed to approve though, he just had that vibe about him.

Seth saw the man and immediately recognized him, though surprised. It was the same man as at the Trial; the pierced one with Runes completely covering his arms. He seemed busy, looking through a scroll. It had a lot of intricate-looking symbols.

He looked up to greet his visitors. Recognition made him shine up. "Hey, you're-" He paused as if having had a brain fart. "You're... sorry, I don't remember your name. I know you from the Trial."

"Seth. Seth Rollins."

"Seth! Yeah, that's it. Sorry, names just escape me sometimes", he reached out his hand. Seth took it but the man didn't further introduced himself. The man turned to Dean.

"And you are...?"

"Dean Ambrose."

"I don't remember you... you haven't taken the Trial have you?" He reached out his hand but Dean didn't respond to that.

"Nope. Not a mage. Warrior."

"Oooh... okay, well, that explains it."

"And you're CM Punk?" Seth said, both apologetically and tryingly.

"Just call me Punk." And a mysterious smirk.

"Right", he replied, giving a small smile.

"So, Seth, I'm assuming you're the one to visit me. Why is that? You're Wind, right? And you were under Orton, so asking him would otherwise be a first choice?"

"Well, yeah..." He wasn't sure how much to tell. Who knew how much the Masters talked about their students. "But.. uh... nevermind. I wanted to ask... You were at the Night Dweller attack, weren't you?"

"Yes, more or less every capable Rune Master was there."

"Right... I have been wondering... Do... do you know who added the Fire to my tornado?" He felt like it was a weird question. He'd been trying to formulate the question in several ways, but none seemed good enough. But now it was out anyway.

"You're the one with the tornado?" Punk got taken aback at it. For a moment he got silent just looking at him. "I don't know. Everyone else were on defence at that time..."

"That's what Roman has been telling me too. But it's impossible, right? I just know I made the tornado, but someone must have taken advantage of it. Someone must have added their Fire."

Another quite long moment of silence. What did that mean? He just couldn't have done it himself.

"I can't recall sensing attacking from more than one person. And I'm sensitive like that. Able to tell attack and defence Magic apart. I didn't see you cast and I can't sense it was you since I broke the Magic tracking vibe, but I sensed the Magic type. That Fire storm was the only attack at that point, so it must have come from the same person. And you said you made it."

"What?" He hadn't known what to expect, but he had wanted it to be in line with his own beliefs. "But... I just used Wind so what the hell happened? Where did the Fire come from?" He didn't know what he thought anymore.

"Can you tell me your version of the event?" Punk asked, calmly.

It helped Seth getting back to a more levelled state. He tried to tell him everything he remembered, as detailed as he could. About having a Re-Set and becoming unstable, the small attacks and the big one that drained him. He felt a little embarrassed telling that he caused himself the Exhaustion but shit happened, being unstable. He knew that.

"I can't believe it..." Punk mumbled, getting lost in thought as if he was doing some major analyzing in his head. The atmosphere became so much more serious and Seth found himself holding his breath. Was he ready for this?

"With what you just told me... I can't think of any other explanation. Seth. I'm positive you made that Fire tornado all by yourself. I think some Rune Bearers are capable of storing one additional element beyond their own in their Runes. Some have like... sensitive Runes that are able to pick up some other Magic."

"Additional element? Sensitive Runes? How? I have never noticed anything else than my Wind and Healing."

"I'm not sure yet, you're the only actual person I've met that has them. My theory is though that like people can be like different levels of sensitive and emotional, I think Runes can have the same natural differences. Some just have more 'sensitive' Runes that can pick up elements."

"Pick up how? I mean... where is it even stored. I don't get it. And to be able to use an element... how can I use it if I don't even know I have it?"

"I would like to see it as 'stashes'. You already have your 'Wind and Healing' stash, since your Healing essentially comes from your Wind as Healing by itself is not an element. Then you got a small stash of Fire besides that. You were unstable so you weren't able to sense it anyway. And when you used your Wind, and used it all because you were in an unstable state, you actually used up that small Fire stash, and it created that Fire storm. I'm just theorizing since, again, you're the first person I met that has done this."

