Melinoe

Mel stood up quickly and walked over to the door opening it to reveal Winston, who was looking between the two of us with a mischievous grin on his face. "It isn't what you think" she said to him in a tone that seemed rather uncaring, I knew better that was usually the tone she used with other people until she got to know them. "Come on Mel lets go see Castle and you can meet the new arrivals" Stretched and got up from the bed as well. Winston hesitated for a moment before speaking again, "Castle actually just asked for you" he glanced at Mel quickly. I sling my arm around Mel "it's okay Castle knows we are a packaged deal" I am grinning at him broadly and Mel is trying not to smile. "Whatever you say dude, he is in his office" Winston shrugged and began to walk in the opposite direction "good to see you made it back in one piece."

We make it to Castle's office and I knock on the door, after a moment I hear "come in." Castle is sitting down with Adam and Juliette in chairs across from him, they all turn in our direction when I open the door. "Mr. Kishimoto, I am glad you brought Ms. Cromwell please come in" I glanced over at Mel to see that she looked surprised, like she really thought Castle didn't expect her to come with me. We make our way into the room, Adam is giving me a look and glancing at Mel, crap I forgot to introduce her. "Adam, Juliette this is Melinoe, Mel these are the people I was telling you about Adam and Juliette."

There was a pause for a moment before Juliette smiled "it's nice to meet you Mel" that was all it took. "It's really nice to meet you too, both of you" Mel was smiling in a way I hadn't really seen her do in a long time. "I take it you guys are probably the reason Kenji is still alive so thank you for putting up with him" she lightly nudged me in the shoulder. I love when she does stuff like that, she may be an adult now but she has never lost her humor. Juliette laughed softly "it's not a problem though if Adam had his say he probably would have left him behind." Mel smirked "I honestly wouldn't have blamed you, he can be a bit hard to handle sometimes."

"Hey!" I wanted to protest but before I could Castle interrupted "it is very nice to see everyone getting along but introductions weren't the reason I called you here." We all went silent and turned to Castle, "like I was telling Ms. F before you arrived this is a safe place for people with unique gifts." He looked over at Mel, "Ms. Cromwell, I was hoping that you could help show Ms. F around and make sure she settles in and feels welcome." A slight blush crept over Mel's cheeks and it made her look like she was glowing, she really is breathtaking. "Sure" she stammered like she was completely caught off guard by this request, "she can room me with me if that's okay, I have plenty of room."

Castle cleared his throat, "that is quite alright I actually think it would be better to have her room with the twins." Mel looked a little disappointed, I know how badly she wants to make friends but honestly I can't help feeling a bit relieved that she isn't getting a roommate. I mentally kick myself, I'm such a horrible person here I am happy she gets to be alone just so I can have a private space with her when in reality she is probably sad because she wanted another person around. We stand around and talk for a little while longer going over the plans to adjust Juliette, Adam and James. Castle also asked me to go over the intel that I gathered from the Reestablishment and asked Adam to add anything to it that might be important. All in all this lasted about another hour before Castle said it was time to get some sleep and prepare for tomorrow.

"Okay Kent lets go, I'll show to our room I'm sure the girls have dropped James off by now" I turn around and wave goodbye to Mel and Juliette before continuing on. We almost make it to the room when Adam snickers "you know Kenji you never told me that you had a girlfriend, I'm honestly a little surprised she is way out of your league." I know he meant it as a joke but the words still grip my heart and squeeze it, like they are trying to see how much pressure it can take before it crumbles. "Who Mel?" I try to laugh like it was actually someone that was ridiculous "she isn't my girlfriend."

I didn't realize that I must have quickened my pace a bit because Adam had to take a few extra long strides before he was beside me again. "You aren't serious, is she really not your girlfriend? Sorry I just mean the way you two were acting I just assumed." I wish she was my girlfriend, I can't help but think to myself but every time I get close to telling her how I feel something comes up and it makes me wonder if maybe the universe is trying to give me a sign that she isn't into me. "Nah dude your good, we have been best friends for a really long time so we are just really close to each other that's all" that's not but that's all I plan on telling him.

"Whatever you say man" he threw his hands up "all I'm saying is I know the way me and Juliette look at each other and it pales in comparison to the way you and Mel were looking at each other. If you don't have feelings for her that's cool but I'm just saying if you do like her then you should definitely tell her." The way we look at each other? I mean I know how I look at her but I've never gotten the same feeling when she looks at me, maybe I really am dumber than I thought. "Earth to Kenji" I blink and see Adam staring at me with a look of confusion, "what?" I mumble trying to shake off the train of thoughts I had been lost in. "Are you okay? Because you just kind of got this distant look and stopped walking and I was beginning to think you had a stroke." I rub the back of my neck "I'm fine just lost in thought" I look up and realize we are already back at my dorm "here we are, home sweet home."

