Conflicted
Conflict Continuum
Digression
Conflicts
Conflicted Rules
CC High Council

It was barely dawn when Benny returned home, Dash in tow. He knew Elvira would be back today and they had made their decision. But it was Dash's problem and he would handle the bargaining. He left his brother in the living room where the younger sibling promptly sprawled on the couch, arm over his eyes, wanting at least a few minutes peace before the Shade returned. Benny left him to check on Fox, first looking in the bedroom to see that she had, in fact, gone to rest. The moment he opened the bedroom door, however, the smell assaulted him like diving into a lake. Familiar and warm, he felt his mouth water a little but his calmer mind supplied what was the most likely reason, and he was instantly sober, looking at the lump on the bed. He was at Fox's side in an instant, kneeling next to her and gently stroking her hair. "Fox, Fox my love. Wake up please. Fox?" She was breathing at least, that was a good sign.

The boys had stayed with her the entire night. Each one sprawled out on the floor. When Benny came in they all awoke slowly, groggily. "Careful..." Lynx whispered softly. "She's pretty bad." At his words, Fox slowly rolled over in bed with a painful groan. "Unnng..." Her face was crusted with dry blood and her pillow was drenched in it. Sighing softly she watched as Adder got up and went to the bathroom, he returned moments later with a hot, wet washcloth and handed it to Benny. Her lip was swollen and covered in blood. Her right eye swollen almost completely shut. She placed a hand on her stomach and frowned. Lifting her shirt up just enough to show her abdomen she remembered the painful blow she'd received to it just hours before. Her stomach was black and blue from bruising. Laying her head back she groaned loudly. She most likely didn't have any more ice for her hand or stomach. She'd have to barrow some from the club if she needed it. Opening her mouth a bit she whispered to Benny. "Hi..."

Benny took the washcloth absently and his free hand shook as he reached out, hovering just over the all too familiar bruise on her stomach. It was odd, not seeing it in a mirror. His face hardened and he fisted his hands, one still above her stomach, the other wringing out the wash cloth, trying to calm himself but failing. He opened the hand over her stomach again, fingers splayed and brought his hand back as if preparing to slap someone and her crusted blood went with him, like ashes off of her body. He let the dark brownish red substance fall in a small heap on the floor as he turned back to his now clean, albeit damaged, girlfriend. "Fuck the police..." he whispered, his voice a little shaky and sounding very much like he wasn't talking to her. He took a deep breath, pushing the tears from his eyes to talk to her. "They thought we had Jake?" It wasn't really a question.

"Forgot he could do that." Adder mumbled as the boys chuckled softly. Fox smiled softly at the boys, well, it felt like she was smiling but it someone else was looking at her they would see a grimace. Turning back to Benny she frowned gently. Nodding her head she looked up into his eyes. "Yes...they expect us to bring him back. There...there was a female cop that said something about... Talia. I don't know what it meant." The boys twitched slightly as they glanced around. "Uh...Talia shifted to Jake...and went under cover." Rain muttered softly. "Oh no..." Fox laid her head back and closed her eyes. "No..."

Benny's golden eyes slowly looked back at the three men and they were shining murderously. "No one is to tell Dash," he hissed. It was not a request. He looked back at Fox and his expression softened. He was worried for Talia, but he knew what Dash, new to his relationship, would do if he found out Talia was undercover, and that concerned him more. "Dash is going to handle the Jake thing, don't worry." He offered her a smile but it was weak against his tear filled eyes. He reached up and stroked her hair gently. "I'm just so glad you're not dead..." That settled it. He was never leaving Fox's side again. Something bad always happened when he did that. "We're gonna get this all settled, and then we can relax again. I won't let them hurt you again. I'll always be here. They can take me in instead." His voice shook and he was doing damn well not to cry, either in anger or relief, he was still having trouble deciding, but he knew, if he saw an officer any time soon, it would be their last moment of daylight.

"We wont ever be able to relax. You should know better." Fox sat up in the bed and leaned back against her old battered head board. Closing her eyes she frowned deeply. "I just want us to be able to live in peace with humans like we used to. Maybe...maybe things were easier when Rafe was around." The boys stood from the floor and exited the room uncomfortably. Fox rolled her eyes and slid out of bed. Looking at the ground where her blood was, she cringed. "I'm hungry." Sighing, she wrapped her arm around her stomach and headed toward the kitchen. "Hello Dashiell," she mumbled softly, but she knew he'd be able to hear her.

Dash, arm still over his eyes, only moved his hand, raising a few fingers as a hello before letting it fall slack again, too tired to do much else. Benny frowned at it as he followed Fox like a loyal dog. He couldn't believe what Fox had said though and easily lifted himself onto their bar, leaning his elbows on his knees as he watched her, wishing she would continue to rest but could see she had no intention of doing so, and he did not want to fight with her. "How can you say that?" he asked her softly. "He wanted to take away everyone's free will." He would never admit it to Fox, but while his dreams were filled with carnage and death, only the ones where he was under Rafe's control did he consider nightmares.

Fox placed her hands on the counter and frowned deeply as she stared out her window at the terrible land out there. "It was beautiful when he was around. We could live in peace with humans. Yes, I was against a lot of his antics." Pressing her forehead against the counter she sighed at the coldness that welcomed her there. "I can say that, because I want to be happy again, Bernard." Standing she looked up at him seriously as she moved away from the counter. "I want to be able to relax. I want peace."

Fox never called him Bernard and it made him sad in a way. "We'll have to make it beautiful ourselves," he said after a long moment, his voice flat. They hadn't heard word of their precious leader in what had to be a century, at the very least. "Rafe's dead."

"I'm going to go talk to her now," Dash informed them somewhat suddenly from the couch. He sat up, looking dejected, far sadder than his brother, who only gave him a small, slow nod of acceptance. He looked at Fox but couldn't even bring himself to say goodbye. He knew this probably wasn't going to go well. He sighed heavily, stood, and left the apartment, heading down to the club below.

It was quiet, and dark, and empty. Somehow it put him more on edge than when it was filled with beasts. He fisted his hands once, then twice, trying to calm his heavily beating heart but it was no use. He closed his eyes, taking his last moment of weakness before his golden eyes opened, glaring at the space before him, whispering just one word. "Elvira..."

"Well you took your time.." Elvira's voice sounded from a dark corner. She stepped from the shadows smirking at Dash as she moved. "Well are you going to give me what I want? A full list of names of those associated with your little revolution?" She raised an eyebrow at him as she sat down at one of the many empty tables.

"I don't know all of them," Dash admitted, his face still hard as he took his time walking to the other side of the table, but did not sit. "So I can't give you that, and I won't give you what I do know. Jake is of no interest to my brother or Fox, so they won't trade you either." He took a deep breath, staring her down but not to intimidate her, just to show he wasn't afraid, and sighed. "You can only deal with me, so you'll have to ask for something else, or kill Jake."

Elvira let out a long sigh then shrugged. "I don't believe theres anything else important enough than those names so how about I try something new..if you don't give me those names, very soon a nice little list of all known locations of wanted creatures will make its way to the police station including you and your brother and even that little shifter."

"I told you, I don't know them!" Dash shouted at her, barely keeping himself from grinding his teeth. He laid his hands on the table, leaning against it, lowering his voice. "I can't give you what I don't have, and trust me, you don't want to deal with my brother because he won't even talk to you about this, so don't try to go around me. Unless you want something else, we're done here." He righted himself, crossing his arms over his chest, which was somehow just as stern and mature now in his hoodie and jeans as it had once been in his uniform. It was not meant to intimidate her, he was simply standing firm. "Ruin our lives, you get nothing, not even some sick pleasure from doing so, because we really couldn't give two shits. You want something, ask for something else, otherwise, this conversation is over."

Slowly Elvira narrowed her eyes at Dash as she gripped the back of her chair tightly, the sounds of the wood beginning to crack and splinter the only noise to be heard. She didn't like when her plans didn't work and this one seemed to be failing miserably. Rafe hadn't given her any other options so she didn't know what to ask for. She turned her head a moment to look away from Dash and when she returned her attention to him, Jake now stood beside her, staring round himself with wide exhausted eyes. "So you're sure we're finished now Dash? You have nothing to say or do to save the boy?" Elvira asked with a frown now replacing her smirk.

