The club was in awe at the sound of Aure's voice. The room was almost silent for most of the first song. As they grew used to his voice they began to dance and went back to there happy partying selves. Drinks were ordered and food was served as the night went by smoothly.

Surprisingly enough, Aure was looking right back at her and immediately, somehow, forced their eyes to lock again and he held it. Again, it was such a strange calm, neither looking for something nor trying to make her submit. It lasted only a minute though before he looked away and climbed back onto the stage, taking a place by the mic. His large black coat slipped from his shoulders, revealing his hardly there shredded black shirt as well as a good amount of skin, and he tossed the outer article to the side of the stage out of sight. He seemed unperturbed by his near shirtless-ness and his eyes were calm, almost as if somewhere else as his hand took up the mic, ready to begin. Those crystalline orbs shifted up slightly and were looking at Mydra again, as if contemplating something, or asking her something. He obviously wasn't going to address it though as he parted his lips and his eyes moved away as he began the lyrics to Fake It by Seether.

Sitting at the bar, Mydra nodded her head at the bouncers. They opened the doors and "clients" started pouring in. Getting comfortable on her stool and closed her eyes and listened to Aure's amazing voice. "You should sing the duet with him." Mydra turned around to face Tristan and Rafe. They had obviously been discussing this. None of her friends liked Hiro so they would easily prefer Aure over Hiro any day. "Broken, you mean?" They nodded, eyes bright. "I'll mention it." When the song ended Mydra made her way to the stage and turned off the mic. "Rafe suggested that we sing the duet of Broken together. What do you say?"

"If it pleases you," Aure told her calmly, again holding her eyes with his deep, universal ones. He raised his hand and absently brushed some hair from her forehead. That strand was very close to falling in her eyes, which he knew would be unpleasant. "Maybe it will help you relax," he added, his voice just a shade softer than it's normal calmness. His fingertips finally left the skin of her face and fell back to his side. This woman had to have been working today, her soul was tense, he had felt it in his fingers when he touched her, so why was she smiling so much? Or perhaps, why was she tense?

Mydra shivered from his touch and cleared her throat, flipping the mic back on. Turning to the others she nodded. "Turn the sheet music to Broken." Walking over to the instruments, she grabbed her guitar and came back over to the mic next to Aure's. "Ready? And a one, two, three." The music started and Mydra watched Aure begin.

Again, Aure held her eyes as he quoted those first two lines, causing some ooh's and ahh's this time as there was a crowd to behold it. There were even some whistles and slightly inappropriate supportive calls at the intensity Aure was displaying as his voice glided effortlessly across the notes. As the song moved on though, he turned to the crowd, making a more generalized direction, as if singing to some unknown target, but still somehow interacting with Mydra, still singing with her, not just his part. He was really harmonizing with her as if he had known her for years, something that could be unsettling for a person who looked at the stranger before them doing that very thing, only to have them, as Aure just did, look back to meet their eyes again, something indiscernible in their depths.

Mydra sang along with him easily. Somehow the pitch of there voices melded perfectly. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to soak into the song, taking it within herself. The voices of the audience gasped at the sound of her voice. It amazed them all the just a majestic sound could come from a Dark Elf. Glancing over at Aure she smiled softly. She didn't know what he was making her feel. But she definitely needed to figure it out before closing time when Hiro would be here to pick her up.

It was quite a few songs later when they had to decline the crowd's cheers for still yet more songs. They had to have a break. And so, the band took over, playing just music while the singers went to the bar for a drink. It took five minutes of one sided arguing and suggestions before Aure got his water, refusing anything else politely. Once he had sipped it, he look at Mydra and, after a moment, the corner of his mouth went up in a smirk, his eyes almost dangerous. He was purely amused, maybe a little impressed, and completely oblivious to how predatory or just down right alluring he looked when he did that.