Seth didn't know what to think... He picked up others' Magic and accidentally used it for his Wind? "But... where did it come from...? I picked up the vibes from the Fire Rune Bearers and like... why only then?"

"You didn't pick it up by accident. I think it was transferred to you."

"What...?"

"You said you were Re-Set, right?"

"Yes...?"

"You have your Re-Set Rune on your back so someone else Re-Set you. Who?"

Seth looked at Dean, who actually returned his gaze at the same time. To his surprise the swordsman was the one to reply. "I did."

Punk turned to him, having a look saying that he was intrigued but holding it back. "And you said you're not a Rune Bearer?"

"Not a freaking Rune anywhere."

"I can't believe it..." Punk said again. "You Re-Set him just before that attack... you don't have any Runes... I think you are... It's rare but I believe there are actually some people with no Runes that actually carry like a hidden element. They don't have any Magic since they don't have any Runes. It's like an affinity or a 'preparation' for the element that they would have if they have Runes and able to use Magic. They don't know they have it or feel it. It's just there and it can be transferred to Rune Bearers with sensitive Runes. It happens during Re-Set and therefore it can only happen to Rune Bearers that can't Re-Set themselves. The only reason the element can be transferred is the fact that they have no Runes; they can't control it. An element can't be transferred from one Rune Bearer to another because it's controlled by the Runes. Even if I wanted to give you Fire, my Runes won't release them.

We don't know how or why some people have these hidden affinities, just that they exist. Could be something with the heritage, being born from two Rune Bearers inheriting their element but not developing any Runes."

"No... no... no, it can't be..." Dean silently said, like a whisper of disbelief.

"You are the one who gave Seth the Fire. I know how crazy it sounds but with everything you both have told me and my own studies. I can't see any other explanation."

Seth stared at his team mate. He gave him the Fire...? Hidden affinity that he picked up? That Dean had...?

"No... no..." Dean slowly shook his head. He looked so scared and conflicted. "I can't have some element...! It's just... it can't be...!"

"Dean, it's okay..." Seth said and walked up to him and put his hand on his upper arm and the other around his back, holding him. He was also confused by all of this.

"It's a lot to take in, but it's nothing dangerous. You just have it there."

"I don't want to have any freaking Magic in me...!"

"You don't have any Magic per se, just this affinity."

"Well, I don't wanna have it...!" Dean was terrified by this and Seth couldn't blame him. It was just so overwhelming and considering his view on mages... And now he got the news he had some sleeping Fire in him...?

"I don't think it's something we can do anything about, it's just there and you don't need to worry about it. The only thing that is, that when you Re-Set Seth here, it seems that you can transfer that to him. If you wouldn't mind, I would be interested in learning more about it from you two-"

"Like hell I'm gonna be your fucking guinea pig!" Dean released himself from Seth. He looked at him. Having those sad conflicted eyes, as if looking at Seth gave him a painful flow of difficult emotions. "I... I can't do it..." He quickly went for the door. Seth tried calling after him but he left without heeding his words. Poor Dean... He already had so many things going and now this. Well, it was overwhelming for Seth too...

"I think I'm missing something here?" Punk said, carefully confused.

"Well... Dean is... not quite comfortable with Rune Bearers..." Seth had no idea what to say about it.

"I just assumed you were partners in this since you came here together."

"We are on the same team and all, but... we're still kinda... new."

"But he Re-Set you?"

"Yeah..." Seth felt shy admitting it because it was such a special experience with him.

"Has he done it before or was this the first time?"

"It's been a handful. Like... five times."

"Have you experienced his Fire before?"

"Not that I know of. I mean yeah... I've been feeling like more... efficient but... nothing like another element."

"You may have had it hidden before, but because you Exhausted yourself..."

"I used everything, including the Fire." Seth nodded, yes he remembered.

"Since you don't know you have it, my guess is that you can't access it as you are. But... I was serious about my offer to you two, before he got upset; I'm interested in observing you if you were interested in learning more about your element and your... connection like so. I mean it's rare that two of these people meet; one with sensitive Runes and one Runeless with hidden affinity. I could help you access the Fire and help you use it. It would help you and I would know more about this phenomenon."