It was too late. She had shown she was annoyed and grasping at straws. Dash didn't smile or smirk, but he did relax slightly when he saw Jake, alive and mostly well. "I'm sorry Jake..." he told the human, his eyes sincere before he looked at Elvira again, his expression mostly unchanged, except perhaps for a bit more conviction. "I was prepared to do whatever it took, but that was me. I can not make the decision to give up so many people, even if I did know their names. They would each have to decide for themselves if they wanted to give up. I can only decide for myself, so all I have is myself. You let Jake go, and I'll give you whatever you want, but not where other people are concerned. If I can give you nothing, then no, I have nothing to say or do to save him." Elvira obviously had no idea how many Dash had murdered. He did not care if he had to kill. He only felt wrong that he had trusted Jake, and that is what had put them in this position. It was his fault the human was in danger, his life in the hands of a real monster, and for that he wanted to make amends.

"I misjudged you Dash. I thought you would have been doing all you could to save this boys life. I guess not but it makes me angry that you wish to ruin my plans.." Elvira replied then suddenly she flung the chair she had been gripping across the room causing it to shatter against the wall as she glared at him. "You will give me the information I want, or I will destroy everything!" She bellowed taking a menacing step towards Dash, not noticing as Jake quickly knelt down and grabbed a splintered and sharpened piece of wood in his shaking hand.

"I told you, I don't know!" Dash shouted at her, neither backing away nor threatening her in return. He simply stood his ground and pointedly kept his eyes on her, never straying. "So go ahead... break things... It's just stuff," he told her, lowering his voice, showing as best he could that he didn't give a damn what she did. As long as his family was safe, that is what mattered to him. His friends and his family. He held his hands out, palms up, showing they were empty. "I'm sorry, but I have nothing else to offer you but what I have already said."

"Fine i'll tear this place apart, i'll destroy it all." Elvira growled as a strong wind began to whip up around her, pulling tables and chairs along in its wake. Things began to smash and break and the pictures began to rattle and shake on the walls and the bottles behind the bar began to slowly slip from their shelves. She grinned as the wind began to pick up knowing Dash would surely feel the strong pull of it.

Jake slowly edged forward, the piece of wood gripped tightly in his hand. The wind threatened to throw him to the ground but he struggled onwards, glad the shade was distracted by Dash. He looked at the other man then took a deep breath as he raised the wood.

The grin was suddenly wiped from Elvira's face and a look of pure shock took over as she suddenly felt the wood piercing her chest but missing her heart. The wind suddenly stopped causing all the furniture to drop to the floor and she slowly turned to look at Jake, pure rage in her eyes. He took a nervous step back but she didn't move. "Silly boy.." She hissed before stumbling to the floor in a heap. "You really shouldn't have done that..i'll make you pay." She turned to Dash and narrowed her eyes. "Just be glad i'm not allowed to kill you." She said then was suddenly gone. She would have to go and heal, which could take hours to even days for such a severe wound. But she would heal as her heart remained unscathed.

Jake stared at the spot she had been lying for several minutes before slowly looking at Dash. "She's gone.." Was all he managed to whisper, still in shock that he had actually injured the shade.

"Yes, but not dead," Dash replied unhappily after lowering his arms that had been trying to guard him against the wind. He looked at Jake and made a fist, tapping his lower rib cage. "Stab the heart," he told him. Jake had said he wanted to know more about them, he hoped the boy would take anything he told him to heart. It could, and would, save his life. He sighed and motioned for Jake to follow him. "I have to let my brother know I'm alright. He'll want to meet you anyway, he and Fox. Then I'll take you hope. After we're sure you're alright and Fox has a look in your head, just to make sure the Shade didn't tamper with you."

"T-take a look in my head?" Jake repeated a little nervously as he slowly followed after Dash, stumbling slightly in his tired state. He felt a little nervous at the thought of meeting Dash's friends and family, not sure how they would react to him.

---

"I know he's dead. I was just saying." Fox walked into the living room and curled up on the couch. "I don't trust this shade or Emory." Frowning deeply she shook her head gently. Running a hand through her thick white hair she flinched. "Ow..." Cradling her injured hand against her chest she whimpered softly as last nights events flooded her memory.

"I don't think anyone does," Benny told her as he hopped off the counter and followed her to the couch, taking the seat next to her. "And rightly so. I don't know what Emory is up to, but with a shade... it can't be anything good." He sighed, leaning his elbows on his knees again, staring at the floor. "Dash will deal with her though... Then... well... we can move on-" He looked at Fox, giving her a little nod. "Just like we always do." He was tired of running, but he would run to the stars if he had to, just to keep her safe.

Fox nervously nodded her head gently. Sighing softly she brought her knees to her chest and laid her head down on it. Closing her eyes she opened up her mind to listen to what was going on downstairs. "When they're done, we need to open up the club. I still have a business to run, and the others need to know we're not afraid."

"We will. Just give them a little longer," Benny said softly as he laid his hand on Fox's back and rubbed soothing circles. He frowned at her slightly withdrawn nature, realizing what she was doing. His voice hardened just a fraction, not yet stern. "I would recommend you not eavesdrop," he told her. The last thing he wanted to deal with was Fox trying to run down to save his brother. They had both agreed, this is what had to be done. Jake would die, or Elvira would accept a favor from the younger blood mage. It was all they could offer, all they would offer for the boy's life. One human was not worth so many creatures, so many anything really. What mattered was not Jake's life though. It was the fact that Elvira would turn them in if they couldn't appease her, at least for the time being.

Fox stiffened at his words and moved away from him. Closing her mind she looked at Benny and frowned. "Why? I have a right to know." Clenching her fists at her sides she frowned deeply and moved to the door. "I'm not a child Benny. Stop treating me like one! I've had enough of this!"

"Fox, stop!" Benny was off the couch in an second and dashed to the door, standing between it and Fox. He couldn't let her leave until Dash was done, and he furrowed his brow seriously at her. "No one has the right to know everything, so stop trying! What he wants us to know, he'll tell us! Stop butting in to everyone's conversations!" He didn't want to be mad at her, but she wasn't making it easy. It was only going to cause trouble if she kept sticking her nose in to everything. It was unneeded stress. He stiffened just slightly, worry flickering over his face as he heard something shatter downstairs, but he didn't budge. He couldn't let Fox get even more hurt. He felt bad enough he had let her get hurt at all. He was a terrible mate and he was only feeling worse. No, he wouldn't let her go.

Fox jumped and moved away from Benny, frightened of him for the first time in quite a while. "That was rather unnecessary. I'm glad to know my gifts anger you so much. Thank you for finally allowing me the truth." Hearing the noise from downstairs she jumped again. "If that shade destroys everything I've strived to create..." Sighing heavily she shook her head and moved away from him. Staring out the window once again she frowned. He had no right to freak out on her like that. She's worked her ass off to work to where they were and him getting mad about her listening in on one conversation, was an overreaction. 

Benny sighed heavily, wanting to cave to her but knowing he had to be strong, at least until Dash was done, then he could fall to his knees and beg forgiveness, if that's what she honestly wanted. He heard more crashing down stairs and glanced over his shoulder at the door, then forced himself to look away, to walk over to Fox instead and ignore the battle downstairs. "Don't be so dramatic," he said as gently as he could. "Why do you only ever thing the negative things are the truth? Are you truly that pessimistic? I don't think you are. I think you are strong and when you get backed into a corner, you're ready to scratch eyes out to fight for what you believe in. It is not your powers, never your powers that angers me-" He placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned his head down to look her in the eyes to make sure he had her attention. "But we both know I have issues with invasions of privacy. Yes, I know, it's your club and all you strived to create, but sometimes... Some day... you're going to have to trust us enough to let us work on our own again." He tried to smile, but he was remembering the days before Fox, back when he and Dash could work alone, do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, and while he missed it dearly, the idea of not having Fox nosing in to his life somehow made him sadder than the idea of her doing so made him irritated. He needed her, and he didn't want to have to fight that. The noise downstairs stopped and he looked at the door again with a frown. He really hoped that was a good sign and not a horrible one.

Shying away from his touch, Fox took a step away from him. Dramatic. I've hidden and stayed away from my powers for years and now that I have them back, and can slightly control them, being upset at him for what he said makes me dramatic? Fox felt herself putting her wall back up between them. She wasn't sure what had happened to them over the past few weeks, but she thought it best if she kept to herself. Maybe they'd all been together for too long. "I've never, since I've known the two of you, but that first day, stepped into your mind without permission. Listening into his conversation isn't exactly an invasion of privacy since he'll most likely tell us anyway." Furrowing her eyebrows at his last comment she frowned and shook her head. "As for not trusting you, I'm not sure where you got that from. I've never kept you from anything, except maybe killing. If you want to be free and on your own, fine. Get out." Gritting her teeth together in anger she took a few deep breaths. She always told herself she'd never cry over a man, and she sure as hell wasnt going to start now.