Mydra'sgaze met Aure's and she gasped slightly. Swallowing a big gulp of her drink she shook her head and looked over at Rafe. The bar tender winked and went to serve a few drinks. Mydra finished the rest of her drink and sighed. "Excuse me." Turning away she headed up the stairs to her office. Rafe returned to the counter just then and placed a hand on Aure's shoulder. "You should go after her. Make sure she's okay and such. I have a feeling you two need some time...alone." With that she sauntered off to grab a customers order.

Lucian almost couldn't believe what he was seeing at first, but he smiled to himself quickly and did his job with efficiency. Once the tuning was done and he saw that they were well in hand, he went down and sat on the stool nearest the stairs to his booth. He watched Rafe flit about, trying not to look up towards Mydra's office. LC would of course prefer Aure over Hiro, but he was slightly put off by Hiro.

Cici enjoyed playing the bass, though once Mydra and Aure stepped away, she took up the mic with one of the other band members, doing a lively song as well as still playing her bass.

Aure himself wasn't sure what Rafe had meant by that, but he supposed if no one else was going to do it, he might as well be the sacrificial lamb, so he left his water on the bar and headed up after Mydra, his pace unrushed and his face calm again with no hint of his previous smirk. He made sure to look back at Cici first though, to make sure she had everything under control, then disappeared up the stair case. At the door marked as his new boss's office, he paused, wondering if he should knock. Not knowing what she did when she was upset, and might be ashamed of it, he figured surprising her would not be the best of ideas and so raised a single knuckled and rapped softly on the door before waiting for an answer.

Mydra was laying down on the leather coach in her office. All the lights were turned way down and her eyes were closed. "Come in." She said loud enough for whoever was on the other side of the door to hear. She had a terrible headache and her stomach was killing her. Both were due to how she was feeling about Hiro and Aure. She had a feeling something bad was going to happened. She just hoped no one would get hurt.

"One might think you are setting a mood," Aure's calm voice replied as he closed the door behind him with a soft click. His eyes in the dim lighting seemed to glow within like cats' eyes in the dark, giving him a small predatory glint. He was calm, otherwise, however, as he approached her slowly, each step seemingly deliberate but not threatening. "Are you not well, Miss Mydra?"

"Mydra, just Mydra. My grandmother was Miss. And no I'm not feeling well." She mad room on the coach in case he decided to sit down. She groaned softly and held her head. "Damnit." Mydra finally realized what his first words had meant. "Setting the mood? For what?" Looking up at him, her eyes were soft, almost caring.

"Romance," Aure answered, but sounded like he wasn't so sure of the word. He took the newly opened seat and looked at her with concern, his eyes still seemingly lit from within. "Intimacy," he tried again, his tone perhaps a bit softer. He looked at her hand holding her head and let his eyes flick to the clock. Eleven fifty-seven. Just a few more minutes. He looked back into her eyes. "Perhaps you are simply over stressed. Maybe something to... ease, some of that stress?" he offered, already trying to think of what he could possibly do to relax her. He didn't have many ideas in mind, but maybe something would work.

Shaking her head slowly, Mydra considered his offer. "Thanks, but I don't think you...would be able to help me." Forcing a smile she placed her head back into her hands. So confused!!! Glancing over at Aure once again she sighed softly. "Romance and intimacy are nice but I'm too confused now to add those into this." She waved her hand around her, indicating the room and them.

Aure barely managed to keep the confusion off his face. "You are... confused?" He didn't understand what she could be confused about. This was her office, where she worked, he was an employee, repaying the debt of killing her bartender. That was how he saw it, no matter how attractive his mistress was. "If it is not romance and intimacy you want...." he said softly as he once again looked at the clock. Good he thought as he looked at her face instead and touched her chin with a gentle hand that felt like going home and moved her face until he was looking her in the eyes, his own glowing comfortingly like the light at the end of the tunnel. "Then you should not have set the lighting, and then invited someone in."

