Gokudera's mouth gapes open as his eyes remain wide at the sudden appearance of the dark skinned woman. He tries several times to formulate words but he can't as he just stares at the woman who is dressed in tight leather pants that stop just below the knees, a sleeveless leather shirt and leather hunting boots. She looks down at Gokudera with fire colored eyes that have silted pupils.
"Well?"
Gokudera realizes that he has been unconsciously staring at Fallows breasts and his eyes move up to meet hers. His face heats up as Fallow looks coldly at him.
"N-Nice to meet you…"
Fallow sighs and looks down at Phoenix.
"You stupid girl." She looks back at Gokudera. "Are you just going to sit there while she lies unconscious?"
"S-Shit!" Gokudera quickly gets up and rushes over to Phoenix's side. "Damn it. I told her not to do anything that would hurt her."
He holds up Phoenix's head and checks to see if she's hurt anywhere from the fall, stiffening slightly as Fallow kneels down and places a hand over Phoenix's head.
"There is no concussion. She will be fine."
Fallow pulls back as Gokudera settles Aydan's head on his lap. He glares at Fallow.
"Why is she unconscious? What is the exchange she has to make for you to reveal your true form?"
"Exchange?"
Fallow tilts her head to the side, looking distinctly bird like as she does so.
"Is there some form of payment, I suppose you can say." The silver-haired teen looks down at Phoenix and strokes her hair. "Is her being unconscious the only outcome of you being in your true form?"
"This body is not my true form. We are in a small elevator, if I were to be in my true form you both would die. But in answer to your question, no. That is not the payment. The payment is her emotions. "Her…emotions?" Gokudera's eyes narrow, thinking that Fallow was the reason Phoenix had been able to forfeit her emotions. "Explain."
"My flames need emotion to burn. Strong emotion. Pain, anger, love. I take those feelings. I feed one them one might say."
"So…I take it you're feeding off her anger."
"And her pain. She has quite a lot. If I wished it, I could remain as you see me for many moons."
"What…What do you mean?"
"Aydan Annabella Lynch, the Child of Flame and Sky and Sound, will not wake until I decide to leave."
Gokudera's eyes widen and go down to the unconscious girl in his lap.
"You wouldn't do that though…right? I mean phoenixes are always friendly in the myths and stories I've read so you wouldn't do that."
Fallow shrugs and sits cross-legged across from Gokudera, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Phoenixes are as wild as any other. We are hunters Young One. We just find humans amusing and so do not harm them."
"So…you wouldn't stay out here for a long time…right?"
"It depends on the situation. As in this situation I will not be leaving so soon."
Gokudera's jaw clenches and he picks up Phoenix, hugging her to his chest as he carries her back into their room. He lays her down on the couch gently and kisses her forehead before turning to go back to Fallow only to find that she had followed him.
"How did you come to be within her? Did she forge a contract with you on her own?"
"No. Her family made the contract. A long time ago…" Fallow trials off as she sees the balcony and crosses to it, climbing on the railing. "It is times like these that I miss my wings."
Gokudera sighs and follows her to the balcony.
"Where are they?"
"I gave them up for the future. I gave them to the child I would pick" Fallow jumps down and walks back into the room, stopping at the couch and staring down at Phoenix. "I gave them to her."
Gokudera glances back at Phoenix.
"I hope you mean that figuratively…" He laughs nervously. "I would know if she had wings or not, ya know."
"I have given my wings to a child and she chooses a fool." Fallow sighs and touches her finger to Gokudera's forehead, a small flame blossoms at her fingertip and images of different people flash through Gokudera's mind. Gokudera's eyes take on a blank look as the images are fed into his mind. The people are all fighting and they all have a slight shimmer behind them.
"These are the Children of Flame and Sound. These are those who have hosted the Children of the Sky. Do you not see their wings?"
"The light…they're…wings?" Gokudera looks closer at the shimmer behind the people and stars to see the shapes of them. Some were small, others large. Some looked like angles wings and others like bats. They moves almost independently from the people, but still the people used them as shields and weapons. Fallow smiles and pulls her hand away, Gokudera's eyes come back into focus and he looks at Aydan. "Dio mio. La mia piccolo fenice…"
"So you can see them. Can you see hers?"
Gokudera smiles sadly and shakes his head.
"No, I can't. But I know she's special."
"You cannot see them because she is not special. Not yet. She must first learn to control my flame, to bend it to her will. And she will need you."
"She is special. Just because she can't control your flames doesn't mean she's not special. I'll give her all the support she needs. Because I know she can do it."
"Even if it means losing her?"
Gokudera freezes.
"What are you implying?"
His jaw clenches as the silver-haired teen glares at Fallow.
"You say she is not, to use her terms, "messed up" but you could not be more wrong. You think the body is scarred? These physical scars pale in comparison to the ones on her soul. She may not survive her trial."
"But that's not her fault! It's not like she chose to be scarred. What does this…'trial' consist of anyway?"
"I do not know. No one knows. But there will be a trial and she may not survive it. Will you still support her, know what is coming?"
"Of course I will. But I won't let her go through with it. Why does she have to do this? She's already a strong fighter. She doesn't need your flames…right?"
"I am bonded to her Young One. If she cannot control them, they will kill her."
Gokudera's heart speeds up and he drops down on the couch next to Phoenix.
"No…that's not…if she can't survive the trail then she'll die anyway! So what's the point!" He bites his lip and looks back at Fallow. "How can she get rid of the scars on her soul?"
"She cannot."
Gokudera feels a sense of hopelessness overcome him.
"Then how can she ever have a chance of surviving."
"You."
Gokudera blinks in surprise.
"Me?"
"You. Do you know why I chose Aydan to host me?"
"No…Why did you?"
"Because her soul sings, as my brethren once did. I am one of three left of our kind and we cannot breed as we have given up our bodies." Gokudera's breath catches at the overwhelming sadness in Fallows voice but before he can say anything she begins to speak again. "Anyway, for the last few weeks Aydan's soul has been singing your name."
Gokudera feels confused and he knows that his face is mirroring his emotions.
"I don't…I don't understand."
"Aydan loves you. Her soul has been singing your name. And it is healing."
Gokudera feels himself smile slightly at the news.
"Will it be completely healed by the time she has to go through the trial?"
"I do not know. That is up to you."
"How?"
"By allowing that which you do not want."
Gokudera feels his anger rising.
"Oh stop with the riddles woman. What do you mean! If I allow something that I do not want, that would just be…nonsensical."
"You must allow her to go her own way. Love her as you have and her soul will heal. But come time for the trial, you must allow her to go her own way."
"But…What if she…no. I can't. If she purposely puts herself in danger, I just…I can't let her do it!"
"If you want her to survive. You will have to. The trials must be taken alone. Even I am not allowed to be a part of it."
A worries expression appears on Gokudera's face.
"Is there really no other way?"
"There is not. Will you be able to walk away?"
Gokudera looks away from Fallows flame-like eyes and to Phoenix.
"No. I can't just leave her." He takes a deep breath and turns back to Fallow. "But if it'll help…then I guess I'll have to learn."
"Loyal and stubborn…an interesting choice for her." Fallow looks down at Phoenix. "I should not be out for much longer"
"What do you mean 'interesting'! I'm the best choice she could ever make!"
Gokudera smirks to himself but Fallow is not listening.
"Trust her Hayato Gokudera. No matter the choice, trust her." Fallow lights her hand and places it against Phoenix's chest. "Trust her."
The fire engulfs Fallow and disappears into Phoenix's body.