Benny opened his mouth to ask her why she felt the need to listen in if she trusted Dash to tell them when her last words struck him in the heart. Get out. He couldn't breath for a second, the world turning to tunnel vision as he stared at her, as if his body wanted him to know there was no where else for him to go but to her. He couldn't stand her angry. He reached out to touch her again but his hand froze and fell as the door to their apartment opened.

"You'll be fine," Dash was telling Jake as they stepped inside. He let the human in, closed the door, then looked at his brother and Fox, instantly recognizing that look on his face. Bad timing. Close to worst timing. "Hey..." he said awkwardly, motioning a hand to the human with him. "This is Jake... He stabbed the shade and she bolted. So... we won.. for the moment..." He wanted to address the problem, and opened his mouth to do just that, if only to stop the awkward feelings in his stomach, but his brother cut him off.

"It's good to have you back, Jake," Benny told him honestly, tearing his eyes from Fox with great difficulty. "Maybe now the police will stay the hell out of our club."

Jake raised his hand in an awkward wave as his eyes travelled between Benny and Fox. "I'm sorry if the police have been giving you trouble because of me." He said quickly in what he hoped was a friendly tone. He fidgeted nervously with the cuffs of his jacket as he noticed the angry expression on Fox's face.

Fox relax as Dash and Jake came into the apartment. A soft smile took over her face, even if it was painful. Fox crossed the room, giving Dash a soft smile, hoping to ease his mind a bit, then turned her full attention on the human. "Nothing I can't handle, plus, they've been after me for a while now so they'd have brought me in one way or another." Fox stepped forward to look him over, touching his cheek gently. "Are you okay, she didn't hurt you, did she?" Almost as if she were a mother, coddling her child.

As Fox approached him, Jake felt himself tense nervously until she gently touched his cheek causing him to relax considerably. "I don't think she hurt me..i'm just very tired. I couldn't sleep in her company." He said with a weak smile.

"Would you like to rest up here, or have us take you home? My couch isnt as comfortable as a bed but it'll do for sleep. But I understand if you just want to go home. You've had a rough couple of days. No creature has a right to treat an innocent that way." Fox's tone was calm and understanding as she spoke to him.

"You would let me rest here?" Jake asked with wide eyes. He knew if he were to return home the chances of him being allowed to rest were slim. What harm could a little rest here cause? he thought then nodded with a smile. "Thank you..I would appreciate some rest. I doubt i'd be allowed it if I returned home." He jumped slightly at the sound of something hitting the window and he glanced at Benny and Dash, wondering what the sound was.

The boys looked at each other, but it was Benny who won out. "I'll go check it out," he said and left the apartment, heading down to the club to have a look around outside.

"It's best you sleep here," Dash told him instead once his brother was gone. "If you go back tired, it will raise more questions than 'I just got lost'. Besides," he looked at Fox. "I was kind of hoping you'd have a look in his head. You know... make sure the Shade didn't leave something in there, or take something out.

"Yes of course." Smiling she went to the closet near the door and pulled out her only extra pillow and blanket. Laying them both on the couch she made them up like a bed and smiled softly. "Lay down and I'll take a peak inside your head." Looking over at Dash she frowned. "At least someone appreciates my gifts."

"When you say peek inside my head..what exactly do you mean?" Jake asked as he moved to the couch and after kicking off his shoes lay down instantly feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him and he had to fight to keep his eyes open for Fox's response. "I mean..you're not going to cut my head open or anything?" He joked with a sleepy smile.

"You'll be fine Jake," Dash told the boy gently as he went to stand by the couch so he could look down at him, his eyes sincere. Jake may look hardly younger than him, and Dash might act hardly older, but it was difficult for anyone to doubt the sincerity of his words. "Trust me." He smiled, hoping Jake would simply doze off, Fox could check his mind and confirm there was nothing, and then they could take him home.

Jake nodded then closed his eyes. "I doubt you'll find anything..she didn't cast any big spells or anything obvious like that..she barely came near me to be honest. Just oddly grabbed my arm a few times but never said anything." He said, his voice growing softer as sleep slowly took over him and within minutes he was fast asleep, nestled down into the pillow and blanket Fox had provided.

A soft smiled spread across Fox's face as she sat down on the coffee table. Placing her hand across his forehead she closed her eyes and relaxed. Her eyes flew open, white as the moon in the sky. Searching his mind for a few moments she found nothing out of the ordinary. Closing her eyes once again, she pulled her hand away from his head and looked up at Dash. "He's clean." Standing she moved over to Dash and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek she frowned gently. "I'm going for a walk. If you need me..." Tapping a finger to her forehead she smiled. Hurrying out the door of the apartment she hurried downstairs. Taking a second, she listened for there voices. Seeing that they were at the front door, she went out the back door of the club and down the street. She'd need to get the club cleaned up, but for now, she needed air. 

Dash watched her go, more concerned than he could ever remember being for her, but decided he had to let her go. Things between Fox and his brother seemed extra tense lately and he couldn't figure out why. He looked down at the sleeping Jake. Things had just become so complicated lately. He sighed. Sometimes, he honestly missed for the simple days of murder and mayhem at Rafe's feet.

Jake slept quite comfortably for only a few moments before a loud shout from beneath them, shocked him awake. He sat up with a start, looking round with wide eyes. "What was that?" He asked in a startled sleepy voice before looking up at Dash. "What are you shouting for?"

"It wasn't me!" Dash denied quickly before frowning at the boy. "It was downstairs," he explained. He placed a hand on Jake's chest and gently tried to guide him back down on the couch. "Go back to sleep. Everything's fine. I'm guarding you, you can trust me, remember?" He offered a smile. "Sleep, then we'll get you back to your family."

"Okay..wake me if theres any trouble." Jake replied as he let Dash push him back down to lie. He rolled over and pulled the blankets up around him, quickly falling into a deep sleep once again.

---

The night had been a long and nervous one for Talia as she stayed in Jake's home, disguised as the human boy. Like planned she had excused herself early, complaining of sickness before locking herself in Jake's room and pushing a chair up against the door for good measure. Sleep did not come easily as every little noise made her jump and worry that someone was trying to get in. But finally she drifted off, exhausted from the days events. She was awoken the next morning by a soft knock at the door.

"Jake. Time to get up." Called a gentle voice which could only belong to his mother. Talia groaned and sat up whilst shifting back into Jake's form. "Okay.." She called back then climbed from the bed and began to change into fresh clothes she found in a closet. Pulling the chair from behind the door she slowly unlocked it then peered outside. This is the strangest thing i've ever done. She thought as she plucked up the courage to step from the room and venture down into the kitchen. "Good morning!" Jakes mother greeted her as she finished setting the table with breakfast things before moving to Talia and hugging her tightly. "I'm still so happy you're safe. I was so worried yesterday." She ushered Talia into a chair then motioned for her to eat as she took her own seat. "T-thanks..mom." Talia replied a little awkwardly then allowed herself to eat so she wouldn't have to speak.

After ten minutes or so footsteps could be heard approaching the kitchen and The police chief appeared moments later. He moved to Jake's mother and kissed her lightly on the cheek, the first nice act Talia had ever seen him do then sat down in his own chair and began eating his food. "I suppose you'll be taking Jake to work with you again?" His mother asked casually. "Yes..he needs retrained in a few areas. Like reading maps for instance." The chief shot a small frown at Talia and she tried to act appropriately by slumping her shoulders and frowning down into her cereal. "Well just don't work him too hard okay dear? He could really use some time off soon..he still is just a kid." It was the mothers turn to receive a frown from the chief before he sighed and drank down his coffee. "He's not a kid. He's going to be the next chief and so he needs to be prepared."

Jake's father turned to Talia and became stern. "Go get your things. We're leaving in five minutes." Talia nodded and quickly stood, retreating from the room to gather her things. When she was ready she moved to the front door and waited for Jakes dad to join her. Only a moment later he stood by her side whilst Jake's mother fussed around her, fixing her hair and the collar on her jacket. "You be careful today, you hear me? No more getting lost." She smiled weakly then hugged her again before doing the same to her husband. How can Jake's mom be so sweet but his dad be so cruel.. Talia thought before reminding herself that Jakes mother thought she was interacting with her son and didn't know how she'd respond to having a shapeshifter in her home.