Mydra gasped softly and closed her eyes. "Okay. I'll explain. I'm confused about my feelings for Hiro. I'm confused about them because I've got feelings for you." Shaking her head she ran a hand through her hair and smiled softly. "It's not that I don't want Romance and intimacy. Because your very good at the romance and intimacy thing." Placing her hand over his, her eyes some how softened even more.

Aure wasn't sure if he should thank her for that, so instead he kept that little frown, just barely letting out his confusion, but it looked more like he was sad by her rejection. "Who is Hiro?" he asked. This was not the first time he har heard the name. It sounded like her husband, and yet, she wore no ring. Perhaps she had a different custom to show her devotion?

"Hiro would be my boyfriend and the man I am living with. That's what the movers were doing when you happened to walk by." Mydra glanced away, frowning. Gently she massaged her temples trying to some how get rid of the headache that seemed to increasing. "I'm not sure how I feel about that anymore." With this comment she looked back towards Aure and met his gaze.

"Don't let me stop you," Aure told her, not an order, just a reply to a comment she had made. His eyes held hers in return, as if welcoming her, inviting her to something that couldn't be voiced in words. He still had yet to move away from her, seemingly acutely aware that she had yet to tell him, specifically, to go away. He reach up and covered one of her hands with his own to still it, then shifted it back so he could tread his fingers through her hair, stroking through it gently. "The massaging only helps if it is physical. You seem to have a mental, or, more accurately, emotional problem." His voice remained soft and his eyes had strayed slightly but now they were still, calmly gazing back into hers. "You must relax... Mydra." That was probably the first time he had used her name, just her name, at least to himself. He might have called her that, but 'mistress' or some other name of respect had always been added in his head. This time, there was nothing, just pure comfort.

Her eyes drifted closed for a few moments as her fingers brushed through her hair. It caused the pain to pause for a few moments. When she opened her eyes again she caught him looking at her. He had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. She could loose herself in them for hours and not even care. "I think this is the most you've ever said to me. Are you getting more comfortable around me?" She hoped so, she enjoyed his company and wanted to spend more time with him. Mydra also realized that he had said her name. No titles on the beginning, just her name. The way he said it was exotic. No other person had ever said her name in such a way. These feelings are dangerous. Hiro has been the one person she has been with for years. No other man ever got close to her because of it. It was nice not having to worry about it.

Aure nodded, the motion slow but sure, unrushed. "Perhaps," was all he said. He really had spoken too much so far. So many useless words. Why had he been talking to her? Why was it important that she hear him say it, not that she figure it out, but that he made sure there was no way to misinterpret. Why had he done that? His hand was stroking her hair now, the gesture mostly unnoticed by himself, but he was making slow, soothing strokes through her hair. Her eyes, so red like the blood of so many people he had seen, so many bodies and souls and a rush of memories washed over him and yet they all broke over her, meant nothing, as if she were some strong, dark stone in the sea, the sun light shining around her, becoming hair around her fine features. He couldn't help himself. "You're beautiful." The words flowed past his lips like cool water before he had even realized her had thought them.

Mydra's eyes widened slightly at the compliment. "Thank you." She'd never had a problem around people before, especially men. But Aure, he made her nervous. She was always watching what she said, afraid he'd close up and stop talking to her. She figured this one time she could take the jump. "Do you think you could make my headache go away?"

There was a long moment of silence as Aure thought, still stroking her hair. He wasn't sure what he could do to make it go away, but if it was stress, she just needed to relax. Right? And so, deciding that, he nodded. He motioned for her to turn around so he had access to her back and very sure, comforting hands found her shoulders and neck and began to loosen any tenseness he found with seemingly well practiced motions and touches. With every brush of his fingertips on a piece of exposed flesh, he felt a rush of movement as her soul reacted to, quite frankly, a reaper-like creature coming so close to contact, as if he was trying to steal her soul, but he made no effort to tear it out. It was like warming a bowl of water with one's own body heat from their hands. Her body was the water, her soul the beautiful Betta rushing about in the water in fear, and yet growing more and more accustomed to the proximity with each dip of his fingers.

