"Is Tika talking to Parker Abrams?" Jesse growled, glaring at the boy across the Bronze.
"Yes, she is." Amy confirmed. "Is there a problem with her talking to him?"
"You haven't heard the rumors?" He asked.
"What rumors?" Faith asked. "Bear in mind, I'm not attending UC Sunnydale, yet, since I haven't graduated High School and Tika doesn't plan to attend anyway because she doesn't want to leave Sunnydale or your parents and likes the secretary job she got. So neither of us would be aware of any juicy college gossip."
"And if it's guy gossip, I'm not aware of it myself." Amy pointed out. "Especially given that I don't hang out with anyone except you guys and haven't even tried to get to know anyone in my classes anyway. So what's the problem with Tika talking to this Parker guy?"
"He's the human version of a Zeigevolk."
"Ah crap." Faith groaned. "And he's got Tika in his sights. So does he just brag about his conquests or does he treat them like shit afterwards?"
"Both. And no way am I letting him mess with my sister." He got up and marched over to where Parker was talking to Tika.
"Parker Abrams?" He asked. The other boy looked up.
"Yes, that's me. Something I can help you with?" He asked politely.
"You can come outside with me so we can have a conversation." Jesse answered with a glare.
"And why would I do that?"
"I know your rep, Parker. Tika is off your menu."
"Is she your girl?" He asked curiously.
"No, my little sister." Jesse took a firm grip on Parker's arm and steered him out of the Bronze for their conversation. With a sigh, Tika made her way over to Faith and Amy.
"Why is Jesse mad at Parker?" She asked. "Parker was being nice, very respectful. I see no reason for Jesse to be mad. Usually he just tells anyone who shows interest in me to be nice to me. He doesn't get angry."
"Parker is a human version of a Zeigevolk apparently." Amy told her. "Jesse doesn't want him playing around with you and really doesn't want him treating you like crap, like he usually treats girls."
"He seemed very sincere." Tika protested. "He was telling me of his father's death last year and how we must seize life while we have the chance."
"He's doing it on purpose to get in your pants." Faith said bluntly.
Tika slumped in her seat. "At this rate I will not find a mate before my cycle begins."
"Your cycle?" Faith asked.
Tika nodded. "My other sides cycle. I am a Wesen, remember?"
"I can't forget, Tika." Faith reminded her. "I can see your other face. I've gotten used to it and it doesn't scare or gross me out and it definitely doesn't make me want to reach for my sword. Not anymore anyway, now that I've gotten to know you."
"That is good to know and I am grateful. You have read the Harris family archives, the information on Lebensauger?"
"Yeah and Hexenbiests and Fuchsbau. Kinda limited."
"Yes, since Grimms focus on identifying strengths and weakness and do not care overly for things such as reproductive cycles."
"No, I don't imagine they would." Amy agreed. "And Jesse and Xander, being boys, wouldn't want to think about it anyway. Like Faith, they see you as 'Little Sister' and therefore, they never want to think about you having a cycle."
"I take it yours is different from a normal humans?" Faith asked.
"My Wesen side is a leech, Faith, and hermaphroditic. I could reproduce on my own and raise my child myself. Many Lebensauger do, given how we hate seeing or showing our other side to anyone. But I am human too and long to share such things with another. I do not know if I will ever be able to show my other face to another human, Wesen or otherwise, but I am capable of loving someone and I very much want to. And it would be nice if I could find such a person before my cycle begins."
"And you're nearing that age?" Faith asked.
"A regular leech can experience their first cycle anywhere from one to four years after their own birth and live for five to six years. I can live as long as a normal human and my first cycle will begin soon, within the next couple of years and then yearly. Not that I would want to reproduce yearly."
"Parker's not the guy for that." Faith said. "But I wish you luck in finding someone."
They watched as Parker slowly made his way over to Tika and apologized before leaving the Bronze. Jesse grinned at Tika. "Nobody messes with my Little Sis."
A/N Okay, yes this chapter is strange, I'm going to acknowledge that. But Wesen aren't normal humans and we already have some idea of the mantis' reproduction. Tika's information regarding real leeches is accurate and I've extrapolated that time frame for her. And yes, real leeches are hermaphroditic. But I want Tika to be a full character in her own right and that means acknowledging and creating a way for her to have that. And Parker deserves a beat down. ;)