Melinoe

Kenji and Adam had just turned the corner out of sight and I looked over at Juliette, she is definitely younger than me, probably not older than 17. She is very pretty and looking more than a little bit nervous, I know how she feels being in a strange place and only really knowing one person. "I can show you to your dorm if you want" I ask her, breaking the long drawn out silence left by the boys. She looks over at me and nods, we start walking down the corridor again in silence. "So I know you just arrived but what do you think of Omega so far" I am trying to make small talk but I am not very good at it. "It's amazing" she looked over at me with a small smile, it's honestly the best thing I have seen in a very long time. I had no idea the world was this different, that there were other people like me."

I stopped for a second and Juliette turned to me with a look of terror like she had just said something wrong. I don't know why her words took me by such a surprise but I have never heard any other gifted children put it that way. "I'm sorry" I said trying to refocus and put on a smile, "do you have special powers?" she hesitated for a moment and nodded her head but didn't elaborate. We kept walking after a few moments of silence. I decided to try starting up a conversation again. " You are really going to like it here don't worry, I have powers to know so it's really cool to meet another girl with abilities right now. It is just me and the twins." She didn't speak for a moment, I sounded like an idiot. I probably just screwed up my only opportunity to make a new friend.

"Thank you for offering me to have me room with you" she said in a more cheerful voice giving me a small smile. "It's no problem" I smiled back at her with a genuine smile this time, "any friend of Kenji's is a friend of mine." "Speaking of Kenji" she laughed "he didn't mention to me that he had a girlfriend" I almost choked on the air in my lungs. I sputtered for a second trying not to seem as frazzled as I was "what makes you think Kenji is my boyfriend?" "Oh" she said now looking embarrassed like maybe she had said the wrong thing, "I just assumed you two were a couple by the way you were acting."

I must have really looked confused because she said "I mean you two just kept glancing at each other and there was this energy like if someone lit a match the whole building might blow up from it." I can feel my face getting hot and I try to fake a laugh, "Kenji isn't my boyfriend" but I wish he was. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry but you do like him don't you?" I love him, I want to say her words about the two of us still ringing like bells of joy in my ears. Were we really looking at each other with such a graze that made a total stranger think we were a couple.

"Kenji is sweet but we have known each other for a really long time so that's probably why you thought we liked each other." We had stopped in front of the door to her new dorm and Juliette gave me a long look. "I've known Adam for a long time and trust me when I say that look doesn't come from just friendship alone." I can feel my face getting red again and blurted out "do you really think Kenji likes me, you as more than a friend?" I don't know why I said that, I sound like a whiny teenager who is trying to get everyone she meets to agree she looks cute with a boy. "I mean I haven't really seen you two together normally but I think he would be crazy not to" with that she opened the door and was gone.

After I returned to my dorm, I stripped down to just my underwear and crawled into bed. Normally when I was trying to sleep is when the spirits would get extra cranky and start whaling again, though honestly I couldn't blame them. I did most of my crying at night too. Tonight however it was silent and I am thankful for the break, it wears down my soul being the only person who hears almost constant sorrowful voices from dead people. I shut my eyes and begin to relax trying to let my mind wander and drift into nothingness. Crack, I shit up fast my heart pounding so hard that all the blood rushed to my head making me incredibly dizzy. It is too dark in my room to see but I know something dropped and I know that means I am not alone.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, I decided it must be a spirit, "look Eric, how many times have I told you to leave me alone especially when I am sleeping." I had forgotten about him after this afternoon and had hoped he might have moved on and wouldn't come back. "Who's Eric" the voice sounded incredulous and was coming from only a few feet away. I grabbed my pillow and slung it at where the voice had come from, it made contact with something invisible and dropped to the floor. If it had been a spirit it would have passed straight through, "Kenji I swear if you better show yourself now!" Sure enough Kenji appeared right where the pillow had hit, he picked it up and looked over at me with a very guilty expression on his face.

"Why are you sneaking into my room invisibly in the middle of the night?" I demand, trying not to raise my voice. He is standing about 3 feet in front of me, wearing only pajama bottoms. It seems that his shirt is no were to be found. Even though I have seen Kenji shirtless like a million times, my heart still does mini summersaults everytime as I imagine pressing myself against his bare chest. "Who's Eric?" He crossed his arms and kept staring at me, eyebrows raised looking a little accusatory than is appropriate. "I asked you first" I cross my arms now in a mock imitation of him, "no actually I asked you first" he won't stop looking at me like that.

I cave, sometimes it's better to give in than continue to argue with someone who acts like a child. "Eric was a soldier, he's been keeping my company for the last few weeks since you have been gone." There is almost no light in the room but I can still see his forehead wrinkle "how exactly has he been keeping you company?" his voice sounded tight. I'm a little confused about why he seems to be getting so upset, he knows spirits talk to me it's nothing new. "He's just been talking to me, what's wrong?" "He's talking to you in the middle of the night, why is some random guy coming to see you in the middle of the night?" he was raising his voice a little.