A sighed escaped her lips at the feel of his fingers against her skin. Mydra's eyes flew open and she moved away slightly, turning her body so she was facing him again. "I shouldn't have asked you to do that. It was a bad idea." Clearing her throat she laid her back against the arm of the couch and watched him. He seems like a nice enough guy but she didn't know anything about him. She also wasn't sure he was going to allow her to get to know him, or get close to him.

Aure regarded her for a long moment. In the end, he let out a sigh and stood. "I obviously make you uncomfortable," he said stoically, his voice still some how soothing to the ears. He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes, the only sign he was either growing impatient, or annoyed. In truth, he didn't have time for games. Either she was going to act on the emotions he felt her soul torn by, or she was going to let herself suffer. Until she chose a path, he had no desire to be kicked around as she ran around in confusion. "I will leave you then." He gave a slow half nod, half bow of farewell before he turned and left her office and made his way back to the stage, wanting to return to his duties. At least there, where he was assigned, his job was clear. He had souls to reap before dawn. He had no desire to be wasting time with an indecisive human... He felt his thoughts screech to a halt and he felt slightly ashamed. Human or not, he cared, a least a little, and his honor forced him to accept that fact.

Cici nodded at Aure and stepped back from the mic when she finished the song. She glanced at the band, then stood back, gripping her bass, eying the man in front of her, waiting for him to choose a song.

Just to keep with the theme he felt he had started, Aure began this time with a rather intense version of 'Breakdown' by Seether, his voice full of honesty, even if the words didn't mean anything to him. He had felt emotions forever, from every kind of person, and he knew their intensity and could mirror it, even if he, himself, did not feel human emotions so strongly with himself as the source. These people, they knew fury and despair. He knew only irritation and mild melancholy. Perhaps he had simply never had a call for such intense feelings, but, as he opened his eyes that had shut tightly while singing, and looked at the crowd with lowered eyes filled with a deep sadness, his lips continuing to move with the words he produced, he thought maybe he was capable of them.

Smacking her forehead, Mydra sighed softly and stood. She had work to do. Leaving her office she switched off the light and headed down the stairs. Walking over to the bar she spotted Rafe who held up a finger indicating she'd be there in a second. Just the Tristan walked over and tapped her shoulder. "Mydra, Hiro called about 10 minutes ago asking for you." Mydra rolled her eyes and plopped down on a stool. Rafe turned up just then a stay in her hand. "Uh oh..." Tristan cleared his throat and disappeared into the club somewhere. "You having second thoughts about Hiro?" Mydra swallowed and nodded her head as she reached over the bar. When she sat back down there was a bottle of Hypnotic in her hand, she pour herself a glass and took slow sips. She didn't want to get drunk, She just needed a drink. "You going to tell him that when he comes tonight?" Mydra took a swallow of her drink and nodded. "I also need to talk to Aure on his next break. I feel bad. I think he may be...upset or annoyed at me." Rafe kissed her cheek and whispered. "Your doing the right thing." With that she went to the VIP room where the bachloret party was going on.

LC took a seat next to Mydra, clearing his throat lightly. "Don't take this the wrong way, my dear, but I think you're getting a bit over your head." He picked up a random drink from the bar and downed it. "Besides, I thought I was the only one allowed to have a mixed up love life." He laughed in a self effacing way. Of all the people here, Lucian was more known to get mobbed and take a girl home with him at random than to settle down with one.

Mydra leaned forward and kissed Lucian's cheek. "You and almost everyone who works here, doesn't like Hiro. Can you explain to me why? I wont be mad, no matter what you tell me." Mydra poured them both another glass of Hypnotic. Glancing up at the stage, her eyes fell on Aure. He was one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen. She liked his bad boy demeanor. So far the only thing she could find that she didn't like about him was that he killed her bar tender. But she would find out about that later.

