NOTE: Well...another chapter that got way out of hand! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-two

"Where's Golden Eyes?"

"He has a name, Mozzie, and I'd appreciate it if you'd use it."

"No promises." Mozzie said flatly.

"Mozzie..."

"Okay, fine. Where's Peter?"

"He's probably sleeping."

"Sleeping? It's almost ten."

"And until recently he was almost dead, so cut him some slack."

Neal gave Mozzie a look that told him if he said 'no promises' again it might lead to physical violence. Mozzie put his hands up slightly in surrender. Neal had thought that Mozzie was getting more used to Peter, but realized it was too much to hope for to already have a proper truce between them. Neal had been reading on the couch when Mozzie had let himself in through the slightly open door. Stepping inside Mozzie closed the door firmly.

"Don't do that, leave it open." Neal said. "It let's Peter know he can come in."

"I figured as much, which is why I closed it."

"Mozzie..." Neal growled again.

"Just for a few minutes." Mozzie assured. "We need a touch of privacy for a moment."

"Why?"

Mozzie didn't answer he just went over to the kitchen table where Neal had his laptop. He had a shoulder bag with him which he pulled out another laptop from. He opened both and started running some program on them. Neal joined Mozzie who was busy typing into a word document on the new laptop.

"'The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.'" Neal read the screen. "Mozzie what are you doing?"

"Testing something, this sentence uses every letter in the alphabet."

"Is this laptop for Peter?"

"It is." Mozzie confirmed. "Okay, let's see if worked."

Neal didn't bother asking what Mozzie was talking about. Turning to Neal's computer Mozzie opened up a program that Neal wasn't familiar with. It didn't surprise him, Mozzie was constantly downloading things onto his computer. Neal basically just used the laptop to surf the web and as a glorified typewriter. Mozzie clicked on a menu selection on the program and it brought up a window that looked like a screen capture of Peter's screen with a blank word document open on it. Mozzie hit a small 'play' icon at the bottom and on the screen capture of the word document and the test sentence appeared as though it was being typed.

"Perfect." Mozzie beamed with pride.

"Mozzie, what is this?"

"I installed some stuff that will record everything that happens on this laptop so that you can review it, it will also allow you access to view the screen in real time."

"No." Neal said firmly. "I don't need to spy on Peter's computer. Take it off."

"You don't have to use it if you don't want, but I'm leaving it on here."

"And if he finds it? I barely have his trust as it is."

"He's not going to find it, everything on your side is password protected, and there is no trace of the software on his end. He can turn this thing inside out and reformat it, it won't matter since it works on a hardware chip. If he takes the laptop apart physically it just looks like it's part of the video card."

"Mozzie..."

Neal gave in before bothering with a proper argument. Past experience had proven to him that there was no real point in it, Mozzie wasn't going to remove the chip. Getting to his feet Neal went over to the door and opened it slightly again. Peter tended to spend a majority of his waking hours in Neal's apartment giving Neal the impression that he didn't like being alone. He needed his dressing changed and antibiotics in the morning, but he rarely just returned to his side of the hall way afterward. It had been two days since Neal's promise to him and in that time he seemed to have relaxed considerably. He still flinched if Neal moved too quickly but Neal reasoned that instinct might take months if not years to fade.

Neal went back over to where Mozzie was still playing with the 'spy ware'. Reaching over Neal shut the laptop screen on Mozzie in silent disapproval. Rolling his eyes Mozzie got to his feet and went into the kitchen to raid the wine selection. Picking out a white from the fridge he held it up in offer to Neal as well who declined feeling it was a little early to start drinking. Mozzie looked like he was about to say something when there was a light knock at the door.

"Come in." Neal called out.

Peter stepped into the room with his hair still damp from a shower and his shirt held close to his chest. Spotting Mozzie in the kitchen Peter automatically took a step back holding his shirt tighter. Neal smiled in hopes of easing Peter's discomfort around Mozzie, but having dropped his gaze to the floor Peter didn't see the gesture.

"I'm sorry," Peter said quietly "I will come back later."

"No, Peter, you can't leave your back exposed to the air for too long. If the wounds dry out it is really going to set back your healing." Neal warned. "Come on, I'll be quick, I'm kind of getting skilled at the whole dressing change thing."

Peter glanced nervously at Mozzie and stayed glued to his place in the door way. Neal hadn't thought that Peter still feared Mozzie to this degree, but then he suddenly realized that what was probably bothering him was the idea of Mozzie seeing his wounds. He had been so secretive about his injuries in the beginning that it had nearly cost him his life. Neal was about to offer to come over to Peter's side of the house to do the treatment in private when Peter sighed heavily and stepped inside.

Peter went out of his way to keep as much distance between himself and Mozzie as possible on his way to the kitchen table, but he still had to pass through Mozzie's line of sight with his back turned to him near the end of the journey. Neal had already gotten to his feet and turned the chair on the far side of the table around so that Peter could sit down. Neal kept a careful watch on Mozzie's expression when he caught sight of Peter's tattered shoulders. As much as he knew it was hard on Peter he felt it might be good for Mozzie to see how Peter was a victim and certainly didn't deserve to be collared.