They waved goodbye to her then climbed into the chief's car. "You'll be going over maps and street plans for the morning and then i'll be testing you this afternoon." He told Talia as they drove and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. I have to do the kids homework now too? She sighed and turned her attention to the world outside the car. I wonder what Dash is doing right now? How much is he freaking out.. She frowned lightly at this thought but didn't have long to worry as the car stopped outside the station not long after. She climbed from it then followed the chief up the steps and into the building. "Okay go ahead..you know where the maps and things are so get studying." The chief told her in a gruff voice then stalked off to his office. Talia groaned then looked around hoping to spot Kyra so she could help her find the maps.

Just coming down the stairs after spending an uncomfortable night sleeping in a chair, Kyra was holding Kyrian's hand on one side and rubbing at her neck on the other. It never ceased to annoy her that she wasn't allowed to put a cot in the room for her use. Kyrian was expected to get along without any parent around, and that's just how it was supposed to be. Stalking down to the main floor, she went straight to her desk and sat her son at her chair, letting him wait there as she moved to get her coffee, the only thing that would keep her awake for the next eight hours that she had to work. She completely missed Jake/Talia standing there, not even looking in that direction as she more or less stomped to the breakroom.

Talia smiled and started raising her hand to wave at Kyra when she stomped straight past her. "Okay...someones not a morning person I see." She whispered then quickly followed after her. "Good morning. I'm glad I found you. Could you show me where the maps and things are kept. The chief's given me some work to do.." She asked brightly before pouring herself a glass of water, remembering that its all Jake would drink.

Kyra, on the other hand, was busy pouring a hot cup of black coffee, which she drank down quickly, ignoring the scalding of her mouth. Setting the cup aside once it was half gone, she refilled it and turned to Talia. "If it's studying the maps, don't bother. Just go talk to Kyrian. He and Jake are study partners for a reason." Kyra picked up her cup and leveled a tired gaze on Talia. "After whatever you have is finished, you and I are going to hit the streets. Since the chief made me Jake's trainer, then I get to decide how that training is done."

"Hit the streets? What for?" Talia asked curiously before moving to the juice cupboard and selecting a carton for Kyrian. She figured he'd be thirsty too. "I'm not really wanting to do the whole cop thing..especially if it means going after creatures." She frowned lightly then led the way back to Kyra's desk, offering the juice to the small boy when she got there.

"I meant more of going to find your friends," Kyra said, following back to the desk. "I didn't think you would want to start your first day doing cop stuff." Sitting down and setting the cup on her desk, Kyra looked at Kyrian. "Go with Jake and look at the maps."

"Find my friends..to check if they've got the real Jake back?" Talia asked. She needed to confirm why Kyra would want to search out her friends before she would allow her anywhere near them. The reason she was disguising her self as Jake was to protect them so she wasn't prepared to lead a cop straight to them without knowing why first.

"Yes," was all Kyra said to start with. Not until she took another deep drink of her coffee. "You might not respect it, but I do love that boy. You cannot take his place forever." Giving her son a nod, Kyrian slid from his chair and reached for Talia's hand. "Come on," he whispered.

"I wouldn't want to." Talia replied before allowing herself to be led away by Kyrian. "Okay your mom says you can help me learn about all these maps." She said to him.

Kyra watched as Kyrian led Talia to the the main planning room holding the large city map. "I am really good at memorizing things," Kyrian said in his quietly calm voice, opening the door with his free hand. "And can transfer that knowledge into you."

"You'll transfer the knowledge to me?" Talia asked curiously as she stepped into the main planning room. "How are you going to do that?" She released her grip on Kyrians hand and moved to the large map in the centre on the room, glancing over it quickly.

Kyrian glanced back at the door and frowned. "I'm not supposed to." He made a face. "Because it makes me really sleepy. But...I can help you study everything, if you like." His quiet voice became almost shy as he seemed to realize he was alone with Talia. The boy made his way to a chair near the big wall map.

"I don't want you exhausting yourself. I can just try to look over the maps and pick up a few things and if I feel like i'm not learning anything then i'll just sneak out with your mom." Talia replied with a chuckle. "I mean I know most of the areas the creatures inhabit its just the human parts I don't really know."

Kyrian stood and walked over to the map, pointing out a street. "This is where we are." He looked up at Talia. "The important places to know are here-" Point. "-here-" Point. "-and here." He pointed one last time, his eyes going up to Talia's.

Talia listened intently as Kyrian explained the different points, nodding with each new one he motioned to. "Okay so..we're here.." She said pointing to them. " And this place is important..and this one..and this one." She said pointing to each one the child had pointed at. "Was that right?"

With a nod, Kyrian sat back down. "Yes," was all he said. After a while, a knock on the door sounded before Kyra opened it. "Are you ready to go?" she asked quietly, glancing out into the hall. "We need to go now."

"Yeah pretty much." Talia replied then ruffled Kyrians hair gently with a smile. "See you soon kid." She said to him then walked to Kyra. "Lets go..if we're lucky, you'll be returning later with the real Jake and I can be me again."

Kyra glanced down the hall again before leading the way outside. She looked back at Talia and frowned. "If we're lucky?" She didn't like that phrase. "Because luck has anything to do with it." Kyra led the way towards the direction she had first met up with Talia, outside that club, hoping that maybe 'luck' was on their side.

"When we get to the club let me handle the talking, okay? They might not take too kindly to you being a cop but if I let them know you're good they should be okay." Talia said as they walked. Once outside the club she made to open the door but stopped when she realised it was still locked. "Whats going on? Why is it not open?" She whispered then stepped swiftly back, lifting a stone as she did and throwing it up so it hit against one of Fox's apartment windows. Please be in..

It was a long minute, but finally Benny appeared in the doorway to the club, peeking out at the two of them. His face immediately turned to one of annoyance as he stepped outside completely, shutting the door behind him. "May I help you officer?" he asked Kyra, wanting very much to throw the human half way across the city and hope she left a big red stain where she landed. He had to try very hard not to look at the Jake double beside her, knowing it was Talia but unsure if Kyra knew. Of course, if she thought it was the real Jake, why the hell would she be bothering them?

Kyra crossed her arms and cocked a hip out, waiting impatiently for someone to open the door. When a face appeared, her first instinct was to put a bullet through it. It took a lot more control than she thought she possessed to keep her hand from her gun. Glancing at Talia with a quirked eyebrow, she looked back at Benny. "I believe I have something of yours," she said sarcastically, elbowing Talia forward with one of her crossed arms.

Talia smiled and waved at Benny. "Its me..Talia." She said stepping forward. "This is Kyra..she's been helping me so you don't need to worry about her. So can we come in?" She asked still not shifting back to her normal form until they were safe inside.

Benny stared the two down, almost looking skeptical. Finally, after a long moment, he opened the door to the club and stepped aside to let them in before joining them, making sure the door was closed and locked behind him, not that that would keep all the monsters out. "I already know it's you," he told Talia sternly. "You're lucky Dash doesn't." Knowing she would feel bad about worrying his brother, he didn't bother to press it further, instead looking at Kyra, his face suspicious. "Why have you been helping her?" he asked, completely ready to murder the woman and anyone else who came if she was simply leading the police here with proof that this was the hub of the resistance and a creature mecca.

Letting out a small huff of air, Kyra stared Benny down, her arms still crossed as she moved into the club. "She has promised to help me in return. And I want Jake back." It was said in a way only a protective mother could manage, both hopeful and threatening. "Talia told me that you people weren't in league with the creature that took him, and I trust that she is telling the truth."

"I left him a note." Talia said in a defensive tone, pouting slightly at Benny's stern words. "Kyra's got a kid..he's half human half creature." She continued once Kyra had spoken. She glanced round the bar at the scene of chaos that Elvira had left behind then raised an eyebrow. I can see why they haven't opened yet.. "I'm sure you can understand the police chief doesn't like that mixture too much..he keeps the poor kid locked up at the station. I'm going to break him out!" She grinned proudly, completely forgetting now to change back to her normal form. "I can start working on that when the real Jake is back. So hows that going? You figure out where he is yet?"