With a laugh, Lucian took the drink. "Well, firstly I wanted my chance with you. But seeings as that's never going to happen..." He downed his drink in one shot. "I want to see you with someone I can actually hold a conversation with. And truthfully, I just can't see myself talking with Hiro for any length of time." LC grinned mischievously and winked at her. "But if you were willing to give me a shot, I would even hold a convo with myself." His flirtations wouldn't get him far with Mydra, but he did it anyway. It was just the way he was some days, and not having brought anyone home for a few weeks made Lucian a bit more rambunctious than normal. He was a demon, after all. "But in all honesty, I just don't like Hiro. He struck a bad chord with me when we first met. I don't trust him."

"Lucian, don't make me call Tristan over here to hall you away." Tristan is the biggest bouncer in the whole county and he thought of Mydra as little sister, even though she was about two hundred years older than him. In Tristan's eyes, if anyone fucked with Mydra, they were dead. Which is why she can't believe Hiro is still breathing. Tristan was the first to come to her about his disliking of Hiro. Maybe she was just blinded by him because he was the first guy to show a true interest in her, without being scared off. Glancing back up at the stage she caught Aure's eye and smiled softly. She was definitely going to have to talk to him. "Excuse me." Stepping down from her stool she wound her way towards the stage. Going over to the the Electric guitarist she whispered into his ear. He nodded and started inching his way over to Aure. Once within whispering distance he spoke softly into Aure's ear. "After this song, take a break. Boss needs to speak with you."

Aure's eyes flashed dangerously before they shifted to look right at Myrdra, something just short of a warning in them. What could she possibly want now? He held her eyes as he let the song die and ignored the cheers at the end. He simply stuck the mic into the stand and stepped to the edge of the stage, just walking right off of it, the sharp drop not seeming to faze him. People seemed already excited by him, but his dangerous aura kept them a bit away. When he was finally standing before his new boss, he was looking down at her. He raised an eyebrow, not wishing to speak in front of everyone, or perhaps not wanting to speak with her.

Being close to him always took her breath away for a few moments. Mydra inhaled deeply and grabbed his wrist gently. "We need to talk." With that being said she tugged him along and back into her office. Locking the door behind her, she leaned against it and closed her eyes. "I need to apologize for how I acted earlier." Opening her eyes she stared into his gorgeous eyes. "I acted stupid, and...nervous. Like I didn't know what I want. But..that's just the thing. I do know what I want."

Aure was silent a long moment, his shining eyes still narrowed a fraction in annoyance, but when he finally did speak, it was as calm as ever. "I don't know why you feel the need to tell me this, it has nothing to do with me and my debt to you to my knowledge. You wanted me to sing, I am attempting to do so. Unless you are asking for my advice, I can do nothing for you. Telling me that you are indecisive, I assume, has not helped you toward a decision, now has it?" He took a step forward so he was directly in front of her. His hand lifted up and rested next to her head against the door and he leaned forward, his narrowed eyes almost even with hers now and he seemed to block out any light in the room, making it impossible to look at anything but him and his crystalline eyes. His voice, when he spoke, took on a tinge that made it almost threatening. "Either you want me, or allow me to pass so I can do what you have asked me to do."

Mydra stood up straight, causing them to become closer than before. She placed a hand on his chest and slid it up his body and wound it around his neck. She quickly tugged him forward, causing their lips to meet. I've made my decision. She thought to herself as she closed her eyes and softened her lips against his. Carefully she laid her free hand on his chest as her skin tingled with the nearness of him.

For an Ankou like Aure, a kiss was a whole other experience. Not only did he feel his skin light up as if flames were licking it, he felt her soul squirm then settle and sigh inside her, adjusting to his proximity and intimacy. His hand remained on the door as the other wound around her waist to hold her there, as if refusing to let her go now. He had his prey and he felt like a predator, albeit a calm one. He felt like telling her she was his now, but of course, she wasn't. This wasn't the old times, not as the other Ankou had taken... mates? Women? What had they called those people? Aure had never had one, so he didn't know, but he knew he felt like this, she, was his now, with this decision she had decided to be his, and he would have her, and protect her, now because of that. Gods help the man who tried to take her away. An angry Ankou was death embodied, a reason that Aure had spent so long learning his stoicism. Yes, this dark elf, Mydra, was safe now, with hell's guard dog.