Seeing the full extent of the damage physically dropped Mozzie's jaw slightly and raised his eyebrows in shock at the sheer cruelty behind the multiple beatings. Mozzie had seen Peter while he was critically ill, but he'd never actually seen the angry wounds or the other scars that Peter wore. Peter sat down in the backwards chair and resting his hands on the back of it he just stared blankly at them. Looking a little wide eyed Mozzie looked up at Neal in horror. Standing behind Peter Neal just glared at Mozzie, he didn't often wish ill will on his friend, but he wanted some consequence to Mozzie's harsh attitude towards the Animula.

Mozzie furrowed his brow and rubbed at the back of his own neck. Figuring that it was the unusual scar across the back of Peter's neck that Mozzie was wondering about Neal reached up and wrapped his hand around his throat to signify to him that it had been a collar that had burned that mark there. Neal wasn't exactly sure what Mozzie's reaction was going to be, it wouldn't have surprised him if he had just quietly excused himself and left. Instead Mozzie put down his glass of wine and stepped forward to take a seat across the table from Peter. Continuing to stare at his own hands Peter didn't acknowledge Mozzie.

"I...uh..." Mozzie hesitated "I was raised in an orphanage...abandoned there as a baby."

It was Neal's turn to be surprised, he had known Mozzie for years before he'd felt comfortable enough to share his past. Peter was just confused as he brought his eyes back into focus to look up at Mozzie in mild confusion.

"I was short, quiet, and weird, not to mention heavily picked on by the others...so not much as changed."

Mozzie chuckled uncomfortably, but Peter just continued to stare at him, unsure why he was being told this story. Neal kept quiet, he wasn't anymore sure why Mozzie was sharing the story or where it was headed.

"Anyway," Mozzie continued "when I was nine an orphanage across the city got shut down, and several of the kids from there got transferred to mine. The only thing harder than being a life long resident of an orphanage is to be 'fresh fish' in a new one. There was one boy in particular, Ethan, that didn't fit in well even by 'fresh fish' standards. He was two years older than I was, and nearly twice my height although he was considerably more lanky. From that first day Ethan was even more of an outcast that I was. He was oddly calm and quiet, never smiled or cried, in fact he only spoke when spoken to and then answered in as few words as possible."

Neal found himself holding his breath as he listened to Mozzie's story, fearing it was going to end in tragedy of some description. In all the years he'd known him Mozzie hadn't once mentioned anyone name Ethan, or really any one in particular from his childhood. Mozzie had more of Peter's attention now as well.

"The other kids teased and bullied him at first because he was different, but they gave up because he never really reacted to any of it. I admired his pacifist solution, it wasn't one I'd tried before so I starting hanging out near him and although he didn't exactly welcome me he didn't protest my presence either. It meant a lot to me to have someone older that didn't mind having me around, and the other kids started leaving me alone." Mozzie paused for a moment, a faint smile touched his lips at the memory. "For two years we were basically inseparable, I'm not sure anyone else would have categorized what we had as a true friendship, we didn't really talk, he wasn't interested in playing any games, we stuck together mostly out of a 'strength in numbers' philosophy. He never even called me by name, but he was there for me more than any of the other kids were."

"Until he went gold." Peter said quietly.

"That's right." Mozzie nodded solemnly.

"Ethan was Animula?" Neal asked in surprise.

"He was, and he didn't just 'go gold' he went insane." Mozzie said darkly. "Ethan had started getting restless, for two days he just paced around the play yard during the day and his room at night. One morning he didn't come down for breakfast and I was sent to bring him downstairs..."

Mozzie stopped, uncomfortable with the conclusion of a story he hadn't shared with anyone. Peter looked like he was getting a little restless himself as he shifted his weight in his chair and nearly got to his feet before thinking better of it. Neal had never heard of any Animula being raised outside the Market, the Market paid for all testing and the payments they offered to anyone with an Animula were large enough to entice anyone. Particularly considering that it wasn't legal to keep an unregistered Animula even if it was technically your own. They weren't considered human and therefore they couldn't be considered family.

"What happened? Please..." Peter pressed when Mozzie didn't continue.

"...I found Ethan in the bathroom, crying. I'd never seen him shed a single tear before. He looked up at me and I gasped at the gold rings around his eyes. I had been told stories of Animula from the older kids, they were talked about like monsters to scare us, soulless creatures that would steal your soul for their own, demons that had signed a deal with the rich and powerful."

"I've heard those same stories." Peter said bitterly. "Believe me I never signed up for any of this."

"Ethan must have been terrified to learn what he was." Neal said sympathetically.

"Terrified or not he took one look at me and he launched himself at me."

"He attacked you?" Peter asked in disbelief.