"I'm with Dean though, I don't wanna be your guinea pig", but he was still quietly intrigued by it; to be a Rune Bearer that was able to use two elements. So he was still curious as well as not wanting to go against Dean. It was still so much to take in. He had made that Fire storm. And it was thanks to Dean...? He thought his Re-Sets were special but for them to be special in that sense he could use another type of Magic? Did it happen all the time or did it happen randomly? He had never sensed anything weird... But if it happened randomly he thanked all the lucky stars it had happened during the Night Dweller attack since it was defeated thanks to it.

It sounded all so logical but impossible at the same time. There was so much new information and nothing he had been reading about. And he thought he was smart... knowledgeable. But so many times already he'd been cornered with stuff he didn't know anything about. So much for all his reading...

"I appreciate your view on it", Punk said. "I'm only offering and asking you to think about it. But Seth... what you two did was amazing. Even if the spell was more of an accident. You still made it and it's an amazing feat."


Runes that could pick up an additional element. He was the one that had engulfed the Night Dweller in that Fire storm. A Wind user that had added Fire. It couldn't be possible. But it had been true. According to Punk. But he was a Rune Master and he knew stuff, more than them anyway. It was a lot to take in, a lot to try to digest.

The Night Dweller had been terrifying. It had even killed people. And a dog.

His body instantly went cold. He just realized he hadn't given his family one thought during this whole Night Dweller episode. Were they okay? He profoundly hoped they were. If they weren't... What if they were hurt... what if-?

He felt awful. Why hadn't he thought about them earlier? They were his family. It had been so much, but that wasn't an excuse for not having thought about his own family once. They had to be okay...

He rushed home. His guilty conscience lifted a tiny bit seeing that the house was undamaged at least.

"Mom? Dad?" he called out as he opened the door.

"Seth?" his mother called out. Seth felt another small stone fell from his shoulders. He found her in the kitchen. She looked unharmed.

"Seth..." she repeated with a mix of emotions; first disbelief but then relief.

"Mom, are you alright? Where's dad? Where's Keith?" He quickly got up to her, sitting down on his knees on the floor by her side.

"I'm fine, your father and brother too. They're just out right now."

Seth let out a breath. Thank goodness...

"Are you okay? Were you hurt?"

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt. Mom, I'm sorry I didn't come home earlier and that-" He got interrupted by the door.

"Honey, Seth's here!" his mother called out immediately, having both his father and brother join them without even taking off their outer clothes.

"Seth", his brother called and got up to him in two strides, giving him a tight hug. Seth relaxed some. Keith was okay. He returned the hug, just feeling glad they were unharmed. "Are you okay? We were so worried. Why didn't you contact us earlier?" He released him, just looking him over, placing his hands on each side of his head, stroking his hair down.

Seth just returned his look. "I'm fine. … I'm sorry I didn't get home earlier. I would have, but I couldn't... I... I got Exhausted."

"What?" it was his father.

"During the attack. I was on Healing duty but then I needed a Re-Set and got unstable. Someone was about to get hurt and I cast my Magic... Exhausted myself. But the Night Dweller was defeated and I'm okay now."

The room fell into an awful deadly silence. Seth just looked at them. Why wouldn't they say anything? His mother looked terrified, his brother shocked. He wasn't sure about his father. He looked... angry?

"Exhausted? In a fight? You realize how dangerous that is? What were you thinking? Even Re-Setting mid-battle is risky, how could you even consider that!?" He raised his voice.

"I was low after all the Healing-"

"You should have stayed out of it! Something like that is not for a newly approved Rune Bearer like you! You could've been killed!"

"But I wasn't...! I was on medic duty but the Night Dweller invaded the Guild. We were all targeted. If it hadn't been for me, we would've-"

"I don't want to hear it! You went into battle, you could have been killed. And you get yourself Exhausted? How could you be so irresponsible and stupid!? What kind of Hunters are you with anyway?"

That was a kick to his gut. He got the worst conscience ever for them but now he got accused for shit for it? And he even dared insinuating his partners were bad people?

"They protected me!" He snapped. "They are the best team I could ever have! They have taken me in and they make sure I'm safe! And Dean is...! Dean is...!" He stopped himself, this wasn't what it was about. "If it weren't for me, we wouldn't stand here now! I'm sorry I didn't come here earlier but I couldn't! I was worried about you! I came here as soon as I could.