Mydra had to practically pry herself away from his lips. Looking up into his eyes she felt safe for the first time and almost one hundred years. Gently she wrapped her arms around his neck and molded her body against his. It wasn't a sexual need, it was a need to feel safety, a need to feel his security touch her closely. She laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes. "This is going to be complicated. But I don't care. As long as I have you close, everything will be okay."

Aure nodded slowly, removing his hand from the door so he could return her close embrace, feeling that she needed this. She really didn't know how true her statement was. He moved one hand to stroke her hair gently. He didn't know what she meant by complicated, but he figured she would figure it out. She needed only to tell him what to do, and he would do so, whatever her decision may be. He was obligated before, for killing her bartender, her friend. He wondered how she could get over that so fast, but felt he didn't really care. Now he wanted to do as she told him, just to make her happy, not to repay her. "... Are we finished talking?" he asked after a long moment of simply basking in each other. That was, after all, what she had said they had come up here for.

Mydra smiled softly and nodded her head. "Not much for just standing around, are you?" Kissing his cheek she hesitantly stepped out of his arms. Instantly the strong security she had felt, slowly faded away. Swallowing she looked up into his eyes and knew that as long as she was around him, she would be safe. Her no longer owed her a dept but that didn't mean she wasn't going to keep him close by. The lose of her friend was severe, but as a Drow of the Nitocris Tribe she had learned to let it go. She would always remember him and know his spirit was with her. 

Aure didn't respond to her comment. Instead he took her chin with his hand and leaned down, brushing his lips across hers before he was gone, as if he had never been there. The soft click of the door the only sign someone had left, and his face was stoic as the Ankou descended the stairs. At least the stage would give him a good view of the crowd. Thinking of, he looked around the thriving masses, stifled a sigh, and made his way through, back to the stage where he returned to his previous purpose, the cheers of the crowd showing their joy for that.

Mydra collected herself and then rejoined everyone in the club. Taking her usual seat at the bar, she watched everything closely. Ten minutes passed with no problem but then a drunken boyfriend swung at a stranger who was supposedly flirting with his girlfriend. Mydra stood to break it up but on of her boys was on it before she could take a step. All three of them were escorted from the building, the couple placed into one cab the stranger in another. Moments later Tristan came over to her. He had been watching the bachloret party. "My, the bride and her ladies are a bit drunk." He cleared his throat, indicating that one or more of the girls had been flirting with him. Mydra giggled and shook her head. "I call a van." Reaching over the bar she grabbed the phone and dialed the familiar number. Rusty picked up on the first ring and said he'd be there within ten minutes. Mydra thanked him and replaced the phone to it's cradle. Glancing around one last time she headed to the VIP room to round up the girls. "Let's go ladies. Your chariot awaits." The girls let out a burst of laughter and followed Mydra out of the club. Moments later they were in the van and heading home. Glancing at her watch she frowned. 45 minutes to closing time. "Let's start calling cabs and rounding up the drunks." Mydra entered the club and headed straight to the stage. Luckily the song was ending so she climbed up onto stage and turned off Aure's mic. "We play through the sound room the last half hour so we can round everyone up and get them home. So let's wrap it up and start searching for drunks." The drummer set down his sticks and gave her a nod as he stood and stretched.

Aure nodded and did as he had done before, stepping directly off the edge of the stage. He turned and held his arms up, taking Mydra's waist and lifted her down first. He looked into her eyes a moment, his expression unreadable, before he turned and took Cici's waist, helping her down second. Without looking at them, he went about straightening tables and disposing of empty bottles, returning glasses to the bar, and leading some drunks to the door. Some people had their arms around him and some women were getting a little too handsy, but Aure took it all in stride. Humans had never interested him much so he simply assisted them to the door and into a cab before continuing about his work.