"He almost killed me." Mozzie whispered in horror as he recalled the memory. "He was so much stronger than I was. By the time help arrived Ethan had fractured my face in four places, broken my shoulder, my wrist, and cracked six of my ribs. I had always considered him my friend and without a word he tried to murder me. In the end Mr. Jeffries had to knock him unconscious to get him to stop."

"What happened to him?" Peter asked.

"What else? The Market came and took him away." Mozzie sighed. "All my life I've just assumed that Animula are just that: animals. I thought he'd turned on me because it was his nature. However as Neal already pointed out he was probably terrified and seeing how you've been treated he had every right to be. I don't say this often...but, I'm sorry. I was worried about Neal, I didn't think he was going to be a strong Master and that you'd quickly become out of control the way Ethan did and try to hurt him. But if you didn't try to kill whoever was beating you like that, you certainly aren't going to hurt Neal."

"You're wrong." Peter sighed.

"What?" Mozzie asked confused.

"I did see Neal as a weak Master, and I did try to kill him."

Mozzie looked up sharply at Neal who self consciously rubbed the fading bruise across his throat.

"Peter, you attacked me after a life time of being pushed and tortured while you had a fever that would scramble anyone's thinking and besides you didn't kill me even though you could have." Neal pointed out. "I don't think the actions of a terrified boy and a heavily abused and delusional man can be used as an argument that Animula are somehow inherently dangerous. Human have far more to fear from each other than from any Animula."

"And I get the sense that you wouldn't have feared Neal so much if I hadn't mentioned collaring you...I didn't really know how they worked." Mozzie added sheepishly. "Again, I'm sorry, no one deserves to be tortured like that."

Peter nodded in acceptance of the apology, but he had become mostly lost in thought and his eyes lost some of their focus again. Mozzie became uncomfortable again. Neal knew how hard it must have been for him to share the story and he appreciated it. Knowing Mozzie any moment now he would most likely act as though none of this ever happened, however at least he wouldn't be mentioning collars again any time soon. Mozzie got to his feet and pushed the laptop he had brought towards Peter.

"This is for you."

"Thank you." Peter said as he looked up at Mozzie. "Thank you for sharing your past with me, and for trusting me with your friend. I won't hurt him again."

"Better not," Mozzie said with a casual smile "remember, I know karate."

"I will keep that in mind."

Mozzie chuckled, just as Neal had predicted he was acting as though nothing serious had happened or had been shared. Bluff and bravado when it came to his emotions were Mozzie's greatest defense. Peter didn't look like he had taken Mozzie's threat seriously which was a good sign, but he did appear deeply effected by the story. Mozzie looked up at Neal, searching his face for forgiveness. Neal smiled warmly at his friend to let him know that things were good between them. Mozzie gave Neal a shallow bow and made some excuse about having to be somewhere important before leaving.

Once Mozzie was gone Peter shifted his weight and growled in pain as one of the marks that had started to dry out cracked and a thin trail of blood ran down his back. Neal hadn't thought that they had been talking long but the wounds were in a delicate stage of healing and didn't take well to being exposed to the air. Neal informed Peter that he was going to work on the area and Peter just nodded. Neal really was becoming skilled at the bandages and after cleaning up the blood he made quick work of completing the job.

"All done."

"Thank you, Mast...Neal." Peter corrected himself.

"Peter? You okay?" Neal asked knowing that Peter tended to fall back into the 'Master' title when he was stressed.

"I had always wondered what an Animula raised outside the Market would be like." Peter admitted quietly. "Ethan is...not what I was expecting."

"I don't know what the Market is like, but I know that life at the orphanage was harsh. Mozzie almost never talks about it. It's not like Ethan was raised in a loving family, and he had no warning that one day he'd wake up different."

"That's a good point, I always knew what I was."

"I know not all Animula are as spirited as you, they couldn't be, there would have a been a revolt long ago if they were. However more and more I get the feeling that they are seen as soulless only because people want them to be so that they can justify keeping them as slaves."

"I've met Animula ranging from complete shells of men to those who you would swear were human if they just closed their eyes. Most are closer to acting just as soulless as the Market wants them to be, but it's not universal."

"Do you think that any Animula raised in the right environment would mature to be, for lack of a better term: 'human'? Has anyone ever thought that Animula is just a simple genetic disorder and that Animula don't even really exist? Animula come from human parents, the children may start out disconnected but clearly something changes."

"I don't know about any of that. All I know is that when I started to turn gold they separated me from the others, they said I 'imprinted' too soon, treated it like it was a bad thing. They said they could 'fix me', make me like any other Animula."

"They failed, and I'm glad they did." Neal smiled. "You're certainly not soulless, Peter, and that leads me to doubt that any Animula is. Maybe you are human after all."

"I hope not." Peter whispered.

"Why not?"

"Because if Animula aren't different from humans, then I've spent my entire life in captivity for the meaningless fact that my eyes are a different color than yours."