I'm a Hunter and it's my duty to keep you safe, to keep everyone safe! I risk my life for you and you just give me shit for it!? I care about you, and want to protect you by being a Hunter. I don't expect you to thank me. I just want some support okay?" He was so fed up... seeing their true colours like this. He really had hoped it wasn't like that. "I don't expect you to be proud of me, but at least accept and respect what I do.

I'm glad you're okay."

And with that he left. A thought of realization that maybe this was the reason why he hadn't been thinking about them until now. Remembering all the stuff before the Trial and after... how they had so little faith in him.

"Seth... Seth wait...!" Keith called as the little brother stomped down the path from the house.

He did. Didn't know why but he waited.

"Seth..." Keith stopped a couple of steps behind him. "He didn't mean that... what he said."

"Then why has he never acknowledged my abilities? My choices? He's changed. Ever since I got into the hearing about the unapproved Magic, my Trial... becoming a Hunter... He just... stopped believing in me. Even mom... I thought they were proud of me. But they were only proud of my Healing. Wind was a letdown. I know the rest of the family dislikes Wind. I had just hoped my own family would see it differently..."

"They're just worried about you."

"They sure have a sucky way of showing it then."

His brother wasn't there. He hadn't seen or heard how it had been. Had never been. He'd moved out before Seth got his Runes, so he had never been there during any of this.

"You know I'm proud of you, right?"

Seth turned and faced him. In his state, he didn't want to believe him. He'd never been there, he didn't know anything. He hadn't seen the crap he'd been through since he got the Runes. Hearing the shit and opinions. But looking at him. He knew he was sincere. His brother had always been there for him. Threatening bullies, picking him up when he fell and hurt himself, letting him sleep in his bed when Seth had a nightmare, teaching him stuff, protecting him. Yeah, he had moved out and hadn't been there because of that. But he had "always been there".

"I was so happy for you when you got your Runes. I know I've been busy working, but I really was. When I heard you got approved and taken in by the Guild. I had never been prouder of you. You're strong, going out there to defend our people like you do. I could never do that. That's why I'm just a medic at the hospital. And I don't even have your Healing. I'm just a regular doctor. But you defend people pro-actively. I am proud of you, li'l-bro."

That was a name he hadn't heard in ages. He hadn't had contact with his brother for so long, he had almost forgotten about that. A smile crept up on his lips. He still had his brother's support. Keith came up to him, giving him another tight, secure hug. "They're just worried about you. They are proud of you. They just... don't know how to show it."

Seth doubted that. But he appreciated his brother's way of trying to make things better.

"I... I need to go..." Seth said, escaping Keith's arms.

"Okay. I'm glad to see you safe. Come visit me sometime, okay?"

With being reminded of his support, Seth figured he might actually do that. It had been too long since they got together, like for real. At least a couple of years. His brother had always been busy, ever since he went to medical school and then after. Counting those years too, then... it was way too long ago since he'd just been able to hang out.

"I'll talk to mom and dad."

"Don't bother..."

He just smiled at that. For some reason Seth got a quick thought to Roman and his smiles. Maybe it was a big brother thing? "Stay safe."

"You too", Seth turned and left him. It hadn't turned out as planned but his family was safe so that bad conscience got lifted. Too bad they, or especially his father, were so anti about his choices. But he was glad his brother had been there. He'd been so genuine and he was glad that that was real and not anything he had been imagining too.

So yeah, they were worried about him... just wished they showed it in a better way... He kind of got it though; it couldn't be nice getting the news that their son had been Exhausted on the battlefield. And thinking about it, he guessed he hadn't contacted them since he had been taken in as a Hunter and started living with Dean and Roman... So in a sense maybe he had given them reason to worry considering his line of work... But he had good people around him. He was okay. They kept him safe.

He could deal with that later, they were okay and that was what he had come for.

But right now, he just needed to talk to Dean...


Author's Note: For those who noticed, Dean's "annoying uncontrollable need to keep Seth safe" was inspired by a quote in "Blinded Angel" by DaneAmbros (AO3). Because I just figured it was really adorable x'3