Cici accepted Aure's help down, then went over to where she had stashed her things. She was smiling to herself, not really paying attention to what was going on around her. Cici almost laughed because none of the humans seemed to realize that the young girl hadn't taken a break all night. Not that she really needed to. Hurrying to the door, she skidded to a halt at the amount of people leaving. Someone got a little too grabby and she stomped on his foot, turning slightly to seat herself gracefully at the bar.

Much like his sister, Lucian was not really paying attention. He had a bottle of booze in one hand and a rag in the other. Humming slightly off key to himself in a drunken manner, he wiped down some of the tables, picking up glasses and carrying them to the bar. LC tripped once on a chair and knocked it over. Using his foot, he picked it back up and continued cleaning, taking a swig out of the bottle and whirling around the table, still humming.

Mydra made sure that everyone was safely out of the bar before closing the doors. Turning around she glanced around. "Cici, make sure Lucian doesn't drive himself home. I don't want to have to come identify his body at 3 a.m." A few people laughed, knowing she was only joking. Walking over to behind the bar she grabbed a cash pouch and opened the register. Stuffing the money into the pouch she looked up and smiled. "Tomorrow is payday everyone. Meaning it's our weekly meeting after the club closes. You leave before closing, you don't get your check. Don't forget." She carefully slid the pouch into the inside pocket of her leather jacket.

Aure had looked up at her announcement, but as it ended, he simply returned to wiping the tables down with a worn cloth. The spilled alcohol was most unbecoming. He looked up toward the ceiling as he felt his comrads come to take care of the business he had missed tonight. It was not a big deal if the other Reapers had to take care of it. Since the wars had ended, they often had more time than they needed anymore, having become quite efficient. He sent his silent apologies anyway before he returned to his duties again.

There was a soft knock on the door to the bar. Obviously Hiro. He was the only man who ever knocked. He made it a strict point not to be rude to these people, but it was only for Mydra's sake. They didn't like him, so he remained quite distant with all of them. He had no reason to force friendship on those that hated him without reason.

A bouncer who remained near the door opened it for Hiro and bowed drastically. "Evening, good sir." The remark was obviously sarcastic. Mydra had taken a seat at the bar and was busy doing paper work as she heard there interaction. Her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced over at Aure. "Aure, can you come here for a moment?" With that she scribbled a few things down on her paper work and then set her pen down.

The worn rag was laid on the bar not a moment after that as if Aure had been waiting by her side the whole time. He watched as the strange man entered the bar and was heading toward them, but decided it was probably that Hiro man and ignored him, looking at Mydra again. He rose an eyebrow, obviously not interested in speaking around the group.

"Hey, sweetheart," Hiro greeted Mydra softly as he came to her side, a little worried he had interrupted them. He looked between the two before giving Mydra a slightly worried smile. "Should I wait in the car today?" he asked, not really expecting her to say yes, but it was polite to show he was thinking of her comfort.

Mydra glance up at Hiro and sighed. "Yeah, go ahead and wait there. I'll be out in a minute. We need to talk." With that being said she turned back to Aure and tapped her pen on the counter. "I want to pay you for the work your doing here. Yes, I know, you killed my bar tender. But that doesn't mean I want to work you like a slave. So tomorrow I'll have a pay check for you too. As a matter of fact, you can walk me up to the bank to put the cash in and write the checks." Glancing down at her papers she straightened them out and slid them into a large envelope. Running a hand through her hair she sighed. "Shit, I moved out of my house. Thank god it's not up for sale yet. But I still need a place to stay tonight."