"'You people'?" Benny quoted back to Kyra, narrowing his eyes threateningly on her though he made no move to attack her. When Talia spoke, he immediately turned his sharp eyes on her. When she mentioned freeing the human's kid, his face became even more irritated. "You will do no such thing," he snapped. How could she be so damn peppy all the time? He looked between the two of them. "Jake is here," he told them. "But we're not helping your kid," he directed at Kyra. "You can have Jake back when he's ready to go, we didn't want him in the first place. You humans, you're nothing but a nuisance. You'll take Jake, and our two worlds will be separate again, end of story. You-" He pointed at Talia/Jake. "Change back, now." He looked at Kyra again. "And I don't want to know how you interbred with any of our kind, but that is your own damn fault. You brought this on yourself and your child so stop the tough guy act, alright? If you really cared about that kid, you'd get the hell out of there. If you really wanted to help us- if you trusted us- you would bring him here yourself to ask for help, not drag it out of kind hearted creatures too naive to know how suicidal it is." He gave Talia a pointed stare before again looking at Kyra. "You want to save him, bring him here, we'll help you, but don't you dare bring her in to your problems."

Kyra's entire expression changed. Her eyes narrowed in rage and she looked at Talia. "I knew this was a mistake," she said coldly. "Bring me Jake, and don't you dare come back." The plan was already formulating in her mind. She would bring the raiding groups here, and put an end to this little operation. Kyra remembered why she hated these things. They only cared about themselves. Turning to Benny, she let out a huff of angry air. "I know you lot don't have any compassion for anyone else other than yourselves, but you would think that you would encourage promises to be kept."

"You're one to talk!"

"Me?! I've kept every promise I've made!"

"I'm talking about only having compassion for your own kind, you under evolved, small minded-"

"BENNY!" Talia shouted before he could finish his sentence. "Would you two just cut it out! I mean it!" She growled before finally shifting back into her normal form, brushing her fingers through her long dark hair as she did. "You are both unbelievable..I mean how is this world supposed to get better if this is the way people act towards each other!" She rounded on Benny and narrowed her eyes. "And when did you make my decisions for me? I said i'd help the kid, not you..if you're not willing too help me then thats fine. But you don't get to decide for me, got it?" Once that was said she turned to Kyra. "And I do keep my promises. I said i'd help Kyrian and I will." She growled lightly then folded her arms. "You are both acting like children."

Kyra crossed her arms across her chest, and growled under her breath, glaring at a point just behind where Talia was standing. She flat out refused to look at Benny, who was a prick of major proportions. Kyra didn't think that she would meet someone worse than Ian, but it seemed that she was wrong. She really just wanted to get back to Kyrian and make sure he wasn't being treated badly while she was gone.

Benny fisted, then unfisted his hands, finally throwing them up in the air. "Fine!" he said in exasperation, not yelling the word. The last thing he wanted was to draw even more attention to their club. "But we will help Kyrian." He looked pointedly at Talia. "Not you, and that's not for discussion. If you do it, Dash will want to help, and I'm not putting my brother in danger over this." He sighed, running a hand through his hair and making it stick up on that side. He gave Kyra a frown. "I'm sorry, ok, it's just... been really stressful around here, trying to guard our asses and all. It's not exactly fun hiding who you are all the damn time, as I'm sure you've kind of noticed, with your son."

"My son is my entire life," Kyra said, keeping her voice as level as she could. "I didn't ask for him to be only half human, but that's what I have, and I wouldn't trade him for anything." She looked over at Benny, trying to find a part of her that wasn't angry. "If I could take him out of there, don't you think I would have already?" She wouldn't let them take Kyrian without her, though. Talia already knew that. "I don't want enemies. I just want my son to be safe."

Talia glared at Benny but decided this wasn't the time to argue. "Yeah we need to find somewhere that both Kyrian and Kyra will be safe..from both sides." She added after Kyra had finished speaking. She sighed and looked towards the door that led to the apartment above. "Can I trust you two to be alone? I would like to go and see Dash if thats alright."

Benny just jerked his head slightly at the stairs. "Go, but be quiet, they might be sleeping." He looked back at Kyra, giving her a shrewd look. "If your son is what's most important, and you'd do anything to get him safe, you would have tried everywhere. You let your bias let you think we would never help you," he said evenly. He shook his head at her before stepping away to right a table that had managed to remain unbroken before working on a few chairs. "I've got nothing against you, your people, or you son," he told Kyra. "I've got everything against their prejudices. One lion eats a man, and suddenly they are extinct. That's what so many of you humans wanted." He looked back at Kyra, his face still angry but something was sad in his eyes. "You'll forgive me for wanting to keep the hunters off my family." It was not a question.

"You think I didn't try..." Kyra had to pause to find a word that wouldn't be insulting, but finally just waved at Benny as if to say 'your type'. "Oh believe me, I did. You know what I got for it? Lots of new scars and a broken hearted child." She shook her head at him. "I was married to a water mage for years. I...thought he was a good guy, but he turned out like every single other creature I had to deal with in the past. I don't have a prejudice, and I'm not a hunter. I'm a mother. Totally different story." She stared Benny down for a moment, something akin to a challenge. "But if I try to take him out of there, I will get shot. He will get killed. If anyone saves him, I have to go as well. Because first, I'm not leaving him, especially as a half human, to fend for himself, and secondly, I will be killed." Everything she said came out in a tone that would tell Benny she wasn't joking around.

"You obviously haven't met the right creatures," Benny told her, his voice just hinting a dark tone as he gave her a steady look before turning and continuing to pick up the club as best he could. "If you think we're all so bad, you shouldn't have helped Talia, but like I said, if you really want help, we'll help you, but once we do-" He paused what he was doing to turn back to Kyra again. "There's no going back. There's no turning your back on us freaks, no changing your mind. There just is what you did and nothing else. You want to keep doing what you are doing, you go do that. It's worked so far for you. But if you want to be a good mother, which you seem to want to, you'll suck up your hatred of us, trust that maybe some of us-" He shrugged. "Ain't so bad, and let us get your son the hell out of there, and both of you to a safe place. Jake-" He pointed up the stairs. "He's gotta go back. He doesn't, our lives are on the line, but you, if you leave, we've got no connection to you." He shrugged again. "Your choice."

"So long as Kyrian is safe," Kyra said quietly. Her gaze leveled on Benny, her tone nonthreatening, even her stance relaxing a little. "I don't care about your parentage, if you treat me right, I'll not betray you." It was a personal choice, to make such a promise. But Kyra was willing to accept anything at this point. She just wanted her son the hell away from the police and the chief.

"Respect has to be earned. I don't expect to have yours either," Benny told her flatly before she could protest by saying what she had already said. He didn't care for repeats. "But your son will be safe with our friends, and you can go with them. I have no desire to tear a mother from her child. I'm not a heartless monster." Quite the contrary. Benny was a monster that had taken many hearts.

"I never assumed you were," Kyra said. Truth be told, she assumed he was a monster, but not heartless. Glancing towards where Talia was, she took a deep breath. "I need to bring someone back with me, and I would prefer Jake. Need to get him home."

"I'd prefer it to be Jake as well," Benny agreed and motioned for her to follow as he led the way upstairs to the apartment above. "He seemed pretty tired though, so you might need to stick around a while while he recuperates. Gives all of us a chance to talk." Not that he really wanted a human in his apartment, but Talia seemed to have actually met the kid, so if all else failed he supposed he could kidnap him and hold him hostage, in a way. He didn't think it would come to that though. Kyra seemed the stern type, which usually kept their promises.

Kyra followed him with only a slight nervousness. The further away from the door she got, the longer it would take to get out of here. But she wanted to bring Jake back with her, make sure he was safe. Plus Kyra knew what she wanted to talk about. And it was mostly to find out how these people planned on assisting her.

---

Fox barely made it a block before there was scuffing down an alley as someone quickly got to their feet. "What happened to you?" The gentle voice was soon matched to the familiar white mask of Ulf as he leaned out of the alley to look after her. He looked up and down the street, making sure it was empty before jogging after her, taking up her step by her side. He was leaning forward slightly, his mask pointed at her face, clearly looking at her bruises. He looked back the way she came, then back at her while pointing the way he had just looked. "Did your boyfriend hurt you?" He sounded deeply defensive, ready to take up her side.

"Not physically, no. I'm not entirely sure Benny would have it in him to hit me." Sighing she turned to Ulf and threw herself into his arms. Fox buried her face in his chest and felt the tears start to run. Unable to talk at the moment she just stood there, letting all her anger and frustration out on a man she barely knew. "Why do you always seem to turn up when I need you the most?" The words were a whisper but she had no doubt that he heard her.

