"You go on ahead, Hopps." Sy gave the small rabbit a smile. "I can clean up the rest."

Justin's ears perked up. "Thank you, Syleven!" He bounced a couple of times in place eagerly. "You did really well today! Your tuck and roll technique was flawless!"

Sy grabbed one of the target walls they had been using to hide behind and started to drag it towards the supply closet. "Thank you. I still have a lot to learn, though. I don't do so well when I get scared. Things were pretty rough yesterday, and I might have just made things worse."

Justin twitched his nose curiously. "You mean during the missions?"

Sy nodded. "Yeah. I...I sorta messed up yesterday." He paused at the entrance way to hit the switch for the closet light. A single bulb in the middle of the room sputtered to light, casting deep shadows around the room.

"Well whatever you're afraid of, I'm sure you can get through it! You're still just a first year after all. You'll be top of the class by the time you're a third year like me!" Justin skipped towards the exit. Just before ducking out the door he added, "I'll see you on Wednesday!"

Sy raised a hand to wave goodbye. As he finished dragging the wall into the closet he mumbled to himself, "It's not the mission that I'm so scared of any more." He settled the wall into it's spot against the back of the storage closet. He sighed softly and shoved his hands into his pockets. Softly he started to sing to himself.

"All my life I have known what's right,

Do good, don't talk back, be polite

I've attended mass every Sunday,

And read my bible every night,

But even as I count upon my rosary,

I fear that I have strayed from the light."

Looking around the closet, Sy absently picked up a wooden dummy. He hung it up on a beam, and draped the arms up over the bar so they were spread to the sides like a T. Quietly he continued as he untied the sheath from around the fake man's hips.

"I am baptized and confirmed,

I thought my faith could not be turned,

I was a fish and a lamb,

Behind you I leapt and swam,

I studied the good book and the sacrifices of the saints,

When I knelt before your cross I worshiped without restraints.

I laid bare my sins at confessions,

Repented for my indiscretions,

But now my mind is plagued with doubt,

That maybe I was not right all along."

He tore his eyes away from the training dummy's face and turned away. His voice trembled, but he pressed on all the same. Taking a few steps away he started for the door. It seemed as if it were miles away.

"Lately a whisper has been in my ear,

Perhaps a demon hissing what I wish to hear.

I fear that I have become Judas,

I betray my lord for a kiss."

Sy sighed softly. He ran a hand through his hair as he stepped out of the closet. He traced a beam of light up to a nearby window with his eyes. Quietly he admitted, "A kiss that would have made everything feel right." Returning to the task at hand he started to sing once more.

"For Judas it was thirty pieces of silver,

A thought that used to make me quiver .

But I was bought not with coins,

Merely the beating of my own heart.

I was raised to trust in the cross,

To look to Jeasus when times were hard,

But now everything is falling apart,

Yet I hesitate to pick up the shards,"

Sy stopped in front of the second barrier wall, his hand hovering over it momentarily. With a deep breath he grabbed hold of the handle strap and started to drag it behind him.

"Would I rip and tear my life apart,

Just for the beating of my own heart?

Would I turn my back on the trinity,

When they have never turned their back on me?

Would I stray from all who guided me,

When they have never strayed from me?

Would I let it all fall apart,

Just for the beating of my own heart?" Sy paused where he stood, one foot in the shadows, the other in the light from the window.

"Would I bow to the beating of my own heart?

Would I listen to the beating of my own heart?

Would I trust in the beating of my own heart?"

He hesitated just a moment before he drew himself up straight, his decision made.

"I think I would."

As the final note faded he started forward once more, dragging the fake wall behind him. The painted wood glittered as it slid behind him through the sunbeam.

AH: Here it is! My favorite song! I've put so much time into this thing, and had so much fun researching imagery and ideas I could use for it. I'm not catholic, but I got some good friends to go over it for me, so and honestly a good portion of that was just me going "look at this thing I made. I love it" and them patiently putting up with me. Gotta love good friends like that.

So now both boys have confirmed they have feelings! Too bad neither of them are gonna do anything about that for a while.