I suddenly realize that he might not understand that Eric is spirit, but you know even if he was alive why would it matter? I stand up for that where eye to eye, his eyes are so beautiful, I put my hand on my hip in what I hope looks like a commanding manner. "I could ask you the same thing" there was a long pause and I can see color blooming on his cheeks. He looked like he was trying to find the right words but couldn't, I decided to put him out of his misery, "Eric is a ghost." Now he just looks embarrassed, "but my question still stands Kishimoto" he knows he is in trouble when I use his last name "why are you sneaking into my bedroom in the middle of the night?"

"Can't a guy just come visit his best friend in the middle of the night?" It was a nice attempt but still isn't going to work. I sigh "If you just wanted to come see me then why did you sneak it invisibly instead of just knocking on the door? Also why did you pick the middle of the night to come see me, couldn't wait till breakfast?" I can see his brain desperately trying to come up with something and I realized that I am enjoying this way more than I should. He looks at me and then his gaze drops a little, his face starting to get even redder and he is slowly starting to resemble a tomato. "You are in your underwear" he said obviously trying not to stare, sure enough I am just standing here in a bra and panties.

"What's the big deal? You've seen me in my underwear loads of times" he is acting kind of weird and I am wondering if he finds this embarrassing. "I know it's just that we're both adults and I'm half naked and you're practically naked. It might seem a little suggestive to other people." I am trying hard not to laugh "to who? It's just us and you are the one who broke into my room in the middle of the night remember? Like I've said you have seen me in my underwear loads of times I don't understand why you find it weird now." He looked at me and it just hit me how right he actually was, we've been adults for a few years but honestly it wasn't until this moment that thought really hit me. Here was Kenji, the boy I grew up, who I have always had a crush on but he isn't a boy anymore, the person standing in front of me is a man. I could see the muscle definition in his arms and chest, his face had become more set and solid. He wasn't my childhood friend anymore, he was my adult friend and it was weird for two adults to be standing around in their underwear in front of each other.

I can feel my face getting hotter, I take the pillow out of hand and pull it to my chest, "I'll go put some clothes on then" my voice low. "Wait that's not what I meant" he ran a hand through his hair. "I just haven't seen you in a long time and well remember when I used to sneak into your room to make sure you weren't having nightmares again?" I remember that all too well, it was honestly the only time I could sleep for more than a couple of hours, I nodd. "Well I just kind of thought I would sneak in like old times and check on you" he looked at me timidly, which was a look I preferred not to see on him. I sign in defeat "come on let's go to bed" he gives me a broad grin and walks past me flopping on the bed. I sit down beside him and he starts taking his pants off, my mind is racing and I am not sure what is going on when he looks up at me and laughs "come on you sleep in your underwear I might as well sleep in mine."

I lay down beside him and pull my side of the blanket up to my chin, I roll over to look at him and suddenly it's like nothing ever changed. It's like we're teenagers again and I am suddenly no longer worried about the screams that come in the night. I scoot closer to him and place my palm on his chest rolling him onto his back, I can feel his heartbeat quicken beneath my fingers. I adjust myself pressing my bare skin into his, the sensation of our skin touching creates a ball of fire in my heart. I feel him tense up a little and I lay my head on his chest listening to his heartbreak. Kenji relaxed a little and I can feel his hand resting on my waist, his fingertips gently pressing into my waist. I close my eyes and I can feel myself falling into a deep sweet sleep.

I'm not sure if I ever make it to sleep or not but I am brought back to the moment by the sensation of a hand against my face. I open my eyes a little looking up to see Kenji smiling down at me, "what's wrong?" I ask, my voice sounding groggy. "Nothing it's just, there is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and I don't think I can wait any more." Before I got the chance to ask what that was, he lowered his face and pressed his lips against mine gently. His lips were soft and his mouth tasted of warm ginger, my mind was spinning into nothingness and I never wanted it to stop.

He tightened his grip on my waist with his right hand and his left hand left my face with a tender strength as if I was an egg he was afraid to drop. After a moment our lips parted by our faces stayed only inches apart he whispered "I love you," three words, the three worlds that made my entire existence suddenly matter again. A second later I'm on top of him, pressing my lips against his with a passion I didn't even realize I possessed. I began kissing his jaw, then his neck until I was at the nape of his neck "I love you too" I whispered into his skin.

I could feel his hands snaking up my back and before I realized what was happening my bra was unhooked and on the ground. As if a switch had turned I was now laying on my back, Kenji positioned between my legs kissing every inch of my bare chest and stomach. He kissed down by body and every brush of his lips was like miniature volcanoes going off against my skin. I felt the tug of fabric and something being tossed, my underwear was no longer an issue. His tongue brushed my inner thigh and I let out an instinctive moan of pleasure. With every flick of his tongue against my raw flesh, I became more convinced that this is how I was going to die and I wouldn't regret a thing. He moved back up my body and found my mouth, without missing a beat I wiggled his pants off and he kicked him off the bed. He pressed his body into mine and I never knew I neede someone so badly.