In response to an anonymous reviewer way back when: Thanks for reviewing and sharing that information about the title. I would like to point out though, that Google Translate isn't always the best thing to use (that said, it is my go to choice for translations), but it does allow for different translations of the same word to be used. Also, I haven't found any of the various ways to translate Somnium Visum to be unfitting for the story. Whether you translate it as "Dream Sight", "Sight of the Sleeper", "Dream Vision", any other variations of that, or what you had used ("It Seemed a Dream") all are valid for this story. I do admit that I did not look at the various forms of the words, but as I was looking for the individual translations of "Dream" and "Sight" then I chose translations based on how they sounded. So yes, it may not make sense to someone fluent in Latin, but I'm not and I chose something I was happy with.

In response to a handful of messages that I received wherein it pointed out how long it has been since I have updated and did so rather rudely, I would like to say to EVERYONE that there's nothing wrong with sending a polite message to an author asking about the state of a fic, but you should also be conscious of your wording. Rude messages and/or guilt trips aren't well received and are more likely to make an author wonder why they even bother when someone tries to make them feel obligated to post and takes away the enjoyment of a hobby. Speaking personally, I write fanfiction to help improve my writing in general, to entertain myself, and as a form of stress relief, so feeling like I'm being berated because something more important than writing fanfiction has come up and needs my attention makes me more likely to delete the story and stop sharing it with all of you. Please remember that it doesn't take much to spoil something for everyone.

And for the people who sent said messages, I am not trying to make you feel attacked in any way and I do appreciate the sentiment intended, I just would have preferred that you had phrased things better. For those of you who apologized when this was pointed out to you, thank you again for your apologies.

With that all out of the way, Alex refers to a prior event in this chapter. Check my profile for the link to it if you're interested (it would also be a large part of why I took so long).

I hope everyone enjoys the chapter.

chapter 9 - Similarities

"I wonder what they're talking about," Eagle murmured, watching the pair of blonds from where he was still sat on the counter. "Cub looks upset."

Wolf shrugged, absently watching Fox finish cooking the forgotten breakfast food. "Snake will tell us if it's important."

"You're really going to just leave it at that?"

"Yes. I don't want to make Cub trust us any less than he currently does."

Fox glanced at him. "Did you hear how many times he woke?" He shook his head. "I wonder what happened to him to cause so many nightmares."

Wolf grunted. "I was outside most of the night, but I'll take your word for it. I came in around 0300 and he was in here, staring at the table like it had sprouted wings."

Eagle sniggered. "Remember that time Snake was sick and it did?" He just shrugged at the bland looks aimed at him. "Like I can help what I think of."

Fox switched the stove off. "Looks like they'll be in soon," he said, nodding out the window, drawing attention to the blonds.

"...So, who's turn was it this time?" Wolf asked in reference to the expression pulling at Snake's features.

Eagle stuck his tongue out at the smirk and thumb Fox aimed at him. Yeah, he was not looking forward to needing to dodge spellfire for an hour. For being a Healing aspect mage, the Scottish man was surprisingly vicious when something had roused his anger.

"Wonder what Cub said," Fox mused, watching as the pair turned to head back inside.

"Nothing good," was the team leader's grim response.

"You realize the others will want to know what we talked about?"

Alex snorted. "If they can get up the courage to ask. You look like you're about to make another of your odd little bombs."

Snake shot a queer look at the teen. "Bombs?"

"Yeah. I remember this one time you set something small that completely messed up another unit's hut after they had been giving you all shit over me." Alex actually laughed, some of the bitterness he had carried for almost a year still present, but faded from how it would have been even two days ago. "I don't know if it was what they had been saying or that one of them had actually hit me that pissed you all off, but it ended up getting him binned since it was his stuff all over. Not that he was much of a loss, he'd have gotten someone killed."

"A soldier hit a child?" Snake demanded, stopping short in surprise.

"Well, to be fair, it was kind of my fault." Alex turned to face him. "I have a habit of mouthing off at people and it usually does get me hit. Or shot at." He shrugged.

"C- Alex, stop being flippant and explain. Please." He could not believe how different the two boys were. But then, there were times that it was like they were the same - like that same crooked smile when he knew he was aggravating you. Which he was wearing right now.

"Which part?"

"You were hit? And none of us stopped it?"

Alex shrugged. "It's not like any of you were there to stop it. I always tried to shower alone and he cornered me, said some stupid crap and I told him off. By that point I was just getting fed up with everything. And before you ask, no, I really didn't do it with you four because I knew that a) I had to sleep in the same room as you and b) even though you didn't like me, you wouldn't actually hurt me. Admittedly, that's a bit hard to remember when you're in the middle of being intimidated, but..." He shrugged again. "Anyway, I got back to the cabin and I think Fox noticed how I was moving first. He didn't really hit me, he kind of pushed me and I hit the sinks. It had bruised pretty well by the next morning and you all spotted it when I was changing. That led to everything else. I still got crap from all of you, but everyone else quit trying to do anything except say shit."