"Just lucky I guess..." came the quiet reply as Ulf hesitantly wrapped his arms around Fox's shoulders, which he hoped were unbruised, and held her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "Fox... Whatever happened to make you this sad... No one has the right to do that to you." He leaned back a bit so he could face down at her. "... Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

Nodding her head gently she smiled. "That would be nice. I'm sorry I look so terrible. I was brought in for interrogation." Sighing, Fox shook her head gently. Her stomach, hand, and face still ached terribly, her tears had soaked into her cut lip causing it to burn. "How are you today?" Looking over at him she made the first move to begin the walking.

"Less lonely now," Ulf told her as they began to walk. He had released her, more out of respect for her space than anything, and shoved his hands into the pockets of his black trousers, but his mask never turned fully away from her. "What were you being interrogated for?"

"A human boy was taken. The chief of polices son to be exact. They thought one of my people took him. Really? What good would that do us? We're trying to live in peace with those... beasts." Sighing heavily she crossed her arms over her chest as they walked along. "Why were you lonely?" Looking over at him, she itched to removed his mask and see his face beneath it. He had a beautiful, soothing voice. There was no way he wasn't as equally beautiful.

"Lonely, by definition, means without companions," Ulf explained. "But now I walk with you, a companion, so I'm less lonely now." His voice took on that tone again, just a notch brighter, denoting a smile beneath the mask. "But stop trying to change the subject. You seem to need to talk more than I do. Humans... They are always so eager to think the worst of anyone, including their own people." He sighed, the noise just slightly muffled by his mask. "You're above them, and I don't mean because they are human. I mean because you are nice."

A soft smile spread across Fox's face as she shook her head. "I really wish that were true. Tonight I wasn't nice at all. I got into a fight with my...boyfriend and told him to get out. We've been together for so long now. I'm wondering if maybe we need some time apart." Shrugging her shoulders she turned a corner, going the opposite direction of the police station. She didn't want to be caught anywhere near there.

"Most couples do not stay together forever," Ulf replied, sounding sad. "If he isn't making you happy, he probably isn't the right person for you. That's the point of a relationship right? You have them with people who make you happy?" He looked at Fox, head tilted a little. "Well," he added, sounding a bit amused again. "Besides business relationships I suppose. Fox, I'm sure you did everything you could to do the right thing tonight, so don't let him get to you. If you had to tell him to get out-" He shrugged. "Then he must have been being a right prat."

"He made me feel like...shit really. He said I didn't need to know everything that goes on. I dont always eaves drop. But it is my club, and I am the leader of this revolution. I was angry at him. I've just now gotten my powers back and he wants me to keep them at bay." Fox walked along in silence for a while before responding to his other comments. "And...it isn't just a relationship. I'm his soul mate. If I leave him, he'd have nothing with another woman... Ever."

Ulf nodded along to her words, but remained silent for a long time, thinking it over. It was nice, at least for him, simply to walk in comfortable silence with Fox, each with their own thoughts. "Why were you without your powers?" he asked finally, deciding that might be a little less personal than continuing to press about her 'boyfriend'. Besides, that wasn't really his business.

Fox stared at the ground, her eyebrows knitted together. "There was once a man named Rafe, who caused all of this--" She waved her hand around to indicate what she meant. "I was his... and he used me to get ahead in the world. When were freed ourselves of him, I swore I'd never use them for bad, ever again. So...after a while I just stopped using them all together. It was easier that way. I wasn't tempted, I didn't know every mans dirty thoughts about me." Shrugging her shoulders she smiled up at the sky. "My mind was peaceful."

"Peace of mind is hard to find," Ulf agreed quietly as they walked, but he was quiet again for a long moment after. "...Why have you started using them again?" he asked finally, keeping his voice gentle. "If you were happy without them." He couldn't imagine being without his abilities, or why that would ever be a good thing, but perhaps for someone like Fox, always seeing what people thought or what was to come, perhaps it was a burden sometimes.

"At first it was an accident. I'd... I'd forgotten how to use them, really. But now, I need them to fish out the bad ones who claim they want to join us. I can't gamble with such a thing. I need my people and friends safe." A shiver ran up her spine, rubbing her arms, Fox wished she'd brought a jacket.

Ulf watched her rub her arms and it only took a moment before he slid off his jacket and draped it carefully around her shoulders, leaving him in a black tshirt that fit but didn't cling to a firm torso and black trousers. Messy red hair was left mostly unattended, darkened with what seemed like soot. He was glad for his mask though, to keep others from noticing him, or seeing him really. "It sounds like you want very much to stay in control," he said gently as he pulled his hands back once the coat was settled, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable with his touch. "You must be very worried all the time."

Fox warmed almost instantly as he coat surrounded her. "Thank you, that is very kind." Smiling softly, she slipped her arms into the jacket and pulled it shut. "I'll have to go back at some point in time. A shade really messed up my club. I'm tired of all of this... crap."

Ulf remained quiet. He wanted to help, he did, but he knew he couldn't stick around that long. He didn't want to lose Fox either. "But you don't have to go back right away," he pointed out, his tone more of a suggestion. He wracked his brain, wanting so much to do something but not sure what to do. She seemed to need the time away though. "Come with me," he said finally, nodding his head away down the street. "There's something I want to show you." With that, he took less of a wandering pace with her and instead took the lead, guiding her a bit more purposefully through the streets.

Biting down on her bottom lip nervously, Fox followed after Ulf. "What is it?" At that moment she wondered why Ulf had been in the alley when she walked by. It could have been a coincidence or... he could be watching her. He'd never done anything to hurt her yet, just...kept himself a secret really. Taking a deep breath, Fox followed him, being cautious. She'd need to keep her guard up just in case.

"You'll see," Ulf promised as he glanced at her now and again to make sure she was still following. It took a long few minutes to make their way there, but the buildings finally thinned and they came to a chain link fence. There was a hole, however, where others had pushed it aside to get through and he stepped past it before holding the metal out of the way for her to join him. On the other side of the fence, clear from the other side but now with them, were box cars. It was an old train yard, mostly with the shipment cars, some tipped over or broken but others stood in fairly good shape. Ulf motioned with a hand for her to follow him as he walked into the quiet place. "There isn't much here," he explained. "So people stay away. It's much easier to scavenge out a living in the city buildings." He stopped at one of the upright cars and laid a hand on the floor of the interior. "So it stays quiet and there is no one around to make you feel sad." He looked back at Fox. "I spend quite a bit of time here."

"Do you?" Fox looked around, almost sad. Her, Benny and Dash had been one of the first creatures to inhabit the city when it first turned to ruin. They'd had a lot to pick from. She considered herself lucky when they found a home, sure they had to do quite a lot of fixing up, but within a year they'd gotten the club in good shape and had a safe place for all to go. "Do you live here?"

"Oh, no," Ulf answered quickly, shaking his head which made his hair wobble. He waved a hand for her to come closer before putting his hands on her waist and hoisted her up so she could sit on the ledge of the train car. He joined her a moment after, making sure to leave a bit of space between them. He didn't say anything, wasn't even facing her anymore, simply sat next to her and looked out over the quiet train yard, elbows on his knees, wringing his hands together absentmindedly. He was not forth coming with more information on the subject of where he lived, but he did offer her after the quiet time, "Why don't you ask me something? I know you don't like not knowing things." His tone lifted at the end, showing he was smiling again behind his blank mask. "Even though we haven't spoken much."

"Why are you so kind to me? And...why do you always show up when I need it the most?" The questions popped out without her being able to stop them. Fox frowned slightly, a bit worried about his response. "Your not having me watched, are you?" Sighing heavily, she leaned against the frame of the train car. She was growing to like Ulf and she didn't want to have to stop seeing him because she couldn't trust him. So for now, she gave him her trust. But seeing as she knew such little information about him, it could all change in an instant.

"I watch you," Ulf admitted, a sigh in his voice. "When I'm around anyway. I only show up when you need it the most because that is the only time you have no one else to talk to." He turned his mask to her, blank glassy black holes covering his eyes but his voice showed he was simply being honest. "I just don't want you to be alone, you look sad when you are. Or, when I've seen it anyway. The rest of the time, you have others there for you, so I stay out of your way, but Fox, you should never be alone. Not really." He sighed, his shoulders slumping a little with the action. "And I am kind to you because you deserve to have people be kind to you."

Nodding her head, Fox smiled slightly. "You could come around more than when Im just alone. Maybe meet my other friends." He was a nymph, so he would fit in just right with the rest of them. In fact, him and Rain would get along pretty well actually. Depending on what kind of nymph he was. "Thank you, though. For being there, and being kind and listening. You really dont have to." 