Cici looked up at Mydra as she spoke. "You should stay with us tonight. We haven't hung out for a long time and I don't have school tomorrow." Cici's suggestion made sense to her. She was not, after all, as young as she appeared, even if she was as innocent. She knew how the world worked. And she didn't see why no one liked Hiro. He wasn't one of those who would be unreasonably rude to her because she was younger. She smiled and waved at the man in question. Lucian was simply singing to himself and cleaning up, and he was slightly intoxicated. Cici glanced at her brother for a moment then back at Hiro.

Hiro was a little surprised to be dismissed, but covered it up quickly and even smiled at Cici when he left, luckily before Mydra had made the comment about having no where to go.

Aure, however, caught it and he frowned at her, almost but not quite disapproving. He was giving her a strange look. He thought she had moved in with Hiro and, to illustrate his point, he glanced to where Hiro had left, then back at her. "I will accompany you tomorrow," he said, his voice still warm liquid silk, unroughened even after the long time of singing. Cici had been amazing as well. No breaks? Well, she wasn't human, touching her to get her off stage had assured him of that, even if the no-break thing hadn't. Now, however, he made no comment about where Mydra should stay, just watching her, as if waiting to see if she had anything else to say. He was still disappointed in her. Why had she agreed to move in with that man, if she was just going to change her mind the next day?

Mydra thought about her words for a few moments and then shook her head. "No, Cici. That's okay. I'll just keep to my original plans and sleep at Hiro's." Looking up at Aure she frowned slightly. "I'll give you the address to meet me at." Scribbling down Hiro's address she handed it over to him. "Be there by...say 9:30, 10 o' clock?" With that she stood and collected her things. "Rafe, lock up when you and Tristan head out." Rafe nodded and waved. Mydra kissed Aure on the cheek and quickly left the club. Sliding into the car next to Hiro she smiled. "Sorry about that."

"Not at all, my dear," Hiro brushed it aside easily as he put an arm around her and nodded to the driver who started back to his house. "So how was your day? Did the movers do a good job?"

---

Aure looked at the tiny piece of paper in his hand and tucked it into his pocket as he turned and went back to the stage to retrieve his coat. He returned to the bar a minute later, sliding on the long dark article of cloth and looked at the others, as if asking if they needed anything else before he took his leave.

---

Everyone waved bye to Aure and bid him a good night. in the mean time, Mydra Leaned against the door and closed her eyes. "I actually don't know. I haven't been by our house. But they did a good job packing my stuff, so I'd think they probably would." Yawning gently she slid down slightly in her seat and tried to fall asleep.

Hiro smiled gently at her and removed his arm to let her sleep. He watched out his own window, his expression becoming just a fraction more annoyed. Who was that man she had been talking to? He accepted her friends, but this new man... He was close, for being such a stranger. He forced his face to relax and just sat through the rest of the ride home. Now was not the time to be having complications. He looked at the woman in the seat next to him. Not when he had her so close already.

Mydra woke up as the car came to a stop. Yawning, she stretched and looked around. "OH...Sorry." Climbing out of the car she walked up to the house and glanced around. "Hiro! Hurry...I want to see the house!" She was slightly excited because she still cared about him, but she also loved his house so she wanted to see how amazing they had done adding her stuff to the house.

Hiro chuckled as he got out of the car. "Yes yes, coming dear," he said kindly as he closed the door and let the driver drive off. He typed in some code on the key pad by the door and opened it to let her in first. He hoped she liked the arrangement, though he hadn't seen the adjustments himself, having been at work all day. He followed her in after, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

---

LC and Cici both bid Aure goodnight before they left after finishing up the cleaning. Cici drove the car, though she usually walked. They made it home and Lucian passed out before actually making it to his room. He sprawled on the couch and Cici left him there, going to her own bed and tucking herself in. She snuggled down into her sheets, then gave up on sleeping. Tonight had left her with too much energy. Throwing her blankets aside, she climbed out her window, slide down the pipes to the alley below. They lived only a couple of blocks from the club, and she wasn't sure at all which way to go. She stood on the streets for a moment, waiting for the sun to come up or to make up her mind.