Snake sighed. "And the rest?"

Alex pursed his lips and looked down, trying to figure out how to word it. "Being a spy sucks," was what he settled on. "It's why I now know that he would have gotten someone killed. I'm not sure how he got into selection in the first place."

"And being shot at?"

Alex scowled, muttering, "Didn't we already cover this?" before speaking at a normal volume. "Spy."

Snake sighed, dragging hand over his face. "That really doesn't explain anything."

The teen shrugged, that same smirk settling on his lips again. He turned and walked into the house, the other blond at his heels.

"You are one of the most exasperating people I have ever talked with," Snake grumbled, though his lips turned up in a smile at the laugh it drew out of the boy.

It wasn't until later, when Eagle and Fox had coerced Alex into going outside with them, that Wolf was able to speak with Snake.

"So?"

The mage sighed, setting down the book in his hands, and looked up at the team leader. "Hm?"

"What had you so angry?"

Quickly tamping down the flash of surprise, Snake felt his lips twist in displeasure. "A soldier hit him. Well, he claims that he was only pushed, but that doesn't change the fact that Cub was bruised enough to raise all of our ire - mine enough so as to get the soldier in question thrown out." He peered at the werewolf. "I'm surprised you aren't asking me to tell you everything."

Wolf snorted. "As much as I might like to and it would make things easier, I'm not going to hurt that kid's trust anymore than it already has been. So long as he's talking to one of us, I can wait for him to come to me."

"Unless it gets someone hurt," Snake added.

"Unless it gets one of us, especially him, hurt," Wolf corrected.

Snake nodded, reaching for his book again. "What are they doing out there anyway?"

"Playing hide and seek."

"Eagle's idea?"

"Of course."

They shared an amused look before shaking their heads and Wolf turned to leave the room.

::Snake?::

::Yes, Fox?::

::Can you and Wolf come out here? We lost Cub.::

"How could you lose Cub?" Snake demanded, not realizing he had said that out loud.

Wolf appeared on the stairs again, having heard Snake.

::I'm not quite sure. Apparently this one is a lot better at hiding than the one we're used to. I don't know if he's downwind or found something to camouflage his scent in or what, but I can't smell him.::

::We're on our way.:: was the last Snake had to say before heading out the door, filling Wolf in while they walked.

Upon meeting up with the demon and vampire, Wolf growled at them, literally growled, before demanding to know where they had already looked and if they had bothered calling out for him.

Knowing that an argument was about to break out (and would most likely turn into something physical), Snake stepped between them and spoke rationally. "Don't you think it's best to find Cub first? You can argue and blame each other later."

That effectively stopped the altercation but even with the addition of Wolf's senses and Snake's magic, it still took the unit another twenty minutes to find Alex, and when they did, they found him sleeping peacefully under a tree.

"We're not waking him," Fox declared before anyone could say anything.

Wolf nodded, moving forward to gently gather the teen into his arms.

Alex stirred, brown eyes slitting open as he looked up. "Wolf?" he slurred, quite clearly nowhere near awake.

Wolf smiled slightly. "We're going back to the house. Go back to sleep."

Alex frowned, peering around the darker male's broad shoulders. Seeing the others, he shrugged and went to stand. He yelped in surprise when Wolf stood, arms still around his shoulders and under his knees. "I can walk!" he protested, grabbing onto Wolf's shoulders with the arm that wasn't stuck between their bodies.

"I'm not going to drop you."

Alex flushed, dropping his gaze to his knees. Not only was he being carried like he was a girl, but he could also feel the laughter vibrating in Wolf's chest. "If you're just gonna laugh at me, you can put me down."

Wolf sighed softly. "I'm not laughing at you. Werewolves use a low rumble as a way to comfort or relax packmates and cubs."

Alex blinked. "Oh... That isn't something I've ever heard before." He felt Wolf's arms and shoulders twitch in a shrug.

"It's fine Cub. Not many know about it in the first place. Now, put your head down and try to get some more sleep."

"I don't need a nap."

Eagle laughed. "Sure you don't. I take it that's why we didn't find you asleep under a tree."

"You didn't get much sleep last night either. Take what rest you can," Fox pitched in.

Alex frowned in consideration, thinking over how the men were, and had been, toward him as well as what was different and the same with the men he had trained with. Without realizing it, his head drifted down to Wolf's shoulder as he dozed off, perfectly content and feeling safe.