Ulf gave her a nod. "I want to," he admitted to her softly. "But... I don't think I could meet your friends." He faced his hands as he continued to fidget tensely. "At least not yet. I'm here for you, Fox, if ever you need me but..." He shook his head. "I can't meet everybody. Not yet. Sometimes I wonder if it was wrong to finally talk to you. I mean, I can't even show you my face-" He lifted one of his hands to make a vague jerking motion at his mask, the action clearly agitated. "It's like we haven't even met yet."

"But... I want to see your face." Fox moved closer to him, one hand covering his fidgeting hands the other, touching the cheek of his mask. "Why, why can't I see?" Looking into the eyes behind the mask, she felt as if she were pleading with him. He was so kind to her, she wanted them to open up to each other and really know one another. She didn't want him to feel as if they hadn't met. She wasn't going to push him meeting her friends, she didn't want to push him away and he was skittish enough as it was.

Glassy black holes stared back at her, covering whatever colored eyes may lay beyond as Ulf pulled one of his hands from hers and brought it up to gently remove her hand from his mask. "Because I don't want to never talk to you again," he said quietly, his voice sounding broken. He squeezed her hand gently, letting them linger together as he remained looking at her face. Or, what appeared to be looking at her face. He was quiet so long, it was almost as if he had nothing left to say before he took a deep breath. "If you close your eyes, and do not peek, I will remove it."

Biting her bottom lip, Fox thought this over for a moment. She wouldn't see him, but at least he would feel open. Sighing she nodded her head and squeezed the hand that held hers. "Okay..." Taking a deep breath, she let her eyes flutter closed, trusting him. She felt he wouldn't hurt her with her eyes closed, but she grew a bit nervous none the less. "Okay, no peeking, I promise."

There was a pause of silence, followed by Ulf taking a steadying breath. His hands slid from hers and there was the soft hiss of a hard object sliding against hair as he removed the mask, and a small tap as he laid it aside. He took her hands again, bringing them up to rest on either side of his head, more on his ears than his actual face, and he held them there, hesitating, lingering for a moment before he leaned forward, and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, lingering in it but not pressing, almost as if he were giving her something, but expecting nothing in return. His lips, like much else of him, were cool to the touch but soft and gentle, and the kiss only lasted a short moment, unhurried, before he leaned back again, gently removed her hands from his head, and there was the soft scrape as he picked up his mask, followed by the sound of putting it back on. "You can open your eyes now..." he said quietly, hoping she wasn't too mad.

The kiss, though brief had set her heart racing. The only men she'd ever kissed had been Rafe, and Benny. It's all she knew. Allowing her eyes to flutter open, Fox held her fingers to her lips, blushing deeply. "You... you should have let me react." The words slipped from her lips, causing her blush to deepen. Sliding her hand into his once again, she smiled softly, sweetly.

Ulf squeezed her hand gently as he faced her, then remembered she couldn't see him smile. "I was worried I was too forward," he explained. "But.. if you would react..." he sounded a little breathless as his free hand came up to gently rest on the side of her face, thumb brushing over her eyebrow to make her eye close but without being irritating. "Just keep your eyes closed."

"No no, it was okay. If I hadn't been okay with it, I would have said, or I'd have smacked you." Giggling slightly, Fox's breathing kicked up a notch. She was actually going to do this. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes, doing as he asked. Biting her bottom lip gently, she then took another deep breath and waited.

There was another pause, slightly shorter this time before Ulf's hand left her face and removed his mask. This time, he didn't set it down. Instead, his hand came to rest on her hip and it could be felt he was holding the mask with his thumb and forefinger. Again, lips, slightly hesitant, found hers, as cool and soft as before, like rain on a hot summer day, but this time, they did not pull away, instead gently urging her to kiss back as his hand squeezed hers fondly.

With her free hand, Fox rested it against his chest. Her lips molded to his as she kissed him back, ever so softly. A soft sighed slipped out as she smiled, gave a soft laugh and returned her lips to his. She felt exhilarated kissing him. It felt wonderful, his lips against her, causing her heart to race and her mind to go blank.

It didn't last too long. After a few long moments, Ulf carefully broke the kiss, letting the ghost of it linger on their lips, but he didn't yet put his mask back on. Instead he took the moment to admire her face, unobscured by his mask. Although he wished he could see her eyes as well, he had to let it go. Finally having his fill for the moment, his hand disappeared from her hip and there was the quiet sound of him pulling it back in to place. That settled, his hand went to hers on his chest, holding it as well. "You're beautiful," he said, honesty filling those two simple words.

Fox waited another moment before opening her eyes and looking at him. "Thank you, you're a...wonderful kisser. And well... person." Giggling softly she looked at their hands on his chest. Swallowing she thought of her actions just then and frowned deeply. She'd enjoyed it so much, but.. she was with Benny.

"So are you," Ulf replied, leaning down slightly so he was looking at her face. He seemed to notice something was wrong because when he spoke again, there was a frown in his voice. "Fox... what's wrong? I didn't mean to upset you. I'm not forcing you to do anything you know. I won't look too much in to this if you want to forget it happened, I promise."

"Oh... I know you weren't. I asked for it, remember." Smiling gently at him. "I just realized... I kissed you, when I'm supposed to be with Benny. I'm not supposed to enjoy something like that with another man." Fox looked into Ulf's eyes, cocking her head slightly. "So why did I enjoy it so much?" Deeply confused and feeling a bit guilty, she hoped he would have a logical answer for her. She'd never been put in a position like this. Where one man who was so good, and loved her so much, was waiting for her, yet she was here with another. Rafe was different, she'd known he was evil when her feelings had begun for Benny.

"I suppose it always feels good to be appreciated," Ulf replied in way of an answer. He leaned out of her personal space but didn't let go of her hands, instead giving her the choice. "No matter where it comes from. If you want to go home now, I will understand... I'll walk you back. If not..." He smiled behind his mask and it showed in his next words. "Perhaps you should ask another question."

"Do you enjoy the kiss?" Fox smiled softly, looking up at him through her eyelashes, almost sheepishly. Squeezing his hand gently, she kept a hold of it. She liked the feeling of his hand holding hers. Looking up at the sky she frowned slightly. She'd have to go home eventually, but she wasn't quite ready.

"Of course I did," Ulf told her instantly, his tone seeming to say 'how could you ask that?'. "You are a wonderful kisser, just like you are a wonderful person. I'd be crazy to not enjoy that. Anyone would." He fell silent, feeling he might start rambling if he didn't become quiet and looked up with her at the cloudy sky. "... I remember sunshine," he said after a moment of silence had past. He looked down at her again. "It looked a lot like you."

Fox snorted softly and shook her head. "I once knew a man who compared me to such things. Let's just say, I don't really agree." Sighing softly, she jumped down from the train car and looked up at him. "Walk me home?" Her voice was soft, friendly. It was nice having someone all to yourself that no one else really knew about. He was right, not wanting to meet her friends.

"Of course," Ulf told her softly as he slid off the car and joined her as they began the walk back to her apartment. "I'll come by again, if you want," he offered as they walked. "When you're not lonely." Again, there was that smiling tone. He was quoting her. "I'm not ready to meet your friends, but I enjoy seeing you."

---

"I'm always quiet." Talia grumbled as she turned and made her way up the stairs that led to the apartment. She opened the door slowly then carefully peered inside. Her face brightened when she spotted Dash by the couch and waved silently to him before entering the apartment. "Morning." She whispered as she walked over to him, glancing down at Jakes sleeping form. Yeah..I got his appearance 100% right. she thought smugly then made a mental note to switch clothes with him before he left. Someone was bound to think it odd if he reappeared in a new outfit.

Dash's eyes widened and he barely managed to keep Jake in mind as he stood from the couch, making sure not to disturb the boy. "Good morning," he whispered back as he walked over to her. He wanted to hug her he had missed her so much but something stopped him. Something rather obvious to him. He stopped, just a couple of feet from her, staring at her. "Why are you wearing boys clothing?" he asked. It didn't match her usual human look at all.

"Oh these..nothing really." Talia replied trying to keep her tone casual so he wouldn't freak out. "I was just doing a little shapeshifting work. Thats all." She smiled with a light shrug. "It was actually quite fun, and no one suspected a thing."

Dash nodded understandingly when she mentioned it was just shape shifting work, thinking she was just exercising her powers, but her last words stopped him and his expression was getting more concerned. "Who... exactly... is no one?" he asked, wanting very much not to be angry at something but fearing he was about to.

Oh great..you put your foot in it now Talia. She thought to herself before looking at Dash and smiling weakly. "Well when you had to leave to look for Jake I knew the police were going to be swarming the streets looking for him as well and I didn't want you getting caught. So..I went to the police station and pretended to be Jake, then went back to his house and spent the night there too." She said the last sentence very quickly and all in one breath hoping that it would make it sound less bad than it was.

Dash's eyes had continued to widen the more she spoke until they were almost perfectly round. "You did what?" he hissed, remaining quiet so he wouldn't wake Jake. "Are you completely insane? You could have been killed! You didn't know anything about him! How could you pretend to be a man you don't even know!" His voice lost some of its bite due to the whispering, which was a good sign for Talia. If he was truly furious, odds are he would have lost his consideration for Jake and been yelling at her.

"Calm down would you! I had help.." Talia replied quickly. "One of the officers agreed to help me by teaching me how to be Jake..if I helped her. See..shes got this little boy Kyrian, whose half human half one of us and I agreed to help get him to somewhere safe in return for her not shooting me in the station. And as for staying in his house I just locked myself in his room all night..it was easy. The chief didn't bother me once."

Dash slowly turned away from her and paced the living room, making motions with his hands to vent his frustration while making quiet noises like he wanted very much to yell. Finally, he stopped, gave a sharp sigh, and held his hands out to her as if defeated. "Why would you do that?" he pleaded, keeping his voice down. "This is why we don't just charge in their blades shining, Talia! They. Want. To. Kill. Us. Jake was an exception because he was alone. I tried to show a bee to flower, I didn't punch a bee hive! And you had to promise you'd save the boy?" He plopped down in a chair leaned his head forward, and gripped his hair, tugging at it a little. "I'm so not ready to accept you going under cover..." he muttered, more to himself than to Talia.

Talia sighed then moved to Dash's side. "This kid is being held like a prisoner Dash in the police station. They refuse to let Kyra take him home and the way they treat him, its horrible. Whats so wrong with wanting to help him..but it doesn't matter anyway. Benny has already taken the job off my hands..whether I wanted him to or not." She rolled her eyes then sat down with her back against the front of Dash's chair.

There was a sigh, then Dash's hands found Talia's waist and he hauled her off the floor and onto his lap, holding her close as he sat in the faded chair. "The problem is that you can't save everyone Talia, and it'll break your kind heart to try..." He frowned, averting his honey eyes from the girl in his arms. "Please... Talia... Promise me that this will be the last person you try to save." He looked up at her, his eyes desperate. He did not want to have to go charging in to a trap to save her if that day ever came, but he knew his heart would give him no choice.

"Dash..you're asking me to stop being who I am." Talia replied sadly. "Thats not fair. Helping people makes me happy..I actually feel like i'm doing some good and you just want me to stop to give you peace of mind?" She sighed and bowed her head. "Will you stop going to the underground looking for work?" She asked turning her head to look at him.

Dash shook his head no, then seemed to realize what she was saying and he looked a little ashamed. He moved one hand to bring it up and rest it on her cheek as he looked in to her eyes. "Then will you please help our kind? Unless we have a real reason to help the humans- I mean, a plan? Please, do this for me."

Talia looked thoughtful for a few moments then finally she nodded. "Fine, i'll make that compromise for you." She turned slightly and leaned back so she could rest her head against his shoulder. "Oh..and please tell your brother if he tries to order me around again and tell me what to do..I will break him." She smiled lightly then looked over at Jake who was still fast asleep. "Are we really going to send him back?"

"Yes, we have to," Dash told her gently as his arms wrapped around her middrift, holding her loosely. "He doesn't belong with us, and as long as he's here, humans will keep coming after us, more so than usual. The hunt would become more of a crusade..." He shifted just slightly so he could look at Jake as well and he was sad. "From what I know of him, however, I'm sure he will be sneaking amongst us again in no time."

"Couldn't we just make it look like he'd run away or something Dash. I'd never thought i'd be the one to volunteer to have a human stay with me but this kid has a horrible life. His dad is really tough on him and makes him spend most of his days at the police station where the other cops really despise him. I mean this one guy actually shoved me aside when I was disguised as Jake..so rude." Talia replied with a frown but she knew that letting Jake stay with them was really out of the question. It would create too many problems. "No wonder hes been sneaking out and looking for us."

Dash hummed agreeingly and closed his eyes, imagining the girl in his arms as she truly was for a moment. "Not everyone has happy home lives," he told her quietly, thinking mostly of his own but also of his brother and Fox. They lived comfortably, sure, but it was nothing like it had been, less so after he was a confirmed criminal. He had had to leave his little family and take to the streets, homeless and friendless, mostly without a family as he could no longer see Benny so often. It made his heart ache and the only thing keeping him from feeling broken at the moment was the girl in his arms. "We can not take them all in."

"Pity." Talia replied then chuckled lightly as she closed her eyes, her head still resting against his shoulder. This felt like the first time in quite a while that they were actually getting a peaceful moment together and she hoped it would last. Her mind suddenly wandered to her meeting with Rafe and slowly she opened her eyes, biting her lip nervously as she looked up into Dash's face. "Dash..tell me about Rafe." She asked slowly.

Dash's brow furrowed and his nose wrinkled. He looked angry, but when he spoke, his voice showed none of the malice. "What do you want to know?" he asked, opening his eyes to stare at the floor but he wasn't really looking at it. Instead his mind went back, rifling through memories he hadn't thought of in years.

"J-just..what kind of person he was. Was he cruel and vicious or was he really actually quite polite and gentlemanly?" Talia asked wanting to know if Rafe had truely been himself when she met him the other day. "Was he good at tricking people?" She asked again as her eyes studied Dash's face.

Dash sighed, raising his eyebrows slightly as if the truth surprised even him. "Yes, and no," he answered, agreeing with both. "He was very good at getting people to go along with him but... I can't say I ever knew him to lie. I didn't know everything about him though." He looked at Talia, frowning slightly. "Rafe... he was charming. He made you think you had absolutely no reason to distrust him. Even now I can't think of a reason. I left because Fox wanted to leave, and Benny wanted to go with her, he had to, or see her be unhappy. I wanted to stay with my brother. We were a team. From what I know... Fox was just unhappy. I've seen Rafe in battle though, once or twice. He didn't fight often, but when he did...." Dash's eyes flashed and the briefest smile graced his lips before he forced himself to look less interested. "I can see why people would think him a monster."

"So..say you were to meet him today..only pretending of course..would you trust him again?" Talia continued hoping Dash wouldn't start to grow suspicious of her questions. She just had to know if she could trust Rafe. "I-it doesn't matter.." She said quickly when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs from the bar, not wanting anyone to hear their conversation. "Thank you for answering my questions." She smiled then shifted so she could kiss him lightly on the lips. "Would it bother you if I shifted to my true form..just so I can properly relax for a while."

Dash hadn't looked suspicious. He looked like he was legitimately considering the question but then she dismissed it and he decided to set it aside as well. Besides, she kissed him and he blushed and then he wasn't thinking well anyway. He was just getting ready to nod when the door opened and his brother stepped through, followed by an officer. His eyes shot open and his whole body tensed as he prepared to bolt but Benny was quick to stop him.

"No! Dash! She's not here to arrest you!" Benny said as soon as they were through the door. Dash was number three or so (last time he saw) on the police's most wanted list. He had a 'terrible power' and used it, and was elusive as hell. They hated all creatures, but they had it particularly bad for his brother when they had caught him in the act. A murderer on the streets? A confirmed murderer? It didn't sit well, to say the least.

Dash did not get out of his chair but he did look like a cornered rabbit, holding on to Talia a bit tighter than before. "Wait until she's gone..." he told Talia very quietly, never taking his eyes off of Kyra.

Seeing he wasn't about to dump Talia on the floor and jump out a window, Benny continued, but stayed alert. "As you can see, Jake is fine," he told Kyra without taking his eyes off Dash. He motioned to the couch where the human slept. "The Shade, the woman that really took him, apparently didn't let him sleep. I'm not keeping you from taking him, but I'd rather he be in better condition before we give him back."

"Dash relax..shes the one who helped me at the station." Talia replied in a quiet voice, trying to soothe him. "And can you loosen your grip a little, your kinda hurting me." She smiled playfully at him before kissing his cheek then turned her attention to Kyra. "I told you he would be okay.." She said glancing at Jake who was fast asleep, still wrapped up in the blankets.